CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT
Links have been established among DTC, CDS, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the bonds and cross-market transfers of the bonds associated with secondary market trading. DTC will be directly linked to CDS, and indirectly linked to Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear through the DTC accounts of their respective U.S. Depositaries.
The Clearing Systems
The clearing systems have advised Canada as follows:
DTC. DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC was created to hold securities for DTC participants (“DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions between DTC Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. DTC Participants include certain of the Underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect DTC Participants”).
Transfers of ownership or other interests in bonds in DTC may be made only through DTC Participants. Indirect DTC Participants are required to effect transfers through a DTC Participant. In addition, beneficial owners of bonds in DTC will receive all distributions of principal of and interest on the bonds through such DTC Participants to the extent received by DTC. Distributions in the United States will be subject to tax reporting in accordance with relevant United States tax laws and regulations. See “Tax Matters — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Indirect DTC Participants, and because beneficial owners holding through DTC will hold interests in the bonds through DTC Participants or Indirect DTC Participants, the ability of such beneficial owners to pledge bonds to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC, or otherwise take actions with respect to such bonds, may be limited.
CDS. CDS was formed in November 2006 pursuant to the restructuring of The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited (“CDS Ltd.”). After the restructuring, CDS Ltd., founded in 1970, remains the holding company for CDS and two other operating subsidiaries and is Canada’s national securities clearing and depositary services organization. Functioning as a service utility for the Canadian financial community, CDS provides a variety of computer-automated services for financial institutions and investment dealers active in domestic and international capital markets. CDS participants (“CDS Participants”) include banks (including their Canadian subcustodians), investment dealers and trust companies and may include certain of the Underwriters. Indirect access to CDS is available to other organizations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a CDS Participant. Transfers of ownership and other interests, including cash distributions, in the bonds in CDS may only be processed through CDS Participants and will be completed in accordance with existing CDS rules and procedures. CDS operates in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver to centralize securities clearing functions through a central securities depositary.
CDS is wholly-owned by CDS Ltd., a private corporation, wholly-owned by the TMX Group Limited. CDS is the exclusive clearing house for equity trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and also clears a substantial volume of “over the counter” trading in equities and bonds.
Clearstream, Luxembourg. Clearstream, Luxembourg is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a registered bank. Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream, Luxembourg provides to Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream, Luxembourg interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream, Luxembourg is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the Underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream, Luxembourg is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream, Luxembourg Participant either directly or indirectly.
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