[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77418-77422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22009]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. IC-27603; File No. 812-13320]


Jackson National Life Insurance Company, et al.

December 19, 2006.
AGENCY: The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of application for an amended order under Section 6(c) 
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') granting exemptions 
from the provisions of Sections 2(a)(32), 22(c) and 27(i)(2)(A) of the 
Act and Rule 22c-1 thereunder to permit the recapture of contract 
enhancements applied to purchase payments made under certain deferred 
variable annuity contracts.

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APPLICANTS: Jackson National Life Insurance Company (``Jackson 
National''), Jackson National Separate Account--I (the ``JNL Separate 
Account''), and Jackson National Life Distributors LLC 
(``Distributor,'' and collectively, ``Applicants'').

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:  Applicants seek an order under Section 6(c) of 
the Act to amend an existing order, and exempting them from the 
provisions of Sections 2(a)(32), 22(c), and 27(i)(2)(A) of the Act and 
Rule 22c-1 thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit the recapture, 
under specified circumstances, of certain contract enhancements applied 
to purchase payments made under the deferred variable annuity contracts 
described herein that Jackson National will issue through the JNL 
Separate Account (the ``Contracts'') as well as other contracts that 
Jackson National may issue in the future through its existing or future 
separate accounts (``Other Accounts'') that are substantially similar 
in all material respects to the Contracts (``Future Contracts''). 
Applicants also request that the order being sought extend to any other 
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (``NASD'') member 
broker-dealer controlling or controlled by, or under common control 
with, Jackson National, whether existing or created in the future, that 
serves as distributor or principal underwriter for the Contracts or 
Future Contracts (``Affiliated Broker-Dealers'') and any successors in 
interest to the Applicants.

Filing Date: The application was filed on June 23, 2006, and amended on 
December 18, 2006.

Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the application 
will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested 
persons may request a hearing by writing to the Secretary of the 
Commission and serving Applicants with a copy of the request, 
personally or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the 
Commission by 5:30 p.m. on January 12, 2007, and should be accompanied 
by proof of service on Applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for 
lawyers, a certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the 
nature of the writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the 
issues contested. Persons may request notification of a hearing by 
writing to the Secretary of the Commission.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Applicants: c/o Jackson National Life 
Insurance Company, 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951, Attn: 
Anthony L. Dowling, Esq.; copies to Joan E. Boros, Esq., Jorden Burt 
LLP, 1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW., Suite 400 East, Washington, DC 
20007-0805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen J. Sazzman, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6762, or Harry Eisenstein, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6795, 
Office of Insurance Products, Division of Investment Management.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the 
Application. The complete Application is available for a fee from the 
SEC's Public Reference Branch, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549 
((202) 551-8090).

Applicants' Representations

    1. Jackson National is a stock life insurance company organized 
under the laws of the state of Michigan in June 1961. Its legal 
domicile and principal business address is 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, 
Michigan 48951. Jackson National is admitted to conduct life insurance 
and annuity business in the District of Columbia and all states except 
New York. Jackson National is ultimately a wholly owned subsidiary of 
Prudential plc (London, England).
    2. The JNL Separate Account was established by Jackson National on 
June 14, 1993, pursuant to the provisions of Michigan law and the 
authority granted under a resolution of Jackson National's Board of 
Directors. Jackson National is the depositor of the JNL Separate 
Account. The JNL Separate Account meets the definition of a ``separate 
account'' under the federal securities laws and is registered with the 
Commission as a unit investment trust under the Act (File No. 811-
8664). The JNL Separate Account will fund the variable benefits 
available under the Contracts. The offering of the Contracts will be 
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the ``1933 Act'').
    3. The Distributor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson National 
and serves as the distributor of the Contracts. The Distributor is 
registered with the Commission as a broker-dealer under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``1934 Act'') and is a member of the NASD. 
The Distributor enters into selling group agreements with affiliated 
and unaffiliated broker-dealers. The Contracts are sold by licensed 
insurance agents, where the Contracts may be lawfully sold, who are 
registered representatives of broker-dealers that are registered under 
the 1934 Act and are members of the NASD.
    4. The Contracts require a minimum initial premium payment of 
$5,000 or $10,000 under most circumstances depending on the contract 
($2,000 for a qualified plan contract). Subsequent payments may be made 
at any time during the accumulation phase. Each subsequent payment must 
be at least $500 ($50 under an automatic payment plan). Prior approval 
of Jackson National is required for aggregate premium payments of over 
$1,000,000.
    5. The Contracts permit owners to accumulate contract values on a 
fixed basis through allocations to one of six fixed accounts (the 
``Fixed Accounts''), including four ``Guaranteed Fixed Accounts'' which 
offer guaranteed crediting rates for specified periods of time 
(currently, 1, 3, 5, or 7 years), and two ``DCA+ Fixed Accounts'' (used 
in

