[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-33117]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Issuer Delisting; Notice of Application To Withdraw From Listing 
and Registration (HSBC Bank plc, To Withdraw From Listing and 
Registration Its $500M 7.625% Subordinated Notes (Due June 15, 2006) 
and $300M 6.95% Subordinated Notes (Due March 15, 2011)) From the New 
York Stock Exchange, Inc. File No., 1-87110

December 27, 2002.
    HSBC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of 
England and Wales (``Issuer'' or ``Company''), has filed an application 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ 
and Rule 12d2-2d(d) thereunder,\2\ to withdraw its $500m 7.625% 
Subordinated Notes (due June 15, 2006) and $300m 6.95% Subordinated 
Notes (due March 15, 2011) (together, the ``Debt Securities''), from 
listing and registration on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (``NYSE'' 
or ``Exchange'').
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(d).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.12d2-2(d).
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    The Issuer stated in its application that is has complied with all 
applicable laws in effect in the state of California, in which it is 
incorporated, and with the NYSE's rules governing an issuer's voluntary 
withdrawal of a security from listing and registration. The Issuer's 
application relates solely to the Security's withdrawal from listing on 
the NYSE and from registration under section 12(d) of the Act \3\ and 
shall not affect its obligation to be registered under section 12(g) of 
the Act.\4\
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(b).
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(g).
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    The Board of Directors (``Board'') of the Issuer approved a 
resolution on November 27, 2002 to withdraw the Issuer's Debt 
Securities from listing on the NYSE. In making the decision to withdraw 
its Debt Securities from the NYSE, the Board states that it intends to 
withdraw its Debt Securities from listing on the NYSE as they are not 
widely held in the United States and the ongoing burdens associated 
with maintaining the listing are considered onerous and of little 
benefit to investors. In addition, the Board states that it intends to 
consolidate, as far as possible, the listings of all its debt 
securities on a single stock exchange and be subject to the ongoing 
reporting requirements of that exchange. All the terms and conditions 
of the Debt Securities will remain unchanged. The Company intends to 
list the Debt Securities on the London Stock Exchange (the ``LSE'') and 
they are expected to begin trading on December 20, 2002.
    Any interested person may, on or before January 21, 2003 submit by 
letter to the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 
Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609, facts bearing upon 
whether the application has been made in accordance with the rules of 
the NYSE and what terms, if any, should be imposed by the Commission 
for the protection of investors. The Commission, based on the 
information submitted to it, will issue an order granting the 
application after the date mentioned above, unless the Commission 
determines to order a hearing on the matter.
    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant 
to delegated authority.\5\
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    \5\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(1).

Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-33117 Filed 12-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M