Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 42564-42565 [2017-19070]

Download as PDF 42564 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 173 / Friday, September 8, 2017 / Notices Dated: September 6, 2017 Denise L. McGovern, Policy Coordinator, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–19138 Filed 9–6–17; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 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. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Extension: Rule 17f–2 (d), SEC File No. 270–036, OMB Control No. 3235–0028. 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’’) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 17f–2(d) (17 CFR 240.17f–2(d)), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for extension and approval. Rule 17f–2(d) requires that records created pursuant to the fingerprinting requirements of Section 17(f)(2) of the Act be maintained and preserved by every member of a national securities exchange, broker, dealer, registered transfer agent and registered clearing agency (‘‘covered entities’’ or ‘‘respondents’’); permits, under certain circumstances, the records required to be maintained and preserved by a member of a national securities exchange, broker, or dealer to be maintained and preserved by a selfregulatory organization that is also the designated examining authority for that member, broker or dealer; and permits the required records to be preserved on microfilm. The general purpose for Rule 17f–2 is to: (i) Identify security risk personnel; (ii) provide criminal record information so that employers can make fully informed employment decisions; and (iii) deter persons with criminal records from seeking employment or association with covered entities. The rule enables the Commission or other examining authority to ascertain whether all required persons are being fingerprinted and whether proper procedures regarding fingerprinting are being followed. Retention of these records for a period of not less than three years after termination of a VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Sep 07, 2017 Jkt 241001 covered person’s employment or relationship with a covered entity ensures that law enforcement officials will have easy access to fingerprint cards on a timely basis. This in turn acts as an effective deterrent to employee misconduct. Approximately 4,200 respondents are subject to the recordkeeping requirements of the rule. Each respondent maintains approximately 68 new records per year, each of which takes approximately 2 minutes per record to maintain, for an annual burden of approximately 2.2666667 hours (68 records times 2 minutes). The total annual burden for all respondents is approximately 9,520 (4,200 respondents times 2.2666667 hours). As noted above, all records maintained subject to the rule must be retained for a period of not less than three years after termination of a covered person’s employment or relationship with a covered entity. In addition, we estimate the total cost to respondents is approximately $42,000 in third party storage costs. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s estimates of the burden of the proposed 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, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Please direct your written comments to: Pamela Dyson, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi PavlikSimon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: PRA_ Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: September 5, 2017. Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. Extension: Rule 19a–1; SEC File No. 270–240, OMB Control No. 3235–0216 Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘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. Section 19(a) (15 U.S.C. 80a–19(a)) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) 1 makes it unlawful for any registered investment company to pay any dividend or similar distribution from any source other than the company’s net income, unless the payment is accompanied by a written statement to the company’s shareholders which adequately discloses the sources of the payment. Section 19(a) authorizes the Commission to prescribe the form of such statement by rule. Rule 19a–1 (17 CFR 270.19a–1) under the Act, entitled ‘‘Written Statement to Accompany Dividend Payments by Management Companies,’’ sets forth specific requirements for the information that must be included in statements made pursuant to section 19(a) by or on behalf of management companies.2 The rule requires that the statement indicate what portions of distribution payments are made from net income, net profits from the sale of a security or other property (‘‘capital gains’’) and paid-in capital. When any part of the payment is made from capital gains, rule 19a–1 also requires that the statement disclose certain other information relating to the appreciation or depreciation of portfolio securities. If an estimated portion is subsequently determined to be significantly inaccurate, a correction must be made on a statement made pursuant to section 19(a) or in the first report to 1 15 U.S.C. 80a. 4(3) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 80a–4(3)) defines ‘‘management company’’ as ‘‘any investment company other than a face amount certificate company or a unit investment trust.’’ 