[[Page 77419]]

connection with dollar cost averaging transfers, each of which from 
time to time offers special crediting rates).
    6. The Contracts also permit owners to accumulate contract values 
on a variable basis, through allocations to one or more of the 
investment divisions of the JNL Separate Accounts (the ``Investment 
Divisions,'' collectively with the Fixed Accounts, the ``Allocation 
Options''). The 67 Investment Divisions listed in Exhibit E to the 
Application for an Amended Order currently are expected to be offered 
under most of the Contracts, but additional Investment Divisions may be 
offered in the future and some of those listed could be eliminated or 
combined with other Investment Divisions in the future. Similarly, 
Future Contracts may offer additional or different Investment 
Divisions.
    7. Transfers among the Investment Divisions are permitted. The 
first 15 transfers in a contract year are free; subsequent transfers 
cost $25. Certain transfers to, from and among the Fixed Accounts are 
also permitted during the Contracts' accumulation phase, but are 
subject to certain adjustments and limitations. Dollar cost averaging 
and rebalancing transfers are offered at no charge and do not count 
against the 15 free transfers permitted each year.
    8. If the owner dies during the accumulation phase of the 
Contracts, the beneficiary named by the owner is paid a death benefit 
by Jackson National. The Contracts' base death benefit, which applies 
unless an optional death benefit has been elected, is a payment to the 
beneficiary of the greater of: (i) Contract value on the date Jackson 
National receives proof of death and completed claim forms from the 
beneficiary or (ii) the total premiums paid under that Contract minus 
any prior withdrawals (including any applicable charges and adjustments 
for such withdrawals, annual contract maintenance charges, transfer 
charges, any applicable charges due under any optional endorsement and 
premium taxes).
    9. The owner may also be offered certain optional endorsements (for 
fees described below) that can change the death benefit paid to the 
beneficiary. First, an ``Earnings Protection Benefit Endorsement'' is 
offered to owners who are no older than age 75 when their Contracts are 
issued. This endorsement would add to the death benefit otherwise 
payable an amount equal to a specified percentage (that varies with the 
owner's age at issue) of earnings under the Contract up to a cap of 
250% of remaining premiums (premiums not previously withdrawn) 
excluding remaining premiums paid in the 12 months prior to the date of 
death (other than the initial premium if the owner dies in the first 
contract year).
    10. Second, the owner of a Contract who is age 79 or younger may be 
offered the following five optional death benefits (state variations 
may apply) that would replace the base death benefit: (i) A ``4% Roll-
Up'' death benefit, (ii) a ``5% Roll-Up'' death benefit, (iii) a 
``Highest Anniversary Value'' death benefit, (iv) a ``Combination 4% 
Roll-Up and Highest Anniversary Value'' death benefit or (v) a 
``Combination 5% Roll-Up and Highest Anniversary Value'' death benefit.
    11. The Contracts offer fixed and variable versions of the 
following four types of annuity payment or ``income payment'': Life 
income, joint and survivor, life annuity with 120 or 240 monthly 
payments guaranteed to be paid (although not guaranteed as to amount if 
variable), and income for a specified period of 5 to 30 years. Jackson 
National may also offer other income payment options. The Contracts may 
also offer an optional Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (``GMIB'') 
endorsement.
    12. In addition to the Earnings Protection Benefit, GMIB, and 
