Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of No Objection To Advance Notice Related To Proposed Changes to The Options Clearing Corporation's Rules, Clearing Fund Methodology Policy, and Clearing Fund and Stress Testing Methodology, 67977-67981 [2019-26730]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2019 / Notices
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.9
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–26733 Filed 12–11–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–87672; File No. SR–OCC–
2019–806]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
Options Clearing Corporation; Notice
of No Objection To Advance Notice
Related To Proposed Changes to The
Options Clearing Corporation’s Rules,
Clearing Fund Methodology Policy,
and Clearing Fund and Stress Testing
Methodology
December 6, 2019.
I. Introduction
On October 10, 2019, The Options
Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) advance
notice SR–OCC–2019–806 (‘‘Advance
Notice’’) 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) 2 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
Act’’) 3 to make changes to OCC’s
Clearing Fund and stress testing rules
and methodology.4 The Advance Notice
was published for public comment in
the Federal Register on November 12,
2019,5 and the Commission has received
no comments regarding the changes
proposed in the Advance Notice.6 The
9 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i).
3 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
4 See Notice of Filing infra note 5, at 84 FR 61120.
5 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87475
(Nov. 6, 2019), 84 FR 61120 (Nov. 12, 2019) (File
No. SR–OCC–2019–806) (‘‘Notice of Filing’’). On
October 10, 2019, OCC also filed a related proposed
rule change (SR–OCC–2019–009) with the
Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 19b-4 thereunder
(‘‘Proposed Rule Change’’). 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and
17 CFR 240.19b–4, respectively. In the Proposed
Rule Change, which was published in the Federal
Register on October 29, 2019, OCC seeks approval
of proposed changes to its rules necessary to
implement the Advance Notice. Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 87386 (Oct. 23, 2019), 84
FR 57911 (Oct. 29, 2019). The comment period for
the related Proposed Rule Change filing closed on
November 19, 2019.
6 Since the proposal contained in the Advance
Notice was also filed as a proposed rule change, all
public comments received on the proposal are
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Commission is hereby providing notice
of no objection to the Advance Notice.
II. Background 7
As noted above, OCC proposes to
revise its Clearing Fund and stress
testing rules and methodology.
Specifically, OCC proposes to: (1)
Incorporate a new set of stress test
scenarios to be used in the monthly
sizing of OCC’s Clearing Fund that are
designed to capture the risks of extreme
moves in individual or small subsets of
securities; (2) revise OCC’s stress testing
methodology for modeling certain
volatility index futures; (3) modify
OCC’s methodology for allocating
Clearing Fund contribution
requirements to standardize the margin
risk component of the allocation
formula for all Clearing Members; and
(4) adopt an additional threshold for
notifying senior management of intraday margin calls based on certain stress
test results. OCC also proposes to
correct certain rules concerning OCC’s
cooling-off period and replenishment/
assessment powers.8
A. Sizing Stress Test Scenarios
On a monthly basis, OCC establishes
the size of its Clearing Fund at the level
it believes is necessary to maintain
sufficient financial resources to cover
losses arising from the default of the two
Clearing Member Groups that would
potentially cause the largest aggregate
credit exposure to OCC under certain
stress scenarios.9 OCC determines the
size of its Clearing Fund each month
through an approach based on broadbased market and systemic shocks
(‘‘Systemic Scenarios’’).10 OCC proposes
to incorporate an additional set of stress
test scenarios to be used in the monthly
sizing of OCC’s Clearing Fund that are
designed to capture the risks of extreme
moves in individual or small subsets of
securities (‘‘Idiosyncratic Scenarios’’).
The Idiosyncratic Scenarios would be in
addition to the existing Systemic
considered regardless of whether the comments are
submitted on the Proposed Rule Change or the
Advance Notice.
7 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
have the meanings specified in OCC’s Rules and ByLaws, available at https://www.theocc.com/about/
publications/bylaws.jsp.
