82_FR_38087 82 FR 37932 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Make Certain Adjustments, Clarifications and Corrections to the Fee Provisions for Insurance and Retirement Processing Services

82 FR 37932 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Make Certain Adjustments, Clarifications and Corrections to the Fee Provisions for Insurance and Retirement Processing Services

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 155 (August 14, 2017)

Page Range37932-37936
FR Document2017-17044

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 155 (Monday, August 14, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 155 (Monday, August 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37932-37936]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17044]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81339; File No. SR-NSCC-2017-011]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule Change To Make Certain Adjustments, Clarifications and Corrections 
to the Fee Provisions for Insurance and Retirement Processing Services

August 8, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on August 3, 2017, National Securities Clearing Corporation (``NSCC'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the clearing agency. NSCC filed the 
proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \3\ of the Act and 
subparagraphs (f)(2) \4\ and (f)(4) \5\ of Rule 19b-4 thereunder so 
that the proposal was effective upon filing with the Commission. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
    \5\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change would make certain adjustments, 
clarifications and corrections to the fee provisions for NSCC's 
Insurance and Retirement Processing Services (``I&RS'') set forth in 
Addendum A (Fee Structure) (``Addendum A'') of NSCC's Rules & 
Procedures (``Rules''), as described below.\6\
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    \6\ Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the 
Rules, available at http://www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/
legal/rules/nscc_rules.pdf.

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[[Page 37933]]

II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the clearing agency included 
statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule 
change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule 
change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places 
specified in Item IV below. The clearing agency has prepared summaries, 
set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant 
aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose
    NSCC is proposing to make adjustments, clarifications and 
corrections to the fee provisions for I&RS set forth in Addendum A, as 
described below, in order to (i) align the fees charged more closely 
with the costs of providing the associated products and services to 
Members and Limited Members of NSCC (collectively, ``NSCC Members''); 
(ii) allocate those fees equitably among NSCC Members; and (iii) make 
the Rules more consistent and clear with respect to these fees.
(i) Proposed Changes to Fees
    NSCC is proposing to make the following changes to fees set forth 
in Section IV.K. of Addendum A:
A. Proposed Change to Fees for Multiple Destination Files
    NSCC currently charges NSCC Members an additional monthly fee for 
directing NSCC to deliver I&RS files to more than two destinations.\7\ 
NSCC added the additional monthly fees for multiple destinations in 
2016 to align the fees charged with the cost of providing products and 
services to NSCC Members with multiple file destinations.\8\ Currently, 
the Rules state that NSCC charges an additional $50 per month for 
delivering files to three to four destinations and an additional $100 
per month for delivering files to five or more destinations.\9\ NSCC 
has determined that charging an additional $50 monthly fee for NSCC 
Members that send files to five destinations is sufficient to allow 
NSCC to recover costs to NSCC of delivering files to such multiple 
destinations. Therefore, NSCC is proposing to amend its fee structure 
so that NSCC Members that direct NSCC to deliver files to five 
destinations would be charged an additional $50 per month rather than 
an additional $100 per month. As such, NSCC is proposing to change the 
additional fees charged for delivering files to multiple destinations, 
as described in Section IV.K. of Addendum A, to charge an additional 
$50 per month for delivering files to three to five destinations, and 
an additional $100 per month for delivering files to more than five 
destinations.
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    \7\ Note 6 to Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra note 6.
    \8\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76787 (December 29, 
2015), 81 FR 283 (January 5, 2016) (File No. SR-NSCC-2015-009).
    \9\ Note 6 to Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra note 6.
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B. Proposed Change to Fees for Positions for Retirement Plans Files
    NSCC is proposing to add a fee for the Positions for Retirement 
Plans file type into the billing tier for the Positions and Valuations 
service (``Positions'') in Section IV.K. of Addendum A.\10\ Pursuant to 
Section 5 of Rule 57, NSCC Members can send four file types using 
Positions--Positions Full, Positions New, Positions for Retirement 
Plans, and Positions Focused.\11\ In 2009, NSCC created two billing 
tiers for Positions, with one fee for Positions Full and Positions New, 
and a reduced fee charged for Positions Focused.\12\ The fees charged 
for processing Positions Focused file types are lower because these 
files include less data than other Positions file types.\13\ In 2015, 
NSCC introduced a new file type for Positions--Positions for Retirement 
Plans. This file type is a full data file type, similar to the 
Positions Full and Positions New file types.
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    \10\ Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra note 6.
    \11\ Rule 57, supra note 6.
    \12\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59285 (January 23, 
2009), 74 FR 5875 (February 2, 2009) (File No. SR-NSCC-2008-13) 
(``2009 Fee Filing'').
    \13\ Subsection 2.a.(ii), Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra 
note 6.
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    Therefore, NSCC is now proposing to amend Addendum A to add a fee 
for the Positions for Retirement Plans file type that is identical to 
the fee for the Positions Full and Positions New file types. NSCC 
believes this proposed change would align the fees for processing the 
Positions for Retirement Plans file type with the costs of delivering 
this service because the costs of processing the Positions for 
Retirement Plans file type are similar to the cost of processing the 
Positions Full and Positions New file types.
C. Proposed Change to Fees for Positions Focused
    As stated above, NSCC amended Addendum A in the 2009 Fee Filing to 
change the fees to be charged for processing the Positions Full, 
Positions New, and Positions Focused file types.\14\ The 2009 Fee 
Filing incorrectly amended Addendum A to state that NSCC would charge 
$1.50 per 1,000 items for processing Positions Focused files from 
2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per month.\15\ NSCC management had 
previously determined that, in order to align the fee charged with the 
cost of providing this service, the fee for processing Positions 
Focused files from 2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per month should be 
$1.00 per 1,000 items.\16\ Therefore, NSCC is proposing to correct this 
error and amend Addendum A to provide that NSCC would charge $1.00 per 
1,000 items for processing Positions Focused files from 2,000,001 to 
4,000,000 items per month.
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    \14\ 2009 Fee Filing, supra note 12.
    \15\ Subsection 2.a.(ii), Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra 
note 6. NSCC's Important Notice announcing the 2009 fee changes 
identified the intended price for this tier at $1.00 per 1,000 
items. See NSCC Important Notice, ``2009 Fee Revisions,'' A# 6766, 
P&S# 6336, dated December 31, 2008, available at http://
www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/pdf/2008/12/31/a6766.pdf.
    \16\ A fee of $1.00 per 1,000 items for processing Positions 
Focused files from 2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per month was 
approved by the NSCC Core Services Operations and Planning Committee 
on November 13, 2008.
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D. Proposed Change to Fees for APP Non-Settlement Tiers
    NSCC is proposing to modify the fee structure for the Initial 
Application Information feature of I&RS (``APP'') in order to align the 
fees charged to settling NSCC Members with the fees charged to non-
settling NSCC Members. In 2003, NSCC established two categories for the 
fee structure for APP--a category for settling NSCC Members and a 
separate category for non-settling NSCC Members.\17\ When the fee 
structure was implemented in 2003, the fees charged to settling NSCC 
Members were higher than the fees charged to non-settling NSCC Members 
and the category for settling NSCC Members contained three tiers while 
the category for non-settling NSCC Members contained two tiers.\18\ In 
the 2009 Fee Filing, NSCC reduced the fees applicable to settling NSCC 
Members for APP resulting in the fees in the first two tiers being 
identical to the fees in the tiers for the non-settling

