83_FR_64186 83 FR 63948 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Settlement Guide Procedures To Provide Status Information for Institutional Transactions To a Matching Utility

83 FR 63948 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Settlement Guide Procedures To Provide Status Information for Institutional Transactions To a Matching Utility

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 238 (December 12, 2018)

Page Range63948-63952
FR Document2018-26913

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63948-63952]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26913]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-84751; File No. SR-DTC-2018-010]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Settlement 
Guide Procedures To Provide Status Information for Institutional 
Transactions To a Matching Utility

December 7, 2018.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on November 29, 2018, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed 
rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have 
been prepared by the clearing agency. The Commission is publishing this 
notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change would amend the Procedures, set forth in 
the DTC Settlement Guide,\3\ \4\ to allow DTC to provide status 
information (``Status Information'') for institutional transactions in 
Eligible Securities (``Institutional Transactions'') \5\ to an entity 
providing a matching service \6\

[[Page 63949]]

(``Matching Utility''), as described below.
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    \3\ Each capitalized term not otherwise defined herein has its 
respective meaning as set forth in the Rules, By-Laws and 
Organization Certificate of The Depository Trust Company 
(``Rules''), available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx and the DTC Settlement Service Guide (``Settlement 
Guide''), available at http://www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/
legal/service-guides/Settlement.pdf.
    \4\ The Settlement Guide, which is proposed to be amended 
hereby, sets forth Procedures for the DTC's Settlement Service. See 
Settlement Guide, supra note 3. Procedures, in this context, 
pursuant to Section 1 of Rule 1, means ``the Procedures, service 
guides, and regulations of DTC adopted pursuant to Rule 27, as 
amended from time to time.'' Rule 1, Section 1, supra note 3. The 
Settlement Guide constitutes Procedures of DTC, as defined in the 
Rules. See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 1.
    \5\ An Institutional Transaction is a securities transaction 
between a broker-dealer and its institutional customer (e.g., sell-
side firms, buy-side institutions, and custodians).
    \6\ A ``matching service'' is an electronic service to match 
trade information, centrally, between a broker-dealer and its 
institutional customer. The matching service intermediary matches 
(i.e., reconciles) trade information from the counterparties to an 
Institutional Transaction, to generate an affirmed transaction 
(``Affirmed Transaction'') which is then used to provide settlement 
instructions for the Affirmed Transactions to the central securities 
depository, such as DTC, at which the Affirmed Transaction settles. 
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39829 (April 6, 1998), 63 FR 
17943 (April 13, 1998) at 17946 (providing interpretive guidance on 
types of entities that may provide a matching service).
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

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

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

1. Purpose
    The proposed rule change would amend the Settlement Guide to allow 
DTC to provide Status Information for Institutional Transactions to a 
Matching Utility, as described below.
Background
    DTC may accept Institutional Transactions from a Matching Utility 
that is (i) a clearing agency registered pursuant to Section 17A of the 
Act \7\ (ii) an entity that has obtained an exemption from such 
registration from the Commission, or (iii) a ``qualified vendor'' for 
trade confirmation/affirmation services as defined by the rules of a 
self-regulatory organization.\8\
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \8\ See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 35.
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    In accordance with the Settlement Guide, for a Matching Utility to 
establish and maintain a connection with DTC, the Matching Utility must 
be able to balance with DTC in an automated way \9\ and communicate 
transactions to and from DTC with information required though mandated 
fields in order to provide DTC with data necessary for it to be able to 
process a transaction.\10\
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    \9\ For each Matching Utility interfacing with DTC, DTC requires 
the Matching Utility to deliver a daily message on each business day 
shortly after noon from the Matching Utility with their accepted 
item counts of institutional delivery and ID Net transaction totals 
for Settlement Date minus one transactions. DTC's system will 
compare the totals from the Matching Utility to its accepted item 
counts. If the totals match, an ``acknowledged balance'' balance 
file will be sent to the Matching Utility. If the totals do not 
match, DTC will respond with the list of Settlement Date minus one 
control numbers received from the Matching Utility, along with their 
respective transaction types for the originating Matching Utility to 
compare. Id.
    \10\ The mandated fields for this purpose are the transaction 
control number (``Control Number''), DTC receiver and deliverer 
account numbers, CUSIP, message type, share quantity, market type, 
buy-sell indicator, broker ID, ID agent internal account number, 
broker internal account number, agent bank ID, settlement amount, 
origination entity, recipient of message, institution, and 
settlement date. Id. Institutional Transactions that are not 
Affirmed Transactions, but which include a Control Number, may be 
submitted directly by Participants.
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    The submission of an Affirmed Transaction by the Matching Utility 
to DTC, on behalf of a Participant, constitutes the duly authorized 
instruction of the Participant to DTC to process the Affirmed 
Transaction in accordance with the Rules and Procedures.\11\
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    \11\ Id.
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    As more fully described below, a transaction submitted to DTC for 
processing may be subject to a processing exception (``Exception''), 
causing it to pend in the DTC system or not be processed because the 
transaction does not satisfy certain requirements and/or controls set 
forth in the Rules and Service Guide. A Matching Utility that has 
submitted an Institutional Transaction to DTC, or is otherwise involved 
with the matching of a transaction, does not receive Status Information 
regarding the transaction and is therefore unable to provide services 
to facilitate resolution of processing Exceptions occurring at DTC. 
Therefore, in order to resolve an Exception, the Participants to an 
Institutional Transaction must (i) access Status Information directly 
through the DTC Settlement User Interface and (ii), as necessary, 
supply the information to their customers that are counterparties to 
the transaction on their books, in order to facilitate the coordination 
of the resolution of the Exception among the counterparties. Pursuant 
to the proposed rule change, DTC would amend the Settlement Guide to 
allow DTC to provide Status Information for an Institutional 
Transaction to a Matching Utility. The proposal would allow the 
Matching Utility to further provide the Status Information to the 
counterparties to the Institutional Transaction to facilitate 
coordination of the resolution of Exceptions among counterparties.\12\
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    \12\ The proposed rule change would not change or have any 
effect on Participants' ability to continue to access Status 
Information directly through the DTC Settlement User Interface.
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DTC Transaction Processing Exceptions
    Exceptions may arise at various points during the processing of an 
Institutional Transaction submitted to DTC.
    After an Affirmed Transaction, or other transaction that has been 
submitted directly by a Participant, has been accepted by DTC, the 
transaction must be approved by the Receiver through the Receiver 
Authorized Delivery function (``RAD''), before it will be staged for 
DTC settlement processing in accordance with the Rules and the 
Settlement Guide.\13\ In this regard, a Receiving Participant may 
reject a transaction for any reason using RAD. If a transaction is not 
processed because of a rejection, then the transaction will drop from 
the DTC system, resulting in an Exception that could only be resolved 
through resubmission of the transaction and approval by the Receiving 
Participant.\14\
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    \13\ RAD allows Participants to review and either approve or 
reject incoming Deliveries before they are processed. See Settlement 
Guide, supra note 3 at 53. RAD limits a Participant's exposure from 
misdirected or erroneously entered transactions. See Settlement 
Guide, supra note 3 at 5.
    \14\ See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 54-55.
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    When processing a transaction for settlement, DTC checks risk 
controls, including the Net Debit Cap and Collateral Monitor, and 
inventory controls of the Participants to the transaction.\15\ If a 
transaction satisfies DTC risk and inventory controls, as described 
below, the transaction will be processed by DTC and will become 
complete if the Receiving Participant satisfies its end-of-day funds 
settlement obligation.\16\ If a transaction is not processed, i.e., 
because DTC risk controls are not met, or if the Deliverer has 
insufficient inventory in the applicable Securities, this would result 
in an Exception such that the transaction will pend in DTC's system and 
recycle until the condition causing the pend is satisfied.\17\
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    \15\ See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 64-68.
    \16\ See Rules 9(A) and 9(B), supra note 3.
    \17\ See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 55.
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    An incomplete transaction recycles in DTC's system until the end of 
the day, and if it remains incomplete at the end of the day it will be 
dropped.\18\
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    \18\ See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 55.
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Addressing Exceptions
    An Exception creates inefficiencies for parties to the applicable 
Institutional Transaction. If an Institutional Transaction results in 
an Exception, information regarding the status of the Institutional 
Transaction may need to be exchanged by Participants and others 
involved in the trade life cycle, including buy-side firms, broker/

