83_FR_13055 83 FR 12997 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt a Recovery & Wind-Down Plan and Related Rules

83 FR 12997 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt a Recovery & Wind-Down Plan and Related Rules

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 58 (March 26, 2018)

Page Range12997-12999
FR Document2018-06019

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 58 (Monday, March 26, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12997-12999]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06019]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82913; File No. SR-FICC-2017-021]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; 
Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or 
Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt a Recovery & Wind-Down Plan 
and Related Rules

March 20, 2018.

I. Introduction

    On December 18, 2017, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ proposed rule change SR-
FICC-2017-021 to adopt a recovery and wind-down plan and related rules 
(``Proposed Rule Change'').\3\ The Proposed Rule Change was published 
for comment in the Federal Register on January 8, 2018.\4\ The 
Commission did not receive any comments on the Proposed Rule Change. On 
February 8, 2018, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of the Act,\5\ 
the Commission designated a longer period within which to approve, 
disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to approve or 
disapprove the Proposed Rule Change.\6\ This order institutes 
proceedings, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act,\7\ to 
determine whether to approve or disapprove the Proposed Rule Change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ On December 18, 2017, FICC filed this proposal as an advance 
notice (SR-FICC-2017-805) with the Commission pursuant to Section 
806(e)(1) of the Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act 
of 2010 (``Clearing Supervision Act'') and Rule 19b-4(n)(1)(i) of 
the Act (``Advance Notice''). On January 24, 2018, the Commission 
extended the review period of the Advance Notice for an additional 
60 days pursuant to Section 806(e)(1)(H) of the Clearing Supervision 
Act. See 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1); 17 CFR 240.19b-4(n)(1)(i); 12 U.S.C. 
5465(e)(1)(H); and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82580 
(January 24, 2018), 83 FR 4341 (January 30, 2018) (SR-FICC-2017-
805).
    \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82431 (January 2, 2018), 
83 FR 871 (January 8, 2018) (SR-FICC-2017-021) (``Notice'').
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I).
    \6\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82669 (February 8, 
2018), 83 FR 6653 (February 14, 2018) (SR-DTC-2017-021; SR-FICC-
2017-021; SR-NSCC-2017-017).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Summary of the Proposed Rule Change

    As described in the Notice,\8\ FICC proposes to (i) adopt a 
Recovery & Wind-down Plan (``R&W Plan''), (ii) adopt rules to 
facilitate the implementation of the R&W Plan, and (iii) make 
conforming changes to existing rules. Specifically, to facilitate the 
implementation of the R&W Plan, FICC proposes to adopt a proposed wind-
down rule and a proposed market disruption and force majeure rule to 
both FICC's Government Securities Division (``GSD'') Rulebook (``GSD 
Rules'') \9\ and FICC's Mortgage-Backed Securities Division (``MBSD'') 
Clearing Rules (``MBSD Rules'') \10\ (collectively, ``Wind-down Rule'' 
and ``Force Majeure Rule,'' respectively). FICC proposes to make 
conforming changes to existing rules to incorporate the proposed Wind-
down Rule and proposed Force Majeure Rule.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The description of the Proposed Rule Change is based on the 
statements prepared by FICC in the Notice. See Notice, supra note 4.
    \9\ FICC proposes to adopt GSD Rule 22D (Wind-down of the 
Corporation) and GSD Rule 50 (Market Disruption and Force Majeure). 
See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
    \10\ FICC proposes to adopt MBSD Rule 17B (Wind-down of the 
Corporation) and MBSD Rule 40 (Market Disruption and Force Majeure). 
See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
    \11\ FICC proposes to make conforming changes to GSD Rules, MBSD 
Rules, and MBSD Electronic Pool Netting (``EPN'') Rules (``EPN 
Rules''). Specifically, FICC proposes to amend the following GSD 
Rules and MBSD Rules to incorporate the proposed Wind-down Rule and 
proposed Force Majeure Rule, as applicable: GSD Rule 3A (Sponsoring 
Members and Sponsored Members), GSD Rule 3B (Centrally Cleared 
Institutional Triparty Service), GSD Rule 13 (Funds-Only 
Settlement), and MBSD Rule 3A (Cash Settlement Bank Members). See 
Notice, supra note 4, at 872, 881-82. Additionally, FICC proposes to 
amend EPN Rule 1 to provide that EPN Users are bound by proposed 
MBSD Rule 17B (Wind-down of the Corporation) and proposed MBSD Rule 
40 (Market Disruption and Force Majeure). Id. Capitalized terms not 
defined herein are defined in the GSD Rules, MBSD Rules, and EPN 
Rules, as applicable, available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FICC states that the R&W Plan is intended to be used by FICC's 
Board of Directors and management in the event that FICC encounters 
scenarios that could potentially prevent it from being able to provide 
its critical services as a going concern.\12\ The R&W Plan would be 
structured to provide a roadmap, define the strategy, and identify the 
tools available to FICC to either (i) recover in the event it 
experiences losses that exceed its prefunded resources or (ii) wind-
down its business in a manner designed to permit the continuation of 
its critical services in the event that such recovery efforts are not 
successful.\13\ The R&W Plan would include tools that are provided for 
in FICC's existing rules, policies, procedures, and contractual 
arrangements,\14\ as well as the proposed Wind-down Rule and the 
proposed Force Majeure Rule.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
    \13\ Id. at 873.
    \14\ Contractual arrangements include, for example, FICC's 
existing committed or pre-arranged liquidity arrangements.
    \15\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FICC states that the proposed Wind-down Rule and the proposed Force 
Majeure Rule are designed to (i) facilitate the implementation of the 
R&W Plan when necessary; (ii) provide Members and Limited Members with 
transparency around critical provisions of the R&W Plan that relate to 
their rights, responsibilities, and obligations; \16\ and (iii) provide 
FICC

