2023-25476. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Form N-54A

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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) (the “Investment Company Act”), certain investment companies can elect to be regulated as business development companies, as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(48)). Under Section 54(a) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-53(a)), any company defined in Section 2(a)(48)(A) and (B) may elect to be subject to the provisions of Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-54 to 80a-64) by filing with the Commission a notification of election, if such company has: (1) a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”); or (2) filed a registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act for a class of its equity securities. The Commission adopted Form N–54A (17 CFR 274.53) as the form for notification of election to be regulated as a business development company.

The purpose of Form N–54A is to notify the Commission that the investment company making the notification elects to be subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act, enabling the Commission to administer those provisions of the Investment Company Act to such companies.

The Commission estimates that on average approximately 21 business development companies file these notifications each year. Each of those business development companies need only make a single filing of Form N–54A. The Commission further estimates that this information collection imposes a burden of 0.5 hours, resulting in a total annual PRA burden of 10.5 hours. Based on the estimated wage rate, the total cost to the business development company industry of the hour burden for complying with Form N–54A would be approximately $4,462.50.

The collection of information under Form N–54A is mandatory. The information provided by the form is not kept confidential. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

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 estimate of the burden of the 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 by January 16, 2024.

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: David Bottom, Acting Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John Pezzullo, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: November 14, 2023.

Sherry R. Haywood,

Assistant Secretary.