**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549**

**____**

**FORM** **10-K**

**FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS**

**PURSUANT TO SECTIONS** **13 OR 15(d) OF THE**

**SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934**

(Mark One)

|   | [ X ] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
|--------|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

or

|   | [     ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
|--------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

For the transition period from ________ to ________

Commission File Number of issuing entity: 001-33017

STRATSSM Trust For News Corporation Securities, Series 2006-4            ______________________________________________________            (Exact name of issuing entity as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number of depositor and sponsor: 333-131889, 001-31818

Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc.            ______________________________________________________            (Exact name of depositor and sponsor as specified in its charter)

| Delaware                                                      | 52-2316339                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporationor organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|                                                          |                                 |
|                                                          |                                 |
| 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina           | 28288                                |
| (Address of principal executive offices)                      | (Zip Code)                           |
|                                                          |                                 |

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 715-8400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

| Title of each class                  | Name of Registered exchange on which registered |
|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|                                 |                                            |
| STRATSSM Certificates, Series 2006-4 | New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)    |

 

 

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| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: | None |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|------|

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes [    ]  No [ X ]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes [    ]  No [ X ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) Has filed all reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [ X ]  No [    ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.

Not applicable.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See the definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

Large accelerated filer  [  ]                  Accelerated filer   [  ]            Non-accelerated filer  [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes [    ]  No [ X ]

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter:

The registrant has no voting stock or class of common stock that is held by non-affiliates.

**DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE**

The following documents are incorporated by reference into Part IV of this Annual Report: The distribution reports to security holders filed on Form 10-D during the fiscal year, in lieu of reports on Form 10-Q, which include the reports filed on Form 10-D listed in Item 15(a) hereto.

**Introductory Note**

Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc. (the “Depositor”) is the Depositor in respect of the STRATSSM Trust For News Corporation Securities, Series 2006-4 (the “Trust”), a common law trust formed pursuant to the Base Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2003, between the Depositor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”),            as supplemented by the STRATSSM Certificates Series Supplement 2006-4 (the “Series Supplement”) dated as of September 8, 2006 in respect of the Trust. The Trust’s assets consist solely of notes issued by News Corporation. The Certificates do not represent obligations of or interests in the Depositor or the Trustee.

Pursuant to staff administrative positions established in Corporate Asset Backed Corporation (available August 9, 1995), the Trust is not required to respond to various items of Form 10-K. Such items are designated herein as “Not Applicable.” Distribution reports detailing receipts and distributions by the Trust are filed after each distribution date on Form 10-D in lieu of reports            on Form 10-Q.

 

 

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News Corporation, the issuer of the underlying securities, is subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). For information on News Corporation please see its periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under its Exchange Act file number, 001-32352. The Commission            maintains a site on the World Wide Web at “http://www.sec.gov” at which users can view and download copies of reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, or “EDGAR.” Periodic and current reports and other information required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act by News Corporation may be accessed on this site. You can request copies of these            documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials filed with the Commission at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the SEC's public reference rooms. In addition, such            reports and other information can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Neither Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc. nor the Trustee has participated in the preparation of such reporting documents, or made any due diligence investigation with respect to the information provided therein. Neither Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc. nor the Trustee has verified the accuracy or completeness of such documents or            reports. There can be no assurance that events affecting the issuer of the underlying securities or the underlying securities themselves have not occurred or have not yet been publicly disclosed which would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described above.

 

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**PART I**

**The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:**

Item 1. Business.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Item 2. Properties.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not Applicable

**PART II**

**The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:**

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

None

**PART III**

**The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:**

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stock Matters.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

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**SUBSTITUTE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL INSTRUCTION J(2) TO FORM 10-K.**

 

| **Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB.**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | **Significant Obligors of Pool Assets (Financial Information).**

                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| The primary asset of the issuing entity is the underlying securities, $33,000,000 of 7.90% corporate bonds due 2095 issued by News America Holdings Incorporated (now known as News America Inc.) and unconditionally guaranteed by The News Corporation Limited (now known as News Corporation) and certain of its subsidiaries. The issuer of the underlying                            securities, therefore, may be considered a significant obligor. The issuer of the underlying securities is subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). For information on the issuer of the underlying securities please see its periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under its Exchange Act file number, 001-32352.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB.**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | **Credit Enhancement and Other Support, Except for Certain Derivatives Instruments (Information Regarding Significant Enhancement Providers Financial Information).**

  |
| Based on the standards set forth in Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB, no information is required in response to this Item.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB.**

