82_FR_4435 82 FR 4426 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Notice of No Objection To Advance Notice Filing Relating To Processing of Transactions in Money Market Instruments

82 FR 4426 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Notice of No Objection To Advance Notice Filing Relating To Processing of Transactions in Money Market Instruments

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 9 (January 13, 2017)

Page Range4426-4430
FR Document2017-00625

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4426-4430]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00625]


=======================================================================
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79763; File No. SR-DTC-2016-802]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
Notice of No Objection To Advance Notice Filing Relating To Processing 
of Transactions in Money Market Instruments

January 9, 2017.
    The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') on September 23, 2016 advance 
notice SR-DTC-2016-802 (``Advance Notice'') pursuant to Section 
806(e)(1) of the Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act of 
2010 (``Payment, Clearing and Settlement Supervision Act'') \1\ and 
Rule 19b-4(n)(1)(i) \2\ under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act'') to establish a change in the processing of 
transactions in money market instruments (``MMI'').\3\ The Advance 
Notice was published for

[[Page 4427]]

comment in the Federal Register on November 9, 2016.\4\ The Commission 
did not receive any comments on the Advance Notice. This publication 
serves as notice of no objection to the Advance Notice.
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    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1). The Financial Stability Oversight 
Council designated DTC a systemically important financial market 
utility on July 18, 2012. See Financial Stability Oversight Council 
2012 Annual Report, Appendix A, http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/fsoc/Documents/2012%20Annual%20Report.pdf. Therefore, DTC is 
required to comply with the Payment, Clearing and Settlement 
Supervision Act and file advance notices with the Commission. See 12 
U.S.C. 5465(e).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(n)(1)(i).
    \3\ MMI are short-term debt securities issued by financial 
institutions, large corporations, or state and local governments 
that generally mature 1 to 270 days from their original issuance 
date, and include, but are not limited to, commercial paper, 
banker's acceptances, and short-term bank notes. Most MMI trade in 
large denominations (typically, $250,000 to $50 million) and are 
purchased by institutional investors.
    \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79224 (November 3, 
2016), 81 FR 78884 (November 9, 2016) (SR-DTC-2016-802). DTC also 
filed a related proposed rule change with the Commission pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, 
seeking approval of changes to its rules necessary to implement the 
Advance Notice. 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and 17 CFR 240.19b-4, 
respectively. Notice of the proposed rule change was published in 
the Federal Register on October 11, 2016. See Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 34-79046 (October 5, 2016), 81 FR 70200 (October 11, 
2016) (SR-DTC-2016-008). On, November 18, 2016, the Commission 
extended to January 9, 2017 the date by which it shall either 
approve, disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether 
to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 34-79351 (November 18, 2016), 81 FR 85295 
(November 25, 2016) (SR-DTC-2016-008). The Commission did not 
receive any comments on the proposal.
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I. Description of the Advance Notice

    The Advance Notice is a proposal by DTC to modify (i) the DTC 
Rules, By-laws and Organization Certificate (``Rules''),\5\ (ii) the 
DTC Settlement Service Guide (``Settlement Guide''),\6\ and (iii) the 
DTC Distributions Service Guide (``Distributions Guide''),\7\ to change 
the way in which DTC processes transactions in money market instruments 
(``MMI''). The proposal would affect DTC's processing of issuances of 
MMI securities as well as maturity presentments, income presentments, 
principal presentments, and reorganization presentments (collectively, 
``presentments'' and with issuances of MMI securities, ``MMI 
Obligations'').
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    \5\ Available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx.
    \6\ Available at http://www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/
legal/service-guides/Settlement.pdf.
    \7\ Available at http://www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/
legal/service-guides/
Distributions%20Service%20Guide%20FINAL%20November%202014.pdf.
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    Specifically, DTC proposes to: (i) With respect to delivery of MMI 
securities, require purchasers of the securities (or their custodian, 
if applicable) to acknowledge that they agree to receive the securities 
via DTC's Receiver Authorized Delivery (``RAD'') system before DTC 
processes the transaction; (ii) with respect to cash, require an 
issuing and paying agent (``IPA'') of an MMI issuer to acknowledge its 
funding obligations for MMI presentments before DTC processes the 
transaction, except in limited circumstances where there are no funding 
obligations; \8\ (iii) implement an enhanced process to check certain 
MMI transactions against DTC's risk management controls (referred to as 
``MMI Optimization''); (iv) eliminate the largest provisional net 
credit risk management control; and (v) eliminate DTC's receive versus 
payment net additions control, as described below. In addition, the 
proposal would amend DTC's Distributions Guide to conform to the 
proposed changes.
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    \8\ An affirmative MMI funding acknowledgement by the IPA would 
not be required where the aggregate amount of an issuer's delivery 
of MMI securities that have been approved in RAD exceeds the 
aggregate amount of presentments because payment for those 
securities would fully fund the presentments. In such a case, the 
IPA would be deemed to have provided a funding acknowledgement and 
DTC would process the transactions, subject to risk management 
controls.
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A. Background

    Today, according to DTC, when an issuer issues MMI securities at 
DTC, the IPA for that issuer sends issuance instructions to DTC 
electronically, which results in crediting the applicable MMI 
securities to the DTC account of the IPA. The MMI securities are then 
delivered by DTC to the accounts of the applicable DTC participants 
(``Participants'') that are purchasing the issuance, typically as 
custodians for individual investors, in accordance with their purchase 
amounts. The IPA's delivery instructions may be free of payment or, 
most often, for payment (i.e., delivery versus payment or ``DVP''). 
Unlike deliveries free of payment, DVP transactions are subject to 
DTC's risk management controls for both the IPA and the receiving 
Participants, which means they are monitored for Net Debit Cap and 
Collateral Monitor sufficiency.\9\
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    \9\ DVP transfers at DTC are structured so that the completion 
of delivery of securities to a Participant in end-of-day settlement 
is contingent on the receiving Participant satisfying its end-of-day 
net settlement obligation, if any. The risk of Participant failure 
to settle is managed through risk management controls that would 
enable DTC to complete settlement despite the failure to settle of 
the Participant, or affiliated family of Participants, with the 
largest net settlement obligation. The two principal controls are 
the Net Debit Cap and Collateral Monitor. The largest net settlement 
obligation of a Participant or affiliated family of Participants 
cannot exceed DTC liquidity resources, based on the Net Debit Cap, 
and must be fully collateralized, based on the Collateral Monitor.
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    When MMI securities of a particular acronym \10\ mature, the 
current presentment process involves DTC automatically sweeping the 
matured positions from the applicable Participant accounts and debiting 
the settlement account of the applicable IPA for the amount of the 
matured position, with corresponding credits made to the settlement 
accounts of the deliverers. Because presentments are currently 
processed automatically at DTC, IPAs have the option to refuse to pay 
(``RTP'') for maturing MMI Obligations to protect against the 
possibility that an IPA may not be able to fund settlement because it 
has not received funds from the relevant issuer. An IPA that refuses 
payment for a presentment (i.e., refuses to make payment for the 
delivery of matured MMI securities for which it is the designated IPA 
and/or pay interest or dividend income on MMI securities for which it 
is the designated IPA) must notify DTC of its RTP. An IPA may notify 
DTC of an RTP until 3:00 p.m. ET on the date of the affected 
presentment.
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    \10\ MMI of an issuer are designated by DTC using unique four-
character identifiers referred to as acronyms. An MMI issuer can 
have multiple acronyms representing its securities. MMI transactions 
and other functions relating to MMI are done on an ``acronym-by-
acronym'' basis.
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    Under the current Rules, the effect of an RTP is for DTC to reverse 
all processed MMI security deliveries of that MMI acronym, including 
issuances, related funds credits and debits, and presentments, which 
means that the securities would fail to settle. This reversal of 
processed (but not yet settled) transactions could override DTC's risk 
management controls (i.e., Collateral Monitor and Net Debit Cap) and 
could result in a Participant's account having, unexpectedly, a net 
debit balance that exceeds its Net Debit Cap and/or having insufficient 
collateral to secure its settlement obligations throughout the day. 
Thus, RTPs can create uncertainty and pose systemic risk with respect 
to a Participant's and, ultimately, DTC's ability to complete end-of-
day net funds settlement.
    Currently, to mitigate the risks associated with an RTP, the Rules 
and the Settlement Guide provide for the Largest Provisional Net Credit 
control (``LPNC Control''). Under the LPNC Control, DTC withholds from 
each Participant's Net Debit Cap the two largest intraday net MMI 
credits owed to that Participant. The MMI credits withheld are not 
included in the calculation of the Participant's Collateral Monitor or 
its net debit balance. This provides protection in the event that 
processed (but not yet settled) MMI transactions are reversed by DTC as 
a result of an RTP.\11\
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    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71888 (April 7, 
2014), 79 FR 20285 (April 11, 2014) (SR-DTC-2014-02) (clarifying the 
LPNC procedures in the Settlement Guide) and Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 68983 (February 25, 2013), 78 FR 13924 (March 1, 2013) 
(SR-DTC-2012-10) (updating the Rules related to LPNC).
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    According to DTC, its Rules and procedures relating to settlement

