# DATE:

 January 14, 2000.

                        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) [1]                                                  and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2]                                                  notice is hereby given that on June 10, 1999, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Amex. The Exchange filed Amendments No. 1 [3]                                                  and No. 2 [4]                                                  to the proposed rule change on June 14, 1999 and December 1, 1999, respectively. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.                    

## I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

                    The Exchange proposes to amend Section 106 of the                     *Amex Company Guide*                     to provide for the trading of narrow-based stock index warrants pursuant to new Rule 19b-4(e) [5]                                          under the Act.                

## II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Propose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 

In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 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. The Amex has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

### A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

####                     1.                     *Purpose*

                    The Exchange proposes to amend Section 106 of the                     *Amex Company Guide*                     to provide for the trading of stock index industry group warrants [6]                                          pursuant to new Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act. Section 106 of the                     *Amex Company Guide*                     currently authorizes the Exchange to trade warrants on a stock index industry group pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act provided that the index meets the generic criteria set forth in Commentary .02 to Amex Rule 901C.[7]                                          As discussed in the Commission release adopting new Rule 19b-4(e), however, the Exchange would no longer be required to submit, pursuant to new Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, a proposed rule change to trade warrants on a new stock index industry group provided the index meets the generic criteria set forth in Commentary .02 to Amex Rule 901C.                

                    In its release adopting new Rule 19b-4(e), the Commission noted that in order to rely on the amendment and not submit filings pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) for warrants that satisfy the criteria of Rule 901C, a self-regulatory organization would be required to submit a proposed rule change for Commission approval to eliminate the Section 19(b)(3)(A) rule filing                     Start Printed Page 3751                    requirement from its existing rules.[8]                                          Accordingly, to enable the Exchange to use new Rule 19b-4(e), the Exchange proposes to eliminate the Section 19(b)(3)(A) rule filing requirement from Section 106 of the                     *Amex Company Guide*                    .[9]                                          Amex Rule 901C will remain unchanged. The Exchange represents that the use of new rule 19b-4(e) will be in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the order approving the Rule.                

####                     2.                     *Statutory Basis*

                    The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act [10]                                          in general and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) [11]                                          in particular in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.                

### B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange 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

The Exchange did not solicit or receive any written comments with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

                    Within 35 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 90 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 the Exchange 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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 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 Room. Copies of the filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Amex. All submissions should refer to the File No. SR-Amex-99-21 and should be submitted by February 14, 2000.

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[12] 

Jonathan G. Katz, 

Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                                 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                        
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2.                                 17 CFR 240.19b-4.                        
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3.                                 Letter from Scott Van Hatten, Amex, to Richard Strasser, Assistant Director, Division of Market Regulation (“Division”), Commission, dated June 11, 1999 (“Amendment No. 1”). The Exchange originally filed the proposed rule change under Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act. Pursuant to Commission staff's request, the Exchange refiled the proposed rule change under Section 19(b)(2) of the Act.                        
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4.                                 Letter from Scott Van Hatten, Amex, to Nancy Sanow, Assistant Director, Division, Commission, dated December 1, 1999 (“Amendment No. 2”). Amendment No. 2 states that the exchange will issue a circular prior to trading any new index warrant pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) to (i) highlight specific risks associated with warrants on new indexes and remind members that index warrants are direct obligations of the issuer, which are not subject to a clearing house guarantee, (ii) clarify that index warrants may only be sold to accounts approved for standardized options trading, and (iii) clarify that the Exchange's options suitability standards apply to index warrants. Amendment No. 2 also states that Amex Rules 1100 through 1110, which govern issuer eligibility, margin requirements, discretionary accounts, supervision of accounts, position and exercise limits, reportable positions, and trading halts and suspensions, will apply to index warrants. Finally, Amendment No. 2 states that the Exchange's enhanced surveillance procedures will continue to apply to surveillance of index warrants traded pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e).                        
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5.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40761 (Dec. 8, 1998), 63 FR 70952 (Dec. 22, 1998).                    
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6.                             Amex Rule 900C defines “Stock Index Industry Group” as a stock index group relating to a stock index which reflects representative stock market values or prices of a particular industry or related industries (also referred to as a “narrow based index”).                    
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7.                             The Commission granted approval to list and trade narrow-based index warrants pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 37007 (March 21, 1996), 61 FR 14165 (March 29, 1996).                    
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8.                                                     *See supra*                         n. 5, at n. 89.                    
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9.                             The Commission approved a similar change to Amex Rule 901C to permit the trading of narrow-based index options pursuant to new Rule 19-4(e).                         *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 41091 (Feb. 23, 1999), 64 FR 10515 (March 4, 1999).                    
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10.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                    
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11.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
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12.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 00-1574 Filed 1-21-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M