2 Section [FR Doc. 2017–19069 Filed 9–7–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM 08SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 173 / Friday, September 8, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES shareholders following the discovery of the inaccuracy. The purpose of rule 19a–1 is to afford fund shareholders adequate disclosure of the sources from which distribution payments are made. The rule is intended to prevent shareholders from confusing income dividends with distributions made from capital sources. Absent rule 19a–1, shareholders might receive a false impression of fund gains. Based on a review of filings made with the Commission, the staff estimates that approximately 11,818 series of registered investment companies that are management companies may be subject to rule 19a–1 each year,3 and that each portfolio on average mails two statements per year to meet the requirements of the rule.4 The staff further estimates that the time needed to make the determinations required by the rule and to prepare the statement required under the rule is approximately 1 hour per statement. The total annual burden for all portfolios therefore is estimated to be approximately 23,636 burden hours.5 The staff estimates that approximately one-third of the total annual burden (7,879 hours) would be incurred by a paralegal with an average hourly wage rate of approximately $205 per hour,6 and approximately two-thirds of the annual burden (15,757 hours) would be incurred by a compliance clerk with an average hourly wage rate of $66 per hour.7 The staff therefore estimates that the aggregate annual cost of complying with the paperwork requirements of the rule is approximately $2,655,157 ((7,879 3 This estimate is based on statistics compiled by Commission staff as of April 30, 2017. The number of management investment company portfolios that make distributions for which compliance with rule 19a–1 is required depends on a wide range of factors and can vary greatly across years. Therefore, the calculation of estimated burden hours is based on the total number of management investment company portfolios, each of which may be subject to rule 19a–1. 4 A few portfolios make monthly distributions from sources other than net income, so the rule requires them to send out a statement 12 times a year. Other portfolios never make such distributions. 5 This estimate is based on the following calculation: 11,818 management investment company portfolios × 2 statements per year × 1 hour per statement = 23,636 burden hours. 6 Hourly rates are derived from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (‘‘SIFMA’’), Management and Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, modified to account for an 1,800-hour work-year and inflation, and multiplied by 5.35 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits, and overhead. 7 Hourly rates are derived from SIFMA’s Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2013, modified to account for an 1,800-hour work-year and multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Sep 07, 2017 Jkt 241001 hours × $205 = $1,615,195) + (15,757 hours × $66 = $1,039,962)). To comply with state law, many investment companies already must distinguish the different sources from which a shareholder distribution is paid and disclose that information to shareholders. Thus, many investment companies would be required to distinguish the sources of shareholder dividends whether or not the Commission required them to do so under rule 19a–1. 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 collection of information required by rule 19a–1 is mandatory for management companies that make statements to shareholders pursuant to section 19(a) of the Act. 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. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s estimate of the burdens of the collections of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burdens of the collections 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. 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: September 5, 2017. Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–19070 Filed 9–7–17; 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 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 42565 Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–2736. Extension: Rule 17Ad–3(b), SEC File No. 270–424, OMB Control No. 3235–0473. 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 17Ad–3(b) (17 CFR 240.17Ad– 3(b)), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). Rule 17Ad–3(b) requires registered transfer agents to send a copy of the written notice required under Rules 17Ad–2(c), (d), and (h) to the chief executive officer of each issuer for which the transfer agent acts when it has failed to turnaround at least 75% of all routine items in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17Ad–2(a), or to process at least 75% of all items in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17Ad–2(b), for two consecutive months. The issuer may use the information contained in the notices: (1) As an early warning of the transfer agent’s non-compliance with the Commission’s minimum performance standards regarding registered transfer agents; and (2) to become aware of certain problems and poor performances with respect to the transfer agents that are servicing the issuer’s issues. If the issuer does not receive notice of a registered transfer agent’s failure to comply with the Commission’s minimum performance standards then the issuer will be unable to take remedial action to correct the problem or to find another registered transfer agent. Pursuant to Rule 17Ad–3(b), a transfer agent that has already filed a Notice of Non-Compliance with the Commission pursuant to Rule 17Ad–2 will only be required to send a copy of that notice to issuers for which it acts when that transfer agent fails to turnaround 75% of all routine items or to process 75% of all items. The Commission estimates that only one transfer agent will meet the requirements of Rule 17Ad–3(b) each year. If a transfer agent fails to meet those turnaround and processing performance requirements under 17Ad– 3(b), it would simply send a copy of the notice to its issuer-clients that had already been produced for the Commission pursuant to Rule 17Ad– 2(c) or (d). The Commission estimates E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM 08SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42564-42565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19070]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