[[Page 37934]]

NSCC Members.\19\ In addition, in the 2009 Fee Filing, NSCC reduced the 
fees in the third tier for settling NSCC Members. The result of these 
changes is that currently, settling NSCC Members that process more than 
3,499 items a month receive a discount per item while non-settling NSCC 
Members do not.\20\
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    \17\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48284 (August 5, 
2003), 68 FR 48430 (August 13, 2003) (File No. SR-NSCC-2003-13).
    \18\ See id. The fees for settling NSCC Members contained three 
tiers: (1) 0-1,999 items per month, (2) 2,000-3,499 items per month 
and (3) more than 3,499 per month. The fees for non-settling NSCC 
Members contained only two tiers: (1) 0-1,999 items per month, and 
(2) more than 1,999 items per month.
    \19\ 2009 Fee Filing, supra note 12.
    \20\ Subsection 2.d. Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra note 6 
(provides that settling NSCC Members that process more than 3,499 
items per month in APP are charged $0.50 per item compared to $1.00 
per item for processing 2,000 to 3,499 items per month).
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    NSCC believes the discount tier for processing more than 3,499 
items a month was not added in the category for non-settling NSCC 
Members because these firms are unlikely to process transactions with 
more than 1,999 items per month and a tier for processing more items 
per month above 1,999 was unnecessary. Although NSCC believes it is 
unlikely that non-settling NSCC Members will process more than 1,999 
items per month, NSCC is proposing to remove the separate fee 
categories for settling and non-settling NSCC Members in order to 
provide that the same fees apply to both settling NSCC Members and non-
settling NSCC Members. The cost to NSCC for processing APP files for 
settling NSCC Members and non-settling NSCC Members is the same. 
Therefore, NSCC proposes to amend subsection 2.d. of Section IV.K of 
Addendum A to provide non-settling NSCC Members with the same discount 
that settling NSCC Members receive if they process more than 3,499 
items per month.
(ii) Proposed Changes to the Organization of Addendum A
    NSCC is also proposing to make the following changes to the 
organization of Section IV.K. of Addendum A, as described below:
A. Proposed Change to Location of Fees for Producer Management Portal
    NSCC is proposing to revise Addendum A, Section IV.K., by deleting 
subsection 4. and moving the fees under the heading ``Batch Service 
Fees'' in that subsection to subsection 2.h.\21\ These fees would be 
renamed ``Distributor Batch Service Fees.'' These fees are charged in 
connection with use of the Producer Management Portal and are only 
charged to NSCC Members that are distributors, which include broker-
dealers, banks and insurance agencies that act as intermediaries for 
insurance companies. The proposed change would include these fees with 
the other fees charged for use of the Producer Management Portal, so 
such fees are identified in one section, and would further clarify that 
these fees are only charged to distributors. This proposed change would 
clarify this section of Addendum A, and would not change the fees 
charged for any services or products.
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    \21\ Subsections 2. and 4., Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra 
note 6.
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B. Proposed Change to Location of Fees Listed Under TIER 6
    NSCC is proposing to revise Addendum A, Section IV.K., subsection 
3., by deleting TIER 6, and moving each of the fees listed under this 
TIER into TIERS 3 and 5 based on the fees being charged.\22\ As a 
result of the proposed change, each product would be listed together 
with other products for which the same fee is being charged under one 
TIER.\23\ The proposed rule change would move fees for ``Values 
Inquiry'' and ``Policy Administration Inquiry'' to TIER 3 and move fees 
for ``Policy Administration Request,'' ``Death Notification Request,'' 
``Fund Transfer,'' ``Withdrawals,'' and ``Arrangements'' to TIER 5. 
Each of the fees moved from TIER 6 would be identified as being subject 
to the ``In Force Transaction Chart,'' which is currently set forth at 
the end of subsection 3., and would continue to apply to these fees. 
This proposed change would clarify this subsection of Addendum A, and 
would not change the fees charged for any services or products.
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    \22\ Subsection 3., Section IV.K. of Addendum A of the Rules, 
supra note 6.
    \23\ TIER 6, subsection 3., Section IV.K. of Addendum A of the 
Rules, supra note 6.
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2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act requires, in part, that the Rules 
provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 
other charges among its participants.\24\
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).
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    The proposed changes to Addendum A set forth in item II(A)(1)(i)(A) 
above are consistent with 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act \25\ because the 
proposed fees would be equitably allocated among NSCC Members based on 
each NSCC Member's utilization of directing NSCC to send files to 
multiple destinations. In addition, NSCC believes that the proposed fee 
changes are reasonable because the proposed $50 additional fee is less 
than the $100 additional fee currently charged for delivering to five 
destinations, while continuing to allow NSCC to recover the costs 
associated with delivering to five destinations. Therefore, NSCC 
believes the proposed fee modifications set forth in item 
II(A)(1)(i)(A) above are consistent with the requirements of Section 
17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act.\26\
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    \25\ Id.
    \26\ Id.
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    The proposed changes to Addendum A set forth in items 
II(A)(1)(i)(B) and (D) above are consistent with 17A(b)(3)(D) of the 
Act \27\ because the proposed fees would be allocated equitably among 
the NSCC Members that subscribe for those services based on each NSCC 
Member's use of such services. In addition, NSCC believes that the 
proposed fees are reasonable because they would enable NSCC to better 
align its revenue with the costs and expenses required for NSCC to 
provide the services to NSCC Members. Specifically, with respect to 
II(A)(1)(i)(B), the costs of processing the Positions for Retirement 
Plans file type are similar to the cost of processing other full data 
file types and NSCC has determined that charging the same fee as is 
charged for other full data file types would enable it to recover its 
costs for processing the Positions for Retirement Plans file type. With 
respect to II(A)(1)(i)(D), the cost to NSCC of processing over 3,499 
items per month in APP is the same for settling NSCC Members and non-
settling NSCC Members and therefore the fees for settling NSCC Members 
and non-settling NSCC Members for APP should be the same. Therefore, by 
establishing fees that align with the cost of delivery of these 
products and services and allocating those fees equitably among the 
subscribing NSCC Members, the proposed changes to Addendum A set forth 
in items II(A)(1)(i)(B) and (D) are consistent with the requirements of 
Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act.\28\
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    \27\ Id.
    \28\ Id.
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    NSCC believes the proposed fees set forth in item II(A)(1)(i)(C) 
above are also consistent with the requirements of 17A(b)(3)(D) of the 
Act.\29\ Specifically, the proposed fees would be equitably allocated 
among NSCC Members that choose to process the file type for Positions 
Focused. NSCC also believes the proposed fees set forth in item 
II(A)(1)(i)(C) above are reasonable because the proposed fee for 
processing Position Focused files from 2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per 
month is less than the fee currently charged, while continuing to allow 
NSCC to recover the costs associated with processing such items. In 
addition, the proposed fee changes were previously approved by NSCC 
management,\30\ and NSCC Members were previously notified of the

