[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 149 (Friday, August 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36476-36484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16395]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81260; File Nos. SR-NSCC-2017-803; SR-OCC-2017-804]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of No Objection 
To Advance Notices Concerning the Adoption of a New Stock Options and 
Futures Settlement Agreement Between the National Securities Clearing 
Corporation and The Options Clearing Corporation

July 31, 2017.
    On June 1, 2017, National Securities Clearing Corporation 
(``NSCC'') and The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC,'' each a 
``Clearing Agency,'' and collectively, ``Clearing Agencies'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') advance 
notices SR-NSCC-2017-803 and SR-OCC-2017-804 respectively 
(collectively, the ``Advance Notices''), pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) 
of Title VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act entitled the Payment, Clearing, and Settlement 
Supervision Act of 2010 (``Clearing Supervision Act'') \1\ and Rule 
19b-4(n)(1)(i) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'').\2\ 
The Advance Notices were published for comment in the Federal Register 
on July 5, 2017.\3\ The Commission did not

[[Page 36477]]

receive any comments to the Advance Notices. This publication serves as 
notice that the Commission does not object to the changes set forth in 
the Advance Notices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(n)(1)(i).
    \3\ Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 81039 (June 28, 2017), 
82 FR 31123 (July 5, 2017) (SR-NSCC-2017-803); 81040 (June 28, 
2017), 82 FR 31109 (July 5, 2017) (SR-OCC-2017-804). The Clearing 
Agencies also filed proposed rule changes with the Commission 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Act and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, 
seeking approval of changes to their Rules necessary to implement 
the proposal. 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and 17 CFR 240.19b-4, 
respectively. The proposed rule changes were published for comment 
in the Federal Register on June 20, 2017. Securities Exchange Act 
Release Nos. 80942 (June 15, 2017), 82 FR 28141 (June 20, 2017) (SR-
NSCC-2017-007); 80941 (June 15, 2017), 82 FR 28207 (June 20, 2017) 
(SR-OCC-2017-013). The Commission received one comment letter to SR-
OCC-2017-013. See letter from Pamela D. Marler, dated June 30, 2017. 
Such comment letter does not specifically comment on any aspect of 
the proposed rule changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Description of the Advance Notices

    The Advance Notices filed by the Clearing Agencies are a proposal 
to implement a new Stock Options and Futures Settlement Agreement 
(``New Accord'') between the Clearing Agencies, and to amend the Rules 
and Procedures of NSCC (``NSCC Rules'') and the By-Laws and Rules of 
OCC to accommodate the proposed provisions of the New Accord.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Terms not defined herein are defined in the NSCC Rules, 
available at http://www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/legal/
rules/nscc_rules.pdf, or in OCC's By-Laws and Rules, available at 
http://optionsclearing.com/about/publications/bylaws.jsp, as the 
context implies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    OCC issues and clears U.S.-listed options and futures on a number 
of underlying financial assets including common stocks, currencies and 
stock indices. OCC's Rules, however, provide that delivery of, and 
payment for, securities underlying certain physically settled stock 
options and single stock futures cleared by OCC are effected through 
the facilities of a correspondent clearing corporation (i.e., NSCC) and 
are not settled through the facilities of OCC. To enable this 
arrangement concerning stock options, the Clearing Agencies currently 
are parties to a Third Amended and Restated Options Exercise Settlement 
Agreement, dated February 16, 1995, as amended (``Existing 
Accord''),\5\ which governs the delivery and receipt of stock resulting 
from the exercise and assignment of stock options (i.e., put and call 
options issued by OCC (``Stock Options'')). Pursuant to the Existing 
Accord, such stock must be: (i) Eligible for settlement through NSCC's 
Continuous Net Settlement (``CNS'') Accounting Operation and (ii) 
designated to settle on the third business day following the date the 
related exercise or assignment is accepted by NSCC (``Options E&A''), 
which is the current standard settlement cycle, known as ``regular 
way'' settlement.\6\ All OCC Clearing Members that intend to engage in 
Stock Options transactions are required to also be Members of NSCC or 
to have appointed or nominated an NSCC Member to act on its behalf.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The Existing Accord and the proposed changes thereunder were 
previously approved by the Commission. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 37731 (September 26, 1996), 61 FR 51731 (October 3, 
1996) (SR-OCC-96-04 and SR-NSCC-96-11) (Order Approving Proposed 
Rule Change Related to an Amended and Restated Options Exercise 
Settlement Agreement Between the Options Clearing Corporation and 
the National Securities Clearing Corporation); Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 43837 (January 12, 2001), 66 FR 6726 (January 22, 
2001) (SR-OCC-00-12) (Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a 
Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Creation of a Program to 
Relieve Strains on Clearing Members' Liquidity in Connection With 
Exercise Settlements); and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58988 
(November 20, 2008), 73 FR 72098 (November 26, 2008) (SR-OCC-2008-18 
and SR-NSCC-2008-09) (Notice of Filing and Order Granting 
Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Changes Relating to Amendment 
No. 2 to the Third Amended and Restated Options Exercise Settlement 
Agreement).
    \6\ According to the Clearing Agencies, regular way settlement 
is understood to be the financial services industry's standard 
settlement cycle. Currently, regular way settlement of securities 
underlying Stock Options and stock futures takes place on the third 
business day following the date the related exercise, assignment or 
delivery obligation is accepted by NSCC. On or prior to September 5, 
2017, the standard settlement cycle will be shortened to two 
business days after trade date, as required by the Commission. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80295 (March 22, 2017), 82 FR 
15564 (March 29, 2017) (S7-22-16) (Securities Transaction Settlement 
Cycle). NSCC has amended its Rules with respect to the meaning of 
regular way settlement to be consistent with the shorter standard 
settlement cycle and will establish an effective date for these rule 
changes in a subsequent rule filing. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 79734 (January 4, 2017), 82 FR 3030 (January 10, 2017) 
(SR-NSCC-2016-007).
    \7\ A firm that is both an OCC Clearing Member and an NSCC 
Member, or is an OCC Clearing Member that has designated an NSCC 
Member to act on its behalf is referred to herein as a ``Common 
Member.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Advance Notices are a proposal by the Clearing Agencies to 
adopt a New Accord, which would provide for the settlement of the 
securities underlying certain Stock Options and delivery obligations 
arising from certain matured physically-settled single stock futures 
contracts cleared by OCC (``Stock Futures''). The New Accord would 
implement three major changes. First, the New Accord would expand the 
category of securities that would be eligible for settlement and 
guaranty under the agreement to certain securities (including stocks, 
exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes) that (i) are required 
to be delivered in the exercise and assignment of Stock Options and are 
eligible to be settled through NSCC's Balance Order Accounting 
Operation or (ii) are delivery obligations arising from Stock Futures 
that have reached maturity and are eligible to be settled through 
NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation or Balance Order Accounting 
Operation.\8\ Second, the New Accord would modify the time of the 
transfer of responsibilities from OCC to NSCC and, specifically, when 
OCC's guarantee obligations under OCC's By-Laws and Rules with respect 
to such transactions (``OCC's Guaranty'') end and NSCC's obligations 
under Addendum K of the NSCC Rules with respect to such transactions 
(``NSCC's Guaranty'') begin, i.e., when the ``Guaranty Substitution'' 
takes place. Third, the New Accord would put additional arrangements 
into place concerning the procedures, information sharing, and overall 
governance processes under the agreement. The Clearing Agencies propose 
to make certain clarifying and conforming changes to the NSCC Rules and 
the OCC By-Laws and Rules as necessary to implement the New Accord.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The New Accord would continue to provide for the settlement 
of securities underlying Stock Options that settle through NSCC's 
CNS Accounting Operation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the Clearing Agencies, the primary purpose of the 
proposed changes is to: (1) Provide consistent treatment across all 
expiries for products with regular way \9\ settlement cycle 
specifications; (2) reduce the operational complexities of the Existing 
Accord by delineating a single point in time at which OCC's Guaranty 
ceases and NSCC's Guaranty begins and clarifying the roles and 
responsibilities of the Clearing Agencies in the event of a default of 
a Common Member at either or both Clearing Agencies; and (3) improve 
procedures, information sharing, and overall governance under the 
agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Under the New Accord, ``regular way settlement'' would have 
a meaning agreed to by the Clearing Agencies. This will address any 
changes to the standard settlement cycle. See supra note 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The New Accord would become effective, and wholly replace the 
Existing Accord, at a date specified in a service level agreement to be 
entered into between the Clearing Agencies.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Such effective date would be a date following approval of 
all required regulatory submissions to be filed by OCC and NSCC with 
the appropriate regulatory authorities, including these Advance 
Notices. See supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Existing Accord

