73 FR 69 pgs. 19268-19269 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 69Pages: 19268 - 19269
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-7396 Filed 4-8-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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 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