[[Page 37935]]

fee changes,\31\ at the time the fee changes were originally 
contemplated for 2009. Therefore, NSCC believes the proposed fee 
modifications are consistent with the requirements of Section 
17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act.\32\
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    \29\ Id.
    \30\ See supra, note 16.
    \31\ See supra, note 15.
    \32\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(D).
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    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, in part, that the Rules 
promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
transactions.\33\ The proposed changes to Addendum A set forth in item 
II(A)(1)(ii) above would enhance NSCC Members' ability to understand 
the fees associated with the I&RS services. Specifically, the proposed 
rule change relating to Addendum A described above in item II(A)(1)(ii) 
would clarify the meaning of certain provisions of Addendum A relating 
to the fees and enhance clarity and consistency in the Rules in this 
regard. As such, the proposed rule change would allow NSCC Members to 
have a better understanding of the Rules in relation to their I&RS 
activity, and thereby assist in promoting the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions, consistent with 
the requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\34\
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    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \34\ Id.
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    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23)(i) under the Act requires, in part, that NSCC 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to provide for publicly disclosing all 
relevant rules and material procedures.\35\ Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23)(ii) 
under the Act requires, in part, that NSCC establish, implement, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to provide for providing sufficient information to enable 
participants to identify and evaluate the risks, fees, and other 
material costs they incur by participating in NSCC.\36\ The proposed 
rule change set forth in item II(A)(1)(ii) above would enhance clarity 
and consistency with respect to the fees described herein. In this way, 
the proposed rule change would provide for the public disclosure of 
these fees through the proposed changes to Addendum A. The proposed 
rule change would allow NSCC to further provide its participants with 
sufficient information to enable those participants to identify and 
evaluate the fees incurred through their participation in NSCC. As 
such, NSCC believes the proposed rule change is consistent with both 
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(23)(i) and (ii) under the Act.\37\
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    \35\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(23)(i).
    \36\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(23)(ii).
    \37\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(23)(i), (ii).
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed changes to Addendum A set 
forth in items II(A)(1)(i)(A), (C) and (D) above would have an adverse 
impact, or impose any burden, on competition because, in each case, the 
proposed fee changes would be a reduction in fees as currently set 
forth in the Rules that would not disproportionally impact any NSCC 
Members. As a reduction to the fees currently in the Addendum A for 
these services, the proposed changes would not impede any NSCC Members 
from engaging in the services or have an adverse impact on any NSCC 
Members.
    Moreover, the proposed rule changes may promote competition 
because, in each case, the proposed fee modifications would allow NSCC 
Members to engage in a greater number of transactions with lower fee 
costs than they would incur today for the same number of transactions. 
For instance, the proposed changes in item II(A)(1)(i)(A) above would 
allow NSCC Members that are currently sending to three or four 
destinations to begin to send to five destinations without incurring a 
higher fee than if files were sent to only three or four destinations 
because, as a result of the proposed rule change, the additional fee 
incurred by NSCC Members to send to five destinations would be the same 
as the additional fee to send to three or four destinations. Similarly, 
the proposed changes in item II(A)(1)(i)(C) above could result in NSCC 
Members that are currently sending 500,001 to 2,000,000 items per month 
to begin to send 2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per month in order to 
take advantage of the proposed stated fee of $1.00 per 1,000 items 
rather than $1.50 per 1,000 items which is the current fee. In 
addition, the proposed change in item II(A)(1)(i)(D) above could result 
in non-settling NSCC Members that are currently sending less than 3,499 
items per month to be more likely to send more than 3,499 items per 
month in order to take advantage of the proposed stated fee of $0.50 
per item rather than $1.00 per item which is the current fee for non-
settling NSCC Members. NSCC Members sending data to more destinations 
and sending additional data items relating to Positions and APP 
products and services would enhance participation in the marketplace by 
providing NSCC Members and their counterparties with more data. 
Finally, as discussed above, NSCC believes that the proposed fee 
changes are appropriate in light of the expenses incurred by NSCC in 
providing its services.
    NSCC believes that the proposed changes to Addendum A set forth in 
item II(A)(1)(i)(B), could have an impact on competition because NSCC 
Members would need to pay the fees for a full file type in order to 
deliver Positions for Retirement Plan file types similar to Positions 
Full and Position New file types rather than paying the reduced fee 
that NSCC Members pay to deliver the Positions Focused file type. The 
higher fee may make it less likely for some NSCC Members to deliver the 
Position for Retirement Plan file type rather than the Position Focused 
file type. NSCC believes, however, that any burden on competition that 
would be created by the proposed rule change would be necessary and 
appropriate in furtherance of the Act. Specifically, the proposed rule 
change is necessary to align the fees charged for sending the Positions 
for Retirement Plans file type feature with the costs and expenses 
required for NSCC to process that file type. As stated above, NSCC 
believes the costs of processing the Positions for Retirement Plans 
file type for NSCC are similar to the cost of processing the Positions 
Full and the Positions New file types. As such, NSCC believes that the 
fee for processing the Positions Full and the Positions for Retirement 
Plans file type should be the same as the fee for processing the 
Positions Full and Positions New file types and is appropriate given 
the costs to NSCC of delivering the full data file types.
    NSCC does not believe that the proposed changes to Addendum A set 
forth in item II(A)(1)(ii) above would have any impact on competition 
because such changes are clarifications of the Rules which would not 
affect the rights or obligations of NSCC Members. Moreover, the 
proposed changes set forth in item II(A)(1)(ii) are revenue neutral and 
would not affect one set of NSCC Members in favor of another.