8 Additionally, OCC proposes clarifying and
conforming changes to its Rules, Clearing Fund
Methodology Policy (‘‘Policy’’), and Stress Testing
and Clearing Fund Methodology Description
(‘‘Methodology Description’’).
9 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61121.
10 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122. See also,
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83735 (Jul. 27,
2018), 83 FR 37855, 37857 (Aug. 2, 2019) (SR–OCC–
2018–008) (describing OCC’s Clearing Fund sizing
stress test scenarios as an approach based on
hypothetical stress scenarios that assume shocks to
the Cboe S&P 500 Index (‘‘SPX’’) associated with a
1-in-80-year market event).
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Scenarios. Because OCC’s monthly
Clearing Fund sizing process is
designed to cover OCC’s largest
aggregate stress test exposures, the
expansion of the set of Clearing Fund
sizing stress tests could not reduce the
size of OCC’s Clearing Fund.
In constructing the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios, OCC would shock each
single-name equity (i.e., excluding
exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded
notes, indices, and non-equity
products). OCC would evaluate the
effects of such shocks on every Clearing
Member Group’s portfolios. Within each
Clearing Member Group’s portfolio,
OCC would identify the four singlename equities for which such shocks
would result in the largest losses. OCC
would then identify the two Clearing
Member Groups with the largest
aggregate losses. The combined losses of
the two identified Clearing Member
Groups would represent the loss that
OCC would seek to cover in its monthly
Clearing Fund sizing process. OCC
believes that implementing the
proposed Idiosyncratic Scenarios would
enhance OCC’s stress testing
methodology and overall resiliency by
providing a more comprehensive suite
of sizing stress tests to ensure that OCC
maintains an appropriate level of
financial resources to cover its credit
exposures under scenarios addressing
both systemic market risks and
idiosyncratic risks.11
B. Volatility Index Futures
Under OCC’s current stress testing
methodology, prices shocks for futures
based on the Cboe Volatility Index
(‘‘VIX’’) 12 are equivalent to a price
shock for the underlying. Because the
VIX has no term structure, this process
produces a uniform shock across
expirations of the VIX futures contracts.
Futures contracts for different
expirations, however, generally trade at
different prices reflecting the differing
future price expectations of the
underlying asset.13 OCC believes that
applying a uniform shock across
expirations is unrealistic, and that it
would lead to an overestimation of VIX
futures price shocks, particularly in
market decline scenarios.14 As noted
above, OCC proposes to revise its stress
testing methodology for modeling
certain volatility index futures.
11 See
Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122.
VIX is an index designed to measure the
30-day expected volatility of the SPX.
13 When there is a large shock to the VIX it has
consistently been observed that the change in price
of near-term VIX future contracts is much larger
than for further out expirations. See Notice of
Filing, 84 FR at 61122, n. 11.
14 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122.
12 The
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Specifically, the proposed change
would produce differing price shocks
for VIX futures across the term
structure. The proposed methodology
would be based on SPX volatility shocks
across different expirations, as opposed
to the current methodology’s reliance on
a single shock to the VIX. OCC believes
that implementation of the proposed
methodology would improve pricing for
VIX futures as well as VIX options.15
C. Clearing Fund Allocation
OCC allocates Clearing Fund
contribution requirements to individual
Clearing Members, in part, based on
each Clearing Member’s proportionate
share of risk margin, which OCC refers
to as ‘‘total risk.’’ 16 The majority of
Clearing Member margin requirements
are based on OCC’s System for
Theoretical Analysis and Numerical
Simulations (‘‘STANS’’), which is OCC’s
proprietary risk management system.
The margin requirement for certain
Clearing Members’ accounts, however,
is calculated using the Standard
Portfolio Analysis of Risk Margin
Calculation System (‘‘SPAN’’), which
reflects customer gross margining.17
OCC proposes to define ‘‘total risk’’ as
based on the same margin model for all
Clearing Members.18 OCC believes it is
more appropriate to use the same
margin risk measurement for all
Clearing Members when allocating
Clearing Fund contribution
requirements to allow for a more
equitable comparison across all
accounts.19
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D. Margin Call Notification
On a daily basis, OCC evaluates the
sufficiency of its financial resources
based on OCC’s potential exposure to
Clearing Member Groups under certain
stress test scenarios (‘‘Sufficiency Stress
15 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123. OCC uses
VIX futures to calculate theoretical values for VIX
options.
16 Currently, OCC uses the following weighting in
its allocation of clearing fund requirements: 70
percent total risk; 15 percent open interest; and 15
percent volume. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 83735 (Jul. 27, 2018), 83 FR 37855,
37863 (Aug. 2, 2019) (SR–OCC–2018–008).
17 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123, n. 16
(stating that ‘‘OCC calculates margin requirements
for segregated futures accounts using both SPAN on
a gross basis and STANS on a net basis, and if at
any time OCC staff observes a segregated futures
account where initial margin calculated pursuant to
STANS on a net basis exceeds the initial margin
calculated pursuant to SPAN on a gross basis, OCC
collateralizes this risk exposure by applying an
additional margin charge in the amount of such
difference to the account’’ (citation omitted)).
18 Specifically, OCC proposes to use STANS plus
certain add-on charges as the basis for determining
each Clearing Member’s proportionate share of total
risk.
19 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123.
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Tests’’). Based on the results of the
Sufficiency Stress Tests, OCC may call
for additional collateral to ensure that it
maintains sufficient financial resources
to guard against potential losses. For
example, OCC is authorized to make an
intra-day margin call against a Clearing
Member Group whose Sufficiency Stress
Test exposures breach a pre-determined
threshold. Currently, OCC’s rules
require that written notification of such
intra-day margin calls in excess of $500
million be provided to OCC’s Executive
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and
Chief Operating Officer (‘‘Office of the
CEO’’). OCC proposes to revise its rules
to require that written notification of
stress test-related intra-day margin calls
also be sent to the Office of the CEO
when a stress test-related intra-day
margin call would exceed 75 percent of
the Clearing Member’s excess net
capital. OCC believes that this
additional notification requirement is
appropriate because it would allow
OCC’s senior management to be
informed as soon as practicable of, and
to subsequently monitor, circumstances
where a margin call may strain a
particular Clearing Member’s ability to
meet such requirements based on its
financial condition or the amount of
collateral it has available to pledge
when certain pre-identified thresholds
have been exceeded.20
E. Cooling-Off Period
In 2018, OCC implemented a set of
recovery tools, including revisions to
OCC’s authority to assess its Clearing
Members for funds to replenish OCC’s
Clearing Fund.21 For example, OCC
implemented a ‘‘cooling-off period’’
during which its authority to levy such
assessments is capped, which provides
certainty to Clearing Members regarding
their potential obligations to OCC. In
proposing such revisions, OCC intended
that the cooling-off period would be
triggered by any proportionate Clearing
Fund charges to Clearing Members
related to the default of a Clearing
Member.22 OCC’s current rules,
however, do not provide for a coolingoff period based on proportionate
Clearing Fund charges arising out of two
specific sets of circumstances: (1) In
connection with protective transactions
effected for the account of OCC
20 See
Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123.
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83916
(Aug. 23, 2018), 83 FR 44076 (Aug. 29, 2018) (SR–
OCC–2017–020).
22 See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61124. Such
triggers include the assessments arising out of a
Clearing Member’s failure to meet its obligations
regarding confirmed trades, exercised or assigned
contracts, stock loan transactions, or the liquidation
of a Clearing Member’s open positions. See id. at
n. 22.
21 See
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pursuant to Chapter XI of OCC’s Rules
and (2) as a result of a failure of any
Clearing Member to make any other
required payment or render any other
required performance (as provided in
clauses (v) and (vi) of OCC Rule
1006(a)). OCC proposes to revise its
rules such that any proportionate
Clearing Fund charges to Clearing
Members related to the default of a
Clearing Member, including the two
listed above, would trigger a cooling-off
period.
