Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 540-541 [2015-33211]

Download as PDF 540 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the NYSE’s principal office and on its Internet Web site at www.nyse.com. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSE– 2015–67 and should be submitted on or before January 27, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.16 Jill M. Peterson, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–33217 Filed 1–5–16; 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Extension: Rule 206(4)–2. OMB Control No. 3235–0241, SEC File No. 270–217. 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 and revision of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. The title for the collection of information is ‘‘Rule 206(4)–2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940— Custody of Funds or Securities of Clients by Investment Advisers.’’ Rule 206(4)–2 (17 CFR 275.206(4)–2) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–1 et seq.) governs the custody of funds or securities of clients 16 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 05, 2016 Jkt 238001 by Commission-registered investment advisers. Rule 206(4)–2 requires each registered investment adviser that has custody of client funds or securities to maintain those client funds or securities with a broker-dealer, bank or other ‘‘qualified custodian.’’ 1 The rule requires the adviser to promptly notify clients as to the place and manner of custody, after opening an account for the client and following any changes.2 If an adviser sends account statements to its clients, it must insert a legend in the notice and in subsequent account statements sent to those clients urging them to compare the account statements from the custodian with those from the adviser.3 The adviser also must have a reasonable basis, after due inquiry, for believing that the qualified custodian maintaining client funds and securities sends account statements directly to the advisory clients, and undergo an annual surprise examination by an independent public accountant to verify client assets pursuant to a written agreement with the accountant that specifies certain duties.4 Unless client assets are maintained by an independent custodian (i.e., a custodian that is not the adviser itself or a related person), the adviser also is required to obtain or receive a report of the internal controls relating to the custody of those assets from an independent public accountant that is registered with and subject to regular inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (‘‘PCAOB’’).5 The rule exempts advisers from the rule with respect to clients that are registered investment companies. Advisers to limited partnerships, limited liability companies and other pooled investment vehicles are excepted from the account statement delivery and deemed to comply with the annual surprise examination requirement if the limited partnerships, limited liability companies or pooled investment vehicles are subject to annual audit by an independent public accountant registered with, and subject to regular inspection by the PCAOB, and the audited financial statements are distributed to investors in the pools.6 The rule also provides an exception to the surprise examination requirement for advisers that have custody because they have authority to deduct advisory fees from client accounts and advisers that have custody solely because a 1 Rule 206(4)–2(a)(1). 206(4)–2(a)(2). 3 Rule 206(4)–2(a)(2). 4 Rule 206(4)–2(a)(3), (4). 5 Rule 206(4)–2(a)(6). 6 Rule 206(4)–2(b)(4). 2 Rule PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 related person holds the adviser’s client assets and the related person is operationally independent of the adviser.7 Advisory clients use this information to confirm proper handling of their accounts. The Commission’s staff uses the information obtained through these collections in its enforcement, regulatory and examination programs. Without the information collected under the rule, the Commission would be less efficient and effective in its programs and clients would not have information valuable for monitoring an adviser’s handling of their accounts. The respondents to this information collection are investment advisers registered with the Commission and have custody of clients’ funds or securities. We estimate that 5,228 advisers would be subject to the information collection burden under the rule 206(4)–2. The number of responses under rule 206(4)–2 will vary considerably depending on the number of clients for which an adviser has custody of funds or securities, and the number of investors in pooled investment vehicles that the adviser manages. It is estimated that the average number of responses annually for each respondent would be 6,830, and an average time of 0.02286 hour per response. The annual aggregate burden for all respondents to the requirements of rule 206(4)–2 is estimated to be 816,285 hours. This collection of information is found at 17 CFR 275.206(4)–2 and is mandatory. Responses to the collection of information are not kept confidential. Commission-registered investment advisers are required to maintain and preserve certain information required under rule 206(4)–2 for five years. The long-term retention of these records is necessary for the Commission’s examination program to ascertain compliance with the Investment Advisers Act. The estimated average burden hours are made solely for the purposes of Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a comprehensive or even representative survey or study of the cost of Commission rules and forms. 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 7 Rule Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM 206(4)–2(b)(3), (b)(6). 06JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices 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) Pamela Dyson, Director/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: December 30, 2015. Jill M. Peterson, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–33211 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [OMB Control No. 3235–0585, SEC File No. 270–523] Proposed Collection; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–2736. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Extension: Rule 206(4)–7. 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’’) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval. The title for the collection of information is ‘‘Investment Advisers Act rule 206(4)–7 (17 CFR 275.206(4)–7), Compliance procedures and practices.’’ Rule 206(4)–7 requires each investment adviser registered with the Commission to (i) adopt and implement internal compliance policies and procedures, (ii) review those policies and procedures annually, (iii) designate a chief compliance officer, and (iv) maintain certain compliance records. The rule is designed to protect investors by fostering better compliance with the securities laws. The collection of information under rule 206(4)–7 is necessary to assure that investment advisers maintain comprehensive internal programs that promote the advisers’ compliance with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information collected under this rule VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jan 05, 2016 Jkt 238001 may also assist Commission staff in assessing investment advisers’ compliance programs. This collection of information is mandatory. The information collected pursuant to the rule 206(4)–7 is reviewed by the Commission’s examination staff; it will be accorded the same level of confidentiality accorded to other responses provided to the Commission in the context of its examination and oversight program. The respondents to this information collection are investment advisers registered with the Commission. Our latest data indicate that there were 12,026 advisers registered with the Commission as of November 1, 2015. The Commission has estimated that compliance with rule 206(4)–7 imposes an annual burden of approximately 87 hours per respondent. Based on this figure, the Commission estimates a total annual burden of 1,046,262 hours for this collection of information. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number. Please direct your written comments to Pamela Dyson, Director/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. Dated: December 30, 2015. Jill M. Peterson, Assistant Secretary. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–76801; File No. SR–Phlx– 2015–99] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Order Exposure December 30, 2015. Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on December 15, 2015, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend Phlx Rule 1080, entitled ‘‘Phlx XL and Phlx XL II,’’ to account for potential internal conflicts with other Exchange Rules, which are exceptions to the order exposure rule regarding principle orders the Order Entry Firm represents as agent from being exposed. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at https:// nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. [FR Doc. 2015–33210 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am] 1 15 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P PO 00000 2 17 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 541 E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 06JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 540-541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33211]


