Notices. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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/register/2014/11/18/2014-27191A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Proposed Collection; Comment Request *Upon Written Request Copies Available From:* U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-2736. *Extension:* Rule 15c2-12, SEC File No. 270-330, OMB Control No. 3235-0372. 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 15c2-12—Municipal Securities Disclosure (17 CFR 240.15c2-12) 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. Paragraph
(b)of Rule 15c2-12 requires underwriters of municipal securities:
(1)To obtain and review an official statement “deemed final” by an issuer of the securities, except for the omission of specified information prior to making a bid, purchase, offer, or sale of municipal securities;
(2)in non-competitively bid offerings, to send, upon request, a copy of the most recent preliminary official statement (if one exists) to potential customers;
(3)to contract with the issuer to receive, within a specified time, sufficient copies of the final official statement to comply with Rule 15c2-12's delivery requirement and the rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”);
(4)to send, upon request, a copy of the final official statement to potential customers for a specified period of time; and
(5)before purchasing or selling municipal securities in connection with an offering, to reasonably determine that the issuer or the obligated person has undertaken, in a written agreement or contract, for the benefit of holders of such municipal securities, to provide certain information on a continuing basis to the MSRB in an electronic format as prescribed by the MSRB. The information to be provided consists of:
(1)Certain annual financial and operating information and audited financial statements (“annual filings”);
(2)notices of the occurrence of any of 14 specific events (“event notices”); and
(3)notices of the failure of an issuer or obligated person to make a submission required by a continuing disclosure agreement (“failure to file notices”). Rule 15c2-12 is intended to enhance disclosure in the municipal securities market, and thereby reduce fraud, by establishing standards for obtaining, reviewing and disseminating information about municipal securities by their underwriters. Municipal offerings of less than $1 million are exempt from the rule, as are offerings of municipal securities issued in large denominations that are sold to no more than 35 sophisticated investors or have short-term maturities. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 issuers, 250 broker-dealers and the MSRB will spend a total of 115,248 hours per year complying with Rule 15c2-12. Based on data from the MSRB through September 2014 and annualized through December 2014, issuers will submit approximately 62,596 annual filings to the MSRB in 2014. Commission staff estimates that an issuer will require approximately 45 minutes to prepare and submit annual filings to the MSRB. Therefore, the total annual burden on issuers to prepare and submit 62,596 annual filings to the MSRB is estimated to be 46,947 hours. Based on data from the MSRB through September 2014 and annualized through December 2014, issuers will submit approximately 73,480 event notices to the MSRB in 2014. Commission staff estimates that an issuer will require approximately 45 minutes to prepare and submit event notices to the MSRB. Therefore, the total annual burden on issuers to prepare and submit 73,480 event notices to the MSRB is estimated to be 55,110 hours. Based on data from the MSRB through September 2014 and annualized through December 2014, issuers will submit approximately 7,063 failure to file notices to the MSRB in 2014. Commission staff estimates that an issuer will require approximately 30 minutes to prepare and submit failure to file notices to the MSRB. Therefore, the total annual burden on issuers to prepare and submit 7,063 failure to file notices to the MSRB is estimated to be 3,531 hours. Commission staff estimates that the total annual burden on broker-dealers to comply with Rule 15c2-12 is 300 hours. Finally, Commission staff estimates that the MSRB will incur an annual burden of 9,360 hours to collect, index, store, retrieve and make available the pertinent documents under Rule 15c2-12. Based on data provided by the MSRB, the Commission estimates that up to 65% of issuers may use designated agents to submit some or all of their continuing disclosure documents to the MSRB. The Commission estimates that the average total annual cost that may be incurred by issuers that use the services of a designated agent will be $9,750,000. 1 1 20,000 (number of issuers) × .65 (percentage of issuers that may use designated agents) × $750 (estimated average annual cost for issuer's use of designated agent) = $9,750,000. 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 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. 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 OMB control number. Please direct your written comments to: Pamela Dyson, Acting Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: *PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.* Dated: November 12, 2014. Kevin M. O'Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014-27191 Filed 11-17-14; 8:45 am]
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- 17 CFR 240.15
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