Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 16249-16267 [2021-06243]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– CFE–2021–007 on the subject line. Paper Comments khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–CFE–2021–007. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s internet website (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written 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 website 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 also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–CFE–2021–007, and should be submitted on or before April 16, 2021. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.50 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–06232 Filed 3–25–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 50 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(73). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [SEC File No. 270–526, OMB Control No. 3235–0584] 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 12d1–1 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’’) 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 (‘‘OMB’’) for extension and approval. An investment company (‘‘fund’’) is generally limited in the amount of securities the fund (‘‘acquiring fund’’) can acquire from another fund (‘‘acquired fund’’). Section 12(d) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Investment Company Act’’ or ‘‘Act’’) 1 provides that a registered fund (and companies it controls) cannot: • Acquire more than three percent of another fund’s securities; • invest more than five percent of its own assets in another fund; or • invest more than ten percent of its own assets in other funds in the aggregate.2 In addition, a registered open-end fund, its principal underwriter, and any registered broker or dealer cannot sell that fund’s shares to another fund if, as a result: • The acquiring fund (and any companies it controls) owns more than three percent of the acquired fund’s stock; or • all acquiring funds (and companies they control) in the aggregate own more than ten percent of the acquired fund’s stock.3 Rule 12d1–1 under the Act provides an exemption from these limitations for 1 See 15 U.S.C. 80a. 15 U.S.C. 80a–12(d)(1)(A). If an acquiring fund is not registered, these limitations apply only with respect to the acquiring fund’s acquisition of registered funds. 3 See 15 U.S.C. 80a–12(d)(1)(B). 2 See PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16249 ‘‘cash sweep’’ arrangements in which a fund invests all or a portion of its available cash in a money market fund rather than directly in short-term instruments.4 An acquiring fund relying on the exemption may not pay a sales load, distribution fee, or service fee on acquired fund shares, or if it does, the acquiring fund’s investment adviser must waive a sufficient amount of its advisory fee to offset the cost of the loads or distribution fees.5 The acquired fund may be a fund in the same fund complex or in a different fund complex. In addition to providing an exemption from section 12(d)(1) of the Act, the rule provides exemptions from section 17(a) of the Act and rule 17d–1 thereunder, which restrict a fund’s ability to enter into transactions and joint arrangements with affiliated persons.6 These provisions would otherwise prohibit an acquiring fund from investing in a money market fund in the same fund complex,7 and prohibit a fund that acquires five percent or more of the securities of a money market fund in another fund complex from making any additional investments in the money market fund.8 4 See 17 CFR 270.12d1–1. rule 12d1–1(b)(1). 6 See 15 U.S.C. 80a–17(a), 15 U.S.C. 80a–17(d); 17 CFR 270.17d–1. 7 An affiliated person of a fund includes any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other person. See 15 U.S.C. 80a–2(a)(3) (definition of ‘‘affiliated person’’). Most funds today are organized by an investment adviser that advises or provides administrative services to other funds in the same complex. Funds in a fund complex are generally under common control of an investment adviser or other person exercising a controlling influence over the management or policies of the funds. See 15 U.S.C. 80a–2(a)(9) (definition of ‘‘control’’). Not all advisers control funds they advise. The determination of whether a fund is under the control of its adviser, officers, or directors depends on all the relevant facts and circumstances. See Investment Company Mergers, Investment Company Act Release No. 25259 (Nov. 8, 2001) [66 FR 57602 (Nov. 15, 2001)], at n.11. To the extent that an acquiring fund in a fund complex is under common control with a money market fund in the same complex, the funds would rely on the rule’s exemptions from section 17(a) and rule 17d–1. 8 See 15 U.S.C. 80a–2(a)(3)(A), (B). 5 See E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 16250 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices The rule also permits a registered fund to rely on the exemption to invest in an unregistered money market fund that limits its investments to those in which a registered money market fund may invest under rule 2a–7 under the Act, and undertakes to comply with all the other provisions of rule 2a–7.9 In addition, the acquiring fund must reasonably believe that the unregistered money market fund (i) operates in compliance with rule 2a–7, (ii) complies with sections 17(a), (d), (e), 18, and 22(e) of the Act 10 as if it were a registered open-end fund, (iii) has adopted procedures designed to ensure that it complies with these statutory provisions, (iv) maintains the records required by rules 31a–1(b)(1), 31a– 1(b)(2)(ii), 31a–1(b)(2)(iv), and 31a– 1(b)(9); 11 and (v) preserves permanently, the first two years in an easily accessible place, all books and records required to be made under these rules. Rule 2a–7 contains certain collection of information requirements. An unregistered money market fund that complies with rule 2a–7 would be subject to these collection of information requirements. In addition, the recordkeeping requirements under rule 31a–1 with which the acquiring fund reasonably believes the unregistered money market fund complies are collections of information for the unregistered money market fund. The adoption of procedures by unregistered money market funds to ensure that they comply with sections 17(a), (d), (e), 18, and 22(e) of the Act also constitute collections of 9 See 17 CFR 270.2a–7. 15 U.S.C. 80a–17(a), 15 U.S.C. 80a–17(d), 15 U.S.C. 80a–17(e), 15 U.S.C. 80a–18, 15 U.S.C. 80a–22(e). 11 See 17 CFR 270.31a–1(b)(1), 17 CFR 270.31a– 1(b)(2)(ii), 17 CFR 270.31a–1(b)(2)(iv), 17 CFR 270.31a–1(b)(9). khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 10 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 information. By allowing funds to invest in registered and unregistered money market funds, rule 12d1–1 is intended to provide funds greater options for cash management. In order for a registered fund to rely on the exemption to invest in an unregistered money market fund, the unregistered money market fund must comply with certain collection of information requirements for registered money market funds. These requirements are intended to ensure that the unregistered money market fund has established procedures for collecting the information necessary to make adequate credit reviews of securities in its portfolio, as well as other recordkeeping requirements that will assist the acquiring fund in overseeing the unregistered money market fund (and Commission staff in its examination of the unregistered money market fund’s adviser). The estimated average burden hours in this collection of information are made solely for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a quantitative, comprehensive or even representative survey or study of the burdens associated with Commission rules and forms. The number of unregistered money market funds that are affected by rule 12d1–1 is an estimate based on the number of private liquidity funds reported on Form PF as of the fourth calendar quarter 2019.12 The hour burden estimates for the condition that an unregistered money market fund comply with rule 2a–7 are based on the burden hours included in the 12 See the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management—Analytics Office Private Funds Statistics, Fourth Calendar Quarter (Oct. 2, 2020) available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/ investment/private-funds-statistics/private-fundsstatistics-2019-q4.