[[Page 4428]]

processing for the MMI program \12\ were designed to limit credit, 
liquidity, and operational risk for DTC and Participants. In connection 
with ongoing efforts by DTC to evaluate the risk associated with the 
processing of MMI Obligations, DTC has determined that the risks 
presented by intra-day reversals of processed MMI Obligations should be 
eliminated to prevent the possibility that a reversal could override 
DTC's risk controls and heighten liquidity and settlement risk. DTC 
also states that eliminating intra-day reversals of processed MMI 
Obligations would enhance intra-day finality and allow for the 
elimination of the LPNC Control, which creates intra-day blockage and 
affects liquidity through the withholding of settlement credits.
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    \12\ The procedures applicable to MMI settlement processing are 
set forth in the Settlement Guide. Supra note 6.
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B. Proposed Changes

    The proposal would eliminate provisions for intra-day reversals of 
processed MMI Obligations based on an IPA's RTP or issuer insolvency of 
which DTC becomes aware, as described below.
    Pursuant to the proposal, DTC would no longer automatically process 
MMI Obligations. DTC's processing of MMI Obligations involves the 
delivery of cash and/or securities. With respect to securities, DTC 
would require purchasers of MMI issuances (or their custodian, if 
applicable) to acknowledge in RAD that they agree to receive the MMI 
securities before DTC processes the transaction. With respect to cash, 
an IPA would make an MMI funding acknowledgment using a new DTC 
platform designed to accept such acknowledgments. When an MMI funding 
acknowledgement is received, DTC would attempt to process transactions 
in the acronym(s) for which the MMI funding acknowledgment pertains.
    If the IPA has provided an MMI funding acknowledgment for the full 
amount of presentments, then all transactions in that acronym would be 
sent to the normal DTC processing system and tested against DTC's risk 
management controls. If the IPA provides an MMI funding acknowledgement 
for only partial funding of the presentments, then DTC would undertake 
the proposed ``MMI Optimization'' process to determine whether risk 
management controls would be satisfied by all deliverers and purchasers 
of the acronym and determine whether all parties would maintain 
adequate positions to complete the applicable transactions. However, as 
long as the issuances that could satisfy deliverer and purchaser risk 
controls for that MMI acronym are equal to or greater than the maturing 
presentments of that acronym, the applicable transactions (i.e., those 
that pass risk controls) could be processed without an IPA's funding 
acknowledgement.
    If DTC does not receive the necessary acknowledgments from both the 
IPA and purchasers for an acronym for which maturing MMI Obligations 
are due on that day and/or DTC is aware, through ordinary business 
channels, that the issuer of an acronym is insolvent (``Acronym Payment 
Failure''), then DTC would not process transactions in the acronym.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ DTC would automatically consider an Acronym Payment Failure 
that occurred due to an IPA's failure to provide timely MMI funding 
acknowledgement (i.e., provide the acknowledgment by 3:00 p.m. ET) 
as an RTP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the event of an Acronym Payment Failure, DTC would: (i) Prevent 
further issuance and maturity activity for the acronym in DTC's system; 
(ii) prevent deliveries of MMI securities of the acronym and halt all 
activity in that acronym; (iii) set the collateral value of the MMI 
securities in the acronym to zero for purposes of calculating the 
Collateral Monitor of any affected Participant; and (iv) notify 
Participants of the Acronym Payment Failure via DTC's current 
notification process. Notwithstanding the occurrence of an Acronym 
Payment Failure, the IPA would remain liable for funding pursuant to 
any MMI funding acknowledgment previously provided for that business 
day.
    A ``Temporary Acronym Payment Failure'' would occur when an IPA 
notifies DTC that it temporarily refuses to pay income presentments, 
and only income presentments, for an acronym, which typically would be 
due to an issuer's inability to fund income presentments on that day. A 
Temporary Acronym Payment Failure would only be initiated if there are 
no maturity presentments, principal presentments, and/or reorganization 
presentments on that business day. DTC would require the issuer and/or 
IPA to resolve such a situation by the next business day.
    In the event of a Temporary Acronym Payment Failure, DTC would: (i) 
Temporarily devalue to zero all of the issuer's MMI securities for 
purposes of calculating the Collateral Monitor, unless and until the 
IPA acknowledges funding with respect to the income payments on the 
following business day; (ii) notify Participants of the delayed 
payment; and (iii) block from DTC's systems all further issuances and 
maturities by that issuer for the remainder of the business day on 
which notification of the Temporary Payment Failure was received by 
DTC. An IPA would not be able to avail itself of a Temporary Acronym 
Payment Failure for the same acronym on consecutive business days.
    The Commission understands that the proposal would not: (i) 
Decrease the total number and value of transactions that would pass 
DTC's risk controls throughout the processing day; or (ii) increase the 
volume of transactions that would fail to settle. The Commission also 
understands that the proposal would reduce blockage caused by DTC. Non-
MMI transactions and fully funded MMI transactions would likely have a 
reduction in blockage as a result of the elimination of the LPNC 
Control. The elimination of the LPNC Control would no longer withhold 
billions of dollars of settlement credits as it does today, thus 
permitting MMI transactions subject to the LPNC Control to process 
earlier in the day. Moreover, it is expected that the value and volume 
of MMI transactions recycling due to failure to meet DTC's risk 
management controls during the late morning and afternoon periods would 
be reduced, as a result of such transactions being held outside of 
DTC's processing system while they await the necessary acknowledgments.
    Similar to the LPNC Control, the RVPNA Control is used to prevent a 
Participant from delivering free of value or undervalued any MMI 
securities that were received for payment on the same day.\14\ For 
example, under DTC's current rules, if Participant A delivers MMI 
securities to Participant B for payment, and then Participant B 
delivers the same MMI securities to Participant C free of payment 
(subject to risk management controls), the delivery to Participant C is 
final when the securities are credited to Participant C. DTC would, 
therefore, be unable to reverse the delivery to Participant C and, 
thus, DTC could not reverse the delivery from Participant B to 
Participant A. The RVPNA Control protects DTC against being unable to 
reverse such transactions of MMI Securities in the event of an RTP by 
the IPA. Because DTC would no longer permit the reversal of processed 
MMI transactions, DTC would no longer need the RVPNA Control.
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    \14\ For purposes of RVPNA, MMI securities are considered 
undervalued if they are delivered for less than 10 percent below 
market value.

