[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13331-13332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5133]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-55478; File No. SR-NSCC-2007-03]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule To Make Technical and Updating Changes to Its Reconfirmation and 
Pricing Service

March 15, 2007.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on January 26, 2007, 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 proposal pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \2\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) \3\ thereunder so 
that the proposal was effective upon filing with the Commission. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the rule 
change from interested parties.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The purpose of the rule change is to make technical and updating 
changes to its Reconfirmation and Pricing Service (``RECAPS'').

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\
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    \4\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
prepared by NSCC.
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(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    RECAPS is a mandated service for all full-service NSCC members that 
reconfirms and reprices members' fails in RECAP-eligible securities 
that represent positions that are currently failing outside of NSCC's 
Continuous Net Settlement (``CNS'') system. It thus provides a 
mechanism for reducing outstanding non-CNS member fails. The proposed 
revisions to the procedures reflect enhancements to the service, 
confirming processing changes with current processes, and deletion of 
obsolete reports.
    RECAPS is currently offered quarterly. The processing cycle begins 
on a Tuesday and ends with successfully matched trades settling the 
following Tuesday. On the first Tuesday of the processing cycle, 
members submit CUSIP files for fails designated for processing through 
the service. The data on these files is used to obtain current prices 
for the designated securities. On Friday, members submit eligible aged 
fails to NSCC until a designated cut-off time. On Saturday, NSCC 
distributes RECAPS contract sheets, RECAPS CNS and Non-CNS Compared 
Summaries, Balance Orders (for matched transactions in Balance Order 
securities), and RECAPS CNS Projection Reports and Advisory Listings. 
On Monday, members take action on all unmatched items. On Tuesday, the 
final day of the RECAPS cycle, all matched fails are scheduled to 
settle.
    The process enhancements eliminate the need for submission of CUSIP 
files on Tuesday since current price information can be obtained on 
Friday when members submit their fails for reconfirming and pricing. In 
addition,

[[Page 13332]]

the process enhancements enable the distribution of reports at an 
earlier time on Saturday and enable fails to settle on the next 
settlement day after they match (e.g., fails matched on Friday will 
settle on Monday and fails matched on Monday will settle on Tuesday).
    Furthermore, the RECAPS CNS Projection Report is being eliminated 
because the relevant information will be provided on the existing CNS 
Projection Report. Similarly, to conform to current trade processing 
practices where NSCC has eliminated Balance Order and Receive and 
Deliver tickets,\5\ RECAPS Balance Orders and RECAPS Trade-for-Trade 
Receive and Deliver Orders will be evidenced by the information 
contained on the RECAPS Non-CNS Compared Trade Summary.
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    \5\ Balance Order and Receiver and Deliver tickets were 
eliminated as part of the CNS Rewrite in 2004. Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 50026 (July 15, 2004), 69 FR 43650 (July 21, 2004) 
[File No. SR-NSCC-2004-01].
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    Finally, the RECAPS procedure is being revised to clarify that 
reconfirmed fails in securities where the original fail price was less 
than one penny per share will settle on a trade-for-trade basis as a 
``Special Trade'' with the RECAPS value being the original comparison 
value (as opposed to the system-generated price of one cent per share). 
Clarifying language also is being added to distinguish between 
information that appears on the RECAPS CNS Compared Trade Summary and 
information on the RECAPS Non-CNS Compared Trade Summary.
    Since the RECAPS procedures provides for NSCC to determine the 
processing schedule for each RECAPS cycle, NSCC advises its 
participants of the RECAPS calendar and the processing schedule through 
Important Notices. Members have been advised on the proposed scheduling 
changes outlined above, as well as the other enhancements described in 
this filing, in Important Notice A6323, P&S5893 dated 
October 26, 2006.
    The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 17A of the 
Act,\6\ as amended, because the updated procedures and operational 
enhancements will further facilitate the accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions, particularly, the settlement of 
aged fails.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
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(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. On October 26, 2006, members were advised 
by Important Notice A6323, P&S5893, of the proposed 
enhancements to RECAPS. 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 proposed rule change has become effective upon filing 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(4) \8\ thereunder because it effects a change in an existing 
service of NSCC that: (i) Does not adversely affect the safeguarding of 
securities or funds in the custody of NSCC or for which it is 
responsible; and (ii) does not significantly affect the respective 
rights or obligations of NSCC or persons using the service. At any time 
within sixty days of the filing of the 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.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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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-2007-03 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-2007-03. 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 filings also will be 
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of NSCC 
and on NSCC's Web site at http://nscc.com/legal/2007/2007-03.pdf. 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-2007-03 and should be 
submitted on or before April 11, 2007.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-5133 Filed 3-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P