Rule 12a-4
  Exemption of Certain Warrants
from Section 12(a)
a.
When used in this section,
the following terms shall have the meaning indicated unless the context
otherwise requires:
1.
The term "warrant" means any warrant or certificate evidencing
a right to subscribe to or otherwise acquire another security, issued
or unissued.
2.
The term "beneficiary security" means a security to the holders
of which a warrant or right to subscribe to or otherwise acquire another
security is granted.
3.
The term "subject security" means a security which is the subject
of a warrant or right to subscribe to or otherwise acquire such security.
4.
The term "in
the process of admission to dealing", in respect of a specified security
means that
i.
an application has been filed pursuant to Section
12(b)
and (c) of the
Act for the registration of such security on a national securities exchange;
or
ii. the
Commission has granted an application made pursuant to
Section
12(f) of the Act to continue or extend unlisted trading privileges to such
security on a national securities exchange; or
iii. written
notice has been filed with the Commission by a national securities exchange
to the effect that such security has been approved for admission to dealing
as a security exempted from the operation of
Section
12(a) of the Act.
b.
Any issued or unissued
warrant granted to the holders of a security admitted to dealing on a
national securities exchange, shall be exempt from the operation of
Section 12(a) of
the Act to the extent necessary to render lawful the effecting of transactions
therein on any national securities exchange
i. on
which the beneficiary security is admitted to dealing or
ii.
on which the subject
security is admitted to dealing or is in the process of admission to dealing,
subject to the following terms and conditions:
1.
Such warrant by its terms expires within 90 days after the issuance thereof;
2.
A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is in effect
as to such warrant and as to each subject security, or the applicable
terms of any exemption from such registration have been met in respect
to such warrant and each subject security; and
3.
Within five days after the exchange has taken official action to admit
such warrant to dealing, it shall notify the Commission of such action.
c.
Notwithstanding paragraph
(b) of this section, no exemption pursuant to this section shall be
available for transactions in any such warrant on any exchange on which
the beneficiary security is admitted to dealing unless:
1.
Each subject security is admitted to dealing or is in process of admission
to dealing on a national securities exchange; or
2.
There is available from a registration statement and periodic reports
or other data filed by the issuer of the subject security, pursuant to
any act administered by the Commission, information substantially equivalent
to that available with respect to a security listed and registered on
a national securities exchange.
d.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an unissued warrant shall not be exempt pursuant to this section
unless:
1.
Formal or official
announcement has been made by the issuer specifying
i.
the terms upon which such warrant and each subject security is to be issued,
ii.
the date, if any, as of which the security holders entitled to receive
such warrant will be determined,
iii.
the approximate date of the issuance of such warrant, and
iv.
the approximate date of the issuance of each subject security; and,
2.
The members of the exchange are subject to rules which provide that the
performance of the contract to purchase and sell an unissued warrant shall
be conditioned upon the issuance of such warrant.
e.
The Commission may by
order deny or revoke the exemption of a warrant under this section, if,
after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing to the issuer of
such warrant and to the exchange or exchanges on which such warrant is
admitted to dealing as an exempted security, it finds that:
1.
Any of the terms or conditions of this section have not been met with
respect to such exemption, or
2.
At any time during
the period of such exemption transactions have been effected on any such
exchanges in such warrant which
i.
create or induce a false, misleading or artificial appearance of activity,
ii.
unduly or improperly influence the market price, or
iii.
make a price which does not reflect the true state of the market; or
3.
Any other facts exist which make such denial or revocation necessary or
appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
f. If
it appears necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the
protection of investors, the Commission may summarily suspend the exemption
of such warrant pending the determination by the Commission whether such
exemption shall be denied or revoked.
g.
Rule 10b-1 shall be applicable to any warrant
exempted by this section.
Regulatory History |
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SEC Release 34-4447: 15 FR 3450, June 2,
1950
SEC Release 34-4787: 18 FR 128, Jan. 7, 1953
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