[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71384-71385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25346]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-265, OMB Control No. 3235-0273]


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17Ad-
10

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

    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'') has submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget (``OMB'') a request for approval of extension of the 
previously approved collection of information provided for in Rule 
17Ad-10 (17 CFR 240.17Ad-10), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.).
    Rule 17Ad-10 generally requires registered transfer agents to: (1) 
create and maintain current and accurate securityholder records; (2) 
promptly and accurately record all transfers, purchases, redemptions, 
and issuances, and notify their appropriate regulatory agency if they 
are unable to do so; (3) exercise diligent and continuous attention in 
resolving record inaccuracies; (4) disclose to the issuers for whom 
they perform transfer agent functions and to their appropriate 
regulatory agency information regarding record inaccuracies; (5) buy-in 
certain record inaccuracies that result in a physical over issuance of 
securities; and (6) communicate with other transfer agents related to 
the same issuer. These requirements assist in the creation and 
maintenance of accurate securityholder records, enhance the ability to 
research errors, and ensure the transfer agent is aware of the number 
of securities that are properly authorized by the issuer, thereby 
avoiding over issuance.
    The rule also has specific recordkeeping requirements. It requires 
registered transfer agents to retain certificate detail that has been 
deleted for six years and keep current an accurate record of the number 
of shares or principal dollar amount of debt securities that the issuer 
has authorized to be outstanding. These mandatory requirements ensure 
accurate securityholder records and assist the Commission and other 
regulatory agencies with monitoring transfer agents and ensuring 
compliance with the rule. This rule does not involve the collection of 
confidential information.
    There are approximately 401 registered transfer agents. We estimate 
that the average number of hours necessary for each transfer agent to 
comply with Rule 17Ad-10 is approximately 80 hours per year, which 
generates an industry-wide annual burden of approximately 32,080 hours 
(401 times 80 hours). This burden is primarily of a recordkeeping 
nature but also includes a small amount of third party disclosure. At 
an average staff cost of $50 per hour, the industry-wide internal labor 
cost of compliance (a monetization of the burden hours) is

[[Page 71385]]

approximately $1,604,000 per year (32,080 x $50).
    In addition, we estimate that each transfer agent will incur an 
annual external cost burden of approximately $18,000 resulting from the 
collection of information. Therefore, the total annual external cost on 
the entire transfer agent industry is approximately $7,218,000 ($18,000 
times 401). This cost primarily reflects ongoing computer operations 
and maintenance associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing 
or providing certain information required by the rule.
    The amount of time any particular transfer agent will devote to 
Rule 17Ad-10 compliance will vary according to the size and scope of 
the transfer agent's business activity. We note, however, that at least 
some of the records, processes, and communications required by Rule 
17Ad-10 would likely be maintained, generated, and used for transfer 
agent business purposes even without the rule.
    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.
    The public may view background documentation for this information 
collection at the following website: www.reginfo.gov. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent by December 22, 2022 to (i) www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain and (ii) David Bottom, Director/Chief Information 
Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John Pezzullo, 100 F 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or by sending an email to: 
[email protected].

    Dated: November 16, 2022.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-25346 Filed 11-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P