[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18263-18264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7690]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, 
Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension:
    Rule 17Ac3-1(a); SEC File No. 270-96; OMB Control No. 3235-0151.
    Form TA-W(1669); 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'') is soliciting comments on the existing collection of 
information provided for in the following rule: Rule 17Ac3-1(a) under 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (``Exchange 
Act''). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of 
information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and 
approval.
    Section 17A(c)(4)(B) of the 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) (17 CFR 
240.17Ac3-1(a)) and accompanying Form TA-W (17 CFR 249b.101). Rule 
17Ac3-1(a) provides that notice of withdrawal from 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 the Commission should attach to the granting of the 
application any terms or conditions necessary or appropriate in

[[Page 18264]]

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 to voluntarily deregister 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. Approximately 80 percent of Form TA-Ws are 
completed by the transfer agent or its employees and approximately 20 
percent of Forms TA-W are completed by an outside filing agent that is 
hired by the registrant to prepare the form and file it electronically. 
In view of the readily-available information requested by Form TA-W, 
its short and simple presentation, and the Commission's experience with 
the filers, we estimate that approximately 30 minutes is required to 
complete and file Form TA-W, which consists primarily of external labor 
costs plus a nominal and unquantifiable amount of computer operations/
maintenance cost (because the Form must be filed electronically through 
the Commission's EDGAR system). For transfer agents that complete Form 
TA-W themselves, we estimate the cost per filing is $25 (.5 hours times 
$50 average hourly rate for clerical staff time), which is an internal 
labor cost. We estimate that outside filing agents charge $100 to 
complete and file a TA-W on behalf of a registrant, reflecting an 
external cost to respondents.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be 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.
    The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No 
person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a 
collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a 
valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
    Please direct your written comments to: Thomas Bayer, Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi 
Pavlik-Simon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an 
e-mail to: [email protected].

    Dated: March 28, 2011.
Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-7690 Filed 3-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P