[[Page 63950]]

dealers, custodians, prime brokers, clearing brokers and other 
settlement agents, to resolve the issue underlying the Exception and 
successfully process the transaction. Communications among Participants 
that have direct access to Status Information through DTC and other 
counterparties regarding Exceptions are often processed in a 
decentralized manner via email, creating a time consuming process that 
is subject to error.
    Any potential delays and/or errors in communicating the existence 
of an Exception and related Status Information among counterparties may 
impede the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of affected 
Institutional Transactions. A Participant's timely receipt of 
information relating to an Exception would facilitate its ability to 
take an action to facilitate the processing of the related transaction. 
Examples of some of the actions the Participant may take include, as 
applicable, (i) making a settlement progress payment (``Settlement 
Progress Payment'') \19\ to lower its net settlement debit and increase 
its Collateral Monitor in order to meet the DTC Net Debit Cap and 
Collateral Monitor risk controls, (ii) managing the Securities in its 
Account to increase its available Collateral, and/or (iii) 
communication with counterparties to the transaction with respect to a 
rejection so that the Deliverer and Receiver may agree on the details 
for any related transaction to be submitted and approved via RAD.
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    \19\ A Settlement Progress Payment is a payment wired intraday 
by a Participant to DTC's account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New 
York. The amount of a Settlement Progress Payment is (i) credited to 
the Participant's intraday net settlement balance and (ii) is 
Collateral that supports the Participant's Collateral Monitor. See 
also Rule 1, supra note 3 (definition of Collateral) and Settlement 
Guide, supra note 3 at 62-63.
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Proposed Rule Change
    DTC has received a request from its Matching Utility affiliate, ITP 
Matching (US) LLC (``ITP''), to receive Status Information so that ITP 
may transmit the Status Information to counterparties in a centralized 
format. DTC believes that distribution of Status Information to 
relevant counterparties in a centralized format would facilitate 
Participants' ability to monitor Exceptions and coordinate with their 
institutional customers in order to resolve Exceptions.
    Pursuant to the proposed rule change, in order to facilitate more 
seamless transmission of the Status Information for (i) Affirmed 
Transactions and (ii) other Institutional Transactions that may have 
been confirmed at a Matching Utility and received a Control Number, and 
are submitted directly to DTC by a Participant in an instruction 
containing the Control Number, (collectively, ``Eligible 
Transactions'') to Participants and facilitate their ability to manage 
Exceptions, DTC proposes to amend the Settlement Guide to provide that 
DTC may provide Status Information on Eligible Transactions to the 
applicable Matching Utility that submitted the transaction to DTC, or 
with respect to which its Control Number is included in transaction 
details provided by a Participant,\20\ if so requested by the Matching 
Utility. In this regard, DTC would send to a Matching Utility Status 
Information for Eligible Transactions that DTC has received from the 
Matching Utility or have been entered by the Participant, that have a 
Control Number associated with that Matching Utility. The Status 
Information provided to the Matching Utility would include the status 
of the transaction (e.g., the Delivery of Securities has been made 
within DTC, the transaction is pending Delivery within DTC, or the 
transaction was reclaimed (i.e., sent back to the Deliverer)) and a 
reason for any pending status (e.g., the Deliverer has insufficient 
inventory in the applicable Securities, the Deliverer has insufficient 
Collateral, the Receiver to the transaction has insufficient Net Debit 
Cap, etc.). The Status Information would also include information 
(``Identifying Information'') to facilitate the Matching Utility's 
ability to identify the applicable Eligible Transaction and reconcile 
the Status Information to the Eligible Transaction in its records. 
Identifying Information would include, but not be limited to, (i) the 
applicable Control Number (ii) identification numbers of the 
Participants to the transaction, (iii) quantity of Securities, (iv) 
dollar amount of the transaction, and (v) an indicator of whether the 
transaction was submitted to DTC by the Matching Utility or directly by 
a Participant.
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    \20\ It is DTC's understanding that a transaction that has been 
confirmed within a Matching Utility's system, but has not been 
affirmed, may be assigned a Control Number by the Matching Utility. 
Any transaction not affirmed by a Matching Utility would not be 
submitted by it to DTC as an Affirmed Transaction. In that case, the 
Participant may submit the transaction directly through DTC as a 
Deliver Order, and include the applicable Control Number as assigned 
by the Matching Utility on its submission to DTC.
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    DTC believes that sharing Status Information with a Matching 
Utility, on behalf of a Participant, would foster coordination among 
persons engaged in the clearance and settlement of Institutional 
Transactions by facilitating enhanced access to information for 
relevant parties that may promote their ability to manage Exceptions.
Proposed Changes to the Settlement Guide
    Pursuant to the proposed rule change, DTC proposes to revise the 
Settlement Guide to allow DTC to provide Status Information of (i) 
Affirmed Transactions and (ii) other institutional transactions to a 
Matching Utility that requests such information, but only for those 
transactions that are associated with a Control Number relating to the 
Matching Utility. The proposed text to the Settlement Guide would also 
(x) describe the types of Status Information and related Identifying 
Information that would be shared with a Matching Utility in this 
regard, as described above and (y) provide that DTC may charge a fee 
(``Status Information Fee'') to a Matching Utility that receives Status 
Information as set forth in the DTC Fee Guide.\21\ The proposed rule 
change would also add a defined term for ``Control Number'' to the 
Settlement Guide in existing text where the term is referred to but not 
defined.
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    \21\ Available at http://www.dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/
legal/fee-guides/dtcfeeguide.pdf. Any such fee would be the subject 
of a subsequent proposed rule change that DTC would file with the 
Commission.
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    The proposed rule change would require that prior to providing 
Status Information to a Matching Utility, DTC would obtain the written 
agreement, in such form as determined by DTC from time to time 
(``Status Information Agreement''), from the Matching Utility that 
includes (i) a request from the Matching Utility to receive Status 
Information from DTC, (ii) an agreement by the Matching Utility that 
the Matching Utility will not distribute Status Information to any 
third party other than (a) the Participants indicated on the Status 
Information and (b) the institutional customers that are counterparties 
to the transaction for which the Participants indicated on the Status 
Information are acting with respect to the transaction, (iii) the 
agreement of the Matching Utility that the Matching Utility will 
indemnify, hold harmless and agree, on demand, to reimburse DTC, its 
stockholders, officers, directors and employees from and against and 
for any and all claims, liabilities, obligations, damages, actions, 
penalties, losses, costs, expenses and disbursements, including, 
without limitation, attorneys' fees and disbursements (``Claims''), 
which they may sustain by reason of DTC's providing Status Information 
to the Matching Utility, except for any Claims

