83_FR_13057 83 FR 12999 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 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 12999 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 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 Range12999-13001
FR Document2018-06018

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 58 (Monday, March 26, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12999-13001]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06018]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82912; File No. SR-DTC-2017-021]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
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, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') 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-DTC-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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ On December 18, 2017, DTC filed this proposal as an advance 
notice (SR-DTC-2017-803) 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. 82579 
(January 24, 2018), 83 FR 4310 (January 30, 2018) (SR-DTC-2017-803).
    \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82432 (January 2, 2018), 
83 FR 884 (January 8, 2018) (SR-DTC-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).
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II. Summary of the Proposed Rule Change

    As described in the Notice,\8\ DTC proposes to adopt a Recovery & 
Wind-down Plan (``R&W Plan'') and two proposed rules that would 
facilitate the implementation of the R&W Plan: (i) Proposed Rule 32(A) 
(Wind-down of the Corporation) (``Wind-down Rule''), and (ii) proposed 
Rule 38 (Market Disruption and Force Majeure) (``Force Majeure Rule'').
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    \8\ The description of the Proposed Rule Change is based on the 
statements prepared by DTC in the Notice. See Notice, supra note 4. 
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are 
defined in the Rules, By-Laws and Organization Certificate of DTC, 
available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx.
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    DTC states that the R&W Plan is intended to be used by DTC's Board 
of Directors and management in the event that DTC encounters scenarios 
that could potentially prevent it from being able to provide its 
critical services as a going concern.\9\ The R&W Plan would be 
structured to provide a roadmap, define the strategy, and identify the 
tools available to DTC to either (i) recover, in the event it 
experiences losses that exceed its resources or (ii) wind-down its 
business in a manner designed to permit its critical services to 
continue in the event that such recovery efforts are not 
successful.\10\ The R&W Plan would include tools that are provided for 
in DTC's existing rules, policies, procedures, and contractual 
arrangements,\11\ as well as the proposed Wind-down Rule and the 
proposed Force Majeure Rule.\12\
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    \9\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 885.
    \10\ Id. at 886.
    \11\ Contractual arrangements include, for example, DTC's 
existing committed or pre-arranged liquidity arrangements.
    \12\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 885.
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    DTC 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 Participants with transparency 
around critical provisions of the R&W Plan that relate to their rights, 
responsibilities, and obligations; and (iii) provide DTC

[[Page 13000]]

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.\13\
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    \13\ Id.
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    As an overview, the R&W Plan would provide, among other matters, 
(i) an overview of the business of DTC and its parent, The Depository 
Trust & Clearing Corporation (``DTCC''); (ii) an analysis of DTC's 
intercompany arrangements and critical links to other financial market 
infrastructures; (iii) a description of DTC's services, and the 
criteria used to determine which services are considered critical; (iv) 
a description of the DTC 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 DTC to mitigate 
credit/market \14\ 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 DTC to address such 
losses, including recovery triggers and tools to mitigate such losses; 
\15\ (viii) an analysis of the recovery tools' characteristics, 
including how they are comprehensive, effective, and transparent, how 
the tools provide appropriate incentives to Participants to, among 
other things, control and monitor the risks they may present to DTC, 
and how DTC 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 DTC's business,\16\ including an estimate of 
the time and costs to effect a recovery or orderly wind-down of 
DTC.\17\
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    \14\ DTC states that for DTC, credit risk and market risk are 
closely related because DTC monitors credit exposures from 
Participants through risk management controls that are part of its 
market risk management strategy. Id. at 888 n.22.
    \15\ 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 DTC would address extraordinary events that may 
occur outside its control. See Notice, supra note 4, at 894. 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 DTC 
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, DTC would be entitled to (i) suspend the provision 
of any or all services, and (ii) take, or refrain from taking, or 
require its Participants and Pledgees to take, or refrain from 
taking, any actions it considers appropriate to address, alleviate, 
or mitigate the event and facilitate the continuation of DTC's 
services as may be practicable. Id.
    \16\ This section of the R&W Plan would refer to the proposed 
Wind-down Rule.
    \17\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 885.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The framework and approach for orderly wind-down would provide (i) 
for the transfer of DTC's business, assets, securities inventory, and 
membership to another legal entity; (ii) that DTC would effectuate the 
transfer in connection with proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. 
Bankruptcy Code; \18\ and (iii) that after effectuating this transfer, 
DTC would liquidate any remaining assets in an orderly manner in 
bankruptcy proceedings.\19\ DTC states that it believes that the 
proposed transfer approach to a wind-down would meet its objectives of 
(i) assuring that DTC's critical services will be available to the 
market as long as there are Participants in good standing, and (ii) 
minimizing disruption to the operations of Participants and financial 
markets generally that might be caused by DTC's failure.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.
    \19\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 890.
    \20\ Id. at 890-91.
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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 \21\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act,\22\ 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,\23\ and the 
rules thereunder, including the following provisions:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ Id.
    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,\24\ which requires, among 
other things, that the rules of a clearing agency, such as DTC, 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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act,\25\ which requires a 
covered clearing agency,\26\ such as DTC, 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 DTC, which includes plans for 
the recovery and orderly wind-down of DTC necessitated by credit 
losses, liquidity shortfalls, losses from general business risk, or any 
other losses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii).
    \26\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(a)(5) for the definition of a 
covered clearing agency.
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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,\27\ 
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act,\28\ 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,\29\ any request for an opportunity to make an oral 
presentation.\30\
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    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \28\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii).
    \29\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(g).
    \30\ 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 
arguments regarding whether the Proposed Rule Change should be approved 
or disapproved by April 16,

