

[Federal Register: October 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 191)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56409-56410]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03oc07-109]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56538; File No. SR-DTC-2007-09]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Revise Its Procedures With Respect To Processing of Certain Voluntary 
Events in Its Reorganization Service and Clarifying Legal 
Considerations Set Forth in Its Procedures Relating To Usage of 
Information Obtained by Participants

September 26, 2007.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on June 29, 2007, The 
Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a proposed rule change described 
in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily 
by DTC. DTC filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \2\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) thereunder \3\ so 
that the proposal was effective upon filing with the Commission. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested parties.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change would amend DTC's Procedures with respect 
to the processing of certain voluntary events in its Reorganization 
service and to clarify legal considerations set forth in its Procedures 
relating to usage of information obtained by participants from DTC.

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 these 
statements.\4\
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    \4\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
prepared by DTC.
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(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    DTC's Reorganization service distributes information to 
participants about various reorganization activity and processes 
participants' elections with respect to this activity on their behalf. 
Currently, DTC's participant procedures for its Reorganization Service 
Guide provide several different functions for participants to submit 
instructions to DTC.\5\ DTC has determined that greater efficiency 
would be created if the more automated functions (e.g., DTC's Automated 
Tender Offer Program [''ATOP'']) were available to be utilized for a 
broader range of voluntary reorganization events. For example, the 
processing of conversions would be enhanced if they were directed 
through ATOP, which is currently used for the acceptance and processing 
of other types of voluntary offers such as tender offers and exchanges. 
In addition to conversions, processing of elections to receive cash in 
lieu of fractional shares pursuant to a mandatory reorganization and 
the exercise of put options with a withdrawal privilege would similarly 
be enhanced. Therefore, DTC now proposes to add flexibility to utilize 
the function that provides the most efficient means for receiving and 
processing instructions.
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    \5\ For background information on the DTC's Reorganization 
Service Guide, which replaced applicable Participating Operating 
Procedures relating to the Reorganization service, see Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 44719 (August 17, 2001), 66 FR 44656 
(August 24, 2001) [File No. SR-DTC-2001-01].
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    Initially DTC will add functionality to permit (1) conversion 
instructions, (2) elections to receive cash in lieu of fractional 
shares, and (3) the exercise of put options with withdrawal privileges 
to be processed through ATOP. DTC's Procedures would be amended to 
allow such instructions to be submitted through the Participant Tenders 
Over PTS (``PTOP'') function, which is currently utilized primarily in 
connection with tender offers and exchanges.
    In addition, DTC is revising its Procedures to clarify how 
participants may redistribute information provided to them by DTC. DTC 
compiles security description and event information derived from its 
core processes to support its own and its participants' operations. DTC 
proposes to revise its current procedures to clarify that this 
information may not be redistributed to any other persons who, to a 
Participants's knowledge, use the information as a basis for data 
products or services.
    The proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the 
Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to DTC because 
it would provide for more efficient processing of certain 
reorganization transactions and further clarify participants' 
responsibilities with regard to information provided by DTC thus 
facilitating the safeguarding of securities in DTC's custody or control 
or for which it is responsible.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    DTC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any 
impact or impose any burden on competition.

(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the 
Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments relating to the proposed rule change have not yet 
been solicited or received. DTC will notify

[[Page 56410]]

the Commission of any written comments received by DTC.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant 
to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \6\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) \7\ 
thereunder because the proposed rule effects a change in an existing 
service of DTC that (i) does not adversely affect the safeguarding of 
securities or funds in the custody or control of DTC or for which it is 
responsible and (ii) does not significantly affect the respective 
rights or obligations of DTC or persons using the service. At any time 
within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the 
Commission could have summarily abrogated such rule change if it 
appeared to the Commission that such action was necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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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-2007-09 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-2007-09. 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 Section, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, 
DC 20549, on official business days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The text of 
the proposed rule change is available at DTC, the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, and http://www.dtcc.com/downloads/legal/rule_filings/2007/dtc/2007-09.pdf.
 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-2007-09 and should be submitted on or before October 24, 2007.

    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
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    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-19534 Filed 10-2-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