III. Commission Findings and Notice of
No Objection
Although the Clearing Supervision
Act does not specify a standard of
review for an advance notice, the stated
purpose of the Clearing Supervision Act
is instructive: 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
(‘‘SIFMUs’’) and strengthening the
liquidity of SIFMUs.23
Section 805(a)(2) of the Clearing
Supervision Act 24 authorizes the
Commission to prescribe regulations
containing risk-management standards
for the payment, clearing, and
settlement activities of designated
clearing entities engaged in designated
activities for which the Commission is
the supervisory agency. Section 805(b)
of the Clearing Supervision Act 25
provides the following objectives and
principles for the Commission’s riskmanagement standards prescribed under
Section 805(a):
• To promote robust risk
management;
• to promote safety and soundness;
• to reduce systemic risks; and
• to support the stability of the
broader financial system.
Section 805(c) provides, in addition,
that the Commission’s risk-management
standards may address such areas as
risk-management and default policies
and procedures, among other areas.26
The Commission has adopted riskmanagement standards under Section
805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision
Act and Section 17A of the Exchange
Act (the ‘‘Clearing Agency Rules’’).27
23 See
12 U.S.C. 5461(b).
U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
25 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
26 12 U.S.C. 5464(c).
27 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 68080 (October 22, 2012), 77 FR
66220 (Nov. 2, 2012) (S7–08–11). See also
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78961
(September 28, 2016), 81 FR 70786 (October 13,
2016) (S7–03–14) (‘‘Covered Clearing Agency
Standards’’). The Commission established an
24 12
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The Clearing Agency Rules require,
among other things, each covered
clearing agency to establish, implement,
maintain, and enforce written policies
and procedures that are reasonably
designed to meet certain minimum
requirements for its operations and riskmanagement practices on an ongoing
basis.28 As such, it is appropriate for the
Commission to review advance notices
against the Clearing Agency Rules and
the objectives and principles of these
risk management standards as described
in Section 805(b) of the Clearing
Supervision Act. As discussed below,
the Commission believes the changes
proposed in the Advance Notice are
consistent with the objectives and
principles described in Section 805(b) of
the Clearing Supervision Act,29 and in
the Clearing Agency Rules, in particular
Rules 17Ad–22(e)(2) and (4).30
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A. Consistency With Section 805(b) of
the Clearing Supervision Act
The Commission believes that the
proposal contained in OCC’s Advance
Notice is consistent with the stated
objectives and principles of Section
805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act.
Specifically, as discussed below, the
Commission believes that the changes
proposed in the Advance Notice are
consistent with promoting robust risk
management in the area of credit risk,
promoting safety and soundness,
reducing systemic risks, and supporting
the stability of the broader financial
system.31
The Commission believes that the
proposed changes to OCC’s stress testing
methodology are consistent with the
promotion of robust risk management as
well as safety and soundness at OCC. As
described above, OCC proposes to
expand the suite of stress tests it uses to
size the Clearing Fund each month, and
to revise OCC’s estimation of VIX
futures prices for stress testing. The
introduction of the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios to the monthly sizing of
OCC’s Clearing Fund would be in
addition to the Systemic Scenarios OCC
already uses to size its Clearing Fund
and would help OCC address risks not
currently contemplated by OCC’s
effective date of December 12, 2016 and a
compliance date of April 11, 2017 for the Covered
Clearing Agency Standards. OCC is a ‘‘covered
clearing agency’’ as defined in Rule 17Ad–22(a)(5).
The Commission established an effective date of
December 12, 2016 and a compliance date of April
11, 2017 for the Covered Clearing Agency
Standards. OCC is a ‘‘covered clearing agency’’ as
defined in Rule 17Ad–22(a)(5).
28 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22.
