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FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK /• ' t ;V August 1 8 , 1978 MISSING, LOST, COUNTERFEIT, OR STOLEN SECURITIES Request for Comments on SEC Program To T h e C h ie f E x e c u tiv e O ffic e r s o f A ll State Member B a n k s in T he S ec o n d F e d e r a l R e s e r v e D is tric t: -Ln our C ir c u la r Fo. 8 1L 3 , dated. J u l y 1 1 , 1977» ve in d ic a te d th a t th e S e c u r it i e s and Exchange Commission had adopted r e g u la t io n s —R ule 1 7 f - l — to m onitor m is s in g , l o s t , c o u n t e r f e it , or s t o le n s e c u r i t i e s . These r e g u la t io n s r e q u ir e a l l S t a t e member b a n k s, among o t h e r s , to make c e r t a in re p o r ts and in q u ir ie s in v o lv in g th e s e s e c u r i t i e s . As in d ic a te d in th e e n clo se d F e d e ra l R e g is t e r n o t ic e , the Commission i s now s o l i c i t i n g p u b lic comment on th e p r o v is io n s and o t e r a t io n o f th e Lost and S to le n S e c u r it i e s Program and on th e r e d e s ig n a tio n o f the S e c u r it i e s in fo rm a tio n C en ter, m e . to m ain tain and o p e ra te th e d ata b ase o f re p o rte d m is s in g , l o s t , c o u n t e r f e it , o r s t o le n s e c u r i t i e s f o r an a d d it io n a l s p e c if i e d p e r io d . Such comments must be r e c e iv e d by th e Commission on or b e fo r e September £ , 19 7 8 . For f u r t h e r in fo rm atio n re g a rd in g t h i s m a tte r you may c o n ta ct th e S e c u r it i e s and Exchange Commission, th e ad d ress o f which i s in clu d e d in th e e n clo sed F e d e ra l R e g is t e r n o tic e . Paul A. V olcker . President. PROPOSED RULES ments by the staff of the Commission, the Commission may propose amend ments to rule 17f-l (17 CFR 240.17f-l) reflecting the views of interested per sons submitted in response to this re lease. BACKGROUND [8 0 1 0 -0 1 ] SECDR!T!ES AM D EXCH AN G E C O M M ISSIO N [17 CFR PoU** 240, 24 !, am* 249 ) [Release No. 34-15015; File No. S7-611] LOST AMO STOLEN SECURITIES Advance Notice of intent To Engage in KuieetaMng AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission. ACTION: Advance notiee of intent to engage in rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Commission re quests comment on the provisions and operation of the Lost and Stolen Secu rities Program and on the redesigna tion of the Securities Information Center. Inc. ("SIC") to maintain and operate the data base of reported missing, lost, counterfeit or stolen se curities. In initially implementing the Lost and Stolen Securities Program, the Commission provided that its first year of operation would be conducted on a pilot basis and that the designa tion of SIC would terminate at the end of the pilot year. Comments are solicited in order that the Commission may assess whether modifications to the Lost and Stolen Securities Pro gram may be appropriate and whether a redesignation of SIC should be made for an additional specified term. DATE: Comments must be received on or before September 8, 1978. ADDRESS: Persons wishing to submit written views, data, and comments should file three copies thereof with George A. Fitzsimmons, Secretary, Se curities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549. All submis sions should refer to File No. S7-611 and will be available for public inspec tion. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory C. Yadley, Division of Market Regulation, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, telephone 202-376-8129. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to facilitate conversion of the pilot phase of the Lost and Stolen Se curities Program (the "Program") to a more permanent basis, the Commis sion has determined that it is appro priate at this time to solicit comments concerning the provisions and oper. ation of the Program. Subsequent to the review and analysis of these com Problems relating to missing, lost, counterfeit or stolen securities were outlined by the Commission, in 1970 * and were subsequently the subject of a series of Congressional hearings. =* Im plementation of a system to receive re ports and inquiries concerning miss ing, lost, counterfeit and stolen securi ties was recommended by members of Congress, the industry, and law en forcement agencies. To accomplish this objective, the Securities Acts Amendments of 1975 * introduced new section 17(f)(1) into the Securities Ex change Act of 1934 (the "Act") and provided that certain financial institu tions *shall make reports and inquiries with respect to missing, lost, counter feit or stolen securities in accordance with rules promulgated by the Com mission. The section also provides that reports and inquiries shall be made to the "Commission or other person des ignated by the Commission" and that reasonable fees may be charged for the processing of such data. On December 6, 1976, the Commis sion adopted $ 240.17f-l establishing reporting and inquiry requirements with respect to missing, lost, counter feit or stolen securities.* On August 5. 