42846 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 153 / Friday, August 8, 1997 / Notices

1:45 p.m.

Briefings related to chemical warfare

agent exposure issues

4:30 p.m.

Meeting recessed

Friday, September 5, 1997

8:30 a.m.

Call to order

8:35 a.m.

Briefings related to chemical warfare

agent exposure issues

10:30 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m.

Discussion of special report

12:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 p.m.

Discussion of special report

3:45 p.m.

Committee and staff discussion: Next

steps

4:00 p.m.

Meeting adjourned

A final agenda will be available at the

meeting.

Public Participation

The meeting is open to the public.

Members of the public who wish to

make oral statements should contact the

Committee at the address or telephone

number listed below at least five

business days prior to the meeting.

Reasonable provisions will be made to

include on the agenda presentations

from individuals who have not yet had

an opportunity to address the

Committee. Priority will be given to

Gulf War veterans whose accounts of

firsthand experience with chemical and

biological warfare agent detections

previously have not been conveyed to

the Committee. The panel chair is

empowered to conduct the meeting in a

fashion that will facilitate the orderly

conduct of business. People who wish

to file written statements with the

Committee may do so at any time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy Rocha, Presidential Advisory

Committee on Gulf War Veterans’

Illnesses, 1411 K Street, N.W., suite

1000, Washington, DC 20005,

Telephone: (202) 761–0066, Fax: (202)

761–0310.

Dated: August 4, 1997.

C.A. Bock,

Federal Register Liaison Officer, Presidential

Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’

Illnesses.

[FR Doc. 97–20917 Filed 8–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3610–76–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

Proposed Collection; Comment

Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available

From: Securities and Exchange

Commission, Office of Filings and

Information Services, Washington, DC

20549

Extension:

Rule 17Ad–11, SEC File No. 270–261,

OMB Control No. 3235–0274

Rule 17Ad–13, SEC File No. 270–263,

OMB Control No. 3235–0275

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’’) 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 17Ad–11 requires transfer agents

to report to issuers and the appropriate

regulatory agency in the event that aged

record differences exceed certain dollar

value thresholds. An aged record

difference occurs when an issuer’s

records do not agree with those of

securityowners as indicated, for

instance, on certificates presented to the

transfer agent for purchase, redemption

or transfer. In addition, the rule requires

transfer agents to report to the

appropriate regulatory agency in the

event of a failure to post certificate

detail to the master securityholder file

within 5 business days of the time

required by Rule 17Ad–10. Also,

transfer agents must maintain a copy of

each report prepared under Rule 17Ad–

11 for a period of three years following

the date of the report. These

recordkeeping requirements assist the

Commission and other regulatory

agencies with monitoring transfer agents

and ensuring compliance with the rule.

Because the information required by

Rule 17Ad–11 is already available to

transfer agents, any collection burden

for small transfer agents is minimal. The

staff estimates 150 registered transfer

agents take approximately one hour

annually to comply with Rule 17Ad–11.

Therefore, the total burden is 150 hours

annually for transfer agents, based upon

past submissions. The average cost per

hour is approximately $30. Therefore,

the total cost of compliance for transfer

agents is $4,500.

Rule 17Ad–13 requires approximately

200 registered transfer agents to obtain

an annual report on the adequacy of

internal accounting controls. In

addition, transfer agents must maintain

copies of any reports prepared pursuant

to Rule 17Ad–13 plus any documents

prepared to notify the Commission and

appropriate regulatory agencies in the

event that the transfer agent is required

to take any corrective action. These

recordkeeping requirements assist the

Commission and other regulatory

agencies with monitoring transfer agents

and ensuring compliance with the rule.

Small transfer agents are exempt from

Rule 17Ad–13.

The staff estimates 200 registered

transfer agents take approximately 175

hours annually to comply with Rule

17Ad–13. Therefore, the total annual

burden is 35,000 hours for transfer

agents, based upon past submissions.

The average cost per hour is

approximately $60. Therefore, the total

cost of compliance for transfer agents is

$1,300,000.

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 shall have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency’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.

Please direct your written comments

to Michael E. Bartell, Associate

Executive Director, Office of

Information Technology, Securities and

Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street,

N.W., Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: August 1, 1997.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–20912 Filed 8–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available

From: Securities and Exchange

Commission, Office of Filings and

Information Services, Washington, DC

20549

Extension:

Form 18, SEC File No. 270–105, OMB
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 153 / Friday, August 8, 1997 / Notices 42847

1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.

