[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 52 (Monday, March 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14401-14410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05401]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80234; File No. SR-FICC-2017-002]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Implement the Capped 
Contingency Liquidity Facility in the Government Securities Division 
Rulebook

March 14, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby 
given that on March 1, 2017, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation 
(``FICC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the clearing 
agency.\3\ The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments 
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ On March 1, 2017, FICC filed this proposed rule change as an 
advance notice (SR-FICC-2017-802) (``Advance Notice Filing'') with 
the Commission pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act entitled the Payment, 
Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act of 2010, 12 U.S.C. 
5465(e)(1), and Rule 19b-4(n)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act, 17 CFR 
240.19b-4(n)(1)(i). A copy of the advance notice is available at 
http://www.dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx.
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change consists of amendments to FICC's 
Government Securities Division (``GSD'') Rulebook (the ``GSD Rules'') 
\4\ in order to include a committed liquidity resource (referred to as 
the ``Capped Contingency Liquidity Facility[supreg]'' (``CCLF'')). This 
facility would provide FICC with additional liquid financial resources 
to meet its cash settlement obligations in the event of a default of 
the largest family of affiliated Netting Members \5\ (an ``Affiliated 
Family'') of GSD, as described in greater detail below.
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    \4\ GSD Rules, available at www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise 
defined shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the GSD 
Rules.
    \5\ As defined in the GSD Rules, the term ``Netting Member'' 
means a Member that is a Member of the Comparison System and the 
Netting System. Id.
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the clearing agency included 
statements

[[Page 14402]]

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. The clearing agency has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    FICC is proposing to amend the GSD Rules to include CCLF, which 
would be a rules-based committed liquidity facility designed to help 
ensure that FICC maintains sufficient liquid financial resources to 
meet its cash settlement obligations in the event of a default of the 
Affiliated Family to which FICC has the largest exposure in extreme but 
plausible market conditions, as required by Rule 17Ad-22(b)(3) \6\ of 
the Exchange Act. This proposal is also designed to comply with newly 
adopted Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7) under the Exchange Act.\7\ As of April 11, 
2017, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7) will require FICC to have policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to effectively monitor, measure, and 
manage liquidity risk.
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    \6\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad7-22(b)(3).
    \7\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7).
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A. Background
    FICC occupies an important role in the securities settlement system 
by interposing itself as a central counterparty between Netting Members 
that are counterparties to transactions cleared by GSD (``GSD 
Transactions''), thereby reducing the risk faced by Netting Members.\8\ 
To manage the counterparty risk, FICC requires each Netting Member to 
deposit margin (referred to in the GSD Rules as ``Required Fund 
Deposits'') into the Clearing Fund, which constitutes the financial 
resources that FICC could use to cover potential losses resulting from 
a Netting Member default. In addition to collecting and maintaining 
financial resources to cover default losses, FICC also maintains liquid 
resources to satisfy its settlement obligations in the event of a 
Netting Member default. Upon regulatory approval and completion of a 
12-month phase-in period, as described below, CCLF would become an 
additional liquid resource available to FICC as part of its liquidity 
risk management framework for GSD.\9\
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    \8\ FICC operates two divisions--GSD and the Mortgage-Backed 
Securities Division (``MBSD''). GSD provides trade comparison, 
netting, risk management, settlement and central counterparty 
services for the U.S. government securities market, while MBSD 
provides the same services for the U.S. mortgage-backed securities 
market. Because GSD and MBSD are separate divisions of FICC, each 
division maintains its own rules, members, margin from their 
respective members, Clearing Fund, and liquid resources.
    \9\ In 2012, FICC amended MBSD's Clearing Rules (the ``MBSD 
Rules'') to create a CCLF for managing MBSD's liquidity risk. FICC 
is proposing to amend the GSD Rules to create a CCLF for managing 
GSD's liquidity risk. Because this CCLF is for GSD only, the 