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Commission’s 2019 PRA extension regarding rule 2a–7.13 However, we have updated the estimated costs associated using the following methodology: • For professional personnel: SIFMA’s Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by Commission staff 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; • For a fund board of directors: SIFMA data does not include a board of directors. For board time, Commission staff currently uses a cost of $4,770 per hour, which was last adjusted for inflation in 2019. This estimate assumes an average of nine board members per year; and • For clerical personnel: SIFMA’s Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by Commission staff to account for an 1,800-hour workyear and inflation, and multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits, and overhead. The estimated burden of information collection for rule 2a–7 is set forth in Table 1 below. We use these estimated burdens for registered money market funds to extrapolate the information collection burdens for unregistered money market funds under rule 12d1– 1 in Table 2 below. BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 13 See Securities and Exchange Commission, Request for OMB Approval of Extension for Approved Collection for Rule 2a–7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (OMB Control No. 3235–0268) (approved May 28, 2019) (the ‘‘2019 rule 2a–7 PRA extension’’). The 2019 rule 2a–7 PRA extension was the most recent rule 2a–7 submission that includes certain estimates with respect to aggregate annual hour and cost burdens for collections of information for registered money market funds. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 16251 Table 1: Rule 2a-7 burden of information collection for registered money market funds 14 Reco.rd of credit risk analyse~, and determination.regarding adjustable rate securities, asset backed securities, securities subjectto a demand feature orgu~rantee., and counterparties.to re urohase a· reeinents 85 responses annually for each of 433 funds 15 680 burden hours of professional (business analyst or portfolio manager) time per fund X $232 per hour (intermediate business analyst) + $332 per hour (senior portfolio manager) $564 433 $282 median weighted average per hour of professional time 14 The estimated responses and hour burdens shown in this chart were included in the Securities and Exchange Commission, Request for OMB Approval of Extension for Approved Collection for Rule 2a–7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (OMB Control No. 3235–0268) (approved May 28, 2019) (the ‘‘2019 rule 2aa–7 PRA extension’’). The 2019 rule 2aa–7 PRA extension was the most recent rule 2a–7 submission that includes certain estimates with respect to aggregate annual hour and cost burdens for collections of information for registered money market funds. However, the cost burdens shown in this chart have been updated. The cost burdens for professional personnel are based on SIFMA’s Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by the Commission staff 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 and the cost burdens for clerical personnel are based on SIFMA’s Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 Commission staff to account for an 1,800-hour work-year and inflation, and multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. However, SIFMA data does not include a board of directors. For board time, Commission staff currently uses a cost of $4,770 per hour, which was last adjusted for inflation in 2019. This estimate assumes an average of nine board members per year. 15 The number of funds based on Form N–MFP filings for the month ended September 30, 2018 and used in the 2019 rule 2a–7 PRA extension. 16 For purposes of the 2019 rule 2a–7 PRA extension, we assumed that on average 25% (433 funds × .25 = 108 funds) of money market funds would review and update their procedures on annual basis). 17 We have not amortized the one-time hour and cost burdens figures associated with new funds, because we estimated there would be 10 new funds each year. Therefore, the burden would occur each year instead of occurring over a three-year period. We have done this throughout this PRA. PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18 Commission staff estimates that there are 91 fund complexes subject to rule 2a–7. This estimate is based on Form N–MEP filings with the Commission for the month ended September 30, 2018. 19 We estimated that approximately two new money market funds would seek to qualify as retail money market funds under rule 2a–7 and therefore be required to adopt written policies and procedures reasonably designed to limit beneficial owners to natural persons. For purposes of the 2019 rule 2a–7 PRA extension, Form N–MFP data reflects that of the 30 new money market funds created between April of 2015 through September 2018, only six new money market funds elected to be retail funds—or approximately two per year ((6 funds/42 months) × 12 months). Based on these figures, we estimated that two new money market fund per year would elect to be a retail fund. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.007</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES $282 x 294,440 (hours)= 16252 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices Disclosure ofPorifolio Information 12 months x 433 funds= 5,196 responses per year Disclosure ofPorifolio Information 12 hours (webmaster) annually X 433 funds= 5,196 hours per year + 24 hours (webmaster) initial burden for each new fund x 10 new funds = 240 one-time hours 5,436 annual aggregate one-time and recurring burdens for the disclosure of portfolio holdings information Disclosure ofDaily and Weekly Liquid Assets and Net Shareholder Flow 31.5 hours (senior systems analyst/senior programmer) + 4.5 hours (compliance manager/compliance attorney) = 36 hours x 433 funds= 15,588 hours peryear + $1,359,000 aggregate annual one-time and recurringlaborburdens for disclosure of portfolio information Disclosure ofDaily and Weekly Liquid Assets and Net Shareholder Flow 31.5 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) = $9,797 (per fund) + 4.5 hours x $340 (blended rate for a compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368)) = $1,530 = $11,327 (per fund to update the depiction of daily and weekly liquid assets and the fund's net inflow or outflow on the fund's website each VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.008</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Disclosure ofDaily and Weekly Liquid Assets and Net Shareholder Flow 252 business days x 433 funds= 109,116 responses per year Disclosure ofPorifolio Information 5,196 hours for433 funds x $250 (per hour for a webmaster) =$1,299,000 (for recurring internal burden labor costs) + 240 hours for 10 new funds x $250 (per hour for a webmaster) = $60,000 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices business day during that year) x 433 funds =$4,904,591 + 700 hours (aggregate total one-time burden for 10 new funds) x [20 hours x $340 (blended rate for a compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368))= $6,800 + 50 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) =$15,550 = $22,350 (internal labor cost burden for each new funds)]= $223,500 16,288 aggregate annual one-time and recurring burden hours for disclosure of daily and weekly liquid assets and shareholder flow $5,128,091 aggregate annual one-time and recurring burdens for disclosure of daily and weekly liquid assets and shareholder flow Disclosure ofDaily CurrentNAV 32 hours (senior systems analyst/senior progranuner) x 433 funds = 13,856 hours per year+ Disclosure ofDaily CurrentNAV 32 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) = $9,952 (annual ongoing internal labor cost burden per fund) x 433 funds= $4,309,216 (ongoing annual burden) + 70 hours x 10 new funds = 700 one-time hours 14,556 aggregate annual one-time and recurring burden hours for the disclosure of daily current khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES NAY VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 700 hours (aggregate total one-time burden for 10 new funds) x [20 hours x $340 (blended rate for compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368))=$6,800 + 50 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior progranuner ($334) = $15,550 $22,350 per fund x 10 new funds = $223,500 (total one-time cost burden)] = E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.009</GPH> Disclosure ofDaily CurrentNAV 252 business days x 433 funds= 109,116 responses per year 70 hours (blended time for a compliance manager and a compliance attorney) x 10 new funds = 700 one-time hours 16253 16254 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices $4,532,716 aggregate annual one-time and recurring labor burdens for disclosure of daily and current NAY TJisclosure a/Financial Support Received by the Fund, the Imposition and Removal ofLiquidity Fees, and the Suspension and Resumption ofFund Redemptions 11 responses per year TJisclosure of Financial Support Received by the Fund, the Imposition and Removal ofLiquidity Fees, and the Suspension and Resumption ofFund Redemptions 1 additional burden hour each time a fund updates its website to include new disclosure about the provision of financial support to fund x 10 reports per year= Disclosure ofFinancial Support Received by the Fund, the Imposition and Removal ofLiquidity Fees, and the Suspension and Resumption ofFund Redemptions 10 reports per fund x 1 hour per website update x $250 per hour for a webmaster (internal cost burden per fund to include new disclosure) = 10 hours per year + 1 burden hour for website updates x l estimated instance of a fund updating its website regarding the imposition and removal of liquidity fees, and suspension and resumption of fund redemptions = 1 hour per year + 1 hour (annual aggregate burden) x $250 per hour for a webmaster = $250 (aggregate internal labor cost burden) $2,750 aggregate annual one-time and recurring burden for the disclosure of financial support received by the fund, the imposition and removal of liquidity fees, and the suspension and resumption of fund redemptions Total Estimated Responses Relating to Website Disclosure Total Estimated Burden Hours Relating to Website Disclosure Total Estimated Cost Burden Relating to Website Disclosure 5,196 +109,116 + 109,116 + 11 = 5,436 + 16,288 + 14,556 + 11 = $1,359,000 + $5,128,091 + $4,532,716 + $2,750 = VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.010</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 11 aggregate annual onetime and recurring burden for the disclosure of financial support received by the fund, the imposition and removal of liquidity fees, and the suspension and resumption of fund redemptions $2,500 (aggregate internal labor cost burden for disclosure of financial support provided to fimds) Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 16255 Board review of procedures and. guidelines of any investment adviser.or officers to whom the fund's board has delegated i:esponsibility under rule 2a-'7 and aniendment of such procedures an.d idelines 1 response annually for each of 108 funds 16 1 hour (board time) 1 hour x $4770 (board time)= $4,770 + 4 hours (compliance and professional legal time)= 5 hours per fund 4 x $340 (blended rate for compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368)) = $1,360 $4,770+ $1,360 = $6,130 (cost per fund) Total 5 hours x 108 estimated res onses = $6,130 x 108 estimated res onses = 108 estimated responses annuall 540 estimated burden hours $662,040 estimated cost burden 1 response annually 17 for each of 91 fund complexes 18 1 hour of board time 5 hours of senior portfolio manager time 3 hours of risk management specialist time 1 hour x $4,770 (board time)= $4,770 Sfmt 4725 26MRN1 R~view, revise, and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 5 x $332 (Sr. portfolio manager)= $1,660 EN26MR21.011</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES approve written. proced.ures_ to stress test a fund:s ortfolio 16256 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices Total + 3 hours of professional legal time 3 x $201 (risk management specialist)= $603 12 burden hours per fund complex 3 x $401 (attorney) = $1,203 12 hours x 91estimated responses= $4,770 + $1,660+ $603+ $1,203 = $8,236 per fund complex 91 estimated responses annuall 1,092 estimated burden hours $8,236 x 91 estimated res onses = $749,476 estimated cost burden 5 responses annually for each of 91 fund complexes 5 hours senior portfolio manager time 2 hours compliance manager time 2 hours professional legal time + 1 hour uaralegal time 5 x $332 (sr. portfolio manager)= $1,660 2 x $312 (compliance manager) = $624 2 x $419 (attorney)= $838 = 10 hours per response 1 x $219 (paralegal)= $219 10 hours x 455 responses khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Total VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 455 estimated responses annuall Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 4,550 estimated burden hours $3,341 x 455 estimated res onses = $1,520,155 estimated cost burden 12 hours (attorney time)+ + 1 hour oard time = 12 x $419 (attorney)= $5 028 Sfmt 4725 26MRN1 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM EN26MR21.012</GPH> $1,660 + $624 + $838 + $219 = $3,341 per response Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 16257 13 hours per fund 1 hour x $4,770 ( board time) = $4,770 $5,028 + $4,770 =$9,798 (per fund) Total 2 estimated responses annuall 1 response annually for 10 new money market funds 13 hours x 2 estimated res onses = 26 estimated burden hours $9,798 x 2 estimated res onses = $19,596 estimated cost burden 3 hours board time 8 hours professional legal time 7 hours risk management specialist time + 4 hours senior risk management time 3 hours x $4,770 ( board time)= $14,310 22 hours 8 hours x $419 (attorney) = $3,352 7 hours x $201 (risk management specialist)= $1,407 4 hours x $361 (sr. risk management specialist)= $1,444 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Total 10 estimated responses annuall 1 response annually for 10 new funds VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 22 hours x 10 estimated res onses = 220 estimated burden hours $20,513 x 10 estimated res onses = $205,130 estimated cost burden .5 hours of board time 7 .2 hours professional le al time .5 x hours x $4,770 ( board time) =$2,385 Sfmt 4725 26MRN1 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM EN26MR21.013</GPH> $14,310 + $3,352 + $1,407 + $1,444 = $20,513 (per response) 16258 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices + 7. 7 hours paralegal time = 15.5 hour per response 7.2 hours x $419 (attorney)= $3,016.80 7.7 hours x $219 (paralegal)= $1,686.30 $2,385 + $3,016.80 + $1,686.30 = $7,088.10 per response Total 10 estimated responses annuall 2 funds per year 15.5 hours xlO estimated res onses = 155 estimated burden hours $7,088.10 x 10 estimated res onses = $70,881 estimated cost burden 4 hours attorney 2 hours of board time + 1 hour of fund's compliance attorney = 7 hours per fund 4 hours x $419 (attorney) = $1,676 2 hours x $4,770 ( board time) = $9,540 1 x $368 (compliance attorney) = $368 7 hours x 2 funds = 2 estimated responses annuall 14 estimated burden hours 2 responses annually for 20 funds .5 hours (professional legal time) .5 hour x $419 (attorney) = $209.50 per response Total 40 estimated responses annuall 20 estimated burden hours $209.50 x 40 estimated res onses = $8,380 estimated cost burden TOTAL ESTIMATED ANNUAL BURDEN OF INFORMATION COLLECTION FOR RULE 2a-7 260,962 estimated responses annually 337,348 estimated burden hours annually $97,313,463 estimated cost burden annually Based on the estimated burden of information collection for rule 2a–7 and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 Form PF filings, the estimated burden of PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 information collection for rule 12d1–1 is set forth in Table 2 below. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.014</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Total $1,676+$9,540+$368 = $11,584 estimated cost burden er fund x 2 funds $23,168 estimated cost burden Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 16259 Table 2: Rule 12dl-1 burden of information collection burden estimates for unregistered money market funds 85 responses annually per 41 liquidity funds 21 680 burden hours of professional (business analyst or portfolio manager) time per liquidity fund x 41 liquidity funds $232 per hour (intermediate business analyst) + $332 per hour (senior portfolio manager) $564 20 The cost burdens shown in this chart for professional personnel are based on SIFMA’s Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by the Commission staff 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 and the cost burdens for clerical personnel are based on SIFMA’s Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by Commission staff to account for an 1,800-hour work-year and inflation, and multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. However, SIFMA data does not include a board of directors. For board time, Commission staff currently uses a cost of $4,770 per hour, which was last adjusted for inflation in 2019. This estimate assumes an average of nine board members per year. We use these estimated burdens for registered money market funds to extrapolate the information collection burdens for unregistered money market funds under rule 12d1–1 in this Table 2. 21 The number of liquidity funds is based on the following: 65 × the percentage of liquidity funds that are at least partially in compliance with the risk-limiting provisions of rule 2a–7 and used in the most recent supporting statement for rule 2a–7 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 100¥37.2) = 62.8%. The result (rounded up to a whole number) is 41 liquidity funds. The number of liquidity funds is based on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management—Analytics Office Private Funds Statistics, Fourth Calendar Quarter (Oct. 2, 2020) available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/ investment/private-funds-statistics/private-fundsstatistics-2019-q4.pdf. 22 The number of new unregistered money market funds is estimated from 2018–2019 historical Form PF filings by liquidity fund advisers. See Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management—Analytics Office Private Funds Statistics, Fourth Calendar Quarter (Oct. 2, 2020) available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/ investment/private-funds-statistics/private-fundsstatistics-2019-q4.pdf. 23 We recognize that in many cases the adviser to an unregistered money market fund typically performs the function of the fund’s board. Money Market Fund Reform; Amendments to Form PF Investment Company Act Rel. No. 31166 (Jul. 23, 2014), 79 FR 47735, 47809 (Aug. 14, 2014). 24 For purposes of this PRA extension, we assumed that on average 25% (41 funds × .25 = approximately 10 funds) of liquidity funds would review and update their procedures on annual basis. PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25 This number has been derived from the number of advisers to liquidity funds. See U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Investment Management, Analytics Office, Private Fund Statistics, Fourth Quarter 2019 (Oct. 2, 2020), Table 2. 26 See supra note 23. 27 There are no liquidity funds of this type; liquidity funds only are offered to qualified investors. 28 See supra note 23. 29 Id. 30 Id. 31 In the context of registered money market funds, we have previously estimated an average of approximately 2 occurrences for 20 funds each year; however, this number may vary significantly in any particular year. For purposes of this PRA extension, we assumed there would be same proportion of unregistered money market funds experiencing events of default or solvency each year. (20/433 registered money market funds = approximately 5%. 5% × 41 liquidity funds = approximately 2 liquidity funds.) E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.015</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES +2 16260 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices = $282 median weighted average per hour X 3,485 estimated responses per liquidity fund annuall 27,880 estimated burden hours Disclosure ofPortfolio Holdings Information 12 months x 41 liquidity funds = 492 responses per year Disclosure ofPortfolio Holdings Information 12 hours (one hour per monthly filing) to update the website to include the disclosure of portfolio holdings information x 41 liquidity funds = 492 hours per year+ 24 hours of webmaster time for an estimated 1 new liquidity fund 22 each year to initially develop a webpage and provide monthly disclosure for the initial year = 24 one-time burden hours khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 516 aggregate annual onetime and recurring burden hours for the disclosure of portfolio holdings VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 27,880 hours= $7,862,160 estimated cost burden Disclosure ofPortfolio Holdings Information 492 hours for 41 liquidity funds x $250 (per hour for a webmaster) =$123,000 (for recurring internal burden labor costs)+ 24 hours for 1 new liquidity fund x $250 (per hour for a webmaster) = $6,000 $129,000 total aggregate annual one-time and recurring labor burdens for disclosure of portfolio holdings 26MRN1 EN26MR21.016</GPH> Total Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices Disclosure ofDaily and Week~y Liquid Assets and Net Shareholder Flow 252 business days x 41 liquidity funds= 10,332 per year Disclosure ofDaily and Week~y Liquid Assets and Net Shareholder Flow 36 hours ongoing annual burden x 41 liquidity funds = 1,476 hours per year + 70 hours for each new liquidity fund x 1 new fund = 70 one-time hours 1,476 ammal burden hours + 70 one-time burden hours = 1,546 aggregate annual recurring and onetime burden hours for disclosure of daily and weekly liquid assets and shareholder flow 16261 Disclosure ofDaily and Week~y Liquid Assets and Net Shareholder Flow 31.5 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) = $9,797 (per liquidity fund) + 4.5 hours x $340 (blended rate for compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368)) = $ l ,530 = $11,327 (per fund to update the depiction of daily and weekly liquid assets and the liquidity fund's net inflow or outflow on the liquidity fund's website each business day during that year) X 41 liquidity funds = $464,407 recurring aggregate annual cost burdens for the disclosure of daily and weekly liquid assets and weekly liquid assets and the fund's net inflow or outflow on the liquidity fund's website each business day during the year + = $2,028,907 aggregate annual recurring and onetime cost burdens for VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.017</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 70 hours aggregate total one-time burden for 1 new fund) x f20 hours x $340 (blended rate for compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368))= $6,800 + 50 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) =$15,550 = $22,350 (internal labor cost burden for each new fund)]= $1,564,500 16262 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices disclosure of daily and weekly liquid assets and shareholder flow Disclosure ofDaily CurrentNAV 252 business days x 41 liquidity funds= 10,332 per year Disclosure ofDaily Current }VA V 32 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) = $9,952 (annual ongoing internal labor cost burden per fund) x 41 funds = $408,932 ongoing annual cost burdens Disclosure ofDaily CurrentNAV 32 hours x 41 liquidity funds = 1,312 hours per year + 70 one-time burden hours for each new liquidity fund x 1 new liquidity fund = 70 one-time burden hours + 1,312 annual burden hours + 70 one-time burden hours= 1,382 aggregate annual recurring and onetime burden hours for disclosure of daily current NAY 70 hours (aggregate total one-time burden for 1 new liquidity fund) x [20 hours x $340 (blended rate for compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368))= $6,800 + 50 hours x $311 (blended rate for a senior systems analyst ($287) and senior programmer ($334) = $15,550 = $22,350 (internal labor cost burden for each new fund)]= $1,564,500 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 Disclosure ofFinancial Support Received by the Fund, and Imposition and Removal ofLiquidity Fees, and the :','uspension