1977, the final, amended version of the section was published,' and on Janu' Study of Unsafe and Unsound Practices of Brokers and Dealers. Report and Recom mendations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (pursuant to section 11(h) of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970), December 1970. *Organized Crime—Stolen Securities, hearings before the Permanent Subcommit tee on Investigations. Senate Committee on Government Operations. 92d Cong.. 1st Sess. (1971); 93d Cong., 1st Sess. (1973); 93d Cong. 2d Sess. (1974). 'Pub. L. 94-29 (June 4. 1975). 'The institutions subject to section 17(f)(1) are enumerated in the statute as follows: Every national securities excnange, memoer thereof, registered securities associ ation, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, registered transfer agent, registered clearing agency. participant therein, member of the Federal Reserve System, and bank wnose deposits are insured by the Fed eral Deposit Insurance Corporation. *Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13053. 41 FR 54923 (December 6. 1976). Cer tain technical amendments to the section were made by the Commission in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13280. 42 FR 11829 (March 1, 1977). Further amendments regarding the role of transfer agents in the program were proposed in Securities Ex change Act Release No. 13281, 42 FR 11844 (March 1, 1977) and incorporated into the rule in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13832, 42 FR 41022 (August 12. 1977). 'Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13832, 42 FR 41022 (August 12. 1977). FEDERAL REGISTER. VOL 43, NO. !52—MONDAY, AUGUST 7, !97$ PROPOSED RULES ary 2, 1978, the computerized system cation of the section with respect to for the processing of reports and in such institutions. Similarly, It may be appropriate to broaden the scope of quiries became fully operational. In order to monitor the effectiveness the section to include additional of §240.17f-l and the system designed classes of financial institutions or to to carry out its provisions, the Com impose greater requirements on cer mission determined that the lost and tain classes or subclasses oLJnstituThe Commission invites com stolen securities program should be in tions. on these issues and seeks assist stituted initially on a pilot basis, ments ance in identifying appropriate crite through December 31, 1978. Further ria for making such determinations. more, the Commission determined 2. -Securities encompassed by that it would be appropriate to desig §240.4Zf-4. section 17(f)(1) nate another person, as provided for in of the act Although applies to ail securities, the statute, to receive and process the under § 240.17f-l, securities issues for reports and inquiries for which the which CUSIP numbers not been Commission is the appropriate instru assigned are exempted have from the re mentality, as defined by the section* porting and inquiry provisions of the at least for purposes of the pilot pro Comments are requested gram. Accordingly, the Commission so program. concerning the appropriateness of this licited pians from persons interested - exemption, its permanent incorpora in acting as the Commission's desig tion into the and whether nee, and, after analysis of the submis other types of section, securities should be sions, designated the Securities Infor exempted. mation Center, Inc. ("SIC") to act on 3. Appropriate /nsfrumenfcZifies. its behalf * through the pilot year Section 240.17f-l specifies that reports ending December 31, 1978. and inquiries shall be made to the "ap propriate instrumentality." For securi ties issued by the U.S. Government, an Inasmuch as the pilot year and SIC's agency or instrumentality of the U.S. term of designation will expire on De Government, the International Bank cember 31, 1978, the Commission solic for Reconstruction and Development, its public comment at this time on the the Inter-American Bank, or the Asian provisions of § 240.17f-l, the operation Development Bank, the appropriate of the program to date, and on the instrumentality is any Federal Reserve question whether it would be appro Bank or B ran ch.F or reports and in priate for the Commission to redesig quiries regarding all other securities, nate SIC to receive and process re the appropriate instrumentality is the ports and inquiries made pursuant to Commission or its designee. This bifur cation of the responsibility for the the section. processing of reports and* inquiries re To focus the attention of public sulted, in part, from the desire to take commentators, those aspects of the advantage of the information con program which are of particular con tained on the Reserve Banks' cern to the Commission are outlined "Checklist of Federal Lost or Stolen Securi below. Public comment relative to ties." At the time of the enactment of these issues will assist in the formula 17(f) of the act, this manually tion of appropriate amendments to section accessed checklist had been used by the section. member banks of the Federal Reserve 1. /nsfi^nfiOTLS SM&jecf fo § 240.4 for nearly 6 years. " The financial institutions required to System Information is requested from inter make reports and inquiries with re ested members of the public as to spect to missing,'lost, counterfeit, or the framework of dual appro stolen securities pursuant to § 240.17f- whether priate instrumentalities provided by 1 include nearly 20,000 institutions section is appropriate or whether a and a broad variety of securities and the data base would be banking entites.' Preliminary research unified central In addition, comments as suggests that it may be appropriate to preferable. to any difficulties experienced due to exempt from the operation of the sec the concept or operation of the two tion certain classes or subclasses of appropriate instrumentalities are hathese institutions or to limit the appli vited. With respect to corporate and mu 'Under §240.17f-l. reports and inquiries nicipal securities, the Commission deS O L IC IT A T IO N O F P U B L IC C O M M E N T S are directed to the "appropriate instrumen tality." In the case of UJS. Government se curities. the appropriate instrumentality is any Federal Reserve Bank or branch there of. The Commission is the appropriate in strumentality for all other securities, in cluding State and municipal issues. 'Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13538. 42 FR 26495 (May 24, 1977). AutEx. Inc. was originally named as the designee. Subsequently, as a result of the acquisition of AutEx by ITEL Corp.. SIC was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of ITEL Corp. note 4, ixpra. termined to exercise its authority tc designate another entity to process re ports and inquiries. As stated earlier SIC's term as the Commission's desig nee expires on December 31, 1978. The Commission must, therefore, eithei designate SIC for another specifiec period of time or designate anothei entity to receive and process the re ports and inquiries made pursuant tc the section. While the staff's experi ence with SIC has been positive anc unofficial comments from industry sources have been favorable, the Com mission, in conformity with concepts of fairness, solicits submissions from other persons interested in serving as the Commission's designee.'* In formulating submissions to the Commissison; prospective designees should consider carefully the "Criteria for a Lost and Stolen Securities Re porting and Inquiry System" set forth in the Appendix, and should detail the manner in which their proposed system would operate, and include an estimate of the costs for establishment and operation of such a system and a plan for allocation of such costs. Additionally, in order to assist the Commission in its evaluation of SIC and its processing system, and to aid in the formulation of system improve ments, comments are invited from in terested persons concerning their ex perience in working with SIC, their suggestions for modifications of the design and operation of its system, and the appropriate number of years for which a designation should be made. 4. ReporfiTty requirement Section 240.17f-l provides that all institutions subject to its provisions shall report the discovery of the loss of any securi ty to the appropriate instrumentality and to a registered transfer agent for the issue. A report to the appropriate law enforcement agency is also re quired in cases of suspected criminal ity. The section sets forth differing time requirements within which such reports shall be made, depending on the type of loss involved and the cir cumstances involved in the loss. '* The attention of commentators is directed towards the appropriateness of these time requirements and the possibility that other circumstances exist that might make desirable the inclusion in the section of new time frames appli cable to such circumstances. All reports of loss are required to be made on Commission Form X-17F-1A. The Commission solicits suggestions " Section 240.17f-l(a)(2Xl). "During the drafting stages of rule 17f-l, regarding appropriate modifications in the Federal Reserve Banks offered to serve as an appropriate instrumentality on a "Section 17(f)(1)(A) of the act does not "temporary" basis in order to facilitate in- require that a designation be made but pro plementation of section 17(f). At that time, vides that reports and inquiries shall be it was understood that the Federal Reserve made to the Commission or other person Bank would not be held to a permanent designated by the Commission. commitment but would consider at a later "For example, if there is a substantial date whether it was desirable to continue to belief that criminality is involved in the play such an active role in the Commission's loss, the report must be made one day after program. discovery. Section 240.17f-l(b)(l)(i). FEDERAL RECtSTER, VOL 43, NO. 152—MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 1973 34791 34792 P R O P O S E D R U LE S the format and graphics of the form, est potential losses. Comments are also terested persons are solicited as to as well as the information required to invited as to whether the exemption whether the direct/indirect inquirer be submitted on the form, in order to amount should vary, depending on the status option has achieved its purpose facilitate its use, make it more infor nature of the security involved. Final of making the benefits of the program mative, and encourage its use by the ly, comments regarding the appropri available to all institutions subject to transfer agent community as a "uni ateness of additional exemptions from section 17(f)(1) of the act, while mini form stop transfer order form." Com required inquiry, on either a provision mizing their costs and, in addition, ments are also requested as to wheth al or a permanent basis, are solicited." whether this billing system, which is er copies of the reporting form, Form F. Rustem design. and /ee structure. based on the size of the institution, X-17F-1A, should be sent to other en The SIC processing system provides has proven just and workable and, if for two levels of user access with re not, what alternatives should be con tities." 