[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24991]



[[Page 51133]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 
20549.
Approval:
    Rule 10b-18, SEC File No. 270-416, OMB Control No. 3235--new
    Rule 15c1-5, SEC File No. 270-422, OMB Control No. 3235--new
    Rule 15c1-6, SEC File No. 270-423, OMB Control No. 3235--new
    Rule 17Ad-3(b), SEC File No. 270-424, OMB Control No. 3235--new

    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 on the following:
    Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange 
Act'') provides that an issuer or any affiliated purchaser of an issuer 
will not incur liability under Section 9(a)(2) of the Exchange Act, or 
Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act, if its purchases of the issuer's 
common stock are effected in compliance with the manner, timing, price, 
and volume limitations of the rule.
    The rule implicitly requires an issuer or any affiliated purchaser 
seeking to avail itself of the safe harbor to collect information 
regarding the manner, time, price, and volume of its purchases of the 
issuer's common stock, on a transaction by transaction basis, in order 
to verify compliance with the rule's safe harbor conditions. Each year 
there are approximately 820 share repurchase programs conducted in 
accordance with Rule 10b-18.
    For each such repurchase program, an average of approximately 8 
hours is spent collecting the requisite information. Thus, the total 
compliance burden per year is approximately 6,560 burden hours.
    Rule 15c1-5 requires that broker-dealers, who are under the control 
of the issuer of any security, shall disclose, in writing, the 
existence of such control to customers before entering into any 
contract for the purchase or sale of such security. The information 
required by the rule is necessary for the execution of the Commission's 
mandate under the Exchange Act to prevent fraudulent, manipulative, and 
deceptive acts and practices by broker-dealers.
    For Rule 15c1-5 there are approximately 425 respondents (5% of the 
approximately 8500 registered broker-dealers), each response takes 
approximately 10 hours to complete for an aggregate total of 4,250 
burden hours.
    Rule 15c1-6 requires that broker-dealers, who are participating in 
the primary or secondary distribution of a security, shall disclose 
their interests in the distribution, in writing, at or before the 
completion of any transaction when entering into a contract for the 
purchase or sale of such security. The information required by the rule 
is necessary for the execution of the Commission's mandate under the 
Exchange Act to prevent fraudulent, manipulative, and deceptive acts 
and practices by broker-dealers.
    For Rule 15c1-6 there are approximately 850 respondents (10% of the 
registered broker-dealers), each response takes approximately 10 hours 
to complete for an aggregate total of 8,500 hours to comply with this 
rule.
    Rule 17Ad-3(b) requires registered transfer agents, which for each 
of two consecutive months fails to turn around at least 75% of all 
routine items in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-2(a) or 
to process at least 75% of all items in accordance with the 
requirements of Rule 17Ad-2(b) to send to the chief executive officer 
of each issuer for which such registered transfer agents acts a copy of 
the written notice required under Rule 17Ad-2 (c), (d), and (h). The 
issuer may use the information contained in the notices in several 
ways: (1) To provide an early warning to the issuer of the transfer 
agent's non-compliance with the Commission's minimum performance 
standards regarding registered transfer agents, and (2) to assure that 
issuers are aware of certain problems and poor performances with 
respect to the transfer agents that are servicing the issuer's 
securities. If the issuer does not receive notice of a registered 
transfer agent's failure to comply with the Commission's minimum 
performance standards then the issuer will be unable to take remedial 
action to correct the problem or to find another registered transfer 
agent. The Commission estimates that the annual cost to respondents is 
minimal. Pursuant to Rule 17Ad-3(b), a transfer agent that has already 
filed a Notice of Non-Compliance with the Commission pursuant to Rule 
17Ad-2 will only be required to send a copy of that notice to issuers 
for which it acts when that transfer agent fails to turnaround 75% of 
all routine items or to process 75% of all items. The Commission 
estimates that of the 8 transfer agents that file the Notice of Non-
Compliance pursuant to Rule 17Ad-2, only 2 transfer agents will meet 
the requirements of Rule 17Ad-3(b). If a transfer agent fails to meet 
the minimum requirements under 17Ad-3(b), such transfer agent is simply 
sending a copy of a form that had already been produced for the 
Commission. The Commission estimates a cost of approximately $30.00 for 
each half hour; therefore, each year transfer agents will spend 
approximately 2 hours and $120 complying with the provisions of the 
rule.
    General comments regarding the estimated burden hours should be 
directed to the Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission 
at the address below. Any comments concerning the accuracy of the 
estimated average burden hours for compliance with Commission rules and 
forms should be directed to Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive 
Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange 
Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549 and Desk 
Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: September 23, 1996.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-24991 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M