2012-25629. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Securities Exchange Act Disclosure Rules (12 CFR Part 11) and Securities of Federal Savings Associations (12 CFR Part 194)

AGENCY:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and Request for Comment.

SUMMARY:

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, “Securities Exchange Act Disclosure Rules (12 CFR part 11) and Securities of Federal Savings Associations (12 CFR part 194).”

DATES:

Comments must be received by December 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 2-3; Attention: 1557-0206, 250 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. In addition, comments may be sent by fax to [phone], or by electronic mail to [e-mail]. You can inspect and photocopy the comments at the OCC, 250 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. For security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an appointment to inspect comments. You may do so by calling [phone]. Upon arrival, visitors will be required to present valid government-issued photo identification and to submit to security screening in order to inspect and photocopy comments.

Additionally, you should send a copy of your comments to OCC Desk Officer, 1557-0206, by mail to U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 725, 17th Street NW., #10235, Washington, DC 20503, or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You can request additional information or a copy of the information collection from Mary H. Gottlieb or Johnny Vilela, OCC Clearance Officers, [phone], Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) to include Agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, the OCC is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, the OCC invites comments on these topics:

(a) Whether the information collections are necessary for the proper performance of the agencies' functions, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) The accuracy of the agencies' estimates of the burden of the information collections, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Ways to minimize the burden of information collections on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

(e) Estimates of capital or start up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be shared among the agencies. All comments will become a matter of public record. Written comments should address the accuracy of the burden estimates and ways to minimize burden including the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology as well as other relevant aspects of the information collection request.

Securities Exchange Act Disclosure Rules and Securities of Federal Savings Associations—12 CFR 11 and 12 CFR 194 (OMB Control Number 1557-0106)—Extension

The OCC is proposing to extend OMB approval of the following information collection:

Title: Securities Exchange Act Disclosure Rules (12 CFR Part 11) and Securities of Federal Savings Associations (12 CFR Part 194).

OMB Control No.: 1557-0106.

Description: This submission covers an existing regulation and involves no change to the regulation or to the information collection requirements. The OCC requests only that OMB approve its revised estimates.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is required by statute to collect, through regulation, from any firm that is required to register its stock with the SEC, certain information and documents. 15 U.S.C. 78m(a)(1). Federal law also requires the OCC to apply similar regulations to any national bank or Federal savings association similarly required to be registered (those with a class of equity securities held by 2,000 or more shareholders). 15 U.S.C. 78l(i).

12 CFR parts 11 and 194 ensure that a national bank or Federal savings association whose securities are subject to registration provides adequate information about its operations to current and potential shareholders, depositors, and to the public. The OCC reviews the information to ensure that it complies with Federal law and makes public all information required to be filed under these rules. Investors, depositors, and the public use the information to make informed investment decisions.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals; Businesses or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 14.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 78.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 522.5.

Dated: October 11, 2012.

Michele Meyer,

Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.