2018-15851. Submission for OMB Review; 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 17Ac2-2 and Form TA-2, SEC File No. 270-298, OMB Control No. 3235-0337

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“PRA”) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) a request for approval of the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 17Ac2-2 (17 CFR 240.17Ac2-2) and Form TA-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”).

Rule 17Ac2-2 and Form TA-2 under the Exchange Act require transfer agents to file an annual report of their business activities with the Commission. These reporting requirements are designed to ensure that all registered transfer agents are providing the Commission with sufficient information on an annual basis about the transfer agent community and to permit the Commission to effectively monitor business activities of transfer agents.

The amount of time needed to comply with the requirements of amended Rule 17Ac2-2 and Form TA-2 varies. Of the total 373 registered transfer agents, approximately 9.2% (or 34 registrants) would be required to complete only questions 1 through 3 and the signature section of amended Form TA-2, which the Commission estimates would take each registrant approximately 30 minutes, for a total burden of 17 hours (34 × .5 hours). Approximately 26.5% of registrants (or 99 registrants) would be required to answer questions 1 through 5, question 11 and the signature section, which the Commission estimates would take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, for a total of 148.5 hours (99 × 1.5 hours). Approximately 64.2% of the registrants (or 239 registrants) would be required to complete the entire Form TA-2, which the Commission estimates would take approximately 6 hours, for a total of 1,434 hours (239 × 6 hours). The aggregate annual burden on all 373 registered transfer agents is thus approximately 1,599.5 hours (17 hours + 148.5 hours + 1,434 hours) and the average annual burden per transfer agent is approximately 3.8 hours (1,434 ÷ 373).

This rule does not involve the collection of confidential information.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The public may view background documentation for this information collection at the following website: www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to: [e-mail]; and (ii) Pamela Dyson, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Candace Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or by sending an email to: [e-mail]. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

Dated: July 19, 2018.

Eduardo A. Aleman,

Assistant Secretary.