82_FR_21030 82 FR 20945 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change Concerning Enhancements to OCC's Stock Loan Programs

82 FR 20945 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change Concerning Enhancements to OCC's Stock Loan Programs

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 85 (May 4, 2017)

Page Range20945-20948
FR Document2017-08982

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 85 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 85 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20945-20948]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08982]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80555; File No. SR-OCC-2017-004]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; 
Order Approving Proposed Rule Change Concerning Enhancements to OCC's 
Stock Loan Programs

April 28, 2017.
    On February 28, 2017, The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change SR-OCC-2017-004 pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\2\ The proposed rule change was published for comment in 
the Federal Register on March 14, 2017.\3\ The Commission did not 
receive any comment letters on the proposed rule change. This order 
approves the proposed rule change.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-80323 (March 8, 
2017), 82 FR 13690 (March 14, 2017) (File No. SR-OCC-2017-004) 
(``Notice'').
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I. Description of the Proposed Rule Change

    OCC operates two Stock Loan Programs--the Hedge Program and Market 
Loan Program--in which a participating clearing member can lend an 
agreed-upon number of shares of eligible stock \4\ to another clearing 
member in exchange for an agreed-upon value of U.S. dollar cash 
collateral and then novate the loan to OCC for clearing.\5\ The Hedge 
Program permits clearing members to bilaterally execute stock loans and 
negotiate collateralization and other terms before submitting such 
stock loans to OCC for novation and clearing.\6\ The Market Loan 
Program is operationally similar to the Hedge Program, but it permits 
clearing members to execute stock loans through a multilateral loan 
market.\7\ In each case, upon completion of the novation process, OCC, 
in its capacity as a central counterparty, guarantees return of (i) 
loaned stock, or that stock's value, to the lending clearing member, 
and (ii) the value of cash collateral to the borrowing clearing 
member.\8\ In addition, OCC makes mark-to-market margin payments on a 
daily basis to ensure stock loans remain fully collateralized.
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    \4\ See OCC Rules 2202 and 2202A (providing that stock loans 
under the Hedge Program and the Market Loan Program, respectively, 
must effect transfer only of ``Eligible Stock,'' as defined in 
Article I of OCC's By-laws). OCC permits clearing members to execute 
stock loans involving 6,191 eligible securities as March 29, 2017, 
available at https://www.theocc.com/webapps/stock loan-eligible-
securities.
    \5\ The Hedge Program is governed by Article XXI of OCC's By-
Laws and Chapter XXII of OCC's Rules. The Market Loan Program is 
governed by Article XXIA of OCC's By-Laws and Chapter XXIIA of OCC's 
Rules. The Commission understands that OCC cleared approximately 10-
15% of the overall U.S.-equities stock loan market through the two 
programs, as of November 2015.
    \6\ The Commission understands that the Hedge Program accounts 
for approximately 95% of cleared stock loan volume at OCC, as of 
November 2015.
    \7\ Automated Equity Finance Markets, Inc. is the sole loan 
market through which clearing members can execute stock loans in the 
Market Loan Program.
    \8\ See OCC Rules 2202(b) and 2202A(b).
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    OCC proposes a number of changes to the Stock Loan Programs and its 
Rules governing those Programs.\9\ First, to improve trade certainty 
and transparency concerning clearing member exposures, OCC proposes 
amendments to its rules governing the Stock Loan Programs to do the 
following: (1) Require clearing members to have policies and procedures 
to reconcile stock loan positions each business day; (2) state 
explicitly that the controlling record for stock loan positions for 
margin and other purposes is OCC's ``golden'' record; and (3) provide 
that stock loan positions remain in effect until OCC's records reflect 
stock loan terminations. Second, to mitigate risks that may arise in 
the event of a clearing member suspension, OCC proposes amendments to 
its rules governing the Stock Loan Programs to do the following: (1) 
Provide a two-day trading window in which clearing members must execute 
close-out transactions, also known as ``buy-in'' or ``sell-out'' 
transactions; (2) provide broad authority for OCC to use reasonable 
prices to settle close-out transactions; and (3) permit OCC to close 
out and re-establish the matched-book stock loan positions of a 
suspended Hedge Program clearing member through termination by offset 
and ``re-matching'' with other clearing members. Each of these 
proposals is discussed in more detail below.
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    \9\ For a more detailed description of the specific rule changes 
OCC is proposing, see Notice, supra note 3.
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A. Proposed Measures To Improve Trade Certainty and Transparency

    OCC proposes three amendments to the rules governing its Stock Loan 
Programs that are intended to improve trade certainty and transparency 
for clearing members and OCC.
1. Daily Reconciliation of Stock Loan Positions
    Clearing members that participate in the Hedge Program and the 
Market Loan Program execute and terminate stock loans on a bilateral 
basis. Following execution or termination of stock loans, OCC requires 
clearing members to promptly report stock loans directly to OCC, or to 
facilitate such reporting to OCC through the Depository Trust 
Corporation (``DTC''), ensuring OCC accepts stock loans for clearing 
and records the novation or termination for margin and other purposes. 
Under the current trade-reporting process, clearing members may fail to 
report (or to have DTC report) stock loans to OCC in a timely manner, 
increasing uncertainty in the novation process and decreasing 
transparency with respect to OCC's

[[Page 20946]]

