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Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 7th Avenue
New York, New York 10019
July 12, 2000
Via EDGAR and Facsimile
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Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
RE: The Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. - CIK No. 0000879357
Request for Withdrawal of Registration Statement on Form N-14
File No. 333-40700
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
It has come to our attention that a Registration Statement on Form N-14 was
incorrectly filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2000
on behalf of The Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. ("LAQ"). On that date, we filed
a Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") relating to
the proposed merger of The Latin America Investment Fund, Inc.("LAM") with and
into LAQ. LAQ is the acquiring company and LAM is the target. It appears that
the Registration Statement was filed on behalf of both LAQ and LAM, using both
entities' CIK code numbers, instead of just LAQ's CIK code number. Additionally,
we discovered that the Registration Statement was filed under the incorrect form
type, "N-14." As both LAQ and LAM are closed-end funds, the Registration
Statement should have been filed under "N-14 8C."
We respectfully request that the Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed on
behalf of LAQ be withdrawn pursuant to Rule 477(a) under the Securities Act of
1933.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to
call me at (212) 728-8761.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Mona Bhalla
Mona Bhalla
cc: Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Investment Management
Shaswat Das
Daniel Schloendorn, Esq.