[[Page 63951]]

which result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the 
person asserting a right to indemnification, (iv) the agreement of the 
Matching Utility to pay the Status Information Fee, (v) the agreement 
of the Matching Utility to notify DTC immediately if the Matching 
Utility becomes aware of Status Information provided to it by DTC being 
distributed to a third party other than as authorized pursuant to (ii) 
above, and (vi) the acknowledgement of the Matching Utility that DTC 
may terminate the Status Information Agreement in the event that (a) 
DTC becomes aware that the Matching Utility has used or distributed the 
Status Information in a manner that violates the terms of the Status 
Information Agreement, (b) the Matching Utility does not pay the Status 
Information Fee in accordance with the terms of the Fee Schedule, or 
(c) DTC submits a rule filing to the SEC, which is approved by the SEC 
or otherwise becomes effective pursuant to the Act to discontinue DTC's 
distribution of Status Information to Matching Utilities.
Implementation Timeframe
    The proposed rule change would be effective upon approval of the 
proposed rule change by the Commission.
2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \22\ requires, inter alia, that the 
Rules promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of 
securities transactions. DTC believes that the proposed rule changes 
are consistent with this provision because by allowing DTC to provide 
Status Information to Matching Utilities in accordance with the 
proposal as described above, the proposed rule change would facilitate 
the distribution of information on Exceptions to the parties of 
Eligible Transactions. This distribution of Status Information would 
allow for enhanced communication among the parties to an Eligible 
Transaction to address an Exception so that the Eligible Transaction 
may meet DTC controls and be processed for end-of-day settlement. 
Therefore, by facilitating the distribution of Status Information to a 
Matching Utility, and thereby facilitating the ability of a Matching 
Utility to provide this information to the applicable parties to an 
Eligible Transaction that may address related Exceptions and resolve 
related issues so that a transaction may be processed for settlement, 
DTC believes that the proposed rule change would promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions consistent 
with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\23\
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    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \23\ Id.
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    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(20) \24\ promulgated under the Act requires DTC to 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to, as applicable, identify, monitor, 
and manage risks related to any link the covered clearing agency 
establishes with one or more other clearing agencies, financial market 
utilities, or trading markets. DTC believes that the proposed rule 
change is consistent with this Rule because the proposed Status 
Information Agreement, which would include the terms as set forth 
above, that would be required to be provided by a Matching Utility 
prior to DTC distributing Status Information to it, would limit DTC's 
exposure to legal risks and expenses that may otherwise arise in 
connection with such distribution by including an indemnity from the 
Matching Utility with respect to its receipt of Status Information and 
manage privacy risk by requiring Matching Utilities to not distribute 
Status Information to unauthorized third parties, as described above.
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    \24\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(20).
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    DTC believes the proposed rule change could impact competition.\25\ 
DTC does not believe that the proposed rule change to allow DTC to 
provide Status Information to a Matching Utility that is a party to a 
transaction (i.e., the party originating the confirm or processing the 
affirm) would impose a burden on competition for Matching Utilities and 
Participants, because by adding text to the Settlement Guide to allow 
DTC to provide Status Information to a Matching Utility, as applicable, 
the proposal is merely facilitating the transmission of Status 
Information that would enable the counterparties to an Eligible 
Transaction to address Exceptions in order to facilitate processing of 
the transaction by DTC. In addition, Status Information would be 
available to any Matching Utility that requests it and satisfies the 
applicable requirements that would be set forth in the Settlement 
Guide. DTC does not believe the proposed rule change that would add 
text referencing that DTC may charge a fee to a Matching Utility that 
receives Status Information would impose a burden on competition, 
because any such fee would not take effect until after such a fee is 
filed as part of a subsequent rule filing that would be submitted by 
DTC to the Commission. DTC believes that the provision of Status 
Information to a Matching Utility could promote competition, to the 
extent Status Information is further transmitted by the Matching 
Utility to the counterparties to an applicable Eligible Transaction, by 
facilitating Participants' ability to address an Exception that may 
affect the processing of the Eligible Transaction at DTC.
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(I).
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    (C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule 
Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
    Written comments relating to this proposed rule change have not 
been solicited or received. DTC will notify the Commission of any 
written comments received by DTC.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-DTC-2018-010 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-DTC-2018-010. 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

[[Page 63952]]

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-2018-010 
and should be submitted on or before January 2, 2019.
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    \26\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\26\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-26913 Filed 12-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                              63948                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 12, 2018 / Notices