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

    Written comments relating to the proposed rule change have not yet 
been solicited or received. NSCC will notify the Commission of any 
written comments received by NSCC.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section

[[Page 37936]]

19(b)(3)(A) \38\ of the Act and subparagraphs (f)(2) \39\ and (f)(4) 
\40\ of Rule 19b-4 thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing 
of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily 
suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such 
action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the 
protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of 
the Act.
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    \38\ 15 U.S.C 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \39\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
    \40\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NSCC-2017-011 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2017-011. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of NSCC and on 
DTCC's Web site (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx). All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2017-011 and should be 
submitted on or before September 5, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\41\
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    \41\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-17044 Filed 8-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                37932                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices

                                                adjustment of transactions. To that end,                  to determine whether the proposed rule                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                the selection and implementation of a                     should be approved or disapproved.                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                TP Provider utilized by all options                                                                             authority.26
                                                exchanges will further reduce the                         IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                                                                                                                                Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                possibility that participants with                          Interested persons are invited to                   Assistant Secretary.
                                                potentially erroneous transactions that                   submit written data, views, and                       [FR Doc. 2017–17068 Filed 8–11–17; 8:45 am]
                                                span multiple options exchanges are                       arguments concerning the foregoing,                   BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                handled differently on such exchanges.                    including whether the proposed rule
                                                Similarly, the proposed ability to                        change is consistent with the Act.
                                                consider quotations invalid on another                    Comments may be submitted by any of                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                options exchange if ultimately                            the following methods:                                COMMISSION
                                                originating from a party to a potentially
                                                erroneous transaction on the Exchange                     Electronic Comments
                                                represents a proposal intended to                                                                               [Release No. 34–81339; File No. SR–NSCC–
                                                further foster cooperation by the options                   • Use the Commission’s Internet                     2017–011]
                                                exchanges with respect to market                          comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                          rules/sro.shtml); or                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations;
                                                events. The Exchange understands that
                                                                                                                                                                National Securities Clearing
                                                all other options exchanges either have                     • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                                                                                                                                Corporation; Notice of Filing and
                                                or they intend to file proposals that are                 sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                substantially similar to this proposal.                                                                         Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
                                                                                                          MRX–2017–16 on the subject line.
                                                   The Exchange does not believe that                                                                           Rule Change To Make Certain
                                                the proposed rule change imposes a                        Paper Comments                                        Adjustments, Clarifications and
                                                burden on intramarket competition                                                                               Corrections to the Fee Provisions for
                                                                                                            • Send paper comments in triplicate                 Insurance and Retirement Processing
                                                because the proposed provisions apply                     to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                to all market participants equally.                                                                             Services
                                                                                                          and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                         NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                       August 8, 2017.
                                                Statement on Comments on the                              All submissions should refer to File                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                Proposed Rule Change Received From                        Number SR–MRX–2017–16. This file                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                Members, Participants, or Others                          number should be included on the                      (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                  No written comments were either                         subject line if email is used. To help the            notice is hereby given that on August 3,
                                                solicited or received.                                    Commission process and review your                    2017, National Securities Clearing
                                                                                                          comments more efficiently, please use                 Corporation (‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the
                                                III. Date of Effectiveness of the                                                                               Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                                                                          only one method. The Commission will
                                                Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                                                                             (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                                                                          post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                Commission Action                                                                                               change as described in Items I, II and III
                                                                                                          Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                   Because the foregoing proposed rule                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       below, which Items have been prepared
                                                change does not: (i) Significantly affect                 submission, all subsequent                            by the clearing agency. NSCC filed the
                                                the protection of investors or the public                 amendments, all written statements                    proposed rule change pursuant to
                                                interest; (ii) impose any significant                     with respect to the proposed rule                     Section 19(b)(3)(A) 3 of the Act and
                                                burden on competition; and (iii) become                   change that are filed with the                        subparagraphs (f)(2) 4 and (f)(4) 5 of Rule
                                                operative for 30 days from the date on                    Commission, and all written                           19b–4 thereunder so that the proposal
                                                which it was filed, or such shorter time                  communications relating to the                        was effective upon filing with the
                                                as the Commission may designate, it has                   proposed rule change between the                      Commission. The Commission is
                                                become effective pursuant to Section                      Commission and any person, other than                 publishing this notice to solicit
                                                19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 24 and                        those that may be withheld from the                   comments on the proposed rule change
                                                subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4                         public in accordance with the                         from interested persons.
                                                thereunder.25                                             provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                                   At any time within 60 days of the                      available for Web site viewing and                    Terms of Substance of the Proposed
                                                filing of the proposed rule change, the                   printing in the Commission’s Public                   Rule Change
                                                Commission summarily may                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                temporarily suspend such rule change if                   Washington, DC 20549 on official                         The proposed rule change would
                                                it appears to the Commission that such                    business days between the hours of                    make certain adjustments, clarifications
                                                action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such               and corrections to the fee provisions for
                                                the public interest; (ii) for the protection              filing also will be available for                     NSCC’s Insurance and Retirement
                                                of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                       inspection and copying at the principal               Processing Services (‘‘I&RS’’) set forth in
                                                furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                   office of the Exchange. All comments                  Addendum A (Fee Structure)
                                                If the Commission takes such action, the                  received will be posted without change;               (‘‘Addendum A’’) of NSCC’s Rules &
                                                Commission shall institute proceedings                    the Commission does not edit personal                 Procedures (‘‘Rules’’), as described
                                                                                                          identifying information from                          below.6
                                                  24 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                        submissions. You should submit only
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                                                  25 17  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–      information that you wish to make                       1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
                                                the Commission written notice of its intent to file       available publicly. All submissions                     2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                                                                  3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                                                the proposed rule change, along with a brief              should refer to File Number SR–MRX–
                                                                                                                                                                  4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
                                                description and text of the proposed rule change,         2017–16, and should be submitted on or                  5 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4).
                                                at least five business days prior to the date of filing   before September 5, 2017.
                                                of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time                                                                 6 Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined

                                                as designated by the Commission. The Exchange                                                                   in the Rules, available at http://www.dtcc.com/∼/
                                                has satisfied this requirement.                            26 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                         media/Files/Downloads/legal/rules/nscc_rules.pdf.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices                                                       37933