description of the proposal should be understood within the 
framework of the GSD Rules. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
34-66550 (March 9, 2012), 77 FR 15155 (March 14, 2012) (SR-FICC-
2008-01); MBSD Rule 17, MBSD Rules, available at www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx.
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B. Overview of the Proposal
    CCLF would only be invoked if FICC declared a ``CCLF Event,'' that 
is, if FICC has ceased to act for a Netting Member in accordance to GSD 
Rule 22A \10\ (referred to as a ``default'') and subsequent to such 
default, FICC determines that it does not have the ability to obtain 
sufficient liquidity from GSD's Clearing Fund, by entering into 
repurchase transactions using securities in the Clearing Fund or 
securities that were destined to the defaulting Netting Member, or 
through uncommitted bank loans with its Clearing Agent Banks. Upon 
declaration of a CCLF Event, each Netting Member may be called upon to 
enter into repurchase transactions with FICC (``CCLF Transactions'') up 
to a previously determined capped dollar amount, as described below.
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    \10\ GSD Rules, supra note 4.
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1. Declaration of a CCLF Event
    Following a default, FICC would first obtain liquidity through 
other available liquid resources, as described above. If and only if, 
FICC determines that these sources of liquidity are not able to 
generate sufficient cash to pay the non-defaulting Netting Members, 
FICC would declare a CCLF Event by issuing an Important Notice 
informing all Netting Members of FICC's need to make such a declaration 
and enter into CCLF Transactions, as necessary.\11\
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    \11\ Such Important Notice would also advise Netting Members to 
review their most recent liquidity funding reports to determine 
their respective maximum funding obligations.
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2. CCLF Transactions
    During a CCLF Event, FICC would meet its liquidity need by 
initiating CCLF Transactions with non-defaulting Netting Members. Each 
CCLF Transaction would be governed by the terms of the September 1996 
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Master Repurchase 
Agreement,\12\ which would be incorporated by reference into the GSD 
Rules as a master repurchase agreement between FICC as seller and each 
Netting Member as buyer with certain modifications as outlined in the 
GSD Rules (the ``CCLF MRA'').
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    \12\ The September 1996 Securities Industry and Financial 
Markets Association Master Repurchase Agreement (the ``SIFMA MRA'') 
is available at http://www.sifma.org/services/standard-forms-and-documentation/mra,-gmra,-msla-and-msftas/. The SIFMA MRA would be 
incorporated by reference into the GSD Rules without referenced 
annexes, other than in the case of any Netting Member that is a 
registered investment company, then Annex VII would be applicable to 
such Member. At the time of this filing, there are no registered 
investment companies that are also GSD Netting Members. If a 
registered investment company would become a GSD Netting Member, 
then Annex VII would be applicable to such Member.
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    Each Netting Member would be obligated to enter into CCLF 
Transactions up to a capped dollar amount. FICC would first identify 
the non-defaulting Netting Members that are obligated to deliver 
securities destined for the defaulting Netting Member (``Direct 
Affected Members'') and FICC's cash payment obligation to such Direct 
Affected Member that FICC would need to finance through CCLF to cover 
the defaulting Netting Member's failure to deliver cash (the 
``Financing Amount''). FICC would notify each Direct Affected Member of 
its Financing Amount and whether such Direct Affected Member should 
deliver to FICC or suppress any securities that were destined for the 
defaulting Netting Member. FICC would then initiate CCLF Transactions 
with each Direct Affected Member for its purchase of the securities 
(the ``Financed Securities'') that were destined for the defaulting 
Netting Member.\13\ The aggregate purchase price of the CCLF 
Transactions with the Direct Affected Member would equal but never 
exceed its maximum funding obligation (the ``Individual Total 
Amount'').\14\
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    \13\ It should be noted that FICC would have the authority to 
initiate CCLF Transactions in respect of any securities that are in 
the Direct Affected Member's portfolio which are bound to the 
defaulting Netting Member.
    \14\ As described in Section C. herein, a Netting Member's 
Individual Total Amount represents such Member's maximum liquidity 
funding obligation. The Individual Total Amount would be based on a 
Netting Member's observed peak historical liquidity need.
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    If any Direct Affected Member's Financing Amount exceeds its 
Individual Total Amount (the ``Remaining Financing Amount''), FICC 
would advise (A) each other Direct Affected Member whose Financing 
Amount is less than its Individual Total Amount, and (B) each Netting 
Member that has not otherwise entered into CCLF Transactions with FICC 
(the