[[Page 13001]]

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 
DTC's statements in support of the Proposed Rule Change, which are set 
forth in the Notice,\31\ in addition to any other comments they may 
wish to submit about the Proposed Rule Change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 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-DTC-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-DTC-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 DTC 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-DTC-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.\32\
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    \32\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-06018 Filed 3-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                   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.




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                                                13000                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2018 / Notices

                                                with the legal basis to implement the                    time and costs to effect a recovery or                the rules of a clearing agency, such as
                                                provisions of the R&W Plan that concern                  orderly wind-down of DTC.17                           DTC, must be designed to assure the
                                                the proposed Wind-down Rule and the                         The framework and approach for                     safeguarding of securities and funds
                                                proposed Force Majeure Rule, when                        orderly wind-down would provide (i)                   which are in the custody or control of
                                                necessary.13                                             for the transfer of DTC’s business,                   the clearing agency or for which it is
                                                   As an overview, the R&W Plan would                    assets, securities inventory, and                     responsible and to protect investors and
                                                provide, among other matters, (i) an                     membership to another legal entity; (ii)              the public interest; and
                                                overview of the business of DTC and its                  that DTC would effectuate the transfer                   • Rule 17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii) under the
                                                parent, The Depository Trust & Clearing                  in connection with proceedings under                  Act,25 which requires a covered clearing
                                                Corporation (‘‘DTCC’’); (ii) an analysis                 Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy                     agency,26 such as DTC, to, among other
                                                of DTC’s intercompany arrangements                       Code; 18 and (iii) that after effectuating            things, establish, implement, maintain
                                                and critical links to other financial                    this transfer, DTC would liquidate any                and enforce written policies and
                                                market infrastructures; (iii) a description              remaining assets in an orderly manner                 procedures reasonably designed to, as
                                                of DTC’s services, and the criteria used                 in bankruptcy proceedings.19 DTC states               applicable, maintain a sound risk
                                                to determine which services are                          that it believes that the proposed                    management framework for
                                                considered critical; (iv) a description of               transfer approach to a wind-down                      comprehensively managing legal, credit,
                                                the DTC and DTCC governance                              would meet its objectives of (i) assuring             liquidity, operational, general business,
                                                structure; (v) a description of the                      that DTC’s critical services will be                  investment, custody, and other risks
                                                governance around the overall recovery                   available to the market as long as there              that arise in or are borne by DTC, which
                                                and wind-down program; (vi) a                            are Participants in good standing, and                includes plans for the recovery and
                                                discussion of tools available to DTC to                  (ii) minimizing disruption to the                     orderly wind-down of DTC necessitated
                                                mitigate credit/market 14 and liquidity                  operations of Participants and financial              by credit losses, liquidity shortfalls,
                                                risks, including recovery indicators and                 markets generally that might be caused                losses from general business risk, or any
                                                triggers, and the governance around                      by DTC’s failure.20                                   other losses.
                                                management of a stress event along a                     III. Proceedings To Determine Whether
                                                ‘‘Crisis Continuum’’ timeline; (vii) a                                                                         IV. Procedure: Request for Written
                                                                                                         To Approve or Disapprove the                          Comments
                                                discussion of potential non-default                      Proposed Rule Change and Grounds for
                                                losses and the resources available to                                                                             The Commission requests that
                                                                                                         Disapproval Under Consideration
                                                DTC to address such losses, including                                                                          interested persons provide written
                                                recovery triggers and tools to mitigate                     The Commission is instituting                      submissions of their views, data, and
                                                such losses; 15 (viii) an analysis of the                proceedings pursuant to Section                       arguments with respect to the issues
                                                recovery tools’ characteristics, including               19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 21 to determine                identified above, as well as any other
                                                how they are comprehensive, effective,                   whether the Proposed Rule Change                      concerns they may have with the
                                                and transparent, how the tools provide                   should be approved or disapproved.                    Proposed Rule Change. In particular, the
                                                appropriate incentives to Participants                   Institution of proceedings is appropriate             Commission invites the written views of
                                                to, among other things, control and                      at this time in view of the legal and                 interested persons concerning whether
                                                monitor the risks they may present to                    policy issues raised by the Proposed                  the Proposed Rule Change is consistent
                                                DTC, and how DTC seeks to minimize                       Rule Change. Institution of proceedings               with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,27
                                                the negative consequences of executing                   does not indicate that the Commission                 Rule 17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act,28
                                                its recovery tools; and (ix) the                         has reached any conclusions with                      or any other provision of the Act, or the
                                                framework and approach for the orderly                   respect to any of the issues involved.                rules and regulations thereunder.
                                                wind-down and transfer of DTC’s                          Rather, the Commission seeks and                      Although there do not appear to be any
                                                business,16 including an estimate of the                 encourages interested persons to                      issues relevant to approval or
                                                                                                         comment on the Proposed Rule Change,                  disapproval that would be facilitated by
                                                  13 Id.                                                 and provide the Commission with                       an oral presentation of views, data, and
                                                   14 DTC states that for DTC, credit risk and market    arguments to support the Commission’s                 arguments, the Commission will
                                                risk are closely related because DTC monitors credit     analysis as to whether to approve or                  consider, pursuant to Rule 19b–4(g)
                                                exposures from Participants through risk                 disapprove the Proposed Rule Change.                  under the Act,29 any request for an
                                                management controls that are part of its market risk        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the
                                                management strategy. Id. at 888 n.22.                                                                          opportunity to make an oral
                                                   15 As described in more detail in the Notice, this
                                                                                                         Act,22 the Commission is providing                    presentation.30
                                                section of the R&W Plan would describe the               notice of the grounds for disapproval                    Interested persons are invited to
                                                proposed Force Majeure Rule, which would govern          under consideration. The Commission is                submit written data, views, and
                                                how DTC would address extraordinary events that          instituting proceedings to allow for                  arguments regarding whether the
                                                may occur outside its control. See Notice, supra         additional analysis of, and input from
                                                note 4, at 894. The proposed Force Majeure Rule                                                                Proposed Rule Change should be
                                                would identify the events or circumstances that          commenters with respect to, the                       approved or disapproved by April 16,
                                                would be considered a ‘‘Market Disruption Event,’’       Proposed Rule Change’s consistency
                                                including, for example, events that lead to the          with Section 17A of the Act,23 and the                  25 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii).
                                                suspension or limitation of trading or banking in        rules thereunder, including the                         26 See
                                                the markets in which DTC operates, or the                                                                               17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(a)(5) for the
                                                unavailability or failure of any material payment,
                                                                                                         following provisions:                                 definition of a covered clearing agency.
                                                bank transfer, wire or securities settlement systems.       • Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act,24                 27 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).

                                                Id. Under the proposed Force Majeure Rule, during        which requires, among other things, that                28 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(3)(ii).

