83_FR_56340 83 FR 56122 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

83 FR 56122 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 218 (November 9, 2018)

Page Range56122-56124
FR Document2018-24575

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 218 (Friday, November 9, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56122-56124]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24575]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736

Extension:
    Rule 2a-7, SEC File No. 270-258, OMB Control No. 3235-0268

    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 (the ``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the 
collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to 
submit this existing collection of information to the Office of 
Management and Budget for extension and approval.
    Rule 2a-7 (17 CFR 270.2a-7) under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) (the ``Act'') governs money market funds. Money 
market funds are open-end management investment companies that differ 
from other open-end management investment companies in that they seek 
to maintain a stable price per share, usually $1.00. The rule exempts 
money market funds from the valuation requirements of the Act, and, 
subject to certain risk-limiting conditions, permits money market funds 
to use the ``amortized cost method'' of asset valuation or the ``penny-
rounding method'' of share pricing.
    Rule 2a-7 also imposes certain recordkeeping and reporting 
obligations on money market funds. The board of directors of a money 
market fund, in supervising the fund's operations, must establish 
written procedures designed to stabilize the fund's net asset value 
(``NAV''); establish written procedures to test periodically the 
ability of the fund to maintain a stable NAV based on certain 
hypothetical events (``stress testing''); review, revise, and approve 
written procedures to stress test a fund's portfolio; and create a 
report to the fund board documenting the results of stress testing. The 
board must also adopt guidelines and procedures relating to certain 
responsibilities it delegates to

[[Page 56123]]

the fund's investment adviser. These procedures and guidelines 
typically address various aspects of the fund's operations. The fund 
must maintain and preserve for six years a written copy of both these 
procedures and guidelines. The fund also must maintain and preserve for 
six years a written record of the board's considerations and actions 
taken in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities, to be 
included in the board's minutes, including determinations to impose any 
liquidity fees or temporary suspension of redemptions. In addition, the 
fund must maintain and preserve for three years written records of 
certain credit risk analyses, evaluations with respect to securities 
subject to demand features or guarantees, evaluations with respect to 
asset-backed securities not subject to guarantees, and determinations 
with respect to adjustable rate securities and asset-backed securities. 
If the board takes action with respect to defaulted securities, events 
of insolvency, or deviations in share price, the fund must file with 
the Commission an exhibit to Form N-CR describing the nature and 
circumstances of the action. If any portfolio security fails to meet 
certain eligibility standards under the rule, the fund also must 
identify those securities in an exhibit to Form N-CR. After certain 
events of default or insolvency relating to a portfolio security, the 
fund must notify the Commission of the event and the actions the fund 
intends to take in response to the situation.
    A fund must also post certain periodic information on the its 
website including disclosure of portfolio holdings, disclosure of daily 
and weekly liquid assets and net shareholder flow, disclosure of daily 
current NAV, and disclosures of financial support received by the fund, 
the imposition and removal of liquidity fees, and the suspension and 
resumption of fund redemptions. Lastly, for funds that elect to be 
retail funds, they must create written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to limit all beneficial owners of the fund to 
natural persons.
    The recordkeeping requirements in rule 2a-7 are designed to enable 
Commission staff in its examinations of money market funds to determine 
compliance with the rule, as well as to ensure that money market funds 
have established procedures for collecting the information necessary to 
make adequate credit reviews of securities in their portfolios. The 
reporting requirements of rule 2a-7 are intended to assist Commission 
staff in overseeing money market funds and reduce the likelihood that a 
fund is unable to maintain a stable NAV.
    Commission staff estimates that there are 433 money market funds 
(91 fund complexes), all of which are subject to rule 2a-7. Commission 
staff further estimates that there will be approximately 10 new money 
market funds established each year. Commission staff estimates that 
rule 2a-7 contains the following collection of information 
requirements:
     Record of credit risk analyses, and determinations 
regarding adjustable rate securities, asset-backed securities, asset-
backed securities not subject to guarantees, securities subject to a 
demand feature or guarantee, and counterparties to repurchase 
agreements. Commission staff estimates a total annual hour burden for 
433 funds to be 294,440 hours.
     Establishment of written procedures designed to stabilize 
NAV and guidelines and procedures for board delegation of authority. 
Commission staff estimates a total annual hour burden for 10 new money 
market funds to be 155 hours.
     Board review of procedures and guidelines of any 
investment adviser or officers to whom the fund's board has delegated 
responsibility under rule 2a-7 and amendment of such procedures and 
guidelines. Commission staff estimates a total annual hour burden for 
108 funds to be 540 hours.
     Records of the board's determination for imposing any 
liquidity fees or temporary suspension of redemptions. Commission staff 
estimates a total annual hour burden for 2 funds to be 14 hours.
     Establishment of written procedures to test periodically 
the ability of the fund to maintain a stable NAV per share based on 
certain hypothetical events (``stress testing''). Commission staff 
estimates a total annual hour burden for 10 new money market funds to 
be 220 hours.
     Review, revise, and approve written procedures to stress 
test a fund's portfolio. Commission staff estimates a total annual hour 
burden for 91 fund complexes to be 1,092 hours.
     Reports to fund boards on the results of stress testing. 
Commission staff estimates a total annual hour burden for 91 fund 
complexes to be 4,550 hours.
     website disclosures of portfolio holdings, of daily and 
weekly liquid assets and net shareholder flow, of daily current NAV, 
and disclosures of financial support received by the fund, the 
imposition and removal of liquidity fees and the suspension and 
resumption of fund redemptions. Commission staff estimates a total 
annual hour burden for 433 funds to be 36,291 hours.
     For funds electing retail fund status, written policies 
and procedures limiting all beneficial owners of the fund to natural 
persons. Commission staff estimates a total annual hour burden for 2 
funds to be 26 hours.
    Thus, the Commission estimates the total annual burden of the 
rule's information collection requirements is 337,328 hours.\1\
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    \1\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: 294,440 
hours + 155 hours + 540 hours + 14 hours + 220 hours + 1,092 hours + 
4,550 hours + 36,291 hours + 26 hours = 337,328 hours.
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    The estimated total annual burden is being decreased from 632,725 
hours to 337,328 hours. This net decrease of 295,397 hours \2\ is 
attributable to a combination of factors, including a decrease in the 
number of money market funds and fund complexes, and updated 
information from money market funds regarding hourly burdens, including 
revised staff estimates of the burden hours required to comply with 
rule 2a-7 as a result of new information received from surveyed fund 
representatives.
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    \2\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: 632,725 
hours-337,328 hours = 295,397 hours.
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    Commission staff estimates that in addition to the burden hours 
described above, money market funds will incur costs to preserve 
records, as required under rule 2a-7.\3\ These costs will vary 
significantly for individual funds, depending on the amount of assets 
under fund management and whether the fund preserves its records in a 
storage facility in hard copy or has developed and maintains a computer 
system to create and preserve compliance records.\4\ Commission staff 
estimates that the amount an individual fund may spend ranges from $100 
per year to $300,000. Based on a cost of $0.0051295 per dollar of 
assets under management for small funds, $0.0005041 per dollar assets 
under management for medium funds, and

[[Page 56124]]