[[Page 14403]]

``Indirect Affected Members,'' and together with the Direct Affected 
Members, ``Affected Members'') that FICC intends to initiate CCLF 
Transactions with them for the Remaining Financing Amount.
    The order in which FICC would enter into CCLF Transactions for the 
Remaining Financing Amount would be based upon the Affected Members 
that have the most funding available within their Individual Total 
Amounts. No Affected Member would be obligated to enter into CCLF 
Transactions greater than its Individual Total Amount.
    During a CCLF Event, FICC would engage its investment advisor 
subject to the approval of its Board and seek to minimize liquidation 
losses on the Financed Securities through hedging, strategic 
dispositions, or other investment transactions as determined by FICC 
under relevant market conditions. Once FICC completes the liquidation 
of the underlying securities by selling them to a new buyer, FICC would 
instruct the Affected Member to close the repo trade and deliver the 
Financed Securities to FICC to complete settlement on the contractual 
settlement date of the liquidating trade. FICC would endeavor to unwind 
the CCLF Transactions based on the order that it enters into the 
Liquidating Trades. Each CCLF Transaction would remain open until the 
earlier of (x) such time that FICC has liquidated the Affected Member's 
Financed Securities, (y) such time that FICC has obtained liquidity 
through its available liquid resources or (z) 30 or 60 calendar days 
after entry into the CCLF Transaction for U.S. government bonds and 
mortgage-backed securities, respectively.
    The original GSD Transactions, which FICC is obligated to settle, 
are independent from the CCLF Transactions. The proposed rule change 
would clarify that, under the original GSD Transaction, FICC's 
obligation to pay cash to a Direct Affected Member, and the Direct 
Affected Member's obligation to deliver securities, would be deemed 
satisfied by entry into CCLF Transactions, and that such settlement 
would be final.
C. CCLF Sizing and Allocation
    As noted above, FICC would only enter into CCLF Transactions with a 
Netting Member in an amount that is up to such Netting Member's maximum 
funding obligation. This amount would be based on each Netting Member's 
observed peak historical liquidity need. Initially, FICC would 
calculate the Netting Member's peak historical liquidity need based on 
a six-month look-back period.
    FICC's liquidity need during a CCLF Event would be determined by 
the cash settlement obligations presented by the default of a Netting 
Member and an Affiliated Family. FICC would include an additional 
amount (i.e., a buffer) to account for changes in Netting Members' cash 
settlement obligations that may not be observed during the six-month 
look-back period during which CCLF would be sized. The buffer would 
also account for the possibility that the defaulting Netting Member is 
the largest CCLF contributor. FICC would allocate its observed 
liquidity need among all Netting Members based on their historical 
settlement activity. Netting Members that present the highest cash 
settlement obligations would be required to maintain higher funding 
obligations.
    Listed below are the steps that FICC would take to size and 
allocate each Netting Member's CCLF requirement.
Step 1: CCLF Sizing
Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement
    FICC's historical liquidity need for the six-month look-back period 
would be an amount equal to the dollar amount of the largest sum of an 
Affiliated Family's obligation to receive GSD eligible securities plus 
the net dollar amount of its Funds-Only Settlement Amount \15\ 
(collectively, the ``Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement''). FICC 
believes that it is appropriate to calculate the Historical Cover 1 
Liquidity Requirement in this manner because the default of the largest 
Affiliated Family would generate the highest liquidity need for FICC.
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    \15\ The Funds-Only Settlement Amount reflects the amount that 
FICC collects and passes to the contra-side once FICC marks the 
securities in a Netting Member's portfolio to the current market 
value. This amount is the difference between the contract value vs. 
the current market value of a Netting Member's GSD portfolio. FICC 
would consider this amount when calculating the Historical Cover 1 
Liquidity Requirement because in the event that an Affiliated Family 
defaults, the Funds-Only Settlement Amount would also reflect the 
cash obligation to non-defaulting Netting Members.
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Liquidity Buffer
    The Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement would be based on the 
largest Affiliated Family's activity during a six-month look-back 
period. However, FICC is cognizant that the Historical Cover 1 
Liquidity Requirement would not account for changes in a Netting 
Member's current trading behavior, which may result in a liquidity need 
that is greater than the Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement. As a 
result, FICC proposes to add an additional amount to the Historical 
Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement as a buffer (the ``Liquidity Buffer'') to 
arrive at FICC's anticipated total liquidity need for GSD during a CCLF 
Event.
    Under the proposed rule change, the Liquidity Buffer would be 20% 
to 30% of the Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement, subject to a 
minimum amount of $15 billion. FICC believes that 20% to 30% of the 
Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement is appropriate based on its 
analysis of the calculated coefficient of variation \16\ with respect 
to Affiliated Families' liquidity needs throughout 2015 and 2016.\17\ 
FICC also believes that the $15 billion minimum dollar amount is 
necessary to cover changes in a Netting Member's trading activity that 
could exceed the amount that is implied by the calculated coefficient 
of variation.
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    \16\ The ``coefficient of variation'' is a statistical 
measurement that is calculated as the standard deviation divided by 
the mean. It is a typical approach used to compare variability 
across different data sets.
    \17\ In connection with this proposed rule change, the 
coefficient of variation would be used to set the Liquidity Buffer 
by quantifying the variance of each Affiliated Family's daily 
liquidity need. During this period, FICC observed that the 
coefficient of variation ranged from an average of 15%-19% for 
Affiliated Families with liquidity needs above $50 billion, and an 
average of 18%-21% for Affiliated Families with liquidity needs 
above $35 billion. Based on the calculated coefficient of variation, 
FICC believes that an amount equaling 20% to 30% of the Historical 
Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement subject to a minimum of $15 billion 
would be an appropriate Liquidity Buffer.
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    FICC would have the discretion to adjust the Liquidity Buffer based 
on its analysis of the stability of the Historical Cover 1 Liquidity 
Requirement over the look-back periods of 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-months. 
Should FICC observe changes in the stability of the Historical Cover 1 
Liquidity Requirements, FICC would have the discretion to increase the 
six-month look-back period to help ensure that the calculation of its 
liquidity need appropriately accounts for variability in the Historical 
Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement. This would help FICC to ensure that its 
liquidity resources are sufficient under a wide range of potential 
market scenarios that may lead to a change in Netting Member behavior. 
FICC would also analyze the trading behavior of Netting Members that 
present larger liquidity needs than the majority of the Netting Members 
(as described below).
Aggregate Total Amount
    FICC's anticipated total liquidity need during a CCLF Event (i.e., 
the sum of the Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement plus the 
Liquidity Buffer)

[[Page 14404]]

