2020-17996. 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 173

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 (“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 for extension and approval.

Securities Act Rule 173 (17 CFR 230.173) provides a notice of registration to investors who purchased securities in a registered offering under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.). A Rule 173 notice must be provided by underwriter or dealer to each investor who purchased securities from the underwriter or dealer. The Rule 173 notice is not publicly available. We estimate that it takes approximately 0.0167 hour per response to provide the information required under Rule 173 and that the information is filed by approximately 5,338 respondents approximately 43,546 times a year for a total of 232,448,548 responses. We estimate that the total annual reporting burden for Rule 173 is 3,881,891 hours (0.0167 hours per response × 232,448,548 responses).

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether this proposed collection of information is necessary for the 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 imposed by the collections 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.

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 control number.

Please direct your written comment to David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: August 13, 2020.

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.