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[[Page 4429]]

II. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Although the Act does not specify a standard of review for an 
advance notice, its stated purpose is instructive: To mitigate systemic 
risk in the financial system and promote financial stability by, among 
other things, promoting uniform risk management standards for 
systemically important financial market utilities and strengthening the 
liquidity of systemically important financial market utilities.\15\ 
Section 805(a)(2) of the Act authorizes the Commission to prescribe 
risk management standards for the payment, clearing, and settlement 
activities of designated clearing entities and financial institutions 
engaged in designated activities for which it is the Supervisory Agency 
or the appropriate financial regulator.\16\ Section 805(b) of the Act 
states that the objectives and principles for the risk management 
standards prescribed under Section 805(a) shall be to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See 12 U.S.C. 5461(b).
    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Promote robust risk management;
     promote safety and soundness;
     reduce systemic risks; and
     support the stability of the broader financial system.\17\
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    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has adopted risk management standards under Section 
805(a)(2) of the Act \18\ and Section 17A of the Exchange Act \19\ 
(``Clearing Agency Standards'').\20\ The Clearing Agency Standards 
require registered clearing agencies to establish, implement, maintain, 
and enforce written policies and procedures that are reasonably 
designed to meet certain minimum requirements for their operations and 
risk management practices on an ongoing basis.\21\ Therefore, it is 
appropriate for the Commission to review proposed changes in advance 
notices against the objectives and principles of these risk management 
standards as described in Section 805(b) of the Act and in the Clearing 
Agency Standards.
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    \18\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \20\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
68080 (October 22, 2012), 77 FR 66220 (November 2, 2012) (S7-08-11).
    \21\ Id.
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A. Consistency With Section 805(b) of the Act

    The Commission believes that the proposed changes in the Advance 
Notice are consistent with the objectives and principles described in 
Section 805(b) of the Act.\22\
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    \22\ Id.
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    First, the Commission believes that the changes proposed in the 
Advance Notice promote robust risk management. Under the proposal, DTC 
would no longer automatically process MMI presentments. Instead, before 
it processes a presentment, DTC would require purchasers of MMI 
issuances (or their custodian, if applicable) to acknowledge in RAD 
that the purchasers agree to receive the MMI securities before DTC 
processes the transaction. The proposal would also require the 
applicable IPA to provide an MMI funding acknowledgment, as applicable. 
The MMI funding acknowledgement would be a commitment by the IPA to 
make the applicable funds available to DTC. Although the proposed 
changes would establish new requirements before DTC would process such 
MMI transactions, the Commission believes that the benefits of 
eliminating the risk of a potential override of DTC's risk management 
controls from an RTP supports such requirements.
    DTC also would employ the proposed MMI Optimization, which would, 
for MMI transactions that await funding, continually test the net 
effect of transactions, across multiple MMI issuers, on receiving and 
delivering Participants' risk controls and then process the 
transactions once the controls are met. MMI Optimization would help 
maximize processing and facilitate more timely settlement of 
transactions, thus reducing risks that transactions may not settle.
    Second, the Commission believes that the changes proposed in the 
Advance Notice promote safety and soundness. Currently, as described 
above, if DTC were to reverse MMI transactions because of an RTP, the 
reversal could override DTC's risk management controls. The Advance 
Notice would eliminate RTPs and resulting reversals of MMI 
transactions, and thus eliminates this opportunity to override DTC's 
risk management controls.
    Third, the Commission believes that the Advance Notice helps reduce 
systemic risk. As described above, DTC would no longer automatically 
process MMI presentments. Rather, DTC would require purchasers to 
authorize delivery via RAD and IPAs to provide a funding acknowledgment 
before processing MMI presentments, as applicable. Because these 
changes would eliminate the risk of reversals due to an RTP, the 
changes would mitigate the risk of a potential override of DTC's risk 
management controls. In turn, this would reduce DTC's exposure to 
potential failures, promote DTC's safety and soundness, as discussed 
above, and thereby reduce the systemic risk to the financial system.
    Fourth, the Commission believes that the Advance Notice promotes 
the stability of the broader financial system. As described above, the 
LPNC Control currently withholds from each Participant the two largest 
intraday net MMI credits out of all of the MMI credits owed to that 
Participant in order to protect DTC from a Participant breaching its 
Net Debit Cap or having insufficient collateral in the event of a 
reversed because of an RTP. However, withholding the credits makes them 
unavailable to the Participant, which can cause blockage (i.e., the 
failure of a transaction to process because of insufficient liquidity) 
for the Participant. Meanwhile, the RVPNA Control limits a 
Participant's ability to deliver MMI that the Participant is also due 
to receive that day. By preventing Participants from delivering certain 
MMI securities, the RVPNA Control creates blockage.
    Because DTC would no longer process MMI transactions without a 
purchaser's RAD acknowledgement and an IPA's MMI funding 
acknowledgement, as applicable, RTPs and resulting intraday reversals 
no longer present the risk that the LPNC and RVPNA Controls are meant 
to address. As such, DTC would eliminate these controls. This change 
would make available to Participants the intraday credits that were 
previously withheld, which would decrease intraday liquidity blockage 
for the Participant and enable DTC to process MMI transactions earlier. 
Thus, Participants would have less exposure to intraday reversals that 
increase liquidity and settlement risk and a more complete view of 
their actual intraday net debit and credit balances.
    For the above reasons, the Commission believes that the changes 
proposed in the Advance Notice promote robust risk management, promote 
safety and soundness, reduce systemic risks, and support the stability 
of the broader financial system consistent with Section 805(b) of the 
Act.\23\
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    \23\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Consistency With Rule 17Ad-22(d) of the Exchange Act

    The Commission also believes that the Advance Notice is consistent 
with the Clearing Agency Standards, in particular Rule 17Ad-22(d)(12) 
under the Exchange Act.\24\ Rule 17Ad-22(d)(12) requires DTC to 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures

[[Page 4430]]

reasonably designed to ensure that final settlement occurs no later 
than the end of the settlement day; and require that intraday or real-
time finality be provided where necessary to reduce risks.\25\ Through 
this proposal, DTC would no longer process MMI transactions 
automatically but, rather, would first require an IPA's funding 
acknowledgment and a purchaser's RAD acknowledgment, as applicable. 
Where a funding acknowledgement is provided, DTC would no longer permit 
an RTP, thus eliminating the risk of an intraday reversal of a 
processed MMI transaction. Additionally, the proposal would eliminate 
the LPNC and RVPNA Controls, which would help eliminate the blockage 
caused by the LPNC Control's withholding of Participants' two largest 
net credits for MMI transactions and the RVPNA Control's restriction on 
delivering certain MMI securities. Each of these proposed changes, both 
individually and collectively, would help ensure that final settlement 
occurs at the end of the day. As such, the Commission believes that the 
changes proposed in the Advance Notice are consistent with Rule 17Ad-
22(d)(12) under the Exchange Act.\26\
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    \24\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(12).
    \25\ Id.
    \26\ Id.
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III. Conclusion

    It is therefore noticed, pursuant to Section 806(e)(1)(I) of the 
Payment, Clearing and Settlement Supervision Act,\27\ that the 
Commission does not object to the Advance Notice (SR-DTC-2016-802) and 
that DTC is authorized to implement the proposed change as of the date 
of this notice or the date of an order by the Commission authorizing 
DTC to implement DTC's proposed rule change SR-DTC-2016-008 that is 
consistent with this Advance Notice, whichever is later.
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    \27\ 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1)(I).