would be referred to as the ``Aggregate Total Amount.''
Step 2: FICC's Allocation of the Aggregate Total Amount Among Netting 
Members
(A) FICC's Allocation of the Aggregate Regular Amount Among Netting 
Members
    After FICC determines the Aggregate Total Amount, which initially 
would be set to the Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement plus the 
greater of 20% of the Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement or $15 
billion. FICC would allocate the Aggregate Total Amount among Netting 
Members in order to arrive at each Netting Member's Individual Total 
Amount. FICC would take a two-tiered approach in its allocation of the 
Aggregate Total Amount. First, FICC would determine the portion of the 
Aggregate Total Amount that should be allocated among all Netting 
Members (``Aggregate Regular Amount''). Then, FICC would allocate the 
remainder of the Aggregate Total Amount (the ``Aggregate Supplemental 
Amount'') among Netting Members that incur liquidity needs above the 
Aggregate Regular Amount within the six-month look-back period. FICC 
believes that this two-tiered approach reflects FICC's consideration of 
fairness, transparency and the burdens of the funding obligations on 
each Netting Member's management of its own liquidity.
    Under the proposed rule change, FICC would set the Aggregate 
Regular Amount at $15 billion. FICC believes that this amount is 
appropriate because FICC observed that from 2015 to 2016, the average 
Netting Member's liquidity need was approximately $7 billion, with a 
majority of Netting Members' liquidity needs not exceeding an amount of 
$15 billion.\18\ Based on that analysis, FICC believes that the 
Aggregate Regular Amount should capture the liquidity needs of a 
majority of the Netting Members. Thus, FICC believes that setting the 
Aggregate Regular Amount at $15 billion is appropriate.
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    \18\ From 2015 to 2016, 59% of all Netting Members presented 
average liquidity needs between $0 to $5 billion, 78% of all Netting 
Members presented average liquidity needs between $0 and $10 
billion, and 85% of all Netting Members presented average liquidity 
needs between $0 and $15 billion.
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    Under the proposal, the Aggregate Regular Amount would be allocated 
among all Netting Members, but Netting Members with larger Receive 
Obligations would be required to contribute a larger amount. FICC 
believes that this approach is appropriate because a defaulting Netting 
Member's Receive Obligations are the primary cash settlement 
obligations that FICC would have to satisfy as a result of the default 
of a Netting Member or an Affiliated Family. However, FICC also 
believes that some portion of the Aggregate Regular Amount should be 
allocated based on Netting Members' aggregate Deliver Obligations since 
FICC guarantees both sides of a GSD Transaction and all Netting Members 
benefit from FICC's risk mitigation. As a result, FICC is proposing to 
allocate the Aggregate Regular Amount based on a scaling factor. Given 
that the Aggregate Regular Amount is sized at $15 billion and covers 
approximately 80% of Netting Members' observed liquidity needs, FICC 
proposes to set the scaling factor in the range of 65%-85% to the value 
of Netting Members' Receive Obligations and set the scaling factor in 
the range of 15%-35% to the value of Netting Members' Deliver 
Obligations.
    Initially, FICC would assign a 20% weighting percentage to a 
Netting Member's aggregate Deliver Obligations (the ``Deliver Scaling 
Factor'') and the remaining percentage difference, 80% in this case, to 
a Netting Member's aggregate Receive Obligations (``Receive Scaling 
Factor''). FICC would have the discretion to adjust these scaling 
factors based on a quarterly analysis that would, in part, assess 
Netting Members' observed liquidity needs that are at or below $15 
billion. This assessment would ensure that the Aggregate Regular Amount 
would be appropriately allocated across all Netting Members.
    FICC would calculate a Netting Member's portion of the Aggregate 
Regular Amount (its ``Individual Regular Amount'') by adding (a) and 
(b) below.
    (a) FICC would (x) divide the absolute value of a Netting Member's 
peak Receive Obligations by the absolute value of the sum of all 
Netting Members' peak Receive Obligations, then (y) multiply such 
resulting value by the Aggregate Regular Amount, then (z) multiply the 
resulting value by the Receive Scaling Factor (which would initially be 
80%).
    (b) FICC would (x) divide the absolute value of a Netting Member's 
peak Deliver Obligations by the absolute value of the sum of all 
Netting Members' peak Deliver Obligations, then (y) multiply such 
resulting value by the Aggregate Regular Amount, then (z) multiply the 
resulting value by the Deliver Scaling Factor (which would initially be 
20%).
(B) FICC's Allocation of the Aggregate Supplemental Amount Among 
Netting Members
    The remainder of the Aggregate Total Amount (i.e., the Aggregate 
Supplemental Amount) would be allocated among Netting Members that 
present liquidity needs in excess of the Aggregate Regular Amount.
    FICC would allocate the Aggregate Supplemental Amount across 
liquidity tiers (``Liquidity Tiers''). The allocation to each Liquidity 
Tier would be based on how many times (i.e., ``observations'') the 
Netting Members' daily liquidity needs have reached the respective 
Liquidity Tier. This assignment would result in a larger proportion of 
the Aggregate Supplemental Amount being borne by those Netting Members 
who present the highest liquidity needs.
    FICC would set the Liquidity Tiers in $5 billion increments. FICC 
believes that this increment would appropriately distinguish Netting 
Members that present the highest liquidity needs on a frequent basis 
and allocate more of the Individual Supplemental Amount to Netting 
Members in the top Liquidity Tiers. Increments set to an amount greater 
than $5 billion would provide FICC with less ability to allocate the 
Aggregate Supplemental Amount to Netting Members with the highest 
liquidity needs.\19\
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    \19\ For example, assume that there are two Netting Members and 
each Netting Member has 125 liquidity observations each across a 
six-month period. Member A has 125 observations within the $15-$20 
billion Liquidity Tier and Member B has 125 observations equally 
dispersed between the $15-$20 billion and $20-$25 billion Liquidity 
Tiers. Under the proposed rule change, Member B would have a higher 
Individual Supplemental Amount than Member A, because Member B would 
be allocated a pro-rata share of the Aggregate Supplemental Amount 
for the $20-$25 billion Liquidity Tier.
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    FICC would have the discretion to reduce any one or all of the 
Liquidity Tiers to $2.5 billion if FICC determines that the majority of 
the Netting Members' liquidity needs in such Liquidity Tiers are above 
or below the midpoint of the Liquidity Tier.
    Once the Liquidity Tiers are set, FICC would first allocate the 
Aggregate Supplemental Amount to each Liquidity Tier in proportion to 
the total number of observations across all Liquidity Tiers. Next, FICC 
would allocate the Individual Supplemental Amount to each Netting 
Member in accordance with each Netting Member's liquidity needs within 
each Liquidity Tier. This allocation would be based on such Netting 
Member's number of observations within each Liquidity Tier in 
proportion to the aggregate of all

[[Page 14405]]

Netting Member's observations within a particular Liquidity Tier. The 
sum of a Netting Member's allocation across all Liquidity Tiers would 
be such Netting Member's Individual Supplemental Amount.
    FICC would sum each Netting Member's Individual Regular Amount and 
its Individual Supplemental Amount (if any) to arrive at such Netting 
Member's Individual Total Amount.
CCLF Parameters as of January 2017
    Table 1 includes the actual values FICC would set for each step 
described above, as of January 1, 2017.\20\ These values would be reset 
every six months.
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    \20\ As noted above, FICC would use a six-month look-back 
period. On January 1, 2017, the look-back period would be July 1, 
2016 through December 31, 2016.
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    Table 1:
    $ billion

