While no firm estimate of the number of small entities subject to various provisions of the rule is given, the overall effect of the rule for small entities will be beneficial through a shorter cooling-off period and increased eligibility for passive market making.
The number of small entities is known and established. 
mnli hypothesis: The number of small entities is known and established.  premise: While no firm estimate of the number of small entities subject to various provisions of the rule is given, the overall effect of the rule for small entities will be beneficial through a shorter cooling-off period and increased eligibility for passive market making.