Notice2025-03279

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17a-8

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
February 28, 2025

Issuing agencies

Securities and Exchange Commission

Full Text

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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 39 (Friday, February 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10963-10964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03279]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-225, OMB Control No. 3235-0235]


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17a-8

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 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission'') has submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (``OMB'') a request for extension of the 
previously approved collection of information discussed below.
    Rule 17a-8 (17 CFR 270.17a-8) under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (the ``Act'') (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) is entitled ``Mergers of 
affiliated companies.'' Rule 17a-8 exempts certain mergers and similar 
business combinations (``mergers'') of affiliated registered investment 
companies (``funds'') from prohibitions under section 17(a) of the Act 
(15 U.S.C. 80a-17(a)) on purchases and sales between a fund and its 
affiliates. The rule requires fund directors to consider certain issues 
and to record their findings in board minutes. The rule requires the 
directors of any fund merging with an unregistered entity to approve 
procedures for the valuation of assets received from that entity. These 
procedures must provide for the preparation of a report by an 
independent evaluator that sets forth the fair value of each such asset 
for which market quotations are not readily available. The rule also 
requires a fund

[[Page 10964]]

being acquired to obtain approval of the merger transaction by a 
majority of its outstanding voting securities, except in certain 
situations, and requires any surviving fund to preserve written records 
describing the merger and its terms for six years after the merger (the 
first two in an easily accessible place).
    The average annual burden of meeting the requirements of rule 17a-8 
is estimated to be 7 hours for each fund. The Commission staff 
estimates that each year approximately 200 funds rely on the rule. The 
estimated total average annual burden for all respondents therefore is 
1,400 hours.
    The average cost burden of preparing a report by an independent 
evaluator in a merger with an unregistered entity is estimated to be 
$16,180. The average net cost burden of obtaining approval of a merger 
transaction by a majority of a fund's outstanding voting securities is 
estimated to be $131,302. The Commission staff estimates that each year 
approximately 24 funds hold shareholder votes that would not otherwise 
have held a shareholder vote. The total annual cost burden of meeting 
these requirements is estimated to be $3,151,248.
    The estimates of average burden hours and average cost burdens are 
made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and are 
not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or 
study. 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.
    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.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) whether this collection of 
information is 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 
imposed by 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.
    The public may view and comment on this information collection 
request at: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202412-3235-011">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202412-3235-011</a> or send an email comment to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f626d770160626d0160667d6e017c6a6c704b4a5c4470404949464c4a5d6f40424d014a405f01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1fcf3e99ffefcf39ffef8e3f09fe2f4f2eed5d4c2daeeded7d7d8d2d4c3f1dedcd39fd4dec19fd6dec7">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> within 30 days of the day 
after publication of this notice by March 31, 2025.

    Dated: February 25, 2025.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-03279 Filed 2-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on February 28, 2025.

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