Agency information collection activities: Submission for OMB review; comment request,

[Federal Register: March 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 52)]

[Notices]

[Page 15305]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16mr01-93]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Extension: Rule 15g-9; SEC File No. 270-325; OMB Control No. 3235- 0385]

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Filings and Information Services 450 Fifth Street, NW. Washington, DC 20549.

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'') has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Rule 15g-9, Sales Practice Requirements for Certain Low- Priced Securities Section 15(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Exchange Act'') authorizes the Commission to promulgate rules that prescribe means reasonably designed to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative practices in connection with over-the- counter (``OTC'') securities transactions. Pursuant to this authority, the Commission in 1989 adopted Rule 15a-6 (the ``Rule''), which was subsequently redesignated as Rule 15g-9, 17 CFR 240.15g-9. The Rule requires broker-dealers to produce a written suitability determination for, and to obtain a written customer agreement to, certain recommended transactions in low-priced stocks that are not registered on a national securities exchange or authorized for trading on NASDAQ, and whose issuers do not meet certain minimum financial standards. The Rule is intended to prevent the indiscriminate use by broker-dealers of fraudulent, high-pressure telephone sales campaigns to sell low-priced securities to unsophisticated customers.

The staff estimates that approximately 270 broker-dealers incur an average burden of 78 hours per year to comply with this rule. Thus, the total burden hours to comply with the Rule is estimated at 21,060 hours (270 x 78).

The broker-dealer must keep the written suitability determination and customer agreement required by the Rule for at least three years. Completing the suitability determination and obtaining the customer agreement in writing is mandatory for broker-dealers who effect transactions in penny stocks and do not qualify for an exemption, but does not involve the collection of confidential information. Please note that 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.

General comments regarding the estimated burden hours should be directed to the following persons: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; and (ii) Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

Dated: March 12, 2001. Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01-6562Filed3-15-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M