2016-07472. BE-577: Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad-Transactions of U.S. Reporter With Foreign Affiliate

AGENCY:

Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of reporting requirements.

SUMMARY:

By this Notice, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Department of Commerce, is informing the public that it is conducting the mandatory survey titled Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad—Transactions of U.S. Reporter with Foreign Affiliate (BE-577). This survey is authorized by the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This Notice constitutes legal notification to all U.S. persons (defined below) who meet the reporting requirements set forth in this Notice that they must respond to, and comply with, the BE-577. Reports are due 30 days after the close of each calendar or fiscal quarter; 45 days if the report is for the final quarter of the financial reporting year. This notice is being issued in conformance with the rule BEA issued in 2012 (77 FR 24373) establishing guidelines for collecting data on international trade in services and direct investment through notices, rather than through rulemaking. Additional information about BEA's collection of data on international trade in services and direct investment can be found in the 2012 rule, the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act (22 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), and 15 CFR part 801. Survey data on international trade in services and direct investment that are not collected pursuant to the 2012 rule are described separately in 15 CFR part 801. The BE-577 survey forms and instructions are available on the BEA Web site at www.bea.gov/​dia.

Definitions

(a) United States, when used in a geographic sense, means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and all territories and possessions of the United States.

(b) Foreign, when used in a geographic sense, means that which is situated outside the United States or which belongs to or is characteristic of a country other than the United States.

(c) Person means any individual, branch, partnership, associated group, association, estate, trust, corporation, or other organization (whether or not organized under the laws of any State), and any government (including a foreign government, the U.S. Government, a State or local government, and any agency, corporation, financial institution, or other entity or instrumentality thereof, including a government-sponsored agency).

(d) Business enterprise means any organization, association, branch, or venture that exists for profit-making purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage, and any ownership of any real estate.

Reporting

Notice of specific reporting requirements, including who is to report, the information to be reported, the manner of reporting, and the time and place of filing reports, will be mailed to those required to complete this survey.

Who Must Report: (a) Reports are required from each U.S. person that has a direct and/or indirect ownership interest of at least 10 percent of the voting stock in an incorporated foreign business enterprise, or an equivalent interest in an unincorporated foreign business enterprise, and that meets the additional conditions detailed in Form BE-577.

(b) Entities required to report will be contacted individually by BEA. Entities not contacted by BEA have no reporting responsibilities.

What To Report: The survey collects information on transactions between parent companies and their affiliates and on direct investment positions (stocks).

How To Report: Reports can be filed using BEA's electronic reporting system at www.bea.gov/​efile. Copies of the survey form and instructions, which contain complete information on reporting procedures and definitions, can be downloaded from the BEA Web site given above. Form BE-577 inquiries can be made by phone to [phone] or by sending an email to [e-mail].

When To Report: Reports are due to BEA 30 days after the close of each calendar or fiscal quarter; 45 days if the report is for the final quarter of the financial reporting year.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

This data collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act and assigned control number 0608-0004. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by OMB. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response. Additional information regarding this burden estimate may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov;​; under the Information Collection Review tab, click on “Search” and use the above OMB control number to search for the current survey instrument. Send comments regarding this burden estimate to Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BE-1), U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project 0608-0004, Washington, DC 20503.

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108.

Brian C. Moyer,

Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis.