[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 116 (Thursday, June 17, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 32599-32600] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-15356] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-41506; File No. SR-OCC-99-7] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending OCC's By-Laws Concerning End-of-Month Foreign Currency Options June 10, 1999. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on March 10, 1999, the Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') 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 primarily by OCC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments from interested persons on the proposed rule change. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The purpose of the proposed rule change is to reconcile a difference between OCC's By-Laws and the Rules of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange (``PHLX''). II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change. In its filing with the Commission, OCC 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. OCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by OCC. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change The proposed rule change will reconcile a difference between OCC's By-Laws and PHLX's Rules concerning the expiration date of end-of-month foreign currency options. OCC's By-Laws and PHLX's Rules both provide that end-of-month foreign currency options expire on the last Friday of the expiration month. However, PHLX's Rules provide that if the last Friday of the expiration month is December 31st, the options expire on ``the Friday immediately preceding December 24th.'' \3\ OCC's By-Laws provide that if the last Friday of the expiration month is December 31st, the options expire on ``the Friday immediately preceding December 25th.'' \4\ OCC's By-Laws also provide that if a foreign currency option expires on a holiday, the expiration date is the business day immediately preceding the holiday.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ PHLX Options Rule 1000(b)21.(ii). \4\ Article XV, Section 1.E.2(iv) of OCC's By-Laws. \5\ Article XV, Section 1.E.2(v) of OCC's By-Laws. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The respective rules of OCC and PHLX provide for conflicting expiration dates for end-of-month options in 1999. December 31, 1999, is a Friday, so under PHLX's Rules the expiration date would be December 17, 1999, which is the Friday immediately preceding December 24th. Under OCC's By-Laws, the expiration date would ordinarily be December 24th, but this is a holiday, so the date would change to December 23rd. After consultation with PHLX, OCC has agreed that the expiration date for the end-of-month foreign currency options should be December 17, 1999. To implement this change, OCC is amending the definition of ``expiration date'' in Article XV, Section 1 of its By- Laws to provide that the expiration date for end-of-month foreign currency options be the Friday immediately preceding December 24th, rather than December 25th, if December 31st falls on a Friday. This change will ensure that OCC's By-Laws and PHLX's Rules establish the same December expiration date for these options in 1999 and in future years. OCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 17A of the Act \6\ and the rules and regulations thereunder because it promotes the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of transactions in foreign currency options by ensuring that the expiration date for such options is the same under OCC's By-Laws and PHLX's Rules. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition OCC does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition. (C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members Participants or Others Written comments were not and are not intended to be solicited with respect to the proposed rule change, and none have been received. 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)(iii) \7\ of the Act and pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(4) \8\ promulgated thereunder because the proposal effects a change in an existing service of a registered clearing agency that does not adversely affect the safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is responsible and does not significantly affect the respective rights or obligations of the clearing agency or persons using the service. At any time within sixty 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule [[Page 32600]] 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 Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of OCC. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-OCC-99-7 and should be submitted by July 8, 1999. For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority. \9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-15356 Filed 6-16-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-M