[[Page 12998]]

with the legal basis to implement the provisions of the R&W Plan that 
concern the proposed Wind-down Rule and the proposed Force Majeure 
Rule, when necessary.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Consistent with the Notice, references to ``Members'' refer 
to GSD Netting Members and MBSD Clearing Members. References to 
``Limited Members'' refer to participants of GSD or MBSD other than 
GSD Netting Members and MBSD Clearing Members, including, for 
example, GSD Comparison-Only Members, GSD Sponsored Members, GSD 
CCIT Members, and MBSD EPN Users. Id. at 872 n.6.
    \17\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As an overview, the R&W Plan would provide, among other matters, 
(i) an overview of the business of FICC and its parent, The Depository 
Trust & Clearing Corporation (``DTCC''); (ii) an analysis of FICC's 
intercompany arrangements and an existing link to another financial 
market infrastructures; (iii) a description of FICC's services, and the 
criteria used to determine which services are considered critical; (iv) 
a description of the FICC and DTCC governance structure; (v) a 
description of the governance around the overall recovery and wind-down 
program; (vi) a discussion of tools available to FICC to mitigate 
credit/market \18\ and liquidity risks, including recovery indicators 
and triggers, and the governance around management of a stress event 
along a ``Crisis Continuum'' timeline; (vii) a discussion of potential 
non-default losses and the resources available to FICC to address such 
losses, including recovery triggers and tools to mitigate such losses; 
\19\ (viii) an analysis of the recovery tools' characteristics, 
including how they are comprehensive, effective, and transparent, how 
the tools provide appropriate incentives to Members to, among other 
things, control and monitor the risks they may present to FICC, and how 
FICC seeks to minimize the negative consequences of executing its 
recovery tools; and (ix) the framework and approach for the orderly 
wind-down and transfer of FICC's business,\20\ including an estimate of 
the time and costs to effect a recovery or orderly wind-down of 
FICC.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ FICC states that FICC manages its credit exposure to 
Members as part of its market risk management strategy. Id. at 875.
    \19\ As described in more detail in the Notice, this section of 
the R&W Plan would describe the proposed Force Majeure Rule, which 
would govern how FICC would address extraordinary events that may 
occur outside its control. See Notice, supra note 4, at 881. The 
proposed Force Majeure Rule would identify the events or 
circumstances that would be considered a ``Market Disruption 
Event,'' including, for example, events that lead to the suspension 
or limitation of trading or banking in the markets in which FICC 
operates, or the unavailability or failure of any material payment, 
bank transfer, wire or securities settlement systems. Id. Under the 
proposed Force Majeure Rule, during the pendency of a Market 
Disruption Event, FICC would be entitled to (i) suspend the 
provision of any or all services, and (ii) take, or refrain from 
taking, or require its Members and Limited Members to take, or 
refrain from taking, any actions it considers appropriate to 
address, alleviate, or mitigate the event and facilitate the 
continuation of FICC's services as may be practicable. Id.
    \20\ This section of the R&W Plan would refer to the proposed 
Wind-down Rule.
    \21\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The framework and approach for orderly wind-down would provide (i) 
for the transfer of FICC's business, assets, and memberships of both 
GSD and MBSD to another legal entity; (ii) that FICC would effectuate 
the transfer in connection with proceedings under Chapter 11 of the 
U.S. Bankruptcy Code; \22\ and (iii) that after effectuating this 
transfer, FICC would liquidate any remaining assets in an orderly 
manner in bankruptcy proceedings.\23\ FICC states that it believes that 
the proposed transfer approach to a wind-down would meet its objectives 
of (i) assuring that FICC's critical services will be available to the 
market as long as there are Members in good standing, and (ii) 
minimizing disruption to the operations of Members and financial 
markets generally that might be caused by FICC's failure.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ 11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.
    \23\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 878.
    \24\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove the 
Proposed Rule Change and Grounds for Disapproval Under Consideration

