[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1523-1524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-495]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-39509; File No. SR-PTC-97-05]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Participants Trust Company; Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Declaring
a Dividend
December 31, 1997.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on December 16, 1997, the
Participants Trust Company (``PTC'') filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change (File No.
SR-PTC-97-05) as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by PTC. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substances
of the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change declares a divided in the amount of $1.05
per share, payable on January 20, 1998, to PTC's stockholders of record
as of December 31, 1997.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, PTC 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. Set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, are the
most significant aspects of such statements.\2\
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\2\ The Commission has modified parts of these statements.
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(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
By letter dated March 27, 1989, from the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (``Board of Governors''), PTC was prohibited
from paying dividends to its stockholders.\3\ By letter dated June 9,
1992, the Board of Governors relieved PTC of the restriction on payment
of dividends with the understanding that dividends, if declared, would
be declared periodically by PTC's Board of Directors and would be paid
at a rate not to exceed the 90-day United States Treasury bill rate in
effect at the time the dividend is declared.\4\
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\3\ Letter from William A. Wiles, Secretary of the Board, Board
of Governors, to Thomas A. Williams, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
(March 27, 1989).
\4\ Letter from Jennifer J. Johnson, Associate Secretary to the
Board, Board of Governors, to Leopold S. Rassnick, Vice President
and General Counsel, PTC (June 9, 1992).
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The Commission approved PTC's practice of paying dividends out of
net profits subject to the limitations imposed by the Board of
Governors and subject to the further requirements that (i) prior to
using excess income from invested principal and interest (``P&I'') to
pay a dividend, PTC's Board of Directors be advised of any amount
related to the investment of P&I which has not been rebated and is part
of the net profits used to declare the dividend and affirmatively
approve the application of such excess P&I income for the dividend and
(ii) PTC file a proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of
the Act each time it declares a dividend.\5\
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\5\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 31746 (January 15,
1993), 58 FR 6319 [File No. SR-PTC-92-15].
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PTC has paid dividends: on January 18, 1993, in the amount of $.52
per share to stockholders of record as of the close of business on
December 31, 1992; \6\ on January 20, 1994, in the amount $.525 per
share to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December
31, 1993; \7\ on January 20, 1995, in the amount of $1.00 per share to
stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31,
1994; \8\ on December 29, 1995, in the amount of $.98 per share to
stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 21,
1995; \9\ and on January 21, 1997, in the amount of $.98 per share to
stockholders as of the close of business on December 31, 1996.\10\
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\6\ Id.
\7\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 33487 (January 18,
1994), 59 FR 3900 [File No. SR-PTC-93-07].
\8\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 35205 (January 9, 1995),
59 FR 3444 [File No. SR-PTC-94-08].
\9\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36790 (January 30, 1996)
61 FR 4507 [File No. SR-PTC-95-09].
\10\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 38280 (February 12,
1997) 62 FR 8072 [File No. SR-PTC-96-09].
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At its meeting on December 11, 1997, PTC's Board of Directors
declared a dividend payable on January 20, 1998, in the amount of $1.05
per share to stockholders of record as of the close of business on
December 31, 1997. This dividend rate does not exceed the 90-
[[Page 1524]]
day United States Treasury bill rate in effect on December 11,
1997.\11\ The dividend does not include any excess income attributable
to investments of P&I as all such P&I related income with respect to
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, will be rebated to participants on
a pro rata basis based on the amount of P&I disbursements to each
participant.
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\11\ The 90-day United States Treasury bill rate, as published
in The Wall Street Journal on December 11, 1997, was 5.23%
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PTC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act \12\ and the rules and regulations
thereunder in that it provides for the equitable allocation of
reasonable fees and other charges among participants.
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).
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(B) Self Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
PTC does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition.
(C) Self Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
PTC has neither solicited nor received comments on this proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(A)(i) of the Act \13\ and subparagraph (e)(1) of Rule 19b-4 \14\
thereunder because the proposed rule change constitutes a stated
policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning,
administration, or enforcement of an existing rule of the self-
regulatory organization. At any time within sixty days of the filing of
such 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.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
\14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e)(1).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.
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, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of PTC. All submissions
should refer to File No. SR-PTC-97-05 and should be submitted by
January 30, 1998.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation,
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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\15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-495 Filed 1-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
