Securities regulators say they now expect to make a decision on an information processor for the debt and equity markets by March 31, 2009.

The Canadian Securities Administrators issued a notice Friday to provide an update on the status of the applications that have been submitted to serve as the information processor for both corporate debt and equity securities; and, to extend the status of CanPX Inc. as the information processor for corporate debt securities until June 30, 2009. There is currently no information processor for equity securities.

The CSA has been seeking applications for an information processor since mid 2006. The current applicants are:

CanPX for corporate debt securities;

CDS Inc. for corporate debt and equity securities;

Gmarkets Inc. for corporate debt securities;

TSX in conjunction with CanDeal for corporate debt securities; and

TSX for equity securities.

It notes that, in early 2008, CanPX informed the CSA that it was discussing with other participants in the fixed income market, including applicants for the information processor, the possibility of a partnership that would result in a revised application for the role of information processor for corporate debt securities.

“As a result of our discussions with CanPX, and in order to have time to evaluate any revised application that it and any other applicants may submit, CanPX will continue its status as the information processor for corporate debt securities until June 30, 2009,” it says, adding that CanPX now has until January 31, 2009 to submit a revised for. Also, the other existing applicants may revise and update their applications by that date too.

“We anticipate finalizing our review of the filings received by March 31, 2009. We also expect to finalize our review of the applications for the information processor for equity securities by the same date,” the CSA notice says.