Proposed Rules. Proposed rule; extension of comment period

Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Action: Proposed rule; extension of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2011-32228 · RIN 3235-AL04 · Release No. 34-65942; File No. S7-38-11 · 17 CFR 230

Summary

The Securities and Exchange Commission is extending the comment period for a release proposing a new rule to implement Section 621 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) on material conflicts of interest in connection with certain securitizations (the “ABS Conflicts Proposal”). The original comment period for the ABS Conflicts Proposal is scheduled to end on December 19, 2011. The Commission is extending the time period in which to provide the Commission with comments on the ABS Conflicts Proposal until January 13, 2012. This action will allow interested persons additional time to analyze the issues and prepare their comments.

Dates

Comments should be received on or before January 13, 2012.

Supplementary Information

The Commission has requested comment on Proposed Rule 127B under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) in the ABS Conflicts Proposal to implement Section 621 of the Dodd- Frank Act. 1 Proposed Rule 127B under the Securities Act would prohibit certain persons who create and distribute an asset-backed security, including a synthetic asset-backed security, from engaging in transactions, within one year after the date of the first closing of the sale of the asset-backed security, that would involve or result in a material conflict of interest with respect to any investor in the asset-backed security. The proposed rule also would provide exceptions from this prohibition for certain risk-mitigating hedging activities, liquidity commitments, and bona fide market-making. The ABS Conflicts Proposal was published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2011. 1 Exchange Act Release No. 34-65355 (September 19, 2011), 76 FR 60320 (September 28, 2011). The Commission originally requested that comments on the ABS Conflicts Proposal be received by December 19, 2011, including comment about any potential interplay 2 between Proposed Rule 127B and the “Volcker Rule Proposal.” 3 The Volcker Rule Proposal would implement Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act concerning prohibitions and restrictions on proprietary trading and certain interests in, and relationships with, hedge funds and private equity funds. The Volcker Rule Proposal was published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2011 and the comment period for that proposal ends on January 13, 2012. 2 See, e.g., 76 FR 60320, 60341. 3 Exchange Act Release No. 34-65545 (October 12, 2011), 76 FR 68846 (November 7, 2011). In an effort to provide the public with a better opportunity to consider any potential interplay between the ABS Conflicts and Volcker Rule Proposals, the Commission has determined to provide the public additional time to consider simultaneously the ABS Conflicts Proposal and the Volcker Rule Proposal. This extended opportunity to submit comprehensive comments regarding the ABS Conflicts Proposal and any potential interplay with the Volcker Rule Proposal would benefit the Commission in its consideration of any final rules. Therefore, the Commission is extending the comment period for the ABS Conflicts Proposal to January 13, 2012, to coincide with the end of the Volcker Rule Proposal's comment period. The Commission would consider a further extension of the ABS Conflicts Proposal comment period if the Volcker Rule Proposal comment period were extended beyond January 13, 2012. Dated: December 13, 2011. By the Commission. Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011-32228 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]