5. /uauiry requirements. Section spect to inquiries. A reporting institu sidered. 240.17f-l requires reporting institu tion must choose to be either a "direct tions to make inquiry whenever securi inquirer" or an "indirect inquirer" at ties come into their possession or the time of its registration in the Pro keeping unless an exemption applies. gram. Direct inquiries have the ability Since the implementation of the The section does not specify the time to access the data base directly while program, the staff of the Commission at which such inquiries must be made. indirect inquirers must process their has issued several interpretations and It is expected, however, that a report inquiries through a direct inquirer. no action letters concerning various ing institution will make inquiry prior This scheme of classification for par provisions of § 240.1?f-l. In this to giving value, particularly if the se ticipation was created with a view to regard, the Commission solicits com curities or circumstances appear to be wards minimizing the monetary and ment as to whether they should be suspicious, in order to verify that the administrative costs of the program. provisionally or permanently incorpo securities have not been reported as This interest also guided the Commis rated into the section. Several of the missing, lost, counterfeit or stolen. sion in its formulation of the pricing specific areas addressed are summa Comments are welcome as to whether schedule for reporting institutions." rized as follows; amendment of the section to require Usage fees are based on the aggregate inquiry within certain specified time volume of items processed by SIC and periods would be desirable and, if so, are apportioned among the direct in 1. Warrants. The staff declined a re the appropriate lengths of such time quirers according to classifications quest that warrant cards, representing based on size.** This billing structure rights, be exempted from the report periods. Presently, the section provides that was deemed to be preferable to a "per ing provisions of § 240.17f-l. The ratio a reporting institution need not in item" or a "flat fee" system because it nale for this position is that although quire if the security is received: (1) Di would avoid any disincentive to individual rights are generally of mini rectly from the issuer or issuing agent making permissive inquiries of the mal value, the number of rights repre at issuance; (2) from another reporting system and would allocate the costs of sented by a warrant card is correlated institution or a Federal Reserve Bank the program in a reasonable manner. to the number of shares a stockholder in its capacity as fiscal agent; or (3) Under this scheme, the smallest insti owns and, thus aggregated, can have a from a customer of the reporting insti tutional classifications of direct inquir considerable value.** tution and is registered in the name of ers have been charged $23.75 over the 2. Tosses durinp completion o/ defin such customer or its nominee. *" in ad first two quarters of the pilot year ery, deposit or uutbdraioaf. With, dition, for the purposes of the pilot without any limitation on the number regard to subsections (b)(2)(ii)(B) and program only, certain additional ex of reports and inquiries submitted. (b)(2)(iii)(C) of the section, regarding emptions from inquiry are available: In formulating the pricing schedule, the time and party to report a loss Corporate and municipal security the Commission attempted to mini when securities are delivered "over the issues not assigned CUSIP numbers " mize the fees applicable to smaller in window," the staff published an inter and receipts involving securities of stitutions in the expectation that they pretation stating that copies of deliv $10,000 or less are exempt, as are in would choose direct inquirer status. ery bills, stamped by receiving institu quiries by registered transfer agents." Such has not been the case; only one tions "Received Subject to Count and Specific comments are solicited as to half of the originally estimated Examination" and returned to deliver the desirability of continuing or incor number of direct inquirers actually ing institutions, are "receipts" under porating permanently into § 240.17f-l elected this status. Comments from in- the section and thereby create an obli these special exemptions. With respect gation on the part of the receiving in to the 810,000 de minimus exemption "F o r example, it has been informally sug stitution to report any losses to the from inquiry, comments are sought gested to the staff that inquiry should not appropriate instrumentality. ^ concerning whether