[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3399-3401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1475]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

17 CFR Chapter II

[Release Nos. 33-7790, 34-42331, 35-27125, 39-2381, IC-24238, IA-1850; 
File No. S7-02-00]


List of Rules To Be Reviewed Pursuant to the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION: Publication of list of rules scheduled for review.

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SUMMARY: The Securities and Exchange Commission is today publishing a 
list of rules to be reviewed pursuant to Section 610 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. The list is published to provide the public with 
notice that these rules are scheduled for review by the agency and to 
invite public comment on them.

DATES: Public comments are due by February 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit written comments should file three 
copies with Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange 
Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Room 6184, Washington, DC 20549-0609. 
All submissions should refer to File No. S7-XX-00, and will be 
available for public inspection and copying at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, Room 1026, at the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne H. Sullivan, Office of the 
General Counsel, Securities and Exchange Commission 202-942-0954.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') 
codified at 5 U.S.C. 600-611 requires agencies to review rules which 
have a significant economic impact upon a substantial number of small 
entities every ten years. The purpose of the review is to ``to 
determine whether such rules should be continued without change, or 
should be amended or rescinded * * * to minimize any significant 
economic impact of the rules upon a substantial number of such small 
entities'' (5 U.S.C. 610(a)).
    The RFA sets forth specific considerations that must be addressed 
in the review of each rule:
    <bullet> the continued need for the rule;
    <bullet> the nature of complaints or comments received concerning 
the rule from the public;
    <bullet> the complexity of the rule;
    <bullet> the extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates or 
conflicts with other Federal rules, and, to the extent feasible, with 
State and local governmental rules; and
    <bullet> the length of time since the rule has been evaluated or 
the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors 
have changed in the area affected by the rule (5 U.S.C. 610(c)).
    The Commission particularly solicits public comment on whether the 
rules listed below affect small businesses in new or different ways 
than when they were first adopted. The Securities and Exchange 
Commission, as a matter of policy, reviews all rules which it publishes 
for notice and comment to assess not only their continued compliance 
with the RFA, but also to assess generally their continued utility. 
When the Commission implemented the Act in 1980, it stated that it 
``intend[ed] to conduct a broader review [than that

[[Page 3400]]

required by the RFA], with a view to identifying those rules in need of 
modification or even rescission.'' Sec. Act. Rel. No. 6302 (Mar. 20, 
1980). 46 FR 19251. The list below is therefore broader than that 
required by the RFA (and may include rules that do not have a 
substantial impact on a significant number of small entities). Where 
the Commission has previously made a determination of a rule's impact 
on small businesses, the determination is noted on the list.
    Pursuant to the RFA, the rules and forms listed below are scheduled 
for review by staff of the Commission during the next twelve months. 
The rules are grouped according to which Division or Office of the 
Commission will review each rule:

Form To Be Reviewed by the Division of Corporation Finance

    Title: Form S-8.
    Citation: 17 CFR 239.16b.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.
    Description: Form S-8 is a registration statement under the 
Securities Act of 1933 used for the registration of securities issued 
to employees under employee benefit plans and other compensatory 
arrangements.
    Prior Commission Determination Under 5 U.S.C. 601: In connection 
with the release adopting major revisions to Form S-8 published in the 
Federal Register on June 13, 1990, the Commission concluded in its 
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis that the changes would benefit 
small entities by decreasing significantly the impact of reporting, 
recordkeeping and compliance requirements upon registrants and plans 
registering on Form S-8. On March 8, 1999, the Commission published 
subsequent amendments designed to deter fraud in connection with the 
use of Form S-8. In the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, the 
Commission determined that no new regulatory burdens were being 
imposed.

