66 FR 174 pgs. 46855-46860 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Regarding Listing and Trading CP HOLDRS on the Exchange
Type: NOTICEVolume: 66Number: 174Pages: 46855 - 46860
Docket number: [Release No. 34-44757; File No. SR-NYSE-2001-35]
FR document: [FR Doc. 01-22510 Filed 9-6-01 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-44757; File No. SR-NYSE-2001-35]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Regarding Listing and Trading CP HOLDRS on the Exchange
August 30, 2001.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"),1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on August 30, 2001, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE" or "Exchange") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The NYSE proposes to list under Paragraph 703.19 of the Listed Company Manual (the "Manual")3CP HOLDRS issued pursuant to the deposit agreement among Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., as initial depositor and coordinator ("Merrill Lynch"), BNY Trust Company of Canada, as depositary, the owners and beneficial owners from time to time of CP HOLDES, and depositors from time to time of the underlying securities represented by CP HOLDRS. CP HOLDRS are depositary receipts initially representing ownership in deposited common back stock of Canadian Pacific Limited ("CP") and subsequently representing ownership of the shares of common stock of CP's successor companies that are expected to result from CP's plan of reorganization.4The value of CP HOLDRS directly relates to the value of the underlying securities.5
Footnotes:
3 Footnote 80 of the Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40761 (December 8, 1998) notes that an "other security" listing standard (such as Paragraph 703.19) is not intended to accommodate the listing of securities that raise significant regulatory issues without a specific separate filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 19b-4 under the Act.
4 CP has announced a plan to split into five separate public successor companies-PanCanadian Petroleum Limited, Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Fording Inc., CP it is anticipated that current holders of CP Shares will hold the equity securities of each of these successor companies.
5 The shares of common stock of the successor companies that are held under the deposit agreement at any point in time (together with other securities that may be represented by CP HOLDRS in the future) are collectively referred herein as the "underlying securities."
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange 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 III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
Under Paragraph 703.19 of the Manual, the Exchange may approve for listing securities which can not be readily categorized under the listing criteria for common and preferred stocks, bonds, debentures, and warrants.6The Exchange is now proposing to list CP HOLDRS, as below described, pursuant to Paragraph 703.19 of the Manual.
Footnotes:
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 28217 (July 18, 1990) ("July 18, 1990 Release"), 55 FR 30056 (July 24, 1990); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 29229 (May 23, 1991), 56 FR 24852 (May 31, 1991).
Description of CP HOLDRS. CP HOLDRS are depositary receipts designed by Merrill Lynch to provide current holders of shares of common stock issued by CP ("CP Shares") with a single exchange traded instrument representing shares of common stock of the five successor companies that are expected to result from CP's announced plan of reorganization.7CP HOLDRS have been designed without regard for the value, price performance, volatility or investment merit of CP historically or the successor companies prospectively.
Footnotes:
7 For the detailed description of CP HOLDRS, see the registration statement on Form F-1 filed by Merrill Lynch with the Commission (File No. 333-63924) (the "Registration Statement").
CP HOLDRS will be issued by the CP HOLDRS Deposit Facility created by the deposit agreement among BNY Trust Company of Canada, as depositary, Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., as initial depositor and coordinator, the owners and beneficial owners from time to time of CP HOLDRS, and depositors from time to time of underlying securities. The deposit agreement will govern the terms of CP HOLDRS.8
Footnotes:
8 For the description of the deposit agreement, see the Registration Statement.
Merrill Lynch, as initial depositor, will be deemed the "issuer" of CP HOLDRS for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Act. The depositary will deliver CP HOLDRS issued by the CP HOLDRS Deposit Facility created by the deposit agreement. The CP HOLDRS Deposit Facility created by the deposit agreement is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").
Under the deposit agreement, its plan of reorganization, CP HOLDRS will represent shares of the successor companies resulting from the reorganization of CP and received in exchange for CP Shares.
CP HOLDRS will be delivered by the depositary to depositing holders of CP Shares pursuant to the deposit agreement. Prior to the reorganization of CP, holders of CP Shares must deposit their CP Shares in order to receive CP HOLDRS. One CP HOLDRS will be issued for each CP Share deposited. The depositary will deliver additional CP HOLDRS on a continuous basis to depositing holders of CP Shares (or, following the completion of CP's reorganization, to depositors of the underlying securities).