$0.0000009 per dollar of assets under management for large funds, the 
staff estimates compliance with the record storage requirements of rule 
2a-7 costs the fund industry approximately $35.31 million per year.\5\
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    \3\ A significant portion of the recordkeeping burden involves 
organizing information that the funds already collect when initially 
purchasing securities. In addition, when a money market fund 
analyzes a security, the analysis need not be presented in any 
particular format. Money market funds therefore have a choice of 
methods for maintaining these records that vary in technical 
sophistication and formality (e.g. handwritten notes, computer 
disks, etc.). Accordingly, the cost of preparing these documents may 
vary significantly among individual funds. The burden hours 
associated with filing reports to the Commission as an exhibit to 
Form N-CR are included in the PRA burden estimate for that form.
    \4\ The vast majority of assets under management in individual 
money market funds range from approximately $50 million to 
approximately $144.7 billion. We further note that the assets under 
management figures were calculated based on net assets at the fund 
level and not the sum of the market values of the underlying funds.
    \5\ The staff estimated the annual cost of preserving the 
required books and records by identifying the annual costs incurred 
by several funds and then relating this total cost to the average 
net assets of these funds during the year. With a total of $403.6 
million under management in small funds, $60.4 billion under 
management in medium funds and $3.1 trillion under management in 
large funds, the costs of preservation were estimated as follows: 
((0.0051295 x $403.6 million) + (0.0005041 x $60.4 billion) + 
(0.0000009 x $3.1 trillion) = $35.31 million. For purposes of this 
PRA submission, Commission staff used the following categories for 
fund sizes: (i) Small--money market funds with $50 million or less 
in assets under management; (ii) medium--money market funds with 
more than $50 million up to and including $1 billion in assets under 
management; and (iii) large--money market funds with more than $1 
billion in assets under management.
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    Based on responses from individuals in the money market fund 
industry, the staff estimates that some of the largest fund complexes 
have created computer programs for maintaining and preserving 
compliance records for rule 2a-7. Based on a cost of $0.0000132 per 
dollar of assets under management for large funds, the staff estimates 
that total annualized capital/startup costs range from $0 for small 
funds to $40.9 million for all large funds.\6\ Commission staff further 
estimates that, even absent the requirements of rule 2a-7, money market 
funds would spend at least half of the amount for capital costs ($20.45 
million) \7\ and for record preservation ($17.65 million) \8\ to 
establish and maintain these records and the systems for preserving 
them as a part of sound business practices to ensure diversification 
and minimal credit risk in a portfolio for a fund that seeks to 
maintain a stable price per share.
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    \6\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: 
$0.0000132 x $3.1 trillion in assets under management for large 
funds = $40.9 million.
    \7\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: $40.9 
million in capital costs/2 = $20.45 million.
    \8\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: $35.31 
million in record preservation costs/2 = $17.65 million
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    As a result, the estimated total annual cost is being decreased 
from $92.9 million to $38.11 million.\9\ This net decrease of $54.79 
million \10\ is attributable to a reduction in the number of money 
market mutual funds, updated information from money market funds 
regarding assets under management, as well as deducting the $38.1 
million \11\ in capital and preservation costs a money market fund 
would incur absent the requirements of rule 2a-7.
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    \9\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: $35.31 
million in record preservation costs + $40.9 million in capital 
costs-$17.65 million in record preservation costs absent rule 2a-7 
requirements-$20.45 million in capital costs absent rule 2a-7 
requirements = $38.11 million.
    \10\ This estimate is based on the following calculation: $92.9 
million-$38.11 million = $54.79 million.
    \11\ This estimate is based on the following calculation if rule 
2a-7 compliance was not required for a money market fund: $20.45 
million in capital costs + $17.65 million in record preservation = 
$38.1 million.
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    These estimates of burden hours and costs are made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The estimates are not derived 
from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of 
Commission rules.
    The collections of information required by rule 2a-7 are necessary 
to obtain the benefits described above. Notices to the Commission 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 proposed 
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 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 Charles Riddle, Acting 
Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
C/O Candace Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549; or send an 
email to: [email protected].

    Dated: November 6, 2018.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-24575 Filed 11-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                               56122                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2018 / Notices

                                               We estimate a total of 1,093,356                        is in compliance with the requirements                 be submitted to OMB within 30 days of
                                               potential demonstrations in accordance                  set forth in the pre-fail credit provision             this notice.
                                               with Rule 204(a)(1) across all broker-                  of Rule 204(e), 1,719,772 times per year                 Dated: November 6, 2018.
                                               dealer participants per year (132                       (3,893 registered broker-dealers                       Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               participants checking for compliance                    certifying once per day on 1.76
                                                                                                                                                              Assistant Secretary.
                                               once per day on 33 securities,                          securities, multiplied by 251 trading
                                               multiplied by 251 trading days in 2017).                days in 2017). The total approximate                   [FR Doc. 2018–24577 Filed 11–8–18; 8:45 am]
                                               The total approximate estimated annual                  estimated annual burden hour per year                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P

