[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41031-41032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16330]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct 
Investment Surveys: BE-11, Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment 
Abroad

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 9, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, or via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Sarahelen Thompson, Acting Chief, Direct Investment 
Division (BE-50), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9660; fax: (202) 606-
5318; or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

    The Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (Form BE-11) 
obtains financial and operating data covering the operations of U.S. 
parents and their foreign affiliates, including their balance sheets; 
income statements; property, plant, and equipment; employment and 
employee compensation; merchandise trade; sales of goods and services; 
taxes; and research and development activity. The survey is a sample 
survey that covers all foreign affiliates above a size-exemption level 
and their U.S. parents. The sample data are used to derive universe 
estimates in nonbenchmark years from similar data reported in the BE-
10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, which is 
conducted every five years. The data are needed to measure the size and 
economic significance of direct investment abroad, measure changes in 
such investment, and assess its impact on the U.S. and foreign 
economies.
    No changes to the survey forms or reporting requirements are 
proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    Survey forms are sent to potential respondents in March of each 
year; responses covering a reporting company's fiscal year ending 
during the previous calendar year are due by May 31. A report must be 
filed by each U.S. person that has a direct and/or indirect ownership 
interest of at least 10 percent of the voting stock (or the equivalent) 
in a foreign business enterprise and that meets the additional 
conditions detailed in Form BE-11.
    As an alternative to filing paper forms, BEA offers an electronic 
filing option, the eFile system, for use in reporting on Form BE-11. 
For more information about eFile, go to www.bea.gov/efile.
    Potential respondents are those U.S. parents that reported owning 
foreign business enterprises in the 2009 benchmark survey of U.S. 
direct investment abroad, along with entities that subsequently entered 
the direct investment universe. The data collected are sample data. 
Universe estimates are developed from the reported sample data.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0053.
    Form Number: BE-11.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,900 U.S. parents filing for 
their U.S. operations and for 18,700 foreign affiliates.
    Estimated Time per Response: 91 hours is the average, but may vary 
considerably among respondents because of differences in company 
structure, size, and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 172,600.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

    Legal Authority:  International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended by Pub. 
L. 98-573 and Pub. L. 101-533).

IV. Request for Comments

    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

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the Agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 2, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-16330 Filed 7-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P