83_FR_6664 83 FR 6633 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the By-Laws and Make Other Changes

83 FR 6633 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the By-Laws and Make Other Changes

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 31 (February 14, 2018)

Page Range6633-6639
FR Document2018-02987

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6633-6639]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02987]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82674; File No. SR-NSCC-2018-001]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the By-
Laws and Make Other Changes

February 8, 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 February 2, 2018, National Securities Clearing Corporation 
(``NSCC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the clearing agency. 
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 NSCC By-Laws (``By-Laws'') 
to (i) revise titles or offices and the powers and duties of the Board 
of Directors (``Board'') and certain designated officers of NSCC, (ii) 
revise the section describing the compensation of officers, and (iii) 
make certain technical changes and corrections.\3\ The Rules \4\ would 
also be amended to incorporate by reference the By-Laws and the 
Certificate of Incorporation of NSCC.
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    \3\ The By-Laws and the Certificate of Incorporation would each 
be incorporated by reference into NSCC's Rules & Procedures 
(``Rules''). No changes have been made to NSCC's Certificate of 
Incorporation since the most recently filed version of the 
Certificate of Incorporation. See Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 13407 (March 25, 1977), 42 FR 17928 (April 4, 1977) (SR-NSCC-77-
3).
    \4\ The Rules are available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures. The By-Laws and the Certificate of Incorporation 
would be available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.
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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
    In NSCC's review of the By-Laws, NSCC has identified and is 
proposing the following changes to the By-Laws: (i) Revising certain 
Board and designated officer titles or offices and updating the related 
powers and duties, (ii) revising the section describing the 
compensation of officers, and (iii) making certain technical changes 
and corrections. Specifically, regarding the proposed changes to the 
Board and designated officer titles or offices and updating the related 
powers and duties, NSCC is proposing to: (1) Change the title of 
Chairman of the Board to Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and update 
the related powers and duties associated with that role due to 
personnel changes in NSCC's management, (2) add the office of the Chief 
Executive Officer (``CEO''), combine the office of the President and 
the office of the Chief Executive Officer into one office (President 
and Chief Executive Officer) and update the related powers and duties 
to reflect that the two positions are now combined and are held by one 
individual, (3) add the office of the Chief Financial Officer (``CFO'') 
and delete the office of the Comptroller, (4) delete the office of the 
Chief Operating Officer (``COO''), (5) change the title of Vice 
President to Executive Director and update the related powers and 
duties, and (6) make other changes related to certain powers and duties 
of the Board and various

[[Page 6634]]

officers, including Managing Directors, the Vice Chairman of the 
Corporation, the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer, as described in 
greater detail below. NSCC is proposing to make these changes to the 
By-Laws so that the By-Laws remain consistent and accurate and the 
governance documents accurately reflect its management and 
organizational structure and the responsibilities within the purview of 
certain roles. NSCC believes these changes would facilitate the 
efficient governance and operation of NSCC.
    The Rules would also be amended to incorporate by reference the By-
Laws and Certificate of Incorporation of NSCC, as further described 
below. The following describes the proposed changes to the By-Laws and 
the Rules.
Proposed Changes to the By-Laws \5\
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    \5\ NSCC last submitted a rule filing regarding changes to the 
By-Laws in 2006. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54173 (July 
19, 2006), 71 FR 42890 (July 28, 2006) (SR-DTC-2006-10, SR-FICC-
2006-09, and SR-NSCC-2006-08).
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A. Changes to Certain NSCC Board and Designated Officer Titles or 
Offices and Updates to the Related Powers and Duties
    NSCC proposes to revise the titles or offices and update the 
related powers and duties of various designated officers and the Board, 
as further described below.
1. Change the Title of Chairman of the Board to Non-Executive Chairman 
of the Board; Update the Powers and Duties of the Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board
    NSCC proposes to replace the title of Chairman of the Board with 
the title Non-Executive Chairman of the Board (``Non-Executive Chairman 
of the Board''). This change in title reflects that this position is 
now held by an individual who is not part of NSCC's management (i.e., a 
non-executive). In 2016, NSCC made personnel changes. As part of these 
personnel changes, the individual who was serving as Chairman of the 
Board and who was part of NSCC's management at that time became a non-
executive. NSCC believed that it would be beneficial and desirable to 
continue to have this individual serve as chairman of the Board even 
though he is no longer part of NSCC's management. Therefore, NSCC 
proposes to change the title of this position in the By-Laws to Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board to reflect that this position is held 
by a non-executive. NSCC believes this proposed change would accurately 
reflect this organizational change. Furthermore, NSCC proposes to 
revise the By-Laws to enumerate the powers and duties of the Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board. To implement this proposed change, 
NSCC would revise the By-Laws as described below.
    Certain references to either Chairman or Chairman of the Board 
would be revised to Non-Executive Chairman of the Board in the sections 
of the By-Laws that would continue to apply to the Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board. Specifically, the following changes would be 
made:
    a. In current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings), the references to 
Chairman would be revised to Non-Executive Chairman of the Board by 
adding the word ``Non-Executive'' before the second reference to 
Chairman in the first sentence and the phrase ``of the Board'' after 
such reference. In addition, the phrase ``by the Chairman'' in the 
first sentence of current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings) would be 
deleted because it would be repetitive to the language that is 
currently included later in this section.
    b. In current Section 1.8 (Presiding Officer and Secretary), 
current Section 2.6 (Meetings), and current Section 5.1 (Certificates 
for Shares), the word ``Non-Executive'' would be added before each 
reference to the Chairman of the Board.
    Certain references to Chairman of the Board in the By-Laws would be 
deleted because such references are in the sections of the By-Laws that 
only apply to members of NSCC management. Because the Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board would not be a management position, such sections 
of the By-Laws would no longer be applicable. Specifically, the 
following changes would be made:
    a. In current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), Chairman of the 
Board would be removed from the list of designated officers of NSCC.
    b. In current Section 3.12 (Compensation of Officers), the 
references to the Chairman of the Board would also be deleted because 
the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board does not receive compensation 
and because, as further described below, this section would be revised 
to only address the setting of compensation for the President and CEO.
    Current Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the 
Board) would be deleted and replaced by proposed Section 2.8 (Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board). Specifically, the following changes 
would be made:
    a. Certain powers and duties prescribed to the Chairman of the 
Board in current Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the 
Board) would remain with the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. Such 
powers and duties include: (i) Presiding over the meetings of the 
stockholders and of the Board at which he is present and (ii) such 
other powers and duties as the Board may designate. This would be set 
forth in proposed Section 2.8 (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board). 
Furthermore, as is similarly stated in current Section 3.2 (Powers and 
Duties of the Chairman of the Board), proposed Section 2.8 (Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board) would state that the ``performance of 
any such duty by the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board shall be 
conclusive evidence of his power to act.''
    b. NSCC would also expressly include in proposed Section 2.8 (Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board) that the Non-Executive Chairman of the 
Board has general supervision over the Board and its activities and 
would provide overall leadership to the Board. Consistent with his 
authority to supervise and lead the Board, NSCC proposes to assign the 
responsibility for carrying out the policies of the Board of Directors 
to the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board rather than the President 
(as is provided in current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the 
President)). Furthermore, in current Section 3.6 (Powers and Duties of 
the Secretary), the power to assign additional powers and duties to the 
Secretary would be revised to replace the reference to President with 
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. NSCC believes this is an 
appropriate responsibility for the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board 
to have as part of his general supervision of the Board.
    c. In addition, proposed Section 2.8 (Non-Executive Chairman of the 
Board) would state that, in the absence of the Non-Executive Chairman 
of the Board, the presiding director, as elected by the Board, shall 
preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board at which 
he or she is present. Current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the 
President) provides that, in the absence or in ability of the Chairman 
of the Board, the President shall preside at all meetings of 
shareholders and all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he is 
present. Pursuant to the Board of Directors of The Depository Trust & 
Clearing Corporation (``DTCC''), The Depository Trust Company 
(``DTC''), Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'') and NSCC 
Mission Statement and Charter (``Board Mission Statement and 
Charter''), NSCC annually elects a presiding director to preside at 
meetings when the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board is absent. As 
such, NSCC believes the proposed language described above

[[Page 6635]]