Key Terms of the Existing Accord

    According to the Clearing Agencies, under the Existing Accord, the 
settlement of underlying securities resulting from Options E&A 
generally proceeds according to the following sequence of events. NSCC 
maintains and delivers to OCC a list (``CNS Eligibility Master File'') 
that enumerates all CNS Securities, which are defined in NSCC Rule 1 
and generally include securities that have been designated by NSCC as 
eligible for processing through NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation and 
eligible for book entry delivery at NSCC's affiliate, The Depository 
Trust

[[Page 36478]]

Company (``CNS Eligible Securities'').\11\ OCC, in turn, uses this file 
to make a final determination of which securities NSCC would not accept 
and therefore would need to be settled on a broker-to-broker basis. OCC 
then sends to NSCC a transactions file (``OCC Transactions File''),\12\ 
listing the specific securities that are to be delivered and received 
as a result of Options E&A that have not previously been reported to 
NSCC and for which settlement is to be made through NSCC.\13\ With 
respect to each Options E&A, the OCC Transactions File includes the 
CUSIP number of the security to be delivered, the identities of the 
delivering and receiving Common Members, the quantity to be delivered, 
the total value of the quantity to be delivered based on the exercise 
price of the option for which such security is the underlying security, 
and the exercise settlement date. After receiving the OCC Transactions 
File, NSCC then has until 11:00 a.m. Central Time on the following 
business day to reject any transaction listed in the OCC Transactions 
File. NSCC can reject a transaction if the security to be delivered has 
not been listed as a CNS Eligible Security in the CNS Eligibility 
Master File or if information provided in the OCC Transactions File is 
incomplete. Otherwise, if NSCC does not so notify OCC of its rejection 
of an Options E&A by the time required under the Existing Accord, NSCC 
will become unconditionally obligated to effect settlement of the 
underlying securities resulting from Options E&A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Supra note 4.
    \12\ According to the Clearing Agencies, delivery of the OCC 
Transactions File with respect to an Options E&A typically happens 
on the date of the option's exercise or expiration, though this is 
not expressly stated in the Existing Accord. However, in theory, an 
Options E&A could, due to an error or delay, be reported later than 
the date of the option's exercise or expiration.
    \13\ According to the Clearing Agencies, this process would be 
substantially the same under the New Accord with the exception that 
the CNS Eligibility Master File and OCC Transactions File would be 
renamed and would be expanded in scope to include additional 
securities that would be eligible for guaranty and settlement under 
the New Accord, as discussed in further detail below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the Clearing Agencies, under the Existing Accord, even 
after NSCC's trade guarantee has taken effect,\14\ OCC retains its 
trade guarantee obligations with respect to the Options E&A until 
certain deadlines \15\ have passed on the first business day following 
the scheduled settlement date. Once such deadlines have passed, OCC is 
released from its trade guarantee unless NSCC has notified OCC that the 
relevant Common Member has failed to meet an obligation to NSCC or NSCC 
has ceased to act for such Common Member pursuant to the NSCC 
Rules.\16\ As a result, there is a period of time during which NSCC's 
trade guarantee overlaps with OCC's trade guarantee and for which both 
Clearing Agencies collect and hold margin from the Common Member.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ Pursuant to Addendum K of the NSCC Rules, NSCC guarantees 
the completion of CNS transactions and balance order transactions 
that have reached the point at which, for bi-lateral submissions by 
Members, such trades have been validated and compared by NSCC, and 
for locked-in submissions, such trades have been validated by NSCC, 
as described in the NSCC Rules. Transactions that are covered by the 
Existing Accord, and that would be covered by the New Accord, are 
expressly excluded from the timeframes described in Addendum K. See 
supra note 4.
    \15\ The deadline is 6:00 a.m. Central Time for NSCC notifying 
OCC of a Common Member failure and, if NSCC does not immediately 
cease to act for such defaulting Common Member, 4:00 p.m. Central 
Time for notifying OCC that NSCC has ceased to act.
    \16\ See NSCC Rule 46 (Rule 46 (Restrictions on Access to 
Services). See supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the event that NSCC or OCC ceases to act on behalf of or 
suspends a Common Member, that Common Member would become a 
``defaulting member.'' Once a Common Member becomes a defaulting 
member, the Existing Accord provides that if OCC were to suspend a 
Common Member, NSCC would be required to make a payment to OCC equal to 
the lesser of OCC's total loss resulting from the closeout or the 
positive mark-to-market (``MTM'') amount relating to the defaulting 
member's Options E&A and that if NSCC were to suspend a Common Member, 
OCC would be required to make a payment to NSCC equal to the lesser of 
NSCC's total loss resulting from closeout or the negative mark-to-
market amount relating to the defaulting member's Options E&A. A 
Clearing Agency must request the transfer of any such payments by the 
close of business on the tenth business day following the day of 
default and, after a request is made, the other Clearing Agency is 
required to make payment within five business days of the request.

