Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 50710-50711 [2014-20087]

Download as PDF 50710 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 164 / Monday, August 25, 2014 / Notices 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, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: August 19, 2014. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–20084 Filed 8–22–14; 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 FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–2736. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Extension: Rule 10b–17; SEC File No. 270–427, OMB Control No. 3235–0476. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (‘‘PRA’’) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) a request for approval of extension of the previously approved collection of information provided for in Rule 10b–17 (17 CFR 240.10b–17), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). Rule 10b–17 requires any issuer of a class of securities publicly traded by the use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce or of the mails or of any facility of any national securities exchange to give notice of the following specific distributions relating to such class of securities: (1) A dividend or other distribution in cash or in kind other than interest payments on debt securities; (2) a stock split or reverse stock split; or (3) a rights or other subscription offering. Notice shall be either given to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. as successor to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or in accordance with the procedures of the national securities VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:31 Aug 22, 2014 Jkt 232001 exchange upon which the securities are registered. The Commission may exempt an issuer of over-the-counter (but not listed) securities from the notice requirement. The requirements of 10b–17 do not apply to redeemable securities of registered open-end investment companies or unit investment trusts. The information required by Rule 10b–17 is necessary for the execution of the Commission’s mandate under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prevent fraudulent, manipulative, and deceptive acts and practices. The Commission has found that not requiring formal notices of the types of distributions covered by Rule 10b–17 has led to a number of abuses including purchasers not being aware of their rights to such distributions. It is only through formal notice of the distribution, including the date of the distribution, that current holders, potential buyers, or potential sellers of the securities at issue will know their rights to the distribution. Therefore, it is only through formal notice that investors can make an informed decision as to whether to buy or sell a security. There are approximately 6,668 respondents per year. These respondents make approximately 22,354 responses per year. Each response takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Thus, the total compliance burden per year is 3,726 burden hours. The total internal labor cost of compliance for the respondents, associated with producing and filing the reports, is approximately $254,038.68. 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 OMB control number. The public may view 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, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549 or by sending an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: August 19, 2014. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–20086 Filed 8–22–14; 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 FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–2736. Extension: Rule 18f–3; OMB Control No. 3235–0441, SEC File No. 270–385. Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act’’), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘the Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. Rule 18f–3 (17 CFR 270.18f–3) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1 et seq.) exempts from section 18(f)(1) a fund that issues multiple classes of shares representing interests in the same portfolio of securities (a ‘‘multiple class fund’’) if the fund satisfies the conditions of the rule. In general, each class must differ in its arrangement for shareholder services or distribution or both, and must pay the related expenses of that different arrangement. The rule includes one requirement for the collection of information. A multiple class fund must prepare, and fund directors must approve, a written plan setting forth the separate arrangement and expense allocation of each class, and any related conversion features or exchange privileges (‘‘rule 18f–3 plan’’). Approval of the plan must occur before the fund issues any shares of multiple classes and whenever the fund materially amends the plan. In approving the plan, the fund board, including a majority of the independent directors, must determine that the plan is in the best interests of each class and the fund as a whole. The requirement that the fund prepare and directors approve a written rule 18f–3 plan is intended to ensure that the fund compiles information relevant to the fairness of the separate arrangement and expense allocation for each class, and that directors review and approve the information. Without a blueprint E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM 25AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 164 / Monday, August 25, 2014 / Notices that highlights material differences among classes, directors might not perceive potential conflicts of interests when they determine whether the plan is in the best interests of each class and the fund. In addition, the plan may be useful to Commission staff in reviewing the fund’s compliance with the rule. Based on an analysis of fund filings, the Commission estimates that there are approximately 5,831 multiple class funds offered by 969 registrants. The Commission estimates that each of the 969 registrants will make an average of 0.5 responses annually to prepare and approve a written 18f-3 plan.1 The Commission estimates each response will take 6 hours, requiring a total of 3 hours per registrant per year.2 Thus the total annual hour burden associated with these requirements of the rule is approximately 2,907 hours.3 Estimates of the average burden hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and forms. The collection of information under rule 18f-3 is mandatory. The information provided under rule 18f-3 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 OMB control number. The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site: 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, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/ o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: August 19, 2014. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–20087 Filed 8–22–14; 8:45 am] emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 1 The Commission estimates that each registrant prepares and approves a rule 18f-3 plan every two years when issuing a new fund or new class or amending a plan (or that 484.5 of all 969 registrants prepare and approve a plan each year). 2 0.5 responses per registrant × 6 hours per response = 3 hours per registrant. 3 3 hours per registrant per year × 969 registrants = 2,907 hours per year. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:31 Aug 22, 2014 Jkt 232001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–2736. Extension: Rule 3a–8;OMB Control No. 3235–0574, SEC File No. 270–516. 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 (‘‘OMB’’) 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 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 1 Rule PO 00000 3a–8(a)(6) (17 CFR 270.3a–8(6)). Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 50711 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 48,393 R&D companies may take advantage of rule 3a–8.2 Given that the board resolutions and investment guidelines will generally need to be adopted only once (unless relevant circumstances change),3 the Commission believes that all the R&D companies that existed prior to the adoption of rule 3a–8 adopted their board resolutions and established written investment guidelines in 2003 when the rule was adopted. We expect that R&D companies formed subsequent to the adoption of rule 3a–8 would adopt the board resolution and investment guidelines simultaneously with their formation documents in the ordinary course of business.4 Therefore, we estimate that rule 3a–8 does not impose additional burdens. 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, 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, Chief Information Officer, 2 See National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Statistics, Business Research and Development and Innovation Survey: 2010 (results published September 18, 2013). 3 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. 4 In order for these companies to raise sufficient capital to fund their product development stage, Commission staff believes that they will need to present potential investors with investment guidelines. Investors generally want to be assured that the company’s funds are invested consistent with the goals of capital preservation and liquidity. E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM 25AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50710-50711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20087]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 
20549-2736.