As discussed more fully herein in " Cancellation of CP HOLDRS, " the deposit agreement entities holders of CP HOLDRS to surrender CP HOLDRS to the depository and receive the underlying securities represented by those CP HOLDRS. Although a beneficial owner of CP Shares will not receive cash in lieu of fractional interests of the successor companies at the time of the reorganization of CP, when a beneficial owner of CP HOLDRS surrenders his or her CP HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities, the depositary will deliver cash to the holder in lieu of fractional interests in the underlying securities based on the most recent closing price of the security ( i.e., the closing price for the common stock of the underlying security on the trading day before the holder surrenders his or her CP HOLDRS). The depositary will reflect that transaction on the books and records of the CP HOLDRS Deposit Facility accordingly. A holder of CP HOLDRS will not have to wait for the depositary to sell the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the proceeds to such holder, but will receive cash in lieu of fractional interests at the time such holder surrenders his or her CP HOLDRS.
CP HOLDRS will present an investor's undivided beneficial ownership of the underlying securities. According to the Registration Statement, owners of CP HOLDRS will have the same rights and privileges as they would have if they owned the underlying securities outside of CP HOLDRS. These include the right to instruct the depositary to vote the underlying securities, to receive any dividends and other distribution on the underlying securities that are declared and paid to the depositary by an issuer of an underlying security, the right to receive reports and other information required to be distributed by the issuer in respect of the underlying securities, the right to pledge CP HOLDRS and the right to surrender CP HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities. Investors will retain the right to receive any reports and communications that the issuers of underlying securities are required to send to beneficial owners of their securities. As such, investors will receive such reports and communications in the same manner as if such investors beneficially owned their underlying securities outside of CP HOLDRS from the broker through which they hold their CP HOLDRS. These reports currently include annual reports, audited financial statements (including management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations) and management proxy circulars.
Stock splits and reverse splits of any of the underlying securities will not affect the weighings of the underlying securities. Rather, the share amounts will be adjusted to reflect such splits so that there is no change in weighting solely due to a split. Weighings will change with the relative price changes of the underlying securities. Securities will not be added other than in accordance with stock distributions or reorganizations events outlined in the prospectus. As a result, if an underlying security distributes shares of stock or if a security is acquired by another company, the new shares will remain in CP HOLDRS so long as they are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, are issued by a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws and are listed for trading on a national securities exchange in Canada and on either a national securities exchange in the United States or the NASDAQ National Market System. ( See " Reconstitution Events " below).
The deposit agreement entitles investors to receive, subject to certain limitations and net of any fees of the depositary, any distributions of cash (including dividends), securities or property made with respect to the underlying securities. The depositary will not distribute a fraction of one cent but will round to the nearest whole cent before distribution. Distributions will be made by the depositary as soon as is practicable following receipt by the depositary of such distributions. There may be a delay (which is expected not to exceed one day) between the time any cash or other distribution is received by the depositary with respect to the underlying securities and the time such cash or other distributions are distributed to holders of CP HOLDRS due to the need for the depositary to process the flow of funds. Events beyond the control of the depositary, such as computer failures and other disruptions of banking systems generally may also result in a delay in distributions to holders of CP HOLDRS. Holders of CP HOLDRS will not be entitled to any interest on any distribution by reason of any delay in distribution by the depositary. If any tax or other governmental charge becomes due with respect to CP HOLDRS or any underlying securities, holders of CP HOLDRS will be responsible for paying that tax or governmental charge. Holders of CP HOLDRS may elect to receive dividends with respect to underlying securities in either Canadian or U.S. dollars by following the procedures established by the broker through which they hold their CP HOLDRS.
