[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 116 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35314-35315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3107]


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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 17Ac3-1(a), SEC File No. 270-96, OMB Control No. 3235-0151. 
Form TA-W, SEC File No. 270-96, OMB Control No. 3235-0151.

    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 of extension on the following rule and 
form: Rule 17Ac3-1(a) and Form TA-W.
    Subsection (c)(4)(B) of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') authorizes transfer agents registered with 
an appropriate regulatory agency (``ARA'') to withdraw from 
registration by filing with the ARA a written notice of withdrawal and 
by agreeing to such terms and conditions as the ARA deems necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
in the furtherance of the purposes of Section 17A.
    In order to implement Section 17A(c)(4)(B) of the Exchange Act the 
Commission, on September 1, 1977, promulgated Rule 17Ac3-1(a) and 
accompanying Form TA-W. Rule 17Ac3-1(a) provides that notice of 
withdrawal of registration as a transfer agent with the Commission 
shall be filed on Form TA-W. Form TA-W requires the withdrawing 
transfer agent to provide the Commission with certain information, 
including: (1) The locations where transfer agent activities are or 
were performed; (2) the reasons for ceasing the performance of such 
activities; (3) disclosure of unsatisfied judgments or liens; and (4) 
information regarding successor transfer agents.
    The Commission uses the information disclosed on Form TA-W to 
determine whether the registered transfer agent applying for withdrawal 
from registration as a transfer agent should be allowed to deregister 
and, if so, whether

[[Page 35315]]

the Commission should attach to the granting of the application any 
terms or conditions necessary or appropriate in the public interest, 
for the protection of investors, or in furtherance of the purposes of 
Section 17A of the Exchange Act. Without Rule 17Ac3-1(a) and Form TA-W, 
transfer agents registered with the Commission would not have a means 
for voluntary deregistration when necessary or appropriate to do so.
    Respondents file approximately 50 TA-Ws with the Commission 
annually. A Form TA-W filing occurs only once, when a transfer agent is 
seeing deregistration. Since the form is simple and straightforward, 
the Commission estimates that a transfer agent need spend no more than 
30 minutes to complete a Form TA-W. Therefore, the total average annual 
burden to covered entities is approximately 25 hours of preparation and 
maintenance time.
    In view of the ready availability of the information requested by 
TA-W, its short and simple presentation, and the Commission's 
experience with the form, we estimate that approximately 30 minutes is 
required to complete Form TA-W, including clerical time. The Commission 
estimates a cost of approximately $35 for each 30 minutes. Therefore, 
the total average annual cost burden is approximately $1,750.
    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 regarding the above 
information should be directed to the following persons: (i) Desk 
Officer 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 or by 
sending an e-mail to: [email protected]; and (ii) R. Corey 
Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information 
Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days 
of this notice.

    Dated: June 7, 2005.
J. Lynn Taylor,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-3107 Filed 6-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P