    The Commission is instituting proceedings pursuant to Section 
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \25\ to determine whether the Proposed Rule 
Change should be approved or disapproved. Institution of proceedings is 
appropriate at this time in view of the legal and policy issues raised 
by the Proposed Rule Change. Institution of proceedings does not 
indicate that the Commission has reached any conclusions with respect 
to any of the issues involved. Rather, the Commission seeks and 
encourages interested persons to comment on the Proposed Rule Change, 
and provide the Commission with arguments to support the Commission's 
analysis as to whether to approve or disapprove the Proposed Rule 
Change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act,\26\ the Commission is 
providing notice of the grounds for disapproval under consideration. 
The Commission is instituting proceedings to allow for additional 
analysis of, and input from commenters with respect to, the Proposed 
Rule Change's consistency with Section 17A of the Act,\27\ and the 
rules thereunder, including the following provisions:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Id.
    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,\28\ which requires, among 
other things, that the rules of a clearing agency, such as FICC, must 
be designed to assure the safeguarding of securities and funds which 
are in the custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is 
responsible and to protect investors and the public interest; and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act,\29\ which requires a 
covered clearing agency,\30\ such as FICC, to, among other things, 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to, as applicable, maintain a sound risk 
management framework for comprehensively managing legal, credit, 
liquidity, operational, general business, investment, custody, and 
other risks that arise in or are borne by FICC, which includes plans 
for the recovery and orderly wind-down of FICC necessitated by credit 
losses, liquidity shortfalls, losses from general business risk, or any 
other losses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii).
    \30\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(a)(5) for the definition of a 
covered clearing agency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Procedure: Request for Written Comments

    The Commission requests that interested persons provide written 
submissions of their views, data, and arguments with respect to the 
issues identified above, as well as any other concerns they may have 
with the Proposed Rule Change. In particular, the Commission invites 
the written views of interested persons concerning whether the Proposed 
Rule Change is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,\31\ 
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act,\32\ or any other provision of the 
Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder. Although there do not 
appear to be any issues relevant to approval or disapproval that would 
be facilitated by an oral presentation of views, data, and arguments, 
the Commission will consider, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(g) under the 
Act,\33\ any request for an opportunity to make an oral 
presentation.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \32\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii).
    \33\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(g).
    \34\ Section 19(b)(2) of the Act grants to the Commission 
flexibility to determine what type of proceeding--either oral or 
notice and opportunity for written comments--is appropriate for 
consideration of a particular proposal by a self-regulatory 
organization. See Securities Act Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm. on 
Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th Cong., 1st 
Sess. 30 (1975).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and

[[Page 12999]]

arguments regarding whether the Proposed Rule Change should be approved 
or disapproved by April 16, 2018. Any person who wishes to file a 
rebuttal to any other person's submission must file that rebuttal by 
April 30, 2018.
    The Commission asks that commenters address the sufficiency of 
FICC's statements in support of the Proposed Rule Change, which are set 
forth in the Notice,\35\ in addition to any other comments they may 
wish to submit about the Proposed Rule Change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ See Notice, supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-FICC-2017-021 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FICC-2017-021. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the Proposed Rule Change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the Proposed 
Rule Change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of FICC and on DTCC's website 
(http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx). All comments received 
will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-FICC-2017-021 and should be submitted on 
or before April 16, 2018. Rebuttal comments should be submitted by 
April 30, 2018.

