2019-12886. 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:

Rule 204A-1

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 (the “Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

The title for the collection of information is “Rule 204A-1 (17 CFR 275.204A-1) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940” (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) Rule 204A-1 (the “Code of Ethics Rule”) requires investment advisers registered with the Commission to (i) set forth standards of conduct expected of advisory personnel (including compliance with the federal securities laws); (ii) safeguard material nonpublic information about client transactions; and (iii) require the adviser's “access persons” to report their personal securities transactions, including transactions in any mutual fund managed by the adviser. The Code of Ethics Rule requires access persons to obtain the adviser's approval before investing in an initial public offering or private placement. The Code of Ethics Rule also requires prompt reporting, to the adviser's chief compliance officer or another person designated in the code of ethics, of any violations of the code. Finally, the Code of Ethics Rule requires the adviser to provide each supervised person with a copy of the code and any amendments, and require the supervised persons to acknowledge, in writing, their receipt of these copies.

The purposes of the information collection requirements are to: (i) Ensure that advisers maintain codes of ethics applicable to their supervised persons; (ii) provide advisers with information about the personal securities transactions of their access persons for purposes of monitoring such transactions; (iii) provide advisory clients with information with which to evaluate advisers' codes of ethics; and (iv) assist the Commission's examination staff in assessing the adequacy of advisers' codes of ethics and assessing personal trading activity by advisers' supervised persons.

The respondents to this information collection are investment advisers registered with the Commission. The Commission has estimated that compliance with rule 204A-1 imposes a burden of approximately 91 hours per adviser annually for an estimated total annual burden of 1,194,133 hours.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a 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 agency'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 Charles Riddle, Acting Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Candace Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549; or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: June 13, 2019.

Eduardo A. Aleman,

Deputy Secretary.