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CCLF Sizing: Components of the Aggregate Total Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step                                    Component...............................               Size
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................................  Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement          $58.84
                                        Liquidity Buffer (20% of the Historical            15.00
                                         Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement subject
                                         to a minimum of $15B).
2.....................................  Aggregate Total Amount..................           73.84
2a....................................  Aggregate Regular Amount................           15.00
2b....................................  Receive Scaling Factor (80% of the        ..............          $12.00
                                         Aggregate Regular Amount).
                                        Deliver Scaling Factor (20% of the        ..............            3.00
                                         Aggregate Regular Amount).
2c....................................  Aggregate Supplemental Amount...........           58.84
                                          Liquidity Tier 1 ($15-$20B)             ..............           21.04
                                          Liquidity Tier 2 ($20-$25B)             ..............           14.29
                                          Liquidity Tier 3 ($25-$30B)             ..............           10.32
                                          Liquidity Tier 4 ($30-$35B)             ..............            6.14
                                          Liquidity Tier 5 ($35-$40B)             ..............            3.32
                                          Liquidity Tier 6 ($40-$45B)             ..............            1.86
                                          Liquidity Tier 7 ($45-$50B)             ..............            1.10
                                          Liquidity Tier 8 ($50-$55B)             ..............            0.62
                                          Liquidity Tier 9 ($55-$60B)             ..............            0.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The example in Table 2 reflects the allocation of the CCLF size for 
a hypothetical Netting Member. This example is based on a six-month 
look-back period of July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.
    Table 2:
    $ billion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            CCLF Sizing: Components of the aggregate total amount                                  Allocation of aggregate total amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            hypothetical member A
                                                                                        Size                  ---------------------------------------------
                                                                      ----------------------------------------                      Member A's allocation
                                                                                                                                       of the component
                                                                                                                                  -------------------------
                  Step                             Component                                                       Member A's                          (Z)
                                                                                                   (X)             percentage
                                                                                                                                           (Y)         (X)
 
                                                                                                                                                       (Y)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
2a......................................  Aggregate Regular Amount...             $15.00
2b......................................  Receive Scaling Factor (80%  ..................             $12.00                 5.0               $0.60
                                           of the Aggregate Regular
                                           Amount).
                                          Deliver Scaling Factor (20%  ..................               3.00                 2.5                0.08
                                           of the Aggregate Regular
                                           Amount).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                      Member A's                0.68
                                                                                                               individual regular
                                                                                                                          amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2c......................................  Aggregate Supplemental                   58.84
                                           Amount.
                                            Liquidity Tier 1 ($15-     ..................              21.04                 8.5                1.79
                                          $20B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 2 ($20-     ..................              14.29                13.0                1.86
                                          $25B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 3 ($25-     ..................              10.32                16.0                1.65
                                          $30B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 4 ($30-     ..................               6.14                20.0                1.23
                                          $35B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 5 ($35-     ..................               3.32                35.0                1.16
                                          $40B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 6 ($40-     ..................               1.86                52.0                0.97
                                          $45B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 7 ($45-     ..................               1.10                65.0                0.72
                                          $50B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 8 ($50-     ..................               0.62                80.0                0.50
                                          $55B)
                                            Liquidity Tier 9 ($55-     ..................               0.14               100.0                0.14
                                          $60B)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                      Member A's               10.01
                                                                                                                      individual
                                                                                                                    supplemental
                                                                                                                          amount
                                                                                                              ------------------------------------------

[[Page 14406]]

 
                                                                                                                      Member A's               10.68
                                                                                                                individual total
                                                                                                                          amount
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D. FICC's Ongoing Assessment of the Sufficiency of CCLF
    As described above, the Aggregate Total Amount and each Netting 
Member's Individual Total Amount (i.e., each Netting Member's 
allocation of the Aggregate Total Amount) would initially be calculated 
using a six-month look-back period that FICC would reset every six 
months (``reset period''). On a quarterly basis, FICC's Liquidity 
Product Risk Unit \21\ would assess the following parameters that it 
uses to calculate the Aggregate Total Amount and may recommend to the 
Board's Risk Committee changes to such parameters:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ FICC's Liquidity Product Risk Unit is responsible for 
assessing the liquidity needs of GSD and MBSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Peak daily liquidity need for the largest Affiliated 
Family;
     the Liquidity Buffer;
     the Aggregate Regular Amount;
     the Aggregate Supplemental Amount;
     the Deliver Scaling Factor and the Receive Scaling Factor 
used to allocate the Aggregate Regular Amount;
     the increments for the Liquidity Tiers; and
     the length of the look-back period and the reset period 
for the Aggregate Total Amount.
    In the event that any changes to the above-referenced parameters 
result in an increase in a Netting Member's Individual Total Amount, 
such increase would be effective as of the next reset.
    Additionally, on a daily basis, FICC would examine the Aggregate 
Total Amount to ensure that such amount is sufficient to satisfy FICC's 
liquidity needs. If FICC determines that the Aggregate Total Amount is 
insufficient to satisfy its liquidity needs, FICC may modify the length 
of the look-back or reset periods or otherwise increase the Aggregate 
Total Amount.
    Any increase in the Aggregate Total Amount resulting from the 
Liquidity Product Risk Unit's quarterly assessments or FICC's daily 
monitoring would be subject to the approvals, as set forth in Table 3 
below.
    Table 3:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Increase in aggregate total amount        Required approval level
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<=$500 mil.............................  Managing Director, Financial
                                          Risk Management.
$501 mil to $1.0 B.....................  Group Chief Risk Officer.
$1.1 B to $1.9 B.......................  Management Risk Committee, or
                                          designee.
>=$2.0 B...............................  Chair of the Board Risk
                                          Committee, or designee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If FICC increases a Netting Member's Individual Total Amount as a 
result of its daily monitoring, such increase will not be effective 
until ten (10) Business Days after FICC provides an Important Notice 
regarding the increase.
    If FICC determines that its liquidity needs may be satisfied with a 
lower Aggregate Total Amount, a reduction in the Aggregate Total Amount 
would be reflected at the conclusion of the reset period.
E. Implementation of the Proposed Rule Change and Required Attestation 
From Each Netting Member
    The CCLF proposal would become operative 12 months after the later 
date of the Commission's approval of this proposed rule change or its 
no objection of the Advance Notice Filing. During this 12-month period, 
FICC would periodically provide each Netting Member with estimated 
Individual Total Amounts. The delayed implementation and the estimated 
Individual Total Amounts are designed to give Netting Members the 
opportunity to assess the impact that the CCLF proposal would have on 
their business profile.
    Prior to the effective date, FICC would add a legend to the GSD 
Rules to state that the specified changes to the GSD Rules are approved 
but not yet operative and to provide the date such approved changes 
would become operative. The legend would also include the file numbers 
of the approved proposed rule change and Advance Notice Filing and 
would state that once operative, the legend would automatically be 
removed from the GSD Rules.
    As of the implementation date and annually thereafter, FICC would 
require that each Netting Member attest that its Individual Total 
Amount has been incorporated into its liquidity plans.\22\ This 
required attestation would be from authorized officers of the Netting 
Member or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to FICC making 
the following certification: (1) Such officers have read and understand 
the GSD Rules, including the CCLF rules, (2) the Netting Member's 
Individual Total Amount has been incorporated into the Netting Member's 
liquidity planning, (3) the Netting Member acknowledges and agrees that 
its Individual Total Amount may be changed at the conclusion of any 
reset period or otherwise upon ten (10) Business Days' Notice, (4) the 
Netting Member will incorporate any changes to its Individual Total 
Amount into its liquidity planning, and (5) the Netting Member will 
continually reassess its liquidity plans and related operational plans, 
including in the event of any changes to such Netting Member's 
Individual Total Amount, to ensure such Netting Member's ability to 
meet its Individual Total Amount. FICC may require any Netting Member 
to provide FICC with a new certification in the

