regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: Depository Trust Co.,

[Federal Register: July 17, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 137)]

[Notices]

[Page 47009-47010]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr17jy02-113]

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-46178; File No. SR-DTC-2001-19]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Automated Corporation Action Program Applicable to the Exercise of Warrants, Conversions, and Put Option Privileges

July 10, 2002.

On December 18, 2001, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a proposed rule change (File No. SR-DTC-2001-19) pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'').\1\ Notice of the proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2002.\2\ No comment letters were received. For the reasons discussed below, the Commission is granting approval of the proposed rule change.

\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

\2\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 45867 (May 2, 2002), 67 FR 30986 (May 8, 2002).

1. Description

   The Commission has proposed for comment amendments to Rule 17Ad-14 under the Act \3\ that will expand the scope of the rule to include reorganization events in addition to tender offers and exchange offers.\4\ Under the proposed changes to Rule 17Ad-14, a ``reorganization agent'' \5\ acting on behalf of an issuer in connection with a ``reorganization event'' \6\ which involves securities eligible at a ``qualified registered securities depository'' \7\ would be required to establish an account at DTC to receive the subject securities from DTC participants by book-entry deliveries. In addition, the reorganization agent would not be permitted to require DTC to deliver any physical securities prior to the third business day following the record date, payment date, or expiration date, as applicable, of the reorganization event. These proposed changes to Rule 17Ad-14 would subject transfer agents acting as reorganization agents to requirements under Rule 17Ad-14 similar to those that currently apply to transfer agents acting as depositaries in tender offers and as exchange agents in exchange offers.

   \3\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-14.

   \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40386 (August 31, 1998), 63 FR 47209 [File No. S7-25-98].

   \5\ Id. As proposed, a ``reorganization agent'' would be the transfer agent receiving shares from tendering depository participants and performing payment or exchange functions in connection with a reorganization event.

   \6\ Id. As proposed, a ``reorganization event'' would mean and include conversions, maturities, full and partial redemptions, calls, put option exercises, and warrant and rights exercises involving corporate and municipal securities of an issuer.

   \7\ ``Qualified registered securities depository'' is defined in Rule 17Ad-14 as a registered clearing agency having rules and procedures approved by the Commission pursuant to section 19 of the Act to enable book-entry delivery of the securities of the subject company to, and return of those securities from, the transfer agent through the facilities of that securities depository.

   In order to be ready for processing changes that will occur if the Commission adopts the proposed amendments to Rule 17Ad-14, DTC is establishing its Automated Corporation Action Program (``ACAP''). The ACAP procedures and ACAP agreement will govern participants' exercises of warrants, conversions, and put options privileges that DTC has made eligible for ACAP (``ACAP reorganization event''). Tender offers and exchange offers will continue to be processed through DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program. Prior to making one of the above-listed reorganization events eligible for ACAP, DTC and the agent will have entered into an ACAP agreement that provides that DTC's ACAP procedures are applicable to the event.\8\

   \8\ DTC and the reorganization agent will enter into an ACAP agreement, the terms of which will apply to all reorganization events for that reorganization agent thereafter made eligible for ACAP. When ACAP is fully automated, it is contemplated that DTC's Participant Terminal System or other electronic means will be used to confirm the agreement between DTC and the reorganization agent with respect to each reorganization event and to confirm any special procedures applicable to an event. Prior to completion of ACAP system automation, event information may be exchanged by telephone, fax, or e-mail.

   Under the ACAP procedures, participants wishing to exercise warrant, conversion, or put option privileges in an ACAP reorganization event will transmit the acceptance to DTC. DTC will transmit an instruction to the agent in the form of a DTC ``agent's message'' and will affect a book-entry delivery of the subject securities to the account of the reorganization agent maintained at DTC

   [[Page 47010]]

   for this purpose no later than the prescribed deadline for the event. The book-entry delivery into the account will constitute the delivery of the securities required by the terms of the reorganization event. DTC will deliver the certificates evidencing the subject securities no later than three business days after the applicable deadline.

   Under the ACAP procedures, DTC's delivery of the agent's message or electronic instruction letter, as the case may be, to the reorganization agent will satisfy the terms of the reorganization event, in the form required by the reorganization event, as to the execution and delivery of either (1) the warrant/conversion/put option form by a DTC participant or (2) an instruction letter by a DTC participant to cover a protect (i.e., surrender securities) if the reorganization agent has accepted a notice of guaranteed delivery from a DTC participant outside of DTC.\9\

   \9\ Upon completion of ACAP automation, DTC participants will be able to submit through ACAP notices of guaranteed delivery to reorganization agents.

   If DTC presents a certificate to the reorganization agent which the reorganization agent determines to be nontransferable, DTC will within three business days after notice from the reorganization agent either (i) put the certificate into transferable form or replace it with a transferable certificate for the same quantity of that issue of securities or (ii) return to the reorganization agent all funds and all securities of other issues paid to and issued to DTC in exchange for the nontransferable certificate. If a cash dividend or interest payment is payable on the nontransferable certificate during such three business day period, the reorganization agent may deduct the amount of the payment from the total payment due to DTC with respect to that issue of securities. As is generally the case with securities certificates deposited with DTC, DTC will resolve any problems relating to a nontransferable certificate with the participant that deposited the securities.

2. Discussion

   Section 17A(b)(3)(F) \10\ of the Act requires that the rules of a clearing agency be designed to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions, including the transfer of record ownership, and to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in the clearance and settlement of securities transactions. The rule change allows DTC to adopt procedures consistent with the proposed requirements of Rule 17Ad-14. These procedures should make the processing of DTC's participants' participation in ACAP reorganization events more efficient and thereby should promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of these transactions. ACAP should also lead to better coordination and cooperation between DTC and transfer agents acting as reorganization agents for ACAP reorganization events. Therefore, the Commission finds that the rule change is consistent with these obligations under section 17A of the Act.

   \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).

3. Conclusion

   On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and in particular section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

   It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-DTC-2001-19) be and hereby is approved.

   For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\11\

   \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

   Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary.

   [FR Doc. 02-17917Filed7-16-02; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 8010-01-P