29 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
30 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(2) and 17 CFR
240.17Ad–22(e)(4).
31 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
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Systemic Scenarios. Additionally, OCC
proposes to revise its process for
shocking VIX futures prices to reflect
the actual term structure dynamics of
such futures. OCC’s current use of a
uniform shock for VIX futures contracts,
regardless of tenure, is inconsistent with
its observation that futures contracts
with different expirations generally
trade at different prices reflecting the
differing future price expectations of the
underlying asset. By enhancing its
methodology for modeling price shocks
for VIX futures, OCC should be able to
produce more appropriate VIX futures
price shocks in its stress scenarios,
which in turn should enhance OCC’s
ability to accurately and appropriately
size its Clearing Fund. The Commission
believes that these changes, taken
together, are consistent with the
promotion of robust risk management as
well as safety and soundness at OCC.
The Commission also believes that the
proposed changes to OCC’s stress testing
methodology are generally consistent
with reducing systemic risk and
supporting the broader financial system.
The introduction of the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios and revision of stress test
shocks to VIX futures are designed to
provide OCC with a more robust and
accurate stress testing methodology.
OCC uses its stress testing methodology
to size and monitor its total financial
resources. OCC relies on such resources
to manage the potential losses arising
out of the default of a Clearing Member
under extreme but plausible market
conditions. Strengthening the
methodology that OCC uses to manage
its financial resources, therefore,
strengthens OCC’s ability to manage
Clearing Member defaults, which, in
turn, enhances OCC’s ability to manage
systemic risk and to support the broader
financial system.
The Commission believes that the
proposed changes regarding notice of
intra-day margin requirements and
allocation of Clearing Fund
requirements also are consistent with
the promotion of robust risk
management at OCC. Currently, OCC
notifies its Office of the CEO when
intra-day margin calls generated in
response to OCC’s daily stress tests are
large in absolute terms (i.e., in excess of
$500 million). OCC proposes to also
notify its Office of the CEO when such
margin calls are large relative to the
Clearing Member against which they are
made (i.e., in excess of 75 percent of the
Clearing Member’s excess net capital).
The Commission believes that such
notification would provide additional
meaningful risk management
information to OCC’s senior
management, which in turn could be
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used to inform critical decisions.
Additionally, OCC proposes to revise its
method of allocating Clearing Fund
contribution requirements across
Clearing Members. OCC proposes to
redefine the ‘‘total risk’’ component of
its Clearing Fund allocation formula
such that it would rely on the same
underlying model for all Clearing
Members when calculating total risk (as
opposed to using different models for
different Clearing Members depending
on their cleared positions). The
proposed change would not alter the
allocation weighting, but, in the
Commission’s view, it would provide a
more consistent metric by which to
assess risks across Clearing Members.32
The Commission believes that these
changes as well are consistent with the
promotion of robust risk management as
well as safety and soundness at OCC.
Finally, the Commission believes that
the proposed expansion of triggers for
the cooling-off period is consistent with
the promotion of safety and soundness
at OCC. The Commission continues to
believe that the cooling-off period
provides certainty and predictability
regarding Clearing Members’ maximum
liability for Clearing Fund
contributions.33 Currently, however, the
cooling-off period would be triggered by
some, but not all proportionate Clearing
Fund charges to Clearing Members
arising out of a Clearing Member’s
failure to meet certain obligations under
OCC’s rules. OCC proposes to expand
the set of events that would trigger the
cooling-off period to include certain
protective transactions and the failure of
a Clearing Member to meets its
obligations under certain of OCC’s rules.
The two events to be added as coolingoff period triggers are similar to the
current triggers in that they pertain to
proportionate Clearing Fund charges
designed to manage the failure of a
Clearing Member to meet its obligations
to OCC. The Commission believes that
including these two additional events as
cooling-off period triggers would
provide Clearing Members with
additional certainty and predictability
regarding their potential maximum
liability for Clearing Fund
contributions, which in turn is
consistent with the promotion of safety
and soundness at OCC.
