[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 4115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02309]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736

Extension:
    Rule 15a-6, SEC File No. 270-0329, OMB Control No. 3235-0371

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (``PRA'') (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 Rule 15a-6, (17 CFR 240.15a-
6), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). 
The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information 
to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for extension and 
approval.
    Rule 15a-6 provides conditional exemptions from the requirement to 
register as a broker-dealer pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act 
(15 U.S.C. 78o) for foreign broker-dealers that engage in certain 
specified activities involving U.S. persons. In particular, Rule 15a-
6(a)(3) provides an exemption from broker-dealer registration for 
foreign broker-dealers that solicit and effect transactions with or for 
U.S. institutional investors or major U.S. institutional investors 
through a registered broker-dealer, provided that the U.S. broker-
dealer, among other things, obtains certain information about, and 
consents to service of process from, the personnel of the foreign 
broker-dealer involved in such transactions, and maintains certain 
records in connection therewith.
    These requirements are intended to ensure (a) that the registered 
broker-dealer will receive notice of the identity of, and has reviewed 
the background of, foreign personnel who will contact U.S. investors, 
(b) that the foreign broker-dealer and its personnel effectively may be 
served with process in the event enforcement action is necessary, and 
(c) that the Commission has ready access to information concerning 
these persons and their U.S. securities activities. Commission staff 
estimates that approximately 2,000 U.S. registered broker-dealers will 
spend an average of two hours of clerical staff time and one hour of 
managerial staff time per year obtaining the information required by 
the rule, resulting in a total aggregate burden of 6,000 hours per year 
for complying with the rule. Assuming an hourly cost of $63 \1\ for a 
compliance clerk and $283 \2\ for a compliance manager, the resultant 
total internal labor cost of compliance for the respondents is $818,000 
per year (2,000 entities x ((2 hours/entity x $63/hour) + (1 hour per 
entity x $283/hour)) = $818,000).
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    \1\ The hourly rate used for a compliance clerk was from SIFMA's 
Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2013, modified by 
Commission staff to account for an 1,800 hour work-year and 
multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee 
benefits and overhead.
    \2\ The hourly rate used for a compliance manager was from 
SIFMA's Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities 
Industry 2013, modified by Commission staff to account for an 1,800 
hour work-year and multiplied by 5.35 to account for bonuses, firm 
size, employee benefits and overhead.
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    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 
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.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Please direct your written comments to: Charles Riddle, Acting 
Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
c/o Candace Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an 
email to: [email protected].

    Dated: February 11, 2019.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-02309 Filed 2-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P