    By the Commission.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00625 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                    4426                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices

                                                    Residual Heat Removal System flowrate                     D. special circumstances are present                 assessment need be prepared for these
                                                    through the IRWST and CR screens.                       in that the application of the rule in this            amendments.
                                                       Part of the justification for granting               circumstance is not necessary to serve
                                                    the exemption was provided by the                                                                              IV. Conclusion
                                                                                                            the underlying purpose of the rule;
                                                    review of the amendment. Because the                      E. the special circumstances outweigh                   Using the reasons set forth in the
                                                    exemption is necessary in order to issue                any decrease in safety that may result                 combined safety evaluation, the staff
                                                    the requested license amendment, the                    from the reduction in standardization                  granted the exemption and issued the
                                                    NRC granted the exemption and issued                    caused by the exemption; and                           amendment that the licensee requested
                                                    the amendment concurrently, rather                        F. the exemption will not result in a                on August 11, 2016.
                                                    than in sequence. This included issuing                 significant decrease in the level of safety               The exemption and amendment were
                                                    a combined safety evaluation containing                 otherwise provided by the design.                      issued on December 29, 2016, as part of
                                                    the NRC staff’s review of both the                        2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted              a combined package to the licensee
                                                    exemption request and the license                       an exemption from the certified DCD                    (ADAMS Accession No. ML16307A260).
                                                    amendment. The exemption met all                        Tier 1 information, with corresponding                   Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day
                                                    applicable regulatory criteria set forth in             changes to Appendix C of the Facility                  of January 2017.
                                                    10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and Section                  COLs as described in the licensee’s                      For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                                    VIII.A.4 of appendix D to 10 CFR part                   request dated August 11, 2016. This                    Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
                                                    52. The license amendment was found                     exemption is related to, and necessary                 Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New
                                                    to be acceptable as well. The combined                  for, the granting of License Amendment                 Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors.
                                                    safety evaluation is available in ADAMS                 No. 63, which is being issued                          [FR Doc. 2017–00683 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    under Accession No. ML16307A355.                        concurrently with this exemption.
                                                                                                                                                                   BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                                       Identical exemption documents                          3. As explained in Section 5.0 of the
                                                    (except for referenced unit numbers and                 NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation this
                                                    license numbers) were issued to the                     exemption meets the eligibility criteria
                                                                                                            for categorical exclusion set forth in 10              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    licensee for VEGP Units 3 and 4 (COLs
                                                                                                            CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to                COMMISSION
                                                    NPF–91 and NPF–92). The exemption
                                                    documents for VEGP Units 3 and 4 can                    10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental                      [Release No. 34–79763; File No. SR–DTC–
                                                    be found in ADAMS under Accession                       impact statement or environmental                      2016–802]
                                                    Nos. ML16307A281 and ML16307A302,                       assessment needs to be prepared in
                                                    respectively. The exemption is                          connection with the issuance of the                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                    reproduced (with the exception of                       exemption.                                             Depository Trust Company; Notice of
                                                    abbreviated titles and additional                         4. This exemption is effective as of the             No Objection To Advance Notice Filing
                                                    citations) in Section II of this document.              date of its issuance.                                  Relating To Processing of
                                                    The amendment documents for COLs                                                                               Transactions in Money Market
                                                                                                            III. License Amendment Request                         Instruments
                                                    NPF–91 and NPF–92 are available in
                                                    ADAMS under Accession Nos.                                 By letter dated August 11, 2016, the
                                                                                                            licensee requested that the NRC amend                  January 9, 2017.
                                                    ML16307A274 and ML16307A276,                                                                                      The Depository Trust Company
                                                    respectively. A summary of the                          the COLs for VEGP, Units 3 and 4, COLs
                                                                                                            NPF–91 and NPF–92. The proposed                        (‘‘DTC’’) filed with the Securities and
                                                    amendment documents is provided in                                                                             Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)
                                                    Section III of this document.                           amendment is described in Section I of
                                                                                                            this Federal Register notice.                          on September 23, 2016 advance notice
                                                    II. Exemption                                              The Commission has determined for                   SR–DTC–2016–802 (‘‘Advance Notice’’)
                                                                                                            these amendments that the application                  pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of the
                                                       Reproduced below is the exemption
                                                                                                            complies with the standards and                        Payment, Clearing, and Settlement
                                                    document issued to Vogtle Unit 3 and
                                                                                                            requirements of the Atomic Energy Act                  Supervision Act of 2010 (‘‘Payment,
                                                    Unit 4. It makes reference to the
                                                                                                            of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the                 Clearing and Settlement Supervision
                                                    combined safety evaluation that
                                                                                                            Commission’s rules and regulations.                    Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4(n)(1)(i) 2 under
                                                    provides the reasoning for the findings
                                                                                                            The Commission has made appropriate                    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                    made by the NRC (and listed under Item
                                                                                                            findings as required by the Act and the                (‘‘Exchange Act’’) to establish a change
                                                    1) in order to grant the exemption:
                                                                                                            Commission’s rules and regulations in                  in the processing of transactions in
                                                       1. In a letter dated August 11, 2016,
                                                                                                            10 CFR chapter I, which are set forth in               money market instruments (‘‘MMI’’).3
                                                    the licensee requested from the
                                                    Commission an exemption to allow                        the license amendment.
                                                                                                                                                                      1 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1). The Financial Stability
                                                    departures from Tier 1 information in                      A notice of consideration of issuance
                                                                                                                                                                   Oversight Council designated DTC a systemically
                                                    the certified DCD incorporated by                       of amendment to facility operating                     important financial market utility on July 18, 2012.
                                                    reference in 10 CFR part 52, appendix                   license or combined license, as                        See Financial Stability Oversight Council 2012
                                                    D, as part of License Amendment                         applicable, proposed no significant                    Annual Report, Appendix A, http://
                                                                                                            hazards consideration determination,                   www.treasury.gov/initiatives/fsoc/Documents/
                                                    Request 16–013, ‘‘Debris Screen Related                                                                        2012%20Annual%20Report.pdf. Therefore, DTC is
                                                    Dimensions.’’                                           and opportunity for a hearing in                       required to comply with the Payment, Clearing and
                                                       For the reasons set forth in Section 3.1             connection with these actions, was                     Settlement Supervision Act and file advance
                                                    of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation,                   published in the Federal Register on                   notices with the Commission. See 12 U.S.C.
                                                                                                            September 27, 2016 (81 FR 66308). No                   5465(e).
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                                                    which can be found at ADAMS                                                                                       2 17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i).
                                                    Accession No. ML16307A355, the                          comments were received during the 30-                     3 MMI are short-term debt securities issued by
                                                    Commission finds that:                                  day comment period.                                    financial institutions, large corporations, or state
                                                       A. The exemption is authorized by                       The Commission has determined that                  and local governments that generally mature 1 to
                                                    law;                                                    these amendments satisfy the criteria for              270 days from their original issuance date, and
                                                       B. the exemption presents no undue                   categorical exclusion in accordance                    include, but are not limited to, commercial paper,
                                                                                                                                                                   banker’s acceptances, and short-term bank notes.
                                                    risk to public health and safety;                       with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant                 Most MMI trade in large denominations (typically,
                                                       C. the exemption is consistent with                  to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental                   $250,000 to $50 million) and are purchased by
                                                    the common defense and security;                        impact statement or environmental                      institutional investors.