and Resumption ofFund Redemptions Not applicable Disclosure ofFinancial Support Received by the Fund, and Imposition and Removal ofLiquidity Fees, and the Suspension and Resumption ofFund Redemptions Not applicable Total Estimated Burden Hours Relating to Website Disclosure Total Estimated Burden Hours Relating to Website Disclosure PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 Disclosure ofFinancial Support Received by the Fund, and Impusiliun and Removal ofLiquidity Fees, and the Suspension and Resumption of Fund Redemptions Not applicable E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM Total Estimated Burden Hours Relating to Website Disclosure 26MRN1 EN26MR21.018</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES $408,932 (recurring internal cost burden) + $1,564,500 (one-time internal labor cost burden) = $1,973,432 aggregate annual recurring and one-time cost burdens Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices TOTAL 492+ 10,332+ 10,332 = 516 + 1,546 + 1,382 + 0 +0 $129,000 + $2,028,907+ $1,973,432 = 21,156 estimated res onses 3,444 estimated burden hours $4,131,339 estimated cost burden 1 response annually for each of 10 funds 24 1 hour (board time) 1 hour x $4 770 ( board time)= $4,770 + 4 hours (compliance and 12rofessional legal time) = 5 hours 4 x $340 (blended rate for compliance manager ($312) and a compliance attorney ($368)) = $1,360 16263 $4,770+ $1,360 = $6,130 (cost per fund) khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES TOTAL VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 10 estimated responses 50 estimated burden hours 1 response annually for each of 36 fund com lexes 25 1 hour of board time 5 hours of senior portfolio mana ertime Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM $6,130 x 10 estimated res onses = $61,300 estimated cost burden 1 hour x $4,770 ( board time)= $4,770 26MRN1 EN26MR21.019</GPH> 5 hours x 10 responses = 16264 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 3 hours of risk management specialist time + 3 hours of professional legal time 5 x $332 (Sr. portfolio manager) = $1,660 12 hours 3 x $401 (attorney)= $1,203 12 hours x 36 estimated responses= TOTAL 36 estimated responses 432 estimated burden hours 5 responses annually for each of 36 fund complexes 5 hours senior portfolio manager time 2 hours compliance manager time 2 hours professional legal time + 1 hour 12aralegal time 3 X $201 (risk management specialist) = $603 $4,770 + $1,660+ $603+ $1,203 = $8,236 per liquidity fund complex $8,236 x 36 estimated res onses = $296,496 estimated cost burden 5 x $332 (sr. portfolio manager) = $1,660 2 x $312 (compliance manager) = $624 2 x $419 (attorney)= $838 = 10 hours per response 1 x $219 (paralegal)= $219 $1,660 + $624 + $838 + $219 = $3,341 per response TOTAL 180 estimated responses 1800 estimated burden hours $3,341 x 180 estimated res onses = $601,380 estimated cost burden Establishment of. written proceduresto testperiodic:ally the abilit .of the fund to VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.020</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES TOTAL Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 1 response annually for 1 new liquidity fund 3 hours board time 8 hours professional legal time 7 hours risk management specialist time +4 hours senior risk management time 22 hours 16265 3 hours x $4,770 (board time)= $14,310 8 hours x $419 (attorney) = $3,352 7 hours x $201 (risk management specialist) = $1,407 4 hours x $361 (sr. risk management specialist) = $1,444 $14,310 + $3,352 + $1,407 + $1,444 = $20,513 (per response) TOTAL 1 estimated response 22 estimated burden hours 1 response annually for 1 new liquidity fund .5 hours board time 7 .2 hours professional legal time +7.8 hours 12aralegal time $20,513(cost) x 1 estimated res onse $20,513 estimated cost burden .5 hours x $4,770 (board time)= $2,385 7.2 hours x $419 (attorney)= $3,016.80 15.5 hours 7.8 hours x $219 (paralegal)= $1,708.20 $2,385 + $3,016.80+ $1,708.20 = $7,110 (per response) VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 1 estimated response Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 15.5 estimated burden hours Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.021</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES TOTAL $7,110 x 1 estimated res onse = $7,110 estimated cost burden 16266 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices 2 liquidity funds per year 4 hours attorney 2 hours of board time + 1 hours of fund's com12liance attorney 7 hours per liquidity fund 4 hours x $419 (attorney) = $1,676 2 hours x $4,770 ( board time)= $9,540 1 x $368 (compliance attorney)= $368 $1,676+$9,540+$368 = $11,584 per liquidity fund 2 estimated responses annually for 2 liquidity funds 31 $11,584 x 2 estimated res onses = $23,168 estimated costs burden .5 hours (professional legal time) = $209.50 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES x 4 responses Total 4 estimated responses 2 estimated burden hours TOTAL ESTIMATED BURDEN OF INFORMATION COLLECTION FOR RULE 12dl-1 24,875 estimated responses annually 33,660 estimated burden hours annually Commission staff estimates that in addition to the costs described in Table 2 above, unregistered money market funds will incur costs to preserve records, as required under rule 2a–7. These costs will vary significantly for individual funds, depending on the amount of assets under fund management and whether the fund preserves its records in a storage facility in hard copy or has developed and maintains a computer system to create and preserve compliance records. In the 2019 rule 2a–7 PRA extension, Commission staff estimated that the amount an individual money market fund may spend ranges from $100 per year to $300,000. We have no reason to believe the range is different for unregistered money market funds. Based on Form PF data as of the fourth VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 253001 .5 hour x $419 (attorney) $209.50 x 4 estimated res onses = $838 estimated cost burden $13,004,304 estimated cost burden annually calendar quarter 2019, liquidity funds have $294 billion in gross asset value.32 The Commission does not have specific information about the proportion of assets held in small, medium-sized, or large unregistered money market funds. Because liquidity funds are often used as cash management vehicles, the staff estimates that each private liquidity fund is a ‘‘large’’ fund (i.e., more than $1 billion in assets under management). Based on a cost of $0.0000009 per dollar of assets under management (for large funds),33 the staff estimates compliance with rule 2a–7 for these unregistered money market funds totals $264,600 annually.34 Consistent with estimates made in the rule 2a–7 submission, Commission staff estimates that unregistered money market funds also incur capital costs to create computer programs for maintaining and preserving compliance records for rule 2a–7 of $0.0000132 per dollar of assets under management. Based on the assets under management figures described above, staff estimates 32 See U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Investment Management, Analytics Office, Private Fund Statistics, Fourth Quarter 2019 (Oct. 2, 2020), Table 3. 33 The recordkeeping cost estimates are $0.0051295 per dollar of assets under management for small funds, and $0.0005041 per dollar of assets under management for medium-sized funds. The cost estimates are the same as those used in the most recently approved rule 2a–7 submission. 34 This estimate is based on the following calculation: ($294 billion × $0.0000009) = $264,600 for large funds. PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR21.022</GPH> 2 estimated responses TOTAL 7 hours x 2 estimated res onses = 14 estimated hours burden Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 57 / Friday, March 26, 2021 / Notices annual capital costs for all unregistered money market funds of $3.88 million.35 Commission staff further estimates that, even absent the requirements of rule 2a–7, money market funds would spend at least half of the amounts described above for record preservation ($132,300) and for capital costs ($1.94 million). Commission staff concludes that the aggregate annual costs of compliance with the rule are $132,300 for record preservation and $1.94 million for capital costs. The collections of information required for unregistered money market funds by rule 12d1–1 are necessary in order for acquiring funds to be able to obtain the benefits described above. Notices to the Commission 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. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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. Please direct your written comments to David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549; or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: March 22, 2021. J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–06243 Filed 3–25–21; 8:45 am] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 35 This estimate is based on the following calculation: ($294 billion × 0.0000132) = $3.88 million. 17:14 Mar 25, 2021 [Release No. 34–91383; File No. SR–CFE– 2021–006] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Futures Exchange, LLC; Notice of a Filing of a Proposed Rule Change Regarding Disruptive Trading Practices March 22, 2021. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(7) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 notice is hereby given that on March 15, 2021 Cboe Futures Exchange, LLC (‘‘CFE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by CFE. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. CFE also has filed this proposed rule change with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘‘CFTC’’). CFE filed a written certification with the CFTC under Section 5c(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (‘‘CEA’’) 2 on March 15, 2021. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Description of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to provide additional guidance in its rules regarding prohibited disruptive practices. The rule amendments included as part of this proposed rule change are to apply to all products traded on CFE, including both non-security futures and any security futures that may be listed for trading on CFE. The scope of this filing is limited solely to the application of the proposed rule change to security futures that may be traded on CFE. Although no security futures are currently listed for trading on CFE, CFE may list security futures for trading in the future. The text of the proposed rule change is attached as Exhibit 4 to the filing but is not attached to the publication of this notice. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, CFE included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any BILLING CODE 8011–01–C VerDate Sep<11>2014 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Jkt 253001 1 2 PO 00000 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(7). 7 U.S.C. 7a–2(c). Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16267 comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. CFE has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose CFE Rule 620 (Disruptive Practices) prohibits various disruptive practices and CFE Policy and Procedure XVIII (Disruptive Trading Practices) (‘‘P&P XVIII’’) of the Policies and Procedures section of the CFE Rulebook lists various factors that CFE may consider in assessing whether conduct violates Rule 620. The proposed rule change proposes to make the following clarifying updates in relation to these provisions. CFE is proposing to amend the provisions of Rule 620 in the following manner. Rule 620(b)(iii) currently provides that no Person shall enter or cause to be entered an actionable or non-actionable message or messages with intent to overload, delay, or disrupt the systems of the Exchange or other market participants. CFE proposes to add a new subparagraph (b)(iv) to Rule 620 to address disruption to the systems of the Exchange or market participants in this context and accordingly proposes to remove reference to disruption from Rule 620(b)(iii). Specifically, proposed revised Rule 620(b)(iii) will provide that no Person shall enter or cause to be entered an actionable or non-actionable message(s) with intent to overload or delay the systems of the Exchange or other market participants. Proposed new Rule 620(b)(iv) will provide that no Person shall intentionally or recklessly submit or cause to be submitted an actionable or non-actionable message(s) that has the potential to disrupt the systems of the Exchange or other market participants. CFE also proposes to make the following two non-substantive changes to Rule 620(b): (1) To change the numbering of current subparagraph (b)(iv) of Rule 620 to subparagraph (b)(v) of Rule 620 to account for the addition of proposed new Rule 620(b)(iv) and (2) to revise Rule 620(b)(ii), Rule 620(b)(iii), and renumbered Rule 620(b)(v) to use the same wording when referring to an actionable or non-actionable message(s) and thus to provide for consistent language in relation to these references throughout Rule 620(b). E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16249-16267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06243]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-526, OMB Control No. 3235-0584]


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 12d1-1

    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'') 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 (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    An investment company (``fund'') is generally limited in the amount 
of securities the fund (``acquiring fund'') can acquire from another 
fund (``acquired fund''). Section 12(d) of the Investment Company Act 
of 1940 (the ``Investment Company Act'' or ``Act'') \1\ provides that a 
registered fund (and companies it controls) cannot:
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    \1\ See 15 U.S.C. 80a.
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     Acquire more than three percent of another fund's 
securities;
     invest more than five percent of its own assets in another 
fund; or
     invest more than ten percent of its own assets in other 
funds in the aggregate.\2\
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    \2\ See 15 U.S.C. 80a-12(d)(1)(A). If an acquiring fund is not 
registered, these limitations apply only with respect to the 
acquiring fund's acquisition of registered funds.
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    In addition, a registered open-end fund, its principal underwriter, 
and any registered broker or dealer cannot sell that fund's shares to 
another fund if, as a result:
     The acquiring fund (and any companies it controls) owns 
more than three percent of the acquired fund's stock; or
     all acquiring funds (and companies they control) in the 
aggregate own more than ten percent of the acquired fund's stock.\3\
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    \3\ See 15 U.S.C. 80a-12(d)(1)(B).
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    Rule 12d1-1 under the Act provides an exemption from these 
limitations for ``cash sweep'' arrangements in which a fund invests all 
or a portion of its available cash in a money market fund rather than 
directly in short-term instruments.\4\ An acquiring fund relying on the 
exemption may not pay a sales load, distribution fee, or service fee on 
acquired fund shares, or if it does, the acquiring fund's investment 
adviser must waive a sufficient amount of its advisory fee to offset 
the cost of the loads or distribution fees.\5\ The acquired fund may be 
a fund in the same fund complex or in a different fund complex. In 
addition to providing an exemption from section 12(d)(1) of the Act, 
the rule provides exemptions from section 17(a) of the Act and rule 
17d-1 thereunder, which restrict a fund's ability to enter into 
transactions and joint arrangements with affiliated persons.\6\ These 
provisions would otherwise prohibit an acquiring fund from investing in 
a money market fund in the same fund complex,\7\ and prohibit a fund 
that acquires five percent or more of the securities of a money market 
fund in another fund complex from making any additional investments in 
the money market fund.\8\
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    \4\ See 17 CFR 270.12d1-1.
    \5\ See rule 12d1-1(b)(1).
    \6\ See 15 U.S.C. 80a-17(a), 15 U.S.C. 80a-17(d); 17 CFR 
270.17d-1.
