The Commission is adopting a new rule under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to permit registered investment companies to maintain their assets with futures commission merchants and certain other entities in connection with futures contracts and commodity options traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges. Currently, investment companies generally must maintain assets relating to these transactions in special accounts with a custodian bank. The new rule will enable investment companies to effect their commodity trades in the same manner as other market participants under conditions designed to provide custodial protections for investment company assets.