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices                                                     4427

                                                    The Advance Notice was published for                    no funding obligations; 8 (iii) implement                Participant accounts and debiting the
                                                    comment in the Federal Register on                      an enhanced process to check certain                     settlement account of the applicable IPA
                                                    November 9, 2016.4 The Commission                       MMI transactions against DTC’s risk                      for the amount of the matured position,
                                                    did not receive any comments on the                     management controls (referred to as                      with corresponding credits made to the
                                                    Advance Notice. This publication serves                 ‘‘MMI Optimization’’); (iv) eliminate the                settlement accounts of the deliverers.
                                                    as notice of no objection to the Advance                largest provisional net credit risk                      Because presentments are currently
                                                    Notice.                                                 management control; and (v) eliminate                    processed automatically at DTC, IPAs
                                                                                                            DTC’s receive versus payment net                         have the option to refuse to pay (‘‘RTP’’)
                                                    I. Description of the Advance Notice                    additions control, as described below. In                for maturing MMI Obligations to protect
                                                       The Advance Notice is a proposal by                  addition, the proposal would amend                       against the possibility that an IPA may
                                                    DTC to modify (i) the DTC Rules, By-                    DTC’s Distributions Guide to conform to                  not be able to fund settlement because
                                                    laws and Organization Certificate                       the proposed changes.                                    it has not received funds from the
                                                    (‘‘Rules’’),5 (ii) the DTC Settlement                                                                            relevant issuer. An IPA that refuses
                                                                                                            A. Background
                                                    Service Guide (‘‘Settlement Guide’’),6                                                                           payment for a presentment (i.e., refuses
                                                    and (iii) the DTC Distributions Service                    Today, according to DTC, when an                      to make payment for the delivery of
                                                    Guide (‘‘Distributions Guide’’),7 to                    issuer issues MMI securities at DTC, the                 matured MMI securities for which it is
                                                    change the way in which DTC processes                   IPA for that issuer sends issuance                       the designated IPA and/or pay interest
                                                    transactions in money market                            instructions to DTC electronically,                      or dividend income on MMI securities
                                                    instruments (‘‘MMI’’). The proposal                     which results in crediting the applicable                for which it is the designated IPA) must
                                                    would affect DTC’s processing of                        MMI securities to the DTC account of                     notify DTC of its RTP. An IPA may
                                                    issuances of MMI securities as well as                  the IPA. The MMI securities are then                     notify DTC of an RTP until 3:00 p.m. ET
                                                    maturity presentments, income                           delivered by DTC to the accounts of the                  on the date of the affected presentment.
                                                    presentments, principal presentments,                   applicable DTC participants
                                                                                                                                                                        Under the current Rules, the effect of
                                                    and reorganization presentments                         (‘‘Participants’’) that are purchasing the
                                                                                                                                                                     an RTP is for DTC to reverse all
                                                    (collectively, ‘‘presentments’’ and with                issuance, typically as custodians for
                                                                                                                                                                     processed MMI security deliveries of
                                                    issuances of MMI securities, ‘‘MMI                      individual investors, in accordance with
                                                                                                                                                                     that MMI acronym, including issuances,
                                                    Obligations’’).                                         their purchase amounts. The IPA’s
                                                                                                                                                                     related funds credits and debits, and
                                                       Specifically, DTC proposes to: (i)                   delivery instructions may be free of
                                                                                                                                                                     presentments, which means that the
                                                    With respect to delivery of MMI                         payment or, most often, for payment
                                                                                                            (i.e., delivery versus payment or                        securities would fail to settle. This
                                                    securities, require purchasers of the                                                                            reversal of processed (but not yet
                                                    securities (or their custodian, if                      ‘‘DVP’’). Unlike deliveries free of
                                                                                                            payment, DVP transactions are subject                    settled) transactions could override
                                                    applicable) to acknowledge that they                                                                             DTC’s risk management controls (i.e.,
                                                    agree to receive the securities via DTC’s               to DTC’s risk management controls for
                                                                                                            both the IPA and the receiving                           Collateral Monitor and Net Debit Cap)
                                                    Receiver Authorized Delivery (‘‘RAD’’)                                                                           and could result in a Participant’s
                                                    system before DTC processes the                         Participants, which means they are
                                                                                                            monitored for Net Debit Cap and                          account having, unexpectedly, a net
                                                    transaction; (ii) with respect to cash,                                                                          debit balance that exceeds its Net Debit
                                                    require an issuing and paying agent                     Collateral Monitor sufficiency.9
                                                                                                               When MMI securities of a particular                   Cap and/or having insufficient collateral
                                                    (‘‘IPA’’) of an MMI issuer to                                                                                    to secure its settlement obligations
                                                                                                            acronym 10 mature, the current
                                                    acknowledge its funding obligations for                                                                          throughout the day. Thus, RTPs can
                                                                                                            presentment process involves DTC
                                                    MMI presentments before DTC                                                                                      create uncertainty and pose systemic
                                                                                                            automatically sweeping the matured
                                                    processes the transaction, except in                                                                             risk with respect to a Participant’s and,
                                                                                                            positions from the applicable
                                                    limited circumstances where there are                                                                            ultimately, DTC’s ability to complete
                                                                                                               8 An affirmative MMI funding acknowledgement          end-of-day net funds settlement.
                                                      4 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79224
                                                                                                            by the IPA would not be required where the                  Currently, to mitigate the risks
                                                    (November 3, 2016), 81 FR 78884 (November 9,            aggregate amount of an issuer’s delivery of MMI
                                                    2016) (SR–DTC–2016–802). DTC also filed a related                                                                associated with an RTP, the Rules and
                                                                                                            securities that have been approved in RAD exceeds
                                                    proposed rule change with the Commission                the aggregate amount of presentments because             the Settlement Guide provide for the
                                                    pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Exchange Act        payment for those securities would fully fund the        Largest Provisional Net Credit control
                                                    and Rule 19b–4 thereunder, seeking approval of          presentments. In such a case, the IPA would be           (‘‘LPNC Control’’). Under the LPNC
                                                    changes to its rules necessary to implement the         deemed to have provided a funding
                                                    Advance Notice. 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and 17 CFR          acknowledgement and DTC would process the
                                                                                                                                                                     Control, DTC withholds from each
                                                    240.19b–4, respectively. Notice of the proposed rule    transactions, subject to risk management controls.       Participant’s Net Debit Cap the two
                                                    change was published in the Federal Register on            9 DVP transfers at DTC are structured so that the     largest intraday net MMI credits owed to
                                                    October 11, 2016. See Securities Exchange Act           completion of delivery of securities to a Participant    that Participant. The MMI credits
                                                    Release No. 34–79046 (October 5, 2016), 81 FR           in end-of-day settlement is contingent on the
                                                    70200 (October 11, 2016) (SR–DTC–2016–008). On,                                                                  withheld are not included in the
                                                                                                            receiving Participant satisfying its end-of-day net
                                                    November 18, 2016, the Commission extended to           settlement obligation, if any. The risk of Participant   calculation of the Participant’s
                                                    January 9, 2017 the date by which it shall either       failure to settle is managed through risk                Collateral Monitor or its net debit
                                                    approve, disapprove, or institute proceedings to        management controls that would enable DTC to             balance. This provides protection in the
                                                    determine whether to approve or disapprove the          complete settlement despite the failure to settle of
                                                    proposed rule change. See Securities Exchange Act                                                                event that processed (but not yet settled)
                                                                                                            the Participant, or affiliated family of Participants,
                                                    Release No. 34–79351 (November 18, 2016), 81 FR         with the largest net settlement obligation. The two      MMI transactions are reversed by DTC
                                                    85295 (November 25, 2016) (SR–DTC–2016–008).            principal controls are the Net Debit Cap and             as a result of an RTP.11
                                                    The Commission did not receive any comments on          Collateral Monitor. The largest net settlement
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                                                    the proposal.
                                                                                                                                                                        According to DTC, its Rules and
                                                                                                            obligation of a Participant or affiliated family of
                                                      5 Available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-
                                                                                                            Participants cannot exceed DTC liquidity resources,
                                                                                                                                                                     procedures relating to settlement
                                                    and-procedures.aspx.                                    based on the Net Debit Cap, and must be fully
                                                      6 Available at http://www.dtcc.com/∼/media/           collateralized, based on the Collateral Monitor.           11 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71888
                                                    Files/Downloads/legal/service-guides/                      10 MMI of an issuer are designated by DTC using       (April 7, 2014), 79 FR 20285 (April 11, 2014) (SR–
                                                    Settlement.pdf.                                         unique four-character identifiers referred to as         DTC–2014–02) (clarifying the LPNC procedures in
                                                      7 Available at http://www.dtcc.com/∼/media/           acronyms. An MMI issuer can have multiple                the Settlement Guide) and Securities Exchange Act
                                                    Files/Downloads/legal/service-guides/                   acronyms representing its securities. MMI                Release No. 68983 (February 25, 2013), 78 FR 13924
                                                    Distributions%20Service%20Guide%20FINAL%20              transactions and other functions relating to MMI are     (March 1, 2013) (SR–DTC–2012–10) (updating the
                                                    November%202014.pdf.                                    done on an ‘‘acronym-by-acronym’’ basis.                 Rules related to LPNC).