Accordingly, and for the reasons
stated above, the Commission believes
the changes proposed in the Advance
32 While the proposed change would not affect
the total size of the Clearing Fund, it would result
in changes to Clearing Members’ proportionate
share of the Clearing Fund.
33 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83916
(Aug. 23, 2018), 83 FR 44076, 44082 (Aug. 29, 2018)
(SR–OCC–2017–020).
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Notice are consistent with Section
805(b) of the Clearing Supervision
Act.34
B. Consistency With Rule 17Ad–22(e)(2)
Under the Exchange Act
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(2)(v) under the
Exchange Act requires that a covered
clearing agency establish, implement,
maintain, and enforce written policies
and procedures reasonably designed to
provide for governance arrangements
that, among other things, specify clear
and direct lines of responsibility.35
As described above, OCC proposes to
add a new internal reporting
requirement regarding certain intra-day
margin calls. OCC may call for
additional margin from Clearing
Members based on the results of its
Sufficiency Stress Tests. In addition to
notifying its Office of the CEO when
such margin calls are large in absolute
terms (i.e., in excess of $500 million),
OCC now proposes to also notify to its
Office of the CEO when such margin
calls are large relative to the Clearing
Member against which they are made
(i.e., in excess of 75 percent of the
Clearing Member’s excess net capital).
The Commission agrees that such
notification would inform OCC’s senior
management, who could then monitor
circumstances as appropriate, when an
intra-day margin call could strain the
resources of a particular Clearing
Member based on its financial
condition. Accordingly, the Commission
believes that the adoption of such a
notification requirement is consistent
with Rule 17Ad–22(e)(2)(v) under the
Exchange Act.36
C. Consistency With Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4)
Under the Exchange Act
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4) under the
Exchange Act requires, in part, that a
covered clearing agency establish,
implement, maintain, and enforce
written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to effectively
identify, measure, monitor, and manage
its credit exposures to participants and
those arising from its payment, clearing,
and settlement processes.37
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1. Stress Testing
Rules 17Ad–22(e)(4)(i) and (iii) under
the Exchange Act require that a covered
clearing agency’s policies and
procedures meet the requirements of
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4) by maintaining
financial resources at the minimum to
enable OCC to cover a wide range of
34 12
U.S.C. 5464(b).
CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(2)(v).
36 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(2)(v).
37 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4).
35 17
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foreseeable stress scenarios that include,
but are not limited to, the default of the
participant family that would
potentially cause the largest aggregate
credit exposure for OCC in extreme but
plausible market conditions.38 Further,
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4)(vi) under the
Exchange Act requires that a covered
clearing agency’s policies and
procedures meet the requirements of
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4) by testing the
sufficiency of a covered clearing
agency’s total financial resources
available to meet the minimum financial
resource requirements under Rules
17Ad–22(e)(4)(i) through (iii).39
As described above, OCC proposes to
expand the set of stress tests that it uses
to size the Clearing Fund by adding the
Idiosyncratic Scenarios to its current
suite of stress tests. The Idiosyncratic
Scenarios are designed to capture the
risk of extreme moves in individual
securities or small subsets of securities
while the current Systemic Scenarios
are based on broad-based market and
systemic shocks. Consistent with the
general view that expanding the types of
scenarios that a clearing agency uses in
its monthly sizing process makes the
clearing agency’s risk management
robust to a broader range of shocks, the
Commission believes that OCC’s
proposal to add the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios to its suite of stress tests
would be a strengthening change that is
consistent with the requirements of
Rules 17Ad–22(e)(4)(i) and (iii) under
the Exchange Act.40
Additionally, OCC proposes to revise
its stress testing methodology to
produce differing price shocks for VIX
futures across the term structure. The
proposed methodology would be based
on SPX volatility shocks across different
expirations, as opposed to the current
methodology’s reliance on a single
shock to the VIX. As discussed above,
these changes would help OCC produce
more appropriate VIX futures price
shocks in its stress scenarios, which in
turn should enhance OCC’s ability to
accurately and appropriately size its
Clearing Fund, consistent with the
requirements of Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4)(vi).