optional death benefit endorsements described above and the optional 
contract enhancement endorsements described below, additional optional 
endorsements are offered with the Contracts, several of which relate to 
withdrawals: (i) An endorsement that expands the percentage of premiums 
(that remain subject to a withdrawal charge) that may be withdrawn in a 
contract year with no withdrawal charge imposed from 10% to 20%; (ii) 
an endorsement that reduces the withdrawal charges applicable under the 
Contract and shortens the period for which withdrawal charges are 
imposed from seven years to five years or four years; and (iii) eight 
different Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (``GMWB'') 
endorsements. Three variations of the GMWB generally allow, subject to 
specific conditions, partial withdrawals prior to the income date that, 
in total, equal the amount of net premium payments made (if elected 
after issue, the contract value, less any recapture charges will be 
used instead of the net premium payment at issue). The guarantee is 
effective if gross partial withdrawals taken within any one contract 
year do not exceed a specified percentage of net premium payments.
    13. If one of the optional contract enhancement endorsements is 
elected, each time an owner makes a premium payment during the first 
contract year, Jackson National will add an additional amount to the 
owner's contract value (a ``Contract Enhancement''). All Contract 
Enhancements are paid from Jackson National's general account assets. 
The Contract Enhancement is equal to 2%, 3%, 4%, or 5% of the premium 
payment. At issue, a Contract owner can choose only one of the Contract 
Enhancement endorsements. An owner may not elect the 3%, 4%, or 5% 
Contract Enhancements if the 20% additional free withdrawal endorsement 
is elected. Jackson National will allocate the Contract Enhancement to 
the Fixed Accounts and/or Investment Divisions in the same proportion 
as the premium payment allocation. The Contract Enhancement is not 
credited to any premiums received after the first contract year. If the 
5% Contract Enhancement is elected, no premiums will be accepted after 
the first year.
    14. There is an asset-based charge for each of the Contract 
Enhancements. The 2% Contract nhancement has a 0.395% charge that 
applies for five years. The asset-based charges for the other Contract 
Enhancements apply for seven years and are 0.42%, 0.56%, and 0.695%, 
respectively, for the 3%, 4%, and 5% Contract Enhancements. These 
charges will also be assessed against any amounts an owner has 
allocated to the Fixed Accounts, resulting in a lower annual credited 
interest rate that would apply to the Fixed Account if the Contract 
Enhancement had not been elected.
    15. Jackson National will recapture all or a portion of any 
Contract Enhancements by imposing a recapture charge whenever an owner: 
(i) Makes a total withdrawal within the recapture charge period (five 
years after a first year payment in the case of the 2% Contract 
Enhancement and seven years after a first year payment in the case of 
the other Contract Enhancements) or a partial withdrawal of 
corresponding premiums within the recapture charge period in excess of 
those permitted under the Contracts' free withdrawal provisions 
(including free withdrawals permitted by a 20% additional free 
withdrawal endorsement), unless the withdrawal is made for certain 
health-related emergencies specified in the Contracts; (ii) elects to 
receive payments under an income option within the recapture charge 
period; or (iii) returns the Contract during the free-look period.
    16. The amount of the recapture charge varies, depending upon which 
Contract Enhancement is elected and when the charge is imposed, as 
follows:

[[Page 77420]]



                                                          Contract Enhancement Recapture Charge
                                                    [As a percentage of first year premium payments]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Completed Years Since Receipt of Premium........................          0          1          2          3          4          5          6         7+
Recapture Charge (2% Credit)....................................         2%         2%      1.25%      1.25%       0.5%          0          0          0
Recapture Charge (3% Credit)....................................         3%         3%         2%         2%         2%         1%         1%          0
Recapture Charge (4% Credit)....................................         4%         4%       2.5%       2.5%       2.5%      1.25%      1.25%          0
Recapture Charge (5% Credit)....................................       4.5%      3.75%      3.25%      2.75%         2%      1.25%         1%          0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    17. The recapture charge percentage will be applied to the 
corresponding premium reflected in the amount withdrawn or the amount 
applied to income payments that remain subject to a withdrawal charge. 
The amount recaptured will be taken from the Investment Divisions and 
the Fixed Accounts in the same proportion as the withdrawal charge.
    18. Recapture charges will be waived upon death, but will be 
applied upon electing to commence income payments, even in a situation 
where the withdrawal charge is waived. Partial withdrawals will be 
deemed to remove premium payments on a first-in first-out basis (the 
order that entails payment of the lowest withdrawal and recapture 
charges).
    19. Jackson National does not assess the recapture charge on any 
payments paid out as: Death benefits; withdrawals taken under free 
withdrawal provisions; withdrawals necessary to satisfy the required 
minimum distribution of the Internal Revenue Code; if permitted by the 
owner's state, withdrawals of up to $250,000 from the JNL Separate 
Account or from the Fixed Accounts in connection with the owner's 
terminal illness or if the owner needs extended hospital or nursing 
home care as provided in the Contract; or if permitted by the owner's 
state, withdrawals of up to 25% of contract value (12.5% for each of 
two joint owners) from the JNL Separate Account or from the Fixed 
Accounts in connection with certain serious medical conditions 
specified in the Contract.
    20. The contract value will reflect any gains or losses 
attributable to a Contract Enhancement described above. Contract 
Enhancements, and any gains or losses attributable to a Contract 
Enhancement, distributed under the Contracts will be considered 
earnings under the Contract for tax purposes and for purposes of 
calculating free withdrawal amounts.
    21. The Contracts have a ``free-look'' period of ten days after the 
owner receives the Contract (or any longer period required by state 
law). Contract value is returned upon exercise of free-look rights by 
an owner unless state law requires the return of premiums paid. The 
Contract Enhancement recapture charge reduces the amount returned.
    22. The JNL Separate Account consists of sub-accounts, each of 
which will be available under the JNL Separate Account. The sub-
accounts are referred to as ``Investment Divisions.'' The JNL Separate 
Account currently consists of 67 Investment Divisions, and each 
Investment Division will invest in shares of a corresponding series 
(``Series'') of JNL Series Trust (``Trust''), or JNL Variable Fund LLC 
(``Fund'') (collectively the ``Trust and Fund''). Not all Investment 
Divisions may be available.
    23. The Trust and Fund are open-end management investment companies 
registered under the Act and their shares are registered under the 1933 
Act. Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (``JNAM'') serves as the 
investment adviser for all of the Series of the Trust and Fund. JNAM 
has retained sub-advisers for each Series. Jackson National, at a later 
date, may determine to create additional Investment Divisions of the 
JNL Separate Account to invest in any additional Series, or other such 
underlying portfolios or other investments as may now or in the future 
be available. Similarly, Investment Division(s) of the JNL Separate 
Account may be combined or eliminated from time to time. Any changes to 
the Investment Divisions offered will be effected in compliance with 
the terms of the Contracts and with applicable state and federal laws.
    24. In addition to the Contract Enhancement charges and the 
Contract Enhancement recapture charges, the JNL Contracts may have the 
following charges: Mortality and expense risk charge of 1.00%-1.45% 
depending on the version of the Contract (as an annual percentage of 
average daily account value); administration charge of 0.15% (as an 
annual percentage of average daily account value); contract maintenance 
charge of $35 per year (waived if contract value is $50,000 or more at 
the time the charge is imposed); Earnings Protection Benefit charge of 
0.30% (as an annual percentage of daily account value--only applies if 
related optional endorsement is elected); GMIB charge of 0.60% per year 
(0.15% per quarter) of the ``GMIB Benefit Base''; GMWB charge ranging 
from 0.20% to 1.71% per year (0.1000% to 0.4250% per quarter) of the 
``Guaranteed Withdrawal Balance'' depending upon age at election and 
upon which (if any) GMWB endorsement is elected; 20% additional free 
withdrawal benefit charge of 0.30% or 0.40% depending on the Contract 
(as an annual percentage of daily account value--only applies if 
related optional endorsement is elected); five-year withdrawal charge 
period charge of 0.30% (as an annual percentage of daily account 
value--only applies if related optional endorsement is elected); four-
year withdrawal charge period charge of 0.40% (as an annual percentage 
of daily account value--only applies if related optional endorsement is 
elected); optional death benefit charge ranging from 0.25% to 0.55% (as 
an annual percentage of daily account value--only applies if related 
optional endorsement is elected) depending upon which (if any) optional 
death benefit endorsement is elected; transfer fee of $25 for each 
transfer in excess of 15 in a contract year (for purposes of which 
dollar cost averaging and rebalancing transfers are excluded); 
commutation fee that applies only upon withdrawals from income payments 
for a fixed period, measured by the difference in values paid upon such 
a withdrawal due to using a discount rate of 1% greater than the 
assumed investment rate used in computing the amounts of income 
payments; and a withdrawal charge that applies to total withdrawals, 
partial withdrawals in excess of amounts permitted to be withdrawn 
under the Contract's free withdrawal provisions (or the 20% additional 
free withdrawal endorsement) and on the income date (the date income 
payments commence) if the income date is within a year of the date the 
Contract was issued.
    25. The withdrawal charges shown in the table below apply to 
differing versions of Contracts. The amount of the withdrawal charge 
depends upon the contribution year of the premium withdrawn as follows:

[[Page 77421]]