                                               burden hour per year will be                            will be approximately 275,164 burden
                                               approximately 174,937 burden hours                      hours (1,719,772 multiplied by 0.16
                                               (1,093,356 multiplied by 0.16 hours/                    hours/certification).                                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                               documentation).                                            V. Pre-Fail Credit Demonstration                    COMMISSION
                                                  III. Pre-Borrow Notification                         Requirement: As of December 31, 2017,
                                                                                                                                                              Proposed Collection; Comment
                                               Requirement: As of December 5, 2017,                    there were 3,893 registered broker-
                                                                                                                                                              Request
                                               there were 132 participants of NSCC                     dealers. If a broker-dealer purchased or
                                               that were registered as broker-dealers. If              borrowed securities in accordance with                 Upon Written Request, Copies Available
                                               a participant of a registered clearing                  the conditions specified in Rule 204(e)                 From: Securities and Exchange
                                               agency has a fail to deliver position in                and determined that it had a net long                   Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
                                               an equity security, the participant must                position or net flat position on the                    100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
                                               determine whether or not the fail to                    settlement day for which the broker-                    20549–2736
                                               deliver position was closed out in                      dealer is claiming pre-fail credit, we                 Extension:
                                               accordance with Rule 204(a). We                         estimate that a broker-dealer could have                 Rule 2a–7, SEC File No. 270–258, OMB
                                               estimate that a participant of a                        to make such determination with                            Control No. 3235–0268
                                               registered clearing agency will have to                 respect to approximately 1.76 securities
                                               make such determination with respect                    per day.6 We estimate that registered                     Notice is hereby given that, pursuant
                                               to approximately 52 equity securities                   broker-dealers could have to                           to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                               per day.4 We estimate a total of                        demonstrate on its books and records                   (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities
                                               1,722,864 potential notifications in                    that it has a net long position or net flat            and Exchange Commission (the
                                               accordance with Rule 204(c) across all                  position on the settlement day for which               ‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments
                                               participants per year (132 broker-dealer                the broker-dealer is claiming pre-fail                 on the collection of information
                                               participants notifying broker-dealers                   credit, 1,719,772 times per year (3,893                summarized below. The Commission
                                               once per day on 52 securities,                          registered broker-dealers checking for                 plans to submit this existing collection
                                               multiplied by 251 trading days in 2017).                compliance once per day on 1.76 equity                 of information to the Office of
                                               The total estimated annual burden                       securities, multiplied by 251 trading                  Management and Budget for extension
                                               hours per year will be approximately                    days in 2017). The total approximate                   and approval.
                                               275,658 burden hours (1,722,864                         estimated annual burden hours per year                    Rule 2a–7 (17 CFR 270.2a–7) under
                                               multiplied by 0.16 hours/                               will be 275,164 burden hours (1,719,772                the Investment Company Act of 1940
                                               documentation).                                         multiplied by 0.16 hours/                              (15 U.S.C. 80a) (the ‘‘Act’’) governs
                                                  IV. Certification Requirement: As of                 demonstration).                                        money market funds. Money market
                                               December 31, 2017, there were 3,893                        The total aggregate annual burden for               funds are open-end management
                                               registered broker-dealers. Each of these                the collection of information undertaken               investment companies that differ from
                                               broker-dealers may clear trades through                 pursuant to all five provisions is thus                other open-end management investment
                                               a participant of a registered clearing                  1,276,087 hours per year (275,164 +                    companies in that they seek to maintain
                                               agency. If the broker-dealer determines                 174,937 + 275,658 + 275,164 + 275,164).                a stable price per share, usually $1.00.
                                               that it has not incurred a fail to deliver              An agency may not conduct or sponsor,                  The rule exempts money market funds
                                               position on settlement date for a long or               and a person is not required to respond                from the valuation requirements of the
                                               short sale in an equity security for                    to, a collection of information under the              Act, and, subject to certain risk-limiting
                                               which the participant has a fail to                     PRA unless it displays a currently valid               conditions, permits money market funds
                                               deliver position at a registered clearing               OMB control number.                                    to use the ‘‘amortized cost method’’ of
                                               agency or has purchased or borrowed                        The public may review background                    asset valuation or the ‘‘penny-rounding
                                               securities in accordance with the pre-                  documentation for this information                     method’’ of share pricing.
                                               fail credit provision of Rule 204(e), we                collection at the following website:                      Rule 2a–7 also imposes certain
                                               estimate that a broker-dealer could have                www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be                    recordkeeping and reporting obligations
                                               to make such determination with                         directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the                  on money market funds. The board of
                                               respect to approximately 1.76 securities                Securities and Exchange Commission,                    directors of a money market fund, in
                                               per day.5 We estimate that registered                   Office of Information and Regulatory                   supervising the fund’s operations, must
                                               broker-dealers could have to certify to                 Affairs, Office of Management and                      establish written procedures designed to
                                               the participant that it has not incurred                Budget, Room 10102, New Executive                      stabilize the fund’s net asset value
                                               a fail to deliver position on settlement                Office Building, Washington, DC 20503,                 (‘‘NAV’’); establish written procedures
                                               date for a long or short sale in an equity              or by sending an email to:                             to test periodically the ability of the
                                               security for which the participant has a                Lindsay.M.Abate@omb.eop.gov; and (ii)                  fund to maintain a stable NAV based on
                                               fail to deliver position at a registered                Charles Riddle, Acting Director/Chief                  certain hypothetical events (‘‘stress
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                                               clearing agency or, alternatively, that it              Information Officer, Securities and                    testing’’); review, revise, and approve
                                                                                                       Exchange Commission, c/o Candace                       written procedures to stress test a fund’s
                                               of securities per participant per day is                Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington                    portfolio; and create a report to the fund
                                               approximately 52 equity securities. 62.93% of 52                                                               board documenting the results of stress
                                               equity securities per trading day equals
                                                                                                       DC 20549, or by sending an email to:
                                               approximately 33 securities per day.                    PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must                     testing. The board must also adopt
                                                 4 See supra note 3.                                                                                          guidelines and procedures relating to
                                                 5 See supra note 1.                                     6 See   supra note 1.                                certain responsibilities it delegates to


