2024-24338. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h)

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Securities and Exchange Commission

1. [SEC File No. 270-149, OMB Control No. 3235-0130]

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”) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h), (17 CFR 240.17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h)), 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 17Ad-2(c),(d), and (h) enumerates the requirements with which transfer agents must comply to inform the Commission or the appropriate regulator of a transfer agent's failure to meet the minimum performance standards set by the Commission rule by filing a notice.

While it is estimated that there are 740 transfer agents, only approximately three notices pursuant to Rule 17Ad-2(c), (d), and (h) are filed annually. In view of (a) the readily available nature of most of the information required to be included in the notice (since that information must be compiled and retained pursuant to other Commission rules); (b) the summary fashion in which such information must be presented in the notice (most notices are one page or less in length); and (c) the experience of the staff regarding the notices, the Commission staff estimates that, on the average, most notices require approximately one-half hour to prepare. The Commission staff thus estimates that transfer agents spend an average of a total of one and a half hours per year complying with the rule (3 × .5 hours = 1.5 hours).

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 by December 23, 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: Austin Gerig, Director/Chief Data Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Tanya Ruttenberg, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: October 16, 2024.

Sherry R. Haywood,

Assistant Secretary.