    \7\ An affiliated person of a fund includes any person directly 
or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control 
with such other person. See 15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(3) (definition of 
``affiliated person''). Most funds today are organized by an 
investment adviser that advises or provides administrative services 
to other funds in the same complex. Funds in a fund complex are 
generally under common control of an investment adviser or other 
person exercising a controlling influence over the management or 
policies of the funds. See 15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(9) (definition of 
``control''). Not all advisers control funds they advise. The 
determination of whether a fund is under the control of its adviser, 
officers, or directors depends on all the relevant facts and 
circumstances. See Investment Company Mergers, Investment Company 
Act Release No. 25259 (Nov. 8, 2001) [66 FR 57602 (Nov. 15, 2001)], 
at n.11. To the extent that an acquiring fund in a fund complex is 
under common control with a money market fund in the same complex, 
the funds would rely on the rule's exemptions from section 17(a) and 
rule 17d-1.
    \8\ See 15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(3)(A), (B).

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[[Page 16250]]

    The rule also permits a registered fund to rely on the exemption to 
invest in an unregistered money market fund that limits its investments 
to those in which a registered money market fund may invest under rule 
2a-7 under the Act, and undertakes to comply with all the other 
provisions of rule 2a-7.\9\ In addition, the acquiring fund must 
reasonably believe that the unregistered money market fund (i) operates 
in compliance with rule 2a-7, (ii) complies with sections 17(a), (d), 
(e), 18, and 22(e) of the Act \10\ as if it were a registered open-end 
fund, (iii) has adopted procedures designed to ensure that it complies 
with these statutory provisions, (iv) maintains the records required by 
rules 31a-1(b)(1), 31a-1(b)(2)(ii), 31a-1(b)(2)(iv), and 31a-1(b)(9); 
\11\ and (v) preserves permanently, the first two years in an easily 
accessible place, all books and records required to be made under these 
rules.
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    \9\ See 17 CFR 270.2a-7.
    \10\ See 15 U.S.C. 80a-17(a), 15 U.S.C. 80a-17(d), 15 U.S.C. 
80a-17(e), 15 U.S.C. 80a-18, 15 U.S.C. 80a-22(e).
    \11\ See 17 CFR 270.31a-1(b)(1), 17 CFR 270.31a-1(b)(2)(ii), 17 
CFR 270.31a-1(b)(2)(iv), 17 CFR 270.31a-1(b)(9).
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    Rule 2a-7 contains certain collection of information requirements. 
An unregistered money market fund that complies with rule 2a-7 would be 
subject to these collection of information requirements. In addition, 
the recordkeeping requirements under rule 31a-1 with which the 
acquiring fund reasonably believes the unregistered money market fund 
complies are collections of information for the unregistered money 
market fund. The adoption of procedures by unregistered money market 
funds to ensure that they comply with sections 17(a), (d), (e), 18, and 
22(e) of the Act also constitute collections of information. By 
allowing funds to invest in registered and unregistered money market 
funds, rule 12d1-1 is intended to provide funds greater options for 
cash management. In order for a registered fund to rely on the 
exemption to invest in an unregistered money market fund, the 
unregistered money market fund must comply with certain collection of 
information requirements for registered money market funds. These 
requirements are intended to ensure that the unregistered money market 
fund has established procedures for collecting the information 
necessary to make adequate credit reviews of securities in its 
portfolio, as well as other recordkeeping requirements that will assist 
the acquiring fund in overseeing the unregistered money market fund 
(and Commission staff in its examination of the unregistered money 
market fund's adviser).
    The estimated average burden hours in this collection of 
information are made solely for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
and are not derived from a quantitative, comprehensive or even 
representative survey or study of the burdens associated with 
Commission rules and forms.
    The number of unregistered money market funds that are affected by 
rule 12d1-1 is an estimate based on the number of private liquidity 
funds reported on Form PF as of the fourth calendar quarter 2019.\12\ 
The hour burden estimates for the condition that an unregistered money 
market fund comply with rule 2a-7 are based on the burden hours 
included in the Commission's 2019 PRA extension regarding rule 2a-
7.\13\ However, we have updated the estimated costs associated using 
the following methodology:
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    \12\ See the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Division 
of Investment Management--Analytics Office Private Funds Statistics, 
Fourth Calendar Quarter (Oct. 2, 2020) available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/private-funds-statistics/private-funds-statistics-2019-q4.pdf.
    \13\ See Securities and Exchange Commission, Request for OMB 
Approval of Extension for Approved Collection for Rule 2a-7 under 
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (OMB Control No. 3235-0268) 
(approved May 28, 2019) (the ``2019 rule 2a-7 PRA extension''). The 
2019 rule 2a-7 PRA extension was the most recent rule 2a-7 
submission that includes certain estimates with respect to aggregate 
annual hour and cost burdens for collections of information for 
registered money market funds.
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     For professional personnel: SIFMA's Management & 
Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 
2020 by Commission staff 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;
     For a fund board of directors: SIFMA data does not include 
a board of directors. For board time, Commission staff currently uses a 
cost of $4,770 per hour, which was last adjusted for inflation in 2019. 
This estimate assumes an average of nine board members per year; and
     For clerical personnel: SIFMA's Office Salaries in the 
Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by Commission staff to 
account for an 1,800-hour work-year and inflation, and multiplied by 
2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits, and 
overhead.
    The estimated burden of information collection for rule 2a-7 is set 
forth in Table 1 below. We use these estimated burdens for registered 
money market funds to extrapolate the information collection burdens 
for unregistered money market funds under rule 12d1-1 in Table 2 below.
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

[[Page 16251]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR21.007

     
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    \14\ The estimated responses and hour burdens shown in this 
chart were included in the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
Request for OMB Approval of Extension for Approved Collection for 
Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (OMB Control No. 
3235-0268) (approved May 28, 2019) (the ``2019 rule 2aa-7 PRA 
extension''). The 2019 rule 2aa-7 PRA extension was the most recent 
rule 2a-7 submission that includes certain estimates with respect to 
aggregate annual hour and cost burdens for collections of 
information for registered money market funds.
    However, the cost burdens shown in this chart have been updated. 
The cost burdens for professional personnel are based on SIFMA's 
Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2013, 
modified for 2020 by the Commission staff 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 and the cost 
burdens for clerical personnel are based on SIFMA's Office Salaries 
in the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by Commission 
staff to account for an 1,800-hour work-year and inflation, and 
multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee 
benefits and overhead. However, SIFMA data does not include a board 
of directors. For board time, Commission staff currently uses a cost 
of $4,770 per hour, which was last adjusted for inflation in 2019. 
This estimate assumes an average of nine board members per year.
    \15\ The number of funds based on Form N-MFP filings for the 
month ended September 30, 2018 and used in the 2019 rule 2a-7 PRA 
extension.
    \16\ For purposes of the 2019 rule 2a-7 PRA extension, we 
assumed that on average 25% (433 funds x .25 = 108 funds) of money 
market funds would review and update their procedures on annual 
basis).
    \17\ We have not amortized the one-time hour and cost burdens 
figures associated with new funds, because we estimated there would 
be 10 new funds each year. Therefore, the burden would occur each 
year instead of occurring over a three-year period. We have done 
this throughout this PRA.