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2018 / Notices                                                   56123

                                               the fund’s investment adviser. These                       Commission staff estimates that there                 • For funds electing retail fund status,
                                               procedures and guidelines typically                     are 433 money market funds (91 fund                   written policies and procedures limiting
                                               address various aspects of the fund’s                   complexes), all of which are subject to               all beneficial owners of the fund to
                                               operations. The fund must maintain and                  rule 2a–7. Commission staff further                   natural persons. Commission staff
                                               preserve for six years a written copy of                estimates that there will be                          estimates a total annual hour burden for
                                               both these procedures and guidelines.                   approximately 10 new money market                     2 funds to be 26 hours.
                                               The fund also must maintain and                         funds established each year.                             Thus, the Commission estimates the
                                               preserve for six years a written record of              Commission staff estimates that rule 2a–              total annual burden of the rule’s
                                               the board’s considerations and actions                  7 contains the following collection of                information collection requirements is
                                               taken in connection with the discharge                  information requirements:                             337,328 hours.1
                                               of its responsibilities, to be included in                 • Record of credit risk analyses, and                 The estimated total annual burden is
                                               the board’s minutes, including                          determinations regarding adjustable rate              being decreased from 632,725 hours to
                                               determinations to impose any liquidity                  securities, asset-backed securities, asset-           337,328 hours. This net decrease of
                                               fees or temporary suspension of                         backed securities not subject to                      295,397 hours 2 is attributable to a
                                               redemptions. In addition, the fund must                 guarantees, securities subject to a                   combination of factors, including a
                                               maintain and preserve for three years                   demand feature or guarantee, and                      decrease in the number of money
                                               written records of certain credit risk                  counterparties to repurchase                          market funds and fund complexes, and
                                               analyses, evaluations with respect to                   agreements. Commission staff estimates                updated information from money
                                               securities subject to demand features or                a total annual hour burden for 433 funds              market funds regarding hourly burdens,
                                               guarantees, evaluations with respect to                 to be 294,440 hours.                                  including revised staff estimates of the
                                               asset-backed securities not subject to                     • Establishment of written procedures              burden hours required to comply with
                                               guarantees, and determinations with                     designed to stabilize NAV and                         rule 2a–7 as a result of new information
                                               respect to adjustable rate securities and               guidelines and procedures for board                   received from surveyed fund
                                               asset-backed securities. If the board                   delegation of authority. Commission                   representatives.
                                               takes action with respect to defaulted                  staff estimates a total annual hour                      Commission staff estimates that in
                                               securities, events of insolvency, or                    burden for 10 new money market funds                  addition to the burden hours described
                                               deviations in share price, the fund must                to be 155 hours.                                      above, money market funds will incur
                                               file with the Commission an exhibit to                     • Board review of procedures and                   costs to preserve records, as required
                                               Form N–CR describing the nature and                     guidelines of any investment adviser or               under rule 2a–7.3 These costs will vary
                                               circumstances of the action. If any                     officers to whom the fund’s board has                 significantly for individual funds,
                                               portfolio security fails to meet certain                delegated responsibility under rule 2a–               depending on the amount of assets
                                               eligibility standards under the rule, the               7 and amendment of such procedures                    under fund management and whether
                                               fund also must identify those securities                and guidelines. Commission staff                      the fund preserves its records in a
                                               in an exhibit to Form N–CR. After                       estimates a total annual hour burden for              storage facility in hard copy or has