                                                                    Withdrawal Charge
                                                          [As a percentage of premium payments]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Completed Years Since Receipt of Premium........................          0          1          2          3          4          5          6         7+
Withdrawal Charge (Base Schedule for Offerings under File Nos.         8.5%         8%         7%         6%         5%         4%         2%          0
 333-70472 and 333-132128)......................................
Withdrawal Charge (Base Schedule for Offering under File No. 333-        8%         8%         7%         6%          0          0          0          0
 119656)........................................................
Withdrawal Charge if Five-Year Period is elected (Optional               8%         7%         6%         4%         2%          0          0          0
 Schedule for Offerings under File No. 333-70472)...............
Withdrawal Charge if Four-Year Period is elected (Optional               8%         7%       5.5%       3.5%          0          0          0          0
 Schedule for Offering under File No. 333-132128)...............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    26. The withdrawal charge is waived upon withdrawals to satisfy the 
required minimum distribution of the Internal Revenue Code (if the 
withdrawal requested exceeds the required minimum distribution, the 
withdrawal charge will not be waived on the required minimum 
distribution) and, to the extent permitted by state law, the withdrawal 
fee is waived in connection with withdrawals of: (i) Up to $250,000 
from the Investment Divisions or the Fixed Accounts of the Contracts in 
connection with the terminal illness of the owner of a Contract, or in 
connection with extended hospital or nursing home care for the owner; 
and (ii) up to 25% (12.5% each for two joint owners) of contract value 
in connection with certain serious medical conditions specified in the 
Contract.

Applicants' Legal Analysis

    1. Applicants state that Section 6(c) of the Act authorizes the 
Commission to exempt any person, security or transaction, or any class 
or classes of persons, securities or transactions from the provisions 
of the Act and the rules promulgated thereunder if and to the extent 
that such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest 
and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly 
intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. Applicants request 
that the Commission, pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Act, grant the 
exemptions requested below with respect to the Contracts and any Future 
Contracts funded by the JNL Separate Account or Other Accounts that are 
issued by Jackson National and underwritten or distributed by the 
Distributor or Affiliated Broker-Dealers. Applicants undertake that 
Future Contracts funded by the Separate Account or Other Accounts, in 
the future, will be substantially similar in all material respects to 
the Contracts. Applicants believe that the requested exemptions are 
appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection 
of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and 
provisions of the Act.
    2. Applicants state that Subsection (i) of Section 27 of the Act 
provides that Section 27 does not apply to any registered separate 
account funding variable insurance contracts, or to the sponsoring 
insurance company and principal underwriter of such account, except as 
provided in paragraph (2) of the subsection. Paragraph (2) provides 
that it shall be unlawful for such a separate account or sponsoring 
insurance company to sell a contract funded by the registered separate 
account unless such contract is a redeemable security. Section 2(a)(32) 
defines ``redeemable security'' as any security, other than short-term 
paper, under the terms of the which the holder, upon presentation to 
the issuer, is entitled to receive approximately his proportionate 
share of the issuer's current net assets, or the cash equivalent 
thereof.
    3. Applicants submit that the recapture of the Contract Enhancement 
in the circumstances set forth in its Application would not deprive an 
owner of his or her proportionate share of the issuer's current net 
assets. A Contract owner's interest in the amount of the Contract 
Enhancement allocated to his or her contract value upon receipt of a 
premium payment is not fully vested until five or seven complete years 
following a premium. Until or unless the amount of any Contract 
Enhancement is vested, Jackson National retains the right and interest 
in the Contract Enhancement amount, although not in the earnings 
attributable to that amount. Thus, Applicants urge that when Jackson 
National recaptures any Contract Enhancement it is simply retrieving 
its own assets, and because a Contract owner's interest in the Contract 
Enhancement is not vested, the Contract owner has not been deprived of 
a proportionate share of the JNL Separate Account's assets, i.e., a 
share of the JNL Separate Account's assets proportionate to the 
Contract owner's contract value.
    4. In addition, Applicants represent that it would be patently 
unfair to allow a Contract owner exercising the free-look privilege to 
retain the Contract Enhancement amount under a Contract that has been 
returned for a refund after a period of only a few days. If Jackson 
National could not recapture the Contract Enhancement, individuals 
could purchase a Contract with no intention of retaining it and simply 
return it for a quick profit. Furthermore, Applicants state that the 
recapture of the Contract Enhancement relating to withdrawals or 
receiving income payments within the first five or seven years of a 
premium contribution is designed to protect Jackson National against 
Contract owners not holding the Contract for a sufficient time period. 
It would provide Jackson National with insufficient time to recover the 
cost of the Contract Enhancement, to its financial detriment.
    5. Applicants represent that it is not administratively feasible to 
track the Contract Enhancement amount in the JNL Separate Account after 
the Contract Enhancement(s) is applied. Accordingly, the asset-based 
charges applicable to the JNL Separate Account will be assessed against 
the entire amounts held in the JNL Separate Account, including any 
Contract Enhancement amounts. As a result, the aggregate asset-based 
charges assessed will be higher than those that would be charged if the 
Contract owner's contract value did not include any Contract 
Enhancement.
    6. Applicants submit that the provisions for recapture of any 
Contract Enhancement under the Contracts do not violate Sections 
2(a)(32) and 27(i)(2)(A) of the Act. Sections 26(e) and 27(i) were 
added to the Act to implement the purposes of the National Securities 
Markets Improvement Act of 1996 and Congressional intent. The 
application of a Contract Enhancement