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

    \36\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-06019 Filed 3-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2018 / Notices                                                         12997

                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                     19b–4 thereunder,2 proposed rule                         ‘‘Wind-down Rule’’ and ‘‘Force Majeure
                                                internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     change SR–FICC–2017–021 to adopt a                       Rule,’’ respectively). FICC proposes to
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           recovery and wind-down plan and                          make conforming changes to existing
                                                submission, all subsequent                                related rules (‘‘Proposed Rule                           rules to incorporate the proposed Wind-
                                                amendments, all written statements                        Change’’).3 The Proposed Rule Change                     down Rule and proposed Force Majeure
                                                with respect to the proposed rule                         was published for comment in the                         Rule.11
                                                change that are filed with the                            Federal Register on January 8, 2018.4                       FICC states that the R&W Plan is
                                                Commission, and all written                               The Commission did not receive any                       intended to be used by FICC’s Board of
                                                communications relating to the                            comments on the Proposed Rule                            Directors and management in the event
                                                proposed rule change between the                          Change. On February 8, 2018, pursuant                    that FICC encounters scenarios that
                                                Commission and any person, other than                     to Section 19(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of the Act,5               could potentially prevent it from being
                                                those that may be withheld from the                       the Commission designated a longer                       able to provide its critical services as a
                                                public in accordance with the                             period within which to approve,                          going concern.12 The R&W Plan would
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       disapprove, or institute proceedings to                  be structured to provide a roadmap,
                                                available for website viewing and                         determine whether to approve or                          define the strategy, and identify the
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                       disapprove the Proposed Rule Change.6                    tools available to FICC to either (i)
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                          This order institutes proceedings,                       recover in the event it experiences
                                                Washington, DC 20549, on official                         pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the                   losses that exceed its prefunded
                                                business days between the hours of                        Act,7 to determine whether to approve                    resources or (ii) wind-down its business
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    or disapprove the Proposed Rule                          in a manner designed to permit the
                                                filing also will be available for                         Change.                                                  continuation of its critical services in
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                                                                            the event that such recovery efforts are
                                                                                                          II. Summary of the Proposed Rule                         not successful.13 The R&W Plan would
                                                office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                                                                          Change                                                   include tools that are provided for in
                                                received will be posted without change.
                                                Persons submitting comments are                              As described in the Notice,8 FICC                     FICC’s existing rules, policies,
                                                cautioned that we do not redact or edit                   proposes to (i) adopt a Recovery &                       procedures, and contractual
                                                personal identifying information from                     Wind-down Plan (‘‘R&W Plan’’), (ii)                      arrangements,14 as well as the proposed
                                                comment submissions. You should                           adopt rules to facilitate the                            Wind-down Rule and the proposed
                                                submit only information that you wish                     implementation of the R&W Plan, and                      Force Majeure Rule.15
                                                to make available publicly. All                           (iii) make conforming changes to                            FICC states that the proposed Wind-
                                                submissions should refer to File                          existing rules. Specifically, to facilitate              down Rule and the proposed Force
                                                Number SR–CboeEDGA–2018–004 and                           the implementation of the R&W Plan,                      Majeure Rule are designed to (i)
                                                                                                          FICC proposes to adopt a proposed                        facilitate the implementation of the
                                                should be submitted on or before April
                                                                                                          wind-down rule and a proposed market                     R&W Plan when necessary; (ii) provide
                                                16, 2018.
                                                                                                          disruption and force majeure rule to                     Members and Limited Members with
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                                                                           transparency around critical provisions
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                both FICC’s Government Securities