                                                II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the                  multiple destinations. Therefore, NSCC                 processing the Positions Full, Positions
                                                Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the                is proposing to amend its fee structure                New, and Positions Focused file types.14
                                                Proposed Rule Change                                    so that NSCC Members that direct NSCC                  The 2009 Fee Filing incorrectly
                                                   In its filing with the Commission, the               to deliver files to five destinations                  amended Addendum A to state that
                                                clearing agency included statements                     would be charged an additional $50 per                 NSCC would charge $1.50 per 1,000
                                                concerning the purpose of and basis for                 month rather than an additional $100                   items for processing Positions Focused
                                                the proposed rule change and discussed                  per month. As such, NSCC is proposing                  files from 2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items
                                                any comments it received on the                         to change the additional fees charged for              per month.15 NSCC management had
                                                proposed rule change. The text of these                 delivering files to multiple destinations,             previously determined that, in order to
                                                statements may be examined at the                       as described in Section IV.K. of                       align the fee charged with the cost of
                                                places specified in Item IV below. The                  Addendum A, to charge an additional                    providing this service, the fee for
                                                clearing agency has prepared                            $50 per month for delivering files to                  processing Positions Focused files from
                                                summaries, set forth in sections A, B,                  three to five destinations, and an
                                                                                                                                                               2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per month
                                                and C below, of the most significant                    additional $100 per month for
                                                                                                                                                               should be $1.00 per 1,000 items.16
                                                                                                        delivering files to more than five
                                                aspects of such statements.                                                                                    Therefore, NSCC is proposing to correct
                                                                                                        destinations.
                                                (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the                                                                         this error and amend Addendum A to
                                                                                                        B. Proposed Change to Fees for                         provide that NSCC would charge $1.00
                                                Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                                                                                        Positions for Retirement Plans Files                   per 1,000 items for processing Positions
                                                Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                          NSCC is proposing to add a fee for the               Focused files from 2,000,001 to
                                                1. Purpose                                              Positions for Retirement Plans file type               4,000,000 items per month.
                                                   NSCC is proposing to make                            into the billing tier for the Positions and
                                                                                                                                                               D. Proposed Change to Fees for APP
                                                adjustments, clarifications and                         Valuations service (‘‘Positions’’) in
                                                                                                                                                               Non-Settlement Tiers
                                                corrections to the fee provisions for                   Section IV.K. of Addendum A.10
                                                I&RS set forth in Addendum A, as                        Pursuant to Section 5 of Rule 57, NSCC                    NSCC is proposing to modify the fee
                                                described below, in order to (i) align the              Members can send four file types using                 structure for the Initial Application
                                                fees charged more closely with the costs                Positions—Positions Full, Positions                    Information feature of I&RS (‘‘APP’’) in
                                                of providing the associated products                    New, Positions for Retirement Plans,                   order to align the fees charged to settling
                                                and services to Members and Limited                     and Positions Focused.11 In 2009, NSCC                 NSCC Members with the fees charged to
                                                Members of NSCC (collectively, ‘‘NSCC                   created two billing tiers for Positions,               non-settling NSCC Members. In 2003,
                                                Members’’); (ii) allocate those fees                    with one fee for Positions Full and                    NSCC established two categories for the
                                                equitably among NSCC Members; and                       Positions New, and a reduced fee
                                                                                                                                                               fee structure for APP—a category for
                                                (iii) make the Rules more consistent and                charged for Positions Focused.12 The
                                                                                                                                                               settling NSCC Members and a separate
                                                clear with respect to these fees.                       fees charged for processing Positions
                                                                                                                                                               category for non-settling NSCC
                                                                                                        Focused file types are lower because
                                                (i) Proposed Changes to Fees                            these files include less data than other               Members.17 When the fee structure was
                                                   NSCC is proposing to make the                        Positions file types.13 In 2015, NSCC                  implemented in 2003, the fees charged
                                                following changes to fees set forth in                  introduced a new file type for                         to settling NSCC Members were higher
                                                Section IV.K. of Addendum A:                            Positions—Positions for Retirement                     than the fees charged to non-settling
                                                                                                        Plans. This file type is a full data file              NSCC Members and the category for
                                                A. Proposed Change to Fees for Multiple                                                                        settling NSCC Members contained three
                                                                                                        type, similar to the Positions Full and
                                                Destination Files                                                                                              tiers while the category for non-settling
                                                                                                        Positions New file types.
                                                  NSCC currently charges NSCC                             Therefore, NSCC is now proposing to                  NSCC Members contained two tiers.18 In
                                                Members an additional monthly fee for                   amend Addendum A to add a fee for the                  the 2009 Fee Filing, NSCC reduced the
                                                directing NSCC to deliver I&RS files to                 Positions for Retirement Plans file type               fees applicable to settling NSCC
                                                more than two destinations.7 NSCC                       that is identical to the fee for the                   Members for APP resulting in the fees
                                                added the additional monthly fees for                   Positions Full and Positions New file                  in the first two tiers being identical to
                                                multiple destinations in 2016 to align                  types. NSCC believes this proposed                     the fees in the tiers for the non-settling
                                                the fees charged with the cost of                       change would align the fees for
                                                providing products and services to                      processing the Positions for Retirement                  14 2009  Fee Filing, supra note 12.
                                                NSCC Members with multiple file                         Plans file type with the costs of                        15 Subsection   2.a.(ii), Section IV.K. of Addendum
                                                destinations.8 Currently, the Rules state               delivering this service because the costs              A, supra note 6. NSCC’s Important Notice
                                                                                                                                                               announcing the 2009 fee changes identified the
                                                that NSCC charges an additional $50 per                 of processing the Positions for                        intended price for this tier at $1.00 per 1,000 items.
                                                month for delivering files to three to                  Retirement Plans file type are similar to              See NSCC Important Notice, ‘‘2009 Fee Revisions,’’
                                                four destinations and an additional $100                the cost of processing the Positions Full              A# 6766, P&S# 6336, dated December 31, 2008,
                                                per month for delivering files to five or               and Positions New file types.                          available at http://www.dtcc.com/∼/media/Files/
                                                                                                                                                               pdf/2008/12/31/a6766.pdf.
                                                more destinations.9 NSCC has
                                                determined that charging an additional                  C. Proposed Change to Fees for                            16 A fee of $1.00 per 1,000 items for processing

                                                                                                        Positions Focused                                      Positions Focused files from 2,000,001 to 4,000,000
                                                $50 monthly fee for NSCC Members that                                                                          items per month was approved by the NSCC Core
                                                send files to five destinations is                        As stated above, NSCC amended                        Services Operations and Planning Committee on
                                                sufficient to allow NSCC to recover                     Addendum A in the 2009 Fee Filing to                   November 13, 2008.
                                                                                                                                                                  17 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48284
                                                                                                        change the fees to be charged for
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                                                costs to NSCC of delivering files to such                                                                      (August 5, 2003), 68 FR 48430 (August 13, 2003)
                                                                                                                                                               (File No. SR–NSCC–2003–13).
                                                  7 Note 6 to Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra          10 Section  IV.K. of Addendum A, supra note 6.          18 See id. The fees for settling NSCC Members
                                                note 6.                                                   11 Rule 57, supra note 6.                            contained three tiers: (1) 0–1,999 items per month,
                                                  8 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76787              12 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59285
                                                                                                                                                               (2) 2,000–3,499 items per month and (3) more than
                                                (December 29, 2015), 81 FR 283 (January 5, 2016)        (January 23, 2009), 74 FR 5875 (February 2, 2009)      3,499 per month. The fees for non-settling NSCC
                                                (File No. SR–NSCC–2015–009).                            (File No. SR–NSCC–2008–13) (‘‘2009 Fee Filing’’).      Members contained only two tiers: (1) 0–1,999
                                                  9 Note 6 to Section IV.K. of Addendum A, supra           13 Subsection 2.a.(ii), Section IV.K. of Addendum   items per month, and (2) more than 1,999 items per
                                                note 6.                                                 A, supra note 6.                                       month.