The value of CP HOLDRS directly relates to the value of the underlying securities. Although it is possible that CP HOLDRS may trade at either a discount or a premium to the aggregate value of the underlying securities, historically, HOLDRS products currently listed on the American Stock Exchange LLC and the Exchange have traded at values reflecting the aggregate value of the underlying securities represented by CP HOLDRS. Merrill Lynch believes that this trading equivalency results from the ability to cancel HOLDRS products and receive the underlying securities at any time. As such, arbitrageurs can quickly move between HOLDRS and the underlying securities thereby limiting any such premiums or discounts. Based on the foregoing, the Exchange believes that it is reasonable to expect that CP HOLDRS will not trade at a material discount or premium to the underlying securities. The Exchange believes that the arbitrage process-which provides the opportunity to profit from differences in prices of the same or similar securities ( e.g., CP HOLDRS and the underlying securities)-increases the efficiency of the markets and should promote correlative pricing between CP HOLDRS and the underlying securities.
CP HOLDRS will be issued in "book-entry only" form and will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of CDS CO., the nominee of The Canadian Depositary for Securities Limited ("CDS"), and deposited with CDS. U.S. holders of CP HOLDRS will hold their interests in the global certificates indirectly through the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). DTC is, in turn, a participant in CDS. All interests of Canadian and U.S. holders of CP HOLDRS in the global certificates, including those held through DTC, will be subject to the procedures and requirements of CDS. Those interests held through DTC may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Investors will not be able to hold CP HOLDRS in individually registered positions, but rather can only hold these positions through a broker-dealer in street name, except as otherwise required by applicable law or if CDS or DTC advises the depositary that it is no longer willing or able to act as a depositary for CP HOLDRS or the depositary is unable to find a successor.
CP HOLDRS will be issued to investors in certificated form only if: (i) That action is required under applicable law; (ii) CDS or DTC advises BNY Trust Company of Canada or its successor that either CDS or DTC is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities as depositary with respect to CP HOLDRS and BNY Trust Company of Canada or its successor is unable to locate a qualified successor; or (iii) CDS ceases to be a clearing agency or otherwise ceases to be eligible to be a depositary and BNY Trust Company of Canada or its successor is unable to locate a qualified successor.
Investors wishing to receive registered shares may surrender their CP HOLDRS at any time (and pay any applicable fees) and receive the underlying securities represented by their CP HOLDRS, and then follow the procedures established by the issuers of each of the underlying securities to become the registered owner of those securities.
Reconstitution Events. The deposit agreement provides for distribution of the underlying securities as promptly as possible to investors in CP HOLDRS in the circumstances referred to in the Registration Statement as "reconstitution events." The reconstitution events will occur under the following circumstances:
(1) If any class of underlying securities ceases to be outstanding as a result of, or is surrendered by the depositary in connection with, a merger, consolidation or other corporate combination of its issuer, the depositary will distribute any securities received as consideration from the acquiring company unless the securities received are registered under Section 12 of the Act, are issued by a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws, and are listed for trading on a national securities exchange in Canada and on either a national securities exchange in the United States or the NASDAQ National Market System. In that case, the securities received will be treated as additional underlying securities and shall be added to the classes and quantities of securities that must be deposited for issuance of CP HOLDRS.
(2) If any class of underlying securities is delisted from trading on its primary exchange or market in either the United States or Canada and is not listed for trading, as the case may be, on another national securities exchange in Canada or on either a national securities exchange in the United States or the NASDAQ National Market System, within five business days from the date of such delisting, the depositary will, to the extent lawful and feasible, distribute those underlying securities to the owners in proportion to their ownership of CP HOLDRS.
(3) If any class of underlying securities is no longer registered under Section 12 of the Act or if an issuer of underlying securities is no longer a reporting issuer under the Canadian securities laws, the depositary will, to the extent lawful and practicable, distribute the underlying securities of the company to the owners.
(4) If the Commission determines that an issuer of an underlying security is an investment company under the 1940 Act, and the depositary has actual knowledge of such Commission determination, then the depositary will, to the extent lawful and practicable, distribute the underlying securities of such issuer to the owners in proportion to their ownership of CP HOLDRS.
(5) If there is any other change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of any underlying securities, or any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the issuer of any underlying securities in connection with which the depositary receives securities that are not registered under Section 12 of the Act, are not issued by a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws and are not listed on a national securities exchange in Canada and either a national securities exchange in the United States or through the NASDAQ National Market in connection with such event, the depositary will, to the extent lawful and practicable, distribute any securities so received by the depositary to the owners in proportion to their ownership of CP HOLDRS.