The New Accord

Overview

    As noted above, the Clearing Agencies propose to adopt a New 
Accord, which would provide for the settlement of certain securities 
underlying Stock Options and Stock Futures transactions. According to 
the Clearing Agencies, the New Accord is primarily designed to, among 
other things, expand the category of securities that are eligible for 
settlement and guaranty under the agreement; simplify the time of the 
transfer of responsibilities from OCC to NSCC (specifically, the 
Guaranty Substitution); and put additional arrangements into place 
concerning the procedures, information sharing, and overall governance 
processes under the agreement. The material provisions of the New 
Accord are described in detail below.

Key Elements of the New Accord

Expanded Scope of Eligible Securities
    Pursuant to the proposed New Accord, on each day that both OCC and 
NSCC are open for accepting trades for clearing (``Activity Date''), 
NSCC would deliver to OCC an ``Eligibility Master File,'' which would 
identify the securities, including stocks, exchange-traded funds and 
exchange-traded notes, that are: (1) Eligible to settle through NSCC's 
CNS Accounting Operation (as is currently the case under the Existing 
Accord) or NSCC's Balance Order Accounting Operation (which is a 
feature of the New Accord) and (2) required to be physically delivered 
in settlement of (i) exercises and assignments of Stock Options (as is 
currently the case under the Existing Accord) or (ii) delivery 
obligations arising from maturing physically settled Stock Futures 
(which is a feature of the New Accord) (all such securities 
collectively being ``Eligible Securities''). OCC, in turn, would 
deliver to NSCC its file of E&A/Delivery Transactions \17\ that list 
the Eligible Securities to be delivered, or received, and for which 
settlement is proposed to be made through NSCC on that Activity Date. 
Guaranty Substitution (discussed further below) would not occur with 
respect to an E&A/Delivery Transaction that is not submitted in the 
proper format or that involves a security that is not identified as an 
Eligible Security on the then-current Eligibility Master File. This 
process is similar to the current process under the Existing Accord 
with the exception of the expanded scope of Eligible Securities (and 
additional fields necessary to accommodate such securities) that would 
be listed on the Eligibility Master File and the E&A/Delivery 
Transactions file.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ ``E&A/Delivery Transactions'' are transactions involving 
the settlement of securities underlying Stock Options and Stock 
Futures under the New Accord. The delivery of E&A/Delivery 
Transactions to NSCC would replace the delivery of the ``OCC 
Transactions File'' from the Existing Accord. The actual information 
delivered by OCC to NSCC would be the same as is currently provided 
on the OCC Transactions File, but certain additional terms would be 
included to accommodate the inclusion of Stock Futures, along with 
information regarding the date that the instruction to NSCC was 
originally created and the E&A/Delivery Transaction's designated 
settlement date.

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

[[Page 36479]]