would enhance accuracy by correcting the inconsistency between the By-
Laws and the Board Mission Statement and Charter.
    d. As further described below, in proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and 
Duties of the President and Chief Executive Officer), the Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board would have the authority to designate powers and 
duties to the President and CEO. NSCC believes this authority to 
designate powers and duties to the President and CEO is within the 
scope of the supervisory role of the Non-Executive Chairman of the 
Board and therefore proposes to revise the By-Laws to expressly state 
that the Non-Executive Chairman has this authority.
    e. In current Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents and 
Managing Directors), NSCC would add the Non-Executive Chairman of the 
Board to the list of individuals who have the power to assign powers 
and duties to Managing Directors as well as make conforming changes. 
NSCC believes this is an appropriate responsibility for the Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board to have because he has general 
supervision over the Board.
2. Add the Office of the CEO and Combine the Office of the President 
and the Office of the CEO Into the Office of the President and CEO; 
Update the Related Powers and Duties
    NSCC proposes to add the office of the CEO and combine the office 
of the President and the office of the CEO into one office (President 
and CEO) because one individual is the President and CEO. NSCC proposes 
to revise the By-Laws to reflect that one individual holds the office 
of the President and CEO, including revising the list of designated 
officers in current Section 3.1 (General Provisions) to include the 
President and CEO. While current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the 
President) provides that the President shall be the chief executive 
officer, current Section 3.1 (General Provisions) does not include CEO 
in the list of designated officer positions (President is currently 
included in this list). As such, NSCC would revise certain references 
in the By-Laws from President to President and Chief Executive Officer. 
Specifically, NSCC proposes to make the changes to the By-Laws that are 
described below.
    a. In current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings), current Section 1.8 
(Presiding Officer and Secretary), current Section 2.6 (Meetings), 
current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), current Section 3.5 (Powers 
and Duties of Vice Presidents and Managing Directors), current Section 
3.7 (Powers and Duties of the Treasurer), and current Section 3.12 
(Compensation of Officers), the words ``and Chief Executive Officer'' 
would be added after each reference to President.
    b. In current Section 5.1 (Certificates for Shares), the words 
``the President'' would be deleted and replaced by the words 
``President and Chief Executive Officer.''
    c. Additionally, in current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings), the 
phrase ``, or by the President,'' in the first sentence would be 
deleted because NSCC believes it is repetitive to language that appears 
later in the section.
    Furthermore, except as otherwise described below, the 
responsibilities, duties and powers granted to the President that are 
currently described in the By-Laws would continue to remain with the 
President and CEO. NSCC proposes to make the following changes to the 
By-Laws to reflect the updated responsibilities and powers and duties 
that are granted to the President and CEO:
    a. A portion of current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the 
President) would be deleted and replaced with proposed Section 3.2 
(Powers and Duties of the President and Chief Executive Officer). The 
remaining portion of current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the 
President) would be included in proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties 
of the President and Chief Executive Officer).
    b. Current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the President) states 
that the President will have general supervision over the business and 
affairs of NSCC subject to the direction of the Board. Additionally, 
current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the President) states that 
the President may employ and discharge employees and agents of NSCC, 
except such as shall be elected or appointed by the Board, and he may 
delegate these powers. Similarly, proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and 
Duties of the President and Chief Executive Officer) would state that 
the President and Chief Executive Officer would have general 
supervision over the overall business strategy, business operations, 
systems, customer outreach, and risk management, control and staff 
functions, subject to the direction of the Board and the Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board. NSCC believes the additional detail provided in 
proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the President and CEO) would 
add clarity to the powers and duties associated with the role of 
President and Chief Executive Officer and would be consistent with the 
combined role. In addition, because the office of the COO would be 
eliminated (as described further below), the responsibility of general 
supervision over the operations of NSCC, which is designated to the COO 
role in current Section 3.4 (Powers and Duties of the Chief Operating 
Officer), would be assigned to the President and CEO.
    c. Proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the President and 
CEO) would state that the President and CEO would have such other 
powers and perform such other duties as the Board or the Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board may designate. NSCC believes this generally 
aligns with current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the President). 
NSCC believes that providing the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board 
with this additional authority to designate powers and duties to the 
President and CEO is within the scope of the supervisory role of the 
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.
    d. As noted above, certain powers and duties listed in current 
Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the President) would be removed or 
assigned to another position. Specifically, as noted above, the 
responsibility for carrying out the policies of the Board would be 
assigned to the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board rather than to the 
President and CEO. Additionally, the statement that ``performance of 
any such duty by the President shall be conclusive evidence of his 
power to act'' that appears in current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties 
of the President) would be removed as NSCC believes it would be best 
practice to document specific designation of powers and/or duties made 
by the Board or Non-Executive Chairman of the Board to the President 
and CEO.
    e. As described above, in current Section 3.6 (Powers and Duties of 
the Secretary), the power to assign additional powers and duties to the 
Secretary would be removed from the President and granted to the Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board. NSCC believes this is an appropriate 
responsibility for the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board to have as 
part of his general supervision of the Board.
    f. As described below, the President and Board currently have the 
authority to assign powers and duties to the Comptroller in current 
Section 3.8 (Powers and Duties of the Comptroller). Similarly, proposed 
Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of the Chief Financial Officer) would 
provide that the CFO would perform such other duties as he may agree 
with the President and CEO and the Board.

[[Page 6636]]

3. Add the Office of the CFO; Delete of the Office of the Comptroller
    NSCC would add the office of the CFO and assign to the CFO all of 
the powers and duties of the office of the chief financial officer. The 
CFO would, in general, have overall supervision of the financial 
operations of NSCC. Furthermore, references to the office of the 
Comptroller would be deleted. NSCC does not currently have a 
Comptroller nor does NSCC plan to appoint one. Therefore, NSCC believes 
it would be more accurate to remove all references to such position in 
the By-Laws. Specifically, NSCC would revise the By-Laws as described 
below.
    a. In current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), CFO would be added 
and Comptroller would be removed from the list of designated officers 
of NSCC.
    b. NSCC would add proposed Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of the 
Chief Financial Officer). This proposed section would enumerate the 
powers and duties of the CFO. It would state that the CFO would have 
overall supervision of the financial operations of NSCC and upon 
request, would counsel and advise other officers of NSCC and perform 
other duties as agreed with the President and CEO or as determined by 
the Board. NSCC believes these powers and duties are appropriate for 
the newly created role of CFO. Proposed Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties 
of the Chief Financial Officer) would also state that the CFO would 
report directly to the President and CEO. NSCC believes it is 
appropriate for the CFO to report to the President and CEO and to 
specify this clear line of responsibility in the By-Laws.
    c. Furthermore, proposed Section 3.6 (Powers and Duties of the 
Treasurer) would also be revised to state that the Treasurer shall have 
all such powers and duties as generally are incident to the position of 
Treasurer or as the CFO (in addition to the President and CEO and the 
Board) may assign to him. Because the Treasurer directly reports to the 
CFO, NSCC believes it is appropriate for the CFO to assign powers and 
duties to the Treasurer.
    d. NSCC would delete current Section 3.8 (Powers and Duties of the 
Comptroller), which, with the elimination of the office of the 
Comptroller, would no longer be necessary.
4. Delete the Office of the COO
    NSCC would also delete references to the designated office of the 
COO in the By-Laws. NSCC believes this change is necessary because NSCC 
no longer has a COO nor does NSCC plan to appoint one. Specifically, 
NSCC would make the changes to the By-Laws described below.
    a. In current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), the COO would be 
removed from the list of designated officers of NSCC.
    b. Current Section 3.4 (Powers and Duties of the Chief Operating 
Officer) would be deleted, which, with the elimination of the office of 
the COO, would no longer be necessary. The power and duty prescribed to 
this position (general supervision over the operations of NSCC) would 
be assigned to the President and CEO in proposed Section 3.2 (Powers 
and Duties of the President and Chief Executive Officer), as described 
above.
5. Change the Title of Vice President to Executive Director; Update the 
Related Powers and Duties
    NSCC proposes to change the title of Vice President to Executive 
Director and update the related powers and duties. NSCC believes these 
changes are necessary because NSCC has decided that the title of 
Executive Director is more widely used in the financial services 
industry for roles similar to those designated as Vice Presidents. In 
NSCC's organizational structure, Executive Directors report to Managing 
Directors. As such, it was decided that Executive Directors do not have 
sufficient seniority to call special meetings of shareholders, to 
preside over shareholder meetings unless specifically designated to do 
so by the Board, or to sign share certificates. NSCC proposes to make 
the following changes to the By-Laws to reflect the change in the title 
from Vice President to Executive Director and to update the related 
powers and duties.
    a. In current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings), the proposed rule 
change would remove Vice Presidents from the list of officers 
authorized to call special meetings of shareholders. NSCC believes that 
Vice Presidents do not have sufficient seniority to call special 
meetings of shareholders.
    b. In current Section 1.8 (Presiding Officer and Secretary), Vice 
President would be removed. NSCC believes that a Vice President should 
not preside over a shareholder meeting unless specifically designated 
to do so by the Board.
    c. In current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), Vice Presidents 
would be removed from the list of designated officers of NSCC. As 
described below, a parenthetical phrase would be added explaining that 
the Board's power to appoint other officers includes the power to 
appoint one or more Executive Directors.
    d. In current Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents and 
Managing Directors), all references to Vice President would be deleted. 
Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents and Managing 
Directors) currently states that Vice Presidents and Managing Directors 
have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the President 
may assign to them.\6\ Because individuals with the title of Executive 
Director report to Managing Directors, NSCC believes the reference to 
Vice President in this section would not be necessary.
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    \6\ With this proposal, this reference to President would be 
revised to President and CEO, and the Non-Executive Chairman of the 
Board would be added so the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board 
would also be able to assign powers and duties to the Managing 
Directors.
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    e. In current Section 5.1 (Certificates for Shares), the reference 
to Vice President would be removed because Vice Presidents are no 
longer authorized to sign share certificates. As described above, NSCC 
decided that they do not have sufficient seniority to do so.
6. Other Changes to the Powers and Duties of the Board and Certain 
Other Designated Officers
Managing Directors
    a. In Section 1.8 (Presiding Officer and Secretary), the reference 
to the Managing Director would be removed because NSCC believes a 
Managing Director should not preside over a shareholder meeting unless 
specifically designated to do so by the Board.
    b. In current Section 2.6 (Meetings), the proposal would add 
Managing Directors to the list of officers authorized to call special 
meetings of the Board. NSCC believes this proposed change would provide 
NSCC's management with additional flexibility by enabling additional 
persons within senior management to call special meetings of the Board.
Vice Chairman of the Corporation
    As described below, a parenthetical phrase would be added in 
current Section 3.1 (General Provisions) explaining that the Board's 
power to appoint other offices includes, but is not limited to, the 
power to appoint a Vice Chairman of the Corporation.
Board
    a. In current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), NSCC proposes to 
add a parenthetical phrase explaining that the Board's power to appoint 
other officers includes, but is not limited to, the power to appoint a 
Vice Chairman of the

[[Page 6637]]