                                               certain events of default or insolvency                 108 funds to be 540 hours.                            developed and maintains a computer
                                               relating to a portfolio security, the fund                 • Records of the board’s                           system to create and preserve
                                               must notify the Commission of the event                 determination for imposing any                        compliance records.4 Commission staff
                                               and the actions the fund intends to take                liquidity fees or temporary suspension                estimates that the amount an individual
                                               in response to the situation.                           of redemptions. Commission staff                      fund may spend ranges from $100 per
                                                  A fund must also post certain periodic               estimates a total annual hour burden for              year to $300,000. Based on a cost of
                                               information on the its website including                2 funds to be 14 hours.                               $0.0051295 per dollar of assets under
                                               disclosure of portfolio holdings,                          • Establishment of written procedures              management for small funds,
                                               disclosure of daily and weekly liquid                   to test periodically the ability of the               $0.0005041 per dollar assets under
                                               assets and net shareholder flow,                        fund to maintain a stable NAV per share               management for medium funds, and
                                               disclosure of daily current NAV, and                    based on certain hypothetical events
                                               disclosures of financial support received               (‘‘stress testing’’). Commission staff                  1 This estimate is based on the following

                                               by the fund, the imposition and removal                 estimates a total annual hour burden for              calculation: 294,440 hours + 155 hours + 540 hours
                                                                                                       10 new money market funds to be 220                   + 14 hours + 220 hours + 1,092 hours + 4,550 hours
                                               of liquidity fees, and the suspension and                                                                     + 36,291 hours + 26 hours = 337,328 hours.
                                               resumption of fund redemptions. Lastly,                 hours.                                                  2 This estimate is based on the following
                                               for funds that elect to be retail funds,                   • Review, revise, and approve written              calculation: 632,725 hours¥337,328 hours =
                                               they must create written policies and                   procedures to stress test a fund’s                    295,397 hours.
                                               procedures reasonably designed to limit                 portfolio. Commission staff estimates a                 3 A significant portion of the recordkeeping

                                               all beneficial owners of the fund to                    total annual hour burden for 91 fund                  burden involves organizing information that the
                                                                                                                                                             funds already collect when initially purchasing
                                               natural persons.                                        complexes to be 1,092 hours.                          securities. In addition, when a money market fund
                                                  The recordkeeping requirements in                       • Reports to fund boards on the                    analyzes a security, the analysis need not be
                                               rule 2a–7 are designed to enable                        results of stress testing. Commission                 presented in any particular format. Money market
                                               Commission staff in its examinations of                 staff estimates a total annual hour                   funds therefore have a choice of methods for
                                                                                                                                                             maintaining these records that vary in technical
                                               money market funds to determine                         burden for 91 fund complexes to be                    sophistication and formality (e.g. handwritten
                                               compliance with the rule, as well as to                 4,550 hours.                                          notes, computer disks, etc.). Accordingly, the cost
                                               ensure that money market funds have                        • website disclosures of portfolio                 of preparing these documents may vary
                                               established procedures for collecting the               holdings, of daily and weekly liquid                  significantly among individual funds. The burden
                                                                                                       assets and net shareholder flow, of daily             hours associated with filing reports to the
                                               information necessary to make adequate
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                                                                                                                                                             Commission as an exhibit to Form N–CR are
                                               credit reviews of securities in their                   current NAV, and disclosures of                       included in the PRA burden estimate for that form.
                                               portfolios. The reporting requirements                  financial support received by the fund,                 4 The vast majority of assets under management

