[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1252-1253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-158]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-55037; File No. SR-FICC-2006-10]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; 
Order Approving Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Rules of Its 
Mortgage-Backed Securities Division Regarding Membership Requirements 
for Unregistered Investment Pools

January 3, 2007.

I. Introduction

    On June 9, 2006, the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') 
proposed rule change SR-FICC-2006-10 pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'').\1\ Notice of the 
proposal was published in the Federal Register on November 24, 2006.\2\ 
No comment letters were received. For the reasons discussed below, the 
Commission is approving the proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54769 (November 16, 
2006), 71 FR 67946.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Description

    FICC is proposing to amend the rules of its Mortgage-Backed 
Securities Division (``MBSD'') regarding the membership requirements of 
``Unregistered Investment Pools.'' \3\ Currently, unregistered 
investment pools have essentially the same membership standards as 
other MBSD non-broker clearing members.\4\ The size

[[Page 1253]]

of the unregistered investment pool industry has grown, and 
Unregistered Investment Pools and their advisers have become 
significant participants in the industry. FICC reexamined its treatment 
of participants that are Unregistered Investment Pools and has 
determined it is necessary to enhance the clearing membership standards 
applicable to these entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ As noted below, the term ``Unregistered Investment Pool'' is 
a newly-defined term in the MBSD's Rules.
    \4\ Currently, a clearing applicant or participant that is an 
unregistered investment pool and whose financial statements are 
prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting 
principles (``GAAP'') must satisfy a minimum financial requirement 
of $10 million in net asset value. In this filing, FICC is making a 
technical change to replace the term ``net asset value'' with the 
term ``net assets'' to more accurately state the financial 
requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FICC is proposing to adopt a definition for Unregistered Investment 
Pool, which will identify the entities that would become subject to the 
enhanced membership requirements for such entities. Under the new 
membership requirements, an Unregistered Investment Pool is an entity 
that holds a pool of securities and/or other assets that meets the 
following criteria: (i) It is not registered as an investment company 
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) it does not register its 
securities offerings under the Securities Act of 1933, and (iii) it has 
an investment advisor that is registered with the Commission under the 
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or if the investment adviser is not 
registered, the Unregistered Investment Pool has a lock-up period of 
two (2) years or greater.
    Entities that meet the definition of Unregistered Investment Pool 
will be eligible to apply to become MBSD clearing participants only if 
they meet the new membership criteria set forth below.\5\ The MBSD's 
current participants that fall within the definition of Unregistered 
Investment Pool will have one year from the date of approval of this 
rule filing in which to conform to the new minimum financial and 
qualitative rating requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ It is important to note that entities that meet the MBSD's 
definition of Unregistered Investment Pool will be treated as such 
by the MBSD regardless of whether the entity considers itself to be 
an Unregistered Investment Pool.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The new membership requirements for Unregistered Investment Pools 
are as follows:
    (1) SEC Registration: The investment advisor of the Unregistered 
Investment Pool must: (i) be registered with the Commission under the 
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or (ii) if it is not registered with 
the Commission, the Unregistered Investment Pool that the investment 
adviser advises must have an initial lock-up period of two (2) years or 
greater.
    (2) Minimum Net Assets: The Unregistered Investment Pool will be 
required to have and to maintain net assets of $250 million or 
greater.\6\ If the Unregistered Investment Pool does not meet the $250 
million net asset requirement but the Unregistered Investment Pool has 
net assets of at least $50 million \7\ or greater, the Unregistered 
Investment Pool will be eligible for MBSD clearing membership if its 
investment advisor has assets under management of at least $1.5 billion 
and advises an existing MBSD clearing participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The $250 million net assets requirement is the requirement 
that will be applicable to Unregistered Investment Pools whose 
financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 
Those Unregistered Investment Pools whose financial statements are 
prepared using other types of GAAP will be subject to the higher 
minimum requirements as determined by Article III, Rule 1, Section 2 
of the MBSD's Rules.
    \7\ The $50 million net assets requirement is the requirement 
that will be applicable to Unregistered Investment Pools whose 
financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 
Those Unregistered Investment Pools whose financial statements are 
prepared using other types of GAAP will be subject to the higher 
minimum requirements as determined by Article III, Rule 1, Section 2 
of the MBSD's Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Qualitative Rating: The MBSD will require an Unregistered 
Investment Pool to obtain a minimum required rating of ``above 
average'' as a result of an FICC internal qualitative assessment. FICC 
believes it is important to consider qualitative factors in order to 
assess both Unregistered Investment Pool applicants and members.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Staff in the MBSD's Risk Division will determine a 
qualitative rating for each Unregistered Investment Pool applicant 
and will review qualitative ratings of Unregistered Investment Pool 
members on an annual basis. The assessment will include 
consideration of factors deemed relevant by the Risk Division, 
including management, capital, strategy and risk profile, and 
internal controls. (Because responsibility for these factors with 
respect to a particular Unregistered Investment Pool may be with the 
Unregistered Investment Pool, with the investment advisor, with some 
other entity (i.e., a third party service provider), or with some 
combination of these, Risk staff will perform the assessment for 
each factor with the entity or entities it deems appropriate.) The 
assessment will assess the strengths and weaknesses of these factors 
and will assign a qualitative rating to the Unregistered Investment 
Pool. In order to qualify for membership, Unregistered Investment 
Pools must meet a qualitative rating of at least ``above average'' 
as determined by the Risk Division's staff.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion

    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires that the rules of a 
clearing agency be designed to assure the safeguarding of securities 
and funds which are in its custody or control.\9\ The Commission finds 
that FICC's proposed rule change is consistent with this requirement 
because by enhancing membership requirements for Unregistered 
Investment Pools, FICC should be better able to mitigate financial risk 
to itself and to its members and therefore should be better able to 
assure the safeguarding of securities and funds that are in its custody 
or control or for which it is responsible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Conclusion

    On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the 
proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Act and in 
particular with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act \10\ and the 
rules and regulations thereunder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-FICC-2006-10) be and hereby 
is approved.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission 
considered efficiency, competition and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).

    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-158 Filed 1-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P