[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 48421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20595]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 
20549.
Extension:
    Rule 62/Form U-R-1, SEC File No. 270-166, OMB Control No. 3235-
0152.

    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 soliciting comments on the collection for 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this 
collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for 
extension and approval.
    Form U-R-1 is filed under Rule 62 (17 CFR 250.62), which implements 
sections 12(e) and 11(g) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 
1935 (``Act'') 15 U.S.C. 79 et seq. Section 12(e) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 
791(e), makes it unlawful to solicit ``any proxy, power of attorney, 
consent, or authorization regarding any security of a registered 
holding company or a subsidiary company thereof in contravention of 
such rules and regulations or orders as the Commission deems 
necessary.'' Section 11(g) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 79k(g) prohibits, in 
pertinent part, the solicitation of proxy, consent, authorization, 
power of attorney, deposit, or dissent in respect of any reorganization 
plan or any plan under Section 11 for the divestment of control, 
securities or other assets or for the dissolution of a registered 
holding company or any subsidiary thereof, unless the plan has been 
proposed or submitted to the Commission and is not made in 
contravention of any Commission rule and regulations or order.
    Rule 62 prohibits the solicitation of authorization regarding any 
security of a registered holding company or any of its subsidiaries, in 
connection with any reorganization subject to Commission approval. Rule 
62 also prohibits such solicitation regarding any transaction, which is 
the subject of an application or declaration filed with the Commission, 
except with respect to a solicitation, which has become effective 
pursuant to a declaration filed with the Commission. Every declaration 
under Rule 62, if in connection with any reorganization, is to be filed 
on Form U-R-1. Rule 62 exempts from the filing requirements 
solicitations to not more than 25 owners of securities or claims, and 
actions taken as a depositary or custodian of securities solicited by 
order.
    Due primarily to subsequent enlargement of the scope of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``34 Act''), the solicitations under 
the provisions of Rule 62 are now governed, as to both form and 
substance, by the provisions of the 34 Act. The filings specified by 
Rule 62 now consist merely of incorporating by reference the company's 
filing under Section 14 of the 34 Act as an exhibit to the application 
or declaration under the Act seeking authorization for the transaction 
to which the solicitation is ancillary. Rule 62 does govern the date of 
the commencement of the solicitation.
    Form U-R-1 and Rule 62 allow the Commission to adequately enforce 
Sections 12(e) and 11(g) of the Act. Not requiring the information 
collection would seriously interfere with the Commission's efforts in 
this regard.
    Respondents to the request for information in Form U-R-1 are 
registered public utility holding companies and their subsidiaries. We 
estimate the average time to prepare the information required by Form 
U-R-1 at 5 hours per response based on our informal questioning 
selected respondents. Since there are approximately 7 respondents who 
file each year, the total annual respondent reporting burden is 35 
hours at $115 per hour.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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.
    Please direct your written comments to Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting 
Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20549.

    Dated: August 6, 2003.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-20595 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M