Cancellation of CP HOLDRS. The deposit agreement entitles holders of CP HOLDRS to surrender CP HOLDRS to the depositary and receive the underlying securities represented by those CP HOLDRS. The depositary will deliver the underlying securities to surrendering owners of CP HOLDRS as promptly as practicable. Merrill Lynch expects, absent unforeseeable difficulties or difficulties outside of the depositary's control, that the depositary will delivery the underlying securities to surrendering owners of CP HOLDRS within one business day of the business day they surrender their CP HOLDRS. In addition, if any fractional interests in underyling securities are represented by CP HOLDRS at the time of the surrender of CP HOLDRS, the depositary will deliver cash in lieu of such fractional interests, as described herein under " Description of CP HOLDRS. "
Withdrawal of underlying securities upon surrender of CP HOLDRS is also subject to the payment of applicable fees (including the payment to the depository of a cancellation fee of up to $0.10 per CP HOLDR surrendered), taxes or governmental charges, if any. Cancellation fees will be rounded up to the nearest 100 CP HOLDRS cancelled.
Termination of the Depository . The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement by mailing notice of termination to the owners of CP HOLDRS if: (i) The depositary is notified that CP HOLDRS are no longer listed on a national securities exchange in Canada and either a national securities exchange in the United States or the NASDAQ National Market System and CP HOLDRS are not approved for listing on another national securities exchange in Canada and either a national securities exchange in the United States or the NASDAQ National Market System within five business days of their delisting; (ii) 60 days have passed after the depositary has delivered to Merrill Lynch a written notice of its election to resign and no successor has been appropriately appointed; or (iii) 75% of the owners of outstanding CP HOLDRS (other than Merrill Lynch or its affiliates) notify the depositary that they elect to terminate the deposit agreement.
Registration under the Act . To be included in CP HOLDRS, the underlying securities must always be registered under Section 12 of the Act; must be issued by a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws; and each underlying security must be listed for trading on a national securities exchange in Canada and either a national securities exchange in the United States or the NASDAQ National Market System.
CP Shares are currently listed on the Exchange and The Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSE") under the symbol "CP."
Full and complete information regarding CP HOLDRS, including risks associated with investing in CP HOLDRS, is provided in the Registration Statement.
Criteria for Initial and Continued Listing . CP HOLDRS will be subject to the Exchange's listing criteria for equities under Paragraph 703.19 of the Manual.
Merrill Lynch represented to the Exchange that CP HOLDRS will comply with the listing standards for equities set forth in Paragraph 703.19 of the Manual. Specifically:
(i) There will be one million CP HOLDRS outstanding;
(ii) There will be at least 400 holders of CP HOLDRS;
(iii) CP HOLDRS will have a minimum life of one year; and
(iv) CP HOLDRS will have a minimum market value of at least U.S. $4 million.
CP HOLDRS will be subject to the Exchange's continued listing criteria for specialized securities pursuant to Paragraph 802.01D of the Manual. Accordingly, the Exchange will consider suspending and delisting CP HOLDRS from trading under the following circumstances:
(i) If the number of publicly-held CP HOLDRS is less than 100,000;
(ii) If the number of holders of CP HOLDRS is less than 100;
(iii) If CP HOLDRS will have the aggregate market value of less than U.S. $1 million;
(iv) The issuer of any underlying security is no longer subject to the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act; or
(v) If any underlying security no longer trades in a market in which there is last sale reporting.
As noted above, each underlying security will be registered under Section 12 of the Act. Each of the successor companies is expected to be listed on the Exchange and the TSE. As such, information regarding the trading history of these companies will be available to the same extent as any other equity security that is listed on a national securities exchange and registered under Section 12 of the Act. Going forward, trading history on CP HOLDRS will be available on a similar basis as any other exchange-traded security ( e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, ILX).