Corporation and one or more Executive Directors to enhance clarity.
    b. Additionally, in current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), 
regarding the ability of any one person to hold more than one office, 
NSCC proposes to enhance and clarify the exception by specifying that 
neither the Secretary nor any Assistant Secretary can hold the 
following offices: (1) Vice Chairman of the Corporation or (2) 
President and CEO. NSCC believes this proposed change is necessary to 
ensure that the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary would not hold 
those positions.
Treasurer
    In current Section 5.1 (Certificates for Shares), NSCC proposes to 
delete the reference to Treasurer from the list of authorized 
signatories because NSCC expects the Secretary or an Assistant 
Secretary (who are each currently listed as authorized signatories) to 
sign any share certificates.
Assistant Treasurer
    In current Section 5.1 (Certificates for Shares), NSCC proposes to 
delete the reference to Assistant Treasurer from the list of authorized 
signatories because NSCC expects the Secretary or an Assistant 
Secretary (who are each currently listed as authorized signatories) to 
sign any share certificates.
7. Revise Compensation of Officers to Compensation of the President and 
Chief Executive Officer
    Current Section 3.12 (Compensation of Officers) would be revised to 
accurately reflect NSCC's compensation setting practices. Current 
Section 3.12 states that: (i) The compensation, if any, of the Chairman 
of the Board, and the President shall be fixed by a majority (which 
shall not include the Chairman of the Board or the President) of the 
entire Board of Directors and (ii) salaries of all other officers shall 
be fixed by the President with the approval of the Board and no officer 
shall be precluded from receiving a salary because he is also a 
director. Current Section 3.12 would be revised to state that the 
Compensation Committee of the Corporation will recommend the 
compensation for the President and Chief Executive Officer to the Board 
of Directors for approval because, pursuant to the DTCC/DTC/FICC/NSCC 
Compensation and Human Resources Committee Charter (``Compensation 
Committee Charter''), this is the process that is followed. In 
addition, NSCC also proposes to delete the language stating that 
salaries of all other officers shall be fixed by the President with 
approval of the Board and no officer shall be precluded from receiving 
a salary because he is also a director. NSCC believes the proposed 
changes are appropriate because they no longer reflect NSCC's 
compensation setting procedures. In addition, as noted above, 
references to Chairman of the Board would be deleted because the Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board does not receive compensation. 
Furthermore, the title of this section would be revised from 
Compensation of Officers to Compensation of the President and Chief 
Executive Officer because this section would no longer speak to the 
compensation of officers other than the President and CEO.
B. Technical Changes and Corrections
    NSCC has identified the following technical changes and/or 
corrections that it proposes to make to the By-Laws to enhance the 
clarity and readability of the By-Laws.
1. Delete Direct Reference to Statutes and Statutory Requirements
    NSCC would delete direct statutory references from the By-Laws as 
set forth below so that the By-Laws remain consistent and accurate 
despite any changes to a specifically cited statute. NSCC believes this 
proposed change would also provide NSCC with a broad base to act in 
accordance with relevant law without violating the By-Laws and thereby 
also provide NSCC with more flexibility. Specifically, NSCC proposes to 
make the following changes to the By-Laws:
    a. In current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings), regarding special 
meetings for the election of directors, the reference to the provisions 
of Section 603 of the New York Business Corporation Law would be 
deleted and the phrase ``or as required by law'' would be added.
    b. In current Section 1.4 (Notice of Meetings), regarding the 
composition of notices for shareholder meetings, the reference to the 
specific provisions and requirements of Section 623 of the New York 
Business Corporation Law would be deleted.
2. Technical Changes to Section Describing Audit Committee
    NSCC would revise current Section 2.10 (Audit Committee) to conform 
to the description of the Audit Committee in the by-laws of FICC 
because the composition of such committee is the same for DTC, FICC, 
and NSCC and therefore, NSCC believes the description of such committee 
should be consistent. Specifically, NSCC proposes to delete the phrase 
``appointed by the Board of Directors or directors, officers of 
employees of any shareholder of the'' and add the phrase ``or of The 
Depository Trust & Clearing'' in the first sentence as a conforming 
change and to be consistent with the by-laws of FICC.
3. Other Technical Changes and Corrections
    In addition to the technical changes proposed above, NSCC proposes 
to make the additional technical and grammatical changes described 
below.
    a. (i) In the headings for Articles II through VIII, each of 
``ARTICLE II,'' ``ARTICLE III,'' ``ARTICLE IV,'' ``ARTICLE V,'' 
``ARTICLE VI,'' ``ARTICLE VII,'' and ``ARTICLE VIII'' would be revised 
to boldfaced text to be consistent with Article I, (ii) in the headings 
for Articles I through II and Articles IV through VIII, each of the 
article titles would be revised from underlined text and/or boldfaced 
text to boldfaced text only to enhance readability and consistency, and 
(iii) in the headings for Article II, and Articles IV through VIII, a 
line space would be added before each article title to enhance 
readability and consistency.
    b. In current Sections 1.1 through 5.4, the section titles would be 
revised from underlined text to italicized text to enhance readability.
    c. In current Section 1.2 (Special Meetings), current Section 1.8 
(Presiding Officer and Secretary), current Section 2.6 (Meetings), 
current Section 3.1 (General Provisions), current Section 3.5 (Powers 
and Duties of Vice Presidents and Managing Directors), current Section 
3.6 (Powers and Duties of the Treasurer), current Section 3.12 
(Compensation of Officers), and current Section 5.1 (Certificates for 
Shares), conforming grammatical corrections would be made.
    d. Current Section 2.8 (Executive Committee) through current 
Section 2.11 (Compensation of and Loans to Directors) would be 
renumbered to reflect the addition of proposed Section 2.8 (Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board).
    e. In current Section 2.11 (Compensation of and Loans to 
Directors), ``form'' would be deleted and replaced with ``from'' to 
correct a typographical error.
    f. Current Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents and 
Managing Directors) through current Section 3.12 (Compensation of 
Officers) would be renumbered to reflect the addition of proposed 
Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the President and Chief Executive 
Officer) and proposed Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of the Chief 
Financial Officer) and the deletion of current Section 3.2 (Powers and 
Duties

[[Page 6638]]

of the Chairman of the Board), current Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties 
of the President), current Section 3.4 (Powers and Duties of the Chief 
Operating Officer) and current Section 3.8 (Powers and Duties of the 
Comptroller).
    g. In current Section 3.10 (Powers and Duties of Assistant 
Secretaries), ``powe rs'' would be deleted and replaced with ``powers'' 
to correct a typographical error.
    h. In current Section 4.1 (Directors and Officers), ``law'' would 
be deleted and replaced with ``Law'' to correct a typographical error.
    i. Proposed Article IX (Gender References) would be added to 
clarify that the By-Laws are intended to be gender neutral with any 
reference to one gender deemed to include the other.
Proposed Changes to the Rules
    NSCC proposes to add an addendum (Addendum V) to the Rules. 
Addendum V would be entitled ``By-Laws and Restated Certificate of 
Incorporation'' and would indicate that the By-Laws and the Certificate 
of Incorporation are incorporated by reference.
2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(A) of the Act requires, among other things, that 
a clearing agency is so organized to be able to facilitate the prompt 
and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions for 
which it is responsible.\7\ NSCC believes the (a) proposed changes to 
the By-Laws described above, and (b) incorporation by reference of the 
By-Laws and the Certificate of Incorporation in the Rules are 
consistent with this provision. Specifically, NSCC believes that the 
(1) change of title from Chairman of the Board to Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Board and changes to the related powers and duties, (2) 
addition of the office of the CEO, the combination of the offices of 
the President and CEO and changes to the related powers and duties, (3) 
addition of the office of the CFO and deletion of the office of the 
Comptroller, (4) change of title from Vice President to Executive 
Director and changes to the related powers and duties, (5) deletion of 
the office of the COO, (6) changes to the powers and duties of the 
Board, (7) changes to the powers and duties of Managing Directors, (8) 
changes to the powers and duties of Vice Chairman of the Corporation, 
(9) changes to the powers and duties of the Treasurer, and (10) changes 
to the powers and duties of the Assistant Treasurer are designed to 
facilitate the effective and efficient governance and operation of NSCC 
and accurately reflect NSCC's current Board and management structure. 
NSCC also believes the changes to the powers and duties of the Board 
and designated officer positions are appropriate and aligned with each 
role. Furthermore, these proposed changes are intended to promote 
additional clarity as to the responsibilities of the Board and certain 
designated officers. NSCC believes the proposed changes to the section 
describing the compensation of officers are designed to accurately 
reflect: (1) The process that is followed for setting compensation 
pursuant to the Compensation Committee Charter and (2) that the Non-
Executive Chairman of the Board does not receive compensation and would 
promote additional clarity as to the setting of compensation of the 
President and CEO and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. NSCC also 
believes the technical changes and corrections to the By-Laws would 
enhance clarity and transparency in NSCC's organizational documents. 
Similarly, NSCC believes incorporating the By-Laws and the Certificate 
of Incorporation into the Rules would enhance clarity and transparency 
regarding NSCC's organizational documents because these organizational 
documents would be expressly identified in the same document as the 
Rules to which Members are subject. Therefore, NSCC believes these 
proposed changes are consistent with the requirement that NSCC is so 
organized to facilitate the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions for which it is responsible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(1) under the Act requires a covered clearing agency 
to establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to provide for a well-founded, 
transparent and enforceable legal basis for each aspect of its 
activities in all relevant jurisdictions.\8\ NSCC believes the (1) 
proposed changes to the titles or offices and the related powers and 
duties of the Board and certain officers and (2) proposed technical 
changes and corrections to the By-Laws are designed to ensure that 
NSCC's organizational documents accurately describe NSCC's 
organizational structure and that such organizational documents remain 
clear, transparent, and consistent. Therefore, NSCC believes these 
proposed changes are consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(1) because they 
are designed to ensure that NSCC's organizational documents remain 
well-founded, transparent and enforceable in all relevant 
jurisdictions.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(1).
    \9\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(2) under the Act requires that NSCC establish, 
implement, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures to 
provide for governance arrangements that, among other things, (1) are 
clear and transparent, (2) support the public interest requirements in 
Section 17A of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78q-1) applicable to clearing 
agencies, and the objectives of owners and participants, and (3) 
specify clear and direct lines of responsibility.\10\ NSCC believes the 
(a) proposed changes to the By-Laws described above and (b) 
incorporation by reference of the By-Laws and the Certificate of 
Incorporation in the Rules are designed to be consistent with Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(2).\11\ Specifically, NSCC believes that the proposed 
changes to the By-Laws regarding the titles or offices and the related 
powers and duties of various officers and the Board would enhance 
clarity and transparency because they would clearly and accurately set 
forth the organizational structure of NSCC, including the roles and 
lines of responsibility of various officers and the Board. NSCC also 
believes the proposed changes relating to the section describing the 
compensation of officers would enhance clarity and transparency 
regarding its compensation setting procedures by (1) accurately 
reflecting the process that is followed pursuant to the Compensation 
Committee Charter and (2) clarifying that the Non-Executive Chairman of 
the Board does not receive compensation. The proposed technical changes 
and corrections to the By-Laws are also designed to enhance the 
clarity, transparency, and readability of the By-Laws. In addition, 
NSCC believes that incorporating the By-Laws and the Certificate of 
Incorporation into the Rules would enhance clarity and transparency as 
to NSCC's organizational documents because these organizational 
documents would be expressly identified in the same document as the 
Rules to which Members are subject. NSCC believes that, taken together, 
these proposed changes would facilitate the effective and efficient 
governance and operation of NSCC and therefore would enable NSCC to 
better serve its Members. As such, NSCC believes these proposed changes 
would also support the public interest requirements in Section 17A of 
the Act (15 U.S.C. 78q-1) applicable to clearing agencies, and the 
objectives of its owners and participants. Therefore,