Rule To Be Reviewed by the Office of the Chief Accountant

    Title: Article 12 of Regulation S-X.
    Citation: 17 CFR 210.12-01 through 210.12-29.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.; 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.; 15 U.S.C. 
79a et seq.; and 15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.
    Description: Article 12 prescribes the form and content of 
schedules that should be attached to a registrant's financial 
statements.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: Article 12 was 
significantly revised in Accounting Series Release No. 280, which was 
published in the Federal Register on September 2, 1980. The Article has 
been revised subsequently, with the most recent amendments published in 
Financial Reporting Release No. (FR) 44 on December 13, 1994. FR 44 
eliminated several schedules as part of the Commission's disclosure 
simplification program. These changes were designed to reduce the 
burden on small issuers and others.

Rule To Be Reviewed by the Division of Market Regulation

    Title: Rule 14e-4 (Prohibited Transactions in Connection with 
Partial Tender Offers).
    Citation: 17 CFR 240.14e-4.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 78c, 78j, 78n, 78o, and 78w.
    Description: Rule 14e-4 prohibits ``short tendering,'' i.e., 
tendering more shares than a person owns in order to avoid or reduce 
the risk of pro rata acceptance in partial tender and ``hedged 
tendering'' in connection with partial tender offers, i.e., tendering 
and then selling a portion of the tendered shares in the market.
    Prior Commission Determination Under 5 U.S.C. 601: In connection 
with the release proposing rule 14e-4, which was published in the 
Federal Register on March 8, 1989, the Chairman of the Commission 
certified that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. The Commission received no 
comments on the certification.

Rules and Forms To Be Reviewed by the Division of Investment 
Management

    Title: Rule 11a-3.
    Citation: 17 CFR 270.11a-3.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 80a-6(c), 80a-11(a), 80a-37, and 80a-39.
    Description: Rule 11a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 
sets forth conditions under which an open-end investment company 
(``fund''), other than a separate account, may offer a security holder 
of the fund, or of any other fund in the same fund group, to exchange 
his security for a security of the offering fund.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: The Commission 
prepared a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (``FRFA'') in 
connection with the release adopting rule 11a-3, published in the 
Federal Register on August 24, 1989. The Commission stated that the 
exemptive rule was intended to reduce significantly the expense and 
burden to funds, including small funds, of filing applications 
regarding exchange offers. In addition, to the extent that funds 
relying on the rule would be required to make disclosures, the 
Commission concluded those requirements would not result in a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The Commission adopted conforming amendments to the rule's definition 
of ``deferred sales load'' in September 1996, which did not affect the 
Commission's FRFA.

    Title: Rule 32a-3.
    Citation: 17 CFR 270.32a-3.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 80a-6(c), 80a-37, and 80a-39.
    Description: Rule 32a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 
provides an exemption from the provision of Section 32(a)(1) of that 
Act regarding the time period during which a registered management 
investment company must select an independent public accountant.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: In connection 
with the release proposing Rule 32a-3, which was published in the 
Federal Register on March 8, 1989, the Chairman certified that if 
adopted, the rule would not have a significant economic effect on a 
substantial number of small entities. The Commission received no 
comments on the certification.

    Title: Form N-17f-2.
    Citation: 17 CFR 274.220.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 80a-37 and 80a-39.
    Description: Form N-17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 
is filed under Rule 17f-2 of that Act. The Form is the cover page for a 
certificate of accounting of securities and similar investments of a 
management investment company that are maintained in the custody of 
that company.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: In connection 
with the release proposing rule Form N-17f-2, which was published in 
the Federal Register on August 9, 1989, the Chairman certified that if 
adopted, the form would not have a significant economic effect on a 
substantial number of small entities. The Commission received no 
comments on the certification.

