Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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Federal RegisterNov 7, 2011
76 Fed. Reg. 68796 (Nov. 7, 2011)

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

Extension:

Rule 12f-1; OMB Control No. 3235-0128; SEC File No. 270-139.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit the existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval. For Rule 12f-1 (17 CFR 240.12f-1)—Applications for permission to reinstate unlisted trading privileges.

Rule 12f-1 (the “Rule”), originally adopted in 1934 pursuant to Sections 12(f) and 23(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Act”), as modified in 1995 and 2005, sets forth the information which an exchange must include in an application to reinstate its ability to extend unlisted trading privileges to any security for which such unlisted trading privileges have been suspended by the Commission, pursuant to Section 12(f)(2)(A) of the Act. An application must provide the name of the issuer, the title of the security, the name of each national securities exchange, if any, on which the security is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges, whether transaction information concerning the security is reported pursuant to an effective transaction reporting plan contemplated by Rule 601 of Regulation NMS, the date of the Commission's suspension of unlisted trading privileges in the security on the exchange, and any other pertinent information. Rule 12f-1 further requires a national securities exchange seeking to reinstate its ability to extend unlisted trading privileges to a security to indicate that it has provided a copy of such application to the issuer of the security, as well as to any other national securities exchange on which the security is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges.

The information required by Rule 12f-1 enables the Commission to make the necessary findings under the Act prior to granting applications to reinstate unlisted trading privileges. This information is also made available to members of the public who may wish to comment upon the applications. Without the Rule, the Commission would be unable to fulfill these statutory responsibilities.

There are currently 15 national securities exchanges subject to Rule 12f-1. The burden of complying with Rule 12f-1 arises when a potential respondent seeks to reinstate its ability to extend unlisted trading privileges to any security for which unlisted trading privileges have been suspended by the Commission, pursuant to Section 12(f)(2)(A) of the Act. The staff estimates that each application would require approximately one hour to complete. Thus each potential respondent would incur on average one burden hour in complying with the Rule.

The Commission staff estimates that there could be as many as 15 responses annually and that each respondent's related cost of compliance with Rule 12f-1 would be $168.00, or, the cost of one hour of professional work of a paralegal needed to complete the application. The total annual related reporting cost for all potential respondents, therefore, is $2,520 (15 responses × $168.00 per response).

Compliance with Rule 12f-1 is mandatory. Rule 12f-1 does not have a record retention requirement per se. However, responses made pursuant to Rule 12f-1 are subject to the recordkeeping requirements of Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 of the Act. Information received in response to Rule 12f-1 shall not be kept confidential; the information collected is public information.

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 on respondents; 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.

The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

Please direct your written comments to: Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, Virginia 22312 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.

Dated: November 1, 2011.

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2011-28719 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P