[[Page 6639]]

NSCC believes these proposed rule changes are consistent with Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(2) because they are designed to enhance clarity and 
transparency in NSCC's governance arrangements, support the public 
interest requirements in Section 17A of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78q-1) 
applicable to clearing agencies, and the objectives of owners and 
participants, and specify clear and direct lines of responsibility for 
various officer positions and the Board within NSCC's organizational 
structure.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(2).
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change would have any 
impact on competition. The proposed rule change would amend the By-Laws 
to: (1) Accurately reflect NSCC's organizational structure and reflect 
changes to titles or offices and the related powers and duties of the 
Board and various designated officers, (2) accurately reflect (a) the 
process that is followed for setting compensation pursuant to the 
Compensation Committee Charter and (b) that the Non-Executive Chairman 
of the Board does not receive compensation, and (3) enhance the clarity 
and readability of the By-Laws by making technical changes and 
corrections. The proposal to incorporate by reference the By-Laws and 
the Certificate of Incorporation would further enhance clarity and 
transparency because these organizational documents would be expressly 
identified in the Rules to which Members are subject. NSCC does not 
believe that this proposal would affect any of its current practices 
regarding the rights or obligations of its Members. Therefore, NSCC 
believes that the proposal would not have any effect on its Members and 
thus, would not have any impact or burden on competition.

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

    NSCC has not received any written comments relating to this 
proposal. NSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments 
received by it.

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NSCC-2018-001 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-NSCC-2018-001. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of NSCC 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-NSCC-2018-001 and should be submitted on 
or before March 7, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-02987 Filed 2-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices                                                       6633

                                               19b–4(f)(2) 10 thereunder. At any time                    received will be posted without change.                  Rules 4 would also be amended to
                                               within 60 days of the filing of the                       Persons submitting comments are                          incorporate by reference the By-Laws
                                               proposed rule change, the Commission                      cautioned that we do not redact or edit                  and the Certificate of Incorporation of
                                               summarily may temporarily suspend                         personal identifying information from                    NSCC.
                                               such rule change if it appears to the                     comment submissions. You should
                                                                                                                                                                  II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                               Commission that such action is                            submit only information that you wish
                                               necessary or appropriate in the public                                                                             Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                                                                                         to make available publicly. All
                                               interest, for the protection of investors,                                                                         Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                         submissions should refer to File
                                               or otherwise in furtherance of the                        Number SR–MIAX–2018–02 and should                           In its filing with the Commission, the
                                               purposes of the Act. If the Commission                    be submitted on or before March 7,                       clearing agency included statements
                                               takes such action, the Commission shall                   2018.                                                    concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                               institute proceedings to determine                                                                                 the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                                                                           For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               whether the proposed rule should be                       Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated               any comments it received on the
                                               approved or disapproved.                                  authority.11                                             proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                                                                         Eduardo A. Aleman,                                       statements may be examined at the
                                               IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                                                                         Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                                  places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                 Interested persons are invited to                                                                                clearing agency has prepared
                                               submit written data, views, and                           [FR Doc. 2018–02986 Filed 2–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                  summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
                                               arguments concerning the foregoing,                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                  and C below, of the most significant
                                               including whether the proposed rule                                                                                aspects of such statements.
                                               change is consistent with the Act.
                                               Comments may be submitted by any of                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                  (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                               the following methods:                                    COMMISSION                                               Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                                                                                         [Release No. 34–82674; File No. SR–NSCC–                 Proposed Rule Change
                                               Electronic Comments
                                                                                                         2018–001]                                                1. Purpose
                                                 • Use the Commission’s internet
                                               comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                         Self-Regulatory Organizations;                              In NSCC’s review of the By-Laws,
                                               rules/sro.shtml); or                                      National Securities Clearing                             NSCC has identified and is proposing
                                                 • Send an email to rule-comments@                       Corporation; Notice of Filing of                         the following changes to the By-Laws:
                                               sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Proposed Rule Change To Amend the                        (i) Revising certain Board and
                                               MIAX–2018–02 on the subject line.                         By-Laws and Make Other Changes                           designated officer titles or offices and
                                                                                                                                                                  updating the related powers and duties,
                                               Paper Comments                                            February 8, 2018.                                        (ii) revising the section describing the
                                                  • Send paper comments in triplicate                       Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                   compensation of officers, and (iii)
                                               to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                     Securities Exchange Act of 1934                          making certain technical changes and
                                               Commission, 100 F Street NE,                              (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                  corrections. Specifically, regarding the
                                               Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                notice is hereby given that on February                  proposed changes to the Board and
                                               All submissions should refer to File                      2, 2018, National Securities Clearing                    designated officer titles or offices and
                                               Number SR–MIAX–2018–02. This file                         Corporation (‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the                    updating the related powers and duties,
                                               number should be included on the                          Securities and Exchange Commission                       NSCC is proposing to: (1) Change the
                                               subject line if email is used. To help the                (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                       title of Chairman of the Board to Non-
                                               Commission process and review your                        change as described in Items I, II and III               Executive Chairman of the Board and
                                               comments more efficiently, please use                     below, which Items have been prepared                    update the related powers and duties
                                               only one method. The Commission will                      by the clearing agency. The Commission                   associated with that role due to
                                               post all comments on the Commission’s                     is publishing this notice to solicit                     personnel changes in NSCC’s
                                               internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     comments on the proposed rule change                     management, (2) add the office of the
                                               rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           from interested persons.                                 Chief Executive Officer (‘‘CEO’’),
                                               submission, all subsequent                                I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the                    combine the office of the President and
                                               amendments, all written statements                        Terms of Substance of the Proposed                       the office of the Chief Executive Officer
                                               with respect to the proposed rule                         Rule Change                                              into one office (President and Chief
                                               change that are filed with the                                                                                     Executive Officer) and update the
                                               Commission, and all written                                  The proposed rule change would                        related powers and duties to reflect that
                                               communications relating to the                            amend the NSCC By-Laws (‘‘By-Laws’’)                     the two positions are now combined
                                               proposed rule change between the                          to (i) revise titles or offices and the                  and are held by one individual, (3) add
                                               Commission and any person, other than                     powers and duties of the Board of                        the office of the Chief Financial Officer
                                               those that may be withheld from the                       Directors (‘‘Board’’) and certain                        (‘‘CFO’’) and delete the office of the
                                               public in accordance with the                             designated officers of NSCC, (ii) revise                 Comptroller, (4) delete the office of the
                                               provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       the section describing the compensation                  Chief Operating Officer (‘‘COO’’), (5)
                                               available for website viewing and                         of officers, and (iii) make certain                      change the title of Vice President to
                                               printing in the Commission’s Public                       technical changes and corrections.3 The                  Executive Director and update the
                                               Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                            11 17
                                                                                                                                                                  related powers and duties, and (6) make
                                                                                                                  CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                               Washington, DC 20549, on official                                                                                  other changes related to certain powers
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                           1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                               business days between the hours of                           2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   and duties of the Board and various
                                               10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                       3 The By-Laws and the Certificate of

                                               filing also will be available for                         Incorporation would each be incorporated by              25, 1977), 42 FR 17928 (April 4, 1977) (SR–NSCC–
                                                                                                         reference into NSCC’s Rules & Procedures                 77–3).
                                               inspection and copying at the principal
                                                                                                         (‘‘Rules’’). No changes have been made to NSCC’s           4 The Rules are available at http://www.dtcc.com/
                                               office of the Exchange. All comments                      Certificate of Incorporation since the most recently     legal/rules-and-procedures. The By-Laws and the
                                                                                                         filed version of the Certificate of Incorporation. See   Certificate of Incorporation would be available at
                                                 10 17   CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                            Securities Exchange Act Release No. 13407 (March         http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.



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                                               6634                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices

                                               officers, including Managing Directors,                 the By-Laws to enumerate the powers                   Chairman of the Board. Such powers
                                               the Vice Chairman of the Corporation,                   and duties of the Non-Executive                       and duties include: (i) Presiding over
                                               the Treasurer and the Assistant                         Chairman of the Board. To implement                   the meetings of the stockholders and of
                                               Treasurer, as described in greater detail               this proposed change, NSCC would                      the Board at which he is present and (ii)
                                               below. NSCC is proposing to make these                  revise the By-Laws as described below.                such other powers and duties as the
                                               changes to the By-Laws so that the By-                     Certain references to either Chairman              Board may designate. This would be set
                                               Laws remain consistent and accurate                     or Chairman of the Board would be                     forth in proposed Section 2.8 (Non-
                                               and the governance documents                            revised to Non-Executive Chairman of                  Executive Chairman of the Board).
                                               accurately reflect its management and                   the Board in the sections of the By-Laws              Furthermore, as is similarly stated in
                                               organizational structure and the                        that would continue to apply to the                   current Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties
                                               responsibilities within the purview of                  Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.                  of the Chairman of the Board), proposed
                                               certain roles. NSCC believes these                      Specifically, the following changes                   Section 2.8 (Non-Executive Chairman of
                                               changes would facilitate the efficient                  would be made:                                        the Board) would state that the
                                               governance and operation of NSCC.                          a. In current Section 1.2 (Special                 ‘‘performance of any such duty by the
                                                 The Rules would also be amended to                    Meetings), the references to Chairman                 Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
                                               incorporate by reference the By-Laws                    would be revised to Non-Executive                     shall be conclusive evidence of his
                                               and Certificate of Incorporation of                     Chairman of the Board by adding the                   power to act.’’
                                               NSCC, as further described below. The                   word ‘‘Non-Executive’’ before the                        b. NSCC would also expressly include
                                               following describes the proposed                        second reference to Chairman in the                   in proposed Section 2.8 (Non-Executive
                                               changes to the By-Laws and the Rules.                   first sentence and the phrase ‘‘of the                Chairman of the Board) that the Non-
                                                                                                       Board’’ after such reference. In addition,            Executive Chairman of the Board has
                                               Proposed Changes to the By-Laws 5                       the phrase ‘‘by the Chairman’’ in the                 general supervision over the Board and
                                               A. Changes to Certain NSCC Board and                    first sentence of current Section 1.2                 its activities and would provide overall
                                               Designated Officer Titles or Offices and                (Special Meetings) would be deleted                   leadership to the Board. Consistent with
                                               Updates to the Related Powers and                       because it would be repetitive to the                 his authority to supervise and lead the
                                               Duties                                                  language that is currently included later             Board, NSCC proposes to assign the
                                                                                                       in this section.                                      responsibility for carrying out the
                                                 NSCC proposes to revise the titles or                    b. In current Section 1.8 (Presiding               policies of the Board of Directors to the
                                               offices and update the related powers                   Officer and Secretary), current Section               Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
                                               and duties of various designated officers               2.6 (Meetings), and current Section 5.1               rather than the President (as is provided
                                               and the Board, as further described                     (Certificates for Shares), the word ‘‘Non-            in current Section 3.3 (Powers and
                                               below.                                                  Executive’’ would be added before each                Duties of the President)). Furthermore,
                                               1. Change the Title of Chairman of the                  reference to the Chairman of the Board.               in current Section 3.6 (Powers and
                                               Board to Non-Executive Chairman of the                     Certain references to Chairman of the              Duties of the Secretary), the power to
                                               Board; Update the Powers and Duties of                  Board in the By-Laws would be deleted                 assign additional powers and duties to
                                               the Non-Executive Chairman of the                       because such references are in the                    the Secretary would be revised to
                                               Board                                                   sections of the By-Laws that only apply               replace the reference to President with
                                                                                                       to members of NSCC management.                        Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.
                                                  NSCC proposes to replace the title of
                                                                                                       Because the Non-Executive Chairman of                 NSCC believes this is an appropriate
                                               Chairman of the Board with the title
                                                                                                       the Board would not be a management                   responsibility for the Non-Executive
                                               Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
                                                                                                       position, such sections of the By-Laws                Chairman of the Board to have as part
                                               (‘‘Non-Executive Chairman of the
                                                                                                       would no longer be applicable.                        of his general supervision of the Board.
                                               Board’’). This change in title reflects                                                                          c. In addition, proposed Section 2.8
                                                                                                       Specifically, the following changes
                                               that this position is now held by an                                                                          (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board)
                                                                                                       would be made:
                                               individual who is not part of NSCC’s                       a. In current Section 3.1 (General                 would state that, in the absence of the
                                               management (i.e., a non-executive). In                  Provisions), Chairman of the Board                    Non-Executive Chairman of the Board,
                                               2016, NSCC made personnel changes.                      would be removed from the list of                     the presiding director, as elected by the
                                               As part of these personnel changes, the                 designated officers of NSCC.                          Board, shall preside at all meetings of
                                               individual who was serving as                              b. In current Section 3.12                         the stockholders and of the Board at
                                               Chairman of the Board and who was                       (Compensation of Officers), the                       which he or she is present. Current
                                               part of NSCC’s management at that time                  references to the Chairman of the Board               Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the
                                               became a non-executive. NSCC believed                   would also be deleted because the Non-                President) provides that, in the absence
                                               that it would be beneficial and desirable               Executive Chairman of the Board does                  or in ability of the Chairman of the
                                               to continue to have this individual serve               not receive compensation and because,                 Board, the President shall preside at all
                                               as chairman of the Board even though                    as further described below, this section              meetings of shareholders and all
                                               he is no longer part of NSCC’s                          would be revised to only address the                  meetings of the Board of Directors at
                                               management. Therefore, NSCC proposes                    setting of compensation for the                       which he is present. Pursuant to the
                                               to change the title of this position in the             President and CEO.                                    Board of Directors of The Depository
                                               By-Laws to Non-Executive Chairman of                       Current Section 3.2 (Powers and                    Trust & Clearing Corporation (‘‘DTCC’’),
                                               the Board to reflect that this position is              Duties of the Chairman of the Board)                  The Depository Trust Company
                                               held by a non-executive. NSCC believes                  would be deleted and replaced by                      (‘‘DTC’’), Fixed Income Clearing
                                               this proposed change would accurately                   proposed Section 2.8 (Non-Executive                   Corporation (‘‘FICC’’) and NSCC
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               reflect this organizational change.                     Chairman of the Board). Specifically,                 Mission Statement and Charter (‘‘Board
                                               Furthermore, NSCC proposes to revise                    the following changes would be made:                  Mission Statement and Charter’’), NSCC
                                                                                                          a. Certain powers and duties                       annually elects a presiding director to
                                                 5 NSCC last submitted a rule filing regarding
                                                                                                       prescribed to the Chairman of the Board               preside at meetings when the Non-
                                               changes to the By-Laws in 2006. See Securities
                                               Exchange Act Release No. 54173 (July 19, 2006), 71
                                                                                                       in current Section 3.2 (Powers and                    Executive Chairman of the Board is
                                               FR 42890 (July 28, 2006) (SR–DTC–2006–10, SR–           Duties of the Chairman of the Board)                  absent. As such, NSCC believes the
                                               FICC–2006–09, and SR–NSCC–2006–08).                     would remain with the Non-Executive                   proposed language described above


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices                                            6635

                                               would enhance accuracy by correcting                    current Section 3.7 (Powers and Duties                addition, because the office of the COO
                                               the inconsistency between the By-Laws                   of the Treasurer), and current Section                would be eliminated (as described
                                               and the Board Mission Statement and                     3.12 (Compensation of Officers), the                  further below), the responsibility of
                                               Charter.                                                words ‘‘and Chief Executive Officer’’                 general supervision over the operations
                                                  d. As further described below, in                    would be added after each reference to                of NSCC, which is designated to the
                                               proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and                        President.                                            COO role in current Section 3.4 (Powers
                                               Duties of the President and Chief                         b. In current Section 5.1 (Certificates             and Duties of the Chief Operating
                                               Executive Officer), the Non-Executive                   for Shares), the words ‘‘the President’’              Officer), would be assigned to the
                                               Chairman of the Board would have the                    would be deleted and replaced by the                  President and CEO.
                                               authority to designate powers and                       words ‘‘President and Chief Executive                   c. Proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and
                                               duties to the President and CEO. NSCC                   Officer.’’                                            Duties of the President and CEO) would
                                               believes this authority to designate                      c. Additionally, in current Section 1.2             state that the President and CEO would
                                               powers and duties to the President and                  (Special Meetings), the phrase ‘‘, or by              have such other powers and perform
                                               CEO is within the scope of the                          the President,’’ in the first sentence                such other duties as the Board or the
                                               supervisory role of the Non-Executive                   would be deleted because NSCC                         Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
                                               Chairman of the Board and therefore                     believes it is repetitive to language that            may designate. NSCC believes this
                                               proposes to revise the By-Laws to                       appears later in the section.                         generally aligns with current Section 3.3
                                               expressly state that the Non-Executive                    Furthermore, except as otherwise                    (Powers and Duties of the President).
                                               Chairman has this authority.                            described below, the responsibilities,                NSCC believes that providing the Non-
                                                  e. In current Section 3.5 (Powers and                duties and powers granted to the                      Executive Chairman of the Board with
                                               Duties of Vice Presidents and Managing                  President that are currently described in
                                                                                                                                                             this additional authority to designate
                                               Directors), NSCC would add the Non-                     the By-Laws would continue to remain
                                                                                                                                                             powers and duties to the President and
                                               Executive Chairman of the Board to the                  with the President and CEO. NSCC
                                                                                                                                                             CEO is within the scope of the
                                               list of individuals who have the power                  proposes to make the following changes
                                                                                                                                                             supervisory role of the Non-Executive
                                               to assign powers and duties to Managing                 to the By-Laws to reflect the updated
                                                                                                                                                             Chairman of the Board.
                                               Directors as well as make conforming                    responsibilities and powers and duties
                                                                                                       that are granted to the President and                   d. As noted above, certain powers and
                                               changes. NSCC believes this is an
                                                                                                       CEO:                                                  duties listed in current Section 3.3
                                               appropriate responsibility for the Non-
                                                                                                         a. A portion of current Section 3.3                 (Powers and Duties of the President)
                                               Executive Chairman of the Board to
                                                                                                       (Powers and Duties of the President)                  would be removed or assigned to
                                               have because he has general supervision
                                                                                                       would be deleted and replaced with                    another position. Specifically, as noted
                                               over the Board.
                                                                                                       proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and                      above, the responsibility for carrying out
                                               2. Add the Office of the CEO and                        Duties of the President and Chief                     the policies of the Board would be
                                               Combine the Office of the President and                 Executive Officer). The remaining                     assigned to the Non-Executive Chairman
                                               the Office of the CEO Into the Office of                portion of current Section 3.3 (Powers                of the Board rather than to the President
                                               the President and CEO; Update the                       and Duties of the President) would be                 and CEO. Additionally, the statement
                                               Related Powers and Duties                               included in proposed Section 3.2                      that ‘‘performance of any such duty by
                                                  NSCC proposes to add the office of                   (Powers and Duties of the President and               the President shall be conclusive
                                               the CEO and combine the office of the                   Chief Executive Officer).                             evidence of his power to act’’ that
                                               President and the office of the CEO into                  b. Current Section 3.3 (Powers and                  appears in current Section 3.3 (Powers
                                               one office (President and CEO) because                  Duties of the President) states that the              and Duties of the President) would be
                                               one individual is the President and                     President will have general supervision               removed as NSCC believes it would be
                                               CEO. NSCC proposes to revise the By-                    over the business and affairs of NSCC                 best practice to document specific
                                               Laws to reflect that one individual holds               subject to the direction of the Board.                designation of powers and/or duties
                                               the office of the President and CEO,                    Additionally, current Section 3.3                     made by the Board or Non-Executive
                                               including revising the list of designated               (Powers and Duties of the President)                  Chairman of the Board to the President
                                               officers in current Section 3.1 (General                states that the President may employ                  and CEO.
                                               Provisions) to include the President and                and discharge employees and agents of                   e. As described above, in current
                                               CEO. While current Section 3.3 (Powers                  NSCC, except such as shall be elected or              Section 3.6 (Powers and Duties of the
                                               and Duties of the President) provides                   appointed by the Board, and he may                    Secretary), the power to assign
                                               that the President shall be the chief                   delegate these powers. Similarly,                     additional powers and duties to the
                                               executive officer, current Section 3.1                  proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and                      Secretary would be removed from the
                                               (General Provisions) does not include                   Duties of the President and Chief                     President and granted to the Non-
                                               CEO in the list of designated officer                   Executive Officer) would state that the               Executive Chairman of the Board. NSCC
                                               positions (President is currently                       President and Chief Executive Officer                 believes this is an appropriate
                                               included in this list). As such, NSCC                   would have general supervision over the               responsibility for the Non-Executive
                                               would revise certain references in the                  overall business strategy, business                   Chairman of the Board to have as part
                                               By-Laws from President to President                     operations, systems, customer outreach,               of his general supervision of the Board.
                                               and Chief Executive Officer.                            and risk management, control and staff                  f. As described below, the President
                                               Specifically, NSCC proposes to make                     functions, subject to the direction of the            and Board currently have the authority
                                               the changes to the By-Laws that are                     Board and the Non-Executive Chairman                  to assign powers and duties to the
                                               described below.                                        of the Board. NSCC believes the                       Comptroller in current Section 3.8
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                                                  a. In current Section 1.2 (Special                   additional detail provided in proposed                (Powers and Duties of the Comptroller).
                                               Meetings), current Section 1.8                          Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the                 Similarly, proposed Section 3.5 (Powers
                                               (Presiding Officer and Secretary),                      President and CEO) would add clarity to               and Duties of the Chief Financial
                                               current Section 2.6 (Meetings), current                 the powers and duties associated with                 Officer) would provide that the CFO
                                               Section 3.1 (General Provisions), current               the role of President and Chief                       would perform such other duties as he
                                               Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of Vice                  Executive Officer and would be                        may agree with the President and CEO
                                               Presidents and Managing Directors),                     consistent with the combined role. In                 and the Board.