                                                the pendency of a Market Disruption Event, DTC                                                                   29 17 CFR 240.19b–4(g).
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                                                would be entitled to (i) suspend the provision of         17 See  Notice, supra note 4, at 885.
                                                                                                                                                                 30 Section 19(b)(2) of the Act grants to the
                                                any or all services, and (ii) take, or refrain from       18 11                                                Commission flexibility to determine what type of
                                                                                                                 U.S.C. 101 et seq.
                                                taking, or require its Participants and Pledgees to       19 See Notice, supra note 4, at 890.                 proceeding—either oral or notice and opportunity
                                                take, or refrain from taking, any actions it considers                                                         for written comments—is appropriate for
                                                                                                          20 Id. at 890–91.
                                                appropriate to address, alleviate, or mitigate the                                                             consideration of a particular proposal by a self-
                                                                                                          21 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                                                event and facilitate the continuation of DTC’s                                                                 regulatory organization. See Securities Act
                                                                                                          22 Id.
                                                services as may be practicable. Id.                                                                            Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm. on Banking,
                                                   16 This section of the R&W Plan would refer to the     23 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.
                                                                                                                                                               Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th
                                                proposed Wind-down Rule.                                  24 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                         Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).



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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2018 / Notices                                                      13001

                                                2018. Any person who wishes to file a                     2017–021 and should be submitted on                    utilizes 18 drivers. (Appl. 3, Ex. 1,
                                                rebuttal to any other person’s                            or before April 16, 2018. Rebuttal                     Motor Carrier Identification Report.) 1
                                                submission must file that rebuttal by                     comments should be submitted by April                     C&H is also a federally-registered
                                                April 30, 2018.                                           30, 2018.                                              motor carrier of passengers (MC–
                                                  The Commission asks that                                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                                                                                 114957). In providing its passenger
                                                commenters address the sufficiency of                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             services to the public, C&H utilizes 18–
                                                DTC’s statements in support of the                        authority.32                                           20 passenger vehicles and 22 drivers.
                                                Proposed Rule Change, which are set                       Eduardo A. Aleman,                                     (Appl. 3, Ex. 2, FMCSA Safety
                                                forth in the Notice,31 in addition to any                                                                        Measurement System Data.) The stock
                                                                                                          Assistant Secretary.
                                                other comments they may wish to                                                                                  in C&H is owned by members of the
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2018–06018 Filed 3–23–18; 8:45 am]
                                                submit about the Proposed Rule Change.                                                                           Cullens family: George L. Cullens, Sr.;
                                                  Comments may be submitted by any                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                 George L. Cullens, Jr.; Edna F. Cullens;
                                                of the following methods:                                                                                        and Jerri J. Cullens. (Appl. 3, Ex. 3,
                                                Electronic Comments                                                                                              Signatures and Certifications.) 2
                                                                                                          SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD                              TranSouth states that, under the
                                                  • Use the Commission’s internet                                                                                proposed transaction, all of the
                                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                         [Docket No. MCF 21081]                                 outstanding stock in C&H would be
                                                rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                             acquired by Larry Ferguson. According
                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                       Larry Ferguson d/b/a Transouth                         to TranSouth, the parties have signed a
                                                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Motorcoach, LLC—Acquisition of                         Letter of Intent, deposited earnest
                                                DTC–2017–021 on the subject line.                         Control—C & H Bus Lines, Inc.                          money, and drafted and signed a Stock
                                                Paper Comments                                                                                                   Purchase Agreement. TranSouth further
                                                                                                          AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.                  states that final closing will occur upon
