Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549-0213.
Extension:
Rule 17Ad-11; SEC File No. 270-261; OMB Control No. 3235-0274.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for approval of extension of the existing collection of information provided for Rule 17Ad-11 (17 CFR 240.17Ad-11) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”).
Rule 17Ad-11 requires all registered transfer agents to report to issuers and the appropriate regulatory agency in the event that aged record differences exceed certain dollar value thresholds. An aged record difference occurs when an issuer's records do not agree with those of securityowners as indicated, for instance, on certificates presented to the transfer agent for purchase, redemption or transfer. In addition, the rule requires transfer agents to report to the appropriate regulatory agency in the event of a failure to post certificate detail to the master securityholder file within 5 business days of the time required by Rule 17Ad-10 (17 CFR 240.17Ad-10). Also, transfer agents must maintain a copy of each report prepared under Rule 17Ad-11 for a period of three years following the date of the report. This recordkeeping requirement assists the Commission and other regulatory agencies with monitoring transfer agents and ensuring compliance with the rule.
Because the information required by Rule 17Ad-11 is already available to transfer agents, any collection burden for small transfer agents is minimal. Based on a review of the number of Rule 17Ad-11 reports the Commission, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation received since 2006, the Commission estimates that 25 respondents will file a total of approximately 30 reports annually. The Commission estimates that each report can be completed in 30 minutes. Therefore, the total annual hourly burden to the entire transfer agent industry is approximately 15 hours (30 minutes multiplied by 30 reports). Assuming an average hourly rate of a transfer agent staff employee of $25, the average total cost of the report is $12.50. The total cost for the approximate 25 respondents is approximately $750.
The retention period for the recordkeeping requirement under Rule 17Ad-11 is three years following the date of a report prepared pursuant to the rule. The recordkeeping requirement under Rule 17Ad-11 is mandatory to assist the Commission and other regulatory agencies with monitoring transfer agents and ensuring compliance with the rule. This rule does not involve the collection of confidential information.
Please note that 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.
Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or by sending an e-mail to: (i) Shagufta_Ahmed@comb.eop.gov; and (ii) Charles Boucher, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, Virginia 22312 or send an e-mail to PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.
January 4, 2010.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-68 Filed 1-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P