    \18\ Commission staff estimates that there are 91 fund complexes 
subject to rule 2a-7. This estimate is based on Form N-MEP filings 
with the Commission for the month ended September 30, 2018.
    \19\ We estimated that approximately two new money market funds 
would seek to qualify as retail money market funds under rule 2a-7 
and therefore be required to adopt written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to limit beneficial owners to natural persons.
    For purposes of the 2019 rule 2a-7 PRA extension, Form N-MFP 
data reflects that of the 30 new money market funds created between 
April of 2015 through September 2018, only six new money market 
funds elected to be retail funds--or approximately two per year ((6 
funds/42 months) x 12 months). Based on these figures, we estimated 
that two new money market fund per year would elect to be a retail 
fund.

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    Based on the estimated burden of information collection for rule 
2a-7 and Form PF filings, the estimated burden of information 
collection for rule 12d1-1 is set forth in Table 2 below.

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    \20\ The cost burdens shown in this chart for professional 
personnel are based on SIFMA's Management & Professional Earnings in 
the Securities Industry 2013, modified for 2020 by the Commission 
staff 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 and the cost burdens for clerical personnel 
are based on SIFMA's Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 
2013, modified for 2020 by Commission staff to account for an 1,800-
hour work-year and inflation, and multiplied by 2.93 to account for 
bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. However, SIFMA 
data does not include a board of directors. For board time, 
Commission staff currently uses a cost of $4,770 per hour, which was 
last adjusted for inflation in 2019. This estimate assumes an 
average of nine board members per year.
    We use these estimated burdens for registered money market funds 
to extrapolate the information collection burdens for unregistered 
money market funds under rule 12d1-1 in this Table 2.
    \21\ The number of liquidity funds is based on the following: 65 
x the percentage of liquidity funds that are at least partially in 
compliance with the risk-limiting provisions of rule 2a-7 and used 
in the most recent supporting statement for rule 2a-7 100-37.2) = 
62.8%. The result (rounded up to a whole number) is 41 liquidity 
funds. The number of liquidity funds is based on the U.S. Securities 
and Exchange Commission's Division of Investment Management--
Analytics Office Private Funds Statistics, Fourth Calendar Quarter 
(Oct. 2, 2020) available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/private-funds-statistics/private-funds-statistics-2019-q4.pdf.
    \22\ The number of new unregistered money market funds is 
estimated from 2018-2019 historical Form PF filings by liquidity 
fund advisers. See Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of 
Investment Management--Analytics Office Private Funds Statistics, 
Fourth Calendar Quarter (Oct. 2, 2020) available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/private-funds-statistics/private-funds-statistics-2019-q4.pdf.
    \23\ We recognize that in many cases the adviser to an 
unregistered money market fund typically performs the function of 
the fund's board. Money Market Fund Reform; Amendments to Form PF 
Investment Company Act Rel. No. 31166 (Jul. 23, 2014), 79 FR 47735, 
47809 (Aug. 14, 2014).
    \24\ For purposes of this PRA extension, we assumed that on 
average 25% (41 funds x .25 = approximately 10 funds) of liquidity 
funds would review and update their procedures on annual basis.
    \25\ This number has been derived from the number of advisers to 
liquidity funds. See U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, 
Division of Investment Management, Analytics Office, Private Fund 
Statistics, Fourth Quarter 2019 (Oct. 2, 2020), Table 2.
    \26\ See supra note 23.
    \27\ There are no liquidity funds of this type; liquidity funds 
only are offered to qualified investors.
    \28\ See supra note 23.
    \29\ Id.
    \30\ Id.
    \31\ In the context of registered money market funds, we have 
previously estimated an average of approximately 2 occurrences for 
20 funds each year; however, this number may vary significantly in 
any particular year. For purposes of this PRA extension, we assumed 
there would be same proportion of unregistered money market funds 
experiencing events of default or solvency each year. (20/433 
registered money market funds = approximately 5%. 5% x 41 liquidity 
funds = approximately 2 liquidity funds.)

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    Commission staff estimates that in addition to the costs described 
in Table 2 above, unregistered money market funds will incur costs to 
preserve records, as required under rule 2a-7. These costs will vary 
significantly for individual funds, depending on the amount of assets 
under fund management and whether the fund preserves its records in a 
storage facility in hard copy or has developed and maintains a computer 
system to create and preserve compliance records. In the 2019 rule 2a-7 
PRA extension, Commission staff estimated that the amount an individual 
money market fund may spend ranges from $100 per year to $300,000. We 
have no reason to believe the range is different for unregistered money 
market funds. Based on Form PF data as of the fourth calendar quarter 
2019, liquidity funds have $294 billion in gross asset value.\32\ The 
Commission does not have specific information about the proportion of 
assets held in small, medium-sized, or large unregistered money market 
funds. Because liquidity funds are often used as cash management 
vehicles, the staff estimates that each private liquidity fund is a 
``large'' fund (i.e., more than $1 billion in assets under management). 
Based on a cost of $0.0000009 per dollar of assets under management 
(for large funds),\33\ the staff estimates compliance with rule 2a-7 
for these unregistered money market funds totals $264,600 annually.\34\
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    \32\ See U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of 
Investment Management, Analytics Office, Private Fund Statistics, 
Fourth Quarter 2019 (Oct. 2, 2020), Table 3.
    \33\ The recordkeeping cost estimates are $0.0051295 per dollar 
of assets under management for small funds, and $0.0005041 per 
dollar of assets under management for medium-sized funds. The cost 
estimates are the same as those used in the most recently approved 
rule 2a-7 submission.
    \34\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: ($294 
billion x $0.0000009) = $264,600 for large funds.
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    Consistent with estimates made in the rule 2a-7 submission, 
Commission staff estimates that unregistered money market funds also 
incur capital costs to create computer programs for maintaining and 
preserving compliance records for rule 2a-7 of $0.0000132 per dollar of 
assets under management. Based on the assets under management figures 
described above, staff estimates

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annual capital costs for all unregistered money market funds of $3.88 
million.\35\
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    \35\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: ($294 
billion x 0.0000132) = $3.88 million.
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    Commission staff further estimates that, even absent the 
requirements of rule 2a-7, money market funds would spend at least half 
of the amounts described above for record preservation ($132,300) and 
for capital costs ($1.94 million). Commission staff concludes that the 
aggregate annual costs of compliance with the rule are $132,300 for 
record preservation and $1.94 million for capital costs.
    The collections of information required for unregistered money 
market funds by rule 12d1-1 are necessary in order for acquiring funds 
to be able to obtain the benefits described above. Notices to the 
Commission 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.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
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.
    Please direct your written comments to David Bottom, Director/Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street 
NE, Washington, DC 20549; or send an email to: [email protected].

    Dated: March 22, 2021.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-06243 Filed 3-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-C


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