Because the listing of CP HOLDRS is expected to precede listing of the underlying securities, it is impossible to provide historical information relating to average daily trading volume or the average U.S. dollar value of trading in each underlying security. However, information is available in respect of CP Shares (which, as described above, will initially be represented by CP HOLDRS) indicating that there is a broad and liquid market for CP Shares.9In addition, PanCanadian Petroleum Limited, one of the successor companies to CP, currently is listed on the TSE under the symbol "PCP." Information available from the TSE indicates that there is also a broad and liquid market for PanCanadian Petroleum Limited.10Based on this information, the Exchange anticipates that each of the underlying securities will have an average daily trading volume and U.S. dollar value of shares traded adequate to support listing and trading in CP HOLDRS.
Footnotes:
9 During the sixty-day trading period of June 4, 2001 to August 27, 2001, the average daily trading volume of CP Shares was 767,832 shares (on the NYSE) and 1,393,024 shares (on the TSE), while the average daily U.S. dollar value of CP Shares traded was U.S. $29,661,350.16 (on the NYSE) and U.S. $53,911,421.82 (on the TSE).
10 During the sixty-day trading period of June 1, 2001 to August 27, 2001, the average daily trading volume on the TSE of PCP was 609,249 shares, while the average daily U.s. dollar value of PCP traded was U.S. $17,688,326.17.
The Exchange will, prior to trading CP HOLDRS, distribute a circular to the membership, as described herein under " Disclosure and Dissemination of Information. "
Exchange Rules Applicable to Trading of CP HOLDRS . Since CP HOLDRS will be deemed equity securities for the purpose of Paragraph 703.19 of the Manual, the NYSE's existing equity floor trading rules will apply to the trading of CP HOLDRS. First, pursuant to NYSE Rule 405, the Exchange will impose a duty of due diligence on its members and member firms to learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading CP HOLDRS.11Second, CP HOLDRS will be subject to the equity margin rules of the Exchange. Third, the regular equity trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. will apply to transactions in CP HOLDRS. Fourth, the Exchange's surveillance procedures for CP HOLDRS will be similar to those used for investment company units and will incorporate and rely upon existing NYSE surveillance procedures governing equities.
Footnotes:
11 NYSE Rule 405 requires that every member, member firm or member corporation use due diligence to learn the essential facts relative to every customer and to every order or account accepted.
Disclosure and Dissemination of Information . Merrill Lynch will deliver a prospectus to each holder of CP Shares in connection with the solicitation for deposits of CP Shares in connection with the initial issuance of CP HOLDRS. After the initial issuance of CP HOLDRS, the depositary will deliver a prospectus, and any applicable supplements, to depositors of CP Shares or the shares of the successor companies upon such depositor's surrender of the requisite amount of CP Shares or shares of the successor companies to create CP HOLDRS. The Exchange will note in its circular to membership (as described below) that the Commission staff takes the position that under the Securities Act of 1933 and rules thereunder,12member organizations that acquire CP HOLDRS from the depositary for resale to customers must deliver a prospectus to such customers.
Footnotes:
12 See 15 U.S.C. 77e; 17 CFR 230.174.
Pursuant to Paragraph 703.19, the Exchange will, prior to trading CP HOLDRS, distribute a circular to the membership providing guidance with regard to member firm compliance responsibilities (including suitability recommendations) with handling transactions in CP HOLDRS and highlighting the unique characteristics and risks of CP HOLDRS. In addition, the circular will advise members of Exchange about policies relating to trading halts in CP HOLDRS. Specifically, the circular will inform that the Exchange may consider factors such as the extent to which trading is not occurring in underlying security(s) and whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present.
Based on the foregoing, the Exchange finds it appropriate to approve CP HOLDRS for listing and trading on the Exchange.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)13of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),14in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
Footnotes:
13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any inappropriate burden on competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
III. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consisted with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 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 at the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-NYSE-2001-35 and should be submitted by September 28, 2001.
IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change
A. Generally
The Commission finds that the proposed rule change in consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange, and in particular, with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5).15Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposal to list and trade CP HOLDRS will provide investors with a convenient and less expensive way of participating in the securities markets. The Exchange's proposal should advance the public interest by providing investors with increased flexibility in satisfying their investment needs by providing current holders of CP Shares with a single exchange traded instrument representing shares of common stock of the five successor companies that are expected to result from CP's announced plan of reorganization, and allowing subsequent investors to purchase and sell such instruments in the secondary market. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the Exchange's proposal will facilitate transactions in securities, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.16
Footnotes:
15 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
16 In approving this rule, the Commission notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
The Commission believes that CP HOLDRS will provide investors with an alternative to trading, on an individual basis, shares of common stock of the five successor companies that are expected to result from CP's announced plan of reorganization, and will give investors the ability to trade a single exchange traded instrument representing these companies' common stock continuously throughout the business day in secondary market transactions at negotiated prices. CP HOLDRS will allow investors to: (i) Respond quickly to changes in the overall securities markets generally and for the industry represented by the underlying securities; (ii) trade, at a price disseminated on a continuous basis, a single security representing five securities that the investor owns beneficially; (iii) engage in hedging strategies similar to those used by institutional investors; (iv) reduce transaction costs for trading a portfolio of securities; and (v) retain beneficial ownership of the securities underlying the CP HOLDR.
Although CP HOLDRS are not leveraged instruments, and, therefore, do not possess any of the attributes of stock index options, their prices will be derived from and based upon the value of the underlying securities. Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of CP HOLDRS is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for CP HOLDRS is based upon the aggregate value of the five underlying securities represented by CP HOLDRS. Nevertheless, the Commission believes that the unique nature of CP HOLDRS, related to, among other things, the lack of historical information relating to average daily trading volume or the average U.S. dollar value of trading in each underlying security, raises, certain product design, disclosure, trading, and other issues that must be addressed.
B. Characteristics of CP HOLDRS
The Exchange has represented that each underlying security will be registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. Each of the successor companies is expected to be listed on the Exchange and the TSE. Consequently, information regarding the trading history of these companies will be available to the same extent as any other equity security that is listed on a national securities exchange and registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and, going forward, trading history on CP HOLDRS will be available on a similar basis as any other exchange-traded security ( e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, ILX).
Additionally, the Exchange has represented and the Commission notes that, because the listing of CP HOLDRS is expected to precede listing of the underlying securities, it is impossible to provide historical information relating to average daily trading volume or the average U.S. dollar value of trading in each underlying security. The available information regarding CP Shares (which is the only security that will initially be represented by CP HOLDRS) shows that there is a broad and liquid market for CP Shares.17In addition, the Exchange has highlighted the breadth and liquidity of the market for Pan Canadian Petroleum Limited, one of the successor companies to CP, currently is listed on the TSE under the symbol "PCP."18Based on this information and the Exchange's assertion that it anticipates that each of the underlying securities will have an average daily trading volume and U.S. dollar value of shares traded adequate to support listing and trading in CP HOLDRS, the Commission believes that this information about the liquidity of the CP Shares market is a sufficient proxy for the expected liquidity of the future market for CP HOLDRS.
Footnotes:
17 See supra, footnote 9.
18 See supra, footnote 10.
As represented by the Exchange above, CP HOLDRS will represent an investor's undivided beneficial ownership of the underlying securities. Owners of CP HOLDRS will have the same rights and privileges as they would have if they owned the underlying securities outside of CP HOLDRS. These include the right to instruct the depositary to vote the underlying securities, to receive any dividends and other distributions on the underlying securities that are declared and paid to the depositary by an issuer of an underlying security, the right to receive reports and other information distributed by the issuer in respect of the underlying securities, the right to pledge CP HOLDRS and the right to surrender CP HOLDRS to receive the underlying securities. As beneficial holders of the underlying securities, investors will receive reports and communications, including management proxy circulars, in the same manner as if such investors beneficially owned their underlying securities outside of CP HOLDRS from the broker through which they hold their CP HOLDRS. CP HOLDRS also are subject to certain reconstitution events that are set out in the depositary agreement.
C. Listing and Trading of CP HOLDRS
The Commission finds that the NYSE's proposal contains adequate rules and procedures to govern the trading of CP HOLDRS. CP HOLDRS are equity securities that will be subject to the full panoply of NYSE rules governing the trading of equity securities on the NYSE, including, among others, rules governing the priority, parity and precedence of orders, responsibilities of the specialist, account opening and customer suitability requirements, and the election of a stop or limit order.
