Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17Ac2-2

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736.

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”) is soliciting comments on 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”). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for extension and approval.

Rule 17Ac2-2 and Form TA-2 require registered 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 315 registered transfer agents, approximately 9.2% (or 29 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 approximately 15 hours (29 × .5 hours = 14.5 rounded up to 15). Approximately 26.5% of registrants (or 84 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 126 hours (84 × 1.5 hours). Approximately 64.2% of the registrants (or 203 registrants) would be required to complete the entire Form TA-2, which the Commission estimates would take approximately 6 hours, for a total of 1,218 hours (203 × 6 hours). The aggregate annual burden on all 315 registered transfer agents is thus approximately 1,359 hours (15 hours + 126 hours + 1,218 hours) and the average annual burden per transfer agent is approximately 4.314 hours (1,359 ÷ 315).

Written comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimates of the burden of the proposed 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 by January 3, 2025.

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.

Please direct your written comments to: Austin Gerig, Director/Chief Data Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Tanya Ruttenberg, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.

[FR Doc. 2024-25548 Filed 11-1-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P