03-18900. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0004.

Extension:

Rule 27e-1 and Form N-27E-1, SEC File No. 270-486, OMB Control No. 3235-0545.

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

Rule 27e-1 [17 CFR 270.27e-1] is entitled “Requirements for Notice to be Mailed to Certain Purchasers of Periodic Payment Plan Certificates Sold Subject to Section 27(d) of the Act.” Form N-27E-1 is entitled “Notice to Periodic Payment Plan Certificate Holders of 18 Month Surrender Rights with Respect to Periodic Payment Plan Certificates.” Form N-27E-1, which is prescribed by rule 27e-1 in order to implement the statutory mandate in section 27(e) of the Act, serves to notify holders of periodic payment plan certificates who have missed certain payments of their surrender rights with respect to the certificates. The Form N-27E-1 notice, which is sent directly to holders of periodic payment plan certificates, serves to alert purchasers of periodic payment plans of their rights in connection with their plan certificates.

Commission staff estimates that there are fewer than five issuers of periodic payment plan certificates affected by rule 27e-1. The frequency with which each of these issuers or their representatives must file the Form N-27E-1 notice varies with the number of periodic payment plans sold and the number of certificate holders who miss payments. The staff spoke with representatives of a number of firms in the industry that currently have periodic payment plan accounts. Based upon these conversations, the staff estimates that 3 respondents send out approximately 2,965 notices a year through completely automated processes. These estimates are based on an informal survey of representatives of several entities and are not derived from a comprehensive or necessarily even representative study of the cost of the Commission's rules and forms.

Complying with the collection of information requirements of rule 27e-1 is mandatory for issuers of periodic payment plans or their depositors or underwriters in the event holders of plan certificates miss certain payments within eighteen months after issuance. The information provided pursuant to rule 27e-1 will be provided to third parties and, therefore, will not be kept confidential. The Commission is seeking OMB approval, because 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.

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 Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: July 16, 2003.

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.