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                    ACTION:Notice tentatively approving                    interim or final Board approval.3
                                                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                     and authorizing finance transaction.                      Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board
                                                Commission, 100 F Street NE,                                                                                     must approve and authorize a
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                SUMMARY:   On February 27, 2018, Larry                 transaction that it finds consistent with
                                                All submissions should refer to File                      Ferguson d/b/a TranSouth Motorcoach,                   the public interest, taking into
                                                Number SR–DTC–2017–021. This file                         LLC (TranSouth) filed an application to                consideration at least: (1) The effect of
                                                number should be included on the                          acquire C & H Bus Lines, Inc. (C&H).                   the proposed transaction on the
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the                TranSouth and C&H are each federally                   adequacy of transportation to the public;
                                                Commission process and review your                        registered, passenger motor carriers                   (2) the total fixed charges that result;
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                     incorporated and registered in Georgia.                and (3) the interest of affected carrier
                                                only one method. The Commission will                      The Board is tentatively approving and                 employees. TranSouth has submitted
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                     authorizing the transaction and, if no                 the information required by 49 CFR
                                                internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     opposing comments are timely filed,                    1182.2, including information to
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           this notice will be the final Board                    demonstrate that the proposed
                                                submission, all subsequent                                action. Persons wishing to oppose the                  transaction is consistent with the public
                                                amendments, all written statements                        application must follow Board rules.                   interest under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b) and a
                                                with respect to the Proposed Rule                         DATES: Comments must be filed by May                   statement, pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
                                                Change that are filed with the                            10, 2018. Applicant may file a reply by                14303(g), that TranSouth and C&H
                                                Commission, and all written                               May 25, 2018. If no opposing comments                  exceeded $2 million in gross operating
                                                communications relating to the                            are filed by May 10, 2018, this notice                 revenues for the preceding 12-month
                                                Proposed Rule Change between the                          shall be applicable on May 11, 2018.                   period.4
                                                Commission and any person, other than                                                                               TranSouth states that the proposed
                                                                                                          ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10
                                                those that may be withheld from the                                                                              transaction would not have a material,
                                                                                                          copies of any comments referring to
                                                public in accordance with the                                                                                    detrimental impact on the adequacy of
                                                                                                          Docket No. MCF 21081 to: Surface
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                                                                              transportation services to the public but
                                                                                                          Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW,
                                                available for website viewing and                                                                                rather would improve services to the
                                                                                                          Washington, DC 20423–0001. In
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                                                                              public. According to TranSouth, the
                                                                                                          addition, send one copy of comments to:
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
                                                                                                          J. Hatcher Graham, J. Hatcher Graham,
                                                Washington, DC 20549 on official                                                                                    1 Concurrent with its application, TranSouth also
                                                                                                          P.C., 303 Pheasant Ridge, Warner                       filed, in Docket No. MCF 21081 TA, a request under
                                                business days between the hours of
                                                                                                          Robins, GA 31088.                                      49 U.S.C. 14303(i) to operate the assets to be
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                                                                           acquired on an interim basis pending approval of
                                                filing also will be available for                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                                 the acquisition. The Board addresses that request in
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                   Jonathon Binet at (202) 245–0368.                      a separate decision issued concurrently with this
                                                office of DTC and on DTCC’s website                       Federal Information Relay Service                      decision.
                                                (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-                          (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1–800–                   2 Although not mentioned in the application, both

