Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 69304-69305 [2011-28907]

Download as PDF 69304 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES exemptive rules annually.7 We further assume that the independent directors of approximately one-third (1,265) of those funds would need to make the required determination in order for their counsel to meet the definition of independent legal counsel.8 We estimate that each of these 1,265 funds would be required to spend, on average, 0.75 hours annually to comply with the recordkeeping requirement associated with this determination, for a total annual burden of approximately 949 hours. Based on this estimate, the total annual cost for all funds’ compliance with this rule is approximately $169,927.00. To calculate this total annual cost, the Commission staff assumed that approximately two-thirds of the total annual hour burden (633 hours) would be incurred by compliance staff with an average hourly wage rate of $235.00 per hour,9 and onethird of the annual hour burden (316 hours) would be incurred by clerical staff with an average hourly wage rate of $67.00 per hour.10 These burden hour estimates are based upon the Commission staff’s experience and discussions with the fund industry. The estimates of average burden hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. These estimates are not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. Compliance with the collection of information requirements of the rule is mandatory and is necessary to comply with the requirements of the rule in general. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi PavlikSimon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. 7 Based on statistics compiled by Commission staff, we estimate that there are approximately 4218 funds that could rely on one or more of the exemptive rules. Of those funds, we assume that approximately 90 percent (3796) actually rely on at least one exemptive rules annually. 8 We assume that the independent directors of the remaining two-thirds of those funds will choose not to have counsel, or will rely on counsel who has not recently represented the fund’s management organizations or control persons. In both circumstances, it would not be necessary for the fund’s independent directors to make a determination about their counsel’s independence. 9 The estimated hourly wages used in this PRA analysis were derived from reports prepared by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. See Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Report on Management and Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry— 2010 (2010), modified to account for an 1800-hour work year and multiplied by 5.35 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead; and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Office Salaries in the Securities Industry—2010 (2010), modified to account for an 1800-hour work year and multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. 10 (633 × $235/hour) + (316 × $67/hour) = $169,927.00. Extension: Form N–17f–1; SEC File No. 270–316; OMB Control No. 3235–0359. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 Dated: November 3, 2011. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–28902 Filed 11–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. Form N–17f–1 (17 CFR 274.219) is entitled ‘‘Certificate of Accounting of Securities and Similar Investments of a Management Investment Company in the Custody of Members of National Securities Exchanges.’’ The form serves as a cover sheet to the accountant’s certificate that is required to be filed periodically with the Commission pursuant to rule 17f–1 (17 CFR 270.17f– 1) under the Act, entitled ‘‘Custody of Securities with Members of National Securities Exchanges,’’ which sets forth PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the conditions under which a fund may place its assets in the custody of a member of a national securities exchange. Rule 17f–1 requires, among other things, that an independent public accountant verify the fund’s assets at the end of every annual and semi-annual fiscal period, and at least one other time during the fiscal year as chosen by the independent accountant. Requiring an independent accountant to examine the fund’s assets in the custody of a member of a national securities exchange assists Commission staff in its inspection program and helps to ensure that the fund assets are subject to proper auditing procedures. The accountant’s certificate stating that it has made an examination, and describing the nature and the extent of the examination, must be attached to Form N–17f–1 and filed with the Commission promptly after each examination. The form facilitates the filing of the accountant’s certificates, and increases the accessibility of the certificates to both Commission staff and interested investors. Commission staff estimates that on an annual basis it takes: (i) 1 hour of clerical time to prepare and file Form N–17f–1; and (ii) 0.5 hour for the fund’s chief compliance officer to review Form N–17f–1 prior to filing with the Commission, for a total of 1.5 hours. Each fund is required to make 3 filings annually, for a total annual burden per fund of approximately 4.5 hours.1 Commission staff estimates that an average of 5 funds currently file Form N–17f–1 with the Commission 3 times each year, for a total of 15 responses annually.2 The total annual hour burden for Form N–17f–1 is therefore estimated to be approximately 22.5 hours.3 The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. Compliance with the collections of information required by Form N–17f–1 is mandatory for funds that place their assets in the custody of a national securities exchange member. Responses will not be kept confidential. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. 1 This estimate is based on the following calculation: (1.5 hours × 3 responses annually = 4.5 hours). 2 This estimate is based on a review of Form N– 17f–1 filings made with the Commission over the last three years. 3 This estimate is based on the following calculations: (4.5 hours × 5 funds = 22.5 total hours). E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi PavlikSimon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: November 3, 2011. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–28907 Filed 11–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Extension: Rule 3a–8, SEC File No. 270–516, OMB Control No. 3235–0574. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. Rule 3a–8 (17 CFR 270.3a–8) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) (the ‘‘Act’’), serves as a nonexclusive safe harbor from investment company status for certain research and development companies (‘‘R&D companies’’). The rule requires that the board of directors of an R&D company seeking to rely on the safe harbor adopt an appropriate resolution evidencing that the company is primarily engaged in a non-investment business and record that resolution contemporaneously in its minute books or comparable VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 documents.1 An R&D company seeking to rely on the safe harbor must retain these records only as long as such records must be maintained in accordance with state law. Rule 3a–8 contains an additional requirement that is also a collection of information within the meaning of the PRA. The board of directors of a company that relies on the safe harbor under rule 3a–8 must adopt a written policy with respect to the company’s capital preservation investments. We expect that the board of directors will base its decision to adopt the resolution discussed above, in part, on investment guidelines that the company will follow to ensure its investment portfolio is in compliance with the rule’s requirements. The collection of information imposed by rule 3a–8 is voluntary because the rule is an exemptive safe harbor, and therefore, R&D companies may choose whether or not to rely on it. The purposes of the information collection requirements in rule 3a–8 are to ensure that: (i) The board of directors of an R&D company is involved in determining whether the company should be considered an investment company and subject to regulation under the Act, and (ii) adequate records are available for Commission review, if necessary. Rule 3a–8 would not require the reporting of any information or the filing of any documents with the Commission. Commission staff estimates that there is no annual recordkeeping burden associated with the rule’s requirements. Nevertheless, the Commission requests authorization to maintain an inventory of one burden hour for administrative purposes. Commission staff estimates that approximately 1,851 R&D companies may rely on rule 3a–8. Given that the board resolutions and investment guidelines will generally need to be adopted only once (unless relevant circumstances change),2 the Commission believes that all the companies that rely on rule 3a–8 adopted their board resolutions and established written investment guidelines in 2003 when the rule was adopted. We expect that newly formed R&D companies would adopt the board resolution and investment guidelines simultaneously with their formation documents in the ordinary course of 1 Rule 3a–8(a)(6) (17 CFR 270.3a–8(6)). 2 In the event of changed circumstances, the Commission believes that the board resolution and investment guidelines will be amended and recorded in the ordinary course of business and would not create additional time burdens. PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69305 business.3 Therefore, we estimate that rule 3a-8 will not create an additional time burden. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi PavlikSimon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: November 3, 2011. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–28908 Filed 11–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. Extension: Rule 18f–3, SEC File No. 270–385, OMB Control No. 3235–0441. Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. 3 In order for these companies to raise sufficient capital to fund their product development stage, we believe they will need to present potential investors with investment guidelines. Investors would want to be assured that the company’s funds are invested consistent with the goals of capital preservation and liquidity. E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69304-69305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28907]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, 
Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension:
    Form N-17f-1; SEC File No. 270-316; OMB Control No. 3235-0359.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission'') has submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously 
approved collection of information discussed below.
    Form N-17f-1 (17 CFR 274.219) is entitled ``Certificate of 
Accounting of Securities and Similar Investments of a Management 
Investment Company in the Custody of Members of National Securities 
Exchanges.'' The form serves as a cover sheet to the accountant's 
certificate that is required to be filed periodically with the 
Commission pursuant to rule 17f-1 (17 CFR 270.17f-1) under the Act, 
entitled ``Custody of Securities with Members of National Securities 
Exchanges,'' which sets forth the conditions under which a fund may 
place its assets in the custody of a member of a national securities 
exchange. Rule 17f-1 requires, among other things, that an independent 
public accountant verify the fund's assets at the end of every annual 
and semi-annual fiscal period, and at least one other time during the 
fiscal year as chosen by the independent accountant. Requiring an 
independent accountant to examine the fund's assets in the custody of a 
member of a national securities exchange assists Commission staff in 
its inspection program and helps to ensure that the fund assets are 
subject to proper auditing procedures. The accountant's certificate 
stating that it has made an examination, and describing the nature and 
the extent of the examination, must be attached to Form N-17f-1 and 
filed with the Commission promptly after each examination. The form 
facilitates the filing of the accountant's certificates, and increases 
the accessibility of the certificates to both Commission staff and 
interested investors.
    Commission staff estimates that on an annual basis it takes: (i) 1 
hour of clerical time to prepare and file Form N-17f-1; and (ii) 0.5 
hour for the fund's chief compliance officer to review Form N-17f-1 
prior to filing with the Commission, for a total of 1.5 hours. Each 
fund is required to make 3 filings annually, for a total annual burden 
per fund of approximately 4.5 hours.\1\ Commission staff estimates that 
an average of 5 funds currently file Form N-17f-1 with the Commission 3 
times each year, for a total of 15 responses annually.\2\ The total 
annual hour burden for Form N-17f-1 is therefore estimated to be 
approximately 22.5 hours.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: (1.5 
hours x 3 responses annually = 4.5 hours).
    \2\ This estimate is based on a review of Form N-17f-1 filings 
made with the Commission over the last three years.
    \3\ This estimate is based on the following calculations: (4.5 
hours x 5 funds = 22.5 total hours).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a 
comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of 
Commission rules. Compliance with the collections of information 
required by Form N-17f-1 is mandatory for funds that place their assets 
in the custody of a national securities exchange member. Responses will 
not be kept confidential. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid control number.

[[Page 69305]]

    The public may view the background documentation for this 
information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for 
the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email 
to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi 
Pavlik-Simon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an 
email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB 
within 30 days of this notice.

    Dated: November 3, 2011.
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-28907 Filed 11-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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