70 FR 208 pgs. 62145-62146 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Eliminate Rule 891 Relating to Transfer Agents
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 208Pages: 62145 - 62146
Docket number: [Release No. 34-52633; File No. SR-Amex-2005-093]
FR document: [FR Doc. E5-5970 Filed 10-27-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-52633; File No. SR-Amex-2005-093]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Eliminate Rule 891 Relating to Transfer Agents
October 18, 2005.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"),1notice is hereby given that on September 19, 2005, American Stock Exchange LLC ("Amex") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule change described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by Amex. Amex has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule, pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act,2which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The purpose of the proposed rule change is to eliminate Amex's Rule 891 relating to obsolete transfer agent requirements.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, Amex 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. Amex has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.3
Footnotes:
3 The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by the Amex.
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
On March 17, 2000, Amex amended its Company Guide to eliminate the qualification of transfer agents, registrars, and bond trustees.4Amex believed that the Commission's rules governing transfer agents made Amex's rules unnecessary or inappropriate. However, at that time Amex did not eliminate transfer agent requirements in its rules.
Footnotes:
4 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 42539 (March 17, 2000); 65 FR 15672 (March 23, 2000); [File No. SR-Amex-99-39].
The purpose of this filing is to conform Amex's rules to the changes made to the Company Guide. Rule 891 of Amex's rules currently lists the requirements to qualify as a transfer agent for securities listed on Amex, which includes among other things a requirement to maintain office facilities that are located south of Chambers Street in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, that allow the issuer to receive and redeliver securities. In light of the amendments to the Company Guide, Amex has determined that Rule 891 is obsolete and no longer in use and proposes to eliminate that Rule 891.
Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act requires the Amex rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Amex believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act5in general and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act6and the rules and regulations thereunder because it makes consistent the requirements of the Company Guide with the requirements in Amex rules and further clarifies the compliance obligations of transfer agents acting for issuers listed on Amex.
Footnotes:
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
6 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(5).
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
Amex does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments relating to the proposed rule change have been solicited or received. Amex will notify the Commission of any written comments received by Amex.
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)(i) of the Act7and Rule 19b-4(f)(1)8thereunder because it constitutes a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule. At any time within sixty days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Footnotes:
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
8 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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-Amex-2005-093 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2005-093. 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. Copies of such filings also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of Amex and on Amex's Web site, http://www.amex.com . 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-Amex-2005-093 and should be submitted on or before November 18, 2005.
Footnotes:
9 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.9
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-5970 Filed 10-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P