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                                                    4428                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices

                                                    processing for the MMI program 12 were                  the applicable transactions. However, as               maturities by that issuer for the
                                                    designed to limit credit, liquidity, and                long as the issuances that could satisfy               remainder of the business day on which
                                                    operational risk for DTC and                            deliverer and purchaser risk controls for              notification of the Temporary Payment
                                                    Participants. In connection with                        that MMI acronym are equal to or                       Failure was received by DTC. An IPA
                                                    ongoing efforts by DTC to evaluate the                  greater than the maturing presentments                 would not be able to avail itself of a
                                                    risk associated with the processing of                  of that acronym, the applicable                        Temporary Acronym Payment Failure
                                                    MMI Obligations, DTC has determined                     transactions (i.e., those that pass risk               for the same acronym on consecutive
                                                    that the risks presented by intra-day                   controls) could be processed without an                business days.
                                                    reversals of processed MMI Obligations                  IPA’s funding acknowledgement.
                                                    should be eliminated to prevent the                        If DTC does not receive the necessary                  The Commission understands that the
                                                    possibility that a reversal could override              acknowledgments from both the IPA                      proposal would not: (i) Decrease the
                                                    DTC’s risk controls and heighten                        and purchasers for an acronym for                      total number and value of transactions
                                                    liquidity and settlement risk. DTC also                 which maturing MMI Obligations are                     that would pass DTC’s risk controls
                                                    states that eliminating intra-day                       due on that day and/or DTC is aware,                   throughout the processing day; or (ii)
                                                    reversals of processed MMI Obligations                  through ordinary business channels,                    increase the volume of transactions that
                                                    would enhance intra-day finality and                    that the issuer of an acronym is                       would fail to settle. The Commission
                                                    allow for the elimination of the LPNC                   insolvent (‘‘Acronym Payment                           also understands that the proposal
                                                    Control, which creates intra-day                        Failure’’), then DTC would not process                 would reduce blockage caused by DTC.
                                                    blockage and affects liquidity through                  transactions in the acronym.13                         Non-MMI transactions and fully funded
                                                    the withholding of settlement credits.                     In the event of an Acronym Payment                  MMI transactions would likely have a
                                                                                                            Failure, DTC would: (i) Prevent further                reduction in blockage as a result of the
                                                    B. Proposed Changes                                     issuance and maturity activity for the                 elimination of the LPNC Control. The
                                                       The proposal would eliminate                         acronym in DTC’s system; (ii) prevent
                                                                                                                                                                   elimination of the LPNC Control would
                                                    provisions for intra-day reversals of                   deliveries of MMI securities of the
                                                                                                                                                                   no longer withhold billions of dollars of
                                                    processed MMI Obligations based on an                   acronym and halt all activity in that
                                                                                                            acronym; (iii) set the collateral value of             settlement credits as it does today, thus
                                                    IPA’s RTP or issuer insolvency of which                                                                        permitting MMI transactions subject to
                                                    DTC becomes aware, as described                         the MMI securities in the acronym to
                                                                                                            zero for purposes of calculating the                   the LPNC Control to process earlier in
                                                    below.
                                                       Pursuant to the proposal, DTC would                  Collateral Monitor of any affected                     the day. Moreover, it is expected that
                                                    no longer automatically process MMI                     Participant; and (iv) notify Participants              the value and volume of MMI
                                                    Obligations. DTC’s processing of MMI                    of the Acronym Payment Failure via                     transactions recycling due to failure to
                                                    Obligations involves the delivery of                    DTC’s current notification process.                    meet DTC’s risk management controls
                                                    cash and/or securities. With respect to                 Notwithstanding the occurrence of an                   during the late morning and afternoon
                                                    securities, DTC would require                           Acronym Payment Failure, the IPA                       periods would be reduced, as a result of
                                                    purchasers of MMI issuances (or their                   would remain liable for funding                        such transactions being held outside of
                                                    custodian, if applicable) to acknowledge                pursuant to any MMI funding                            DTC’s processing system while they
                                                    in RAD that they agree to receive the                   acknowledgment previously provided                     await the necessary acknowledgments.
                                                    MMI securities before DTC processes                     for that business day.
                                                                                                               A ‘‘Temporary Acronym Payment                          Similar to the LPNC Control, the
                                                    the transaction. With respect to cash, an                                                                      RVPNA Control is used to prevent a
                                                    IPA would make an MMI funding                           Failure’’ would occur when an IPA
                                                                                                            notifies DTC that it temporarily refuses               Participant from delivering free of value
                                                    acknowledgment using a new DTC                                                                                 or undervalued any MMI securities that
                                                    platform designed to accept such                        to pay income presentments, and only
                                                                                                            income presentments, for an acronym,                   were received for payment on the same
                                                    acknowledgments. When an MMI                                                                                   day.14 For example, under DTC’s
                                                    funding acknowledgement is received,                    which typically would be due to an
                                                                                                            issuer’s inability to fund income                      current rules, if Participant A delivers
                                                    DTC would attempt to process
                                                                                                            presentments on that day. A Temporary                  MMI securities to Participant B for
                                                    transactions in the acronym(s) for which
                                                    the MMI funding acknowledgment                          Acronym Payment Failure would only                     payment, and then Participant B
                                                    pertains.                                               be initiated if there are no maturity                  delivers the same MMI securities to
                                                       If the IPA has provided an MMI                       presentments, principal presentments,                  Participant C free of payment (subject to
                                                    funding acknowledgment for the full                     and/or reorganization presentments on                  risk management controls), the delivery
                                                    amount of presentments, then all                        that business day. DTC would require                   to Participant C is final when the
                                                    transactions in that acronym would be                   the issuer and/or IPA to resolve such a                securities are credited to Participant C.
                                                    sent to the normal DTC processing                       situation by the next business day.                    DTC would, therefore, be unable to
                                                                                                               In the event of a Temporary Acronym                 reverse the delivery to Participant C
                                                    system and tested against DTC’s risk
                                                                                                            Payment Failure, DTC would: (i)                        and, thus, DTC could not reverse the
                                                    management controls. If the IPA
                                                                                                            Temporarily devalue to zero all of the
                                                    provides an MMI funding                                                                                        delivery from Participant B to
                                                                                                            issuer’s MMI securities for purposes of
                                                    acknowledgement for only partial                                                                               Participant A. The RVPNA Control
                                                                                                            calculating the Collateral Monitor,
                                                    funding of the presentments, then DTC                                                                          protects DTC against being unable to
                                                                                                            unless and until the IPA acknowledges
                                                    would undertake the proposed ‘‘MMI                                                                             reverse such transactions of MMI
                                                                                                            funding with respect to the income
                                                    Optimization’’ process to determine                                                                            Securities in the event of an RTP by the
                                                                                                            payments on the following business
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                                                    whether risk management controls                                                                               IPA. Because DTC would no longer
                                                                                                            day; (ii) notify Participants of the
                                                    would be satisfied by all deliverers and                                                                       permit the reversal of processed MMI
                                                                                                            delayed payment; and (iii) block from
                                                    purchasers of the acronym and                           DTC’s systems all further issuances and                transactions, DTC would no longer need
                                                    determine whether all parties would                                                                            the RVPNA Control.
                                                    maintain adequate positions to complete                   13 DTC would automatically consider an