stock loan positions and obligations as a central counterparty and 
guarantor. The current process thereby presents risk management risks 
both to OCC and clearing members.
    To address these risk management risks, OCC proposes to require 
each clearing member to have adequate policies and procedures to 
perform daily reconciliations of stock loan positions against OCC's 
records and to resolve stock loan discrepancies, if any, by 9:30 a.m. 
Central Time the following business day.\10\ These proposed rule 
changes, according to OCC, would improve trade certainty and 
transparency for clearing members participating in the Hedge Program 
and the Market Loan Program and thereby reduce operational and other 
risks for OCC and clearing members.
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    \10\ See Proposed Rule 2205 of the Hedge Program and Proposed 
Rule 2205A of the Market Loan Program.
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2. Controlling Records for Stock Loan Positions
    To support and supplement the proposed daily reconciliation 
requirements for clearing member participation in the Stock Loan 
Programs, OCC proposes to explicitly state in its rules that OCC's 
stock loan records constitute the controlling records for margin and 
other purposes. Specifically, the proposed rules would specify that 
OCC's records, which OCC refers to as the ``golden copy'' records, 
prevail in the event of a conflict with clearing member records and 
that clearing members must continue to perform on obligations relating 
to open stock loan positions identified in the golden copy records.\11\ 
The proposed rules, according to OCC, support trade certainty and 
transparency in the Hedge and Market Loan Programs.
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    \11\ See Proposed Articles XXI and XXIA of OCC's By-Laws.
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3. Termination Records for Stock Loan Positions
    Finally, to conform OCC's stock loan termination provisions to the 
proposed changes relating to controlling records described above, OCC 
proposes rule changes to clarify that stock loans would be considered 
terminated for margin and other purposes only when OCC's records 
reflect termination of the stock loan.\12\ OCC states that these 
conforming changes also would support trade certainty and transparency 
in the Stock Loan Programs by ensuring consistency among and within the 
different rules applicable to the Stock Loan Programs.
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    \12\ See Proposed Rule 2209 in the Hedge Program and Proposed 
Rule 2209A in the Market Loan Program.
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B. Proposed Measures To Mitigate Stock Loan Risks in the Event of a 
Clearing Member Suspension

    In addition to the proposals intended to improve trade certainty 
and transparency, the proposed rule change also proposes three 
amendments to address certain risks that may arise in the event that 
OCC suspends a clearing member participant in the Stock Loan Programs.
1. Stock Loan Close-Out Timeframe in the Event of a Clearing Member 
Suspension
    Under current Stock Loan Program rules, OCC may seek to close out a 
suspended clearing member's stock loan positions by instructing non-
suspended clearing member counterparties to execute close-out 
transactions within a reasonable period of time.\13\ Although non-
suspended clearing members must be prepared to defend the timeliness of 
close-out transactions under current rules, clearing members are not 
required to execute close-out transactions based on OCC's instructions 
within a specific period of time. Accordingly, if non-suspended 
clearing members execute buy-in or sell-out transactions over an 
extended period of time following OCC's close-out instruction, OCC 
incurs a risk that close-out prices may vary significantly from the 
prices used to mark the stock loan positions to market for margin 
purposes. OCC's credit exposure, in part, depends on the significance 
of these price differences relative to the suspended clearing member's 
available margin resources.
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    \13\ More specifically, Rules 2209(b) and (f) and 2211 of the 
Hedge Program, and Rules 2209A(b) and (c) and 2211A of the Market 
Loan Program require clearing members to execute close-out 
transactions in a ``commercially reasonable manner'' and to be 
prepared to defend the timing, prices, and costs of such 
transactions.
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    To mitigate these risks, OCC proposes to require clearing members 
to execute close-out transactions within a fixed two-day trading window 
in the event of a clearing member suspension. More specifically, OCC 
proposes to require non-suspended clearing members to execute close-out 
transactions by the end of the business day following OCC's instruction 
to close out stock loans with the suspended clearing member. If a non-
suspended clearing member is unable to execute the close-out 
transactions within that two-day timeframe, OCC itself would terminate 
the clearing member's relevant stock loans and effect settlement based 
on the market price of the underlying securities, as determined by OCC. 
According to OCC, the proposed changes are intended to ensure that non-
suspended clearing members execute close-out transactions in a 
timeframe consistent with OCC's two-day liquidation assumption for 
stock loan margin purposes, which should reduce OCC's credit exposure 
from significant differences between clearing member-effectuated close-
out prices and the prices used to collect mark-to-market payments from 
the suspended clearing member.
2. Reasonable Prices for Stock Loan Close-Out Transactions in the Event 
of a Clearing Member Suspension
    Under current rules, OCC may seek to close out a suspended clearing 
member's stock loan positions by instructing non-suspended clearing 
member counterparties to execute buy-in or sell-out transactions. These 
close-out transactions must be executed in a ``commercially reasonable 
manner.'' \14\ If a borrowing clearing member is suspended and unable 
to return securities under a stock loan, OCC may instruct the lending 
clearing member to execute a ``buy-in'' transaction for the number of 
shares in the stock loan's underlying security that would be necessary 
to return the lending clearing member to its position prior to entering 
into the stock loan with the suspended clearing member. If the lending 
clearing member is suspended and unable to return the value of 
collateral, OCC similarly may instruct the borrowing clearing member to 
execute a ``sell-out'' transaction for the number of shares in the 
underlying security that would be necessary to return the borrowing 
clearing member to its position prior to entering into the stock loan. 
In each case, the non-suspended clearing member's stock loan position 
is terminated and settled based on the price reported for the close-out 
transaction.
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    \14\ Id.
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    To incentivize ``reasonable'' pricing of close-out transactions in 
the event of a clearing member suspension, OCC proposes to provide 
itself authority to withdraw from a clearing member's account the value 
of any difference between clearing member-reported prices and 
``reasonable'' close-out transaction prices, as determined by OCC based 
on an assessment of market conditions at the time of execution.\15\

[[Page 20947]]

