[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19894-19895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10669]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or copies of the information 
collection instruments and instructions should be directed to: R. David 
Belli, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, BE-
50(OC), Washington, DC 20230 (Telephone: 202-606-9800).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The BE-11, Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, provides 
a variety of measures of the overall operations of U.S. parent 
companies and their foreign affiliates, including total assets, sales, 
net income, employment and employee compensation, research and 
development expenditures, and merchandise trade. The BE-11 is a cut-off 
sample survey that covers all foreign affiliates (and their U.S. parent 
companies) above a size-exemption level. The sample data are used to 
derive universe estimates in nonbenchmark years by carrying forward 
similar data reported in the BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct 
Investment Abroad, which is taken every five years. The data are needed 
to measure the economic significance of direct investment abroad, 
measure changes in such investment, and assess its impact on the U.S. 
and foreign economies.
    The data from the survey are primarily intended as general purpose 
statistics. They should be readily available to answer any number of 
research and policy questions related to U.S. direct investment abroad. 
Policy areas of particular and lasting interest are trade in both goods 
and services, employment and employee compensation, taxes, and 
technology.
    The form remains the same as in the past. No changes in language, 
data collected, or exemption levels are proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey will be sent each year to potential respondents in March 
and responses are due by May 31. A report must be filed by, or on 
behalf of, each nonbank U.S. business enterprise (U.S. Reporter) that 
owned 10 percent or more of the voting stock (or equivalent) of a 
nonbank foreign business enterprise owned at least 20 percent by all 
U.S. Reporters of the foreign business enterprise combined, whether 
held directly or indirectly, for which any one of the following three 
items was greater than $20 million (positive or negative) at the end 
of, or for, the foreign business enterprise's fiscal year: (1) Total 
assets, (2) sales or gross operating revenues excluding sales taxes, or 
(3) net income after provision for foreign income taxes.
    Potential respondents are the U.S. parent companies of foreign 
business enterprises that reported in the last benchmark survey of U.S. 
direct investment abroad, which covered the year 1994, along with the 
U.S. parent companies of those foreign business enterprises that 
subsequently entered the direct investment universe. The data collected 
are cut-off sample data. Universe estimates are developed from the 
reported sample data.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0053.
    Form Number: BE-11.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,550.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 73 hours is the average, but may vary 
according to the number, size, and

[[Page 19895]]

complexity of the businesses covered by the response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 113,150 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $3,394,500 (based on an estimated 
reporting burden of 113,150 hours and an estimated hourly cost of $30).

IV. Request for Comments

    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 has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways of 
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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 16, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-10669 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P