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                                                37934                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices

                                                NSCC Members.19 In addition, in the                      charged for use of the Producer                       II(A)(1)(i)(A) above are consistent with
                                                2009 Fee Filing, NSCC reduced the fees                   Management Portal, so such fees are                   the requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(D)
                                                in the third tier for settling NSCC                      identified in one section, and would                  of the Act.26
                                                Members. The result of these changes is                  further clarify that these fees are only                 The proposed changes to Addendum
                                                that currently, settling NSCC Members                    charged to distributors. This proposed                A set forth in items II(A)(1)(i)(B) and (D)
                                                that process more than 3,499 items a                     change would clarify this section of                  above are consistent with 17A(b)(3)(D)
                                                month receive a discount per item while                  Addendum A, and would not change                      of the Act 27 because the proposed fees
                                                non-settling NSCC Members do not.20                      the fees charged for any services or                  would be allocated equitably among the
                                                   NSCC believes the discount tier for                   products.                                             NSCC Members that subscribe for those
                                                processing more than 3,499 items a                       B. Proposed Change to Location of Fees                services based on each NSCC Member’s
                                                month was not added in the category for                  Listed Under TIER 6                                   use of such services. In addition, NSCC
                                                non-settling NSCC Members because                                                                              believes that the proposed fees are
                                                these firms are unlikely to process                         NSCC is proposing to revise
                                                                                                         Addendum A, Section IV.K., subsection                 reasonable because they would enable
                                                transactions with more than 1,999 items                                                                        NSCC to better align its revenue with
                                                per month and a tier for processing                      3., by deleting TIER 6, and moving each
                                                                                                         of the fees listed under this TIER into               the costs and expenses required for
                                                more items per month above 1,999 was                                                                           NSCC to provide the services to NSCC
                                                unnecessary. Although NSCC believes it                   TIERS 3 and 5 based on the fees being
                                                                                                         charged.22 As a result of the proposed                Members. Specifically, with respect to
                                                is unlikely that non-settling NSCC                                                                             II(A)(1)(i)(B), the costs of processing the
                                                Members will process more than 1,999                     change, each product would be listed
                                                                                                         together with other products for which                Positions for Retirement Plans file type
                                                items per month, NSCC is proposing to                                                                          are similar to the cost of processing
                                                remove the separate fee categories for                   the same fee is being charged under one
                                                                                                         TIER.23 The proposed rule change                      other full data file types and NSCC has
                                                settling and non-settling NSCC Members                                                                         determined that charging the same fee
                                                in order to provide that the same fees                   would move fees for ‘‘Values Inquiry’’
                                                                                                         and ‘‘Policy Administration Inquiry’’ to              as is charged for other full data file
                                                apply to both settling NSCC Members                                                                            types would enable it to recover its costs
                                                and non-settling NSCC Members. The                       TIER 3 and move fees for ‘‘Policy
                                                                                                         Administration Request,’’ ‘‘Death                     for processing the Positions for
                                                cost to NSCC for processing APP files                                                                          Retirement Plans file type. With respect
                                                for settling NSCC Members and non-                       Notification Request,’’ ‘‘Fund Transfer,’’
                                                                                                         ‘‘Withdrawals,’’ and ‘‘Arrangements’’ to              to II(A)(1)(i)(D), the cost to NSCC of
                                                settling NSCC Members is the same.                                                                             processing over 3,499 items per month
                                                Therefore, NSCC proposes to amend                        TIER 5. Each of the fees moved from
                                                                                                         TIER 6 would be identified as being                   in APP is the same for settling NSCC
                                                subsection 2.d. of Section IV.K of                                                                             Members and non-settling NSCC
                                                Addendum A to provide non-settling                       subject to the ‘‘In Force Transaction
                                                                                                         Chart,’’ which is currently set forth at              Members and therefore the fees for
                                                NSCC Members with the same discount                                                                            settling NSCC Members and non-settling
                                                that settling NSCC Members receive if                    the end of subsection 3., and would
                                                                                                         continue to apply to these fees. This                 NSCC Members for APP should be the
                                                they process more than 3,499 items per                                                                         same. Therefore, by establishing fees
                                                                                                         proposed change would clarify this
                                                month.                                                                                                         that align with the cost of delivery of
                                                                                                         subsection of Addendum A, and would
                                                (ii) Proposed Changes to the                             not change the fees charged for any                   these products and services and
                                                Organization of Addendum A                               services or products.                                 allocating those fees equitably among
                                                                                                                                                               the subscribing NSCC Members, the
                                                   NSCC is also proposing to make the                    2. Statutory Basis                                    proposed changes to Addendum A set
                                                following changes to the organization of                                                                       forth in items II(A)(1)(i)(B) and (D) are
                                                                                                            Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act
                                                Section IV.K. of Addendum A, as                                                                                consistent with the requirements of
                                                                                                         requires, in part, that the Rules provide
                                                described below:                                         for the equitable allocation of reasonable            Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act.28
                                                A. Proposed Change to Location of Fees                   dues, fees, and other charges among its                  NSCC believes the proposed fees set
                                                for Producer Management Portal                           participants.24                                       forth in item II(A)(1)(i)(C) above are also
                                                                                                            The proposed changes to Addendum                   consistent with the requirements of
                                                  NSCC is proposing to revise
                                                                                                         A set forth in item II(A)(1)(i)(A) above              17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act.29 Specifically,
                                                Addendum A, Section IV.K., by deleting
                                                                                                         are consistent with 17A(b)(3)(D) of the               the proposed fees would be equitably
                                                subsection 4. and moving the fees under
                                                                                                         Act 25 because the proposed fees would                allocated among NSCC Members that
                                                the heading ‘‘Batch Service Fees’’ in that
                                                                                                         be equitably allocated among NSCC                     choose to process the file type for
                                                subsection to subsection 2.h.21 These                    Members based on each NSCC
                                                fees would be renamed ‘‘Distributor                                                                            Positions Focused. NSCC also believes
                                                                                                         Member’s utilization of directing NSCC                the proposed fees set forth in item
                                                Batch Service Fees.’’ These fees are                     to send files to multiple destinations. In
                                                charged in connection with use of the                                                                          II(A)(1)(i)(C) above are reasonable
                                                                                                         addition, NSCC believes that the                      because the proposed fee for processing
                                                Producer Management Portal and are                       proposed fee changes are reasonable
                                                only charged to NSCC Members that are                                                                          Position Focused files from 2,000,001 to
                                                                                                         because the proposed $50 additional fee
                                                distributors, which include broker-                                                                            4,000,000 items per month is less than
                                                                                                         is less than the $100 additional fee
                                                dealers, banks and insurance agencies                                                                          the fee currently charged, while
                                                                                                         currently charged for delivering to five
                                                that act as intermediaries for insurance                                                                       continuing to allow NSCC to recover the
                                                                                                         destinations, while continuing to allow
                                                companies. The proposed change would                                                                           costs associated with processing such
                                                                                                         NSCC to recover the costs associated
                                                include these fees with the other fees                                                                         items. In addition, the proposed fee
                                                                                                         with delivering to five destinations.
                                                                                                                                                               changes were previously approved by
                                                                                                         Therefore, NSCC believes the proposed
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                                                  19 2009 Fee Filing, supra note 12.                                                                           NSCC management,30 and NSCC
                                                                                                         fee modifications set forth in item
                                                  20 Subsection 2.d. Section IV.K. of Addendum A,                                                              Members were previously notified of the
                                                supra note 6 (provides that settling NSCC Members
                                                                                                           22 Subsection 3., Section IV.K. of Addendum A of
                                                that process more than 3,499 items per month in                                                                  26 Id.
                                                APP are charged $0.50 per item compared to $1.00         the Rules, supra note 6.
                                                                                                           23 TIER 6, subsection 3., Section IV.K. of            27 Id.
                                                per item for processing 2,000 to 3,499 items per
                                                month).                                                  Addendum A of the Rules, supra note 6.                  28 Id.