[[Page 14407]]

foregoing form at any time, including upon a change to a Netting 
Member's Individual Total Amount or in the event that a Netting Member 
undergoes a change in its corporate structure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ The attestation would not refer to the actual dollar amount 
that has been allocated as the Individual Total Amount. Each Netting 
Member's Individual Total Amount would be made available to such 
Member via GSD's access controlled portal Web site.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the above, on a quarterly basis, FICC's Counterparty 
Credit Risk Management group would conduct due diligence to assess each 
Netting Member's ability to meet its Individual Total Amount. This due 
diligence would include a review of all information that the Netting 
Member has provided FICC in connection with its ongoing reporting 
obligations pursuant to the GSD Rules and a review of other publicly 
available information. Additionally, FICC would test its operational 
procedures for invoking a CCLF Event. Pursuant to GSD Rule 3 Section 6, 
Netting Members would be required to participate in such tests. If a 
Netting Member fails to participate in such testing when required by 
FICC, FICC may take disciplinary measures as set forth in GSD Rule 3 
Section 7.
F. FICC's Commitment to Enhanced Transparency
    FICC understands that each Netting Member must be able to evaluate 
the risks of its membership and plan for its funding obligations. 
Additionally, FICC believes that it is critical that each Netting 
Member understands the risks that its activity presents to FICC, and 
that each Netting Member should be prepared to monitor its activity and 
alter its behavior in order to minimize the liquidity risk that it 
presents to FICC. Accordingly, on each Business Day, FICC would make a 
liquidity funding report available to each Netting Member that would 
include the following:
    1. The Netting Member's Individual Total Amount, Individual Regular 
Amount and, if applicable, its Individual Supplemental Amount;
    2. FICC's Aggregate Total Amount, Aggregate Regular Amount and 
Aggregate Supplemental Amount; and
    3. FICC's regulatory liquidity requirements as of the prior 
Business Day.
    The liquidity funding report would be provided for informational 
purposes only. Pursuant to the proposed rule change, upon a CCLF Event, 
each Netting Member would be required to enter into CCLF Transactions 
having an aggregate purchase price up to its Individual Total Amount as 
calculated by FICC.
G. Proposed Changes to the GSD Rules
GSD Rule 1--Definitions
    In order to help effectuate the proposed changes, FICC proposes to 
add the following defined terms to the GSD Rule 1: Affected Member; 
Aggregate Regular Amount; Aggregate Supplemental Amount; Aggregate 
Total Amount; CCLF Event; CCLF MRA; CCLF MRA Termination Date; CCLF 
Transaction; Deliver Scaling Factor; Direct Affected Member; Financed 
Securities; Financing Amount; Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement; 
Indirect Affected Member; Individual Regular Amount; Individual 
Supplemental Amount; Individual Total Amount; Liquidating Trade; 
Liquidity Buffer; Liquidity Need; Liquidity Percentage; Liquidity Tier; 
Look-Back Period; Observation; Receive Scaling Factor; Relative Inter-
Tier Frequency; Relative Intra-Tier Frequency; Relevant Securities; 
Remaining Financing Amount; Required Attestation; and SIFMA MRA.
Rule 22A--Procedures for When the Corporation Ceases To Act
    FICC is proposing to amend Rule 22A to include a new section in 
this Rule. This new section would be entitled ``Section 2a.'' Proposed 
Section 2a would incorporate the CCLF MRA into the GSD Rules subject to 
the amendments proposed therein. In addition, the proposed section 
would include (1) the notification process that would occur once FICC 
invokes a CCLF Event; (2) the CCLF Transactions that FICC would enter 
into once it invokes a CCLF Event; (3) disclosure of each relevant CCLF 
sizing component that FICC would assess; (4) the calculation that FICC 
would use to determine each Netting Member's Individual Regular Amount 
and Individual Supplemental Amount, if applicable; and (5) a 
description of the officers' certificate that each Netting Member would 
be required to provide certifying that, among other things, its 
Individual Total Amount has been incorporated into its liquidity plans.
2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Exchange Act requires, in part, that 
the rules of a clearing agency be designed to assure the safeguarding 
of securities and funds which are in the custody or control of the 
clearing agency or for which it is responsible.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FICC believes that the CCLF proposal would enable FICC to access 
additional liquidity in the event that its other liquidity resources 
are insufficient upon the default of a Netting Member, which would help 
ensure that FICC has sufficient funds to meet its cash settlement 
obligations to its non-defaulting Netting Members. As a result, FICC 
believes that the proposal has been designed to assure the safeguarding 
of securities and funds in FICC's custody or control, consistent with 
Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Exchange Act.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(b)(3) under the Exchange Act requires a registered 
clearing agency that performs central counterparty services to 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to maintain sufficient financial 
resources to withstand, at a minimum, a default by the participant 
family to which it has the largest exposure in extreme but plausible 
market conditions.\25\ As described above, FICC would size CCLF based 
on the peak liquidity need that would be generated by the default of 
its largest participant family (its Historical Cover 1 Liquidity 
Requirement), plus an additional Liquidity Buffer to account for 
unexpected Netting Member trading behavior that could increase FICC's 
Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement or a situation in which its 
largest Netting Member defaults and cannot contribute to the CCLF. 
Thus, FICC believes that the proposal would be consistent with Rule 
17Ad-22(b)(3) because it is designed to provide FICC with sufficient 
financial resources to withstand a default by the participant family to 
which it has the largest exposure in extreme but plausible market 
conditions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(d)(9) under the Exchange Act requires a registered 
clearing agency that performs central counterparty services to 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures to provide market participants with sufficient information 
for them to identify and evaluate the risks and costs associated with 
using its services.\26\ As described above, on each Business Day, FICC 
would make a liquidity funding report available to each Netting Member. 
This report would include (1) the Netting Member's Individual Total 
Amount, Individual Regular Amount and, to the extent applicable, its 
Individual Supplemental Amount; (2) FICC's Aggregate Total Amount, 
Aggregate Regular Amount and Aggregate Supplemental Amount; and (3) 
FICC's regulatory liquidity requirements as of the prior Business Day. 
This report would enable each Netting Member to prepare for its maximum 
funding obligations and alter its trading behavior should it desire to