3 In order for the Exchange to meet quickly

changing market conditions, the Commission

granted the changes described in this proposal

temporary accelerated approval on June 18, 1997.

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 38744

(June 18, 1997), 62 FR 34334 (June 25, 1997).

4Securities Exchange Act Release No. 38745

(June 18, 1997), 62 FR 34336 (June 25, 1997).

Control No. 3235–0121

Form 18–K, SEC File No. 270–108,

OMB Control No. 3235–0120

Form F–80, SEC File No. 270–357,

OMB Control No. 3235–0404

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

requests for extension of the previously

approved collections of information

discussed below.

Form 18 is used for the registration of

securities under the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934 of any foreign government

or political subdivision thereof. It is

filed on occasion. An estimated 5

respondents file Form 18 annually for a

total burden of 40 hours.

Form 18–K is an annual report for

foreign governments and political

subdivisions thereof. It provides

updated information concerning

registered securities. An estimated 11

respondents file Form 18–K annually for

a total burden of 88 hours.

Form F–80 is a form used to register

under the Securities Act of 1933

securities of certain issuers to be issued

in exchange offers or a business

combination. It is filed on occasion. An

estimated 5 respondents file Form F–80

annually for a total burden of 10 hours.

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

above information 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, D.C. 20503; and (ii)

Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive

Director, Office of Information

Technology, Securities and Exchange

Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20549. Comments

must be submitted to OMB within 30

days of this notice.

Dated: August 1, 1997.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–20913 Filed 8–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

Issuer Delisting; Notice of Application

To Withdraw From Listing and

Registration; (Benchmark Electronics,

Inc., Common Stock, $.10 Par Value)

File No. 1–10560

August 4, 1997.

Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(‘‘Company’’) has filed an application

with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant

to Section 12(d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) and Rule

12d2–2(d) promulgated thereunder, to

withdraw the above specified security

(‘‘Security’’) from listing and

registration on the American Stock

Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Amex’’ or

‘‘Exchange’’).

The reasons cited in the application

for withdrawing the Security from

listing and registration include the

following:

The Company’s Security is listed on

the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’)

effective May 13, 1997. The Company’s

Board of Directors resolved on April 4,

1997 to withdraw the Company’s

Security from listing on Amex to avoid

the direct and indirect cost and the

division of the market resulting from

dual listing.

The Company has complied with Rule

18 of the American Stock Exchange

(‘‘Amex’’) by filing with such Exchange

a certified copy of preambles and

resolutions adopted by the Company’s

Board of Directors (‘‘Directors’’)

authorizing the withdrawal of its

common stock from listing on the Amex

and by setting forth in detail to such

Exchange the reasons for such proposed

withdrawal, and the facts in support

thereof.

By letter dated April 30, 1997, the

Amex stated that the Exchange would

not interpose an objection to the

Company’s application to withdraw its

Security from listing.

Any interested person may, on or

before August 25, 1997, submit by letter

to the Secretary of the Securities and

Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, facts

bearing upon whether the application

has been made in accordance with the

rules of the exchange and what terms,

if any, should be imposed by the

Commission for the protection of

investors. The Commission, based on

the information submitted to it, will

issue an order granting the application

after the date mentioned above, unless

the Commission determines to order a

hearing on the matter.

For the Commission, by the Division of

Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated

authority.

Jonathan G. Katz,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–20910 Filed 8–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

[Release No. 34–38897; File No. SR–NYSE–

97–21]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; New

York Stock Exchange, Inc.; Order

Granting Approval to Proposed Rule

Change Relating to Trading

Differentials for Equity Securities

August 1, 1997.

On June 16, 1997, the New York Stock

Exchange, Inc. (‘‘NYSE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)

submitted to the Securities and

Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),

pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a

proposed rule change to replace

references to specific minimum

variations with general language

regarding minimum variations, to

replace its minimum increment of oneeighth of a dollar with one-sixteenth of

a dollar, and to make conforming

changes to several other rules.3

The proposed rule change was

published for comment in the Federal

Register on June 25, 1997.4 No

comments were received. This order

approves the proposal.

Exchange Rule 62 currently provides

fixed minimum trading variations for

stocks traded on the Exchange. The

Exchange proposes to amend Rule 62 to

remove the references to specific

minimum variations and to replace it

with general language. The Exchange

believes this amendment to Rule 62 will

provide flexibility so that the Exchange

could permit its members to trade at

increments smaller than NYSEestablished trade variations in order to

match other markets’ bids or offers for

the purpose of preventing Intermarket

Trading System (‘‘ITS’’) trade-throughs.

The Exchange proposes to set the