the exemption be 3. Timely submission o/ report. Due required in the case of bearer securities amount should be lowered to bring a where the institution taking such securities to the difficulties certain institutions greater number of transactions into into its possession sold such securities to the have faced in researching the data re person delivering them and proof o f pur the scope of the inquiry provisions, or chase quired to be submitted in the report of is offered. whether it should be raised, to focus "D irect loss, the staff has published interpre inquirer? shoulder the costs of on those transactions with the great the system. Indirect inquirers are charged tations of the reporting requirements of the section stating that in instances no fees by SIC but, rather, are subject to where no criminal activity is suspected whatever fees they agree to pay their direct " I t has been informally suggested to the a report must be made under subpara inquirer. One benefit of this approach is staff that the designated examining author that it significantly alleviates problems re ity of a broker-dealer should receive a copy graph (b)(2) of the section as soon as lating to the frequent collection of small of the form in order to better assist them in the reporting institution has available bills from large numbers of persons, a prob their monitoring of the activities of their to it the CUSIP and certificate lem which the Securities Investors Protec members. R E Q U E S T F O R C O M M E N T S R E G A R D IN G S T A F F IN T E R P R E T A T IO N S O F * 2 4 0 . 1 7 f - l R E P O R T IN G P R O V I S I O N S Section 240.17f-l(c)(l)(i)-(iii). "Consequently, short term securities such as commercial paper are not subject to the requirements of §240.17f-l during the pilot program. "g e e Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13832, 42 FR 41024 (Aug. 12. 1977). tion Corp. has experienced to a great extent in its collection of assessment fees. 3°Billing classifications are based on the amount of deposits for banks, annual reve nue fer securities organizations, and number of shares issued in the case of non bank transfer agents. *'Letter to Morgan Guaranty Trust Co., dated Mar. 13, 1978 (public availability date Apr. 13.1978). ^Letter to Northwestern Trust Co., dated Feb. 28, 1978 (public availability date Mar. 29,1978). FEDERAL REGBTER, V O L 43, NO. 152— MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 1978 34793 PROPOSED RULES number of the security, provided, how gram, inquiry is not required in the taming to the items enumerated ever, that the institution acts in good case of transactions involving securi below. In responding, all commenta faith in promptly researching this ties of less than $10,000 (face value in tors should attempt to furnish the data. This extension of time is not the case of bonds and market value in Commission with data supporting available, however, where the circum the case of stocks). The staff of the their views to the greatest extent pos stances surrounding the loss suggest Commission, however, has interpreted sible. this exemption to include securities up possible criminal activity. 1. Whether any classes or subclasses 4. Repori ?o Lem ETphrcement. Sub- to and including $10,000 exactly, in of institutions defined as "reporting paragraph (b)(ii) of § 240.17f-l pro recognition of the fact that most debt institutions" under § 240.17f-l should vides that ail reporting institutions securities are issued in $5,000 face be exempted from the provisions of shall promptly report to the appropri value denominations, and in the inter the section and whether any class or ate law enforcement agency upon the est of reducing the burden imposed by subclass of institution within the juris discovery of the theft or loss of any se the section on municipal securities diction of the Commission not now curity where there is a substantial brokers and dealers, In addition, the subject to the section should be in basis for believing that criminal activi staff has interpreted thi3 exemption cluded in the program; ty was involved. To clarify those in to apply not to the individual certifi 2. Whether the present exemption involved in a transaction, hut from the program of securities of an stances where such reports should be cates to the transactions as a whole.-* issue not assigned a CUSIP Number submitted to law enforcement, the rather 4. Transfer ayeni exemption. For the should staff issued an interpretation stating purposes and whether other of the pilot program, regis types ofcontinue that an institution does not necessar tered transfer agents are exempted exempted; securities should also be ily have a "substantial basis" for such from § 240.17f-l's requirements that a belief in those instances where the reporting Whether the present framework institutions inquire with re of3.dual instituticn'3 knowledge of the loss or spect appropriate instrumentalities to securities coming into their theft is based on unsubstantiated in possession or keeping. The staff of the is appropriate whether a unified formation given to it by another Commission has interpreted this ex central data baseorwould be preferable, party. 