[[Page 14408]]

minimize the liquidity risk it presents to FICC. FICC believes that the 
proposed rule change would be consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(d)(9) 
because the liquidity funding report would provide Netting Members with 
sufficient information to identify and evaluate the risks and costs 
associated with using the services that FICC provides through GSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(9).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7) under the Exchange Act, which was recently 
adopted by the Commission, will require FICC to establish, implement, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to effectively measure, monitor, and manage liquidity risk 
that arises in or is borne by FICC, including measuring, monitoring, 
and managing its settlement and funding flows on an ongoing and timely 
basis, and its use of intraday liquidity.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(i) will require FICC to maintain sufficient 
liquid resources to effect same-day settlement of payment obligations 
in the event of a default of the participant family that would generate 
the largest aggregate payment obligation for the covered clearing 
agency in extreme but plausible market conditions.\28\ FICC believes 
that the proposal would be consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(i) 
because CCLF would be sized based on the peak liquidity need that would 
be generated by the default of its largest participant family (its 
Historical Cover 1 Liquidity Requirement), plus an additional Liquidity 
Buffer, which would help FICC maintain sufficient liquid resources to 
settle the cash obligations of an Affiliated Family that would generate 
the largest aggregate payment obligation for FICC in extreme but 
plausible market conditions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(ii) will require FICC to hold qualifying liquid 
resources sufficient to satisfy payment obligations owed to clearing 
members.\29\ FICC believes that the proposed rule change would be 
consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(ii) because the CCLF MRA would be a 
committed arrangement and all CCLF Transactions entered into pursuant 
the CCLF MRA would be readily available and the related assets would be 
convertible into cash in order to settle cash obligations owed to non-
defaulting Netting Members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(iv) under the Exchange Act will require FICC to 
undertake due diligence that confirms that it has a reasonable basis to 
believe each of its liquidity providers has: (a) Sufficient information 
to understand and manage the liquidity provider's liquidity risks; and 
(b) the capacity to perform as required under its commitments to 
provide liquidity.\30\ As described above, on a quarterly basis, FICC 
would conduct due diligence to assess each Netting Member's ability to 
meet its Individual Total Amount. This due diligence would include a 
review of all information that the Netting Member has provided FICC in 
connection with its ongoing reporting requirements pursuant to the GSD 
Rules as well as a review of other publicly available information. As a 
result, FICC believes that its due diligence of Netting Members would 
be consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(v) under the Exchange Act will 
require FICC to maintain and test with each liquidity provider, to the 
extent practicable, FICC's procedures and operational capacity for 
accessing its relevant liquid resources.\31\ As described above, FICC 
would test its operational procedures for invoking a CCLF Event and 
pursuant to GSD Rule 3 Section 6, Netting Members would be required to 
participate in such tests. As a result, FICC believes that its testing 
of its capability to invoke a CCLF MRA would be consistent with Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(7)(v).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(v).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FICC believes that the proposed rule change could have an impact 
upon competition because each Netting Member's Individual Total Amount 
would place a committed funding obligation on Netting Members and this 
obligation would increase the cost of participating in GSD. The 
proposed rule change could impose a larger burden on competition on 
Netting Members that are subject to an Individual Supplemental Amount 
because such Members would bear higher funding obligations than Netting 
Members who are not subject to an Individual Supplemental Amount.
    FICC believes that the burden on competition that is created by the 
proposed rule change is necessary to comply with the requirements of 
the Exchange Act and rules thereunder. As noted above, FICC believes 
that the proposal would assure that FICC safeguards securities and 
funds in its custody or control by providing FICC with additional 
liquidity to meet its cash settlement obligations. Moreover, the 
proposal would support FICC's compliance with Rule 17Ad-22(b)(3) \32\ 
under the Exchange Act because the CCLF would be sized to provide FICC 
with sufficient financial resources to withstand, at a minimum, a 
default by the participant family to which it has the largest exposure 
in extreme but plausible market conditions. Additionally, the proposed 
rule change would support FICC's compliance with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(ii) 
\33\ under the Exchange Act because the CCLF MRA would be a committed 
liquidity arrangement and all CCLF Transactions entered into pursuant 
the CCLF MRA would be readily available and the related assets would be 
convertible into cash in order to settle cash obligations owed to non-
defaulting Netting Members. The proposed rule change would support 
FICC's compliance with Rules 17Ad-22(e)(7)(iv) and (v) \34\ under the 
Exchange Act because FICC would conduct due diligence to assess each 
Netting Member's ability to meet its Individual Total Amount and FICC 
would test its procedures and operational capability to invoke a CCLF 
Event. Pursuant to GSD Rule 3 Section 6, Netting Members would be 
required to participate in such tests.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(3).
    \33\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(ii).
    \34\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(iv) and (v).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FICC believes that the burden on competition created by the 
Individual Total Amount and Individual Supplemental Amount would be 
appropriate in furtherance of the Exchange Act. While the proposal may 
result in FICC requiring each Netting Member to contribute different 
amounts to CCLF, those contributions would be calculated in proportion 
to the liquidity needs that each Netting Member presents to FICC over a 
given six-month look-back period. Moreover, the Individual Supplemental 
Amount would only be applied to Netting Members that place the largest 
liquidity needs on FICC, and these needs are a direct result of such 
Members' trading behavior during the six-month look-back period. As a 
result, the proposal would ensure that all Netting Members fairly and 
equitably contribute to FICC's liquid financial resources based on the 
liquidity need they present to FICC.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The proposal addresses a risk that spans beyond ``extreme but 
plausible.''
    FICC has received feedback that the proposed rule change seeks to 
address a risk that is not reasonable given the

