[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 101081-101082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29306]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[SEC File No. 270-642, OMB Control No. 3235-0696]
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Extension: Rules
15Fb1-1 Through 15Fb6-2 and Forms SBSE, SBSE-A, SBSE-BD, SBSE-C and
SBSE-W
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 extension of the previously approved
collection of information provided for in the following rules: Rules
15Fb1-1 through 15Fb6-2 (17 CFR 240.15Fb1-1 through 240.15Fb6-2), and
Forms SBSE, SBSE-A, SBSE-BD, SBSE-C and SBSE-W (17 CFR 249.1600,
249.1600a, 249.1600b, 249.1600c and 249.1601) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.).
The Commission adopted Rules 15Fb1-1 through 15Fb6-2 and Forms
SBSE, SBSE-A, SBSE-BD, SBSE-C and SBSE-W on August 5, 2015 to create a
process to register SBS Entities. Forms SBSE, SBSE-A, and SBSE-BD and
SBSE-C were designed to elicit certain information from applicants. The
Commission uses the information disclosed by applicants through the SBS
Entity registration rules and forms to: (1) determine whether an
applicant meets the standards for registration set forth in the
provisions of the Exchange Act; and (2) develop an information resource
regarding SBS Entities where members of the public may obtain relevant,
up-to-date information about SBS Entities, and where the Commission may
obtain information for examination and enforcement purposes. Without
the information provided through these SBS Entity registration rules
and forms, the Commission could not effectively determine whether the
applicant meets the standards for registration or implement policy
objectives of the Exchange Act.
The information collected pursuant to Rule 15Fb3-2 and Form SBSE-W
allows the Commission to determine whether it is appropriate to allow
an SBS Entity to withdraw from registration and to facilitate that
withdrawal. Without this information, the Commission would be unable to
effectively determine whether it was appropriate to allow an SBS Entity
to withdraw. In addition, it would be more difficult for the Commission
to properly regulate SBS Entities if it were unable to quickly identify
those that have withdrawn from the security-based swap business.
As of September 30, 2024, 53 entities have registered with the
Commission as SBS Entities. The Commission estimates that an additional
five entities will register as SBS Entities. The Commission estimates
that these SBS
[[Page 101082]]
Entities likely would incur a total burden of 10,660 burden hours per
year to comply with Rules 15Fb1-1 through 15Fb6-2 and Forms SBSE, SBSE-
A, SBSE-BD, SBSE-C and SBSE-W.
In addition, Rules 15Fb1-1 through 15Fb6-2 and Forms SBSE, SBSE-A,
SBSE-BD, SBSE-C and SBSE-W may impose certain costs on non-resident
persons that apply to be registered with the Commission as SBS
Entities, including an initial and ongoing costs associated with
obtaining an opinion of counsel indicating that it can, as a matter of
law, provide the Commission with access to its books and records and
submit to Commission examinations, and an ongoing cost associated with
establishing and maintaining a relationship with a U.S. agent for
service of process.
The staff estimates, based on internet research,\1\ that it would
cost each nonresident SBS Entity approximately $211 annually to appoint
and maintain a relationship with a U.S. agent for service of process.
Consequently, the total cost for all nonresident SBS Entities to
appoint and maintain relationships with U.S. agents for service of
process is approximately $5,697 per year.
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\1\ See, e.g., https://www.incorp.com/registered-agent-services/
(as of September 13, 2024, $129 per state per year), https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/ct-corporation/registered-agent-services-solutions (as of September 13, 2024, $354 per year), and
https://www.ailcorp.com/services/registered-agent (as of September
13, 2024, $149 per year). The staff sought websites that provided
pricing information and a comprehensive description of their
registered agent services. We calculated our estimate by averaging
the costs provided on these three websites--($129 + $354 + $149) / 3
= $211.
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Nonresident SBS Entities also would incur outside legal costs
associated with obtaining an opinion of counsel. The staff estimates
that each of the estimated 27 non-resident persons that likely will
apply to register as SBS Entities with the Commission would incur, on
average, approximately $25,000 in outside legal costs to obtain the
opinion of counsel necessary to register, and that the total annualized
cost for Nonresident SBS Entities to obtain this opinion of counsel
would be approximately $225,000. Nonresident SBS Entities would also
need to obtain a revised opinion of counsel after any changes in the
legal or regulatory framework that would impact the SBS Entity's
ability to provide, or manner in which it provides, the Commission with
prompt access to its books and records or that impacts the Commission's
ability to inspect and examine the SBS Entity. We do not believe this
would occur frequently, and therefore estimate that one non-resident
entity may need to recertify annually. Thus, the total ongoing cost
associated with obtaining a revised opinion of counsel regarding the
new regulatory regime would be approximately $25,000 annually.
Consequently, the total annualized cost burden associated with Rules
15Fb1-1 through 15Fb6-2 and Forms SBSE, SBSE-A, SBSE-BD, SBSE-C and
SBSE-W would be approximately $255,697 per year.
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.
Public Comment Instructions: The 30-day public comment period for
this information collection request opens on December 16, 2024 and
closes at the end of the day on January 13, 2025. The public may view
the full information request and submit comments at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202409-3235-024 or email
comments to [email protected].
Dated: December 9, 2024.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-29306 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P