                                                  21 Subsections 2. and 4., Section IV.K. of               24 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(D).                          29 Id.

                                                Addendum A, supra note 6.                                  25 Id.                                                30 See   supra, note 16.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices                                                37935

                                                fee changes,31 at the time the fee                      both Rule 17Ad–22(e)(23)(i) and (ii)                      NSCC believes that the proposed fee
                                                changes were originally contemplated                    under the Act.37                                          changes are appropriate in light of the
                                                for 2009. Therefore, NSCC believes the                                                                            expenses incurred by NSCC in
                                                                                                        (B) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
                                                proposed fee modifications are                                                                                    providing its services.
                                                                                                        Burden on Competition                                        NSCC believes that the proposed
                                                consistent with the requirements of
                                                Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act.32                         NSCC does not believe that the                         changes to Addendum A set forth in
                                                                                                        proposed changes to Addendum A set                        item II(A)(1)(i)(B), could have an impact
                                                   Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act
                                                                                                        forth in items II(A)(1)(i)(A), (C) and (D)                on competition because NSCC Members
                                                requires, in part, that the Rules promote
                                                                                                        above would have an adverse impact, or                    would need to pay the fees for a full file
                                                the prompt and accurate clearance and                   impose any burden, on competition                         type in order to deliver Positions for
                                                settlement of securities transactions.33                because, in each case, the proposed fee                   Retirement Plan file types similar to
                                                The proposed changes to Addendum A                      changes would be a reduction in fees as                   Positions Full and Position New file
                                                set forth in item II(A)(1)(ii) above would              currently set forth in the Rules that                     types rather than paying the reduced fee
                                                enhance NSCC Members’ ability to                        would not disproportionally impact any                    that NSCC Members pay to deliver the
                                                understand the fees associated with the                 NSCC Members. As a reduction to the                       Positions Focused file type. The higher
                                                I&RS services. Specifically, the                        fees currently in the Addendum A for                      fee may make it less likely for some
                                                proposed rule change relating to                        these services, the proposed changes                      NSCC Members to deliver the Position
                                                Addendum A described above in item                      would not impede any NSCC Members                         for Retirement Plan file type rather than
                                                II(A)(1)(ii) would clarify the meaning of               from engaging in the services or have an                  the Position Focused file type. NSCC
                                                certain provisions of Addendum A                        adverse impact on any NSCC Members.                       believes, however, that any burden on
                                                relating to the fees and enhance clarity                   Moreover, the proposed rule changes                    competition that would be created by
                                                and consistency in the Rules in this                    may promote competition because, in                       the proposed rule change would be
                                                regard. As such, the proposed rule                      each case, the proposed fee                               necessary and appropriate in
                                                change would allow NSCC Members to                      modifications would allow NSCC                            furtherance of the Act. Specifically, the
                                                have a better understanding of the Rules                Members to engage in a greater number                     proposed rule change is necessary to
                                                in relation to their I&RS activity, and                 of transactions with lower fee costs than                 align the fees charged for sending the
                                                thereby assist in promoting the prompt                  they would incur today for the same                       Positions for Retirement Plans file type
                                                and accurate clearance and settlement of                number of transactions. For instance,                     feature with the costs and expenses
                                                securities transactions, consistent with                the proposed changes in item                              required for NSCC to process that file
                                                the requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(F)                II(A)(1)(i)(A) above would allow NSCC                     type. As stated above, NSCC believes
                                                of the Act.34                                           Members that are currently sending to                     the costs of processing the Positions for
                                                   Rule 17Ad–22(e)(23)(i) under the Act                 three or four destinations to begin to                    Retirement Plans file type for NSCC are
                                                requires, in part, that NSCC establish,                 send to five destinations without                         similar to the cost of processing the
                                                implement, maintain and enforce                         incurring a higher fee than if files were                 Positions Full and the Positions New
                                                written policies and procedures                         sent to only three or four destinations                   file types. As such, NSCC believes that
                                                reasonably designed to provide for                      because, as a result of the proposed rule                 the fee for processing the Positions Full
                                                publicly disclosing all relevant rules                  change, the additional fee incurred by                    and the Positions for Retirement Plans
                                                and material procedures.35 Rule 17Ad–                   NSCC Members to send to five                              file type should be the same as the fee
                                                22(e)(23)(ii) under the Act requires, in                destinations would be the same as the                     for processing the Positions Full and
                                                part, that NSCC establish, implement,                   additional fee to send to three or four                   Positions New file types and is
                                                maintain and enforce written policies                   destinations. Similarly, the proposed                     appropriate given the costs to NSCC of
                                                and procedures reasonably designed to                   changes in item II(A)(1)(i)(C) above                      delivering the full data file types.
                                                provide for providing sufficient                        could result in NSCC Members that are                        NSCC does not believe that the
                                                information to enable participants to                   currently sending 500,001 to 2,000,000                    proposed changes to Addendum A set
                                                identify and evaluate the risks, fees, and              items per month to begin to send                          forth in item II(A)(1)(ii) above would
                                                other material costs they incur by                      2,000,001 to 4,000,000 items per month                    have any impact on competition
                                                participating in NSCC.36 The proposed                   in order to take advantage of the                         because such changes are clarifications
                                                rule change set forth in item II(A)(1)(ii)              proposed stated fee of $1.00 per 1,000                    of the Rules which would not affect the
                                                above would enhance clarity and                         items rather than $1.50 per 1,000 items                   rights or obligations of NSCC Members.
                                                consistency with respect to the fees                    which is the current fee. In addition, the                Moreover, the proposed changes set
                                                described herein. In this way, the                      proposed change in item II(A)(1)(i)(D)                    forth in item II(A)(1)(ii) are revenue
                                                proposed rule change would provide for                  above could result in non-settling NSCC                   neutral and would not affect one set of
                                                the public disclosure of these fees                     Members that are currently sending less                   NSCC Members in favor of another.
                                                through the proposed changes to                         than 3,499 items per month to be more
                                                                                                        likely to send more than 3,499 items per                  (C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
                                                Addendum A. The proposed rule
                                                                                                        month in order to take advantage of the                   Comments on the Proposed Rule
                                                change would allow NSCC to further
                                                                                                        proposed stated fee of $0.50 per item                     Change Received From Members,
                                                provide its participants with sufficient
                                                                                                        rather than $1.00 per item which is the                   Participants, or Others
                                                information to enable those participants
                                                to identify and evaluate the fees                       current fee for non-settling NSCC                           Written comments relating to the
                                                incurred through their participation in                 Members. NSCC Members sending data                        proposed rule change have not yet been
                                                NSCC. As such, NSCC believes the                        to more destinations and sending                          solicited or received. NSCC will notify
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                                                proposed rule change is consistent with                 additional data items relating to                         the Commission of any written
                                                                                                        Positions and APP products and                            comments received by NSCC.
                                                  31 See  supra, note 15.
                                                                                                        services would enhance participation in
                                                                                                        the marketplace by providing NSCC                         III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                  32 15  U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(D).
                                                  33 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                          Members and their counterparties with                     Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                  34 Id.                                                more data. Finally, as discussed above,                   Commission Action
                                                  35 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(23)(i).                                                                                   The foregoing rule change has become
                                                  36 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(23)(ii).                       37 17   CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(23)(i), (ii).                effective pursuant to Section


