Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.

Extension:

Rule 6e-2, SEC File No. 270-177, OMB Control No. 3235-0177.

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 (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Rule 6e-2 [17 CFR 270.6e-2] under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Act”) is an exemptive rule that permits separate accounts, formed by life insurance companies, to fund certain variable life insurance products. The rule exempts such separate accounts from the registration requirements under the Act, among others, on condition that they comply with all but certain designated provisions of the Act and meet the other requirements of the rule. The rule sets forth several information collection requirements.

Rule 6e-2 provides a separate account with an exemption from the registration provisions of section 8(a) of the Act if the account files with the Commission Form N-6EI-1, a notification of claim of exemption.

The rule also exempts a separate account from a number of other sections of the Act, provided that the separate account makes certain disclosure in its registration statements, reports to contractholders, proxy solicitations, and submissions to state regulatory authorities, as prescribed by the rule.

Paragraph (b)(9) of rule 6e-2 provides an exemption from the requirements of section 17(f) of the Act and imposes a reporting burden and certain other conditions. Section 17(f) requires that every registered management company meet various custody requirements for its securities and similar investments. Paragraph (b)(9) applies only to management accounts that offer life insurance contracts subject to rule 6e-2.

Since 2000, there have been no filings under paragraph (b)(9) of rule 6e-2 by management accounts. Further, all variable life separate accounts that have filed post-effective amendments to their registration statements during this period have been structured as unit investment trusts and thus have not been subject to the requirements of paragraph (b)(9) of the rule. Therefore, since 2000, there has been no cost or burden to the industry regarding the information collection requirements of paragraph (b)(9) of rule 6e-2. In addition, there have been no filings of Form N-6EI-1 by separate accounts since 2000. Therefore there has been no cost or burden to the industry since that time.

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 regarding the estimated burden hours should be directed to the Desk Officer for the Commission at the address below. Any comments concerning the accuracy of the estimated average burden hours for compliance with Commission rules and forms should be directed to Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549, and Desk Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 day of this notice.