Extension:
    Rule 18f-3; OMB Control No. 3235-0441, SEC File No. 270-385.

    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (``Paperwork Reduction Act''), the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``the Commission'') has submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') a request for 
extension of the previously approved collection of information 
discussed below.
    Rule 18f-3 (17 CFR 270.18f-3) under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) exempts from section 18(f)(1) a fund 
that issues multiple classes of shares representing interests in the 
same portfolio of securities (a ``multiple class fund'') if the fund 
satisfies the conditions of the rule. In general, each class must 
differ in its arrangement for shareholder services or distribution or 
both, and must pay the related expenses of that different arrangement. 
The rule includes one requirement for the collection of information. A 
multiple class fund must prepare, and fund directors must approve, a 
written plan setting forth the separate arrangement and expense 
allocation of each class, and any related conversion features or 
exchange privileges (``rule 18f-3 plan''). Approval of the plan must 
occur before the fund issues any shares of multiple classes and 
whenever the fund materially amends the plan. In approving the plan, 
the fund board, including a majority of the independent directors, must 
determine that the plan is in the best interests of each class and the 
fund as a whole.
    The requirement that the fund prepare and directors approve a 
written rule 18f-3 plan is intended to ensure that the fund compiles 
information relevant to the fairness of the separate arrangement and 
expense allocation for each class, and that directors review and 
approve the information. Without a blueprint

[[Page 50711]]

that highlights material differences among classes, directors might not 
perceive potential conflicts of interests when they determine whether 
the plan is in the best interests of each class and the fund. In 
addition, the plan may be useful to Commission staff in reviewing the 
fund's compliance with the rule.
    Based on an analysis of fund filings, the Commission estimates that 
there are approximately 5,831 multiple class funds offered by 969 
registrants. The Commission estimates that each of the 969 registrants 
will make an average of 0.5 responses annually to prepare and approve a 
written 18f-3 plan.\1\ The Commission estimates each response will take 
6 hours, requiring a total of 3 hours per registrant per year.\2\ Thus 
the total annual hour burden associated with these requirements of the 
rule is approximately 2,907 hours.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Commission estimates that each registrant prepares and 
approves a rule 18f-3 plan every two years when issuing a new fund 
or new class or amending a plan (or that 484.5 of all 969 
registrants prepare and approve a plan each year).
    \2\ 0.5 responses per registrant x 6 hours per response = 3 
hours per registrant.
    \3\ 3 hours per registrant per year x 969 registrants = 2,907 
hours per year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimates of the average burden hours are made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a 
comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of 
Commission rules and forms. The collection of information under rule 
18f-3 is mandatory. The information provided under rule 18f-3 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 OMB control number.
    The public may view the background documentation for this 
information collection at the following Web site: 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, Chief Information Officer, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street 
NE., Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. 
Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

    Dated: August 19, 2014.
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-20087 Filed 8-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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