[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22261-22262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08731]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
SUMMARY: On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 
(Board) its approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers 
to collection of information requests and requirements conducted or 
sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR part 1320 
Appendix A.1. Board-approved collections of information are 
incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved 
collections of information. Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
Submission, supporting statements and approved collection of 
information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The 
Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not 
required to respond to, an information collection that has been 
extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless 
it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by FR 2060, FR 4006, FR 
4008, FR 4013, or FR 4014, by any of the following methods:
     Agency Web site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/foia/proposedregs.aspx.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include OMB 
number in the subject line of the message.
     FAX: (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102.
     Mail: Robert deV. Frierson, Secretary, Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20551.
    All public comments are available from the Board's Web site at 
www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, 
unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will 
not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public 
comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper form in Room MP-
500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, NW.) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
    Additionally, commenters may send a copy of their comments to the 
OMB Desk Officer--Shagufta Ahmed--Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, Room 10235 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503 or by 
fax to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the PRA OMB submission, 
including the proposed reporting form and instructions, supporting 
statement, and other documentation will be placed into OMB's public 
docket files, once approved. These documents will also be made 
available on the Federal Reserve Board's public Web site at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/reportforms/review.aspx or may be requested 
from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below.
    Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer--Cynthia Ayouch--Division 
of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, Washington, DC 20551 (202) 452-3829. Telecommunications Device 
for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202) 263-4869, Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comment on Information Collection Proposals

    The following information collections, which are being handled 
under this delegated authority, have received initial Board approval 
and are hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, 
the proposed information collections, along with an analysis of 
comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board 
for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited 
on the following:
    a. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including 
whether the information has practical utility;
    b. The accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    c. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    d. Ways to minimize the burden of information collection on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and
    e. Estimates of capital or start up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.
    Proposal to approve under OMB delegated authority the extension for 
three years, with revision, of the following reports:

[[Page 22262]]

    1. Report title: Survey to Obtain Information on the Relevant 
Market in Individual Merger Cases.
    Agency form number: FR 2060.
    OMB control number: 7100-0232.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Reporters: Small businesses and consumers.
    Annual reporting hours: 9 hours.
    Estimated average hours per response: Small businesses, 10 minutes; 
consumers, 6 minutes.
    Number of respondents: 25 small businesses and 50 consumers per 
survey.
    General description of report: This information collection is 
voluntary pursuant to the Change in Bank Control Act (12 U.S.C. 
1817(j)(7)(A) and (B)), the Bank Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c)(5)), and 
section 3(c)(1) of the Bank Holding Company Act (BHC Act) (12 U.S.C. 
1842(c)(1)). Individual responses are confidential pursuant to the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(4) and (b)(6)) for small 
businesses and consumers, respectively.
    Abstract: The Federal Reserve uses this information to define 
relevant banking markets for specific merger and acquisition 
applications and to evaluate changes in competition that would result 
from proposed transactions, including purchase and assumption 
agreements.
    Current Actions: The Federal Reserve proposes to include savings 
and loan holding companies (SLHCs) in the evaluation of changes in 
local banking markets.
    2. Report title: Notice Claiming Status as an Exempt Transfer 
Agent.
    Agency form number: FR 4013.
    OMB control number: 7100-0137.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Reporters: Banks, Bank Holding Companies (BHCs), SLHCs, and certain 
trust companies.
    Annual reporting hours: 20 hours.
    Estimated average hours per response: 2 hours.
    Number of respondents: 10.
    General description of report: This information collection is 
mandatory pursuant to section 17A(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78q-1(c)) as amended by the Securities Acts Amendments 
of 1975. This section provides for the registration of transfer agents 
within the appropriate regulatory agencies (including the Federal 
Reserve under 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(34)(B)(ii). The data collected are not 
given confidential treatment.
    Abstract: Banks, BHCs, and trust companies subject to the Federal 
Reserve's supervision that are low-volume transfer agents voluntarily 
file the notice on occasion with the Federal Reserve. Transfer agents 
are institutions that provide securities transfer, registration, 
monitoring, and other specified services on behalf of securities 
issuers. The purpose of the notice, which is effective until the agent 
withdraws it, is to claim exemption from certain rules and regulations 
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Federal Reserve 
uses the notices for supervisory purposes because the SEC has assigned 
to the Federal Reserve responsibility for collecting the notices and 
verifying their accuracy through examinations of the respondents. There 
is no formal reporting form and each notice is filed as a letter.
    Current Actions: The Federal Reserve proposes to include SLHCs in 
the respondent panel.
    Proposal to approve under OMB delegated authority the extension for 
three years, without revision, of the following reports:
    1. Report title: Request for Extension of Time to Dispose of Assets 
Acquired in Satisfaction of Debts Previously Contracted.
    Agency form number: FR 4006.
    OMB control number: 7100-0129.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Reporters: BHCs.
    Annual reporting hours: 885 hours.
    Estimated average hours per response: 5 hours.
    Number of respondents: 177.
    General description of report: This information collection is 
required to obtain a benefit pursuant to sections 4(a) and 4(c)(2) of 
the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1843(a) and (c)(2)) and may be given 
confidential treatment upon request. The Federal Reserve has 
established a procedure for requesting an extension in its Regulation Y 
(12 CFR 225.22(d)(1) and 225.140).
    Abstract: A BHC that acquired voting securities or assets through 
foreclosure in the ordinary course of collecting a debt previously 
contracted may not retain ownership of those shares or assets for more 
than two years without prior Federal Reserve approval. There is no 
formal reporting form and each request for extension must be filed at 
the appropriate Reserve Bank of the BHC. The Federal Reserve uses the 
information provided in the request to fulfill its statutory obligation 
to supervise BHCs.
    2. Report title: Stock Redemption Notification.
    Agency form number: FR 4008.
    OMB control number: 7100-0131.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Reporters: BHCs.
    Annual reporting hours: 155 hours.
    Estimated average hours per response: 15.5 hours.
    Number of respondents: 10
    General description of report: This information collection is 
mandatory pursuant to Sections 5(b) and (c) of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 
1844(b) and (c)) and is generally not given confidential treatment. 
However, a respondent may request that the information be kept 
confidential on a case-by-case basis.
    Abstract: The BHC Act and Regulation Y generally require a BHC to 
seek prior Federal Reserve approval before purchasing or redeeming its 
equity securities. Given that a BHC is exempt from this requirement if 
it meets certain financial, managerial, and supervisory standards, only 
a small portion of proposed stock redemptions actually require the 
prior approval of the Federal Reserve. There is no formal reporting 
form. The Federal Reserve uses the information provided in the 
redemption notice to fulfill its statutory obligation to supervise 
BHCs.
    3. Report title: Investment in Bank Premises Notification.
    Agency form number: FR 4014.
    OMB control number: 7100-0139.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Reporters: State member banks (SMBs).
    Annual reporting hours: 6 hours.
    Estimated average hours per response: 30 minutes.
    Number of respondents: 11.
    General description of report: This information collection is 
required to obtain a benefit pursuant to Section 24A(a) of the Federal 
Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 371d(a)) and is not given confidential 
treatment. However, a respondent may request confidential treatment for 
all or part of a notification, which would be reviewed on a case-by-
case basis.
    Abstract: The Federal Reserve Act requires SMBs to seek prior 
Federal Reserve approval before making an investment in bank premises 
that exceeds certain thresholds. There is no formal reporting form, and 
each required request for prior approval must be filed as a 
notification with the appropriate Reserve Bank of the SMB. The Federal 
Reserve uses the information provided in the notice to fulfill its 
statutory obligation to supervise SMBs.

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, April 10, 
2013.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2013-08731 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P