In addition, the NYSE has developed specific listing and delisting criteria for CP HOLDRS that will help to ensure that a minimum level of liquidity will exist for CP HOLDRS to allow for the maintenance of fair and orderly markets. The delisting criteria also allows the NYSE to consider the suspension of trading and the delisting of a CP HOLDR if an event occurred that made further dealings in such securities inadvisable. This will give the NYSE flexibility to delist CP HOLDRS if circumstances warrant such action.
Moreover, in approving this approval, the Commission notes the Exchange's belief that CP HOLDRS will not trade at a material discount or premium in relation to the overall value of the trusts' assets because of potential arbitrage opportunities. The Exchange represents that the potential for arbitrage should keep the market price of a CP HOLDR comparable to the overall value of the deposited securities.
Finally, the NYSE has developed surveillance procedures for CP HOLDRS that incorporate and rely upon existing NYSE surveillance procedures governing equities. The Commission believes that these surveillance procedures are adequate to address concerns associated with listing and CP HOLDRS. Accordingly, the Commission believes that the rules governing the trading of CP HOLDRS provide adequate safeguards to prevent manipulative acts and practices and to protect investors and the public interest.
D. Disclosure and Dissemination of Information
The Commission believes that the Exchange's proposal will ensure that investors have information that will allow them to be adequately apprised of the terms, characteristics, and risks of trading CP HOLDRS. The prospectus will address the special characteristics of CP HOLDRS, including a statement regarding its redeemability and method of creation. The Commission notes that all original investors in CP HOLDRS who obtain CP HOLDRS by surrendering their CP Shares will receive a prospectus. Finally, the Securities Act of 1933 and rules thereunder19require all broker-dealers who acquire CP HOLDRS from the depositary for resale to customers to deliver a prospectus to such customers.
Footnotes:
19 See supra, footnote 12.
The Commission also notes that upon the initial listing of CP HOLDRS, the Exchange will issue a circular to its members explaining the unique characteristics and risks of this type of security. The circular also will note the Exchange members' prospectus delivery requirements, and highlight the characteristics of purchases in CP HOLDRS. The circular also will inform members of Exchange policies regarding trading halts in CP HOLDRS.
E. Scope of the Commission's Order
The Commission is approving in general the NYSE's proposed listing standards for CP HOLDRS and, specifically, the listing of the CP HOLDRS described herein. The Exchange has represented that the unique nature of its proposed CP HOLDRS product makes the promulgation of generic listing standards impractical. The Commission specifically notes that CP HOLDRS arise from a corporate reorganization, that there is a broad and liquid market for CP shares, and that the five underlying securities that result from this corporate reorganization are registered under Section 12 of the Act. Consequently, the Exchange has incorporated the listing standards for equities set forth in Paragraph 703.19 of the Manual, as well as the continued listing criteria for specialized securities pursuant to Paragraph 802.01D of the Manual, as the appropriate listing standards for CP HOLDRS. Although the Commission finds that these standards satisfy Section 6(b)(5) of the Act with respect to CP HOLDRS, the Commission specifically notes that this approval order, which incorporates the listing standards for equities in Paragraph 703.19, is limited to this unique product. Other similarly structured products will require separate review by the Commission prior to being traded on the Exchange.
F. Accelerated Approval
The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act.20The Commission does not believe that the proposed rule change raises novel regulatory issues that were not addressed in the NYSE filing. Accordingly, the Commission believes it is appropriate to permit investors to benefit from the flexibility and convenience afforded by this new instrument by listing and trading them as soon as possible. The Commission notes that the Exchange has indicated that it will have adequate surveillance procedures in place to monitor the trading of this new HOLDRS product. Accordingly, the Commission finds that there is good cause, consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,21to approve the proposal on an accelerated basis.
Footnotes:
20 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
21 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,22that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSE-2001-35) is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.
Footnotes:
22 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.23
Footnotes:
23 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-22510 Filed 9-6-01 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M