[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 817-818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-221]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 31, 2002.
    HSBC Bank plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws 
of England and Wales (``Issuer''), 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 12d2-2(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) (``Securities''), from listing and registration on the New 
York Stock Exchange, Inc. (``NYSE'' or ``Exchange'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(d).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.12d2-2(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Issuer stated in its application that it has complied 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(b) of the Act \3\ and shall not affect 
its obligation to be registered under section 12(g) of the Act.\4\
    The Board of Directors (``Board'') of the Issuer approved a 
resolution on November 27, 2002 to withdraw the Issuer's Securities 
from listing on the NYSE. In making the decision to withdraw its 
Securities from the NYSE, the Issuer states the Securities 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. The Issuer states that it intends to consolidate, 
as far as possible, the listings of all its Securities on a single 
stock exchange and be subject to the ongoing reporting requirements of 
that exchange. In addition, the Issuer states that all the terms and 
conditions of the Securities will remain unchanged. The Issuer states 
that its Securities began trading on the London Stock Exchange on 
December 20, 2002.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(b).
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.


[[Page 818]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority. \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-221 Filed 1-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P