Accordingly, the Commission believes
that, taken together, OCC’s proposed
changes to its stress testing methodology
would be consistent with the
requirements of Rules 17Ad–22(e)(4)(i),
(iii), and (vi).41
38 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(i) and 17 CFR
240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(iii).
39 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(vi).
40 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(i) and 17 CFR
240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(iii).
41 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(i); 17 CFR
240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(iii); and 17 CFR 240.17Ad–
22(e)(4) (vi).
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
2. Clearing Fund Allocation
As noted above, Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4)
under the Exchange Act generally
requires that a covered clearing agency
establish, implement, maintain, and
enforce written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to effectively
identify, measure, monitor, and manage
its credit exposures to participants and
those arising from its payment, clearing,
and settlement processes.42
OCC relies on the Clearing Fund as a
source of mutualized resources available
to manage losses arising out of a
Clearing Member’s default. OCC’s
method for allocating contributions to
the Clearing Fund among Clearing
Members is aligned primarily with the
credit risk posed by each Clearing
Member.43 OCC proposes to redefine the
margin risk component of its Clearing
Fund allocation formula such that it
would rely on the same underlying
model—STANS—for all Clearing
Members (as opposed to relying on
STANS for most Clearing Members and
SPAN for certain Clearing Members
with segregated futures accounts). The
proposed change would not change the
overall allocation weighting (i.e., margin
risk would still account for 70 percent
of Clearing Members’ Clearing Fund
allocation), but the Commission believes
it would provide a more consistent
metric by which to assess margin risk
across Clearing Members. Accordingly,
the Commission believes that the
proposed change is reasonably designed
to support the management of OCC’s
credit exposures to its participants. OCC
relies on the Clearing Fund as a source
of mutualized resources available to
manage losses arising out of a Clearing
Member’s default. OCC method for
allocating contributions to the Clearing
Fund is aligned primarily with the
credit risk posed by each Clearing
Member. The proposed change would
not change the allocation weighting but,
the Commission believes, it would
provide a more consistent metric by
which to assess risks across Clearing
Members. The Commission believes,
therefore, that OCC’s proposed change
to its Clearing Fund allocation
methodology is consistent with the
requirements of Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4).44
3. Cooling-Off Period
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(4)(ix) under the
Exchange Act requires, in part, that a
42 17
CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4).
Fund allocations are based on a
weighting of 70% margin risk, what OCC refers to
as the ‘‘total risk’’ component of its Clearing Fund
allocation formula, with open interest and cleared
volume weighted at 15% each.
44 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4).
43 Clearing
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2019 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
covered clearing agency establish,
implement, maintain, and enforce
written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to describe its
process to replenish any financial
resources it may use following a default
or other event in which use of resources
is contemplated.45
As noted above, OCC’s current
recovery tools include a cooling-off
period, during which OCC’s authority to
assess Clearing Members for funds to
replenish OCC’s Clearing Fund is
limited. Recognizing the limit that such
a cooling-off period places on the
financial resources available to OCC, the
Commission continues to believe that
the cooling-off period provides certainty
and predictability regarding Clearing
Members’ maximum liability for
Clearing Fund contributions.46 OCC
proposes to expand the set of events that
would start the cooling-off period to
include proportionate Clearing Fund
charges to Clearing Members triggered
by certain protective transactions or the
failure of a Clearing Member to meet
certain obligations under OCC’s rules,
consistent with OCC’s original intention
with its prior filing. The two events to
be added as triggers for the cooling-off
period are similar to the current triggers
in that they pertain to amounts paid out
of the Clearing Fund to manage the
failure of a Clearing Member to meet its
obligations to OCC. Consistent with the
Commission’s statements regarding the
current formulation of the cooling-off
period, the Commission believes that
the proposed expansion is consistent
with OCC’s obligations to describe its
process to replenish any financial
resources it may use following a default
or other event in which use of resources
is contemplated as required under Rule
17Ad–22(e)(4)(ix).47
Accordingly, and for the reasons
stated above, the Commission believes
the changes proposed in the Advance
Notice are consistent with Rule 17Ad–
22(e)(4) under the Exchange Act.48
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore noticed, pursuant to
Section 806(e)(1)(I) of the Clearing
Supervision Act, that the Commission
does not object to Advance Notice (SR–
OCC–2019–806) and that OCC is
authorized to implement the proposed
change as of the date of this notice or
the date of an order by the Commission
approving proposed rule change SR–
OCC–2019–009 whichever is later.