                                                                                                            Acronym Payment Failure that occurred due to an
                                                      12 The procedures applicable to MMI settlement                                                                 14 For purposes of RVPNA, MMI securities are
                                                                                                            IPA’s failure to provide timely MMI funding
                                                    processing are set forth in the Settlement Guide.       acknowledgement (i.e., provide the                     considered undervalued if they are delivered for
                                                    Supra note 6.                                           acknowledgment by 3:00 p.m. ET) as an RTP.             less than 10 percent below market value.



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices                                             4429

                                                    II. Discussion and Commission                              First, the Commission believes that                 discussed above, and thereby reduce the
                                                    Findings                                                the changes proposed in the Advance                    systemic risk to the financial system.
                                                       Although the Act does not specify a                  Notice promote robust risk management.                    Fourth, the Commission believes that
                                                    standard of review for an advance                       Under the proposal, DTC would no                       the Advance Notice promotes the
                                                    notice, its stated purpose is instructive:              longer automatically process MMI                       stability of the broader financial system.
                                                    To mitigate systemic risk in the                        presentments. Instead, before it                       As described above, the LPNC Control
                                                    financial system and promote financial                  processes a presentment, DTC would                     currently withholds from each
                                                    stability by, among other things,                       require purchasers of MMI issuances (or                Participant the two largest intraday net
                                                    promoting uniform risk management                       their custodian, if applicable) to                     MMI credits out of all of the MMI
                                                    standards for systemically important                    acknowledge in RAD that the                            credits owed to that Participant in order
                                                    financial market utilities and                          purchasers agree to receive the MMI                    to protect DTC from a Participant
                                                    strengthening the liquidity of                          securities before DTC processes the                    breaching its Net Debit Cap or having
                                                    systemically important financial market                 transaction. The proposal would also                   insufficient collateral in the event of a
                                                    utilities.15 Section 805(a)(2) of the Act               require the applicable IPA to provide an               reversed because of an RTP. However,
                                                    authorizes the Commission to prescribe                  MMI funding acknowledgment, as                         withholding the credits makes them
                                                    risk management standards for the                       applicable. The MMI funding                            unavailable to the Participant, which
                                                    payment, clearing, and settlement                       acknowledgement would be a                             can cause blockage (i.e., the failure of a
                                                    activities of designated clearing entities              commitment by the IPA to make the                      transaction to process because of
                                                    and financial institutions engaged in                   applicable funds available to DTC.                     insufficient liquidity) for the
                                                    designated activities for which it is the               Although the proposed changes would                    Participant. Meanwhile, the RVPNA
                                                    Supervisory Agency or the appropriate                   establish new requirements before DTC                  Control limits a Participant’s ability to
                                                    financial regulator.16 Section 805(b) of                would process such MMI transactions,                   deliver MMI that the Participant is also
                                                    the Act states that the objectives and                  the Commission believes that the                       due to receive that day. By preventing
                                                    principles for the risk management                      benefits of eliminating the risk of a                  Participants from delivering certain
                                                    standards prescribed under Section                      potential override of DTC’s risk                       MMI securities, the RVPNA Control
                                                    805(a) shall be to:                                     management controls from an RTP                        creates blockage.
                                                       • Promote robust risk management;                    supports such requirements.                               Because DTC would no longer process
                                                       • promote safety and soundness;                         DTC also would employ the proposed                  MMI transactions without a purchaser’s
                                                       • reduce systemic risks; and                         MMI Optimization, which would, for                     RAD acknowledgement and an IPA’s
                                                       • support the stability of the broader               MMI transactions that await funding,                   MMI funding acknowledgement, as
                                                    financial system.17                                     continually test the net effect of                     applicable, RTPs and resulting intraday
                                                       The Commission has adopted risk                      transactions, across multiple MMI                      reversals no longer present the risk that
                                                    management standards under Section                      issuers, on receiving and delivering                   the LPNC and RVPNA Controls are
                                                    805(a)(2) of the Act 18 and Section 17A                 Participants’ risk controls and then                   meant to address. As such, DTC would
                                                    of the Exchange Act 19 (‘‘Clearing                      process the transactions once the                      eliminate these controls. This change
                                                    Agency Standards’’).20 The Clearing                     controls are met. MMI Optimization                     would make available to Participants
                                                    Agency Standards require registered                     would help maximize processing and                     the intraday credits that were previously
                                                    clearing agencies to establish,                                                                                withheld, which would decrease
                                                                                                            facilitate more timely settlement of
                                                    implement, maintain, and enforce                                                                               intraday liquidity blockage for the
                                                                                                            transactions, thus reducing risks that
                                                    written policies and procedures that are                                                                       Participant and enable DTC to process
                                                                                                            transactions may not settle.
                                                    reasonably designed to meet certain                                                                            MMI transactions earlier. Thus,
                                                    minimum requirements for their                             Second, the Commission believes that
                                                                                                                                                                   Participants would have less exposure
                                                    operations and risk management                          the changes proposed in the Advance
                                                                                                                                                                   to intraday reversals that increase
                                                    practices on an ongoing basis.21                        Notice promote safety and soundness.
                                                                                                                                                                   liquidity and settlement risk and a more
                                                    Therefore, it is appropriate for the                    Currently, as described above, if DTC
                                                                                                                                                                   complete view of their actual intraday
                                                    Commission to review proposed                           were to reverse MMI transactions
                                                                                                                                                                   net debit and credit balances.
                                                    changes in advance notices against the                  because of an RTP, the reversal could                     For the above reasons, the
                                                    objectives and principles of these risk                 override DTC’s risk management                         Commission believes that the changes
                                                    management standards as described in                    controls. The Advance Notice would                     proposed in the Advance Notice
                                                    Section 805(b) of the Act and in the                    eliminate RTPs and resulting reversals                 promote robust risk management,
                                                    Clearing Agency Standards.                              of MMI transactions, and thus                          promote safety and soundness, reduce
                                                                                                            eliminates this opportunity to override                systemic risks, and support the stability
                                                    A. Consistency With Section 805(b) of                   DTC’s risk management controls.                        of the broader financial system
                                                    the Act                                                    Third, the Commission believes that                 consistent with Section 805(b) of the
                                                      The Commission believes that the                      the Advance Notice helps reduce                        Act.23
                                                    proposed changes in the Advance                         systemic risk. As described above, DTC
                                                    Notice are consistent with the objectives               would no longer automatically process                  B. Consistency With Rule 17Ad–22(d) of
                                                    and principles described in Section                     MMI presentments. Rather, DTC would                    the Exchange Act
                                                    805(b) of the Act.22                                    require purchasers to authorize delivery                 The Commission also believes that the
                                                                                                            via RAD and IPAs to provide a funding                  Advance Notice is consistent with the
                                                                                                            acknowledgment before processing MMI
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                                                      15 See  12 U.S.C. 5461(b).                                                                                   Clearing Agency Standards, in
                                                      16 12  U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).                             presentments, as applicable. Because                   particular Rule 17Ad–22(d)(12) under
                                                      17 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
                                                                                                            these changes would eliminate the risk                 the Exchange Act.24 Rule 17Ad–
                                                      18 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
                                                                                                            of reversals due to an RTP, the changes                22(d)(12) requires DTC to establish,
                                                      19 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.
                                                      20 See 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22. Securities Exchange
                                                                                                            would mitigate the risk of a potential                 implement, maintain and enforce
                                                    Act Release No. 68080 (October 22, 2012), 77 FR
                                                                                                            override of DTC’s risk management                      written policies and procedures
                                                    66220 (November 2, 2012) (S7–08–11).                    controls. In turn, this would reduce
                                                      21 Id.                                                DTC’s exposure to potential failures,                    23 12   U.S.C. 5464(b).
                                                      22 Id.                                                promote DTC’s safety and soundness, as                   24 17   CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(12).



