2010-32517. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension: Rule 27d-1 and Form N-27D-1; SEC File No. 270-499; OMB Control No. 3235-0560.

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 collections of information under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Act”) ^[1] summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

Rule 27d-1 (17 CFR 270.27d-1) is entitled “Reserve Requirements for Principal Underwriters and Depositors to Carry Out the Obligations to Refund Charges Required by Section 27(d) and Section 27(f) of the Act.” Form N-27D-1 (17 CFR 274.127d-1) is entitled “Accounting of Segregated Trust Account.” Rule 27d-1 requires the depositor or principal underwriter for an issuer of a periodic payment plan to deposit funds into a segregated trust account to provide assurance of its ability to fulfill its refund obligations under sections 27(d) and 27(f) of the Act. The rule sets forth minimum reserve amounts and guidelines for the management and disbursement of the assets in the account. A single account may be used for the periodic payment plans of multiple investment companies. Rule 27d-1(j) directs depositors and principal underwriters to make an accounting of their segregated trust accounts on Form N-27D-1, which is intended to facilitate the Commission's oversight of compliance with the reserve requirements set forth in rule 27d-1. The form requires depositors and principal underwriters to report deposits to a segregated trust account, including those made pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (e) of the rule. Withdrawals pursuant to paragraph (f) of the rule also must be reported. In addition, the form solicits information regarding the minimum amount required to be maintained under paragraphs (d) and (e) of rule 27d-1. Depositors and principal underwriters must file the form once a year on or before January 31 of the year following the year for which information is presented.^[2]

Rule 27d-1, which was explicitly authorized by statute, provides assurance that depositors and principal underwriters of issuers have access to sufficient cash to meet the demands of certificate holders who reconsider their decisions to invest in a periodic payment plan. The information collection requirements in rule 27d-1 enable the Commission to monitor compliance with reserve rules.

Effective October 27, 2006, the Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act banned the issuance or sale of new periodic payment plans. Accordingly, the staff estimates that there is no longer any information collection burden associated with rule 27d-1 or Form N-27D-1. For administrative purposes, however, we are requesting approval for an information collection burden of one hour per year. This estimate of burden hours is not derived from a comprehensive or necessarily even a representative study of the cost of the Commission's rules and forms.

Complying with the collection of information requirements of rule 27d-1 is mandatory for depositors or principal underwriters of issuers of periodic payment plans unless they comply with the requirements in rule 27d-2 (17 CFR 270.27d-2). The information provided pursuant to rule 27d-1 is public and, therefore, 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 OMB control number.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission'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 Thomas Bayer, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi-Pavlik Simon, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312; or send an e-mail to: [e-mail].

December 20, 2010.

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.

2.  Instead of relying on rule 27d-1 and filing Form N-27D-1, depositors or principal underwriters for the issuers of periodic payment plans may rely on the exemption afforded by rule 27d-2. In order to comply with rule 27d-2: (i) The depositor or principal underwriter must secure from an insurance company a written guarantee of the refund requirements; (ii) the insurance company must satisfy certain financial criteria; and (iii) the depositor or principal underwriter must file as an exhibit to the issuer's registration statement, a copy of the written undertaking, an annual statement that the insurance company has met the requisite financial criteria on a monthly basis, and an annual audited balance sheet.