[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 223 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67185-67186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19517]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54737; File No. SR-NSCC-2006-10]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule Change Relating to Clarifying and Technical Changes to NSCC's 
Rules Regarding ACATS Fund/SERV

 November 9, 2006.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on September 29, 2006, the 
National Securities Clearing Corporation (``NSCC'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule 
change described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been 
prepared primarily by NSCC. NSCC filed the proposed rule change 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act \2\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) 
thereunder \3\ so that the proposal was effective upon filing with the 
Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change would make clarifying and technical 
changes to NSCC's Rules principally as they relate to funds which are 
eligible for processing on Fund/Serv, NSCC's mutual fund processing 
system.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, NSCC 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. NSCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), 
(B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these 
statements.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
prepared by NSCC.

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

[[Page 67186]]

(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 make a technical 
clarification to NSCC's Rules regarding the appointment of ACATS-Fund/
SERV Agents. On May 30, 2005, NSCC filed with the Commission proposed 
rule change SR-NSCC-2006-06.\5\ That rule change, which was effective 
upon filing, modified NSCC's Rules to enhance the Automated Customer 
Account Transfer Service (``ACATS'') processing capabilities for NSCC 
members that outsource some or all of their mutual fund processing 
services. To accommodate these members, NSCC modified Section 16 of 
Rule 52, ``Mutual Fund Services--ACAT/Transfers,'' to permit one NSCC 
member to appoint another NSCC member (or Mutual Fund/Insurance 
Services member) as its ACATS-Fund/SERV Agent (``Agent'') with regard 
to the reregistration of eligible mutual fund assets that are part of a 
customer account transfer through ACATS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 54163 (July 17, 2006), 
71 FR 41852 (July 24, 2006) and 54163A (July 28, 2006), 71 FR 44067 
(August 3, 2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In its original filing NSCC cited the processing flow of a standard 
ACATS transfer involving an Agent using a receiving member as a 
processing example. However, in a customer account transfer the NSCC 
member may be either a receiving member or a delivering member. This 
filing seeks to clarify that when a member appoints an Agent, such 
processing applies whether the member is receiving accounts/assets or 
delivering accounts/assets. Section 16 of Rule 52 will be modified to 
reflect this.
    As previously stated, an Agent must be either an NSCC member or 
NSCC Mutual Fund/Insurance Services member. An Agent may act on behalf 
of multiple NSCC members, but a member may designate only one Agent.
    A member must notify NSCC of its designation of Agent in such form 
and within such time frame as is acceptable to NSCC, and the Agent must 
acknowledge to NSCC its consent to this designation. The member and its 
Agent will acknowledge to NSCC that the NSCC member shall at all times 
continue to be responsible for all provisions of NSCC's Rules, 
specifically with regard to ACATS and ACATS-Fund/SERV transactions, 
including any and all actions taken by its Agent.
    NSCC will maintain a relationship table of those members that 
designate an Agent. In instances where an Agent has been appointed by a 
member and has been indicated on input received by NSCC, NSCC will 
replace the member's information (i.e., clearing number and member 
name) on registration/transfer instructions transmitted to the relevant 
mutual fund with those of the Agent. Conversely, on acknowledgements or 
instructions from the relevant mutual fund, NSCC will replace the 
Agent's clearing number and member name with those of the member's.
    As the proposed rule change makes a technical clarification to an 
existing NSCC rule, it constitutes a stated interpretation with respect 
to the meaning of an existing rule and is therefore consistent with 
Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

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

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any 
impact or 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 relating to the proposed rule change have not yet 
been solicited or received. NSCC will notify the Commission of any 
written comments received by NSCC.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant 
to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act \6\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) \7\ 
thereunder because the proposed rule constitutes a stated policy, 
practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, 
administration, or enforcement of an existing rule. At any time within 
sixty days of the filing of such 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml) or
     Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NSCC-2006-10 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2006-10. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. 
To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all 
comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 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, 100 F Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of NSCC and on 
NSCC's Web site at http://www.nscc.com. All comments received will be 
posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal 
identifying information from submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2006-10 and should be submitted on 
or before December 11, 2006.

    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-19517 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P