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                                                    4430                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices

                                                    reasonably designed to ensure that final                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                as the date by which the Commission
                                                    settlement occurs no later than the end                     COMMISSION                                             should either approve or disapprove or
                                                    of the settlement day; and require that                                                                            institute proceedings to determine
                                                                                                                [Release No. 34–79759; File No. SR–
                                                    intraday or real-time finality be                                                                                  whether to disapprove the proposed
                                                                                                                NYSEArca–2016–149]
                                                    provided where necessary to reduce                                                                                 rule change (File Number SR–
                                                    risks.25 Through this proposal, DTC                         Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                    NYSEArca–2016–149).
                                                    would no longer process MMI                                 Arca, Inc.; Notice of Designation of a                   For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    transactions automatically but, rather,                     Longer Period for Commission Action                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    would first require an IPA’s funding                        on a Proposed Rule Change, as                          authority.6
                                                    acknowledgment and a purchaser’s RAD                        Modified by Amendment No. 1, To                        Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                    acknowledgment, as applicable. Where                        Amend NYSE Arca Rule 6.91                              Assistant Secretary.
                                                    a funding acknowledgement is                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2017–00608 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                January 9, 2017.
                                                    provided, DTC would no longer permit                           On November 14, 2016, NYSE Arca,
                                                                                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    an RTP, thus eliminating the risk of an                     Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed
                                                    intraday reversal of a processed MMI                        with the Securities and Exchange                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    transaction. Additionally, the proposal                     Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                  COMMISSION
                                                    would eliminate the LPNC and RVPNA                          to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                                    Controls, which would help eliminate                        Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule              [Release No. 34–79758; File No. SR–
                                                    the blockage caused by the LPNC                                                                                    BatsBZX–2016–89]
                                                                                                                19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
                                                    Control’s withholding of Participants’                      change to amend NYSE Arca Rule 6.91                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats
                                                    two largest net credits for MMI                             to clarify and provide greater                         BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing
                                                    transactions and the RVPNA Control’s                        transparency to its rules governing the                and Immediate Effectiveness of a
                                                    restriction on delivering certain MMI                       trading of Electronic Complex Orders.                  Proposed Rule Change To Modify Fees
                                                    securities. Each of these proposed                          The proposed rule change was                           for Connectivity and Its
                                                    changes, both individually and                              published for comment in the Federal                   Communication and Routing Service
                                                    collectively, would help ensure that                        Register on December 2, 2016.3 On                      Known as Bats Connect
                                                    final settlement occurs at the end of the                   December 23, 2016, NYSE Arca filed
                                                    day. As such, the Commission believes                       Amendment No. 1, which supersedes                      January 9, 2017.
                                                    that the changes proposed in the                            the original proposal in its entirety. The                Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                    Advance Notice are consistent with                          Commission has received no comments                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                    Rule 17Ad–22(d)(12) under the                               regarding the proposed rule change.                    ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                                                                                   Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 4 provides              notice is hereby given that on December
                                                    Exchange Act.26
                                                                                                                that, within 45 days of the publication                27, 2016, Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. (the
                                                    III. Conclusion                                             of notice of the filing of a proposed rule             ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with the
                                                                                                                change, or within such longer period up                Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                      It is therefore noticed, pursuant to                      to 90 days as the Commission may                       (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                    Section 806(e)(1)(I) of the Payment,                        designate if it finds such longer period               change as described in Items I, II, and
                                                    Clearing and Settlement Supervision                         to be appropriate and publishes its                    III below, which Items have been
                                                    Act,27 that the Commission does not                         reasons for so finding or as to which the              prepared by the Exchange. The
                                                    object to the Advance Notice (SR–DTC–                       self-regulatory organization consents,                 Exchange has designated the proposed
                                                    2016–802) and that DTC is authorized to                     the Commission shall either approve the                rule change as one establishing or
                                                    implement the proposed change as of                         proposed rule change, disapprove the                   changing a member due, fee, or other
                                                    the date of this notice or the date of an                   proposed rule change, or institute                     charge imposed by the Exchange under
                                                    order by the Commission authorizing                         proceedings to determine whether the                   Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 3 and
                                                    DTC to implement DTC’s proposed rule                        proposed rule change should be                         Rule 19b–4(f)(2) thereunder,4 which
                                                    change SR–DTC–2016–008 that is                              disapproved. The 45th day after                        renders the proposed rule change
                                                    consistent with this Advance Notice,                        publication of the notice for this                     effective upon filing with the
                                                    whichever is later.                                         proposed rule change is January 16,                    Commission. The Commission is
                                                                                                                2017.                                                  publishing this notice to solicit
                                                      By the Commission.                                                                                               comments on the proposed rule change
                                                                                                                   The Commission is extending the 45-
                                                    Eduardo A. Aleman,                                          day time period for Commission action                  from interested persons.
                                                    Assistant Secretary.                                        on the proposed rule change. The                       I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–00625 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am]                 Commission finds that it is appropriate                Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                      to designate a longer period within                    the Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                                which to take action on the proposed
                                                                                                                                                                          The Exchange filed a proposal to
                                                                                                                rule change so that it has sufficient time
                                                                                                                                                                       amend the fee schedule applicable to
                                                                                                                to consider and take action on the
                                                                                                                                                                       Members 5 and non-members of the
                                                                                                                proposed rule change.
                                                                                                                                                                       Exchange pursuant to BZX Rules 15.1(a)
                                                                                                                   Accordingly, pursuant to Section
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                19(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of the Act,5 the                      6 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(31).
                                                                                                                Commission designates March 2, 2017,                     1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                                                                                                                                         2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                  1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                 3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
                                                                                                                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                    4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
                                                                                                                  3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79404        5 The term ‘‘Member’’ is defined as ‘‘any
                                                      25 Id.
                                                                                                                (November 28, 2016), 81 FR 87094.                      registered broker or dealer that has been admitted
                                                      26 Id.                                                      4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                                                                                                                                       to membership in the Exchange.’’ See Exchange
                                                      27 12    U.S.C. 5465(e)(1)(I).                              5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I).                     Rule 1.5(n).



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Document Created: 2017-01-13 02:44:57
Document Modified: 2017-01-13 02:44:57
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 4426 

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