[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 206 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60701-60702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20987]



[[Page 60701]]

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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56678; File No. SR-NSCC-2007-13]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend 
Its Rules and Procedures With Regard to the Automated Customer Account 
Transfer Service (ACATS) and ACATS Fund/SERV Processing

October 19, 2007.

I. Introduction

    On August 15, 2007, National Securities Clearing Corporation 
(``NSCC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') a proposed rule change 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 September 13, 
2007.\2\ No comment letters were received.\3\ 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. 56372 (September 7, 
2007), 72 FR 52416.
    \3\ But see comment letters to a similar rule change submitted 
by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 56677 (October 19, 2007) [File No. SR-FINRA-2007-
005].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Description

    NSCC is modifying its Rules to shorten the account transfer time 
frame for Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (``ACATS'') and 
ACATS Fund/SERV transfers.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Rule 50 (Automated Customer Account Transfer Service) is 
generally nonspecific with respect to account transfer time frames. 
Rule 52 (Mutual Fund Services), section 16 (ACAT/Transfers) is 
nonspecific with respect to account transfer time frames and does 
not require modification.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Background

    ACATS enables members of NSCC to effect automated transfers of 
customer accounts among themselves. In operation since 1985, ACATS was 
designed to facilitate compliance with New York Stock Exchange 
(``NYSE'') Rule 412 and National Association of Securities Dealers 
(``NASD'') \5\ Uniform Practice Code section 11870 that require NYSE 
and NASD members to use clearing agency automated customer account 
transfer services and to effect customer account transfers within 
specified time frames. ACATS has been modified over time, with its most 
significant redesign in 1999, to provide NSCC members with a more 
seamless and timely customer account transfer process.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Rule 50 (Automated Customer Account Transfer Service) is 
generally nonspecific with respect to account transfer time frames. 
Rule 52 (Mutual Fund Services), Section 16 (ACAT/Transfers) is 
nonspecific with respect to account transfer time frames and does 
not require modification.
    \6\ The NASD is now known as The Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) Modifications

    NSCC, its members, the Customer Account Division of the Securities 
Industry and Financial Markets Association (``SIFMA''), NYSE, and NASD 
believe that because technology and processing has improved since the 
1999 redesign additional modifications to ACATS processing can be made 
that will further enhance the timeliness and efficiency of customer 
account transfers. FINRA has submitted a comparable rule filing on 
behalf of the NYSE and NASD with the Commission.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56677 (October 19, 2007) 
(order approving proposed rule change) [File No. SR-FINRA-2007-005].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) Standard ACATS Transfers
    Standard ACATS transfers currently include a three business day 
``Request'' period. The proposed change reduces the ``Request'' time 
frame from three business days to one business day. The time frame 
within which an account transfer may be responded to (i.e., accepted or 
rejected) is accordingly shortened.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ In addition to changes to the ``Request'' period, NSCC is 
modifying the ACATS ``Status'' time frames for Request-Adjust, 
Request-Adjust Past, Request-Past, and Review-Error from a maximum 
of three business days to a maximum of one business day. Rule 50 is 
nonspecific with respect to these time frames.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(b) Nonstandard ACATS Transfers--Partial Transfer Receiver
    In a ``partial transfer,'' the Receiving Member (Partial Transfer 
Receiver or ``PTR'') currently has a two business day ``Request'' 
period. The proposed change reduces the ``Request'' time frame from two 
business days to one business day. The time within which an account 
transfer may be responded to (i.e., accepted or rejected) is 
accordingly shortened.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Other non-standard transfers are: Fail reversals, reclaims 
and residual credits (see Rule 50, Sec. 12). PTD's do not have a 
``Request'' status.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) ACATS Fund/SERV
    In an ACATS transfer that includes mutual fund assets, during the 
``Review'' period the Receiving Member (or if applicable its ACATS-
Fund/SERV Agent) requests the reregistration of mutual fund assets by 
submitting a Fund Registration input record through ACATS to the Fund 
Member/Mutual Fund Processor. The Fund Member/Mutual Fund Processor 
then has four business days to either reject or acknowledge the 
request. NSCC has found that the majority of Fund Member/Mutual Fund 
Processors act upon such requests during the first day of receipt. 
Therefore, NSCC is reducing the time frame for Fund Member/Mutual Fund 
Processors to either reject or acknowledge the request from four 
business days to one business day.

(3) Technical Correction to Rule 50

    NSCC is also making a technical correction to Rule 50, section 13. 
Section 13 (which addresses Receiving Member initiated Partial 
Transfers) states that a Delivering Member may respond to a request at 
any time by following the procedure set forth in section 12. However, 
section 12 addresses actions taken with respect to Delivering Member 
initiated transactions. NSCC is correcting this text accordingly.

(4) Implementation of the Proposed Changes

    NSCC is coordinating implementation of the changes with FINRA and 
SIFMA. NSCC anticipates that implementation of the changes set forth in 
this rule filing will take place in October of 2007. Members will be 
advised of the implementation through an NSCC Important Notice.

III. Discussion

    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, among other things, that 
the rules of a clearing agency be designed to remove impediments to and 
to perfect the mechanism of a national system for prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions.\10\ By reducing 
the time frame for the transfer of customer accounts between NSCC 
members, the rule change will bring enhanced efficiency to members and 
will benefit investors. As such, the rule change is consistent with 
NSCC's statutory obligation to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a national system for prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Conclusion

    On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and 
in particular section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

[[Page 60702]]

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-NSCC-2007-13) be and hereby 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
is approved.

    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. E7-20987 Filed 10-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P