                                                                                                          Division (‘‘GSD’’) Rulebook (‘‘GSD                       of the R&W Plan that relate to their
                                                authority.14                                                                                                       rights, responsibilities, and
                                                Eduardo A. Aleman,                                        Rules’’) 9 and FICC’s Mortgage-Backed
                                                                                                          Securities Division (‘‘MBSD’’) Clearing                  obligations; 16 and (iii) provide FICC
                                                Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                          Rules (‘‘MBSD Rules’’) 10 (collectively,
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–06011 Filed 3–23–18; 8:45 am]                                                                        (Market Disruption and Force Majeure). See Notice,
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                                                                             supra note 4, at 872.
                                                                                                            2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.                                      11 FICC proposes to make conforming changes to
                                                                                                             3 On December 18, 2017, FICC filed this proposal
                                                                                                                                                                   GSD Rules, MBSD Rules, and MBSD Electronic Pool
                                                                                                          as an advance notice (SR–FICC–2017–805) with the         Netting (‘‘EPN’’) Rules (‘‘EPN Rules’’). Specifically,
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                   Commission pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of the          FICC proposes to amend the following GSD Rules
                                                COMMISSION                                                Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act        and MBSD Rules to incorporate the proposed Wind-
                                                                                                          of 2010 (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) and Rule 19b–     down Rule and proposed Force Majeure Rule, as
                                                [Release No. 34–82913; File No. SR–FICC–                  4(n)(1)(i) of the Act (‘‘Advance Notice’’). On January   applicable: GSD Rule 3A (Sponsoring Members and
                                                                                                          24, 2018, the Commission extended the review             Sponsored Members), GSD Rule 3B (Centrally
                                                2017–021]                                                 period of the Advance Notice for an additional 60        Cleared Institutional Triparty Service), GSD Rule 13
                                                                                                          days pursuant to Section 806(e)(1)(H) of the             (Funds-Only Settlement), and MBSD Rule 3A (Cash
                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed                      Clearing Supervision Act. See 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1);      Settlement Bank Members). See Notice, supra note
                                                Income Clearing Corporation; Order                        17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i); 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1)(H);      4, at 872, 881–82. Additionally, FICC proposes to
                                                Instituting Proceedings To Determine                      and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82580            amend EPN Rule 1 to provide that EPN Users are
                                                                                                          (January 24, 2018), 83 FR 4341 (January 30, 2018)        bound by proposed MBSD Rule 17B (Wind-down of
                                                Whether To Approve or Disapprove a                        (SR–FICC–2017–805).                                      the Corporation) and proposed MBSD Rule 40
                                                Proposed Rule Change To Adopt a                              4 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82431
                                                                                                                                                                   (Market Disruption and Force Majeure). Id.
                                                Recovery & Wind-Down Plan and                             (January 2, 2018), 83 FR 871 (January 8, 2018) (SR–      Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in
                                                Related Rules                                             FICC–2017–021) (‘‘Notice’’).                             the GSD Rules, MBSD Rules, and EPN Rules, as
                                                                                                             5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I).                      applicable, available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/
                                                March 20, 2018.                                              6 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82669           rules-and-procedures.
                                                                                                          (February 8, 2018), 83 FR 6653 (February 14, 2018)          12 See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
                                                I. Introduction                                           (SR–DTC–2017–021; SR–FICC–2017–021; SR–                     13 Id. at 873.
                                                                                                          NSCC–2017–017).                                             14 Contractual arrangements include, for example,
                                                  On December 18, 2017, Fixed Income                         7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                                                                                                                                                                   FICC’s existing committed or pre-arranged liquidity
                                                Clearing Corporation (‘‘FICC’’) filed
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                             8 The description of the Proposed Rule Change is      arrangements.
                                                with the Securities and Exchange                          based on the statements prepared by FICC in the             15 See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
                                                Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                     Notice. See Notice, supra note 4.                           16 Consistent with the Notice, references to

