Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing of Advance Notice, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, Concerning the Adoption of a New Minimum Cash Requirement for the Clearing Fund, 59031-59035 [2017-26913]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– MIAX–2017–18 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–MIAX–2017–18. 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 (https://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 the Exchange. 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–MIAX–2017–18, and should be submitted on or before January 4, 2018. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.100 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES [FR Doc. 2017–27016 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 100 17 21:28 Dec 13, 2017 [Release No. 34–82247; File No. SR–OCC– 2017–808] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing of Advance Notice, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, Concerning the Adoption of a New Minimum Cash Requirement for the Clearing Fund December 8, 2017. Pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of Title VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, entitled Payment, Clearing and Settlement Supervision Act of 2010 (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4(n)(1)(i) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),2 notice is hereby given that on November 14, 2017, The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an advance notice as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by OCC. On November 22, 2017, OCC filed Amendment No. 1 to the advance notice.3 The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the advance notice from interested persons. I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Advance Notice This advance notice is filed in connection with a proposed change would (1) revise OCC’s By-Laws to adopt a new minimum cash requirement for the Clearing Fund; (2) revise OCC’s By-Laws to provide for the pass-through of interest earned on Clearing Fund cash held in OCC’s Federal Reserve bank account; (3) enact changes to OCC’s Fee Policy that reflect the pass through of interest earned on Clearing Fund cash held in OCC’s Federal Reserve bank account; and (4) make certain conforming changes to OCC’s Rules and By-Laws to affect the aforementioned changes. The proposed changes to OCC’s ByLaws and Rules were submitted as Exhibits 5A and 5B of the filing, and OCC’s Fee Policy was submitted as 1 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1). CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i). 3 In Amendment No. 1, OCC modified the proposed change to Article VIII, Section 4(a) of the By-Laws to clarify that interest earned on Clearing Fund cash deposits held at a Federal Reserve Bank accruing to the benefit of Clearing Members would be calculated daily based on each Clearing Member’s pro rata share of Clearing Fund cash. OCC did not propose any other changes to the filing in Amendment No. 1. 2 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00240 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59031 confidential Exhibit 5C of the filing.4 The proposed change is described in detail in Item 10 below. All terms with initial capitalization not defined herein have the same meaning as set forth in OCC’s By-Laws and Rules.5 II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Advance Notice In its filing with the Commission, OCC included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the advance notice and discussed any comments it received on the advance notice. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. OCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A and B below, of the most significant aspects of these statements. (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement on Comments on the Advance Notice Received From Members, Participants or Others Written comments were not and are not intended to be solicited with respect to the proposed rule change and none have been received. OCC will notify the Commission of any written comments received by OCC. (B) Advance Notices Filed Pursuant to Section 806(e) of the Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act Description of the Proposed Change OCC proposes to establish a minimum cash contribution requirement for its Clearing Fund in order to increase the amount of qualifying liquid resources available to OCC to account for extreme scenarios that may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC’s current Cover 1 liquidity resources, as calculated under the current historically-based methodology, and provide for a more consistent level of cash resources in its available prefunded financial resources. The proposed rule change also would provide for the pass-through of interest income earned on such deposits to its Clearing Members. OCC’s current practices and the proposed changes to such practices are described in more detail below. Current Practice Presently, Article VIII, Section 3(a) of OCC’s By-Laws provides that Clearing Fund contributions shall be in the form of cash and Government securities, but neither OCC’s By-Laws nor Rules 4 OCC has filed a proposed rule change with the Commission in connection with the proposed change. See SR–OCC–2017–019. 5 OCC’s By-Laws and Rules can be found on OCC’s public website: https://optionsclearing.com/ about/publications/bylaws.jsp. E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1 59032 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices provides a minimum cash requirement for contributions in the Clearing Fund. Article VIII, Section 4(a) of OCC’s ByLaws allows for OCC to invest cash contributions to the Clearing Fund, partially or wholly, in OCC’s account in Government securities, and to the extent that such contributions are not so invested they shall be deposited by OCC in a separate account or accounts for Clearing Fund contributions in approved custodians. Article VIII, Section 4(a) of OCC’s By-Laws, however, presently does not account for the treatment of interest earned on cash deposits held in the OCC’s Federal Reserve bank account. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Proposed Change 1. Minimum Cash Clearing Fund Requirement OCC proposes to establish a minimum cash contribution requirement for its Clearing Fund in order to increase the amount of highly liquid resources available to OCC to account for extreme scenarios that may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC’s current Cover 1 liquidity resources, as calculated under the current historically-based methodology, and provide for a more consistent level of cash resources in its available prefunded financial resources.6 Specifically, the proposed rule change would require that Clearing Members collectively contribute $3 billion in cash to the Clearing Fund (‘‘Cash Clearing Fund Requirement’’). Each Clearing Member’s proportionate share of the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement shall be equal in percentage to its proportionate share of the Clearing Fund as determined by the Clearing Fund allocation methodology in current Rule 1001. OCC has historically sized its liquidity resources based on historically observed liquidity demands and analysis of potential large forecasted liquidity demands over at least the next twelve months. OCC forecasts its future daily settlement activity under normal market conditions (e.g., mark-to-market settlements, and settlements resulting from the expiration of derivatives contracts) and compares such demands to its resources to ensure that at all times it will maintain a positive liquidity position to meet settlement obligations. 6 OCC’s Current Cover 1 liquidity resources are sized based on the liquidity needed to address exposures derived solely from historical results. Introducing the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement would increase OCC’s liquidity resources to address the exposures observed in a stress liquidity analysis performed using proposed sizing stress tests for OCC’s Clearing Fund. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Dec 13, 2017 Jkt 244001 OCC has performed an analysis of its stress liquidity demands based on a 1in-70 year hypothetical market event. OCC started its analysis by selecting the largest historical peak monthly settlements that occurred over the historical look back period of data generated by the stress test system. It then also selected certain large nonexpiration days to supplement the analysis. From this it estimated the mark-to-market and cash settled exercise and assignment obligations for the members driving the historical peak demand under the proposed stress tests scenario to determine the stressed peak demand. Through this analysis, OCC observed that peak stressed liquidity demands of the largest 1 or 2 members, which normally occur in conjunction with certain monthly expirations, can exceed the size OCC’s committed liquidity facilities (which currently total $3 billion). In these cases, while OCC did have cash in the Clearing Fund to supplement its liquidity resources, and the total of credit facilities and cash in the Clearing Fund did cover these peak stressed liquidity demands, OCC is unable to rely on these cash contributions to be present at any given time since there is no obligation on members to maintain any amount of their contribution in cash. As a result, OCC believes it is necessary to increase or otherwise ensure the availability of highly liquid resources in the Clearing Fund to account for extreme scenarios that may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC’s Cover 1 liquidity resources, as calculated under the current historically-based methodology. The proposed Cash Clearing Fund Requirement, when taken together with OCC’s $3 billion in committed liquidity facilities, would provide liquidity resources sufficient to cover 100% of the peak stressed liquidity demands of the largest 1 or 2 members observed in OCC’s analysis. In addition, the proposed changes would allow OCC’s Executive Chairman, Chief Administrative Officer (‘‘CAO’’), or Chief Operating Officer (‘‘COO’’), upon providing notice to the Risk Committee, to temporarily increase the amount of cash required to be maintained in the Clearing Fund up to an amount that includes the size of the Clearing Fund as determined in accordance with Rule 1001 for the month in question for the protection of OCC, clearing members or the general public. Any determination by the Executive Chairman, CAO and/or COO to implement a temporary increase in Clearing Fund size would (i) be based upon then-existing facts and PO 00000 Frm 00241 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 circumstances, (ii) be in furtherance of the integrity of OCC and the stability of the financial system, and (iii) take into consideration the legitimate interests of Clearing Members and market participants. The proposed rule change would require that any temporary increase in the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement be reviewed by the Risk Committee as soon as practicable, but in any event within 20 calendar days of the increase. In its review, the Risk Committee shall determine whether (1) the increase in the minimum Cash Clearing Fund Requirement is no longer required or (2) OCC’s Clearing Fund contribution requirements and other related rules should be modified to ensure that OCC continues to maintain sufficient liquid resources to cover its largest aggregate payment obligations in extreme but plausible market conditions. In the event that the Risk Committee would determine to permanently increase the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement, OCC would initiate any regulatory approval process required to effect such a change.7 A Clearing Member will be required to satisfy any increase in its required cash contribution pursuant to an increase in the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement no later than one hour before the close of the Fedwire on the business day following OCC’s issuance of an instruction to increase cash contributions. These changes would be reflected in new paragraph (a)(i) of Section 3 of Article VIII of OCC’s By-Laws, as well as in new Interpretation and Policy .04 to Section 3 of Article VIII. 2. Interest Pass Through for Clearing Fund Cash Held at the Federal Reserve In connection with the proposed Cash Clearing Fund Requirement, substantially all of OCC’s Clearing Fund deposits consisting of cash would be held in an account established by OCC at a Federal Reserve Bank.8 OCC proposes that it would pass the interest income earned in such account through to its Clearing Members. As a result, OCC proposes to revise Article VIII, Section 4(a) of OCC’s By-Laws to include a sentence to provide that any interest earned on cash deposits held at 7 However, OCC will not decrease the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement while the regulatory approvals for a change in the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement are being obtained to ensure that OCC continues to maintain sufficient liquid resources to cover its liquidity demands during that time. 8 OCC notes that it would retain the discretion to maintain a small portion of Clearing Fund cash deposits in other accounts (e.g., accounts with commercial banks) for various reasons, including facilitating normal substitution activity by its Clearing Members. E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices a Federal Reserve Bank shall accrue to the benefit of Clearing Members (calculated daily based on each Clearing Member’s pro rata share of Clearing Fund cash deposits), provided that such Clearing Members have provided OCC with all tax documentation as OCC may from time to time require in order to effectuate such payment.9 3. Changes to the Fee Policy to Accommodate Interest Passed Through to Clearing Members In order to accommodate the pass through of interest income, OCC would also amend its Fee Policy to add definitions for ‘‘Pass-Through Interest Revenue’’ and ‘‘Operating Expenses’’ to exclude from the calculation of the Business Risk Buffer projected interest revenue and expense, respectively, related to the pass-through of earned interest from OCC to Clearing Members.10 OCC also proposes to add a new example of the Business Risk Buffer calculation reflecting this change and make clarifying changes throughout the Policy to incorporate the use of the new defined terms. In addition, OCC proposes to amend the Fee Policy to remove references to ‘‘Proposed Rule 17Ad–22(e)(15)’’ to reflect the adoption of the Commission’s Covered Clearing Agency Standards. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 4. Conforming Changes In conjunction with the aforementioned changes, OCC is also proposing to make four related conforming changes. First, OCC proposes to revise Interpretation and Policy .01 of Rule 1001 to reflect that the new minimum Clearing Fund size is $3 billion (instead of $1 billion) plus 110% of the size of OCC’s committed liquidity facilities, which conforms to the proposed new minimum cash requirement for the Clearing Fund. Second, OCC proposes to amend the definition of ‘‘Approved Custodian’’ in Article I, Section 1 of the By-Laws to clarify that the Federal Reserve Bank may also be an Approved Custodian, to the extent it is available to OCC. Third, OCC is proposing to delete existing Article VIII, Section 4(b), regarding the establishment of a segregated funds 9 Article VIII, Section 4(a) currently states that all interested gained on cash Clearing Fund deposits belongs to OCC. 10 While interest income earned by OCC from its Federal Reserve bank account would be passed on to its Clearing Members, OCC anticipates that it would charge a cash management fee to cover associated costs (i.e., administrative and similar costs). OCC would file a separate proposed rule change with the Commission, subject to receiving all necessary regulatory approvals for the proposed changes described herein, prior to implementing any cash management fee. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Dec 13, 2017 Jkt 244001 account for cash contributions to the Clearing Fund. The segregated funds account allows a Clearing Member to contribute cash to a bank or trust company account maintained in the name of OCC, subject to OCC’s exclusive control, but the account also includes the name of the Clearing Member and any interest accrues to the Clearing Member rather than OCC. OCC proposes to eliminate the account type because Clearing Members have not expressed interest in using such an account, no such accounts are in use today, and moving forward, substantially all cash Clearing Fund contributions will held in OCC’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank. Fourth, OCC proposes to introduce new language to Article VIII, Section 4(a) to clarify that cash contributions to the Clearing Fund that are deposited at approved custodians may be commingled with the Clearing Fund contributions of different Clearing Members. Expected Effect on and Management of Risk The proposal is expected to improve OCC’s liquidity risk management by establishing the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement and by permitting OCC to temporarily increase that requirement. The Cash Clearing Fund Requirement would increase the amount of highly liquid resources available to OCC to account for extreme scenarios that may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC’s current Cover 1 liquidity resources, as calculated under the current historically-based methodology. The Cash Clearing Fund Requirement also would provide a more consistent level of cash resources in OCC’s available prefunded financial resources, thereby further strengthening OCC’s liquidity risk management. The proposed ability to allow OCC to temporarily increase its minimum Clearing Fund cash up to an amount that includes the size of the Clearing Fund as determined in accordance with Rule 1001 is expected to enhance OCC’s liquidity risk management by providing a process to effectively replenish the liquid resources that OCC may employ during a stress event and would provide OCC with an additional means of addressing liquidity shortfalls that otherwise would not be covered by OCC’s liquid resources and would provide a form of replenishment of OCC’s liquid resources. OCC recognizes that exercising its authority to increase the minimum amount of cash in the Clearing Fund could potentially impose a liquidity constraint on its clearing members, and for this reason, OCC has PO 00000 Frm 00242 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59033 limited its authority to increase the minimum amount of cash in the Clearing Fund to circumstances in which such increase would protect OCC, clearing members or the general public and required that any such increase be based upon then-existing facts and circumstances, be in furtherance of the integrity of OCC and the stability of the financial system, and take into consideration the legitimate interests of clearing members and market participants. OCC expects that its proposal to pass through interest earned on Clearing Fund cash deposits at a Federal Reserve Bank ultimately may potentially benefit clearing members’ by providing them with a comparatively higher rate of return on their deposited cash (as compared to a comparable account with a commercial bank). This potential increased rate of return may ultimately strengthen the financial position of certain of OCC’s clearing members. Consistency With the Clearing Supervision Act The stated purpose of the Clearing Supervision Act is to mitigate systemic risk in the financial system and promote financial stability by, among other things, promoting uniform risk management standards for systemically important financial market utilities and strengthening the liquidity of systemically important financial market utilities.11 Section 805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act 12 also authorizes the Commission to prescribe risk management standards for the payment, clearing and settlement activities of designated clearing entities, like OCC, for which the Commission is the supervisory agency. Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act 13 states that the objectives and principles for risk management standards prescribed under Section 805(a) shall be to: • Promote robust risk management; • promote safety and soundness; • reduce systemic risks; and • support the stability of the broader financial system. The Commission has adopted risk management standards under Section 805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act and the Act in furtherance of these objectives and principles, including those standards adopted pursuant to the Commission rules cited below.14 For the 11 12 U.S.C. 5461(b). U.S.C. 5464(a)(2). 13 12 U.S.C. 5464(b). 14 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 68080 (October 22, 2012), 77 FR 66220 (November 2, 2012) (S7–08–11) (‘‘Clearing 12 12 E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM Continued 14DEN1 59034 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES reasons set forth below, OCC believes that the proposed change is consistent with the risk management standards promulgated under Section 805(a) of the Clearing Supervision Act.15 Rule 17Ad–22(e)(7) 16 requires that a covered clearing agency (‘‘CCA’’) establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to effectively measure, monitor and manage liquidity risk that arises in or is borne by the CCA. Rule 17Ad–22(e)(7)(i) 17 requires CCAs to establish, implement, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to effectively measure, monitor, and manage the liquidity risk that arises in or is borne by OCC by maintaining sufficient liquid resources at the minimum in all relevant currencies to effect same-day settlement, and where appropriate, intraday and multiday settlement of payment obligations with a high degree of confidence under a wide range of stress scenarios, that includes but is not limited to, the default of the participant family that would generate the largest aggregate payment obligation for OCC in extreme but plausible market conditions. As explained above, OCC has performed an analysis of its stress liquidity demands using proposed sizing stress tests for the Clearing Fund and has observed that peak stressed liquidity demands of the largest 1 or 2 members, which normally occur in conjunction with certain monthly expirations, can exceed the size OCC’s committed liquidity facilities (which currently total $3 billion). OCC believes that the proposed minimum $3 billion Cash Clearing Fund Requirement will adjust OCC’s available liquidity resources to account for extreme scenarios that may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC’s Cover 1 liquidity resources. In this regard, OCC believes the proposed Cash Clearing Fund Requirement is designed to satisfy the requirements of Rule 17Ad– 22(e)(7)(i).18 Further, Rule 17Ad–22(e)(7)(viii) 19 requires that a CCA address foreseeable liquidity shortfalls that would not be covered by its liquid resources and Rule Agency Standards’’); 78961 (September 28, 2016), 81 FR 70786 (October 13, 2016) (S7–03–14) (‘‘Standards for Covered Clearing Agencies’’). The Standards for Covered Clearing Agencies became effective on December 12, 2016. OCC is a ‘‘covered clearing agency’’ as defined in Rule 17Ad–22(a)(5) and therefore is subject to section (e) of Rule 17Ad– 22. 15 12 U.S.C. 5464(b)(1) and (4). 16 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(7). 17 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(7)(i). 18 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(7)(i). 19 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(7)(viii). VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Dec 13, 2017 Jkt 244001 17Ad–22(e)(7)(ix) 20 requires that a CCA describe its process to replenish any liquid resources that it may employ during a stress event. OCC believes that the proposed authority to temporarily increase the minimum cash requirement from $3 billion up to an amount that includes the size of the Clearing Fund (as determined in accordance with Rule 1001 for the month in question) would provide OCC with an additional means of addressing liquidity shortfalls that otherwise would not be covered by OCC’s liquid resources. Further, because the Clearing Fund is a resource that is replenished in accordance with Section 6 of Article VIII of OCC’s By-Laws, to the extent that Clearing Members are required to replenish their required contributions—in whole or in part— with cash following a proportionate charge during, the proposed change would provide a form of replenishment of OCC’s liquid resources. In this regard, OCC believes the proposed authority to require up to an all cash Clearing Fund requirement is designed to satisfy the requirements of Rules 17Ad– 22(e)(7)(viii) and (ix).21 III. Date of Effectiveness of the Advance Notice and Timing for Commission Action The proposed change may be implemented if the Commission does not object to the proposed change within 60 days of the later of (i) the date the proposed change was filed with the Commission or (ii) the date any additional information requested by the Commission is received. OCC shall not implement the proposed change if the Commission has any objection to the proposed change. The Commission may extend the period for review by an additional 60 days if the proposed change raises novel or complex issues, subject to the Commission providing the clearing agency with prompt written notice of the extension. A proposed change may be implemented in less than 60 days from the date the advance notice is filed, or the date further information requested by the Commission is received, if the Commission notifies the clearing agency in writing that it does not object to the proposed change and authorizes the clearing agency to implement the proposed change on an earlier date, subject to any conditions imposed by the Commission. OCC shall post notice on its website of proposed changes that are implemented. 