                                                                                                          877–8339.                                              TranSouth and C&H are listed as ‘‘interstate’’
                                                filings.aspx). All comments received                                                                             passenger carriers in their FMCSA registrations.
                                                will be posted without change. Persons                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TranSouth                      3 As noted in Larry Ferguson—Acquisition of

                                                submitting comments are cautioned that                    is a motor carrier licensed by the                     Control—C & H Bus Lines, Inc., MCF 21081 TA,
                                                                                                          Federal Motor Carrier Safety                           concurrently served with this decision, the Board
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                                                we do not redact or edit personal                                                                                reminds TranSouth that a grant of interim approval
                                                identifying information from comment                      Administration (FMCSA) (MC–465826)                     is temporary, and that final closing cannot occur
                                                submissions. You should submit only                       that provides motor carrier passenger                  until final Board approval. The grant of interim
                                                information that you wish to make                         services in Georgia. TranSouth is wholly               approval permits TranSouth only to operate the
                                                                                                          owned by Larry Ferguson and operates                   property of C&H until final Board approval.
                                                available publicly. All submissions                                                                                 4 Parties must certify that the transaction involves
                                                should refer to File Number SR–DTC–                       eight to nine passenger vehicles and
                                                                                                                                                                 carriers whose aggregate gross operating revenues
                                                                                                                                                                 exceed $2 million, as required under 49 CFR
                                                  31 See   Notice, supra note 4.                            32 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(57).                         1182.2(a)(5).



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Document Created: 2018-03-24 00:59:49
Document Modified: 2018-03-24 00:59:49
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 12999 

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