                                              B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                           • Send an email to rule-comments@                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                              Statement on Burden on Competition                        sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                COMMISSION
                                                The Exchange does not believe that                      MRX–2018–37 on the subject line.                       [Release No. 34–84751; File No. SR–DTC–
                                              the proposed rule change will impose                      Paper Comments                                         2018–010]
                                              any burden on competition not
                                              necessary or appropriate in furtherance                     • Send paper comments in triplicate                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                              of the purposes of the Act. All of the                    to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                  Depository Trust Company; Notice of
                                              proposed changes are intended to bring                    Commission, 100 F Street NE,                           Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To
                                              greater transparency to the Exchange’s                    Washington, DC 20549–1090.                             Amend the Settlement Guide
                                              Rulebook, and therefore does not                                                                                 Procedures To Provide Status
                                              unduly burden competition.                                All submissions should refer to File                   Information for Institutional
                                                                                                        Number SR–MRX–2018–37. This file                       Transactions To a Matching Utility
                                              C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                         number should be included on the
                                              Statement on Comments on the                              subject line if email is used. To help the             December 7, 2018.
                                              Proposed Rule Change Received From                                                                                  Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                                                                        Commission process and review your
                                              Members, Participants, or Others                                                                                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                                                                        comments more efficiently, please use
                                                No written comments were either                                                                                (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                                                                        only one method. The Commission will                   notice is hereby given that on November
                                              solicited or received.                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                  29, 2018, The Depository Trust
                                              III. Date of Effectiveness of the                         internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                  Company (‘‘DTC’’) filed with the
                                              Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                       rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        Securities and Exchange Commission
                                              Commission Action                                         submission, all subsequent                             (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                 Because the foregoing proposed rule                    amendments, all written statements                     change as described in Items I, II and III
                                              change does not: (i) Significantly affect                 with respect to the proposed rule                      below, which Items have been prepared
                                              the protection of investors or the public                 change that are filed with the                         by the clearing agency. The Commission
                                              interest; (ii) impose any significant                     Commission, and all written                            is publishing this notice to solicit
                                              burden on competition; and (iii) become                   communications relating to the                         comments on the proposed rule change
                                              operative for 30 days from the date on                    proposed rule change between the                       from interested persons.
                                              which it was filed, or such shorter time                  Commission and any person, other than                  I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                              as the Commission may designate, it has                   those that may be withheld from the                    Terms of Substance of the Proposed
                                              become effective pursuant to Section                      public in accordance with the                          Rule Change
                                              19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 13 and                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                              subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4                                                                                   The proposed rule change would
                                                                                                        available for website viewing and
                                              thereunder.14                                                                                                    amend the Procedures, set forth in the
                                                                                                        printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                 At any time within 60 days of the                                                                             DTC Settlement Guide,3 4 to allow DTC
                                                                                                        Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                       to provide status information (‘‘Status
                                              filing of the proposed rule change, the                   Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                              Commission summarily may                                                                                         Information’’) for institutional
                                                                                                        business days between the hours of                     transactions in Eligible Securities
                                              temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                                                                        10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                 (‘‘Institutional Transactions’’) 5 to an
                                              it appears to the Commission that such
                                              action is necessary or appropriate in the                 filing also will be available for                      entity providing a matching service 6
                                              public interest, for the protection of                    inspection and copying at the principal
                                              investors, or otherwise in furtherance of                 office of the Exchange. All comments                     1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                              the purposes of the Act. If the                           received will be posted without change.                  2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                                                                  3 Each capitalized term not otherwise defined
                                              Commission takes such action, the                         Persons submitting comments are
                                                                                                                                                               herein has its respective meaning as set forth in the
                                              Commission shall institute proceedings                    cautioned that we do not redact or edit                Rules, By-Laws and Organization Certificate of The
                                              to determine whether the proposed rule                    personal identifying information from                  Depository Trust Company (‘‘Rules’’), available at
                                              should be approved or disapproved.                        comment submissions. You should                        http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-
                                                                                                        submit only information that you wish                  procedures.aspx and the DTC Settlement Service
                                              IV. Solicitation of Comments                                                                                     Guide (‘‘Settlement Guide’’), available at http://
                                                                                                        to make available publicly. All                        www.dtcc.com/∼/media/Files/Downloads/legal/
                                                Interested persons are invited to                       submissions should refer to File                       service-guides/Settlement.pdf.
                                              submit written data, views, and                           Number SR–MRX–2018–37 and should                          4 The Settlement Guide, which is proposed to be

                                              arguments concerning the foregoing,                       be submitted on or before January 2,                   amended hereby, sets forth Procedures for the
                                              including whether the proposed rule                                                                              DTC’s Settlement Service. See Settlement Guide,
                                                                                                        2019.                                                  supra note 3. Procedures, in this context, pursuant
                                              change is consistent with the Act.                                                                               to Section 1 of Rule 1, means ‘‘the Procedures,
                                              Comments may be submitted by any of                         For the Commission, by the Division of               service guides, and regulations of DTC adopted
                                              the following methods:                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             pursuant to Rule 27, as amended from time to
                                                                                                        authority.15                                           time.’’ Rule 1, Section 1, supra note 3. The
                                              Electronic Comments                                                                                              Settlement Guide constitutes Procedures of DTC, as
                                                                                                        Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                                                                               defined in the Rules. See Settlement Guide, supra
                                                • Use the Commission’s internet                         Assistant Secretary.                                   note 3 at 1.
                                              comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                         [FR Doc. 2018–26908 Filed 12–11–18; 8:45 am]              5 An Institutional Transaction is a securities
                                              rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                             transaction between a broker-dealer and its
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                 institutional customer (e.g., sell-side firms, buy-side
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                                                13 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                                                                               institutions, and custodians).
                                                14 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–                                                                 6 A ‘‘matching service’’ is an electronic service to

                                              4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give                                                          match trade information, centrally, between a
                                              the Commission written notice of its intent to file                                                              broker-dealer and its institutional customer. The
                                              the proposed rule change at least five business days                                                             matching service intermediary matches (i.e.,
                                              prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule                                                                 reconciles) trade information from the
                                              change, or such shorter time as designated by the                                                                counterparties to an Institutional Transaction, to
                                              Commission. At the Exchange’s request, the                                                                       generate an affirmed transaction (‘‘Affirmed
                                              Commission has waived this requirement.                     15 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                         Transaction’’) which is then used to provide



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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 12, 2018 / Notices                                                    63949