20 17 21 17 PO 00000 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(7)(ix). CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(7)(viii) and (ix). Frm 00243 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The proposal shall not take effect until all regulatory actions required with respect to the proposal are completed. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the advance notice is consistent with the Clearing Supervision Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– OCC–2017–808 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–OCC–2017–808. 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 (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the advance notice that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the advance notice 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 OCC and on OCC’s website at https://www.theocc.com/components/ docs/legal/rules_and_bylaws/sr_occ_17_ 808.pdf. 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–OCC–2017–808 and E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. should be submitted on or before December 29, 2017. By the Commission. Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change [FR Doc. 2017–26913 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–82239; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2017–127] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Exchange’s Transaction Fees at Chapter XV, Section 2(1) December 8, 2017. 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 December 1, 2017, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) 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 Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange’s transaction fees at Chapter XV, Section 2(1), which governs the pricing for Nasdaq Participants using the Nasdaq Options Market (‘‘NOM’’), Nasdaq’s facility for executing and routing standardized equity and index options. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange 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 1 15 2 17 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Dec 13, 2017 Jkt 244001 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange’s transaction fees at Chapter XV, Section 2(1) to introduce a new NOM Market Maker 3 Rebate to Add Liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options. Today, the Exchange charges Participants a $0.35 per contract NOM Market Maker Fee for Adding Liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options.4 To incentivize Participants to add NOM Market Maker liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange offers Participants an opportunity to reduce this $0.35 per contract fee to $0.00 per contract, provided the Participant adds NOM Market Maker liquidity in NonPenny Pilot Options of 7,500 or more ADV contracts per day in a month.5 In order to further incentivize NOM Market Makers to transact in Non-Penny Pilot Options on NOM, the Exchange proposes to introduce a new NOM Market Maker Rebate to Add Liquidity in Non Penny-Pilot Options, provided the Participant adds NOM Market Maker liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options of 10,000 or more ADV contracts per day in a month. The Participant would receive a $0.30 per contract Rebate to Add Liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options as a NOM Market Maker. Participants that qualify for this proposed rebate would not be charged the NOM Market Maker Fee for Adding Liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options by virtue of already having qualified for the discounted fee of $0.00 in note 5 (i.e., by meeting the lower NOM Market Maker Non-Penny volume threshold of 7,500 or more ADV contracts per day). In essence, the Exchange is creating a new volume threshold that is higher than the existing threshold with this proposal. As such, there will be two NOM Market Maker volume-based tiers for adding liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options, the lower of which would provide a discounted fee of $0.00 from 3 The term ‘‘NOM Market Maker’’ or (‘‘M’’) is a Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on NOM pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 4. In order to receive NOM Market Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must be registered as a NOM Market Maker in at least one security. See Chapter XV. 4 See Chapter XV, Section 2(1). 5 Id. at note 5. PO 00000 Frm 00244 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59035 $0.35 for the qualifying Participant, while the higher would provide a rebate of $0.30 for the qualifying Participant in lieu of the $0.35 fee. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend the existing volume requirement for the discounted fee in note 5 to state that Participants that add NOM Market Maker liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options of 7,500 to 9,999 ADV contracts per day in a month will be assessed a $0.00 per contract Non-Penny Options Fee for Adding Liquidity in that month. Participants that add Non-Penny NOM Market Maker liquidity of 10,000 or more ADV contracts per day in a month will not be charged a Non-Penny Options Fee for Adding Liquidity and will instead receive the proposed $0.30 per contract Non-Penny Rebate to Add Liquidity. Finally, the Exchange proposes to clarify in note 5 that the $0.35 fee for adding liquidity will apply unless Participants meet the proposed volume thresholds, as described above. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,6 in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,7 in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The proposed change to offer Participants that send NOM Market Maker order flow the opportunity to receive a $0.30 per contract Non-Penny Rebate to Add Liquidity, provided the Participant adds NOM Market Maker liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options of 10,000 or more ADV contracts per day in a month, is reasonable because the Exchange seeks to further incentivize Participants to add NOM Market Maker liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options to obtain the rebate. The Exchange believes that its proposal will encourage Participants to select NOM as a venue and in turn benefit other market participants with the opportunity to interact with such liquidity. Other options exchanges also offer volumebased rebates to market makers for adding liquidity.8 The Exchange also believes that the proposed NOM Market Maker Non6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). 8 See MIAX Pearl Fee Schedule, Section 1)a) for the non-penny maker rebates offered to MIAX Pearl market makers. See also Nasdaq GEMX Schedule of Fees, Section I for the non-penny maker rebates offered to GEMX market makers. 7 15 E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59031-59035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26913]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82247; File No. SR-OCC-2017-808]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; 
Notice of Filing of Advance Notice, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, 
Concerning the Adoption of a New Minimum Cash Requirement for the 
Clearing Fund