[[Page 14409]]

current structure of the short-term tri-party repurchase market 
(``repo'') in U.S. Government securities. Commenters have explained 
that a committed liquidity tool such as CCLF is unnecessary because the 
repo market remained robust during periods of historical market stress 
and would continue to adequately perform during the next crisis. They 
have also noted that U.S. Treasury securities continue to be considered 
a ``risk-free'' instrument.
    While FICC believes that historical market behavior allows market 
participants to observe trends in the repo market, FICC also believes 
that the adoption of CCLF would better position FICC to protect itself 
and its Netting Members should the repurchase financing market 
materially contract in the future. Additionally, the proposed rule 
change would adhere to Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(i) which requires FICC to 
maintain sufficient liquid resources to effect same-day settlement of 
payment obligations in the event of a default of the participant family 
that would generate the largest aggregate payment obligation for the 
covered clearing agency in extreme but plausible market conditions.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposal may impact behavior of smaller market participants.
    FICC has also received feedback that the proposed rule change would 
create concentration risk by forcing smaller Netting Members to clear 
through large financial institutions or exit the business. Commenters 
have explained that the funding obligation under the CCLF proposal may 
significantly impact their available capital or operating profiles. As 
a result, the CCLF proposal may force certain Netting Members to (1) 
clear through other financial institutions or (2) terminate their 
membership with FICC and engage in bilateral arrangements.
    FICC values each Netting Member and does not wish to force any 
Netting Member to clear through larger Netting Members or exit the 
business as a result of this proposed rule change. However, FICC 
believes that all Netting Members should endeavor to maintain suitable 
capital to meet FICC's enhanced participation requirements so that such 
Members do not have to clear through larger financial institutions or 
exit the business. Because each Netting Member is in the best position 
to monitor and manage the liquidity risks presented by its own 
activity, FICC believes that Netting Members should endeavor to manage 
their own liquidity. In an effort to enable each Netting Member to 
prepare for its liquidity funding obligation, FICC would provide a 
liquidity funding report to each Netting Member on a daily basis. This 
report would enable each Netting Member to prepare for its maximum 
funding obligations and alter its trading behavior should it desire to 
minimize the liquidity risk that it presents to FICC.
    FICC is cognizant that Netting Members would need to incorporate 
their respective funding obligation into their internal liquidity plans 
and evaluate the appropriate course of action for their firm based on 
the economic impact that such Netting Members believe the funding 
obligation imposes. Given the added liquidity cost, as noted in the 
feedback, FICC would implement the proposed rule change 12 months after 
the later date of the Commission's approval of this filing or its no 
objection of the Advance Notice Filing. During this 12-month period, 
FICC would periodically provide Netting Members with estimates of their 
Individual Total Amounts. The deferred implementation and the estimate 
Individual Total Amounts are designed to give Netting Members the 
opportunity to assess the impact of their Individual Total Amount on 
their business profile and make any changes that such Netting Members 
deem necessary to lower their respective allocation.
    As noted above, FICC understands that Netting Members must be able 
to plan for their funding obligations. At the same time, FICC also 
believes that it is critical that Netting Members understand the risks 
that their own activity presents to FICC, and be prepared to monitor 
their own activity and alter their behavior in order to minimize the 
liquidity risk they present to FICC.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self- regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.
    The proposal shall not take effect until all regulatory actions 
required with respect to the proposal are completed.

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 Exchange 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 email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-FICC-2017-002 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FICC-2017-002. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of FICC and on 
DTCC's Web site (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx). 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-FICC-2017-002 and should be 
submitted on or before April 10, 2017.


[[Page 14410]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-05401 Filed 3-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P