[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 62 (Monday, April 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15438-15440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7784]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-45647; File No. SR-GSCC-2001-15]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Government Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval 
of a Proposed Rule Change Regarding Certain Highly Leveraged Members

March 26, 2002.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on October 16, 2001, the 
Government

[[Page 15439]]

Securities Clearing Corporation (``GSCC'') filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as 
described in Items I and II below, which items have been prepared 
primarily by GSCC. 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

    The proposed rule change amends GSCC Rules to require certain 
highly leveraged GSCC members to make and maintain with GSCC additional 
deposits to the clearing fund. The proposed rule change also amends the 
definition of ``excess capital.''

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

    In its filing with the Commission, GSCC 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. GSCC 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 GSCC.
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(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    On May 14, 2001, GSCC filed a proposed rule change with the 
Commission clarifying GSCC's rights with respect to its treatment of 
highly leveraged members.\3\ GSCC stated that it was important for it 
to be able to monitor the ratio of each member's clearing fund 
requirement to that member's level of excess regulatory capital,\4\ and 
wished to advise its members of specific actions that it would take 
pursuant to its rules with respect to any member that has a ratio in 
excess of 0.5. GSCC informed its members that it would require a highly 
leveraged member to provide it with comfort that it could fulfill its 
obligations to GSCC and that GSCC would be entitled to obtain or 
exchange margin information with respect to such member with other 
clearing organizations.
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    \3\ See Exchange Act Release No. 44995 (October 26, 2001), 66 FR 
55724 (November 2, 2001) (File No. GSCC-2001-06).
    \4\ In this context, the term ``excess regulatory capital'' is 
used to include excess net capital, excess liquid capital, or excess 
adjusted net capital, as applicable, all of which are measures of an 
organization's net worth after adjusting for the liquidity of its 
balance sheet.
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    GSCC now proposes to take additional actions with respect to 
certain highly leveraged members. Specifically, GSCC proposes to 
require each highly leveraged member with a ratio of clearing fund 
requirement to excess regulatory capital greater than 1.0 to make and 
maintain with GSCC an additional deposit to the clearing fund. This 
deposit would be equal to twenty-five percent of the amount by which 
the member's ``excess capital differential,'' which is being defined as 
the amount by which a netting member's required clearing fund 
requirement exceeds the member's level of excess regulatory capital.\5\ 
GSCC believes that this clearing fund premium is appropriate in view of 
the additional credit risk that such highly leveraged members pose to 
GSCC.\6\ These rights are in addition to any other rights and remedies 
that GSCC possesses pursuant to its rules.
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    \5\ GSCC Rule 1 and Rule 4, Section 3.
    \6\ GSCC will take the actions described in this rule filing 
against inter-dealer broker netting members as well if they have a 
ratio of clearing fund requirement to excess regulatory capital of 
greater than 1.0.
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    GSCC also proposes to make a minor change to the definition of 
``excess capital'' to reflect the fact that some regulators (such as 
bank regulators) do not require the entities they regulate to maintain 
a minimum level of net liquid assets.\7\
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    \7\ GSCC Rule 1.
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    GSCC believes that the proposed rules changes are consistent with 
the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder because they provide protection for GSCC with 
respect to the additional risk that highly leveraged members pose to 
GSCC and therefore better enable GSCC to safeguard the securities and 
funds in its custody or control or for which it is responsible.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    GSCC does not believe that the proposed rules changes will have an 
impact 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

    Written comments relating to the proposed rules changes have not 
yet been solicited or received. Members will be notified of the rule 
change filing and comments will be solicited by an Important Notice. 
GSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments received by 
GSCC.

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

    The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder and particularly with the requirements of Section 
17A(b)(3)(F).\8\ Section 17A(b)(3)(F) requires that the rules of a 
clearing agency be designed to assure the safeguarding of securities 
and funds that are in its custody or control or for which it is 
responsible. The Commission believes that requiring each highly 
leveraged GSCC member with a ratio of clearing fund requirement to 
excess regulatory capital greater than 1.0 to make and maintain an 
additional deposit to the clearing fund will give GSCC additional 
resources to protect itself and its members' securities and funds from 
the additional credit risk that highly leveraged members pose. As such, 
the Commission believes GSCC's proposal is consistent with its 
obligation to assure the safeguarding of securities and funds that are 
in its custody or control or for which it is responsible.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    GSCC has requested that the Commission approve the proposed rule 
change prior to the thirtieth day after publication of the notice of 
the filing. The Commission finds good cause for approving the rule 
change prior to the thirtieth day after publication because such 
approval will immediately allow GSCC to better protect itself with 
respect to highly leveraged members.

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

[[Page 15440]]

available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Copies of 
such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of GSCC. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-
GSCC-2001-15 and should be submitted by April 22, 2002.
    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\9\ that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-GSCC-2001-15) be and 
hereby is approved.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-7784 Filed 3-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P