    As with the Existing Accord, the proposed New Accord would continue 
to provide for the settlement of securities underlying Stock Options 
that settle through NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation and are designated 
to settle regular way. In addition, the New Accord would expand the 
category of securities eligible for settlement and guarantee by NSCC to 
include Stock Futures deliveries that are eligible to settle through 
NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation and are designated to settle regular 
way. The New Accord would also provide for the settlement of securities 
underlying both Stock Options and Stock Futures that are eligible to 
settle through NSCC's Balance Order Accounting Operation on a regular 
way basis. The primary purpose of expanding the category of securities 
that are eligible for settlement and guaranty under the agreement is to 
provide consistent treatment across all expiries for products with 
regular way settlement cycle specifications and simplify the settlement 
process for these additional securities transactions.
    The New Accord would not apply to Stock Options or Stock Futures 
that are designated to settle on a shorter timeframe than the regular 
way settlement timeframe. These Stock Options would continue to be 
processed and settled as they would be today, outside of the New 
Accord. The New Accord also would not apply to any Stock Options or 
Stock Futures with underlying securities that are neither CNS 
Securities nor Balance Order Securities.\18\ Transactions in these 
securities are, and would continue to be processed on a trade-for-trade 
basis away from NSCC's facilities. Such transactions may utilize other 
NSCC services for which they are eligible, but would not be subject to 
the New Accord.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Balance Order Securities are defined in NSCC Rule 1, and 
are generally securities, other than foreign securities, that are 
eligible to be cleared at NSCC but are not eligible for processing 
through the CNS Accounting Operation. See supra note 4.
    \19\ OCC will continue to guarantee settlement until settlement 
actually occurs with respect to these Stock Options and Stock 
Futures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Changes Related to Guaranty Substitution
    The New Accord would adopt a fundamentally different approach to 
the delineation of the rights and responsibilities of the Clearing 
Agencies with respect to Guaranty Substitution.
    As described above, the Existing Accord provides that, following 
the default of a Common Member, and depending on the timing of the 
exercise or assignment guarantee, the Clearing Agency that suspends the 
Common Member will receive payment from the other Clearing Agency to 
compensate for potential losses incurred in connection with the Common 
Member's default. The proposed New Accord, in contrast, would clearly 
delineate a point in time at which OCC's Guaranty ends and NSCC's 
Guaranty begins (i.e., the Guaranty Substitution takes place) with 
respect to E&A/Delivery Transactions. By focusing on the timing of the 
Guaranty Substitution, rather than payment from one Clearing Agency to 
the other, the New Accord would simplify the agreement and the 
procedures for situations involving the default of a Common Member. The 
New Accord additionally would minimize ``double-margining'' situations 
when a Common Member may simultaneously owe margin to both NSCC and OCC 
with respect to the same E&A/Delivery Transaction.
    Under the New Accord, after NSCC has received an E&A/Delivery 
Transaction, the Guaranty Substitution would normally occur when NSCC 
has received all Required Deposits to its Clearing Fund, calculated 
taking into account such E&A/Delivery Transaction, of Common Members 
(``Guaranty Substitution Time'').\20\ At the Guaranty Substitution 
Time, NSCC's Guaranty would take effect, and OCC would no longer retain 
any settlement obligations with respect to such E&A/Delivery 
Transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Procedure XV of the NSCC Rules provides that all Clearing 
Fund requirements and other deposits be made within one hour of 
demand, unless NSCC determines otherwise. See supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Guaranty Substitution would not occur, however, with respect to 
any E&A/Delivery Transaction if NSCC has rejected such E&A/Delivery 
Transaction due to an improper submission, as described above. The 
Guaranty Substitution also would not occur if, after NSCC's receipt of 
the E&A/Delivery Transaction but prior to receiving corresponding 
Clearing Fund deposits, a Common Member involved in the E&A/Delivery 
Transaction has defaulted on its obligations to NSCC by failing to meet 
its Clearing Fund obligations, or NSCC has otherwise ceased to act for 
such Common Member pursuant to the NSCC Rules (in either case, such 
Common Member becomes a ``Defaulting NSCC Member'').
    NSCC would be required to promptly notify OCC if a Common Member 
becomes a Defaulting NSCC Member, as described above. Upon receiving 
such a notice, OCC would not submit to NSCC any additional E&A/Delivery 
Transactions involving the Defaulting NSCC Member for settlement, 
unless authorized representatives of both OCC and NSCC otherwise 
consent. OCC would, however, deliver to NSCC a list of all E&A/Delivery 
Transactions that have already been submitted to NSCC and that involve 
the Defaulting NSCC Member (``Defaulted NSCC Member Transactions''). 
The Guaranty Substitution would not occur with respect to such 
Defaulted NSCC Member Transactions, unless both Clearing Agencies agree 
otherwise. Therefore, NSCC would have no obligation to guarantee such 
Defaulted NSCC Member Transactions, and OCC would continue to be 
responsible for effecting the settlement of such Defaulted NSCC Member 
Transactions pursuant to OCC's By-Laws and Rules. Once NSCC has 
confirmed the list of Defaulted NSCC Member Transactions, Guaranty 
Substitution would occur for all submitted E&A/Delivery Transactions 
for that Activity Date that are not included on such list (i.e., those 
transactions not involving the Defaulting NSCC Clearing Member). NSCC 
would be required to promptly notify OCC upon the occurrence of the 
Guaranty Substitution Time on each Activity Date.
    If OCC suspends a Common Member after NSCC has received the E&A/
Delivery Transactions but before the Guaranty Substitution has 
occurred, and that Common Member has not become a Defaulting NSCC 
Member, the Guaranty Substitution would proceed at the Guaranty 
Substitution Time. In such a scenario, OCC would continue to be 
responsible for guaranteeing the settlement of the E&A/Delivery 
Transactions in question until the Guaranty Substitution Time, at which 
time the responsibility would transfer to NSCC. If, however, the 
suspended Common Member also becomes a Defaulting NSCC Member after 
NSCC has received the E&A/Delivery Transactions but before the Guaranty 
Substitution has occurred, Guaranty Substitution would not occur, and 
OCC would continue to be responsible for effecting the settlement of 
such Defaulted NSCC Member Transactions pursuant to OCC's By-Laws and 
Rules (unless both Clearing Agencies agree otherwise).
    Finally, the New Accord also would provide for the consistent 
treatment of all exercise and assignment activity under the agreement. 
Under the Existing Accord, ``standard'' \21\ option contracts

[[Page 36480]]

become guaranteed by NSCC when the Common Member meets its morning 
Clearing Fund Required Deposit at NSCC while ``non-standard'' exercise 
and assignment activity becomes guaranteed by NSCC at midnight of the 
day after trade date (T+1). Under the New Accord, all exercise and 
assignment activity for Eligible Securities would be guaranteed by NSCC 
as of the Guaranty Substitution Time, under the circumstances described 
above, further simplifying the framework for the settlement of such 
contracts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ Option contracts with ``standard'' expirations expire on 
the third Friday of the specified expiration month, while ``non-
standard'' contracts expire on other days of the expiration month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Terms of the New Accord

