E5-4269. Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Association of Securities Dealers Inc.; Notice of Extension of the Comment Period for the Proposed Rule and Amendment No. 1 Thereto Relating to Sales Practice Standards and Supervisory Requirements ...

August 2, 2005.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) a proposed rule, and Amendment No. 1 thereto, relating to sales practice standards and supervisory requirements for transactions in deferred variable annuities. A description of the proposed rule and the amendments thereto is found in the notice of filing, which was published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2005.^[3] The comment period expires on August 11, 2005.

To give the public additional time to comment on the proposed rule, the Commission has decided to extend the comment period pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act.^[4] Accordingly, the comment period shall be extended until September 19, 2005.

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an E-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-NASD-2004-183 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASD-2004-183. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filings also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of NASD. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASD-2004-183 and should be submitted on or before September 19, 2005.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.⁵

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52046A (July 19, 2005); 70 FR 42126 (July 21, 2005).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

5.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).