                                              (‘‘Matching Utility’’), as described                    fields in order to provide DTC with data               DTC Transaction Processing Exceptions
                                              below.                                                  necessary for it to be able to process a                  Exceptions may arise at various points
                                              II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the                  transaction.10                                         during the processing of an Institutional
                                              Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the                   The submission of an Affirmed                       Transaction submitted to DTC.
                                              Proposed Rule Change                                    Transaction by the Matching Utility to                    After an Affirmed Transaction, or
                                                                                                      DTC, on behalf of a Participant,                       other transaction that has been
                                                 In its filing with the Commission, the                                                                      submitted directly by a Participant, has
                                              clearing agency included statements                     constitutes the duly authorized
                                                                                                      instruction of the Participant to DTC to               been accepted by DTC, the transaction
                                              concerning the purpose of and basis for                                                                        must be approved by the Receiver
                                              the proposed rule change and discussed                  process the Affirmed Transaction in
                                                                                                                                                             through the Receiver Authorized
                                              any comments it received on the                         accordance with the Rules and
                                                                                                                                                             Delivery function (‘‘RAD’’), before it
                                              proposed rule change. The text of these                 Procedures.11
                                                                                                                                                             will be staged for DTC settlement
                                              statements may be examined at the                          As more fully described below, a                    processing in accordance with the Rules
                                              places specified in Item IV below. The                  transaction submitted to DTC for                       and the Settlement Guide.13 In this
                                              clearing agency has prepared                            processing may be subject to a                         regard, a Receiving Participant may
                                              summaries, set forth in sections A, B,                  processing exception (‘‘Exception’’),                  reject a transaction for any reason using
                                              and C below, of the most significant                                                                           RAD. If a transaction is not processed
                                                                                                      causing it to pend in the DTC system or
                                              aspects of such statements.                                                                                    because of a rejection, then the
                                                                                                      not be processed because the transaction
                                              (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the                  does not satisfy certain requirements                  transaction will drop from the DTC
                                              Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the                and/or controls set forth in the Rules                 system, resulting in an Exception that
                                              Proposed Rule Change                                    and Service Guide. A Matching Utility                  could only be resolved through
                                                                                                      that has submitted an Institutional                    resubmission of the transaction and
                                              1. Purpose
                                                                                                      Transaction to DTC, or is otherwise                    approval by the Receiving Participant.14
                                                 The proposed rule change would                                                                                 When processing a transaction for
                                                                                                      involved with the matching of a
                                              amend the Settlement Guide to allow                                                                            settlement, DTC checks risk controls,
                                              DTC to provide Status Information for                   transaction, does not receive Status
                                                                                                                                                             including the Net Debit Cap and
                                              Institutional Transactions to a Matching                Information regarding the transaction
                                                                                                                                                             Collateral Monitor, and inventory
                                              Utility, as described below.                            and is therefore unable to provide
                                                                                                                                                             controls of the Participants to the
                                                                                                      services to facilitate resolution of                   transaction.15 If a transaction satisfies
                                              Background                                              processing Exceptions occurring at DTC.                DTC risk and inventory controls, as
                                                 DTC may accept Institutional                         Therefore, in order to resolve an                      described below, the transaction will be
                                              Transactions from a Matching Utility                    Exception, the Participants to an                      processed by DTC and will become
                                              that is (i) a clearing agency registered                Institutional Transaction must (i) access              complete if the Receiving Participant
                                              pursuant to Section 17A of the Act 7 (ii)               Status Information directly through the                satisfies its end-of-day funds settlement
                                              an entity that has obtained an                          DTC Settlement User Interface and (ii),                obligation.16 If a transaction is not
                                              exemption from such registration from                   as necessary, supply the information to                processed, i.e., because DTC risk
                                              the Commission, or (iii) a ‘‘qualified                  their customers that are counterparties                controls are not met, or if the Deliverer
                                              vendor’’ for trade confirmation/                        to the transaction on their books, in                  has insufficient inventory in the
                                              affirmation services as defined by the                  order to facilitate the coordination of the            applicable Securities, this would result
                                              rules of a self-regulatory organization.8               resolution of the Exception among the                  in an Exception such that the
                                                 In accordance with the Settlement
                                                                                                      counterparties. Pursuant to the                        transaction will pend in DTC’s system
                                              Guide, for a Matching Utility to
                                                                                                      proposed rule change, DTC would                        and recycle until the condition causing
                                              establish and maintain a connection
                                                                                                      amend the Settlement Guide to allow                    the pend is satisfied.17
                                              with DTC, the Matching Utility must be                                                                            An incomplete transaction recycles in
                                              able to balance with DTC in an                          DTC to provide Status Information for
                                                                                                      an Institutional Transaction to a                      DTC’s system until the end of the day,
                                              automated way 9 and communicate                                                                                and if it remains incomplete at the end
                                              transactions to and from DTC with                       Matching Utility. The proposal would
                                                                                                      allow the Matching Utility to further                  of the day it will be dropped.18
                                              information required though mandated
                                                                                                      provide the Status Information to the                  Addressing Exceptions
                                              settlement instructions for the Affirmed                counterparties to the Institutional                      An Exception creates inefficiencies
                                              Transactions to the central securities depository,      Transaction to facilitate coordination of
                                              such as DTC, at which the Affirmed Transaction                                                                 for parties to the applicable Institutional
                                              settles. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
                                                                                                      the resolution of Exceptions among                     Transaction. If an Institutional
                                              39829 (April 6, 1998), 63 FR 17943 (April 13, 1998)     counterparties.12                                      Transaction results in an Exception,
                                              at 17946 (providing interpretive guidance on types                                                             information regarding the status of the
                                              of entities that may provide a matching service).
                                                 7 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.
                                                                                                         10 The mandated fields for this purpose are the
                                                                                                                                                             Institutional Transaction may need to be
                                                                                                      transaction control number (‘‘Control Number’’),       exchanged by Participants and others
                                                 8 See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 35.
                                                                                                      DTC receiver and deliverer account numbers,
                                                 9 For each Matching Utility interfacing with DTC,
                                                                                                      CUSIP, message type, share quantity, market type,
                                                                                                                                                             involved in the trade life cycle,
                                              DTC requires the Matching Utility to deliver a daily    buy-sell indicator, broker ID, ID agent internal       including buy-side firms, broker/
                                              message on each business day shortly after noon         account number, broker internal account number,
                                              from the Matching Utility with their accepted item      agent bank ID, settlement amount, origination             13 RAD allows Participants to review and either
                                              counts of institutional delivery and ID Net             entity, recipient of message, institution, and         approve or reject incoming Deliveries before they
                                              transaction totals for Settlement Date minus one        settlement date. Id. Institutional Transactions that   are processed. See Settlement Guide, supra note 3
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                                              transactions. DTC’s system will compare the totals                                                             at 53. RAD limits a Participant’s exposure from
                                                                                                      are not Affirmed Transactions, but which include
                                              from the Matching Utility to its accepted item                                                                 misdirected or erroneously entered transactions.
                                                                                                      a Control Number, may be submitted directly by
                                              counts. If the totals match, an ‘‘acknowledged                                                                 See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 5.
                                                                                                      Participants.
                                              balance’’ balance file will be sent to the Matching                                                               14 See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 54–55.
                                                                                                         11 Id.
                                              Utility. If the totals do not match, DTC will respond                                                             15 See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 64–68.
                                                                                                         12 The proposed rule change would not change or
                                              with the list of Settlement Date minus one control
                                                                                                                                                                16 See Rules 9(A) and 9(B), supra note 3.
                                              numbers received from the Matching Utility, along       have any effect on Participants’ ability to continue
                                                                                                                                                                17 See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 55.
                                              with their respective transaction types for the         to access Status Information directly through the
                                              originating Matching Utility to compare. Id.            DTC Settlement User Interface.                            18 See Settlement Guide, supra note 3 at 55.