[[Page 77422]]

to premium payments made under the Contracts should not raise any 
questions as to compliance by Jackson National with the provisions of 
Section 27(i). However, to avoid any uncertainty as to full compliance 
with the Act, Applicants request an Amended Order providing exemption 
from Section 2(a)(32) and 27(i)(2)(A), to the extent deemed necessary, 
to permit the recapture of the Contract Enhancements, including the 5% 
Contract Enhancement under the circumstances described herein and in 
the Application, without the loss of relief from Section 27 provided by 
Section 27(i).
    7. Applicants state that Section 22(c) of the Act authorizes the 
Commission to make rules and regulations applicable to registered 
investment companies and to principal underwriters of, and dealers in, 
the redeemable securities of any registered investment company to 
accomplish the same purposes as contemplated by Section 22(a). Rule 
22c-1 under the Act prohibits a registered investment company issuing 
any redeemable security, a person designated in such issuer's 
prospectus as authorized to consummate transactions in any such 
security, and a principal underwriter of, or dealer in, such security, 
from selling, redeeming, or repurchasing any such security except at a 
price based on the current net asset value of such security which is 
next computed after receipt of a tender of such security for redemption 
or of an order to purchase or sell such security.
    8. Applicants state that it is possible that someone might view 
Jackson National's recapture of the Contract Enhancements as resulting 
in the redemption of redeemable securities for a price other than one 
based on the current net asset value of the JNL Separate Account. 
Applicants contend, however, that the recapture of the Contract 
Enhancement does not violate Rule 22c-1. The recapture of some or all 
of the Contract Enhancement does not involve either of the evils that 
Section 22(c) and Rule 22c-1 were intended to eliminate or reduce as 
far as reasonably practicable, namely: (i) The dilution of the value of 
outstanding redeemable securities of registered investment companies 
through their sale at a price below net asset value or repurchase at a 
price above it, and (ii) other unfair results, including speculative 
trading practices. To effect a recapture of a Contract Enhancement, 
Jackson National will redeem interests in a Contract owner's contract 
value at a price determined on the basis of the current net asset value 
of the JNL Separate Account. The amount recaptured will be less than or 
equal to the amount of the Contract Enhancement that Jackson National 
paid out of its general account assets. Although Contract owners will 
be entitled to retain any investment gains attributable to the Contract 
Enhancement and to bear any investment losses attributable to the 
Contract Enhancement, the amount of such gains or losses will be 
determined on the basis of the current net asset values of the JNL 
Separate Account. Thus, no dilution will occur upon the recapture of 
the Contract Enhancement. Applicants also submit that the second harm 
that Rule 22c-1 was designed to address, namely, speculatively trading 
practices calculated to take advantage of backward pricing, will not 
occur as a result of the recapture of the Contract Enhancement. Because 
neither of the harms that Rule 22c-1 was meant to address is found in 
the recapture of the Contract Enhancement, Rule 22c-1 should not apply 
to any Contract Enhancement. However, to avoid any uncertainty as to 
full compliance with Rule 22c-1, Applicants request an Amended Order 
granting an exemption from the provisions of Rule 22c-1 to the extent 
deemed necessary to permit them to recapture the Contract Enhancement 
under the Contracts.
    9. Applicants submit that extending the requested relief to 
encompass Future Contracts and Other Accounts is appropriate in the 
public interest because it promotes competitiveness in the variable 
annuity market by eliminating the need to file redundant exemptive 
applications prior to introducing new variable annuity contracts. 
Investors would receive no benefit or additional protection by 
requiring Applicants to repeatedly seek exemptive relief that would 
present no issues under the Act not already addressed in the 
Application.
    Applicants submit, for the reasons stated herein, that their 
exemptive request meets the standards set out in Section 6(c) of the 
Act, namely, that the exemptions requested are appropriate in the 
public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the 
purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act and 
that, therefore, the Commission should grant the requested order.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-22009 Filed 12-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P