
[Federal Register: April 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 69)]
[Notices]               
[Page 19268-19269]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ap08-89]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon written request, copies available from: U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, 
Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension:
    Rule 17Ac3-1(a), SEC File No. 270-96, OMB Control No. 3235-0151; 
Form TA-W (1669), SEC File No. 270-96, OMB Control No. 3235-0151.

    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 requests for approval of extension on the following rule and 
form: Rule 17Ac3-1(a) (17 CFR 240.17Ac3-1(a)) and Form TA-W (17 CFR 
249b.101).
    Subsection (c)(4)(B) of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) authorizes transfer agents registered 
with an appropriate regulatory agency (``ARA'') to withdraw from 
registration by filing with the ARA a written notice of withdrawal and 
by agreeing to such terms and conditions as the ARA deems necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
in the furtherance of the purposes of Section 17A.
    In order to implement Section 17A(c)(4)(B) of the Exchange Act the 
Commission, on September 1, 1977, promulgated Rule 17Ac3-1(a) and 
accompanying Form TA-W. On January 11, 2007, the Commission amended 
Rule 17Ac3-1(a) and accompanying Form TA-W to require that the form be 
filed in electronic format on EDGAR. Rule 17Ac3-1(a) provides that 
notice of withdrawal of registration as a transfer agent with the 
Commission shall be filed on Form TA-W. Form TA-W requires the 
withdrawing transfer agent to provide the Commission with certain 
information, including: (1) The locations where transfer agent 
activities are or were performed; (2) the reasons for ceasing the 
performance of such activities; (3) disclosure of unsatisfied judgments 
or liens; and (4) information regarding successor transfer agents.
    The Commission uses the information disclosed on Form TA-W to 
determine whether the registered transfer agent applying for withdrawal 
from registration as a transfer agent should be allowed to deregister 
and, if so, whether the Commission should attach to the granting of the 
application any terms or

[[Page 19269]]

conditions necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the 
protection of investors, or in furtherance of the purposes of Section 
17A of the Exchange Act. Without Rule 17Ac3-1(a) and Form TA-W, 
transfer agents registered with the Commission would not have a means 
for voluntary deregistration when necessary or appropriate to do so.
    Respondents file approximately 50 TA-Ws with the Commission 
annually. A Form TA-W filing occurs only once, when a transfer agent is 
seeing deregistration. Since the form is simple and straightforward, 
the Commission estimates that a transfer agent need spend no more than 
30 minutes to complete a Form TA-W. Therefore, the total average annual 
burden to covered entities is approximately 25 hours of preparation and 
maintenance time.
    In view of the ready availability of the information requested by 
Form TA-W, its short and simple presentation, and the Commission's 
experience with the filers, we estimate that approximately 30 minutes 
is required to complete Form TA-W, including clerical time. 
Approximately 80 percent of these are completed by the transfer agent 
or its employees and approximately 20 percent are completed by an 
outside filing agent. In either case, we estimate a cost of 
approximately $35 for each 30 minutes. Therefore, the total average 
annual cost burden is approximately $1,750.
    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: Alexander--
T._Hunt@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley 
Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an e-
mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted within 30 
days of this notice.

    Dated: April 2, 2008.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-7396 Filed 4-8-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