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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 206(4)-2.
    OMB Control No. 3235-0241, SEC File No. 270-217.

    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 and revision of the 
previously approved collection of information discussed below.
    The title for the collection of information is ``Rule 206(4)-2 
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940--Custody of Funds or 
Securities of Clients by Investment Advisers.'' Rule 206(4)-2 (17 CFR 
275.206(4)-2) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-
1 et seq.) governs the custody of funds or securities of clients by 
Commission-registered investment advisers. Rule 206(4)-2 requires each 
registered investment adviser that has custody of client funds or 
securities to maintain those client funds or securities with a broker-
dealer, bank or other ``qualified custodian.'' \1\ The rule requires 
the adviser to promptly notify clients as to the place and manner of 
custody, after opening an account for the client and following any 
changes.\2\ If an adviser sends account statements to its clients, it 
must insert a legend in the notice and in subsequent account statements 
sent to those clients urging them to compare the account statements 
from the custodian with those from the adviser.\3\ The adviser also 
must have a reasonable basis, after due inquiry, for believing that the 
qualified custodian maintaining client funds and securities sends 
account statements directly to the advisory clients, and undergo an 
annual surprise examination by an independent public accountant to 
verify client assets pursuant to a written agreement with the 
accountant that specifies certain duties.\4\ Unless client assets are 
maintained by an independent custodian (i.e., a custodian that is not 
the adviser itself or a related person), the adviser also is required 
to obtain or receive a report of the internal controls relating to the 
custody of those assets from an independent public accountant that is 
registered with and subject to regular inspection by the Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board (``PCAOB'').\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Rule 206(4)-2(a)(1).
    \2\ Rule 206(4)-2(a)(2).
    \3\ Rule 206(4)-2(a)(2).
    \4\ Rule 206(4)-2(a)(3), (4).
    \5\ Rule 206(4)-2(a)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The rule exempts advisers from the rule with respect to clients 
that are registered investment companies. Advisers to limited 
partnerships, limited liability companies and other pooled investment 
vehicles are excepted from the account statement delivery and deemed to 
comply with the annual surprise examination requirement if the limited 
partnerships, limited liability companies or pooled investment vehicles 
are subject to annual audit by an independent public accountant 
registered with, and subject to regular inspection by the PCAOB, and 
the audited financial statements are distributed to investors in the 
pools.\6\ The rule also provides an exception to the surprise 
examination requirement for advisers that have custody because they 
have authority to deduct advisory fees from client accounts and 
advisers that have custody solely because a related person holds the 
adviser's client assets and the related person is operationally 
independent of the adviser.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Rule 206(4)-2(b)(4).
    \7\ Rule 206(4)-2(b)(3), (b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Advisory clients use this information to confirm proper handling of 
their accounts. The Commission's staff uses the information obtained 
through these collections in its enforcement, regulatory and 
examination programs. Without the information collected under the rule, 
the Commission would be less efficient and effective in its programs 
and clients would not have information valuable for monitoring an 
adviser's handling of their accounts.
    The respondents to this information collection are investment 
advisers registered with the Commission and have custody of clients' 
funds or securities. We estimate that 5,228 advisers would be subject 
to the information collection burden under the rule 206(4)-2. The 
number of responses under rule 206(4)-2 will vary considerably 
depending on the number of clients for which an adviser has custody of 
funds or securities, and the number of investors in pooled investment 
vehicles that the adviser manages. It is estimated that the average 
number of responses annually for each respondent would be 6,830, and an 
average time of 0.02286 hour per response. The annual aggregate burden 
for all respondents to the requirements of rule 206(4)-2 is estimated 
to be 816,285 hours.
    This collection of information is found at 17 CFR 275.206(4)-2 and 
is mandatory. Responses to the collection of information are not kept 
confidential. Commission-registered investment advisers are required to 
maintain and preserve certain information required under rule 206(4)-2 
for five years. The long-term retention of these records is necessary 
for the Commission's examination program to ascertain compliance with 
the Investment Advisers Act.
    The estimated average burden hours are made solely for the purposes 
of Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a comprehensive or 
even representative survey or study of the cost of Commission rules and 
forms. 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

[[Page 541]]

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) Pamela Dyson, Director/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: December 30, 2015.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-33211 Filed 1-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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