[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16766-16767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8438]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Existing Collection Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, 
D.C. 20549-0007
Extension:
    Rule 17f-4 [17 CFR 270.17f-4] SEC File No. 270-232 OMB Control 
No. 3235-0225.

    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the 
collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to 
submit these existing collections of information to the Office of 
Management and Budget (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    Section 17(f) \1\ of the Investment Company Act of 1940 \2\ (the 
``Act'')

[[Page 16767]]

permits registered management investment companies (''funds'') and 
their custodians to maintain fund assets in system for the central 
handling of securities, subject to Commission rules. Rule 17f-4 \3\ 
under the Act defines this type of system as a ``securities 
depository.'' The rule sets conditions for the use of certain 
depositories, including a U.S. registered clearing agency that acts as 
a depository, and the federal book-entry system for government 
securities.\4\
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 80a-17(f).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 80a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 270.17f-4.
    \4\ Rule 17f-4 does not regulate the use of foreign securities 
depositories. Funds that maintain securities in foreign depositories 
must comply with rule 17f-5 under the Act [17 CFR 270.17f-5].
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    Certain information collection requirements apply to the fund's 
custodian when, as in the usual case, a fund uses a depository through 
its custodian. Rule 17f-4 requires the custodian to send the fund a 
written confirmation of each transfer or securities to or from the 
fund's account with the custodian. When securities are transferred to 
the fund's account, the custodian also must identify as belonging to 
the fund (or ``earmark'') an appropriate quantity of securities that 
the custodian holds in a fungible bulk with the depository (or with any 
agent through which the custodian uses the depository). In addition, 
the custodian or its agent must send the fund reports it receives 
concerning the depository's internal accounting controls, and reports 
on the custodian's or agent's own controls as the fund may reasonably 
request.
    Other information collection requirements apply to the fund. The 
fund's board of directors must approve by resolution the custodian's 
arrangement with each depository, and material changes in any 
arrangement. In the unusual cast when a fund deals directly with a 
depository, the fund board must approve the arrangement with the 
depository, and the fund must establish a system that is reasonably 
designed to prevent unauthorized officer's instructions.\5\
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    \5\ Officer's instructions are directions to the depository by 
authorized personnel of the fund.
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    Rule 17f-4 facilitates the safe use of depositories, which can 
simplify the clearance and settlement of securities transactions and 
reduce risks of loss, theft, and destruction of securities. The rule's 
requirements that the custodian confirm transactions and earmark a 
portion of its holdings for the fund help to document the fund's 
transactions, and provide evidence of the funds's interest in 
``omnibus'' depository accounts that may contain the pooled assets of 
multiple owners. The requirement that the custodian and its agent send 
the fund reports on internal controls helps the fund and its auditors 
to evaluate the reliability of the custodian, its agent, and the 
depository. The requirement that the fund board approve depository 
arrangements and material changes encourages directors to review 
periodically the safety of these arrangements. The requirement that the 
fund have a system to prevent unauthorized officer's instructions helps 
to protect fund assets from misappropriation.
    The Commission staff estimates that 3,400 respondents (including 
3,300 funds, 50 bank custodians, and 50 agents of the custodians) make 
approximately 25,750 responses under the rule each year. The staff 
estimates that on average, 50 custodians spend 500 hours each year in 
transmitting daily confirmations to funds and 250 hours in earmarking 
holdings for funds, and 100 custodians and agents spend 16 hours 
annually in transmitting reports to funds. The staff estimates that on 
average, 500 funds spend 6 hours each year in approving new depository 
arrangements or changes in existing arrangements, and 50 funds spend 10 
hours each year in implementing systems to prevent unauthorized 
officer's instructions. The total annual burden of the rule's 
requirements for all respondents therefore is estimated to be 42,600 
hours ((50 custodians  x  750 hours) + (100 custodians and agents  x  
16 hours) + (500 funds  x  6 hours) + (50 funds  x  10 hours)).\6\
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    \6\ The estimated average burden hours do not reflect the costs 
of operating computer systems used by custodians to provide 
confirmations and earmark assets, and used by funds to help prevent 
unauthorized officer's instructions.
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    The estimated annual burden of 42,600 burden hours represents an 
increase of 17,344 hours over the prior estimate of 25,256 hours. The 
increase in annual burden hours is attributable to the staff's 
recognition that the rule imposes information collection requirements 
on funds as well as custodians, and to increases in the estimated time 
spent by custodians and agents in collection information relating to an 
increasing number of funds transactions.
    The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The estimate is not derived 
from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the 
costs of Commission rules. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid control number.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the Commission, including whether the information has practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burdens 
of the collections of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burdens of the collections 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, N.W. Washington, 
D.C. 20549-0004.

    Dated: March 23, 1999.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-8438 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M