This proposed price-substitution authority, according to OCC, would 
incentivize non-suspended clearing members to execute and report close-
out transactions in a commercially reasonable manner.\16\
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    \15\ See Proposed Rule 2211. The proposal provides that a 
clearing member may demonstrate that a close-out transaction was 
executed at a ``reasonable'' price by providing evidence that the 
transaction fell within the underlying stock's trading range on the 
date of execution. Id. To the extent a clearing member impacts the 
market price of an underlying security through close-out 
transactions, OCC, in its discretion, may consider such impact in 
its assessment of market conditions at the time of execution.
    \16\ If the close-out transaction is not executed within the 
two-day period provided in Proposed Rule 2212, however, the stock 
loan would be terminated and settled based on OCC's marking price at 
the end of the period.
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3. Re-Matching in the Event of a Hedge Clearing Member Suspension
    Under OCC's current rules, in the event of a clearing member 
suspension, OCC can fully unwind a suspended Hedge Clearing Member's 
matched-book positions \17\ only if it recalls all borrowed securities 
from specific borrowing clearing members and returns those securities 
to specific lending clearing members. Under current rules, this recall-
and-return process is operationally complex because the nature of these 
unwinds would require OCC to (i) effect transfer of significant numbers 
of securities to significant numbers of non-suspended clearing members; 
and (ii) settle an equal number of payments against final settlement 
prices. Moreover, during this recall-and-return process, the non-
suspended clearing members may experience unexpected imbalances in 
their overall stock loan positions, resulting in increased margin 
requirements or price risks relating to re-execution of the stock loans 
in a potentially distressed market.\18\
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    \17\ See definition of ``Matched-Book Positions'' in Article I 
of OCC's By-laws. A clearing member that maintains a ``matched 
book'' for stock loans generally borrows no more of a specific 
security than it lends to other clearing members in the program. See 
also Notice, supra note 3 at 8.
    \18\ OCC's present margin methodology nets matched-book stock 
loan positions prior to calculating clearing member exposures. Thus, 
a non-suspended clearing member's margin requirements may increase 
on account of the temporary stock loan imbalances resulting from a 
clearing member suspension.
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    To address these operational complexities and the potential 
consequences for both OCC and its clearing members, OCC proposes new 
rules that would permit it to terminate a suspended Hedge Clearing 
Member's matched-book stock loans in the Hedge Program by offset and to 
``re-match'' the positions of the non-suspended counterparties 
according to priorities established by OCC's matching algorithm.\19\ 
According to OCC, re-matching stock loans pursuant to an algorithm 
would facilitate orderly and efficient termination and re-establishment 
of stock loans involving a suspended Hedge Clearing Member, thereby 
mitigating operational and pricing risks that may arise for non-
suspended clearing members during the recall-and-return process.
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    \19\ OCC's matching algorithm would implement priorities in 
OCC's Proposed Rule 2212(d), which establishes an order of 
operations based on the size of stock loan positions and the 
existence of master securities lending agreements between the non-
suspended clearing members.
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II. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act \20\ directs the Commission to 
approve a proposed rule change of a self-regulatory organization if it 
finds that such proposed rule change is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder 
applicable to such organization. The Commission finds that the proposal 
is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \21\ and Rules 17Ad-
22(e)(13) \22\ and 17Ad-22(e)(23) \23\ thereunder, as described in 
detail below.
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    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).
    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-l(b)(3)(F).
    \22\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(13).
    \23\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(23).
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A. Consistency With Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act

    The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,\24\ which requires, among other 
things, that the rules of a clearing agency be designed to do the 
following: (1) Promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement 
of securities transactions; and (2) assure the safeguarding of 
securities and funds which are in the custody or control of the 
clearing agency or for which it is responsible. The Commission believes 
each of the proposals in OCC's proposed rule change discussed above is 
consistent with promoting the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions and assuring the safeguarding of 
securities and funds which are in the custody or control of the 
clearing agency or for which it is responsible.
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-l(b)(3)(F).
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    First, the Commission believes that OCC's three proposals to 
improve trade certainty and transparency in the Stock Loan Programs are 
consistent with promoting the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions as well as assuring the 
safeguarding of securities and funds which are in OCC's custody or 
control, or for which it is responsible. The Commission believes that 
OCC's proposal to require clearing members to implement adequate 
policies and procedures to reconcile stock loan positions with OCC's 
records on a daily basis would promote the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of stock loan transactions, and assure the 
safeguarding of securities and funds exchanged through the programs, by 
reducing financial and other risks to OCC and clearing members. The 
Commission also believes that OCC's proposal to provide explicitly in 
its rulebook that its stock loan records would prevail in the event of 
a conflict with clearing member records, and that clearing members must 
continue to perform on all stock loan positions reflected in OCC's 
records, promotes the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of 
securities transactions and assures the safeguarding of securities and 
funds by encouraging clearing members to understand, manage, and 
promptly report stock loan transactions.
    Finally, the Commission believes that OCC's proposal to provide 
that stock loan positions remain in effect until OCC's records reflect 
stock loan terminations promotes the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of stock loan transactions and assures the safeguarding of 
securities and funds exchanged through the programs by emphasizing that 
OCC's records supersede the records of clearing members and further 
encouraging clearing members to understand, manage, and promptly report 
stock loan transactions. The Commission therefore finds these specific 
proposals are consistent with promoting the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions and assuring the 
safeguarding of securities and funds which are in OCC's custody or 
control, or for which it is responsible as guarantor in the Stock Loan 
Programs.
    Second, the Commission believes that OCC's three proposals to 
mitigate certain risks in the event of a clearing member suspension are 
consistent with promoting the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions and assuring the safeguarding of 
securities and funds which are in OCC's custody or control, or for 
which it is responsible. The proposal to provide a two-day trading 
window in which clearing members must execute close-out transactions, 
or opt for mandatory settlement, is consistent with promoting the 
prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions 
and assuring the safeguarding of securities and funds by requiring non-
suspended clearing members to complete close-out

[[Page 20948]]

transactions in a timeframe that is consistent with OCC's liquidation 
assumptions. The proposed alignment of the close-out period with OCC's 
liquidation assumptions mitigates OCC's credit risks by reducing the 
risk that close-out prices vary too significantly from the prices used 
to mark the suspended clearing member's stock loans to market. OCC's 
proposed price-substitution authority also promotes the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of stock loan transactions and 
assures the safeguarding of securities and funds under the programs by 
further encouraging non-suspended clearing members to execute close-out 
transactions in a commercially reasonable manner, thereby reducing 
financial risk to OCC.
    Finally, the proposed rule changes in the Hedge Program to permit 
OCC to terminate and re-establish a suspended clearing member's 
positions through offset and ``re-match'' promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions and assure 
the safeguarding of securities and funds by facilitating orderly and 
efficient termination and re-establishment of stock loans involving a 
suspended clearing member, which mitigates operational and pricing 
risks that may arise for OCC and clearing members during the recall-
and-return process. The Commission therefore finds that these aspects 
of the proposal are consistent with promoting prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions and assuring the 
safeguarding of securities and funds which are in OCC's custody or 
control, or for which it is responsible.
    Based on the conclusions discussed above, the Commission finds that 
OCC's proposed rule changes are consistent with promoting the prompt 
and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions and 
assuring the safeguarding of securities and funds which are in OCC's 
custody or control, or for which it is responsible as a guarantor in 
the Stock Loan Programs. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the 
proposals are consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\25\
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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B. Consistency With Rules 17Ad-22(e)(13) and (e)(23) of the Act

    The Commission finds that OCC's proposals are consistent with Rules 
(e)(13) and (e)(23) under the Act.\26\ Rule 17Ad-22(e)(13) under the 
Act requires each covered clearing agency to establish, implement, 
maintain, and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to, 
among other things, ensure it has the authority and operational 
capacity to take timely action to contain losses and continue to meet 
its obligations in the event of a clearing member default.\27\ More 
generally, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23) under the Act requires covered clearing 
agencies to establish, implement, maintain, and enforce policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to, among other things, provide for the 
public disclosure of all relevant rules and material procedures, 
including key aspects of default rules and procedures.\28\
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    \26\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(13), and 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(23).
    \27\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(13).
    \28\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(23).
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    The Commission believes that the proposed changes relating to 
clearing member suspension are consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(13) 
under the Act. By proposing a fixed trading window in which clearing 
members must either execute close-out transactions relating to a 
clearing member suspension or opt for OCC-mandated settlements, OCC is 
seeking new authority that the Commission believes will better ensure 
that OCC can take timely actions to contain suspension-related losses 
and continue to meet stock loan-related obligations in the Stock Loan 
Programs. The Commission further believes that the proposed authority 
permitting OCC to withdraw the value of any difference between the 
clearing member-reported prices and OCC-determined close-out prices 
likewise better ensures that OCC can contain suspension-related losses, 
as clearing members would be further incentivized to execute timely 
close-out transactions at market prices. Finally, the Commission 
believes that the proposal relating to re-matching-in-suspension better 
ensures that OCC has authority and operational capacity to contain 
losses and meet obligations to clearing members in the Hedge Program, 
in particular through new rules and mechanisms that reduce the 
operational, credit, and re-execution risks attendant to the recall-
and-return process. The Commission therefore believes OCC's proposal is 
consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(13) under the Act.
    The Commission also believes that OCC's proposals are consistent 
with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23) under the Act. Each aspect of OCC's proposed 
rule change is proposed to be disclosed publicly in OCC's rules 
governing the Stock Loan Programs, including the key suspension-related 
aspects of its rules providing for close-out transaction timeframes, 
new price-substitution authority, and termination and re-matching-in-
suspension. The Commission therefore believes that OCC's proposal is 
consistent with Rules 17Ad-22(e)(23) under the Act.

III. Conclusion

    On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the 
proposed change is consistent with the requirements of the Act, and in 
particular, with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act \29\ and 
the rules and regulations thereunder.
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    \29\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
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    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\30\ that the proposed rule change (SR-OCC-2017-004) be, and it 
hereby is, approved.
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    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\31\
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    \31\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-08982 Filed 5-3-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Notices                                                      20945

                                               file number should be included on the                     (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder.2               governing those Programs.9 First, to
                                               subject line if email is used. To help the                The proposed rule change was                          improve trade certainty and
                                               Commission process and review your                        published for comment in the Federal                  transparency concerning clearing
                                               comments more efficiently, please use                     Register on March 14, 2017.3 The                      member exposures, OCC proposes
                                               only one method. The Commission will                      Commission did not receive any                        amendments to its rules governing the
                                               post all comments on the Commission’s                     comment letters on the proposed rule                  Stock Loan Programs to do the
                                               Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    change. This order approves the                       following: (1) Require clearing members
                                               rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           proposed rule change.                                 to have policies and procedures to
                                               submission, all subsequent                                I. Description of the Proposed Rule                   reconcile stock loan positions each
                                               amendments, all written statements                        Change                                                business day; (2) state explicitly that the
                                               with respect to the proposed rule                                                                               controlling record for stock loan
                                               change that are filed with the                               OCC operates two Stock Loan                        positions for margin and other purposes
                                               Commission, and all written                               Programs—the Hedge Program and                        is OCC’s ‘‘golden’’ record; and (3)
                                               communications relating to the                            Market Loan Program—in which a                        provide that stock loan positions remain
                                               proposed rule change between the                          participating clearing member can lend                in effect until OCC’s records reflect
                                               Commission and any person, other than                     an agreed-upon number of shares of                    stock loan terminations. Second, to
                                               those that may be withheld from the                       eligible stock 4 to another clearing                  mitigate risks that may arise in the event
                                               public in accordance with the                             member in exchange for an agreed-upon                 of a clearing member suspension, OCC
                                               provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       value of U.S. dollar cash collateral and              proposes amendments to its rules
                                               available for Web site viewing and                        then novate the loan to OCC for                       governing the Stock Loan Programs to
                                               printing in the Commission’s Public                       clearing.5 The Hedge Program permits                  do the following: (1) Provide a two-day
                                               Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                         clearing members to bilaterally execute               trading window in which clearing
                                               Washington, DC 20549, on official                         stock loans and negotiate                             members must execute close-out
                                               business days between the hours of                        collateralization and other terms before              transactions, also known as ‘‘buy-in’’ or
                                               10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    submitting such stock loans to OCC for                ‘‘sell-out’’ transactions; (2) provide
                                               filing also will be available for                         novation and clearing.6 The Market                    broad authority for OCC to use
                                               inspection and copying at the principal                   Loan Program is operationally similar to              reasonable prices to settle close-out
                                               office of the Exchange. All comments                      the Hedge Program, but it permits                     transactions; and (3) permit OCC to
                                               received will be posted without change;                   clearing members to execute stock loans               close out and re-establish the matched-
                                                                                                         through a multilateral loan market.7 In
                                               the Commission does not edit personal                                                                           book stock loan positions of a
                                                                                                         each case, upon completion of the
                                               identifying information from                                                                                    suspended Hedge Program clearing
                                                                                                         novation process, OCC, in its capacity as
                                               submissions. You should submit only                                                                             member through termination by offset
                                                                                                         a central counterparty, guarantees return
                                               information that you wish to make                                                                               and ‘‘re-matching’’ with other clearing
                                                                                                         of (i) loaned stock, or that stock’s value,
                                               available publicly. All submissions                                                                             members. Each of these proposals is
                                                                                                         to the lending clearing member, and (ii)
                                               should refer to File Number SR–                                                                                 discussed in more detail below.
                                                                                                         the value of cash collateral to the
                                               NYSEArca–2017–36 and should be
                                                                                                         borrowing clearing member.8 In                        A. Proposed Measures To Improve
                                               submitted on or before May 25, 2017.
                                                                                                         addition, OCC makes mark-to-market                    Trade Certainty and Transparency
                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of                  margin payments on a daily basis to
                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                                                                         OCC proposes three amendments to
                                                                                                         ensure stock loans remain fully                       the rules governing its Stock Loan
                                               authority.46                                              collateralized.
                                               Eduardo A. Aleman,                                                                                              Programs that are intended to improve
                                                                                                            OCC proposes a number of changes to
                                                                                                                                                               trade certainty and transparency for
                                               Assistant Secretary.                                      the Stock Loan Programs and its Rules
                                                                                                                                                               clearing members and OCC.
                                               [FR Doc. 2017–08980 Filed 5–3–17; 8:45 am]
                                               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                           1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                             1. Daily Reconciliation of Stock Loan
                                                                                                           2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.                                Positions
                                                                                                            3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–80323