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | **Certain Derivatives Instruments                             (Financial Information).**                                                                                      |
|  

Based on the standards set forth in Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB, no information is required in response to this Item.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| **Item 1117 of Regulation AB.**

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | **Legal Proceedings.**                                                                                                                                                        |
| Based on the standards set forth in Item 1117 of Regulation AB no information is required in response to this Item.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Item 1119 of Regulation AB.**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.**

                                                                                                   |
| Based on the standards set forth in Item 1119 of Regulation AB, no information is required in response to this Item.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Item 1122 of Regulation AB.**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **Compliance with Applicable Servicing Criteria**

                                                                                                                      |
| U.S. Bank Trust National Association has been identified by the registrant as a party participating in the servicing function with respect to the pool assets held by STRATSSM Trust For News Corporation Securities, Series 2006-4. U.S. Bank Trust National Association has completed a report on an assessment of compliance with the servicing                            criteria applicable (the “Report on Assessment”) as of March 2, 2009 and for a period beginning January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008, which Report on Assessment is attached as an exhibit to this Form 10-K. In addition, U.S. Bank Trust National Association has provided an attestation report (the “Attestation Report”) by a registered independent public accounting firm regarding its related Report on Assessment. The Attestation                            Report is attached as an exhibit to this Form 10-K. Neither the Report on Assessment or the related Attestation Report has identified any material instances of noncompliance with the servicing criteria described in the Report on Assessment as being applicable to U.S. Bank Trust National Association.

  |
| **Item 1123 of Regulation AB.**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **Servicer Compliance Statement.**

                                                                                                                                     |
| U.S. Bank Trust National Association has provided a statement of compliance (the “Compliance Statement”) for the period from and including January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008, which has been signed by an authorized officer of U.S. Bank Trust National Association. The Compliance Statement of U.S. Bank Trust National                            Association is attached as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

 

 

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**PART IV**

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

|   | (a) | The following documents have been filed as part of this report. |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | 1. | Trustee’s Distribution Statements documented on Form 10-D of STRATSSM Trust For News Corporation Securities, Series 2006-4 to the certificateholders for the period from January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008 have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are hereby incorporated by reference. Filing                            dates are listed below: |
|--------|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Trust Description                                             | Distribution Date | Filed on         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|------------------|
| STRATSSM Trust For News Corporation Securities, Series 2006-4 | June 1, 2008      | June 16, 2008    |
| STRATSSM Trust For News Corporation Securities, Series 2006-4 | December 1, 2008  | December 4, 2008 |

 

|   | 2. | None |
|--------|----|------|

|   | 3. | Exhibits: |
|--------|----|-----------|

31.1 – Certification by Director of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

33.1 – Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria for U.S. Bank Trust National Association for the period from and including January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008.

34.1 – Attestation Report of Ernst & Young LLP on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria relating to U.S. Bank Trust National Association.

 

35.1 – Servicer Compliance Statement of U.S. Bank Trust National Association for the period from and including January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008.

 

99.1 - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 10-D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by reference.

99.2 - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 10-D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by reference.

|   | (b) | See Item 15(a) above. |
|--------|-----|----------------------------|

|   | (c) | Not Applicable. |
|--------|-----|-----------------|

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc.,

as Depositor for the Trust

By:    /s/ James Wang                                                          Name:  James Wang            Title:    Director            (senior officer in charge of the securitizations of the depositor)

Dated: March 23, 2009

 

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**EXHIBIT INDEX**

| Exhibit Number in this Form 10-K | Description of Exhibits                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 31.1                                  | Certification by Director of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                                         |
| 33.1                                  | Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria for U.S. Bank Trust National Association for the period from and including January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008.          |
| 34.1                                  | Attestation Report of Ernst & Young LLP on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria relating to U.S. Bank Trust National Association.                                                       |
| 35.1                                  | Servicer Compliance Statement of U.S. Bank Trust National Association for the period from and including January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2008.                                        |
| 99.1                                  | Registrant’s Current Report on Form 10-D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by reference.    |
| 99.2                                  | Registrant’s Current Report on Form 10-D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by reference. |

 

 

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