                                                to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                        9 FICC proposes to adopt GSD Rule 22D (Wind-
                                                                                                                                                                   ‘‘Members’’ refer to GSD Netting Members and
                                                Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule                 down of the Corporation) and GSD Rule 50 (Market         MBSD Clearing Members. References to ‘‘Limited
                                                                                                          Disruption and Force Majeure). See Notice, supra         Members’’ refer to participants of GSD or MBSD
                                                                                                          note 4, at 872.                                          other than GSD Netting Members and MBSD
                                                  14 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                               10 FICC proposes to adopt MBSD Rule 17B (Wind-        Clearing Members, including, for example, GSD
                                                  1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                down of the Corporation) and MBSD Rule 40                                                            Continued




                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014     16:38 Mar 23, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00060   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM      26MRN1


                                                12998                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2018 / Notices

                                                with the legal basis to implement the                   including an estimate of the time and                     • Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,28
                                                provisions of the R&W Plan that concern                 costs to effect a recovery or orderly                  which requires, among other things, that
                                                the proposed Wind-down Rule and the                     wind-down of FICC.21                                   the rules of a clearing agency, such as
                                                proposed Force Majeure Rule, when                          The framework and approach for                      FICC, must be designed to assure the
                                                necessary.17                                            orderly wind-down would provide (i)                    safeguarding of securities and funds
                                                   As an overview, the R&W Plan would                   for the transfer of FICC’s business,                   which are in the custody or control of
                                                provide, among other matters, (i) an                    assets, and memberships of both GSD                    the clearing agency or for which it is
                                                overview of the business of FICC and its                and MBSD to another legal entity; (ii)                 responsible and to protect investors and
                                                parent, The Depository Trust & Clearing                 that FICC would effectuate the transfer                the public interest; and
                                                Corporation (‘‘DTCC’’); (ii) an analysis                in connection with proceedings under                      • Rule 17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii) under the
                                                of FICC’s intercompany arrangements                     Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy                      Act,29 which requires a covered clearing
                                                and an existing link to another financial               Code; 22 and (iii) that after effectuating             agency,30 such as FICC, to, among other
                                                market infrastructures; (iii) a description             this transfer, FICC would liquidate any                things, establish, implement, maintain
                                                of FICC’s services, and the criteria used               remaining assets in an orderly manner                  and enforce written policies and
                                                to determine which services are                         in bankruptcy proceedings.23 FICC                      procedures reasonably designed to, as
                                                considered critical; (iv) a description of              states that it believes that the proposed              applicable, maintain a sound risk
                                                the FICC and DTCC governance                            transfer approach to a wind-down                       management framework for
                                                structure; (v) a description of the                     would meet its objectives of (i) assuring              comprehensively managing legal, credit,
                                                governance around the overall recovery                  that FICC’s critical services will be                  liquidity, operational, general business,
                                                and wind-down program; (vi) a                           available to the market as long as there               investment, custody, and other risks
                                                discussion of tools available to FICC to                are Members in good standing, and (ii)                 that arise in or are borne by FICC, which
                                                mitigate credit/market 18 and liquidity                 minimizing disruption to the operations                includes plans for the recovery and
                                                risks, including recovery indicators and                of Members and financial markets                       orderly wind-down of FICC necessitated
                                                triggers, and the governance around                     generally that might be caused by FICC’s               by credit losses, liquidity shortfalls,
                                                management of a stress event along a                    failure.24                                             losses from general business risk, or any
                                                ‘‘Crisis Continuum’’ timeline; (vii) a                                                                         other losses.
                                                discussion of potential non-default                     III. Proceedings To Determine Whether
                                                losses and the resources available to                   To Approve or Disapprove the                           IV. Procedure: Request for Written
                                                FICC to address such losses, including                  Proposed Rule Change and Grounds for                   Comments
                                                recovery triggers and tools to mitigate                 Disapproval Under Consideration                           The Commission requests that
                                                such losses; 19 (viii) an analysis of the                                                                      interested persons provide written
                                                recovery tools’ characteristics, including                 The Commission is instituting                       submissions of their views, data, and
                                                how they are comprehensive, effective,                  proceedings pursuant to Section                        arguments with respect to the issues
                                                and transparent, how the tools provide                  19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 25 to determine                 identified above, as well as any other
                                                appropriate incentives to Members to,                   whether the Proposed Rule Change                       concerns they may have with the
                                                among other things, control and monitor                 should be approved or disapproved.                     Proposed Rule Change. In particular, the
                                                the risks they may present to FICC, and                 Institution of proceedings is appropriate              Commission invites the written views of
                                                how FICC seeks to minimize the                          at this time in view of the legal and                  interested persons concerning whether
                                                negative consequences of executing its                  policy issues raised by the Proposed                   the Proposed Rule Change is consistent
                                                recovery tools; and (ix) the framework                  Rule Change. Institution of proceedings                with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,31
                                                and approach for the orderly wind-                      does not indicate that the Commission                  Rule 17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act,32
                                                down and transfer of FICC’s business,20                 has reached any conclusions with                       or any other provision of the Act, or the
                                                                                                        respect to any of the issues involved.                 rules and regulations thereunder.
                                                Comparison-Only Members, GSD Sponsored
                                                                                                        Rather, the Commission seeks and                       Although there do not appear to be any
                                                Members, GSD CCIT Members, and MBSD EPN                 encourages interested persons to                       issues relevant to approval or
                                                Users. Id. at 872 n.6.                                  comment on the Proposed Rule Change,                   disapproval that would be facilitated by
                                                   17 See Notice, supra note 4, at 872.
                                                                                                        and provide the Commission with                        an oral presentation of views, data, and
                                                   18 FICC states that FICC manages its credit
                                                                                                        arguments to support the Commission’s                  arguments, the Commission will
                                                exposure to Members as part of its market risk
                                                management strategy. Id. at 875.
                                                                                                        analysis as to whether to approve or                   consider, pursuant to Rule 19b–4(g)
                                                   19 As described in more detail in the Notice, this   disapprove the Proposed Rule Change.                   under the Act,33 any request for an
                                                section of the R&W Plan would describe the                 Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the              opportunity to make an oral
                                                proposed Force Majeure Rule, which would govern
                                                how FICC would address extraordinary events that
                                                                                                        Act,26 the Commission is providing                     presentation.34
                                                may occur outside its control. See Notice, supra        notice of the grounds for disapproval                     Interested persons are invited to
                                                note 4, at 881. The proposed Force Majeure Rule         under consideration. The Commission is                 submit written data, views, and
                                                would identify the events or circumstances that         instituting proceedings to allow for
                                                would be considered a ‘‘Market Disruption Event,’’
                                                including, for example, events that lead to the
                                                                                                        additional analysis of, and input from                   28 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
                                                                                                                                                                 29 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii).
                                                suspension or limitation of trading or banking in       commenters with respect to, the
                                                                                                                                                                 30 See 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(a)(5) for the
                                                the markets in which FICC operates, or the              Proposed Rule Change’s consistency
                                                unavailability or failure of any material payment,                                                             definition of a covered clearing agency.
                                                                                                        with Section 17A of the Act,27 and the                   31 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
                                                bank transfer, wire or securities settlement systems.
                                                Id. Under the proposed Force Majeure Rule, during
                                                                                                        rules thereunder, including the                          32 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii).