                                                                                                         (March 8, 2017), 82 FR 13690 (March 14, 2017) (File      Clearing members that participate in
                                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                   No. SR–OCC–2017–004) (‘‘Notice’’).                    the Hedge Program and the Market Loan
                                               COMMISSION                                                   4 See OCC Rules 2202 and 2202A (providing that
                                                                                                                                                               Program execute and terminate stock
                                                                                                         stock loans under the Hedge Program and the           loans on a bilateral basis. Following
                                                                                                         Market Loan Program, respectively, must effect
                                               [Release No. 34–80555; File No. SR–OCC–
                                                                                                         transfer only of ‘‘Eligible Stock,’’ as defined in    execution or termination of stock loans,
                                               2017–004]                                                 Article I of OCC’s By-laws). OCC permits clearing     OCC requires clearing members to
                                                                                                         members to execute stock loans involving 6,191        promptly report stock loans directly to
                                               Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                        eligible securities as March 29, 2017, available at   OCC, or to facilitate such reporting to
                                               Options Clearing Corporation; Order                       https://www.theocc.com/webapps/stock loan-
                                                                                                                                                               OCC through the Depository Trust
                                               Approving Proposed Rule Change                            eligible-securities.
                                                                                                            5 The Hedge Program is governed by Article XXI     Corporation (‘‘DTC’’), ensuring OCC
                                               Concerning Enhancements to OCC’s                          of OCC’s By-Laws and Chapter XXII of OCC’s Rules.     accepts stock loans for clearing and
                                               Stock Loan Programs                                       The Market Loan Program is governed by Article        records the novation or termination for
                                                                                                         XXIA of OCC’s By-Laws and Chapter XXIIA of
                                               April 28, 2017.                                           OCC’s Rules. The Commission understands that
                                                                                                                                                               margin and other purposes. Under the
                                                                                                         OCC cleared approximately 10–15% of the overall       current trade-reporting process, clearing
                                                 On February 28, 2017, The Options
                                                                                                         U.S.-equities stock loan market through the two       members may fail to report (or to have
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                                               Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with                 programs, as of November 2015.                        DTC report) stock loans to OCC in a
                                               the Securities and Exchange                                  6 The Commission understands that the Hedge
                                                                                                                                                               timely manner, increasing uncertainty
                                               Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the                           Program accounts for approximately 95% of cleared
                                                                                                                                                               in the novation process and decreasing
                                               proposed rule change SR–OCC–2017–                         stock loan volume at OCC, as of November 2015.
                                                                                                            7 Automated Equity Finance Markets, Inc. is the    transparency with respect to OCC’s
                                               004 pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                                                                         sole loan market through which clearing members
                                               Securities Exchange Act of 1934                           can execute stock loans in the Market Loan              9 For a more detailed description of the specific
                                                                                                         Program.                                              rule changes OCC is proposing, see Notice, supra
                                                 46 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                               8 See OCC Rules 2202(b) and 2202A(b).              note 3.



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                                               20946                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Notices

