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 December 19, 2002, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex”) 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 Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

The Amex proposes to revise Amex Company Guide Section 107B to permit the listing and trading of notes linked to up to thirty (30) equity securities (“ELNs”).

The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Office of the Secretary, the Amex, and the Commission.

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

In its filing with the Commission, the Amex 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

On May 20, 1993, the Commission approved Section 107B of the Amex Company Guide to provide for the listing and trading of equity linked term notes (ELNs), hybrid instruments whose values are linked to the performance of highly capitalized, actively traded common stock.^[3] ELNs are non-convertible debt of an issuer, whose value is based, at least in part, on the value of another issuer's common stock or non-convertible preferred stock.

Section 107B of the Amex Company Guide details the Amex's listing standards for ELNs. Specifically, Section 107B requires, among other things, that securities linked to ELNs (i) have a minimum market capitalization of $3 billion and during the 12 months preceding listing shown to have traded at least 2.5 million shares; (ii) have a minimum market capitalization of $1.5 billion and during the 12 months preceding listing shown to have traded at least 10 million shares; or (iii) have a minimum market capitalization of $500 million and during the 12 months preceding listing shown to have traded at least 15 million shares.

On March 27, 2000, the Commission granted authority to the Amex to list and trade notes linked to more than one equity security.^[4] Each of the underlying securities of an ELN is required to meet the standards for linked securities set forth in Section 107B. However, the 2000 Order limited the basket of underlying securities that may be linked to an ELN to no more than twenty (20).^[5] Based on the its experience over the last two (2) years, the Amex believe that the limit of twenty (20) equity securities linked to an ELN is overly restrictive. Accordingly, the Amex proposes to amend the text of Section 107B to enable ELNs to be linked to up to thirty (30) equity securities provided that each linked equity security individually ( printed page 79670) satisfies the applicable standards set forth in Section 107B.^[6]

The Amex submits that its proposal to increase the number of equity securities that may be linked to an ELN to thirty (30) will better reflect the competitive nature of attracting listings to the Amex. The Amex believes that expanding the basket of equity securities that may be linked to an ELN will enhance competition and benefit investors and the marketplace through additional product choices and alternatives. Amex also believes that there would be no investor protection concerns with expanding the number of equity securities that may be linked to an ELN from twenty (20) to thirty (30).

(2) Statutory Basis

The Amex believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[7] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),^[8] in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of change, 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 Amex does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[9] and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 ^[10] thereunder because the Amex has designated the proposed rule change as one that does not: (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

Under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) of the Act,^[11] the proposed rule change does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and the Amex is required to give the Commission written notice of its intention to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to filing. The Amex has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative date and the five-day pre-filing notice requirement in order for it to implement the proposed rule change on December 19, 2002 to allow the Amex to list and trade UBS AG Enhanced Appreciation Securities (“EAN.B”) immediately. The Commission, consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, has determined to waive the 30-day operative period as well as the five-day pre-filing notice requirement,^[12] and, therefore, the proposal is effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.

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, NW., Washington, DC 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 such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Amex. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-Amex-2002-110 and should be submitted by January 21, 2003.