Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), notice is hereby given that on September 26, 2007, the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by DTC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change would provide that DTC's Foreign Currency Payment Option (“FCP Option”) may be used (1) in relation to securities denominated in U.S. dollars and (2) regardless of whether the terms of the issue originally contemplated the option of payment in one or more currencies.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, DTC included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. DTC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
The Commission has modified parts of these statements.
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
Currently, DTC offers the FCP Option in order for participants to elect the payment of dividend, interest, principal, redemption, or maturity payments either in foreign currency outside of DTC or in U.S. dollars within DTC with respect to a foreign denominated issue when the foreign currency option is included in the initial offering terms of the DTC-eligible issue.
Participants may make FCP Option elections for the payment of (a) dividends, interest, and principal through the EDS function and (b) redemption and maturity through the RCUR function.
U.S. Denominated Securities
The proposed rule change would clarify that the FCP Option would be made available with respect to U.S. denominated securities as well as foreign denominated securities. The method of payment (U.S. dollars within DTC and foreign currency outside of DTC) and the election process would remain the same. When DTC initially filed to implement the FCP Option, the issues providing for multiple currencies payments were foreign denominated. The wording inadvertently put U.S. denominated securities at a disadvantage with respect to the FCP Option. The proposed rule change seeks to clarify this unintentional result by allowing the FCP Option to be used with respect to U.S. denominated securities.
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 33597 (February 8, 1994), 59 FR 7272 (February 15, 1994) (File No. SR-DTC-93-10) and 29144 (April 30, 1991), 56 FR 21182 (May 7, 1991) (File No. SR-DTC-90-09).
Designation of Payment Option After Initial Issuance
The proposed rule change would allow for the use of the FCP Option in relation to DTC-eligible securities that were not initially issued with the option of payment in multiple currencies. Additionally, DTC proposes that an issuer or its agent could use the FCP Option to add an additional currency to the payment options originally offered in relation to a DTC-eligible security. In such a case, the issuer or its agent would instruct DTC, within prescribed timeframes and in a form satisfactory to DTC to send out a notice to participants holding positions in the subject security to inform them of the payment options for a particular payment event. Such a notice would contain all necessary information for a participant to be able to elect a particular currency option. The method of payment (U.S. dollars within DTC and foreign currency outside of DTC) and the election process would remain the same.
Payment in a different currency than offered when a security was initially issued might be desirable for example in the event of a change in tax withholding legislation subsequent to the initial issuance, which might make it more attractive for investors from a particular country to hold position in a security. It would in turn be helpful for such investors to have the ability to receive payments in relation to the subject security in their home country currency.
The proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to DTC because it promotes the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions by (1) not unnecessarily limiting payment options for U.S. denominated securities and (2) promoting efficiencies for payment in multiple currencies with respect to DTC-eligible securities.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
DTC perceives no impact on competition by reason of the proposed rule change.
(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments from DTC participants or others have not been solicited or received on the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Within thirty-five days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to ninety days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(a) By order approve the proposed rule change or
(b) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-DTC-2007-13 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-DTC-2007-13. 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 change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change 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, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of DTC. 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-DTC-2007-13 and should be submitted on or before December 24, 2007.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-23315 Filed 11-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P