    The New Accord would include a number of other provisions intended 
to maintain certain terms of the Existing Accord or improve the 
procedures, information sharing, and overall governance process under 
the new agreement. Many of these terms are additions to or improvements 
upon the terms of the Existing Accord.
    Under the proposed New Accord, the Clearing Agencies would agree to 
address the specifics regarding the time, form, and manner of various 
required notifications and actions in a separate service level 
agreement, which the parties would be able to revisit as their 
operational needs evolve. The separate service level agreement also 
would specify an effective date for the New Accord, which would occur 
on a date following approval and effectiveness of all required 
regulatory submissions to be filed by OCC and NSCC with the appropriate 
regulatory authorities. Similar to the Existing Accord, the proposed 
New Accord would remain in effect: (a) Until it is terminated by the 
mutual written agreement of OCC and NSCC; (b) until it is unilaterally 
terminated by either Clearing Agency upon one year's written notice (as 
opposed to six months under the Existing Accord); or (c) until it is 
terminated by either NSCC or OCC upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of 
the other, provided that the election to terminate is communicated to 
the other party within three business days by written notice.
    Under the proposed New Accord, NSCC would agree to notify OCC if 
NSCC ceases to act for a Common Member pursuant to the NSCC Rules no 
later than the earlier of NSCC's provision of notice of such action to 
the governmental authorities or notice to other NSCC Members. 
Furthermore, if an NSCC Member for which NSCC has not yet ceased to act 
fails to satisfy its Clearing Fund obligations to NSCC, NSCC would be 
required to notify OCC promptly after discovery of the failure. 
Likewise, OCC would be required to notify NSCC of the suspension of a 
Common Member no later than the earlier of OCC's provision of notice to 
the governmental authorities or other OCC Clearing Members.
    Under the Existing Accord, NSCC and OCC agree to share certain 
reports and information regarding settlement activity and obligations 
under the agreement. The New Accord would enhance this information 
sharing between the Clearing Agencies. For example, the Clearing 
Agencies would agree to share certain information, including general 
risk management due diligence regarding Common Members, lists of Common 
Members, and information regarding margin and settlement obligations of 
the Common Members. The Clearing Agencies would also agree to provide 
each other with any other information that the other reasonably 
requests in connection with their obligations under the New Accord. All 
such information would be required to be kept confidential, using the 
same care and discretion that each Clearing Agency uses for the 
safekeeping of its own members' confidential information. NSCC and OCC 
would each be required to act in good faith to resolve and notify the 
other of any errors, discrepancies or delays in the information it 
provides.
    The New Accord also would include new terms to provide that, to the 
extent a Clearing Agency is unable to perform any obligation as a 
result of the failure of the other Clearing Agency to perform its 
responsibilities on a timely basis, the time for the non-failing 
Clearing Agency's performance would be extended, its performance would 
be reduced to the extent of any such impairment, and it would not be 
liable for any failure to perform its obligations. Further, NSCC and 
OCC would agree that neither Clearing Agency would be liable to the 
other Clearing Agency in connection with its performance of its 
obligations under the proposed New Accord to the extent it has acted, 
or omitted or ceased to act, with the permission or at the direction of 
a governmental authority. Moreover, the proposed New Accord would 
provide that in no case would either Clearing Agency be liable to the 
other for punitive, incidental or consequential damages. The purpose of 
these new provisions is to provide clear and specific terms regarding 
each Clearing Agency's liability for non-performance under the 
agreement.
    The proposed New Accord would also contain the usual and customary 
representations and warranties for an agreement of this type, including 
representations as to the parties' good standing, corporate power and 
authority and operational capability, that the agreement complies with 
laws and all government documents and does not violate any agreements, 
and that all of the required regulatory notifications and filings would 
be obtained prior to the New Accord's effective date. It would also 
include representations that the proposed New Accord constitutes a 
legal, valid and binding obligation on each of OCC and NSCC and is 
enforceable against each, subject to standard exceptions. Furthermore, 
the proposed New Accord would contain a force majeure provision, under 
which NSCC and OCC would agree to notify the other no later than two 
hours upon learning that a force majeure event has occurred and both 
parties would be required to cooperate in good faith to mitigate the 
effects of any resulting inability to perform or delay in performing.

Proposed Amendments to NSCC Rules

    Given the key differences between the Existing Accord and the New 
Accord, as described above, NSCC proposes certain changes to Procedures 
III and XV of the NSCC Rules to accommodate the terms of the New 
Accord. In particular, NSCC would update Section B of Procedure III to 
define the scope of the New Accord. First, the proposed Section B of 
Procedure III would identify the E&A/Delivery Transactions, and would 
make clear that the New Accord would apply only to E&A/Delivery 
Transactions that are in either CNS Securities or Balance Order 
Securities, as such terms are defined in the NSCC Rules. The proposed 
Section B of Procedure III would also define the Common Members, or 
firms that must be named as counterparties to E&A/Delivery 
Transactions, as ``Participating Members.'' The proposal would describe 
the Guaranty Substitution Time and would describe the circumstances 
under which the Guaranty Substitution would not occur. Finally, the 
proposed Section B of Procedure III would describe how E&A/Delivery 
Transactions for which the Guaranty Substitution has occurred would be 
processed at NSCC both if they are covered by the proposed New Accord 
and if they are not covered by the proposed New Accord because, for 
example, they are not transactions in CNS Securities or Balance Order 
Securities or were not submitted for regular way settlement.
    Finally, NSCC is also proposing to amend Procedure XV to remove

[[Page 36481]]

reference to the exclusion of E&A/Delivery Transactions from the 
calculation of the mark-to-market margin component of its Clearing Fund 
calculations, which is no longer applicable under the proposed New 
Accord where the Guaranty Substitution would replace the transfer of a 
defaulting Common Member's margin payments under the Existing Accord. 
Therefore, NSCC is not proposing any change to its margining 
methodology, but will include E&A/Delivery Transactions in the 
calculation of the mark-to-market margin component of Common Members' 
Clearing Fund Required Deposits following implementation of the New 
Accord.

Proposed Amendments to OCC's By-Laws and Rules

    OCC also proposes certain changes to its By-Laws and Rules to 
accommodate the terms of the New Accord. The primary purpose of the 
proposed changes is to: (1) Reflect the expanded scope of the New 
Accord, (2) reflect changes related to the new Guaranty Substitution 
mechanics of the New Accord; and (3) make other changes necessary to 
conform to the terms of the New Accord or to otherwise provide 
additional clarity around the settlement and margining \22\ treatment 
of: (i) Eligible Securities under the New Accord, (ii) non-regular way 
securities settling through the facilities of NSCC but outside of the 
New Accord, and (iii) those securities settling outside of the New 
Accord and away from NSCC on a broker-to-broker basis. These proposed 
changes are discussed in greater detail below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ OCC notes that, while it is proposing changes to its Rules 
concerning margin requirements (e.g., which transactions would be 
included as part of OCC's margin calculation at a given point in 
time), OCC is not proposing any changes to its margin model (with 
the exception that OCC would no longer collect and hold margin for 
positions after NSCC's Guaranty has taken effect under the New 
Accord).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changes Related to the Expanded Scope of the New Accord