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.

Extension:
    Rule 19a-1; SEC File No. 270-240, OMB Control No. 3235-0216

    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``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.
    Section 19(a) (15 U.S.C. 80a-19(a)) of the Investment Company Act 
of 1940 (the ``Act'') \1\ makes it unlawful for any registered 
investment company to pay any dividend or similar distribution from any 
source other than the company's net income, unless the payment is 
accompanied by a written statement to the company's shareholders which 
adequately discloses the sources of the payment. Section 19(a) 
authorizes the Commission to prescribe the form of such statement by 
rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 80a.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 19a-1 (17 CFR 270.19a-1) under the Act, entitled ``Written 
Statement to Accompany Dividend Payments by Management Companies,'' 
sets forth specific requirements for the information that must be 
included in statements made pursuant to section 19(a) by or on behalf 
of management companies.\2\ The rule requires that the statement 
indicate what portions of distribution payments are made from net 
income, net profits from the sale of a security or other property 
(``capital gains'') and paid-in capital. When any part of the payment 
is made from capital gains, rule 19a-1 also requires that the statement 
disclose certain other information relating to the appreciation or 
depreciation of portfolio securities. If an estimated portion is 
subsequently determined to be significantly inaccurate, a correction 
must be made on a statement made pursuant to section 19(a) or in the 
first report to

[[Page 42565]]

shareholders following the discovery of the inaccuracy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Section 4(3) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-4(3)) defines 
``management company'' as ``any investment company other than a face 
amount certificate company or a unit investment trust.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The purpose of rule 19a-1 is to afford fund shareholders adequate 
disclosure of the sources from which distribution payments are made. 
The rule is intended to prevent shareholders from confusing income 
dividends with distributions made from capital sources. Absent rule 
19a-1, shareholders might receive a false impression of fund gains.
    Based on a review of filings made with the Commission, the staff 
estimates that approximately 11,818 series of registered investment 
companies that are management companies may be subject to rule 19a-1 
each year,\3\ and that each portfolio on average mails two statements 
per year to meet the requirements of the rule.\4\ The staff further 
estimates that the time needed to make the determinations required by 
the rule and to prepare the statement required under the rule is 
approximately 1 hour per statement. The total annual burden for all 
portfolios therefore is estimated to be approximately 23,636 burden 
hours.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ This estimate is based on statistics compiled by Commission 
staff as of April 30, 2017. The number of management investment 
company portfolios that make distributions for which compliance with 
rule 19a-1 is required depends on a wide range of factors and can 
vary greatly across years. Therefore, the calculation of estimated 
burden hours is based on the total number of management investment 
company portfolios, each of which may be subject to rule 19a-1.
    \4\ A few portfolios make monthly distributions from sources 
other than net income, so the rule requires them to send out a 
statement 12 times a year. Other portfolios never make such 
distributions.
    \5\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: 11,818 
management investment company portfolios x 2 statements per year x 1 
hour per statement = 23,636 burden hours.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The staff estimates that approximately one-third of the total 
annual burden (7,879 hours) would be incurred by a paralegal with an 
average hourly wage rate of approximately $205 per hour,\6\ and 
approximately two-thirds of the annual burden (15,757 hours) would be 
incurred by a compliance clerk with an average hourly wage rate of $66 
per hour.\7\ The staff therefore estimates that the aggregate annual 
cost of complying with the paperwork requirements of the rule is 
approximately $2,655,157 ((7,879 hours x $205 = $1,615,195) + (15,757 
hours x $66 = $1,039,962)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Hourly rates are derived from the Securities Industry and 
Financial Markets Association (``SIFMA''), Management and 
Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, modified to 
account for an 1,800-hour work-year and inflation, and multiplied by 
5.35 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits, and 
overhead.
    \7\ Hourly rates are derived from SIFMA's Office Salaries in the 
Securities Industry 2013, modified to account for an 1,800-hour 
work-year and multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, 
employee benefits and overhead.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To comply with state law, many investment companies already must 
distinguish the different sources from which a shareholder distribution 
is paid and disclose that information to shareholders. Thus, many 
investment companies would be required to distinguish the sources of 
shareholder dividends whether or not the Commission required them to do 
so under rule 19a-1.
    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 collection of information 
required by rule 19a-1 is mandatory for management companies that make 
statements to shareholders pursuant to section 19(a) of the Act. 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.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the Commission, including whether the information has practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burdens 
of the collections of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burdens of the collections 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.
    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: September 5, 2017.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-19070 Filed 9-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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