67 FR 31 pg. 6951 - Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 31Page: 6951
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-3629 Filed 2-13-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request
Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.
Extension:
Rule 17a-13, SEC File No. 270-27, OMB Control No. 3235-0035.
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 this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval. The Code of Federal Regulations citation to this collection of information is the following rule: 17 CFR 240.17a-13 Quarterly Security Counts to be Made by Certain Exchange Members, Brokers, and Dealers.
Rule 17a-13(b) generally requires that at least once each calendar quarter, all registered brokers and dealers physically examine and count all securities held and account for all other securities not in their possession, but subject to the broker-dealer's control or direction. Any discrepancies between the broker-dealer's securities count and the firm's records must be noted and, within seven days, the unaccounted for difference must be recorded in the firm's records. Rule 17a-13(c) provides that under specified conditions, the securities counts, examination and verification of the broker-dealer's entire list of securities may be conducted on a cyclical basis rather than on a certain date. Although Rule 17a-13 does not require filing a report with the Commission, security count discrepancies must be reported on Form X-17a-5 as required by Rule 17a-5. Rule 17a-13 exempts broker-dealers that limit their business to the sale and redemption of securities of registered investment companies and interests or participation in an insurance company separate account and those who solicit accounts for federally insured savings and loan associations, provided that such persons promptly transmit all funds and securities and hold no customer funds and securities.
The information obtained from Rule 17a-13 is used as an inventory control device to monitor a broker-dealer's ability to account for all securities held, in transfer, in transit, pledged, loaned, borrowed, deposited or otherwise subject to the firm's control or direction. Discrepancies between the securities counts and the broker-dealer's records alert the Commission and the Self Regulatory Organizations ("SROs") to those firms having problems in their back offices.
Because of the many variations in the amount of securities that broker-dealers are accountable for, it is difficult to develop a meaningful figure for the cost of compliance with Rule 17a-13. Approximately 91% of all registered broker-dealers are subject to Rule 17a-13. Accordingly, approximately 6,579 broker-dealers have obligations under the Rule, and the average time it would take each broker-dealer to comply with the Rule is 100 hours per year, for a total estimated annualized burden of 657,900 hours. It should be noted that a significant number of firms subject to Rule 17a-13 have minimal obligations under the Rule because they do not hold securities. It should further be noted that most broker-dealers would engage in the activities required by Rule 17a-13 even if they were not required to do so.
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 shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 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 Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.
Dated: February 7, 2002.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-3629 Filed 2-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-U