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                                              63950                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 12, 2018 / Notices

                                              dealers, custodians, prime brokers,                      may have been confirmed at a Matching                     enhanced access to information for
                                              clearing brokers and other settlement                    Utility and received a Control Number,                    relevant parties that may promote their
                                              agents, to resolve the issue underlying                  and are submitted directly to DTC by a                    ability to manage Exceptions.
                                              the Exception and successfully process                   Participant in an instruction containing
                                                                                                                                                                 Proposed Changes to the Settlement
                                              the transaction. Communications among                    the Control Number, (collectively,
                                                                                                                                                                 Guide
                                              Participants that have direct access to                  ‘‘Eligible Transactions’’) to Participants
                                              Status Information through DTC and                       and facilitate their ability to manage                       Pursuant to the proposed rule change,
                                              other counterparties regarding                           Exceptions, DTC proposes to amend the                     DTC proposes to revise the Settlement
                                              Exceptions are often processed in a                      Settlement Guide to provide that DTC                      Guide to allow DTC to provide Status
                                              decentralized manner via email,                          may provide Status Information on                         Information of (i) Affirmed Transactions
                                              creating a time consuming process that                   Eligible Transactions to the applicable                   and (ii) other institutional transactions
                                              is subject to error.                                     Matching Utility that submitted the                       to a Matching Utility that requests such
                                                 Any potential delays and/or errors in                 transaction to DTC, or with respect to                    information, but only for those
                                              communicating the existence of an                        which its Control Number is included in                   transactions that are associated with a
                                              Exception and related Status                             transaction details provided by a                         Control Number relating to the
                                              Information among counterparties may                     Participant,20 if so requested by the                     Matching Utility. The proposed text to
                                              impede the prompt and accurate                           Matching Utility. In this regard, DTC                     the Settlement Guide would also (x)
                                              clearance and settlement of affected                     would send to a Matching Utility Status                   describe the types of Status Information
                                              Institutional Transactions. A                            Information for Eligible Transactions                     and related Identifying Information that
                                              Participant’s timely receipt of                          that DTC has received from the                            would be shared with a Matching Utility
                                              information relating to an Exception                     Matching Utility or have been entered                     in this regard, as described above and
                                              would facilitate its ability to take an                  by the Participant, that have a Control                   (y) provide that DTC may charge a fee
                                              action to facilitate the processing of the               Number associated with that Matching                      (‘‘Status Information Fee’’) to a
                                              related transaction. Examples of some of                 Utility. The Status Information provided                  Matching Utility that receives Status
                                              the actions the Participant may take                     to the Matching Utility would include                     Information as set forth in the DTC Fee
                                              include, as applicable, (i) making a                     the status of the transaction (e.g., the                  Guide.21 The proposed rule change
                                              settlement progress payment                              Delivery of Securities has been made                      would also add a defined term for
                                              (‘‘Settlement Progress Payment’’) 19 to                  within DTC, the transaction is pending                    ‘‘Control Number’’ to the Settlement
                                              lower its net settlement debit and                       Delivery within DTC, or the transaction                   Guide in existing text where the term is
                                                                                                       was reclaimed (i.e., sent back to the                     referred to but not defined.
                                              increase its Collateral Monitor in order
                                                                                                       Deliverer)) and a reason for any pending                     The proposed rule change would
                                              to meet the DTC Net Debit Cap and
                                                                                                       status (e.g., the Deliverer has                           require that prior to providing Status
                                              Collateral Monitor risk controls, (ii)                                                                             Information to a Matching Utility, DTC
                                              managing the Securities in its Account                   insufficient inventory in the applicable
                                                                                                       Securities, the Deliverer has insufficient                would obtain the written agreement, in
                                              to increase its available Collateral, and/                                                                         such form as determined by DTC from
                                              or (iii) communication with                              Collateral, the Receiver to the
                                                                                                       transaction has insufficient Net Debit                    time to time (‘‘Status Information
                                              counterparties to the transaction with                                                                             Agreement’’), from the Matching Utility
                                              respect to a rejection so that the                       Cap, etc.). The Status Information would
                                                                                                       also include information (‘‘Identifying                   that includes (i) a request from the
                                              Deliverer and Receiver may agree on the                                                                            Matching Utility to receive Status
                                              details for any related transaction to be                Information’’) to facilitate the Matching
                                                                                                       Utility’s ability to identify the                         Information from DTC, (ii) an agreement
                                              submitted and approved via RAD.                                                                                    by the Matching Utility that the
                                                                                                       applicable Eligible Transaction and
                                              Proposed Rule Change                                     reconcile the Status Information to the                   Matching Utility will not distribute
                                                                                                       Eligible Transaction in its records.                      Status Information to any third party
                                                 DTC has received a request from its                                                                             other than (a) the Participants indicated
                                              Matching Utility affiliate, ITP Matching                 Identifying Information would include,
                                                                                                       but not be limited to, (i) the applicable                 on the Status Information and (b) the
                                              (US) LLC (‘‘ITP’’), to receive Status                                                                              institutional customers that are
                                              Information so that ITP may transmit                     Control Number (ii) identification
                                                                                                       numbers of the Participants to the                        counterparties to the transaction for
                                              the Status Information to counterparties                                                                           which the Participants indicated on the
                                              in a centralized format. DTC believes                    transaction, (iii) quantity of Securities,
                                                                                                       (iv) dollar amount of the transaction,                    Status Information are acting with
                                              that distribution of Status Information to                                                                         respect to the transaction, (iii) the
                                              relevant counterparties in a centralized                 and (v) an indicator of whether the
                                                                                                       transaction was submitted to DTC by the                   agreement of the Matching Utility that
                                              format would facilitate Participants’                                                                              the Matching Utility will indemnify,
                                              ability to monitor Exceptions and                        Matching Utility or directly by a
                                                                                                       Participant.                                              hold harmless and agree, on demand, to
                                              coordinate with their institutional                                                                                reimburse DTC, its stockholders,
                                                                                                          DTC believes that sharing Status
                                              customers in order to resolve                                                                                      officers, directors and employees from
                                                                                                       Information with a Matching Utility, on
                                              Exceptions.                                                                                                        and against and for any and all claims,
                                                                                                       behalf of a Participant, would foster
                                                 Pursuant to the proposed rule change,                                                                           liabilities, obligations, damages, actions,
                                                                                                       coordination among persons engaged in
                                              in order to facilitate more seamless                                                                               penalties, losses, costs, expenses and
                                                                                                       the clearance and settlement of
                                              transmission of the Status Information                                                                             disbursements, including, without
                                                                                                       Institutional Transactions by facilitating
                                              for (i) Affirmed Transactions and (ii)                                                                             limitation, attorneys’ fees and
                                              other Institutional Transactions that                       20 It is DTC’s understanding that a transaction that   disbursements (‘‘Claims’’), which they
                                                                                                       has been confirmed within a Matching Utility’s            may sustain by reason of DTC’s
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                                                19 A Settlement Progress Payment is a payment
                                                                                                       system, but has not been affirmed, may be assigned        providing Status Information to the
                                              wired intraday by a Participant to DTC’s account at      a Control Number by the Matching Utility. Any
                                              the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The amount         transaction not affirmed by a Matching Utility            Matching Utility, except for any Claims
                                              of a Settlement Progress Payment is (i) credited to      would not be submitted by it to DTC as an Affirmed
                                              the Participant’s intraday net settlement balance        Transaction. In that case, the Participant may              21 Available at http://www.dtcc.com/∼/media/
                                              and (ii) is Collateral that supports the Participant’s   submit the transaction directly through DTC as a          Files/Downloads/legal/fee-guides/dtcfeeguide.pdf.
                                              Collateral Monitor. See also Rule 1, supra note 3        Deliver Order, and include the applicable Control         Any such fee would be the subject of a subsequent
                                              (definition of Collateral) and Settlement Guide,         Number as assigned by the Matching Utility on its         proposed rule change that DTC would file with the
                                              supra note 3 at 62–63.                                   submission to DTC.                                        Commission.



