[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33124-33125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15600]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-41525; File No. SR-DTC-99-14]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to the 
Establishment of an Automated Foreign Tax Reclaim Service

June 14, 1999.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on May 27, 1999, The 
Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change (File No. 
SR-DTC-99-14) as described in Items I, II, and III below, which items 
have been prepared primarily by DTC. The Commission is publishing this 
notice to solicit comments 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 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    Under the proposed rule change, DTC will establish an automated 
foreign tax reclaim service called ``TaxReclaim.''

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 such 
statements.\2\
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    \2\ 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 currently offers two foreign tax withholding services. Under 
DTC's Elective Dividend Service, participants can certify securities 
positions that are entitled to reduced withholdings under international 
tax treaties or source country law in order to obtain tax relief at 
source or by accelerated tax refunds. DTC also provides a foreign tax 
information database called ``TAXI'' which provides withholding tax 
information on foreign securities.
    Under the proposed rule change, DTC will expand its international 
tax services with the addition of TaxReclaim. TaxReclaim will be an 
interactive tax reclaim preparation facility that will assist 
participants in preparing foreign jurisdictions' tax reclaim forms that 
are required to reclaim tax withheld on income payments on foreign 
securities. Participants will access TaxReclaim through DTC's 
participant terminal system. Participants will input data particular to 
the beneficial owner, foreign security, and payment details as required 
by the country of issuance. DTC will process the information in a 
software application that includes the reclaim form and tax information 
template and will transmit back to the participant using file transfer 
protocol a print file containing the completed tax reclaim form, 
reclaim calculation, and information on additional filing requirements 
and filing instructions. In a subsequent phase, TaxReclaim may be 
further automated and made accessible to participants over DTC's 
computer to computer facility.
    DTC will initiate the TaxReclaim service as a pilot program with a 
small group of participant users. It is anticipated that the initial 
pilot program will begin in July 1999 with approximately 6 to 15 
participants. No fees will be charged during the pilot phase. DTC 
anticipates concluding the pilot program phase and introducing 
TaxReclaim as a regular DTC service in August 1999. When TaxReclaim 
becomes a regular DTC service, the fee

[[Page 33125]]

for each reclaim transaction on a printed reclaim form will be $10. A 
reclaim transaction will consist of the reclaim calculation applicable 
to one security, one beneficial owner, and one income payment date. For 
reclaim transactions that are not completed because the reclaimable 
amount falls below a threshold value established by the participant, 
the fee will be $2 per reclaim transaction. DTC will post a disclaimer 
of liability in connection with use of the TaxReclaim service.
    DTC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with 
section 17A of the Act \3\ and the rules and regulations thereunder 
because it facilitates return of payments withheld by foreign 
jurisdiction with respect to distributions made on foreign securities 
and thereby protects investor entitlements to such payments.
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
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(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    DTC 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

    DTC has not solicited nor received written comments on the proposed 
rule change. However, the introduction of a foreign tax reclaim service 
was discussed with DTC's Participant Advisory Group on Foreign Tax 
Services at meetings of the group held on September 28, 1998, February 
15, 1999, and April 23, 1999. The Participant Advisory Group on Foreign 
Tax Services consists of representatives of 19 participants. A 
prototype of the TaxReclaim Service was demonstrated at the meeting of 
the Participant Advisory Group on Foreign Tax Services held on April 
23, 1999, and was favorably received.

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

    Within thirty-five days of the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the 
Commission may designate up to ninety days of such date if it finds 
such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so 
finding or (ii) as to which DTC consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve such proposed rule change or
    (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

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. 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 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 also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of DTC. All submissions 
should refer to File No. SR-DTC-99-14 and should be submitted by July 
12, 1999.

    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\4\
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    \4\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-15600 Filed 6-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M