[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 55965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27709]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Request for Public Comment

Upon Written Request, Copies Available from: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, 
DC 20549.

Extension:
    Form N-8F, Form S-6--OMB Control No. 3235-0157, SEC File No. 
270-136; OMB Control No. 3235-0184, SEC File No. 270-181

    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 publishing for public comment the following summary 
of previously approved information collection requirements. The 
Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to 
the Officer of Management and Budget for extension and approval.
    Form N-8F is the form prescribed for use by registered investment 
companies in certain circumstances to request orders of the Commission 
declaring that the registration of that investment company cease to be 
in effect. The form requests, from investment companies seeking a 
deregistration order, information about (i) the investment company's 
identity, (ii) the investment company's distributions, (iii) the 
investment company's assets and liabilities, (iv) the events leading to 
the request to deregister, and (v) the conclusion of business. The 
information is needed by the Commission to determine whether an order 
of deregistration is appropriate.
    Form N-8F takes approximately 3 hours on average to complete. It is 
estimated that approximately 200 investment companies file Form N-8F 
annually, so that the total annual burden for the form is estimated to 
be 600 hours.
    Form S-6 is used for registering, under the Securities Act of 1933 
(1933 Act), the securities of any unit investment trust registered 
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) on Form N-8B-2.\1\ 
A separate registration statement under the 1933 Act must be filed for 
each series of units issued by the trust. Form S-6 consists of two 
parts. Part I contains the prospectus, and Part II consists of a list 
of exhibits and financial information and contains other information 
required in the registration statement but not required to appear in 
the prospectus.
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    \1\ Form N-8B-2 is the form used for registration statements 
filed by unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act. The form 
requires that certain material information about the trust, its 
sponsor, its trustees, and its operation be disclosed. The 
registration on Form N-8B-2 is a one-time filing that applies to the 
first series of the unit investment trust as well as any subsequent 
series that is issued by the sponsor.
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    Sectiion 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(a)(3)) provides 
that when a prospectus is used more than nine months after the 
effective date of the registration statement, the information therein 
shall be as of a date not more than sixteen months prior to such use. 
Unit investment trusts file post-effective amendments to their 
registration statements on Form S-6 in order to update their 
prospectus. As a result, most unit investment trusts update their 
registration statements on Form S-6 Act on an annual basis in order 
that their sponsors may continue to maintain a secondary market in the 
units.
    The purpose of the registration statement on Form S-6 is to provide 
disclosure of financial and other information that investors may use to 
make informed decisions regarding the merits of the securities offered 
for sale. To that end, unit investment trusts must furnish to investors 
a prospectus containing pertinent information set forth in the 
registration statement. Without the registration requirement, this 
material information would not necessarily be available to investors. 
The Commission reviews registration statements filed on Form S-6 to 
ensure adequate disclosure is made to investors.
    Each year investment companies file approximately 3,639 Forms S-6. 
It is estimated that preparing Form S-6 requires a unit investment 
trust to spend approximately 35 hours so that the total burden on 
preparing Form S-6 for all affected investment companies is 127,365 
hours.
    Estimates of average burden hours are made solely for the purposes 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and are not derived from a 
comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of 
Commission rules and forms.
    Written comments are requested on: (a) Whether the collections of 
information 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 collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; 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.
    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: October 26, 2001.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-27709 Filed 11-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M