2015-31930. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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

Extension:

Form N-14.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (“Paperwork Reduction Act”), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for extension and approval.

Form N-14 (17 CFR 239.23) is the form for registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.) (“Securities Act”) of securities issued by management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) (“Investment Company Act”) and business development companies as defined by Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act in: (1) A transaction of the type specified in rule 145(a) under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.145(a)); (2) a merger in which a vote or consent of the security holders of the company being acquired is not required pursuant to applicable state law; (3) an exchange offer for securities of the issuer or another person; (4) a public reoffering or resale of any securities acquired in an offering registered on Form N-14; or (5) two or more of the transactions listed in (1) through (4) registered on one registration statement. The principal purpose of Form N-14 is to make material information regarding securities to be issued in connection with business combination transactions available to investors. The information required to be filed with the Commission permits verification of compliance with securities law requirements and assures the public availability and dissemination of such information. Without the registration statement requirement, material information may not necessarily be available to investors.

We estimate that approximately 124 funds each file one new registration statement on Form N-14 annually, and that 68 funds each file one amendment to a registration statement on Form N-14 annually. Based on conversations with fund representatives, we estimate that the reporting burden is approximately 620 hours per respondent for a new Form N-14 registration statement and 300 hours per respondent for amending the Form N-14 registration statement. This time is spent, for example, preparing and reviewing the registration statements. Accordingly, we calculate the total estimated annual internal burden of responding to Form N-14 to be approximately 97,280 hours. In addition to the burden hours, based on conversations with fund representatives, we estimate that the total cost burden of compliance with the information collection requirements of Form N-14 is approximately $27,500 for preparing and filing an initial registration statement on Form N-14 and approximately $16,000 for preparing and filing an amendment to a registration statement on Form N-14. This includes, for example, the cost of goods and services purchased to prepare and update registration statements on Form N-14, such as for the services of outside counsel. Accordingly, we calculate the total estimated annual cost burden of responding to Form N-14 to be approximately $4,498,000.

Estimates of average burden hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a comprehensive or even representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and forms. The collection of information under Form N-14 is mandatory. The information provided under Form N-14 will not be 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 OMB 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 agency, including whether the information will 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 in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Please direct your written comments to Pamela Dyson, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549; or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: December 15, 2015.

Robert W. Errett,

Deputy Secretary.