[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2691-2693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-922]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-40889; File No. SR-MBSCC-98-04]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; MBS Clearing Corporation; Notice 
of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule 
Change Regarding Year 2000 Testing

January 6, 1999.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on December 24, 1998, MBS 
Clearing Corporation (``MBSCC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') and on January 5, 1999, amended the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which items 
have been prepared primarily by MBSCC. The Commission is publishing 
this notice and order to solicit comments from interested persons and 
to grant accelerated approval of the proposal.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    Under the proposed rule change, MBSCC will require certain MBSCC 
participants to conduct Year 2000 testing with MBSCC.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, MBSCC 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. MBSCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), 
(B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.\2\
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    \2\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
prepared by MBSCC.
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(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to add an addendum to 
MBSCC's rules regarding: participants that are required to conduct Year 
2000 testing with MBSCC, participants that are exempt from Year 2000 
testing with MBSCC, the scope of Year 2000 testing with MBSCC, 
reporting by participants, and remedial action for non-compliance.
Participants Required To Conduct Year 2000 Testing
    All participants in MBSCC's Comparison and Clearing System 
(``clearing participants'') and Electronic Pool Notification (``EPN'') 
System (``EPN participants'') with automated interfaces (i.e., 
computer-to-computer interfaces and PC interfaces that use file uploads 
and downloads) to MBSCC are required to conduct Year 2000 testing with 
MBSCC.
Participants Exempt From Year 2000 Testing With MBSCC
    Clearing participants and EPN participants that are terminal 
service (i.e., PC interfaces that do not use file uploads and 
downloads) only users are exempt and are not required to conduct Year 
2000 testing with MBSCC.
Scope of Year 2000 Testing With MBSCC
    Year 2000 testing is being conducted directly between MBSCC and 
clearing participants and EPN participants that are required to test 
with MBSCC. MBSCC, in consultation with the Mortgage-Backed Securities 
Focus Group of the Securities Industry Association (``SIA'') Year 2000 
Committee, determined not to participate in the industry-wide SIA Year 
2000 tests due to the uniqueness of mortgage-backed securities. 
Instead, MBSCC's Year 2000 tests require clearing participants and EPN 
participants that are required to test with MBSCC to execute a test 
script designed to exercise functionality with MBSCC in a Year 2000 
environment.
    MBSCC conducted Year 2000 tests with certain clearing participants 
and EPN participants on June 6, 13, 25, and 27, 1998 (``June 1998 
test'') and October 3, 10, 17, 22, and 24, 1998, (``October 1998 
test''). Clearing participants and EPN participants that successfully 
tested with MBSCC in the June 1998 test or in the October 1998 test or 
in both are not required to participate in additional Year 2000 testing 
with MBSCC.
    MBSCC has scheduled an additional Year 2000 test cycle for clearing 
participants and EPN participants with automated interfaces to MBSCC 
that have not successfully tested with MBSCC. The additional Year 2000 
test cycle is scheduled for January 30, February 6, February 20, 
February 25, and February 27, 1999.
    MBSCC intends to conduct additional Year 2000 tests during 1999 and 
will advise clearing participants and EPN participants of the specific 
test dates by Administrative Bulletin.
    MBSCC will determine whether a clearing participant or EPN 
participant has successfully tested with MBSCC based on the 
participant's satisfactory execution of the test script described above 
and based on timely and satisfactory completion of the testing survey 
described below. MBSCC will advise each clearing participant and EPN 
participant whether it has successfully tested with MBSCC. MBSCC may 
also periodically publish by Administrative Bulletin a list of the 
clearing participants and EPN participants that have successfully 
tested with MBSCC.