December 8, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of Title VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, entitled Payment, Clearing 
and Settlement Supervision Act of 2010 (``Clearing Supervision Act'') 
\1\ and Rule 19b-4(n)(1)(i) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\2\ notice is hereby given that on November 14, 2017, The 
Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') an advance notice as described in 
Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by OCC. On 
November 22, 2017, OCC filed Amendment No. 1 to the advance notice.\3\ 
The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
advance notice from interested persons.
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    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(n)(1)(i).
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1, OCC modified the proposed change to 
Article VIII, Section 4(a) of the By-Laws to clarify that interest 
earned on Clearing Fund cash deposits held at a Federal Reserve Bank 
accruing to the benefit of Clearing Members would be calculated 
daily based on each Clearing Member's pro rata share of Clearing 
Fund cash. OCC did not propose any other changes to the filing in 
Amendment No. 1.
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Advance 
Notice

    This advance notice is filed in connection with a proposed change 
would (1) revise OCC's By-Laws to adopt a new minimum cash requirement 
for the Clearing Fund; (2) revise OCC's By-Laws to provide for the 
pass-through of interest earned on Clearing Fund cash held in OCC's 
Federal Reserve bank account; (3) enact changes to OCC's Fee Policy 
that reflect the pass through of interest earned on Clearing Fund cash 
held in OCC's Federal Reserve bank account; and (4) make certain 
conforming changes to OCC's Rules and By-Laws to affect the 
aforementioned changes.
    The proposed changes to OCC's By-Laws and Rules were submitted as 
Exhibits 5A and 5B of the filing, and OCC's Fee Policy was submitted as 
confidential Exhibit 5C of the filing.\4\ The proposed change is 
described in detail in Item 10 below. All terms with initial 
capitalization not defined herein have the same meaning as set forth in 
OCC's By-Laws and Rules.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ OCC has filed a proposed rule change with the Commission in 
connection with the proposed change. See SR-OCC-2017-019.
    \5\ OCC's By-Laws and Rules can be found on OCC's public 
website: https://optionsclearing.com/about/publications/bylaws.jsp.
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Advance Notice

