
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72893-72894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29457]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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

Extension:
    Rule 17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h), OMB Control No. 3235-0130, SEC 
File No. 270-149.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (``PRA''), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the existing 
collection of information provided for in Rule 17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h), 
(17 CFR 240.17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h)), 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 17Ad-2(c),(d), and (h) enumerates the requirements with which 
registered transfer agents must comply to inform the Commission or the 
appropriate regulator of a transfer agent's failure to meet the minimum 
performance standards set by the Commission rule by filing a notice.
    While it is estimated there are 477 registered transfer agents, 
approximately 116 of this number qualify as small transfer agents under 
Exchange Act Rule 0.10, 17 CFR 240.010(h) and are therefore exempted 
from Rule 17Ad-2(c),(d) and (h), leaving 361 transfer agents subject to 
the rule. Each of these transfer agents annually files approximately 
five notices pursuant to Rule 17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h) for an industry-
wide total of 1,805 notices per year (361 x 5). In view of: (a) The 
readily available nature of most of the information required to be 
included in the notice (since that information must be compiled and 
retained pursuant to other Commission rules); (b) the summary fashion 
in which such information must be presented in the notice (most notices 
are one page or less in length); and (c) the past experience of the 
staff regarding the notices, the Commission staff estimates that, on 
the average, most notices require approximately one-half hour to 
prepare. Thus, the Commission staff estimates that each of the transfer 
agents subject to the rule spends an average of two and a half hours 
per year complying with the rule for an industry-wide total of 902.5 
hours per year (361 x 2.5).
    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;

[[Page 72894]]

(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 OMB 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 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 30, 2012.
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-29457 Filed 12-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