[[Page 2692]]

Reporting by Participants
    Clearing participants and EPN participants that are required to 
participate in Year 2000 testing with MBSCC must promptly provide MBSCC 
with a testing survey upon completion of Year 2000 testing. The survey 
must be in the form prescribed by MBSCC, must be signed by a senior 
officer, and must indicate whether it is satisfied with the testing 
results and describing the processing environment in which the test was 
executed. Clearing participants and EPN participants that are required 
to participate in Year 2000 testing with MBSCC also must promptly 
provide MBSCC with such other information relating to the testing 
survey as MBSCC may require.
Remedial Action for Non-compliance
    Each clearing participant that does not successfully participate in 
the scheduled tests will be required to post an increased minimum 
market margin differential deposit with MBSCC beginning October 1, 
1999. The increased minimum market margin differential deposit will be 
as follows: October 1, 1999--100 additional basis points of net 
position; November 1, 1999--200 additional basis points of net 
position; December 1, 1999--300 additional basis points of net 
position; and January 3, 2000--300 additional basis points of net 
position. On and after February 1, 2000, MBSCC will have the authority 
to continue to require 300 additional basis points of net position if a 
clearing participant that has not successfully participated in the 
scheduled tests does not demonstrate adequate operational capabilities 
to process trades in the Year 2000. The increased minimum market margin 
differential deposit is designed to provide additional collateral that 
can be used if the clearing participant that has not successfully 
participated in the scheduled tests is unable to process trades due to 
Year 2000 problems.
    MBSCC has the discretion to convert trades for settlement in the 
Year 2000 and destined for netting of clearing participants that do not 
successfully participate in the scheduled tests to trade-for-trade 
status. MBSCC also has the discretion to continue to convert trades 
destined for netting to trade-for-trade status if a clearing 
participant that has not successfully participated in the scheduled 
tests does not demonstrate adequate operational capabilities to process 
trades in the Year 2000. The conversion of trades destined for netting 
to trade-for-trade status is designed to eliminate the risk of a 
clearing participant being paired-off as a result of the netting 
process with a clearing participant that has not successfully tested 
with MBSCC.
    MBSCC will enforce the EPN user agreement that requires all pool 
notification information to be submitted through EPN regardless of 
whether an EPN participant has successfully participated in the 
scheduled tests. If an EPN participant that has not successfully 
participated in the scheduled tests has processing difficulties, it 
will need to use EPN terminal service to receive the message thereby 
not impacting the sending EPN participant. MBSCC will have additional 
terminals available at its site as a contingency for those EPN 
participants that experience processing difficulties. Enforcement of 
the EPN user agreement is designed to ensure that an EPN participant 
sending a message to an EPN participant that has not successfully 
participated in the scheduled tests will benefit from the Bond Market 
Association's good delivery guidelines.
    The proposed addendum also contains a statement that it is in 
addition to and not a limitation of MBSCC's rights pursuant to its 
rules and procedures. The proposed addendum to MBSCC's rules will 
automatically expire at such time as MBSCC determines that clearing 
participants and EPN participants demonstrate adequate operational 
capabilities to process trades in the Year 2000. MBSCC will advise 
clearing participants and EPN participants of such determination by 
Administrative Bulletin.
    MBSCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. In 
particular, the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 
17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,\3\ which requires that the rules of a clearing 
agency be designed to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest.
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on/Burden on Competition

    MBSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have an 
impact on or impose a burden on competition.

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

    MBSCC advised participants of the proposed rule change by 
Administrative Bulletins dated July 28, 1998, and September 18, 1998. 
No written comments relating to the proposed rule change have been 
received. MBSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments 
received by MBSCC.

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

    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \4\ requires that the rules of a 
clearing agency be designed to promote the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions. The Commission 
believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with this 
obligation because the required Year 2000 testing with MBSCC should 
help MBSCC to address potential problems associated with certain 
members' Year 2000 readiness. As a result, MBSCC should be able to 
continue to provide for the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions before, on, and after Year 2000 
without interruption.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    MBSCC requested that the Commission find good cause for approving 
the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after the 
publication of notice of the filing. The Commission finds good cause 
for approving the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after 
the publication of notice of the filing because such approval will 
allow MBSCC to implement its mandatory Year 2000 testing program in a 
timely manner.

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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
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. Sec. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such

[[Page 2693]]

filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of MBSCC. All submissions should refer to the File No. 
SR-MBSCC-98-04 and should be submitted by February 5, 1999.
    IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\5\ that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-MBSCC-98-04) be and 
hereby is approved.

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\6\
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    \6\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-922 Filed 1-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M