Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736

Extension:

Rule 18f-1 and Form N-18f-1; SEC File No. 270-187, OMB Control No. 3235-0211

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 350l-3520), 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 18f-1 (17 CFR 270.18f-1) enables a registered open-end management investment company (“fund”) that may redeem its securities in-kind, by making a one-time election, to commit to make cash redemptions pursuant to certain requirements without violating section 18(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-18(f)). A fund relying on the rule must file Form N-18F-1 (17 CFR 274.51) to notify the Commission of this election. The Commission staff estimates that 22 funds file Form N-18F-1 annually, and that each response takes one hour. Based on these estimates, the total annual burden hours associated with the rule is estimated to be 22 hours. The estimated burden hours associated with rule 18f-1 and Form 18F-1 have decreased by 16 hours from the current allocation of 38 hours. This decrease is due to a decrease in the estimated number of investment companies filing Form N-18F-1 annually. There is no external cost associated with this collection of information.

The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. 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 Charles Riddle, Acting Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549; or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.