    First, OCC proposes to amend and replace the defined term ``CNS-
eligible'' \23\ to reflect the expanded definition of Eligible 
Securities under the New Accord. The term ``CNS-eligible'' currently 
describes the securities underlying the physically-settled stock 
options that are eligible under the Existing Accord to be settled 
through NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation. Under the New Accord, however, 
the term Eligible Securities is more broadly defined to include 
securities (both Stock Options and Stock Futures) eligible for 
settlement via NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation and NSCC's Balance Order 
Accounting Operation. Accordingly, OCC proposes to use ``CCC,'' for 
``correspondent clearing corporation'' \24\ to describe the Eligible 
Securities. Thus, the term ``CCC-eligible'' would replace ``CNS-
eligible'' throughout OCC's By-Laws and Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ See Article I, Section (C)(23) of OCC's By-Laws.
    \24\ Under Article I of OCC's By-Laws, the term ``correspondent 
clearing corporation'' means the National Securities Clearing 
Corporation or any successor thereto which, by agreement with the 
Corporation, provides facilities for settlements in respect of 
exercised option contracts or BOUNDs (i.e., securities issued by OCC 
pursuant to Article XXIV of OCC's By-Laws and Chapter XXV of OCC's 
Rules) or in respect of delivery obligations arising from 
physically-settled stock futures. See supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Next, because the New Accord would include the settlement of 
securities underlying Stock Futures, OCC proposes to make several 
changes to its rules regarding Stock Futures to accommodate this 
expansion. More specifically, OCC proposes a conforming amendment to 
Rule 901 Interpretation and Policy (.02) to clarify that, under the New 
Accord, OCC will, subject to its discretion, cause the settlement of 
all matured Stock Futures to be made through the facilities of NSCC to 
the extent that the underlying securities are CCC-eligible as the term 
is currently proposed.
    OCC also proposes clarifying and conforming revisions to newly 
renumbered Rule 901(e) (currently Rule 901(d)) to specify that 
settlements made through the facilities of the correspondent clearing 
corporation are governed by Rule 901 and to clarify that, under the New 
Accord, specifications made in any Delivery Advice may be revoked up 
until the point at which NSCC's Guaranty has taken effect (the 
``obligation time'' as discussed below) and not the opening of business 
on the delivery date.

Changes Related to Guaranty Substitution

    OCC also proposes a series of amendments to its Rules to accurately 
reflect the process under which the Guaranty Substitution occurs under 
the New Accord. First, OCC proposes to amend Rule 901(c) so that the 
term ``obligation time''--the time that the correspondent clearing 
corporation becomes unconditionally obligated, in accordance with its 
rules, to effect settlement in respect thereof or to close out the 
securities contract arising therefrom--is synonymous with the Guaranty 
Substitution Time under the New Accord (i.e., (i) settlement 
obligations are reported to and are not rejected by NSCC; (ii) NSCC has 
not notified OCC that NSCC has ceased to act for the relevant Clearing 
Member; and (iii) the Clearing Fund requirements of the relevant 
Clearing Member are received by NSCC). Under the New Accord, if a 
default occurs prior to the Guaranty Substitution Time, the Guaranty 
Substitution will not occur for any E&A/Delivery Transactions involving 
the Defaulting NSCC Member, and OCC will continue to guarantee 
settlement for those Defaulted NSCC Member Transactions.
    Next, OCC proposes to amend language in newly renumbered Rule 
901(i) (currently Rule 901(h)) regarding the timing of the end of a 
Clearing Member's obligations to OCC with respect to securities to be 
settled through NSCC. Under the Existing Accord and OCC's existing 
Rules, a Clearing Member's obligations to OCC end only once settlement 
is completed. Under the New Accord, however, a Clearing Member's 
obligations to OCC will end when OCC's obligations with respect to 
guaranteeing settlement of the security would end (i.e., the Guaranty 
Substitution Time or ``obligation time''). OCC therefore proposes to 
amend newly renumbered Rule 901(i) to specify that a Clearing Member's 
obligations to OCC will be deemed completed and performed once the 
``obligation time'' has occurred.
    As discussed above, the New Accord eliminates the provisions of the 
Existing Accord whereby OCC and NSCC guaranteed each other the 
performance of Common Members and made certain payments to the other 
upon the default of a Common Member. Therefore, OCC proposes to delete 
discussions of such guarantees and payments from newly renumbered Rule 
901(i) and Rule 1107.
    OCC also proposes amendments to Rules 910 and 911, which set forth 
procedures for handling failures to make or take delivery of securities 
in settlement of exercised or assigned Stock Options and matured 
physically-settled Stock Futures, to add language to both rules to 
clarify that the failure procedures set forth therein would not apply 
with respect to any delivery to be made through NSCC pursuant to Rule 
901. Under the New Accord, once the Guaranty Substitution Time with 
respect to a specific E&A/Delivery Transaction occurs, OCC's Guaranty 
ends and NSCC's Guaranty begins, leaving OCC with no involvement with 
or responsibility for the settlement of the securities underlying that 
transaction. Therefore, if there is a failure to make or take delivery 
with respect to that transaction after Guaranty Substitution has 
occurred, the

[[Page 36482]]

NSCC Rules will govern that failure. With respect to deliveries made on 
a broker-to-broker basis under OCC Rules 903 through 912 (including 
those that may utilize NSCC's Obligation Warehouse services), and which 
are not governed by Rule 901, Guaranty Substitution does not occur and 
OCC's failure procedures would apply.

Changes to OCC's Margin Rules

    Under the New Accord, OCC will no longer collect margin on a 
transaction once it is no longer guaranteeing settlement for that 
transaction. Therefore, OCC proposes to add language to Rule 601(f) to 
clarify that OCC's margin calculations will not include delivery 
obligations arising from any Stock Options or Stock Futures that are 
eligible for settlement through NSCC and for which OCC has no further 
settlement obligations because either (i) Guaranty Substitution has 
occurred for E&A/Delivery Transactions under the New Accord (as 
described in revised Rule 901(c)) or (ii) NSCC has otherwise accepted 
transactions for non-regular way settlement under the NSCC Rules (as 
describe in newly proposed Rule 901(d)).\25\ By not including these 
transactions as part of OCC's margin calculation, OCC is hoping to 
alleviate instances of ``double-margining'' for Common Members that may 
otherwise simultaneously owe margin to NSCC and OCC with respect to the 
same position.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ Related revisions to Rule 901(c) and newly proposed Rule 
901(d) are discussed in more detail below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OCC also proposes to delete Rule 608A in its entirety. The New 
Accord seeks to eliminate the situation under the Existing Accord where 
Common Members are effectively ``double-margined'' or required to 
simultaneously post margin with OCC and NSCC with respect to the same 
position. As the New Accord eliminates this double-margining scenario, 
Rule 608A, which provides procedures pursuant to which a Clearing 
Member could use the securities deposited as margin with OCC as 
collateral to secure a loan to pay its margin obligations to NSCC, is 
now unnecessary.