                                               stock loan positions and obligations as                 different rules applicable to the Stock               securities, as determined by OCC.
                                               a central counterparty and guarantor.                   Loan Programs.                                        According to OCC, the proposed
                                               The current process thereby presents                                                                          changes are intended to ensure that non-
                                                                                                       B. Proposed Measures To Mitigate Stock
                                               risk management risks both to OCC and                                                                         suspended clearing members execute
                                                                                                       Loan Risks in the Event of a Clearing
                                               clearing members.                                                                                             close-out transactions in a timeframe
                                                                                                       Member Suspension
                                                  To address these risk management                                                                           consistent with OCC’s two-day
                                               risks, OCC proposes to require each                        In addition to the proposals intended              liquidation assumption for stock loan
                                               clearing member to have adequate                        to improve trade certainty and                        margin purposes, which should reduce
                                               policies and procedures to perform                      transparency, the proposed rule change                OCC’s credit exposure from significant
                                               daily reconciliations of stock loan                     also proposes three amendments to                     differences between clearing member-
                                               positions against OCC’s records and to                  address certain risks that may arise in               effectuated close-out prices and the
                                               resolve stock loan discrepancies, if any,               the event that OCC suspends a clearing                prices used to collect mark-to-market
                                               by 9:30 a.m. Central Time the following                 member participant in the Stock Loan                  payments from the suspended clearing
                                               business day.10 These proposed rule                     Programs.                                             member.
                                               changes, according to OCC, would                        1. Stock Loan Close-Out Timeframe in                  2. Reasonable Prices for Stock Loan
                                               improve trade certainty and                             the Event of a Clearing Member                        Close-Out Transactions in the Event of
                                               transparency for clearing members                       Suspension                                            a Clearing Member Suspension
                                               participating in the Hedge Program and                     Under current Stock Loan Program                      Under current rules, OCC may seek to
                                               the Market Loan Program and thereby                     rules, OCC may seek to close out a                    close out a suspended clearing
                                               reduce operational and other risks for                  suspended clearing member’s stock loan                member’s stock loan positions by
                                               OCC and clearing members.                               positions by instructing non-suspended                instructing non-suspended clearing
                                               2. Controlling Records for Stock Loan                   clearing member counterparties to                     member counterparties to execute buy-
                                               Positions                                               execute close-out transactions within a               in or sell-out transactions. These close-
                                                                                                       reasonable period of time.13 Although                 out transactions must be executed in a
                                                 To support and supplement the                         non-suspended clearing members must                   ‘‘commercially reasonable manner.’’ 14 If
                                               proposed daily reconciliation                           be prepared to defend the timeliness of               a borrowing clearing member is
                                               requirements for clearing member                        close-out transactions under current                  suspended and unable to return
                                               participation in the Stock Loan                         rules, clearing members are not required              securities under a stock loan, OCC may
                                               Programs, OCC proposes to explicitly                    to execute close-out transactions based               instruct the lending clearing member to
                                               state in its rules that OCC’s stock loan                on OCC’s instructions within a specific               execute a ‘‘buy-in’’ transaction for the
                                               records constitute the controlling                      period of time. Accordingly, if non-                  number of shares in the stock loan’s
                                               records for margin and other purposes.                  suspended clearing members execute                    underlying security that would be
                                               Specifically, the proposed rules would                  buy-in or sell-out transactions over an               necessary to return the lending clearing
                                               specify that OCC’s records, which OCC                   extended period of time following                     member to its position prior to entering
                                               refers to as the ‘‘golden copy’’ records,               OCC’s close-out instruction, OCC incurs               into the stock loan with the suspended
                                               prevail in the event of a conflict with                 a risk that close-out prices may vary                 clearing member. If the lending clearing
                                               clearing member records and that                        significantly from the prices used to                 member is suspended and unable to
                                               clearing members must continue to                       mark the stock loan positions to market               return the value of collateral, OCC
                                               perform on obligations relating to open                 for margin purposes. OCC’s credit                     similarly may instruct the borrowing
                                               stock loan positions identified in the                  exposure, in part, depends on the                     clearing member to execute a ‘‘sell-out’’
                                               golden copy records.11 The proposed                     significance of these price differences               transaction for the number of shares in
                                               rules, according to OCC, support trade                  relative to the suspended clearing                    the underlying security that would be
                                               certainty and transparency in the Hedge                 member’s available margin resources.                  necessary to return the borrowing
                                               and Market Loan Programs.                                  To mitigate these risks, OCC proposes              clearing member to its position prior to
                                               3. Termination Records for Stock Loan                   to require clearing members to execute                entering into the stock loan. In each
                                               Positions                                               close-out transactions within a fixed                 case, the non-suspended clearing
                                                                                                       two-day trading window in the event of                member’s stock loan position is
                                                  Finally, to conform OCC’s stock loan                 a clearing member suspension. More                    terminated and settled based on the
                                               termination provisions to the proposed                  specifically, OCC proposes to require                 price reported for the close-out
                                               changes relating to controlling records                 non-suspended clearing members to                     transaction.
                                               described above, OCC proposes rule                      execute close-out transactions by the                    To incentivize ‘‘reasonable’’ pricing of
                                               changes to clarify that stock loans                     end of the business day following OCC’s               close-out transactions in the event of a
                                               would be considered terminated for                      instruction to close out stock loans with             clearing member suspension, OCC
                                               margin and other purposes only when                     the suspended clearing member. If a                   proposes to provide itself authority to
                                               OCC’s records reflect termination of the                non-suspended clearing member is                      withdraw from a clearing member’s
                                               stock loan.12 OCC states that these                     unable to execute the close-out                       account the value of any difference
                                               conforming changes also would support                   transactions within that two-day                      between clearing member-reported
                                               trade certainty and transparency in the                 timeframe, OCC itself would terminate                 prices and ‘‘reasonable’’ close-out
                                               Stock Loan Programs by ensuring                         the clearing member’s relevant stock                  transaction prices, as determined by
                                               consistency among and within the                        loans and effect settlement based on the              OCC based on an assessment of market
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                                                                                                       market price of the underlying                        conditions at the time of execution.15
                                                 10 See Proposed Rule 2205 of the Hedge Program

                                               and Proposed Rule 2205A of the Market Loan                 13 More specifically, Rules 2209(b) and (f) and      14 Id.
                                               Program.                                                2211 of the Hedge Program, and Rules 2209A(b) and        15 See Proposed Rule 2211. The proposal provides
                                                 11 See Proposed Articles XXI and XXIA of OCC’s
                                                                                                       (c) and 2211A of the Market Loan Program require      that a clearing member may demonstrate that a
                                               By-Laws.                                                clearing members to execute close-out transactions    close-out transaction was executed at a
                                                 12 See Proposed Rule 2209 in the Hedge Program        in a ‘‘commercially reasonable manner’’ and to be     ‘‘reasonable’’ price by providing evidence that the
                                               and Proposed Rule 2209A in the Market Loan              prepared to defend the timing, prices, and costs of   transaction fell within the underlying stock’s
                                               Program.                                                such transactions.                                    trading range on the date of execution. Id. To the



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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Notices                                           20947