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

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Advance Notice 
Received From Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments were not and are not intended to be solicited with 
respect to the proposed rule change and none have been received. OCC 
will notify the Commission of any written comments received by OCC.

(B) Advance Notices Filed Pursuant to Section 806(e) of the Payment, 
Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act

Description of the Proposed Change
    OCC proposes to establish a minimum cash contribution requirement 
for its Clearing Fund in order to increase the amount of qualifying 
liquid resources available to OCC to account for extreme scenarios that 
may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC's current Cover 1 
liquidity resources, as calculated under the current historically-based 
methodology, and provide for a more consistent level of cash resources 
in its available prefunded financial resources. The proposed rule 
change also would provide for the pass-through of interest income 
earned on such deposits to its Clearing Members. OCC's current 
practices and the proposed changes to such practices are described in 
more detail below.
Current Practice
    Presently, Article VIII, Section 3(a) of OCC's By-Laws provides 
that Clearing Fund contributions shall be in the form of cash and 
Government securities, but neither OCC's By-Laws nor Rules

[[Page 59032]]

provides a minimum cash requirement for contributions in the Clearing 
Fund. Article VIII, Section 4(a) of OCC's By-Laws allows for OCC to 
invest cash contributions to the Clearing Fund, partially or wholly, in 
OCC's account in Government securities, and to the extent that such 
contributions are not so invested they shall be deposited by OCC in a 
separate account or accounts for Clearing Fund contributions in 
approved custodians. Article VIII, Section 4(a) of OCC's By-Laws, 
however, presently does not account for the treatment of interest 
earned on cash deposits held in the OCC's Federal Reserve bank account.
Proposed Change
1. Minimum Cash Clearing Fund Requirement
    OCC proposes to establish a minimum cash contribution requirement 
for its Clearing Fund in order to increase the amount of highly liquid 
resources available to OCC to account for extreme scenarios that may 
result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC's current Cover 1 liquidity 
resources, as calculated under the current historically-based 
methodology, and provide for a more consistent level of cash resources 
in its available prefunded financial resources.\6\ Specifically, the 
proposed rule change would require that Clearing Members collectively 
contribute $3 billion in cash to the Clearing Fund (``Cash Clearing 
Fund Requirement''). Each Clearing Member's proportionate share of the 
Cash Clearing Fund Requirement shall be equal in percentage to its 
proportionate share of the Clearing Fund as determined by the Clearing 
Fund allocation methodology in current Rule 1001.
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    \6\ OCC's Current Cover 1 liquidity resources are sized based on 
the liquidity needed to address exposures derived solely from 
historical results. Introducing the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement 
would increase OCC's liquidity resources to address the exposures 
observed in a stress liquidity analysis performed using proposed 
sizing stress tests for OCC's Clearing Fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OCC has historically sized its liquidity resources based on 
historically observed liquidity demands and analysis of potential large 
forecasted liquidity demands over at least the next twelve months. OCC 
forecasts its future daily settlement activity under normal market 
conditions (e.g., mark-to-market settlements, and settlements resulting 
from the expiration of derivatives contracts) and compares such demands 
to its resources to ensure that at all times it will maintain a 
positive liquidity position to meet settlement obligations.
    OCC has performed an analysis of its stress liquidity demands based 
on a 1-in-70 year hypothetical market event. OCC started its analysis 
by selecting the largest historical peak monthly settlements that 
occurred over the historical look back period of data generated by the 
stress test system. It then also selected certain large non-expiration 
days to supplement the analysis. From this it estimated the mark-to-
market and cash settled exercise and assignment obligations for the 
members driving the historical peak demand under the proposed stress 
tests scenario to determine the stressed peak demand. Through this 
analysis, OCC observed that peak stressed liquidity demands of the 
largest 1 or 2 members, which normally occur in conjunction with 
certain monthly expirations, can exceed the size OCC's committed 
liquidity facilities (which currently total $3 billion). In these 
cases, while OCC did have cash in the Clearing Fund to supplement its 
liquidity resources, and the total of credit facilities and cash in the 
Clearing Fund did cover these peak stressed liquidity demands, OCC is 
unable to rely on these cash contributions to be present at any given 
time since there is no obligation on members to maintain any amount of 
their contribution in cash. As a result, OCC believes it is necessary 
to increase or otherwise ensure the availability of highly liquid 
resources in the Clearing Fund to account for extreme scenarios that 
may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC's Cover 1 liquidity 
resources, as calculated under the current historically-based 
methodology. The proposed Cash Clearing Fund Requirement, when taken 
together with OCC's $3 billion in committed liquidity facilities, would 
provide liquidity resources sufficient to cover 100% of the peak 
stressed liquidity demands of the largest 1 or 2 members observed in 
OCC's analysis.
    In addition, the proposed changes would allow OCC's Executive 
Chairman, Chief Administrative Officer (``CAO''), or Chief Operating 
Officer (``COO''), upon providing notice to the Risk Committee, to 
temporarily increase the amount of cash required to be maintained in 
the Clearing Fund up to an amount that includes the size of the 
Clearing Fund as determined in accordance with Rule 1001 for the month 
in question for the protection of OCC, clearing members or the general 
public. Any determination by the Executive Chairman, CAO and/or COO to 
implement a temporary increase in Clearing Fund size would (i) be based 
upon then-existing facts and circumstances, (ii) be in furtherance of 
the integrity of OCC and the stability of the financial system, and 
(iii) take into consideration the legitimate interests of Clearing 
Members and market participants.
    The proposed rule change would require that any temporary increase 
in the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement be reviewed by the Risk Committee 
as soon as practicable, but in any event within 20 calendar days of the 
increase. In its review, the Risk Committee shall determine whether (1) 
the increase in the minimum Cash Clearing Fund Requirement is no longer 
required or (2) OCC's Clearing Fund contribution requirements and other 
related rules should be modified to ensure that OCC continues to 
maintain sufficient liquid resources to cover its largest aggregate 
payment obligations in extreme but plausible market conditions. In the 
event that the Risk Committee would determine to permanently increase 
the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement, OCC would initiate any regulatory 
approval process required to effect such a change.\7\ A Clearing Member 
will be required to satisfy any increase in its required cash 
contribution pursuant to an increase in the Cash Clearing Fund 
Requirement no later than one hour before the close of the Fedwire on 
the business day following OCC's issuance of an instruction to increase 
cash contributions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ However, OCC will not decrease the Cash Clearing Fund 
Requirement while the regulatory approvals for a change in the Cash 
Clearing Fund Requirement are being obtained to ensure that OCC 
continues to maintain sufficient liquid resources to cover its 
liquidity demands during that time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These changes would be reflected in new paragraph (a)(i) of Section 
3 of Article VIII of OCC's By-Laws, as well as in new Interpretation 
and Policy .04 to Section 3 of Article VIII.
2. Interest Pass Through for Clearing Fund Cash Held at the Federal 
Reserve
    In connection with the proposed Cash Clearing Fund Requirement, 
substantially all of OCC's Clearing Fund deposits consisting of cash 
would be held in an account established by OCC at a Federal Reserve 
Bank.\8\ OCC proposes that it would pass the interest income earned in 
such account through to its Clearing Members. As a result, OCC proposes 
to revise Article VIII, Section 4(a) of OCC's By-Laws to include a 
sentence to provide that any interest earned on cash deposits held at

[[Page 59033]]

a Federal Reserve Bank shall accrue to the benefit of Clearing Members 
(calculated daily based on each Clearing Member's pro rata share of 
Clearing Fund cash deposits), provided that such Clearing Members have 
provided OCC with all tax documentation as OCC may from time to time 
require in order to effectuate such payment.\9\
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    \8\ OCC notes that it would retain the discretion to maintain a 
small portion of Clearing Fund cash deposits in other accounts 
(e.g., accounts with commercial banks) for various reasons, 
including facilitating normal substitution activity by its Clearing 
Members.
    \9\ Article VIII, Section 4(a) currently states that all 
interested gained on cash Clearing Fund deposits belongs to OCC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Changes to the Fee Policy to Accommodate Interest Passed Through to 
Clearing Members
    In order to accommodate the pass through of interest income, OCC 
would also amend its Fee Policy to add definitions for ``Pass-Through 
Interest Revenue'' and ``Operating Expenses'' to exclude from the 
calculation of the Business Risk Buffer projected interest revenue and 
expense, respectively, related to the pass-through of earned interest 
from OCC to Clearing Members.\10\ OCC also proposes to add a new 
example of the Business Risk Buffer calculation reflecting this change 
and make clarifying changes throughout the Policy to incorporate the 
use of the new defined terms. In addition, OCC proposes to amend the 
Fee Policy to remove references to ``Proposed Rule 17Ad-22(e)(15)'' to 
reflect the adoption of the Commission's Covered Clearing Agency 
Standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ While interest income earned by OCC from its Federal 
Reserve bank account would be passed on to its Clearing Members, OCC 
anticipates that it would charge a cash management fee to cover 
associated costs (i.e., administrative and similar costs). OCC would 
file a separate proposed rule change with the Commission, subject to 
receiving all necessary regulatory approvals for the proposed 
changes described herein, prior to implementing any cash management 
fee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Conforming Changes
    In conjunction with the aforementioned changes, OCC is also 
proposing to make four related conforming changes. First, OCC proposes 
to revise Interpretation and Policy .01 of Rule 1001 to reflect that 
the new minimum Clearing Fund size is $3 billion (instead of $1 
billion) plus 110% of the size of OCC's committed liquidity facilities, 
which conforms to the proposed new minimum cash requirement for the 
Clearing Fund. Second, OCC proposes to amend the definition of 
``Approved Custodian'' in Article I, Section 1 of the By-Laws to 
clarify that the Federal Reserve Bank may also be an Approved 
Custodian, to the extent it is available to OCC. Third, OCC is 
proposing to delete existing Article VIII, Section 4(b), regarding the 
establishment of a segregated funds account for cash contributions to 
the Clearing Fund. The segregated funds account allows a Clearing 
Member to contribute cash to a bank or trust company account maintained 
in the name of OCC, subject to OCC's exclusive control, but the account 
also includes the name of the Clearing Member and any interest accrues 
to the Clearing Member rather than OCC. OCC proposes to eliminate the 
account type because Clearing Members have not expressed interest in 
using such an account, no such accounts are in use today, and moving 
forward, substantially all cash Clearing Fund contributions will held 
in OCC's account at the Federal Reserve Bank. Fourth, OCC proposes to 
introduce new language to Article VIII, Section 4(a) to clarify that 
cash contributions to the Clearing Fund that are deposited at approved 
custodians may be commingled with the Clearing Fund contributions of 
different Clearing Members.
Expected Effect on and Management of Risk
    The proposal is expected to improve OCC's liquidity risk management 
by establishing the Cash Clearing Fund Requirement and by permitting 
OCC to temporarily increase that requirement. The Cash Clearing Fund 
Requirement would increase the amount of highly liquid resources 
available to OCC to account for extreme scenarios that may result in 
liquidity demands exceeding OCC's current Cover 1 liquidity resources, 
as calculated under the current historically-based methodology. The 
Cash Clearing Fund Requirement also would provide a more consistent 
level of cash resources in OCC's available prefunded financial 
resources, thereby further strengthening OCC's liquidity risk 
management.
    The proposed ability to allow OCC to temporarily increase its 
minimum Clearing Fund cash up to an amount that includes the size of 
the Clearing Fund as determined in accordance with Rule 1001 is 
expected to enhance OCC's liquidity risk management by providing a 
process to effectively replenish the liquid resources that OCC may 
employ during a stress event and would provide OCC with an additional 
means of addressing liquidity shortfalls that otherwise would not be 
covered by OCC's liquid resources and would provide a form of 
replenishment of OCC's liquid resources. OCC recognizes that exercising 
its authority to increase the minimum amount of cash in the Clearing 
Fund could potentially impose a liquidity constraint on its clearing 
members, and for this reason, OCC has limited its authority to increase 
the minimum amount of cash in the Clearing Fund to circumstances in 
which such increase would protect OCC, clearing members or the general 
public and required that any such increase be based upon then-existing 
facts and circumstances, be in furtherance of the integrity of OCC and 
the stability of the financial system, and take into consideration the 
legitimate interests of clearing members and market participants.
    OCC expects that its proposal to pass through interest earned on 
Clearing Fund cash deposits at a Federal Reserve Bank ultimately may 
potentially benefit clearing members' by providing them with a 
comparatively higher rate of return on their deposited cash (as 
compared to a comparable account with a commercial bank). This 
potential increased rate of return may ultimately strengthen the 
financial position of certain of OCC's clearing members.
Consistency With the Clearing Supervision Act
    The stated purpose of the Clearing Supervision Act is to mitigate 
systemic risk in the financial system and promote financial stability 
by, among other things, promoting uniform risk management standards for 
systemically important financial market utilities and strengthening the 
liquidity of systemically important financial market utilities.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 12 U.S.C. 5461(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act \12\ also 
authorizes the Commission to prescribe risk management standards for 
the payment, clearing and settlement activities of designated clearing 
entities, like OCC, for which the Commission is the supervisory agency. 
Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act \13\ states that the 
objectives and principles for risk management standards prescribed 
under Section 805(a) shall be to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
    \13\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Promote robust risk management;
     promote safety and soundness;
     reduce systemic risks; and
     support the stability of the broader financial system.
    The Commission has adopted risk management standards under Section 
805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act and the Act in furtherance of 
these objectives and principles, including those standards adopted 
pursuant to the Commission rules cited below.\14\ For the