                                               of rule 2a–7 are intended to assist                     the imposition and removal of liquidity               in individual money market funds range from
                                               Commission staff in overseeing money                    fees and the suspension and resumption                approximately $50 million to approximately $144.7
                                                                                                                                                             billion. We further note that the assets under
                                               market funds and reduce the likelihood                  of fund redemptions. Commission staff                 management figures were calculated based on net
                                               that a fund is unable to maintain a                     estimates a total annual hour burden for              assets at the fund level and not the sum of the
                                               stable NAV.                                             433 funds to be 36,291 hours.                         market values of the underlying funds.



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                                               56124                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2018 / Notices

                                               $0.0000009 per dollar of assets under                    market funds regarding assets under                  Exchange Commission staff will hold a
                                               management for large funds, the staff                    management, as well as deducting the                 public roundtable on Thursday,
                                               estimates compliance with the record                     $38.1 million 11 in capital and                      November 15, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.
                                               storage requirements of rule 2a–7 costs                  preservation costs a money market fund               PLACE: The roundtable will be held in
                                               the fund industry approximately $35.31                   would incur absent the requirements of               the Auditorium at the Commission’s
                                               million per year.5                                       rule 2a–7.                                           headquarters, 100 F Street NE,
                                                  Based on responses from individuals                     These estimates of burden hours and                Washington, DC.
                                               in the money market fund industry, the                   costs are made solely for the purposes               STATUS: The meeting will begin at 9:30
                                               staff estimates that some of the largest                 of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The                  a.m. and will be open to the public.
                                               fund complexes have created computer                     estimates are not derived from a                     Seating will be on a first-come, first-
                                               programs for maintaining and                             comprehensive or even a representative               served basis. Doors will open at 9:00
                                               preserving compliance records for rule                   survey or study of Commission rules.                 a.m. Visitors will be subject to security
                                               2a–7. Based on a cost of $0.0000132 per                    The collections of information                     checks. The meeting will be webcast on
                                               dollar of assets under management for                    required by rule 2a–7 are necessary to               the Commission’s website at
                                               large funds, the staff estimates that total              obtain the benefits described above.                 www.sec.gov.
                                               annualized capital/startup costs range                   Notices to the Commission will not be                MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The
                                               from $0 for small funds to $40.9 million                 kept confidential. An agency may not                 Commission staff will host a roundtable
                                               for all large funds.6 Commission staff                   conduct or sponsor, and a person is not              on the proxy process. The roundtable is
                                               further estimates that, even absent the                  required to respond to, a collection of              open to the public and the public is
                                               requirements of rule 2a–7, money                         information unless it displays a                     invited to submit written comments.
                                               market funds would spend at least half                   currently valid control number.                      This Sunshine Act notice is being
                                               of the amount for capital costs ($20.45                    Written comments are invited on: (a)               issued because a majority of the
                                               million) 7 and for record preservation                   Whether the proposed collection of                   Commission may attend the roundtable.
                                               ($17.65 million) 8 to establish and                      information is necessary for the proper                 The agenda for the roundtable will
                                               maintain these records and the systems                   performance of the functions of the                  focus on key aspects of the U.S. proxy
                                               for preserving them as a part of sound                   agency, including whether the                        system, including proxy voting
                                               business practices to ensure                             information will have practical utility;             mechanics and technology, the
                                               diversification and minimal credit risk                  (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate            shareholder proposal process, and the
                                               in a portfolio for a fund that seeks to                  of the burden of the collection of                   role and regulation of proxy advisory
                                               maintain a stable price per share.                       information; (c) ways to enhance the                 firms.
                                                  As a result, the estimated total annual               quality, utility, and clarity of the
                                               cost is being decreased from $92.9                                                                            CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
                                                                                                        information collected; and (d) ways to               For further information, please contact
                                               million to $38.11 million.9 This net                     minimize the burden of the collection of
                                               decrease of $54.79 million 10 is                                                                              Brent J. Fields from the Office of the
                                                                                                        information on respondents, including                Secretary at (202) 551–5400.