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                                               6636                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices

                                               3. Add the Office of the CFO; Delete of                 one. Specifically, NSCC would make the                power to appoint one or more Executive
                                               the Office of the Comptroller                           changes to the By-Laws described                      Directors.
                                                                                                       below.                                                  d. In current Section 3.5 (Powers and
                                                  NSCC would add the office of the
                                                                                                          a. In current Section 3.1 (General                 Duties of Vice Presidents and Managing
                                               CFO and assign to the CFO all of the
                                                                                                       Provisions), the COO would be removed                 Directors), all references to Vice
                                               powers and duties of the office of the
                                                                                                       from the list of designated officers of               President would be deleted. Section 3.5
                                               chief financial officer. The CFO would,
                                                                                                       NSCC.                                                 (Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents
                                               in general, have overall supervision of
                                                                                                          b. Current Section 3.4 (Powers and                 and Managing Directors) currently states
                                               the financial operations of NSCC.
                                                                                                       Duties of the Chief Operating Officer)                that Vice Presidents and Managing
                                               Furthermore, references to the office of                                                                      Directors have such powers and perform
                                               the Comptroller would be deleted.                       would be deleted, which, with the
                                                                                                       elimination of the office of the COO,                 such duties as the Board or the
                                               NSCC does not currently have a                                                                                President may assign to them.6 Because
                                               Comptroller nor does NSCC plan to                       would no longer be necessary. The
                                                                                                       power and duty prescribed to this                     individuals with the title of Executive
                                               appoint one. Therefore, NSCC believes                                                                         Director report to Managing Directors,
                                               it would be more accurate to remove all                 position (general supervision over the
                                                                                                       operations of NSCC) would be assigned                 NSCC believes the reference to Vice
                                               references to such position in the By-                                                                        President in this section would not be
                                               Laws. Specifically, NSCC would revise                   to the President and CEO in proposed
                                                                                                       Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties of the                 necessary.
                                               the By-Laws as described below.                                                                                 e. In current Section 5.1 (Certificates
                                                  a. In current Section 3.1 (General                   President and Chief Executive Officer),
                                                                                                       as described above.                                   for Shares), the reference to Vice
                                               Provisions), CFO would be added and                                                                           President would be removed because
                                               Comptroller would be removed from the                   5. Change the Title of Vice President to              Vice Presidents are no longer authorized
                                               list of designated officers of NSCC.                    Executive Director; Update the Related                to sign share certificates. As described
                                                  b. NSCC would add proposed Section                   Powers and Duties                                     above, NSCC decided that they do not
                                               3.5 (Powers and Duties of the Chief                                                                           have sufficient seniority to do so.
                                               Financial Officer). This proposed                          NSCC proposes to change the title of
                                               section would enumerate the powers                      Vice President to Executive Director and              6. Other Changes to the Powers and
                                               and duties of the CFO. It would state                   update the related powers and duties.                 Duties of the Board and Certain Other
                                               that the CFO would have overall                         NSCC believes these changes are                       Designated Officers
                                               supervision of the financial operations                 necessary because NSCC has decided                    Managing Directors
                                               of NSCC and upon request, would                         that the title of Executive Director is
                                                                                                       more widely used in the financial                       a. In Section 1.8 (Presiding Officer
                                               counsel and advise other officers of                                                                          and Secretary), the reference to the
                                               NSCC and perform other duties as                        services industry for roles similar to
                                                                                                       those designated as Vice Presidents. In               Managing Director would be removed
                                               agreed with the President and CEO or as                                                                       because NSCC believes a Managing
                                               determined by the Board. NSCC believes                  NSCC’s organizational structure,
                                                                                                       Executive Directors report to Managing                Director should not preside over a
                                               these powers and duties are appropriate                                                                       shareholder meeting unless specifically
                                               for the newly created role of CFO.                      Directors. As such, it was decided that
                                                                                                       Executive Directors do not have                       designated to do so by the Board.
                                               Proposed Section 3.5 (Powers and                                                                                b. In current Section 2.6 (Meetings),
                                               Duties of the Chief Financial Officer)                  sufficient seniority to call special
                                                                                                       meetings of shareholders, to preside                  the proposal would add Managing
                                               would also state that the CFO would                                                                           Directors to the list of officers
                                               report directly to the President and                    over shareholder meetings unless
                                                                                                       specifically designated to do so by the               authorized to call special meetings of
                                               CEO. NSCC believes it is appropriate for                                                                      the Board. NSCC believes this proposed
                                               the CFO to report to the President and                  Board, or to sign share certificates.
                                                                                                       NSCC proposes to make the following                   change would provide NSCC’s
                                               CEO and to specify this clear line of                                                                         management with additional flexibility
                                               responsibility in the By-Laws.                          changes to the By-Laws to reflect the
                                                                                                       change in the title from Vice President               by enabling additional persons within
                                                  c. Furthermore, proposed Section 3.6                                                                       senior management to call special
                                               (Powers and Duties of the Treasurer)                    to Executive Director and to update the
                                                                                                       related powers and duties.                            meetings of the Board.
                                               would also be revised to state that the
                                               Treasurer shall have all such powers                       a. In current Section 1.2 (Special                 Vice Chairman of the Corporation
                                               and duties as generally are incident to                 Meetings), the proposed rule change                     As described below, a parenthetical
                                               the position of Treasurer or as the CFO                 would remove Vice Presidents from the                 phrase would be added in current
                                               (in addition to the President and CEO                   list of officers authorized to call special           Section 3.1 (General Provisions)
                                               and the Board) may assign to him.                       meetings of shareholders. NSCC                        explaining that the Board’s power to
                                               Because the Treasurer directly reports to               believes that Vice Presidents do not                  appoint other offices includes, but is not
                                               the CFO, NSCC believes it is appropriate                have sufficient seniority to call special             limited to, the power to appoint a Vice
                                               for the CFO to assign powers and duties                 meetings of shareholders.                             Chairman of the Corporation.
                                               to the Treasurer.                                          b. In current Section 1.8 (Presiding
                                                  d. NSCC would delete current Section                 Officer and Secretary), Vice President                Board
                                               3.8 (Powers and Duties of the                           would be removed. NSCC believes that                    a. In current Section 3.1 (General
                                               Comptroller), which, with the                           a Vice President should not preside over              Provisions), NSCC proposes to add a
                                               elimination of the office of the                        a shareholder meeting unless                          parenthetical phrase explaining that the
                                               Comptroller, would no longer be                         specifically designated to do so by the               Board’s power to appoint other officers
                                               necessary.                                              Board.                                                includes, but is not limited to, the
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                                                                                                          c. In current Section 3.1 (General                 power to appoint a Vice Chairman of the
                                               4. Delete the Office of the COO                         Provisions), Vice Presidents would be
                                                 NSCC would also delete references to                  removed from the list of designated                     6 With this proposal, this reference to President

                                               the designated office of the COO in the                 officers of NSCC. As described below, a               would be revised to President and CEO, and the
                                                                                                                                                             Non-Executive Chairman of the Board would be
                                               By-Laws. NSCC believes this change is                   parenthetical phrase would be added                   added so the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
                                               necessary because NSCC no longer has                    explaining that the Board’s power to                  would also be able to assign powers and duties to
                                               a COO nor does NSCC plan to appoint                     appoint other officers includes the                   the Managing Directors.