                                                the pendency of a Market Disruption Event, FICC         following provisions:                                    33 17 CFR 240.19b–4(g).
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                would be entitled to (i) suspend the provision of                                                                34 Section 19(b)(2) of the Act grants to the
                                                any or all services, and (ii) take, or refrain from       21 See  Notice, supra note 4, at 872.                Commission flexibility to determine what type of
                                                taking, or require its Members and Limited                22 11                                                proceeding—either oral or notice and opportunity
                                                                                                                 U.S.C. 101 et seq.
                                                Members to take, or refrain from taking, any actions      23 See Notice, supra note 4, at 878.                 for written comments—is appropriate for
                                                it considers appropriate to address, alleviate, or                                                             consideration of a particular proposal by a self-
                                                                                                          24 Id.
                                                mitigate the event and facilitate the continuation of                                                          regulatory organization. See Securities Act
                                                                                                          25 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                                                FICC’s services as may be practicable. Id.                                                                     Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm. on Banking,
                                                   20 This section of the R&W Plan would refer to the     26 Id.
                                                                                                                                                               Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th
                                                proposed Wind-down Rule.                                  27 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.                                  Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).



                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:38 Mar 23, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00061   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703    E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM    26MRN1


                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2018 / Notices                                                    12999

                                                arguments regarding whether the                           information that you wish to make                        period within which to approve,
                                                Proposed Rule Change should be                            available publicly. All submissions                      disapprove, or institute proceedings to
                                                approved or disapproved by April 16,                      should refer to File Number SR–FICC–                     determine whether to approve or
                                                2018. Any person who wishes to file a                     2017–021 and should be submitted on                      disapprove the Proposed Rule Change.6
                                                rebuttal to any other person’s                            or before April 16, 2018. Rebuttal                       This order institutes proceedings,
                                                submission must file that rebuttal by                     comments should be submitted by April                    pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the
                                                April 30, 2018.                                           30, 2018.                                                Act,7 to determine whether to approve
                                                  The Commission asks that                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                 or disapprove the Proposed Rule
                                                commenters address the sufficiency of                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated               Change.
                                                FICC’s statements in support of the                       authority.36
                                                Proposed Rule Change, which are set                                                                                II. Summary of the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                          Eduardo A. Aleman,                                       Change
                                                forth in the Notice,35 in addition to any                 Assistant Secretary.
                                                other comments they may wish to                                                                                       As described in the Notice,8 DTC
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2018–06019 Filed 3–23–18; 8:45 am]
                                                submit about the Proposed Rule Change.                                                                             proposes to adopt a Recovery & Wind-
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                   down Plan (‘‘R&W Plan’’) and two
                                                  Comments may be submitted by any
                                                of the following methods:                                                                                          proposed rules that would facilitate the
                                                                                                                                                                   implementation of the R&W Plan: (i)
                                                Electronic Comments                                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                  Proposed Rule 32(A) (Wind-down of the
                                                  • Use the Commission’s internet                         COMMISSION                                               Corporation) (‘‘Wind-down Rule’’), and
                                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                         [Release No. 34–82912; File No. SR–DTC–                  (ii) proposed Rule 38 (Market
                                                rules/sro.shtml); or                                      2017–021]                                                Disruption and Force Majeure) (‘‘Force
                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                                                                                Majeure Rule’’).
                                                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                          DTC states that the R&W Plan is
                                                FICC–2017–021 on the subject line.                        Depository Trust Company; Order                          intended to be used by DTC’s Board of
                                                                                                          Instituting Proceedings To Determine                     Directors and management in the event
                                                Paper Comments
                                                                                                          Whether To Approve or Disapprove a                       that DTC encounters scenarios that
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                    Proposed Rule Change To Adopt a                          could potentially prevent it from being
                                                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                     Recovery & Wind-Down Plan and                            able to provide its critical services as a
                                                Commission, 100 F Street NE,                              Related Rules                                            going concern.9 The R&W Plan would
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                                                                         be structured to provide a roadmap,
                                                All submissions should refer to File                      March 20, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                                   define the strategy, and identify the
                                                Number SR–FICC–2017–021. This file                        I. Introduction                                          tools available to DTC to either (i)
                                                number should be included on the                                                                                   recover, in the event it experiences
                                                                                                             On December 18, 2017, The
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                         losses that exceed its resources or (ii)
                                                                                                          Depository Trust Company (‘‘DTC’’)
                                                Commission process and review your                                                                                 wind-down its business in a manner
                                                                                                          filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                                                                              designed to permit its critical services to
                                                                                                          Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
                                                only one method. The Commission will                                                                               continue in the event that such recovery
                                                                                                          to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                                                                              efforts are not successful.10 The R&W
                                                                                                          Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
                                                internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                              Plan would include tools that are
                                                                                                          19b–4 thereunder,2 proposed rule
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                                                                                    provided for in DTC’s existing rules,
                                                                                                          change SR–DTC–2017–021 to adopt a
                                                submission, all subsequent                                                                                         policies, procedures, and contractual
                                                                                                          recovery and wind-down plan and
                                                amendments, all written statements                                                                                 arrangements,11 as well as the proposed
                                                                                                          related rules (‘‘Proposed Rule
                                                with respect to the Proposed Rule                                                                                  Wind-down Rule and the proposed
                                                                                                          Change’’).3 The Proposed Rule Change
                                                Change that are filed with the                                                                                     Force Majeure Rule.12
                                                                                                          was published for comment in the
                                                Commission, and all written                                                                                           DTC states that the proposed Wind-
                                                                                                          Federal Register on January 8, 2018.4
                                                communications relating to the                                                                                     down Rule and the proposed Force
                                                                                                          The Commission did not receive any
                                                Proposed Rule Change between the                                                                                   Majeure Rule are designed to (i)
                                                                                                          comments on the Proposed Rule
                                                Commission and any person, other than                                                                              facilitate the implementation of the
                                                                                                          Change. On February 8, 2018, pursuant
                                                those that may be withheld from the                                                                                R&W Plan when necessary; (ii) provide
                                                                                                          to Section 19(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of the Act,5
                                                public in accordance with the                                                                                      Participants with transparency around
                                                                                                          the Commission designated a longer                       critical provisions of the R&W Plan that
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                available for website viewing and                           36 17
                                                                                                                                                                   relate to their rights, responsibilities,
                                                                                                                   CFR 200.30–3(a)(57).
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                         1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                                                                                                                                   and obligations; and (iii) provide DTC
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                             2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.