                                               This proposed price-substitution                        matching stock loans pursuant to an                    Commission believes that OCC’s
                                               authority, according to OCC, would                      algorithm would facilitate orderly and                 proposal to require clearing members to
                                               incentivize non-suspended clearing                      efficient termination and re-                          implement adequate policies and
                                               members to execute and report close-out                 establishment of stock loans involving a               procedures to reconcile stock loan
                                               transactions in a commercially                          suspended Hedge Clearing Member,                       positions with OCC’s records on a daily
                                               reasonable manner.16                                    thereby mitigating operational and                     basis would promote the prompt and
                                                                                                       pricing risks that may arise for non-                  accurate clearance and settlement of
                                               3. Re-Matching in the Event of a Hedge
                                                                                                       suspended clearing members during the                  stock loan transactions, and assure the
                                               Clearing Member Suspension
                                                                                                       recall-and-return process.                             safeguarding of securities and funds
                                                  Under OCC’s current rules, in the                                                                           exchanged through the programs, by
                                               event of a clearing member suspension,                  II. Discussion and Commission
                                                                                                                                                              reducing financial and other risks to
                                               OCC can fully unwind a suspended                        Findings
                                                                                                                                                              OCC and clearing members. The
                                               Hedge Clearing Member’s matched-book                       Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act 20                   Commission also believes that OCC’s
                                               positions 17 only if it recalls all                     directs the Commission to approve a                    proposal to provide explicitly in its
                                               borrowed securities from specific                       proposed rule change of a self-                        rulebook that its stock loan records
                                               borrowing clearing members and returns                  regulatory organization if it finds that               would prevail in the event of a conflict
                                               those securities to specific lending                    such proposed rule change is consistent                with clearing member records, and that
                                               clearing members. Under current rules,                  with the requirements of the Act and the               clearing members must continue to
                                               this recall-and-return process is                       rules and regulations thereunder                       perform on all stock loan positions
                                               operationally complex because the                       applicable to such organization. The                   reflected in OCC’s records, promotes the
                                               nature of these unwinds would require                   Commission finds that the proposal is                  prompt and accurate clearance and
                                               OCC to (i) effect transfer of significant               consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of                settlement of securities transactions and
                                               numbers of securities to significant                    the Act 21 and Rules 17Ad–22(e)(13) 22                 assures the safeguarding of securities
                                               numbers of non-suspended clearing                       and 17Ad–22(e)(23) 23 thereunder, as                   and funds by encouraging clearing
                                               members; and (ii) settle an equal                       described in detail below.                             members to understand, manage, and
                                               number of payments against final                        A. Consistency With Section                            promptly report stock loan transactions.
                                               settlement prices. Moreover, during this                17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act                                   Finally, the Commission believes that
                                               recall-and-return process, the non-                                                                            OCC’s proposal to provide that stock
                                               suspended clearing members may                             The Commission finds that the                       loan positions remain in effect until
                                               experience unexpected imbalances in                     proposed rule change is consistent with                OCC’s records reflect stock loan
                                               their overall stock loan positions,                     Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,24 which               terminations promotes the prompt and
                                               resulting in increased margin                           requires, among other things, that the                 accurate clearance and settlement of
                                               requirements or price risks relating to                 rules of a clearing agency be designed to              stock loan transactions and assures the
                                               re-execution of the stock loans in a                    do the following: (1) Promote the                      safeguarding of securities and funds
                                               potentially distressed market.18                        prompt and accurate clearance and                      exchanged through the programs by
                                                  To address these operational                         settlement of securities transactions;                 emphasizing that OCC’s records
                                               complexities and the potential                          and (2) assure the safeguarding of                     supersede the records of clearing
                                               consequences for both OCC and its                       securities and funds which are in the                  members and further encouraging
                                               clearing members, OCC proposes new                      custody or control of the clearing agency              clearing members to understand,
                                               rules that would permit it to terminate                 or for which it is responsible. The                    manage, and promptly report stock loan
                                               a suspended Hedge Clearing Member’s                     Commission believes each of the                        transactions. The Commission therefore
                                               matched-book stock loans in the Hedge                   proposals in OCC’s proposed rule                       finds these specific proposals are
                                               Program by offset and to ‘‘re-match’’ the               change discussed above is consistent                   consistent with promoting the prompt
                                               positions of the non-suspended                          with promoting the prompt and accurate                 and accurate clearance and settlement of
                                               counterparties according to priorities                  clearance and settlement of securities                 securities transactions and assuring the
                                               established by OCC’s matching                           transactions and assuring the                          safeguarding of securities and funds
                                               algorithm.19 According to OCC, re-                      safeguarding of securities and funds                   which are in OCC’s custody or control,
                                                                                                       which are in the custody or control of                 or for which it is responsible as
                                               extent a clearing member impacts the market price       the clearing agency or for which it is                 guarantor in the Stock Loan Programs.
                                               of an underlying security through close-out             responsible.                                              Second, the Commission believes that
                                               transactions, OCC, in its discretion, may consider         First, the Commission believes that                 OCC’s three proposals to mitigate
                                               such impact in its assessment of market conditions
                                               at the time of execution.
                                                                                                       OCC’s three proposals to improve trade                 certain risks in the event of a clearing
                                                  16 If the close-out transaction is not executed      certainty and transparency in the Stock                member suspension are consistent with
                                               within the two-day period provided in Proposed          Loan Programs are consistent with                      promoting the prompt and accurate
                                               Rule 2212, however, the stock loan would be             promoting the prompt and accurate                      clearance and settlement of securities
                                               terminated and settled based on OCC’s marking           clearance and settlement of securities                 transactions and assuring the
                                               price at the end of the period.
                                                  17 See definition of ‘‘Matched-Book Positions’’ in
                                                                                                       transactions as well as assuring the                   safeguarding of securities and funds
                                               Article I of OCC’s By-laws. A clearing member that      safeguarding of securities and funds                   which are in OCC’s custody or control,
                                               maintains a ‘‘matched book’’ for stock loans            which are in OCC’s custody or control,                 or for which it is responsible. The
                                               generally borrows no more of a specific security        or for which it is responsible. The                    proposal to provide a two-day trading
                                               than it lends to other clearing members in the                                                                 window in which clearing members
                                               program. See also Notice, supra note 3 at 8.
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                                                  18 OCC’s present margin methodology nets             establishes an order of operations based on the size   must execute close-out transactions, or
                                               matched-book stock loan positions prior to
                                                                                                       of stock loan positions and the existence of master    opt for mandatory settlement, is
                                                                                                       securities lending agreements between the non-         consistent with promoting the prompt
                                               calculating clearing member exposures. Thus, a
                                                                                                       suspended clearing members.
                                               non-suspended clearing member’s margin                    20 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).                           and accurate clearance and settlement of
                                               requirements may increase on account of the                                                                    securities transactions and assuring the
                                                                                                         21 15 U.S.C. 78q–l(b)(3)(F).
                                               temporary stock loan imbalances resulting from a
                                               clearing member suspension.                               22 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(13).                        safeguarding of securities and funds by
                                                  19 OCC’s matching algorithm would implement            23 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(23).                        requiring non-suspended clearing
                                               priorities in OCC’s Proposed Rule 2212(d), which          24 15 U.S.C. 78q–l(b)(3)(F).                         members to complete close-out


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                                               20948                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Notices