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 12, 2018 / Notices                                            63951

                                              which result from the gross negligence                    settlement of securities transactions                  would be submitted by DTC to the
                                              or willful misconduct of the person                       consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of                Commission. DTC believes that the
                                              asserting a right to indemnification, (iv)                the Act.23                                             provision of Status Information to a
                                              the agreement of the Matching Utility to                     Rule 17Ad–22(e)(20) 24 promulgated                  Matching Utility could promote
                                              pay the Status Information Fee, (v) the                   under the Act requires DTC to establish,               competition, to the extent Status
                                              agreement of the Matching Utility to                      implement, maintain and enforce                        Information is further transmitted by the
                                              notify DTC immediately if the Matching                    written policies and procedures                        Matching Utility to the counterparties to
                                              Utility becomes aware of Status                           reasonably designed to, as applicable,                 an applicable Eligible Transaction, by
                                              Information provided to it by DTC being                   identify, monitor, and manage risks                    facilitating Participants’ ability to
                                              distributed to a third party other than as                related to any link the covered clearing               address an Exception that may affect the
                                              authorized pursuant to (ii) above, and                    agency establishes with one or more                    processing of the Eligible Transaction at
                                              (vi) the acknowledgement of the                           other clearing agencies, financial market              DTC.
                                              Matching Utility that DTC may                             utilities, or trading markets. DTC                       (C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
                                              terminate the Status Information                          believes that the proposed rule change                 Comments on the Proposed Rule
                                              Agreement in the event that (a) DTC                       is consistent with this Rule because the               Change Received From Members,
                                              becomes aware that the Matching Utility                   proposed Status Information Agreement,                 Participants, or Others
                                              has used or distributed the Status                        which would include the terms as set                     Written comments relating to this
                                              Information in a manner that violates                     forth above, that would be required to                 proposed rule change have not been
                                              the terms of the Status Information                       be provided by a Matching Utility prior                solicited or received. DTC will notify
                                              Agreement, (b) the Matching Utility                       to DTC distributing Status Information                 the Commission of any written
                                              does not pay the Status Information Fee                   to it, would limit DTC’s exposure to                   comments received by DTC.
                                              in accordance with the terms of the Fee                   legal risks and expenses that may
                                              Schedule, or (c) DTC submits a rule                       otherwise arise in connection with such                III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                              filing to the SEC, which is approved by                   distribution by including an indemnity                 Proposed Rule Change, and Timing for
                                              the SEC or otherwise becomes effective                    from the Matching Utility with respect                 Commission Action
                                              pursuant to the Act to discontinue                        to its receipt of Status Information and                 Within 45 days of the date of
                                              DTC’s distribution of Status Information                  manage privacy risk by requiring                       publication of this notice in the Federal
                                              to Matching Utilities.                                    Matching Utilities to not distribute                   Register or within such longer period
                                                                                                        Status Information to unauthorized                     up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may
                                              Implementation Timeframe                                  third parties, as described above.                     designate if it finds such longer period
                                                 The proposed rule change would be                                                                             to be appropriate and publishes its
                                              effective upon approval of the proposed                   (B) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
                                                                                                        Burden on Competition                                  reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which
                                              rule change by the Commission.                                                                                   the self-regulatory organization
                                                                                                           DTC believes the proposed rule                      consents, the Commission will:
                                              2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                        change could impact competition.25                       (A) By order approve or disapprove
                                                 Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 22                     DTC does not believe that the proposed                 such proposed rule change, or
                                              requires, inter alia, that the Rules                      rule change to allow DTC to provide                      (B) institute proceedings to determine
                                              promote the prompt and accurate                           Status Information to a Matching Utility               whether the proposed rule change
                                              clearance and settlement of securities                    that is a party to a transaction (i.e., the            should be disapproved.
                                              transactions. DTC believes that the                       party originating the confirm or
                                              proposed rule changes are consistent                      processing the affirm) would impose a                  IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                              with this provision because by allowing                   burden on competition for Matching                       Interested persons are invited to
                                              DTC to provide Status Information to                      Utilities and Participants, because by                 submit written data, views and
                                              Matching Utilities in accordance with                     adding text to the Settlement Guide to                 arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                              the proposal as described above, the                      allow DTC to provide Status                            including whether the proposed rule
                                              proposed rule change would facilitate                     Information to a Matching Utility, as                  change is consistent with the Act.
                                              the distribution of information on                        applicable, the proposal is merely                     Comments may be submitted by any of
                                              Exceptions to the parties of Eligible                     facilitating the transmission of Status                the following methods:
                                              Transactions. This distribution of Status                 Information that would enable the
                                              Information would allow for enhanced                      counterparties to an Eligible Transaction              Electronic Comments
                                              communication among the parties to an                     to address Exceptions in order to                        • Use the Commission’s internet
                                              Eligible Transaction to address an                        facilitate processing of the transaction               comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                              Exception so that the Eligible                            by DTC. In addition, Status Information                rules/sro.shtml); or
                                              Transaction may meet DTC controls and                     would be available to any Matching                       • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                              be processed for end-of-day settlement.                   Utility that requests it and satisfies the             sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                              Therefore, by facilitating the                            applicable requirements that would be                  DTC–2018–010 on the subject line.
                                              distribution of Status Information to a                   set forth in the Settlement Guide. DTC
                                              Matching Utility, and thereby                                                                                    Paper Comments
                                                                                                        does not believe the proposed rule
                                              facilitating the ability of a Matching                    change that would add text referencing                   • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                              Utility to provide this information to the                that DTC may charge a fee to a Matching                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                              applicable parties to an Eligible                         Utility that receives Status Information               Commission, 100 F Street NE,
                                              Transaction that may address related                      would impose a burden on competition,                  Washington, DC 20549.
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                                              Exceptions and resolve related issues so                  because any such fee would not take                      All submissions should refer to File
                                              that a transaction may be processed for                   effect until after such a fee is filed as              Number SR–DTC–2018–010. This file
                                              settlement, DTC believes that the                         part of a subsequent rule filing that                  number should be included on the
                                              proposed rule change would promote                                                                               subject line if email is used. To help the
                                              the prompt and accurate clearance and                       23 Id.                                               Commission process and review your
                                                                                                          24 17    CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(20).                     comments more efficiently, please use
                                                22 15   U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                            25 15    U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(I).                      only one method. The Commission will


