[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 55966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27710]


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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.

Extension:
    Rule 10b-18--SEC File No. 270-416, OMB Control No. 3235-0474

    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 a request for extension of the previously approved collection of 
information discussed below.
    Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange 
Act) provides that the issuer or any affiliated purchaser of the 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 are effected in 
compliance with the manner, timing, price, and volume limitations of 
the safe harbor. The Rule further provides that purchases falling 
outside of the Rule's conditions shall not give rise to a presumption 
of manipulation. An issuer or an affiliated purchaser seeking to avail 
itself of the safe harbor, however, must collect information regarding 
the manner, time, price, and volume of its purchases of the issuer's 
common stock in order to verify compliance with the Rule's conditions 
and application of the safe harbor.
    Each year there are approximately 1,179 share repurchase programs 
conducted in accordance with Rule 10b-18. For each such repurchase 
program, an average of approximately 8 hours are spent collecting the 
requisite information. If approximately 1,179 issuers engage in 
repurchases following a market-wide trading suspension and comply with 
the safe harbor then, collectively, these issuers would incur an 
additional 1,179 burden hours. Thus, the total compliance burden per 
year is approximately 10,611 burden hours.
    Compliance with Rule 10b-18 does not involve the collection of 
confidential information. Please note that 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.
    General comments regarding the above information should be directed 
to the following persons: (i) Desk Office 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; and (ii) Michael E. Bartell, Associate 
Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. 
Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

    Dated: October 30, 2001.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-27710 Filed 11-02-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M