                                               attributable to a reduction in the                       through the use of automated collection
                                               number of money market mutual funds,                     techniques or other forms of information               Dated: November 6, 2018.
                                               updated information from money                           technology. Consideration will be given              Brent J. Fields,
                                                                                                        to comments and suggestions submitted                Secretary.
                                                  5 The staff estimated the annual cost of preserving
                                                                                                        in writing within 60 days of this                    [FR Doc. 2018–24632 Filed 11–7–18; 11:15 am]
                                               the required books and records by identifying the
                                               annual costs incurred by several funds and then          publication.                                         BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                               relating this total cost to the average net assets of      Please direct your written comments
                                               these funds during the year. With a total of $403.6      to Charles Riddle, Acting Director/Chief
                                               million under management in small funds, $60.4                                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                               billion under management in medium funds and             Information Officer, Securities and
                                               $3.1 trillion under management in large funds, the       Exchange Commission, C/O Candace                     COMMISSION
                                               costs of preservation were estimated as follows:         Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington,                 [Release No. 34–84539; File No. SR–ISE–
                                               ((0.0051295 × $403.6 million) + (0.0005041 × $60.4
                                               billion) + (0.0000009 × $3.1 trillion) = $35.31
                                                                                                        DC 20549; or send an email to: PRA_                  2018–88]
                                               million. For purposes of this PRA submission,            Mailbox@sec.gov.
                                               Commission staff used the following categories for                                                            Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
                                                                                                          Dated: November 6, 2018.
                                               fund sizes: (i) Small—money market funds with $50                                                             ISE, LLC; Notice of Filing and
                                               million or less in assets under management; (ii)         Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                                                                             Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
                                               medium—money market funds with more than $50             Assistant Secretary.
                                               million up to and including $1 billion in assets                                                              Rule Change To Amend ISE Rule
                                               under management; and (iii) large—money market           [FR Doc. 2018–24575 Filed 11–8–18; 8:45 am]          2008(g), Pricing When Primary Market
                                               funds with more than $1 billion in assets under          BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                               Does Not Open
                                               management.
                                                  6 This estimate is based on the following                                                                  November 5, 2018.
                                               calculation: $0.0000132 × $3.1 trillion in assets        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                               under management for large funds = $40.9 million.
                                                  7 This estimate is based on the following             COMMISSION                                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                               calculation: $40.9 million in capital costs/2 =                                                               (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                               $20.45 million.                                          Sunshine Act Meeting                                 notice is hereby given that on October
                                                  8 This estimate is based on the following
                                                                                                                                                             23, 2018, Nasdaq ISE, LLC (‘‘ISE’’ or the
                                               calculation: $35.31 million in record preservation       TIME AND DATE: Notice is hereby given,               ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                               costs/2 = $17.65 million                                 pursuant to the provisions of the
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  9 This estimate is based on the following                                                                  and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
                                                                                                        Government in the Sunshine Act, Public               ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                               calculation: $35.31 million in record preservation
                                               costs + $40.9 million in capital costs¥$17.65            Law 94–409, that the Securities and                  change as described in Items I and II
                                               million in record preservation costs absent rule 2a–                                                          below, which Items have been prepared
                                               7 requirements¥$20.45 million in capital costs             11 This estimate is based on the following
                                               absent rule 2a–7 requirements = $38.11 million.          calculation if rule 2a–7 compliance was not
                                                                                                                                                             by the Exchange. The Commission is
                                                  10 This estimate is based on the following            required for a money market fund: $20.45 million
                                                                                                                                                               1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                               calculation: $92.9 million¥$38.11 million = $54.79       in capital costs + $17.65 million in record
                                               million.                                                 preservation = $38.1 million.                          2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.



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Document Created: 2018-11-09 03:34:26
Document Modified: 2018-11-09 03:34:26
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 56122 

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