2012-23268. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SUMMARY:

On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) its approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers to collection of information requests and requirements conducted or sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR part 1320 Appendix A.1. Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, supporting statements and approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before November 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by FR Y-12 or FR Y-12A, by any of the following methods:

• Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/​generalinfo/​foia/​ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: [e-mail]. Include OMB number in the subject line of the message.
• Fax: [phone] or [phone].
• Mail: Robert deV. Frierson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20551.

All public comments are available from the Board's web site at www.federalreserve.gov/​generalinfo/​foia/​ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper form in Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, NW.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Additionally, commenters may send a copy of their comments to the OMB Desk Officer—Shagufta Ahmed—Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the PRA OMB submission, including the proposed reporting form and instructions, supporting statement, and other documentation will be placed into OMB's public docket files, once approved. These documents will also be made available on the Federal Reserve Board's public Web site at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/​boarddocs/​reportforms/​review.cfm or may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below.

Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer—Cynthia Ayouch—Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551 [phone]. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact [phone], Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comment on Information Collection Proposal(s)

The following information collection, which is being handled under this delegated authority, has received initial Board approval and is hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collection, along with an analysis of comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited on the following:

a. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including whether the information has practical utility;

b. The accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, 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 collection 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.

Proposal to Approve Under OMB Delegated Authority the Extension for Three Years, Without Revision, the Following Reports

Report title: Consolidated Bank Holding Company Report of Equity Investments in Nonfinancial Companies, and the Annual Report of Merchant Banking Investments Held for an Extended Period.

Agency form number: FR Y-12, FR Y12A, respectively.

OMB control number: 7100-0300.

Frequency: FR Y-12: quarterly or semi-annually, FR Y-12A: annually.

Reporters: Bank holding companies (BHCs), financial holding companies (FHCs) and savings and loan holding companies (SLHCs).

Estimated annual reporting hours: FR Y-12: 2,112 hours, FR Y-12A: 126 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: FR Y-12: 16.5 hours, FR Y-12A: 7 hours.

Number of respondents: FR Y-12: 34, FR Y-12A: 18.

General description of report: This collection of information is mandatory pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1844(c)) and Section 10 of the Home Owners Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(b)). The FR Y-12 data are not considered confidential, however, a BHC or SLHC may request confidential treatment pursuant to Sections (b)(4) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)). The FR Y-12A data are considered confidential pursuant to sections (b)(4) and (b)(8) of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) and (b)(8)).

Abstract: The FR Y-12 collects information from certain domestic BHCs and SLHCs on their equity investments in nonfinancial companies on four schedules: Type of Investments, Type of Security, Type of Entity within the Banking Organization, and Nonfinancial Investment Transactions during Reporting Period. The FR Y-12A collects data from financial holding companies (FHCs) which hold merchant banking investments that are approaching the end of the holding period permissible under Regulation Y. These data serve as an important risk-monitoring device for FHCs active in this business line by allowing supervisory staff to monitor an FHC's activity between review dates. They also serve as an early warning mechanism to identify FHCs whose activities in this area are growing rapidly and therefore warrant special supervisory attention.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, September 17, 2012.

Robert deV. Frierson,

Secretary of the Board.