[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 4331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1890]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[File No. 1-02521]


Issuer Delisting; Notice of Application of Washington Mutual 
Finance Corporation to Withdraw its 6.875% Senior Notes (due May 15, 
2011) from Listing and Registration on the New York Stock Exchange, 
Inc.

January 23, 2004.
    Washington Mutual Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation 
(``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 6.875% Senior Notes (due May 15, 2011) 
(``Security''), 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 it has met the 
requirements of the NYSE rules governing an issuer's voluntary 
withdrawal of a security from listing and registration.
    The Board of Directors (``Board'') of the Issuer approved a 
resolution on January 21, 2004 to withdraw the Issuer's Security from 
listing on the NYSE. The Board stated that the following reasons 
factored into its decision to withdraw the Issuer's Security from the 
Exchange: (i) The Security has a limited number of registered holders 
(as of January 6, 2004, the Issuer had fewer than 300 holders of 
record); (ii) the Issuer's Security trades infrequently on the NYSE and 
the Issuer does not anticipate that such trading volume might increase 
appreciably; (iii) the costs associated with the continued listing of 
the Security are disproportionately high, given the limited trading 
volume; (iv) the Issuer is not obligated by the terms of the indenture 
under which the Security was issued or by any other documents to 
maintain a listing for the Security on the NYSE or any other exchange; 
(v) the Issuer believes that delisting the Security will not have a 
material impact on the holders of the Security; (vi) the Security is 
not listed on any other exchange; and (vii) the Issuer has been 
informed that a number of underwriters are market makers in the 
Security.
    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\
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(b).
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(g).
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    Any interested person may, on or before February 17, 2004, 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. All comment letters should refer to 
File No. 1-02521. 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).
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Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-1890 Filed 1-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P