[[Page 59034]]

reasons set forth below, OCC believes that the proposed change is 
consistent with the risk management standards promulgated under Section 
805(a) of the Clearing Supervision Act.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22. See Securities Exchange Act Release 
Nos. 68080 (October 22, 2012), 77 FR 66220 (November 2, 2012) (S7-
08-11) (``Clearing Agency Standards''); 78961 (September 28, 2016), 
81 FR 70786 (October 13, 2016) (S7-03-14) (``Standards for Covered 
Clearing Agencies''). The Standards for Covered Clearing Agencies 
became effective on December 12, 2016. OCC is a ``covered clearing 
agency'' as defined in Rule 17Ad-22(a)(5) and therefore is subject 
to section (e) of Rule 17Ad-22.
    \15\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b)(1) and (4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7) \16\ requires that a covered clearing agency 
(``CCA'') establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies 
and procedures reasonably designed to effectively measure, monitor and 
manage liquidity risk that arises in or is borne by the CCA. Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(7)(i) \17\ requires CCAs to establish, implement, maintain, and 
enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to 
effectively measure, monitor, and manage the liquidity risk that arises 
in or is borne by OCC by maintaining sufficient liquid resources at the 
minimum in all relevant currencies to effect same-day settlement, and 
where appropriate, intraday and multiday settlement of payment 
obligations with a high degree of confidence under a wide range of 
stress scenarios, that includes but is not limited to, the default of 
the participant family that would generate the largest aggregate 
payment obligation for OCC in extreme but plausible market conditions. 
As explained above, OCC has performed an analysis of its stress 
liquidity demands using proposed sizing stress tests for the Clearing 
Fund and has observed that peak stressed liquidity demands of the 
largest 1 or 2 members, which normally occur in conjunction with 
certain monthly expirations, can exceed the size OCC's committed 
liquidity facilities (which currently total $3 billion). OCC believes 
that the proposed minimum $3 billion Cash Clearing Fund Requirement 
will adjust OCC's available liquidity resources to account for extreme 
scenarios that may result in liquidity demands exceeding OCC's Cover 1 
liquidity resources. In this regard, OCC believes the proposed Cash 
Clearing Fund Requirement is designed to satisfy the requirements of 
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(i).\18\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7).
    \17\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Further, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(viii) \19\ requires that a CCA address 
foreseeable liquidity shortfalls that would not be covered by its 
liquid resources and Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(ix) \20\ requires that a CCA 
describe its process to replenish any liquid resources that it may 
employ during a stress event. OCC believes that the proposed authority 
to temporarily increase the minimum cash requirement from $3 billion up 
to an amount that includes the size of the Clearing Fund (as determined 
in accordance with Rule 1001 for the month in question) would provide 
OCC with an additional means of addressing liquidity shortfalls that 
otherwise would not be covered by OCC's liquid resources. Further, 
because the Clearing Fund is a resource that is replenished in 
accordance with Section 6 of Article VIII of OCC's By-Laws, to the 
extent that Clearing Members are required to replenish their required 
contributions--in whole or in part--with cash following a proportionate 
charge during, the proposed change would provide a form of 
replenishment of OCC's liquid resources. In this regard, OCC believes 
the proposed authority to require up to an all cash Clearing Fund 
requirement is designed to satisfy the requirements of Rules 17Ad-
22(e)(7)(viii) and (ix).\21\
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    \19\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(viii).
    \20\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(ix).
    \21\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(viii) and (ix).
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III. Date of Effectiveness of the Advance Notice and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The proposed change may be implemented if the Commission does not 
object to the proposed change within 60 days of the later of (i) the 
date the proposed change was filed with the Commission or (ii) the date 
any additional information requested by the Commission is received. OCC 
shall not implement the proposed change if the Commission has any 
objection to the proposed change.
    The Commission may extend the period for review by an additional 60 
days if the proposed change raises novel or complex issues, subject to 
the Commission providing the clearing agency with prompt written notice 
of the extension. A proposed change may be implemented in less than 60 
days from the date the advance notice is filed, or the date further 
information requested by the Commission is received, if the Commission 
notifies the clearing agency in writing that it does not object to the 
proposed change and authorizes the clearing agency to implement the 
proposed change on an earlier date, subject to any conditions imposed 
by the Commission.
    OCC shall post notice on its website of proposed changes that are 
implemented.
    The proposal shall not take effect until all regulatory actions 
required with respect to the proposal are completed.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-OCC-2017-808 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-OCC-2017-808. 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 (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the advance notice that are filed with the 
Commission, and all written communications relating to the advance 
notice 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 OCC and on OCC's website at 
https://www.theocc.com/components/docs/legal/rules_and_bylaws/sr_occ_17_808.pdf.
    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-OCC-2017-808 and

[[Page 59035]]

should be submitted on or before December 29, 2017.

    By the Commission.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-26913 Filed 12-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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