    Title: Form ADV-E.
    Citation: 17 CFR 279.8.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.
    Description: Form ADV-E under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 
is the form used as a cover page for a certificate of accounting of 
securities and funds in possession or custody of an investment adviser.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: The Chairman 
signed a Regulatory Flexibility Certification in connection with the 
release adopting Form ADV-E. The release was

[[Page 3401]]

published in the Federal Register on August 4, 1989. The Certification 
states that, if adopted, the Form will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Certification 
states that Form ADV-E would serve as a cover sheet to accountant 
examination certificates, and consequently, only entities required to 
file an examination certificate would be required to file the proposed 
form. The Certification also states that the form would neither require 
additional information to be gathered or disclosed, nor impose a new 
filing burden. Therefore, the form would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

    Title: Form U-13-1.
    Citation: 17 CFR 259.113.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79e, 79f, 79g, 79j, 79l, 79m, 79q, and 79t.
    Description: Form U-13-1 under the Public Utility Holding Company 
Act of 1935 is the application to be filed for approval of a company as 
a mutual service company pursuant to Rule 88 under the Act or the 
declaration to be filed with respect to the organization and conduct of 
business of a subsidiary service company pursuant to Rule 88 under the 
Act.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: The Form was 
adopted prior to the enactment of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and 
has not been amended since the enactment of the RFA. The Commission has 
taken no prior action on this Form under the RFA.

    Title: Form U-12(I)-A.
    Citation: 17 CFR 259.212a.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79e, 79f, 79g, 79j, 79l 79m, 79q and 79t.
    Description: Form U-12(I)-A under the Public Utility Holding 
Company Act of 1935 is a statement to be filed by a person employed by 
a registered holding company or employed by a subsidiary of a 
registered holding company who engages in any activity within the scope 
of Section 12(I) of the Act.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: In connection 
with the release proposing revisions to Form U-12(I)-A published in the 
Federal Register on November 4, 1992, the Chairman of the Commission 
certified that the amended rules would not have a significant impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. The Commission received no 
comments on the certification.

    Title: Form U-12(I)-B.
    Citation: 17 CFR 259.212b.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79e, 79f, 79g, 79j, 79l, 79m, 79q, and 79t.
    Description: Form U-12(I)-B under the Public Utility Holding 
Company Act of 1935 is an advance statement to be filed every three 
years by a person employed by a registered holding company or employed 
by a subsidiary of a registered holding company who engages in any 
activity within the scope of Section 12(I) of the Act and whose 
anticipated activities contemplate only routine expenses as specified 
in Rule 71(b) under the Act.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: In connection 
with the release adopting revisions to Form U-12(I)-B published in the 
Federal Register on April 28, 1994, the Chairman of the Commission 
certified that the amended rules would not have a significant impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.

    Title: Form U-R-1.
    Citation: 17 CFR 259.221.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79e, 79f, 79g, 79j, 79l, 79m, 79q, and 79t.
    Description: Form U-R-1 under the Public Utility Holding Company 
Act of 1935 is a declaration to be filed pursuant to Rule 62 under the 
Act for solicitations in connection with any reorganization subject to 
the rule.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: The Form was 
adopted prior to the enactment of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and 
has not been amended since the enactment of the RFA. The Commission has 
taken no prior action on this Form under the RFA.

    Title: Form U-13-60.
    Citation: 17 CFR 259.313.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79m.
    Description: Form U-13-60 under the Public Utility Holding Company 
Act of 1935 is to be filed pursuant to Rule 94 under the Act by mutual 
service companies and subsidiary service companies required under the 
rule to file annual reports under Section 13 of the Act.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: The Form was 
adopted prior to the enactment of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and 
has not been amended since the enactment of the RFA. The Commission has 
taken no prior action on this Form under the RFA.

    Title: Form U-3A3-1.
    Citation: 17 CFR 259.403.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79e, 79f, 79g, 79j, 79l, 79m, 79q and 79t.
    Description: Form U-3A3-1 under the Public Utility Holding Company 
Act of 1935 is a statement to be filed pursuant to Rule 3 under the Act 
by a bank claiming exemption from any obligation, duty, or liability as 
a holding company under the Act.
    Prior Commission Final Action Under 5 U.S.C. 601: The Form was 
adopted prior to the enactment of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and 
has not been amended since the enactment of the RFA. The Commission has 
taken no prior action on this Form under the RFA.

    The Commission invites public comment on both the list and on the 
rules to be reviewed.

    By the Commission.

    Dated: January 12, 2000.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-1475 Filed 1-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M