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices                                             6637

                                               Corporation and one or more Executive                   and no officer shall be precluded from                employees of any shareholder of the’’
                                               Directors to enhance clarity.                           receiving a salary because he is also a               and add the phrase ‘‘or of The
                                                 b. Additionally, in current Section 3.1               director. NSCC believes the proposed                  Depository Trust & Clearing’’ in the first
                                               (General Provisions), regarding the                     changes are appropriate because they no               sentence as a conforming change and to
                                               ability of any one person to hold more                  longer reflect NSCC’s compensation                    be consistent with the by-laws of FICC.
                                               than one office, NSCC proposes to                       setting procedures. In addition, as noted
                                               enhance and clarify the exception by                                                                          3. Other Technical Changes and
                                                                                                       above, references to Chairman of the
                                               specifying that neither the Secretary nor                                                                     Corrections
                                                                                                       Board would be deleted because the
                                               any Assistant Secretary can hold the                    Non-Executive Chairman of the Board                      In addition to the technical changes
                                               following offices: (1) Vice Chairman of                 does not receive compensation.                        proposed above, NSCC proposes to
                                               the Corporation or (2) President and                    Furthermore, the title of this section                make the additional technical and
                                               CEO. NSCC believes this proposed                        would be revised from Compensation of                 grammatical changes described below.
                                               change is necessary to ensure that the                  Officers to Compensation of the                          a. (i) In the headings for Articles II
                                               Secretary and any Assistant Secretary                   President and Chief Executive Officer                 through VIII, each of ‘‘ARTICLE II,’’
                                               would not hold those positions.                         because this section would no longer                  ‘‘ARTICLE III,’’ ‘‘ARTICLE IV,’’
                                                                                                       speak to the compensation of officers                 ‘‘ARTICLE V,’’ ‘‘ARTICLE VI,’’
                                               Treasurer                                                                                                     ‘‘ARTICLE VII,’’ and ‘‘ARTICLE VIII’’
                                                                                                       other than the President and CEO.
                                                 In current Section 5.1 (Certificates for                                                                    would be revised to boldfaced text to be
                                               Shares), NSCC proposes to delete the                    B. Technical Changes and Corrections                  consistent with Article I, (ii) in the
                                               reference to Treasurer from the list of                   NSCC has identified the following                   headings for Articles I through II and
                                               authorized signatories because NSCC                     technical changes and/or corrections                  Articles IV through VIII, each of the
                                               expects the Secretary or an Assistant                   that it proposes to make to the By-Laws               article titles would be revised from
                                               Secretary (who are each currently listed                to enhance the clarity and readability of             underlined text and/or boldfaced text to
                                               as authorized signatories) to sign any                  the By-Laws.                                          boldfaced text only to enhance
                                               share certificates.                                                                                           readability and consistency, and (iii) in
                                                                                                       1. Delete Direct Reference to Statutes                the headings for Article II, and Articles
                                               Assistant Treasurer                                     and Statutory Requirements                            IV through VIII, a line space would be
                                                 In current Section 5.1 (Certificates for                 NSCC would delete direct statutory                 added before each article title to
                                               Shares), NSCC proposes to delete the                    references from the By-Laws as set forth              enhance readability and consistency.
                                               reference to Assistant Treasurer from                   below so that the By-Laws remain                         b. In current Sections 1.1 through 5.4,
                                               the list of authorized signatories because              consistent and accurate despite any                   the section titles would be revised from
                                               NSCC expects the Secretary or an                        changes to a specifically cited statute.              underlined text to italicized text to
                                               Assistant Secretary (who are each                       NSCC believes this proposed change                    enhance readability.
                                               currently listed as authorized                          would also provide NSCC with a broad                     c. In current Section 1.2 (Special
                                               signatories) to sign any share                          base to act in accordance with relevant               Meetings), current Section 1.8
                                               certificates.                                           law without violating the By-Laws and                 (Presiding Officer and Secretary),
                                                                                                       thereby also provide NSCC with more                   current Section 2.6 (Meetings), current
                                               7. Revise Compensation of Officers to
                                                                                                       flexibility. Specifically, NSCC proposes              Section 3.1 (General Provisions), current
                                               Compensation of the President and
                                                                                                       to make the following changes to the By-              Section 3.5 (Powers and Duties of Vice
                                               Chief Executive Officer
                                                                                                       Laws:                                                 Presidents and Managing Directors),
                                                  Current Section 3.12 (Compensation                      a. In current Section 1.2 (Special                 current Section 3.6 (Powers and Duties
                                               of Officers) would be revised to                        Meetings), regarding special meetings                 of the Treasurer), current Section 3.12
                                               accurately reflect NSCC’s compensation                  for the election of directors, the                    (Compensation of Officers), and current
                                               setting practices. Current Section 3.12                 reference to the provisions of Section                Section 5.1 (Certificates for Shares),
                                               states that: (i) The compensation, if any,              603 of the New York Business                          conforming grammatical corrections
                                               of the Chairman of the Board, and the                   Corporation Law would be deleted and                  would be made.
                                               President shall be fixed by a majority                  the phrase ‘‘or as required by law’’                     d. Current Section 2.8 (Executive
                                               (which shall not include the Chairman                   would be added.                                       Committee) through current Section
                                               of the Board or the President) of the                      b. In current Section 1.4 (Notice of               2.11 (Compensation of and Loans to
                                               entire Board of Directors and (ii) salaries             Meetings), regarding the composition of               Directors) would be renumbered to
                                               of all other officers shall be fixed by the             notices for shareholder meetings, the                 reflect the addition of proposed Section
                                               President with the approval of the Board                reference to the specific provisions and              2.8 (Non-Executive Chairman of the
                                               and no officer shall be precluded from                  requirements of Section 623 of the New                Board).
                                               receiving a salary because he is also a                 York Business Corporation Law would                      e. In current Section 2.11
                                               director. Current Section 3.12 would be                 be deleted.                                           (Compensation of and Loans to
                                               revised to state that the Compensation                                                                        Directors), ‘‘form’’ would be deleted and
                                               Committee of the Corporation will                       2. Technical Changes to Section                       replaced with ‘‘from’’ to correct a
                                               recommend the compensation for the                      Describing Audit Committee                            typographical error.
                                               President and Chief Executive Officer to                   NSCC would revise current Section                     f. Current Section 3.5 (Powers and
                                               the Board of Directors for approval                     2.10 (Audit Committee) to conform to                  Duties of Vice Presidents and Managing
                                               because, pursuant to the DTCC/DTC/                      the description of the Audit Committee                Directors) through current Section 3.12
                                               FICC/NSCC Compensation and Human                        in the by-laws of FICC because the                    (Compensation of Officers) would be
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                                               Resources Committee Charter                             composition of such committee is the                  renumbered to reflect the addition of
                                               (‘‘Compensation Committee Charter’’),                   same for DTC, FICC, and NSCC and                      proposed Section 3.2 (Powers and
                                               this is the process that is followed. In                therefore, NSCC believes the description              Duties of the President and Chief
                                               addition, NSCC also proposes to delete                  of such committee should be consistent.               Executive Officer) and proposed Section
                                               the language stating that salaries of all               Specifically, NSCC proposes to delete                 3.5 (Powers and Duties of the Chief
                                               other officers shall be fixed by the                    the phrase ‘‘appointed by the Board of                Financial Officer) and the deletion of
                                               President with approval of the Board                    Directors or directors, officers of                   current Section 3.2 (Powers and Duties


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                                               6638                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices

                                               of the Chairman of the Board), current                    accurately reflect NSCC’s current Board               enforceable in all relevant
                                               Section 3.3 (Powers and Duties of the                     and management structure. NSCC also                   jurisdictions.9
                                               President), current Section 3.4 (Powers                   believes the changes to the powers and                   Rule 17Ad–22(e)(2) under the Act
                                               and Duties of the Chief Operating                         duties of the Board and designated                    requires that NSCC establish,
                                               Officer) and current Section 3.8 (Powers                  officer positions are appropriate and                 implement, maintain and enforce
                                               and Duties of the Comptroller).                           aligned with each role. Furthermore,                  written policies and procedures to
                                                  g. In current Section 3.10 (Powers and                 these proposed changes are intended to                provide for governance arrangements
                                               Duties of Assistant Secretaries), ‘‘powe                  promote additional clarity as to the                  that, among other things, (1) are clear
                                               rs’’ would be deleted and replaced with                   responsibilities of the Board and certain             and transparent, (2) support the public
                                               ‘‘powers’’ to correct a typographical                     designated officers. NSCC believes the                interest requirements in Section 17A of
                                               error.                                                    proposed changes to the section                       the Act (15 U.S.C. 78q–1) applicable to
                                                  h. In current Section 4.1 (Directors                   describing the compensation of officers               clearing agencies, and the objectives of
                                               and Officers), ‘‘law’’ would be deleted                   are designed to accurately reflect: (1)               owners and participants, and (3) specify
                                               and replaced with ‘‘Law’’ to correct a                    The process that is followed for setting              clear and direct lines of responsibility.10
                                               typographical error.                                      compensation pursuant to the                          NSCC believes the (a) proposed changes
                                                  i. Proposed Article IX (Gender                         Compensation Committee Charter and                    to the By-Laws described above and (b)
                                               References) would be added to clarify                     (2) that the Non-Executive Chairman of                incorporation by reference of the By-
                                               that the By-Laws are intended to be                       the Board does not receive                            Laws and the Certificate of
                                               gender neutral with any reference to one                  compensation and would promote                        Incorporation in the Rules are designed
                                               gender deemed to include the other.                       additional clarity as to the setting of               to be consistent with Rule 17Ad–
                                               Proposed Changes to the Rules                             compensation of the President and CEO                 22(e)(2).11 Specifically, NSCC believes
                                                                                                         and Non-Executive Chairman of the                     that the proposed changes to the By-
                                                 NSCC proposes to add an addendum                                                                              Laws regarding the titles or offices and
                                                                                                         Board. NSCC also believes the technical
                                               (Addendum V) to the Rules. Addendum                                                                             the related powers and duties of various
                                                                                                         changes and corrections to the By-Laws
                                               V would be entitled ‘‘By-Laws and                                                                               officers and the Board would enhance
                                                                                                         would enhance clarity and transparency
                                               Restated Certificate of Incorporation’’                                                                         clarity and transparency because they
                                                                                                         in NSCC’s organizational documents.
                                               and would indicate that the By-Laws                                                                             would clearly and accurately set forth
                                                                                                         Similarly, NSCC believes incorporating
                                               and the Certificate of Incorporation are                                                                        the organizational structure of NSCC,
                                                                                                         the By-Laws and the Certificate of
                                               incorporated by reference.                                                                                      including the roles and lines of
                                                                                                         Incorporation into the Rules would
                                               2. Statutory Basis                                        enhance clarity and transparency                      responsibility of various officers and the
                                                                                                         regarding NSCC’s organizational                       Board. NSCC also believes the proposed
                                                  Section 17A(b)(3)(A) of the Act                                                                              changes relating to the section
                                               requires, among other things, that a                      documents because these organizational
                                                                                                         documents would be expressly                          describing the compensation of officers
                                               clearing agency is so organized to be                                                                           would enhance clarity and transparency
                                               able to facilitate the prompt and                         identified in the same document as the
                                                                                                         Rules to which Members are subject.                   regarding its compensation setting
                                               accurate clearance and settlement of                                                                            procedures by (1) accurately reflecting
                                               securities transactions for which it is                   Therefore, NSCC believes these
                                                                                                         proposed changes are consistent with                  the process that is followed pursuant to
                                               responsible.7 NSCC believes the (a)                                                                             the Compensation Committee Charter
                                               proposed changes to the By-Laws                           the requirement that NSCC is so
                                                                                                         organized to facilitate the prompt and                and (2) clarifying that the Non-
                                               described above, and (b) incorporation                                                                          Executive Chairman of the Board does
                                               by reference of the By-Laws and the                       accurate clearance and settlement of
                                                                                                                                                               not receive compensation. The proposed
                                               Certificate of Incorporation in the Rules                 securities transactions for which it is
                                                                                                                                                               technical changes and corrections to the
                                               are consistent with this provision.                       responsible.
                                                                                                                                                               By-Laws are also designed to enhance
                                               Specifically, NSCC believes that the (1)                     Rule 17Ad–22(e)(1) under the Act                   the clarity, transparency, and readability
                                               change of title from Chairman of the                      requires a covered clearing agency to                 of the By-Laws. In addition, NSCC
                                               Board to Non-Executive Chairman of the                    establish, implement, maintain and                    believes that incorporating the By-Laws
                                               Board and changes to the related powers                   enforce written policies and procedures               and the Certificate of Incorporation into
                                               and duties, (2) addition of the office of                 reasonably designed to provide for a                  the Rules would enhance clarity and
                                               the CEO, the combination of the offices                   well-founded, transparent and                         transparency as to NSCC’s
                                               of the President and CEO and changes                      enforceable legal basis for each aspect of            organizational documents because these
                                               to the related powers and duties, (3)                     its activities in all relevant                        organizational documents would be
                                               addition of the office of the CFO and                     jurisdictions.8 NSCC believes the (1)                 expressly identified in the same
                                               deletion of the office of the Comptroller,                proposed changes to the titles or offices             document as the Rules to which
                                               (4) change of title from Vice President                   and the related powers and duties of the              Members are subject. NSCC believes
                                               to Executive Director and changes to the                  Board and certain officers and (2)                    that, taken together, these proposed
                                               related powers and duties, (5) deletion                   proposed technical changes and                        changes would facilitate the effective
                                               of the office of the COO, (6) changes to                  corrections to the By-Laws are designed               and efficient governance and operation
                                               the powers and duties of the Board, (7)                   to ensure that NSCC’s organizational                  of NSCC and therefore would enable
                                               changes to the powers and duties of                       documents accurately describe NSCC’s                  NSCC to better serve its Members. As
                                               Managing Directors, (8) changes to the                    organizational structure and that such                such, NSCC believes these proposed
                                               powers and duties of Vice Chairman of                     organizational documents remain clear,                changes would also support the public
                                               the Corporation, (9) changes to the                       transparent, and consistent. Therefore,               interest requirements in Section 17A of
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                                               powers and duties of the Treasurer, and                   NSCC believes these proposed changes                  the Act (15 U.S.C. 78q–1) applicable to
                                               (10) changes to the powers and duties of                  are consistent with Rule 17Ad–22(e)(1)                clearing agencies, and the objectives of
                                               the Assistant Treasurer are designed to                   because they are designed to ensure that              its owners and participants. Therefore,
                                               facilitate the effective and efficient                    NSCC’s organizational documents
                                               governance and operation of NSCC and                      remain well-founded, transparent and                    9 Id.
                                                                                                                                                                 10 17    CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(2).
                                                 7 15   U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(A).                             8 17   CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(1).                         11 Id.




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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2018 / Notices                                                   6639

                                               NSCC believes these proposed rule                       to be appropriate and publishes its                   information that you wish to make
                                               changes are consistent with Rule 17Ad–                  reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which            available publicly. All submissions
                                               22(e)(2) because they are designed to                   the self-regulatory organization                      should refer to File Number SR–NSCC–
                                               enhance clarity and transparency in                     consents, the Commission will:                        2018–001 and should be submitted on
                                               NSCC’s governance arrangements,                           (A) By order approve or disapprove                  or before March 7, 2018.
                                               support the public interest requirements                such proposed rule change, or                           For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               in Section 17A of the Act (15 U.S.C.                      (B) institute proceedings to determine              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                               78q–1) applicable to clearing agencies,                 whether the proposed rule change                      authority.13
                                               and the objectives of owners and                        should be disapproved.                                Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               participants, and specify clear and                     IV. Solicitation of Comments                          Assistant Secretary.
                                               direct lines of responsibility for various                                                                    [FR Doc. 2018–02987 Filed 2–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                               officer positions and the Board within                    Interested persons are invited to
                                               NSCC’s organizational structure.12                      submit written data, views and                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P

                                                                                                       arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                               (B) Clearing Agency’s Statement on                      including whether the proposed rule
                                               Burden on Competition                                   change is consistent with the Act.                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                       Comments may be submitted by any of                   COMMISSION
                                                  NSCC does not believe that the
                                               proposed rule change would have any                     the following methods:                                [Release No. 34–82671; File No. SR–DTC–
                                               impact on competition. The proposed                                                                           2018–001]
                                                                                                       Electronic Comments
                                               rule change would amend the By-Laws
                                               to: (1) Accurately reflect NSCC’s                         • Use the Commission’s internet                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                               organizational structure and reflect                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     Depository Trust Company; Notice of
                                               changes to titles or offices and the                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                  Filing of Proposed Rule Change To
                                               related powers and duties of the Board                    • Send an email to rule-comments@                   Amend the By-Laws
                                               and various designated officers, (2)                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                                                                                                                             February 8, 2018.
                                               accurately reflect (a) the process that is              NSCC–2018–001 on the subject line.
                                                                                                                                                                Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                               followed for setting compensation                       Paper Comments                                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                               pursuant to the Compensation                               • Send paper comments in triplicate                (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                               Committee Charter and (b) that the Non-                 to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                 notice is hereby given that on February
                                               Executive Chairman of the Board does                    Commission, 100 F Street NE,                          2, 2018, The Depository Trust Company
                                               not receive compensation, and (3)                       Washington, DC 20549.                                 (‘‘DTC’’) filed with the Securities and
                                               enhance the clarity and readability of                                                                        Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)
                                                                                                       All submissions should refer to File
                                               the By-Laws by making technical                                                                               the proposed rule change as described
                                                                                                       Number SR–NSCC–2018–001. This file
                                               changes and corrections. The proposal                                                                         in Items I, II and III below, which Items
                                                                                                       number should be included on the
                                               to incorporate by reference the By-Laws                                                                       have been prepared by the clearing
                                                                                                       subject line if email is used. To help the
                                               and the Certificate of Incorporation                                                                          agency. The Commission is publishing
                                                                                                       Commission process and review your
                                               would further enhance clarity and                                                                             this notice to solicit comments on the
                                                                                                       comments more efficiently, please use
                                               transparency because these                                                                                    proposed rule change from interested
                                                                                                       only one method. The Commission will
                                               organizational documents would be                                                                             persons.
                                                                                                       post all comments on the Commission’s
                                               expressly identified in the Rules to
                                                                                                       internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                 I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                               which Members are subject. NSCC does
                                                                                                       rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       Terms of Substance of the Proposed
                                               not believe that this proposal would
                                                                                                       submission, all subsequent                            Rule Change
                                               affect any of its current practices
                                                                                                       amendments, all written statements                       The proposed rule change would
                                               regarding the rights or obligations of its
                                                                                                       with respect to the proposed rule                     amend the DTC By-Laws (‘‘By-Laws’’) 3
                                               Members. Therefore, NSCC believes that
                                                                                                       change that are filed with the                        to (i) make changes to DTC’s governance
                                               the proposal would not have any effect
                                                                                                       Commission, and all written                           procedures, (ii) revise certain DTC
                                               on its Members and thus, would not
                                                                                                       communications relating to the                        Board of Directors (‘‘Board’’) and
                                               have any impact or burden on
                                                                                                       proposed rule change between the                      designated officer titles or offices and
                                               competition.
                                                                                                       Commission and any person, other than                 update the related powers and duties,
                                               (C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on                      those that may be withheld from the                   (iii) revise the section describing the
                                               Comments on the Proposed Rule                           public in accordance with the                         compensation of officers, and (iv) make
                                               Change Received From Members,                           provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   certain other technical changes and
                                               Participants, or Others                                 available for website viewing and                     corrections.
                                                 NSCC has not received any written                     printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                       Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                      II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                               comments relating to this proposal.                                                                           Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                               NSCC will notify the Commission of any                  Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                                                                       business days between the hours of                    Proposed Rule Change
                                               written comments received by it.
                                                                                                       10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                   In its filing with the Commission, the
                                               III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       filing also will be available for                     clearing agency included statements
                                               Proposed Rule Change, and Timing for                    inspection and copying at the principal               concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                               Commission Action                                       office of NSCC and on DTCC’s website                  the proposed rule change and discussed
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                                                  Within 45 days of the date of                        (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-
                                               publication of this notice in the Federal               filings.aspx). All comments received                    13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                                                                               1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                               Register or within such longer period                   will be posted without change. Persons
                                                                                                                                                               2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                               up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may                 submitting comments are cautioned that                  3 The By-Laws are included in the Rules, By-Laws
                                               designate if it finds such longer period                we do not redact or edit personal                     and Organization Certificate of DTC (‘‘Rules’’),
                                                                                                       identifying information from comment                  available at http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-
                                                 12 Id.                                                submissions. You should submit only                   procedures.



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Document Created: 2018-02-14 03:59:09
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 03:59:09
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 6633 

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