Fed. Reg. Notices — Notice of Meeting of SEC Advisory…

BILLING CODE 7710-FW-M SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Proposed Collections; Comment Request Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. Extensions: Form F-9; OMB Control No. 3235-0377; SEC File No. 270-333 Form F-10; OMB Control No. 3235-0380; SEC File No. 270-334 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 collections of information summarized below.

The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management Budget for extensionand approval. Form F-9 is a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 that is used to register investment grade debt or investment grade preferred securities that are offered for cash or in connection with an exchange offer and are either non-convertible or not convertible for a period of at least one year from the date of issuance and thereafter are only convertible into a security of another class of the issuer.

The purpose of the information collection is to permit verification of compliance with securities law requirements and to assure the public availability and dissemination of such information. The principal function of the Commission's forms and rules under the securities laws' disclosure provisions is to make information available to the investors. We estimate that Form F-9 takes approximately 25 hours per response and it is filed by 18 respondents. We further estimate that 25% of the 450 total burden hours (113 burden hours) is prepared by the company.

Form F-10 is a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 that is used by certain Canadian “substantial issuers” (those issuers with at least 36 calendar months of reporting history with a securities commission in Canada and a market value of common stock of at least $360 million (Canadian) and an aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of at least $75 million (Canadian)). The purpose of the information collection is to facilitate cross-border offerings by specified Canadian issuers.

We estimate that Form F-10 takes approximately 25 hours per response and is filed by 75 respondents. We further estimate that 25% of the 1,875 total burden hours (469 burden hours) are prepared by the company. Written comments are invited on:

(a)Whether these proposed collections of information are 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 R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Dated: January 31, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-1618 Filed 2-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Proposed Collection; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. Extension: Rule 15g-3; SEC File No. 270-346; OMB Control No. 3235-0392 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 publishing the following summary of collection for public comment. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval. Rule 15g-3 requires that brokers and dealers disclose to customers current quotation prices or similar market information in connection with transactions in penny stocks. It is estimated that approximately 240 respondents incur an average burden of 100 hours annually to comply with the rule. 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 shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 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. Direct your written comments to R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Dated: January 31, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-1620 Filed 2-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Proposed Collection; Comment Request Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. Extension: Rule 15g-4; SEC File No. 270-347; OMB Control No. 3235-0393 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 publishing the following summary of collection for public comment. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval. Rule 15g-4 requires brokers and dealers effecting transactions in penny stocks for or with customers to disclose the amount of compensation received by the broker-dealer in connection with the transaction. It is estimated that approximately 240 respondents incur an average of 100 hours annually to comply with the rule. 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 shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 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. Direct written comments to R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Dated: January 31, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-1621 Filed 2-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Proposed Collection; Comment Request Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. Extension: Rule 19a-1; SEC File No. 270-240; OMB Control No. 3235-0216 Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 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 (“OMB”) for extension and approval. Section 19(a) [15 U.S.C. 80a-19(a)] of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) makes it unlawful for any registered investment company to pay any dividend or similar distribution from any source other than the company's net income, unless the payment is accompanied by a written statement to the company's shareholders which adequately discloses the sources of the payment. Section 19(a) authorizes the Commission to prescribe the form of such statement by rule. Rule 19a-1 [17 CFR 270.19a-1] under the Act, entitled “Written Statement to Accompany Dividend Payments by Management Companies,” sets forth specific requirements for the information that must be included in statements made pursuant to section 19(a) by or on behalf of management companies. 1 The rule requires that the statement indicate what portions of distribution payments are made from net income, net profits and paid-in capital. When any part of the payment is made from net profits, rule 19a-1 also requires that the statement disclose certain other information relating to the appreciation or depreciation of portfolio securities. If an estimated portion is subsequently determined to be significantly inaccurate, a correction must be made on a statement made pursuant to section 19(a) or in the first report to shareholders following the discovery of the inaccuracy. 1 Section 4(3) of the Act [15 U.S.C. 80a-4(3)] defines “management company” as “any investment company other than a face amount certificate company or a unit investment trust.” The purpose of rule 19a-1 is to afford fund shareholders adequate disclosure of the sources from which distribution payments are made. The rule is intended to prevent shareholders from confusing income dividends with distributions made from capital sources. Absent rule 19a-1, shareholders might receive a false impression of fund gains. Based on a review of filings made with the Commission, the staff estimates that approximately 3,000 portfolios of registered investment companies that are management companies may be subject to rule 19a-1 each year, and that each portfolio on average mails two statements per year to meet the requirements of the rule. 2 The staff further estimates that the time needed to make the determinations required by the rule and to prepare the statement required under the rule is approximately 1.5 hours per statement. The total annual burden for all portfolios therefore is estimated to be approximately 9,000 burden hours. 2 A few portfolios make monthly distributions from sources other than net income, so the rule requires them to send out a statement 12 times a year. Other portfolios never make such distributions. The staff estimates that approximately one-third of the total annual burden (3,000 hours) would be incurred by a senior administrative officer with an average hourly wage rate of approximately $158 per hour, and approximately two-thirds of the annual burden (6,000 hours) would be incurred by senior clerical staff with an average hourly wage rate of $25 per hour. 3 The staff therefore estimates that the aggregate annual cost of complying with the paperwork requirements of the rule is approximately $624,000 ((3,000 hours × $158) + (6,000 hours × $25)). 3 All hourly rates in this Supporting Statement are derived from the average annual salaries reported for employees outside of New York City in Securities Industry Association, Management and Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry

(2003)and Securities Industry Association, Office Salaries in the Securities Industry (2003). The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. Compliance with the collection of information required by rule 19a-1 is mandatory for management companies that make statements to shareholders pursuant to section 19(a) of the Act. Responses will not be kept confidential. 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. Written comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burdens of the collections of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burdens of the collections 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 R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Dated: January 31, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-1622 Filed 2-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release Nos. 33-8659; 34-53204, File No. 265-23] Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission. ACTION: Notice of Meeting of SEC Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies. The Securities and Exchange Commission Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies is providing notice that it will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, in Multi-Purpose Room L006 of the Commission's headquarters, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, beginning at 9 a.m. The meeting is expected to last until approximately 4 p.m., with a lunch break from approximately noon to 1 p.m. The meeting will be audio webcast on the Commission's Web site at *http://www.sec.gov.* The agenda for the meeting includes a discussion of a proposal to publish a draft of the Advisory Committee's Final Report for public comment. The Advisory Committee may also discuss written statements received and other matters of concern. The public is invited to submit written statements for the meeting. DATES: Written statements should be received on or before February 15, 2006. ADDRESSES: Written statements may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Statements • Use the Commission's Internet submission form ( *http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus/acspc.shtml* ); or • Send an e-mail message to *rule-comments@sec.gov.* Please include File Number 265-23 on the subject line; or Paper Statements • Send paper statements in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Committee Management Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to File No. 265-23. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help us process and review your statement more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission staff will post all statements on the Advisory Committee's Web site ( *http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus/acspc.shtml* ). Statements also will be available for public inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. All statements received will be posted without change; we do not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin M. O'Neill, Special Counsel, at

(202)551-3260, Office of Small Business Policy, Division of Corporation Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-3628. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C.-App. 1, section 10(a), and the regulations thereunder, Gerald J. Laporte, Designated Federal Officer of the Committee, has ordered publication of this notice. Dated: February 1, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E6-1619 Filed 2-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, Pub. L. 94-409, that the Securities and Exchange Commission will hold the following meeting during the week of February 6, 2006: A closed meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 2 p.m. Commissioners, Counsel to the Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, and recording secretaries will attend the closed meeting. Certain staff members who have an interest in the matters may also be present. The General Counsel of the Commission, or his designee, has certified that, in his opinion, one or more of the exemptions set forth in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), (3), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9)(B), and

(10)and 17 CFR 200.402(a), (3), (4), (5), (7), (8), 9(ii) and

(10)permit consideration of the scheduled matters at the closed meeting. Commissioner Nazareth, as duty officer, voted to consider the items listed for the closed meeting in closed session. The subject matter of the Closed Meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 2006 will be: Formal orders of investigations; Institution and settlement of injunctive actions; Institution and settlement of administrative proceedings of an enforcement nature; and Regulatory matters regarding financial institutions. At times, changes in Commission priorities require alterations in the scheduling of meeting items. For further information and to ascertain what, if any, matters have been added, deleted or postponed, please contact: The Office of the Secretary at

(202)551-5400. Dated: February 2, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. 06-1164 Filed 2-3-06; 12:54 pm]

Notices. Notice of Meeting of SEC Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies