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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

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

*Extension:*                         Rule 27d-2; SEC File No. 270-500; OMB Control No. 3235-0566.                    

                    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 350l*et seq.*), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collections of information under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) (“Act”) summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for approval.                

                    Rule 27d-2 (17 CFR 270.27d-2) is entitled “Insurance Company Undertaking in Lieu of Segregated Trust Account.” Rule 27d-1 (17 CFR 270.27d-1) under the Act requires the depositor or principal underwriter for an issuer of periodic payment plans 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.[1]                                          Rule 27d-2 provides an exemption from rule 27d-1 under the Act for depositors or principal underwriters for the issuers of periodic payments plans. In order to comply with the rule: (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.                

                    Rule 27d-2, 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 requirement in rule 27d-2 enables the Commission to monitor compliance with insurance company undertaking requirements.                          ( print page 81683)    

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-2. 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 even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and forms.

Complying with the collection of information requirements of rule 27d-2 is mandatory for depositors or principal underwriters of issuers of periodic payment plans who rely on the rule for an exemption from complying with rule 27d-1 and filing Form N-27D-1. The information provided pursuant to rule 27d-2 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:                     *PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.*

 December 20, 2010

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             The rule sets forth minimum reserve amounts and guidelines for the management and disbursement of the assets in the account. Rule 27d-1(j) directs depositors and principal underwriters annually to make an accounting of their segregated trust accounts on Form N-27D-1, which is filed with the Commission. 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.                    
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[FR Doc. 2010-32520 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P