3* and. particularly, whether the concept emption to be applicable to a transfer or operation cf the two appropriate in agent engaged as an exchange, conver strumentalities has resulted in any dif sion, or redemption agent or deposi 1. Fre^nphon upon receipt /ro m cn- tory or render agent (whether such ficulties in complying with the section; ofncr reporii7i(7 in-stifi/fion. In an in transfer agent is acting as the issuer's 4. Whether the Commission should terpretative letter, the staff expressed SIC or designate another agent or as a depository or redesignate the opinion that the exemption from transfer entity for the purposes of receiving tender agent in connection with a soinquiry available upon receipt of secu called "unfriendly tender offer"), as and processing reports and inquiries rities from another reporting institu pursuant to the section.3° as such transfer agent maintains made tion is also available in those instances long 5. Whether the time requirements or is provided with current and accu where the delivering institution is af rate records of stop transfer instruc within which reports must now be filiated with and under the common are appropriate and whether and inquiry of such records is made control of a reporting institution and tions other circumstances exist for which made for each item received prior to acts solely as a "certificate drop." ^ issuing a new certificate, transferring specific time requirements should be 2. FrcmptioTt upon recc'pf /ropt a record ownership, disbursing funds, or provided; Federal Reserve BanR; Under otherwise completing the transac 6. Whether the report form. Form § 240.17f-l(c)(i). inquiry is not re tion.^ / X-17F-1A, "should be modified in quired in instances where a reporting terms of its format and graphics and institution receives securities from a in terms of the information required, Federal Reserve Bank in its capacity whether the form has proven as fiscal agent. This exemption is not Inasmuch as the pilot year and SIC's and useful to identify and trace missing, available under the section, therefore, term of designation expire on Decem lost, counterfeit and stolen securities; when securities are delivered by the ber 31, 1973, the Commission solicits 7. Whether inquiries should be made Federal Reserve Bank from a safe public comment at this time on the within certain time periods keeping account. The staff has issued provisions and operation to date of within what time periods; and. if so, an interpretation providing that when § 240.17f-l, on the appropriateness of 3. Whether the exemptions from in securities are delivered to a reporting the quiry provided for the purposes of the applicability of the spe pilot institution by the Federal Reserve cial continued program should be continued, pilot program exemptions, and the Bank out of the safekeeping account redesignation of SIC to receive and continued in a modified form, or al of another reporting institution and process to lapse, and, particularly, and inquiries made lowed such securities had been delivered to pursuantreports whether the present de minimus ex to the section. In particular, the Federal Reserve Bank by a report the Commission solicits comments per- emption for transactions involving se ing institution, inquiry is not re curities of $10,000 or less (face value in quired.-* case of bonds and market value in 3. T7ie ^10,0(7# de mmiunis exemp *-Letter to Federal Reserve Bank of St. the the case of stocks) should be in Louis, dated Jan. 12, 1978 ipublic availabil tion. In order to ease implementation ity creased, decreased, made a permanent date Feb. 12, 1978). Although the ratio of §210.17f-l during the phot pro nale was based on the situation presented part of the rule, or allowed to lapse; 9. Whether additional exemptions by debt security transactions, in order to from inquiry should be permitted on avoid confusion the interpretation was de -3Letter to First Trust Co. of St. Paul, either a provisional or permanent signed to apply to equity securities as well. dated Mar. 20. 1973 (public availability date basis; 3*For example, where four $5,COO bonds Apr. 20. 1973). are used as collateral for a single lean, the 3*Letter to Continental Stock Transfer & Whether the present program allow total transaction exceeds $10,000, and the Trust Co., dated Jan. 12. 1078 (public avail ing for an election of participation $ 10,000 de minimus exemption from inquiry ability date Feb. 12. 1978). status as either a direct or an indirect may not be claimed. See letter to LaSalle *Letter to First National Bank of Boston, IN Q U IR Y P R O V IS IO N S R E Q U E S T F O R C O M M E N T S R E G A R D IN G P R O V I S I O N S A N D O P E R A T IO N O F § 2 4 0 . 1 7 F - 1 3 dated Jan. 12. 1973 (public availability date Feb 12. 1973). 3" Letter to Bankers Trust Co., dated Mar. 21, 1978 (public availability date Apr. 21, 1973). National Bank, dated Dec. 7. 1977 (public availability date Jan. 7. 1978). ^Letter to the Stock Transfer Associ ation, dated Mar. 8, 1978 (public availability date Apr. 8, 1978). =*Persons interested in acting as the Com mission's designee should submit a plan for their program in accordance with the instructions outlined in Appendix A. FEDERAL REG:S7EX, VOL 43, NO. 152—MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 1973