[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 88 (Monday, May 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11076]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 9, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 

Issuer Delisting; Application To Withdraw From Listing and 
Registration; (Westamerica Bancorporation, Common Stock, No Par Value) 
File No. 1-9383

May 3, 1994.
    Westamerica Bancorporation (``Company'') has filed an application 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), pursuant 
to Section 12(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') and 
Rule 12d2-2(d) promulgated thereunder, to withdraw the above specified 
security from listing and registration on the American Stock Exchange, 
Inc. (``Amex'').
    The reasons alleged in the application for withdrawing this 
security from listing and registration include the following:
    According to the Company, its Board of Directors (the ``Board'') 
unanimously approved resolutions on March 24, 1994, to withdraw the 
Company's Common Stock from listing on the Amex and, instead, list such 
Common Stock on the National Association of Securities Dealers 
Automated Quotations/National Market Systems (``NASDAQ/NMS''). 
According to the Company, the decision of the Board followed a lengthy 
study of the matter, and was based upon the belief that listing of the 
Common Stock on NASDAQ/NMS will be more beneficial to its stockholders 
than the present listing on the Amex because:
    (1) The Company believes that the NASDAQ/NMS system of competing 
market-makers will result in increased visibility and sponsorship for 
the Common Stock than is presently the case with the single specialist 
assigned to the stock on the Amex;
    (2) The Company believes that the NASDAQ/NMS system will offer the 
Company's stockholders more liquidity than is presently available on 
the Amex and less volatility in quoted prices per share when trading 
volume is slight;
    (3) The Company believes that the NASDAQ/NMS system will offer the 
opportunity for the Company to secure its own group of market-makers 
and, in doing so, expand the capital base available for trading in its 
Common Stock; and
    (4) The Company believes that firms making a market in the 
Company's Common Stock on the NASDAQ/NMS system will be inclined to 
issue research reports concerning the Company, thereby increasing the 
number of firms providing institutional research and advisory reports.
    Any interested person may, on or before May 24, 1994, submit by 
letter to the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 
Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549, facts bearing upon whether the 
application has been made in accordance with the rules of the exchanges 
and what terms, if any, should be imposed by the Commission for the 
protection of investors. The Commission, based on the information 
submitted to it, will issue an order granting the application after the 
date mentioned above, unless the Commission determines to order a 
hearing on the matter.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-11076 Filed 5-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M