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                                                37936                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices

                                                19(b)(3)(A) 38 of the Act and                           (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-                      proposed rule change is available on the
                                                subparagraphs (f)(2) 39 and (f)(4) 40 of                filings.aspx). All comments received                  Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
                                                Rule 19b–4 thereunder. At any time                      will be posted without change; the                    at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                within 60 days of the filing of the                     Commission does not edit personal                     and at the Commission’s Public
                                                proposed rule change, the Commission                    identifying information from                          Reference Room.
                                                summarily may temporarily suspend                       submissions. You should submit only
                                                                                                        information that you wish to make                     II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                such rule change if it appears to the
                                                                                                        available publicly. All submissions                   Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                Commission that such action is
                                                                                                        should refer to File Number SR–NSCC–                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                necessary or appropriate in the public
                                                                                                        2017–011 and should be submitted on                   Change
                                                interest, for the protection of investors,
                                                or otherwise in furtherance of the                      or before September 5, 2017.                            In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                purposes of the Act.                                      For the Commission, by the Division of              self-regulatory organization included
                                                                                                        Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                                                                        authority.41                                          and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                                  Interested persons are invited to                     Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    and discussed any comments it received
                                                submit written data, views and                          Assistant Secretary.                                  on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                arguments concerning the foregoing,                     [FR Doc. 2017–17044 Filed 8–11–17; 8:45 am]           of those statements may be examined at
                                                including whether the proposed rule                                                                           the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                change is consistent with the Act.                                                                            The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                           set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                the following methods:                                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               of the most significant parts of such
                                                Electronic Comments                                     COMMISSION                                            statements.
                                                  • Use the Commission’s Internet                       [Release No. 34–81340; File No. SR–                   A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       NYSEAMER–2017–03]                                     Statement of the Purpose of, and the
                                                rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                          Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                   Change
                                                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 American LLC; Notice of Filing and
                                                                                                        Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                   1. Purpose
                                                NSCC–2017–011 on the subject line.
                                                                                                        Rule Change To Amend                                    The Exchange proposes (1) to amend
                                                Paper Comments                                          Supplementary Material .01 and .02 to                 Supplementary Material .01 and .02 to
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                  NYSE American Rule 5.2E(j)(3) To                      NYSE American Rule 5.2E(j)(3) to
                                                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   Provide for the Inclusion of Cash in an               provide for the inclusion of cash in an
                                                Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                           Index Underlying a Series of                          index underlying a series of Investment
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090.                              Investment Company Units                              Company Units (‘‘Units’’), which
                                                All submissions should refer to File                    August 8, 2017.                                       amendments conform to amendments to
                                                Number SR–NSCC–2017–011. This file                         Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the              NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)
                                                number should be included on the                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                  previously approved by the
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the              ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3                Commission.4
                                                Commission process and review your                      notice is hereby given that, on July 27,              Amendments to NYSE American Rule
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                   2017, NYSE American LLC (the                          5.2E(j)(3)
                                                only one method. The Commission will                    ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE American’’) filed
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                   with the Securities and Exchange                         NYSE American Rule 5.2E(j)(3)
                                                Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                  Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the                   permits the trading of Units pursuant to
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         proposed rule change as described in                  unlisted trading privileges (‘‘UTP’’). The
                                                submission, all subsequent                              Items I and II below, which Items have                Exchange proposes to amend
                                                amendments, all written statements                      been prepared by the self-regulatory                  Commentaries .01 and .02 to NYSE
                                                with respect to the proposed rule                       organization. The Commission is                       American Rule 5.2E(j)(3) to permit
                                                change that are filed with the                          publishing this notice to solicit                     trading of Units based on an index or
                                                Commission, and all written                             comments on the proposed rule change                  portfolio that includes cash as a
                                                communications relating to the                          from interested persons.                              component. While Units, like mutual
                                                proposed rule change between the                                                                              funds, will generally hold an amount of
                                                Commission and any person, other than                   I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     cash, NYSE American Rule 5.2E(j)(3)
                                                those that may be withheld from the                     Statement of the Terms of Substance of                currently provides that components of
                                                public in accordance with the                           the Proposed Rule Change                              an index or portfolio underlying a series
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                        The Exchange proposes to amend                     of Units consist of securities—namely,
                                                available for Web site viewing and                      Supplementary Material .01 and .02 to                 US Component Stocks, Non-US
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                     NYSE American Rule 5.2E(j)(3) to                      Component Stocks, Fixed Income
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                       provide for the inclusion of cash in an               Securities or a combination thereof. As
                                                Washington, DC 20549 on official                        index underlying a series of Investment               described below, the proposed
                                                business days between the hours of                      Company Units, which amendments                       amendments to Supplementary Material
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                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  conform to amendments to NYSE Arca                    .01 and .02 to Rule 5.2E(j)(3) would
                                                filing also will be available for                       Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) previously
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                 approved by the Commission. The                         4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80777

                                                office of NSCC and on DTCC’s Web site                                                                         (May 25, 2017) (SR–NYSEArca–2017–30) (order
                                                                                                          41 17
                                                                                                                                                              approving amendments to Commentary .01 and
                                                                                                                CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          Commentary .02 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule
                                                  38 15 U.S.C 78s(b)(3)(A).                               1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              5.2(j)(3) to provide for the inclusion of cash in an
                                                  39 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                              2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                                                                                                                              index underlying a series of Investment Company
                                                  40 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4).                              3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 Units).



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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:52:08
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:52:08
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 37932 

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