Other Clarifying Changes Not Related to the New Accord

    OCC also proposes to amend its Rules to make clarifying changes 
that are not directly required by the New Accord but would provide 
additional clarity in its Rules in light of other changes being made to 
accommodate the New Accord. Specifically, OCC proposes to revise Rule 
901 Interpretation and Policy (.02) to provide that transactions that 
involve the delivery of non-CCC eligible securities made on a broker-
to-broker basis (and away from NSCC) may nevertheless involve the use 
of certain services of NSCC (e.g., NSCC's Obligation Warehouse). For 
such transactions, because they are not covered by the New Accord and 
NSCC at no point guarantees settlement, OCC Rule 901 would not apply 
and delivery is governed by the broker-to-broker settlement procedures 
set forth in OCC Rules 903 through 912, as is the case currently today. 
Additionally, while OCC's existing Rules do not prohibit broker-to-
broker settlements from being facilitated through the services of a 
correspondent clearing corporation, they do not explicitly contemplate 
the possibility. OCC also proposes to make clarifying amendments to 
Rule 904(b) and 910A(a) to more clearly distinguish between settlements 
effected through NSCC's CNS Accounting Operation or Balance Order 
Accounting Operations in accordance with OCC Rule 901 and deliveries 
effected on a broker-to-broker basis utilizing services of NSCC under 
OCC Rules 903 through 912 and to clearly state which OCC Rules apply in 
each context.
    Further, OCC proposes to add a new paragraph (d) to Rule 901 to 
clarify that OCC still intends, at its discretion, to effect settlement 
of Stock Options and Stock Futures that are scheduled to be settled on 
the first business day after exercise or maturity through NSCC pursuant 
to Rule 901 and the relevant provisions of the NSCC Rules, even though 
such contracts are outside the scope of the New Accord. These contracts 
would continue to be settled as they are currently today.
    OCC also proposes clarifying and conforming changes to the 
introductory language of Chapter IX of the Rules. Specifically, OCC 
proposes conforming changes to the Rule to reflect the replacement of 
the defined term ``CNS-eligible'' with ``CCC-eligible'' as described 
above. The proposed changes would also clarify that OCC's broker-to-
broker settlement rules are contained in Rules 903-912, as Rule 902 
concerns Delivery Advices, which also may be applicable to settlements 
made through the correspondent clearing corporation pursuant to Rule 
901. In addition, the proposed changes to the introductory language of 
Chapter IX of the Rules would provide additional clarity around OCC's 
existing authority to alter a previous designation of a settlement 
method at any time prior to the designated delivery date by specifying 
that this authority would apply to both settlements to be made through 
the facilities of the correspondent clearing corporation pursuant to 
Rule 901 or settlements to be made on a broker-to-broker basis pursuant 
to Rules 903 through 912. Finally, OCC proposes a number of conforming 
changes to Rules 901 and 912 to reflect the renumbering of various Rule 
provisions due to the proposed amendments described above.

II. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Although the Clearing Supervision Act does not specify a standard 
of review for an advance notice, its stated purpose is instructive: To 
mitigate systemic risk in the financial system and promote financial 
stability by, among other things, promoting uniform risk management 
standards for systemically important financial market utilities and 
strengthening the liquidity of systemically important financial market 
utilities.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ 12 U.S.C. 5461(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act \27\ authorizes 
the Commission to prescribe risk management standards for the payment, 
clearing and settlement activities of designated clearing entities 
engaged in designated activities for which the Commission is the 
supervisory agency. Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act \28\ 
provides the following objectives and principles for the Commission's 
risk management standards prescribed under Section 805(a):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
    \28\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     To promote robust risk management;
     to promote safety and soundness;
     to reduce systemic risks; and
     to support the stability of the broader financial system.
    The Commission has adopted risk management standards under Section 
805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act \29\ and Section 17A of the 
Act (``Rule 17Ad-22'').\30\ Rule 17Ad-22 requires registered clearing 
agencies to establish, implement, maintain, and enforce written 
policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to meet certain 
minimum requirements for their operations and risk management practices 
on an ongoing basis.\31\ Therefore, it is appropriate for the 
Commission to review proposed changes in advance notices against the 
objectives and principles of these risk management standards as 
described in

[[Page 36483]]

Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act and against Rule 17Ad-
22.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
    \30\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22.
    \31\ Id.
    \32\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Consistency With Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act

    The Commission believes that the changes proposed in the Advance 
Notices are consistent with Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision 
Act \33\ because they are designed to reduce systemic risk and to 
promote robust risk management by mitigating operational risk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposal would expand the category of securities eligible for 
settlement and guarantee under the New Accord to include Stock Futures 
deliveries that are eligible to settle through NSCC's CNS Accounting 
Operation, as well as securities underlying Stock Options and Stock 
Futures that are eligible to settle through NSCC's Balance Order 
Accounting Operation, where each are scheduled to settle regular way. 
By including these additional securities as part of the New Accord, the 
proposal would provide for more uniform settlement processing of 
securities with regular way settlement. According to the Clearing 
Agencies, the expansion of the category of securities eligible for 
settlement and guarantee under the New Accord would simplify the 
settlement process for these additional securities transactions. By 
providing for more uniform settlement processing, simplifying the 
settlement process, and subjecting such transactions to enhanced 
information sharing and governance, as described below, this change is 
intended to promote robust risk management by mitigating operational 
risk.
    The proposal would establish additional arrangements concerning the 
procedures, information sharing, and overall governance processes under 
the New Accord. For example, the Clearing Agencies would agree to share 
certain information, including general risk management due diligence 
regarding Common Members, lists of Common Members, and information 
regarding margin and settlement obligations of the Common Members. The 
Clearing Agencies also would agree to provide each other with any other 
information that the other reasonably requests in connection with their 
obligations under the New Accord. Such agreements are designed to help 
the Clearing Agencies to more effectively identify, monitor, and manage 
risks that may be presented by certain Common Members.
    The New Accord also would establish the Guaranty Substitution Time 
(i.e., a specific point in time where trade guarantee obligations would 
transfer from OCC to NSCC), with respect to the applicable securities 
transactions, as described above. The Guaranty Substitution Time would 
help eliminate ambiguity and complexity that exists in the current 
guarantee practice regarding which Clearing Agency is responsible for 
guaranteeing settlement at any given moment, and help provide greater 
certainty that, in the event of the default of a Common Member, the 
default would be handled pursuant to the rules and procedures of the 
Clearing Agency whose guarantee is then in effect. This proposed change 
is designed to help strengthen the Clearing Agencies' abilities to plan 
for, manage, and, therefore, mitigate the risks that the default of a 
Common Member could present to the Clearing Agencies, other clearing 
members, and the market as a whole.
    By assisting the Clearing Agencies with mitigating operational 
risk, as well as more effectively managing risks presented by certain 
Common Members, including the risk presented by Common Member defaults, 
the proposed changes are designed to reduce systemic risk and promote 
robust risk management. Therefore, the Commission believes that the 
changes proposed in the Advance Notices are consistent with Section 
805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Consistency With Rule 17Ad-22(e)(20)