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                                              63952                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 12, 2018 / Notices

                                              post all comments on the Commission’s                   with the Securities and Exchange                       EDGA, and BZX, the ‘‘Cboe Affiliated
                                              internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                   Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the                    Exchanges’’). The Cboe Affiliated
                                              rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         proposed rule change as described in                   Exchanges are working to align certain
                                              submission, all subsequent                              Items I, II, and III below, which Items                system functionality, retaining only
                                              amendments, all written statements                      have been prepared by the Exchange.                    intended differences between the Cboe
                                              with respect to the proposed rule                       The Exchange filed the proposal as a                   Affiliated Exchanges, in the context of a
                                              change that are filed with the                          ‘‘non-controversial’’ proposed rule                    technology migration. Cboe Options
                                              Commission, and all written                             change pursuant to Section                             intends to migrate its technology onto
                                              communications relating to the                          19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 3 and Rule                 the same trading platform as the other
                                              proposed rule change between the                        19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.4 The                           Cboe Affiliated Exchanges, which the
                                              Commission and any person, other than                   Commission is publishing this notice to                Exchange expects to complete on
                                              those that may be withheld from the                     solicit comments on the proposed rule                  October 7, 2019. Cboe Options believes
                                              public in accordance with the                           change from interested persons.                        offering similar functionality to the
                                              provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                                                                            extent practicable will reduce potential
                                                                                                      I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              available for website viewing and                                                                              confusion for market participants.
                                                                                                      Statement of the Terms of Substance of                    In connection with this technology
                                              printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                      the Proposed Rule Change                               migration, the Exchange proposes to add
                                              Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
                                              Washington, DC 20549 on official                           Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’               a shell structure that would reside
                                              business days between the hours of                      or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) proposes to adopt a               alongside its current Rulebook. The
                                              10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  shell structure for the Cboe Options                   proposed shell outlines the various
                                              filing also will be available for                       rulebook (‘‘Rulebook’’) in connection                  chapters, and sections within certain
                                              inspection and copying at the principal                 with the migration of the Exchange to                  chapters, of the future Rulebook, as well
                                              office of DTC and on DTCC’s website                     Bats technology.                                       as contains new chapter numbering. In
                                              (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-                           The text of the proposed rule change                subsequent rule changes, Cboe Options
                                              filings.aspx). All comments received                    is also available on the Exchange’s                    will amend its Rules to reflect proposed
                                              will be posted without change. Persons                  website (http://www.cboe.com/                          changes to its system in connection with
                                              submitting comments are cautioned that                  AboutCBOE/CBOELegal                                    the system migration. Cboe Options will
                                              we do not redact or edit personal                       RegulatoryHome.aspx), at the                           also submit subsequent rule changes to
                                              identifying information from comment                    Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, and                move rule text that will not change as
                                              submissions. You should submit only                     at the Commission’s Public Reference                   part of the technology migration from
                                              information that you wish to make                       Room.                                                  the current Rulebook to the future
                                              available publicly. All submissions                     II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     Rulebook.
                                              should refer to File Number SR–DTC–                     Statement of the Purpose of, and                       2. Statutory Basis
                                              2018–010 and should be submitted on                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              or before January 2, 2019.                                                                                        The Exchange believes the proposed
                                                                                                      Change
                                                                                                                                                             rule change is consistent with the
                                                For the Commission, by the Division of                   In its filing with the Commission, the
                                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                                                                     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                                                                      Exchange included statements                           ‘‘Act’’) and the rules and regulations
                                              authority.26
                                                                                                      concerning the purpose of and basis for                thereunder applicable to the Exchange
                                              Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                      the proposed rule change and discussed                 and, in particular, the requirements of
                                              Assistant Secretary.                                    any comments it received on the                        Section 6(b) of the Act.5 Specifically,
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–26913 Filed 12–11–18; 8:45 am]            proposed rule change. The text of these                the Exchange believes the proposed rule
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  statements may be examined at the                      change is consistent with the Section
                                                                                                      places specified in Item IV below. The                 6(b)(5) 6 requirements that the rules of
                                                                                                      Exchange has prepared summaries, set                   an exchange be designed to prevent
                                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of
                                              COMMISSION                                                                                                     fraudulent and manipulative acts and
                                                                                                      the most significant aspects of such                   practices, to promote just and equitable
                                              [Release No. 34–84739; File No. SR–CBOE–                statements.                                            principles of trade, to foster cooperation
                                              2018–074]                                                                                                      and coordination with persons engaged
                                                                                                      A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                      Statement of the Purpose of, and                       in regulating, clearing, settling,
                                              Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
                                                                                                      Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                 processing information with respect to,
                                              Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
                                                                                                      Change                                                 and facilitating transactions in
                                              Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
                                                                                                                                                             securities, to remove impediments to
                                              Rule Change Relating To Adopt a Shell                   1. Purpose                                             and perfect the mechanism of a free and
                                              Structure for the Cboe Options
                                                                                                         In 2016, the Exchange’s parent                      open market and a national market
                                              Rulebook in Connection With the
                                                                                                      company, Cboe Global Markets, Inc.                     system, and, in general, to protect
                                              Migration of the Exchange to Bats
                                                                                                      (formerly named CBOE Holdings, Inc.)                   investors and the public interest.
                                              Technology
                                                                                                      (‘‘Cboe Global’’), which is also the                   Additionally, the Exchange believes the
                                              December 6, 2018.                                       parent company of Cboe C2 Exchange,                    proposed rule change is consistent with
                                                 Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                  Inc. (‘‘C2’’), acquired Cboe EDGA                      the Section 6(b)(5) 7 requirement that
                                              Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                    Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGA’’), Cboe EDGX                   the rules of an exchange not be designed
                                              ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                  Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGX’’ or ‘‘EDGX                     to permit unfair discrimination between
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              notice is hereby given that on November                 Options’’), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.                    customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
                                              26, 2018, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the                      (‘‘BZX’’ or ‘‘BZX Options’’), and Cboe                 The Exchange believes the proposed
                                              ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) filed                 BYX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BYX’’ and,                       rule change will remove impediments to
                                                                                                      together with Cboe Options, C2, EDGX,
                                                26 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                                                                     5 15    U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                  3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                         6 15    U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                     4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).                              7 Id.




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Document Created: 2018-12-12 01:39:50
Document Modified: 2018-12-12 01:39:50
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 63948 

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