                                               transactions in a timeframe that is                     establish, implement, maintain, and                   authority, and termination and re-
                                               consistent with OCC’s liquidation                       enforce policies and procedures                       matching-in-suspension. The
                                               assumptions. The proposed alignment                     reasonably designed to, among other                   Commission therefore believes that
                                               of the close-out period with OCC’s                      things, ensure it has the authority and               OCC’s proposal is consistent with Rules
                                               liquidation assumptions mitigates                       operational capacity to take timely                   17Ad–22(e)(23) under the Act.
                                               OCC’s credit risks by reducing the risk                 action to contain losses and continue to
                                                                                                                                                             III. Conclusion
                                               that close-out prices vary too                          meet its obligations in the event of a
                                               significantly from the prices used to                   clearing member default.27 More                          On the basis of the foregoing, the
                                               mark the suspended clearing member’s                    generally, Rule 17Ad–22(e)(23) under                  Commission finds that the proposed
                                               stock loans to market. OCC’s proposed                   the Act requires covered clearing                     change is consistent with the
                                               price-substitution authority also                       agencies to establish, implement,                     requirements of the Act, and in
                                               promotes the prompt and accurate                        maintain, and enforce policies and                    particular, with the requirements of
                                               clearance and settlement of stock loan                  procedures reasonably designed to,                    Section 17A of the Act 29 and the rules
                                               transactions and assures the                            among other things, provide for the                   and regulations thereunder.
                                               safeguarding of securities and funds                    public disclosure of all relevant rules                  It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
                                               under the programs by further                           and material procedures, including key                Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,30 that the
                                               encouraging non-suspended clearing                      aspects of default rules and                          proposed rule change (SR–OCC–2017–
                                               members to execute close-out                            procedures.28                                         004) be, and it hereby is, approved.
                                               transactions in a commercially                             The Commission believes that the                     For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               reasonable manner, thereby reducing                     proposed changes relating to clearing                 Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                               financial risk to OCC.                                  member suspension are consistent with                 authority.31
                                                  Finally, the proposed rule changes in                Rule 17Ad–22(e)(13) under the Act. By                 Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               the Hedge Program to permit OCC to                      proposing a fixed trading window in                   Assistant Secretary.
                                               terminate and re-establish a suspended                  which clearing members must either                    [FR Doc. 2017–08982 Filed 5–3–17; 8:45 am]
                                               clearing member’s positions through                     execute close-out transactions relating               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                               offset and ‘‘re-match’’ promote the                     to a clearing member suspension or opt
                                               prompt and accurate clearance and                       for OCC-mandated settlements, OCC is
                                               settlement of securities transactions and               seeking new authority that the                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                               assure the safeguarding of securities and               Commission believes will better ensure                COMMISSION
                                               funds by facilitating orderly and                       that OCC can take timely actions to
                                                                                                                                                             [Release No. 34–80551; File No. SR–FINRA–
                                               efficient termination and re-                           contain suspension-related losses and
                                                                                                                                                             2017–006]
                                               establishment of stock loans involving a                continue to meet stock loan-related
                                               suspended clearing member, which                        obligations in the Stock Loan Programs.               Self-Regulatory Organizations;
                                               mitigates operational and pricing risks                 The Commission further believes that                  Financial Industry Regulatory
                                               that may arise for OCC and clearing                     the proposed authority permitting OCC                 Authority, Inc.; Order Granting
                                               members during the recall-and-return                    to withdraw the value of any difference               Approval of a Proposed Rule Change
                                               process. The Commission therefore                       between the clearing member-reported                  To Amend Rule 6191 To Implement an
                                               finds that these aspects of the proposal                prices and OCC-determined close-out                   Anonymous, Grouped Masking
                                               are consistent with promoting prompt                    prices likewise better ensures that OCC               Methodology for Over-the-Counter
                                               and accurate clearance and settlement of                can contain suspension-related losses,                Activity in Connection With Web Site
                                               securities transactions and assuring the                as clearing members would be further                  Data Publication of Appendix B Data
                                               safeguarding of securities and funds                    incentivized to execute timely close-out              Pursuant to the Regulation NMS Plan
                                               which are in OCC’s custody or control,                  transactions at market prices. Finally,               To Implement a Tick Size Pilot
                                               or for which it is responsible.                         the Commission believes that the                      Program
                                                  Based on the conclusions discussed                   proposal relating to re-matching-in-
                                               above, the Commission finds that OCC’s                  suspension better ensures that OCC has                April 28, 2017.
                                               proposed rule changes are consistent                    authority and operational capacity to
                                                                                                                                                             I. Introduction
                                               with promoting the prompt and accurate                  contain losses and meet obligations to
                                                                                                       clearing members in the Hedge Program,                   On March 3, 2017, Financial Industry
                                               clearance and settlement of securities
                                                                                                       in particular through new rules and                   Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)
                                               transactions and assuring the
                                                                                                       mechanisms that reduce the operational,               filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                               safeguarding of securities and funds
                                                                                                       credit, and re-execution risks attendant              Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
                                               which are in OCC’s custody or control,
                                                                                                       to the recall-and-return process. The                 to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                               or for which it is responsible as a
                                                                                                       Commission therefore believes OCC’s                   Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
                                               guarantor in the Stock Loan Programs.
                                                                                                       proposal is consistent with Rule 17Ad–                19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
                                               Accordingly, the Commission finds that
                                                                                                       22(e)(13) under the Act.                              change to amend FINRA Rule 6191 to
                                               the proposals are consistent with
                                                                                                          The Commission also believes that                  implement an anonymous, grouped
                                               Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.25
                                                                                                       OCC’s proposals are consistent with                   masking methodology for over-the-
                                               B. Consistency With Rules 17Ad–                         Rule 17Ad–22(e)(23) under the Act.                    counter (‘‘OTC’’) activity in connection
                                               22(e)(13) and (e)(23) of the Act                        Each aspect of OCC’s proposed rule                    with Web site publication of Appendix
                                                  The Commission finds that OCC’s                      change is proposed to be disclosed                    B data pursuant to the Regulation NMS
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                                               proposals are consistent with Rules                     publicly in OCC’s rules governing the
                                                                                                                                                               29 In approving this proposed rule change, the
                                               (e)(13) and (e)(23) under the Act.26 Rule               Stock Loan Programs, including the key
                                                                                                                                                             Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
                                               17Ad–22(e)(13) under the Act requires                   suspension-related aspects of its rules               impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
                                               each covered clearing agency to                         providing for close-out transaction                   formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
                                                                                                       timeframes, new price-substitution                      30 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

                                                 25 15                                                                                                         31 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                     U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
                                                 26 17                                                  27 17   CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(13).                        1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                     CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(13), and 17 CFR
                                               240.17Ad–22(e)(23).                                      28 17   CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(23).                        2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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Document Created: 2017-05-04 01:49:09
Document Modified: 2017-05-04 01:49:09
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation82 FR 20945 

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