    The Commission believes that the changes proposed in the Advance 
Notices are consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(20) under the Act, which 
requires, in part, that the Clearing Agencies establish, implement, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to identify, monitor, and manage risks related to any link the 
clearing agency establishes with one or more other clearing 
agencies.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(20).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the terms of the Existing Accord, even after NSCC's trade 
guarantee has taken effect, OCC is not released from its trade 
guarantee with respect to the transactions until certain deadlines have 
passed, as discussed above. As a result, the Existing Accord creates a 
complicated framework for the settlement of securities underlying 
certain Stock Options, which could lead to an unanticipated disruption 
to the Clearing Agencies' respective clearing operations.
    The New Accord is designed to better mitigate and manage the risks 
related to the link the Clearing Agencies have established with each 
other to settle the securities underlying Stock Options and Stock 
Futures. For example, by instituting the Guaranty Substitution Time, 
the New Accord would provide for a clearer, simpler framework for the 
settlement of securities underlying certain Stock Options and Stock 
Futures by setting a specific time at which trade guarantee obligations 
would transfer from OCC to NSCC. This would help eliminate the 
ambiguity that currently exists regarding which Clearing Agency is 
responsible for guaranteeing settlement at any given moment. It would 
also provide greater certainty that in the event of a Common Member 
default, the default would be handled pursuant to the rules and 
procedures of the Clearing Agency whose guarantee is then in effect. 
This greater certainty, in turn, is designed to help improve the OCC's 
and NSCC's ability to plan for and manage the risk presented by the 
default of a Common Member, and the effects that such a default could 
have on other members and the markets the Clearing Agencies serve.
    In connection with the proposal to put additional arrangements into 
place concerning the procedures, information sharing, and overall 
governance processes under the New Accord, the Clearing Agencies would 
agree to share certain information, including general surveillance 
information regarding their members. Such arrangements are designed to 
help each Clearing Agency more effectively identify, monitor, and 
manage risks that may be presented by Common Members.
    For the above reasons, the Commission believes that the New Accord 
is designed to assist the Clearing Agencies in identifying, monitoring, 
and managing risks related to the link between the Clearing Agencies. 
Therefore, the Commission believes that the changes proposed in the 
Advance Notices are consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(20).\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Consistency With Rule 17Ad-22(e)(21)

    The Commission believes that the proposal is consistent with Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(21) under the Act, which requires, in part, that the 
Clearing Agencies establish, implement, maintain and enforce written 
policies and procedures reasonably designed to be efficient and 
effective in meeting the requirements of

[[Page 36484]]

its participants and the markets it serves.\37\ As described above, the 
proposal would modify the timing of the Guaranty Substitution by 
establishing the Guaranty Substitution Time. In doing so, the New 
Accord would minimize the ``double margining'' issue \38\ that is 
present under the Existing Accord. As a result, Common Members would no 
longer be required to post margin at both Clearing Agencies to cover 
the same transactions. By simplifying the terms of the existing 
agreement in this way, the New Accord is designed to be more efficient 
and effective in meeting the requirements of OCC's and NSCC's 
participants and the markets they serve.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(21).
    \38\ As noted above, under the Existing Accord, even after 
NSCC's trade guarantee has taken effect, OCC retains its trade 
guarantee obligations with respect to the options exercise or 
assignment until certain deadlines have passed on the first business 
day following the scheduled settlement date. Once such deadlines 
have passed, OCC is released from its trade guarantee unless NSCC 
has notified OCC that the relevant Common Member has failed to meet 
an obligation to NSCC or NSCC has ceased to act for such firm. This 
results in a period of time during which NSCC's trade guarantee 
overlaps with OCC's trade guarantee, for which both Clearing 
Agencies collect and hold margin from the Common Member. See supra 
note 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, as described above, the proposed changes would 
establish additional arrangements between the Clearing Agencies 
concerning the procedures, information sharing, and overall governance 
processes under the New Accord. Such arrangements could enhance 
information sharing between the Clearing Agencies and enable them to 
more effectively identify, monitor, and manage risks that may be 
presented by certain Common Members.
    Because the New Accord would allow for greater information sharing 
and eliminate the need for Common Members to post margin at both 
Clearing Agencies for the same transactions, the Commission believes 
the proposal is designed to be efficient and effective in meeting the 
requirements of Common Members. Therefore, the Commission believes that 
the changes proposed in the Advance Notices are consistent with the 
requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(21).\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(21).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Conclusion

    It is therefore noticed, pursuant to Section 806(e)(1)(I) of the 
Clearing Supervision Act,\40\ that the Commission does not object to 
these advance notice proposals (SR-NSCC-2017-803 and SR-OCC-2017-804) 
and that the Clearing Agencies are authorized to implement the 
proposals as of the date of this notice or the date of an order by the 
Commission approving a proposed rule change that reflects rule changes 
that are consistent with the relevant advance notice proposal (SR-NSCC-
2017-007, SR-OCC-2017-013), whichever is later.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1)(I).

    By the Commission.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-16395 Filed 8-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P