                                                Washington, DC 20549 on official                             3 On December 18, 2017, DTC filed this proposal
                                                                                                                                                                     6 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82669

                                                business days between the hours of                        as an advance notice (SR–DTC–2017–803) with the          (February 8, 2018), 83 FR 6653 (February 14, 2018)
                                                                                                          Commission pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of the          (SR–DTC–2017–021; SR–FICC–2017–021; SR–
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                                                                             NSCC–2017–017).
                                                                                                          Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act
                                                filing also will be available for                         of 2010 (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) and Rule 19b–
                                                                                                                                                                     7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).

                                                inspection and copying at the principal                   4(n)(1)(i) of the Act (‘‘Advance Notice’’). On January     8 The description of the Proposed Rule Change is

                                                office of FICC and on DTCC’s website                      24, 2018, the Commission extended the review             based on the statements prepared by DTC in the
                                                                                                          period of the Advance Notice for an additional 60        Notice. See Notice, supra note 4. Capitalized terms
                                                (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-                                                                                   used herein and not otherwise defined herein are
                                                                                                          days pursuant to Section 806(e)(1)(H) of the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                filings.aspx). All comments received                      Clearing Supervision Act. See 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1);      defined in the Rules, By-Laws and Organization
                                                will be posted without change. Persons                    17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i); 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1)(H);      Certificate of DTC, available at http://
                                                submitting comments are cautioned that                    and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82579            www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx.
                                                                                                                                                                     9 See Notice, supra note 4, at 885.
                                                we do not redact or edit personal                         (January 24, 2018), 83 FR 4310 (January 30, 2018)
                                                                                                          (SR–DTC–2017–803).                                         10 Id. at 886.
                                                identifying information from comment                         4 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82432             11 Contractual arrangements include, for example,
                                                submissions. You should submit only                       (January 2, 2018), 83 FR 884 (January 8, 2018) (SR–      DTC’s existing committed or pre-arranged liquidity
                                                                                                          DTC–2017–021) (‘‘Notice’’).                              arrangements.
                                                  35 See   Notice, supra note 4.                             5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I).                        12 See Notice, supra note 4, at 885.




                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014     16:38 Mar 23, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00062   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM     26MRN1



Document Created: 2018-03-24 01:00:09
Document Modified: 2018-03-24 01:00:09
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 12997 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR