00-4980. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549

[Extension: Rule 30b2-1; SEC File No. 270-213; OMB Control No. 3235-0220]

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“Act”) [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 30b2-1 Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Filing of Copies of Reports to Stockholders

Rule 30b2-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 [17 CFR 270.30b2-1] requires the filing of four copies of every periodic or interim report transmitted by or on behalf of any registered investment company to its stockholders.^[1] This requirement ensures that the Commission has information in its files to perform its regulatory functions and to apprise investors of the operational and financial condition of registered investment companies.^[2]

It is estimated that approximately 3,490 registered management investment companies are required to send reports to stockholders at least twice annually. The annual burden of filing the reports is estimated to be negligible.

The burden estimate for Rule 30b2-1 is made solely for the purposes of the Act and is not derived from a comprehensive or even representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and forms.

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 will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency'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 Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549.

Dated: February 23, 2000.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  Most filings are made via the Commission's electronic filing system; therefore, paper filings under Rule 30b2-1 occur only in exceptional circumstances. Electronic filing eliminates the need for multiple copies of filings.

1.  Annual and periodic reports to the Commission become part of its public files and, therefore, are available for use by prospective investors and stockholders.