45 17
CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(ix).
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83916
(Aug. 23, 2018), 83 FR 44076, 44082 (Aug. 29, 2018)
(SR–OCC–2017–020).
47 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(ix).
48 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4).
46 See
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Dec 11, 2019
Jkt 250001
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
67981
Exchange withdrew the proposed rule
change (SR–CboeEDGA–2019–011).
[FR Doc. 2019–26730 Filed 12–11–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–87674; File No. SR–
CboeEDGA–2019–011]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
EDGA Exchange, Inc; Notice of
Withdrawal of a Proposed Rule Change
To Amend the Fee Schedule Assessed
on Members To Establish a Monthly
Trading Rights Fee
December 6, 2019.
On May 2, 2019, Cboe EDGA
Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGA’’ or the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
amend the EDGA Fee Schedule to
establish a monthly Trading Rights Fee
to be assessed on Members. The
proposed rule change was immediately
effective upon filing with the
Commission pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act.3 The proposed
rule change was published for comment
in the Federal Register on May 16,
2019.4 On June 28, 2019, the
Commission temporarily suspended the
proposed rule change and instituted
proceedings to determine whether to
approve or disapprove the proposed
rule change.5 In response to the EDGA
OIP, the Commission received three
comment letters, including a response
letter from the Exchange.6 On November
12, 2019, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of
the Act,7 the Commission designated a
longer period within which to approve
or disapprove the proposed rule
change.8 On November 22, 2019, the
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 85842
(May 10, 2019), 84 FR 22212.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86236,
84 FR 32235 (July 05, 2019) (‘‘EDGA OIP’’).
6 See Letters from Theodore R. Lazo, Managing
Director and Associate General Counsel, SIFMA,
dated July 26, 2019; Tyler Gellasch, Executive
Director, Healthy Markets, dated July 26, 2019; and
Rebecca Tenuta, Counsel, Cboe Global Markets,
dated August 9, 2019.
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87497,
84 FR 63688 (November 18, 2019). The Commission
designated January 11, 2020, as the date by which
the Commission would approve or disapprove the
proposed rule change.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.9
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–26731 Filed 12–11–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–87673; File No. SR–OCC–
2019–807]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
Options Clearing Corporation; Notice
of No Objection To Advance Notice
Related to Proposed Changes to The
Options Clearing Corporation’s Rules,
Margin Policy, Margin Methodology,
Clearing Fund Methodology Policy,
and Clearing Fund and Stress Testing
Methodology To Address Specific
Wrong-Way Risk
December 6, 2019.
I. Introduction
On October 10, 2019, The Options
Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) advance
notice SR–OCC–2019–807 (‘‘Advance
Notice’’) 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) 2 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
Act’’) 3 to revise OCC’s Rules, margin
policy and methodology, Clearing Fund
policy, and Clearing Fund and stress
testing methodology to adopt new
margin charges and other risk measures
to address the specific wrong-way risk
presented by certain cleared positions.4
The Advance Notice was published for
public comment in the Federal Register
on November 12, 2019,5 and the
2 17
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i).
3 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
4 See Notice of Filing infra note 5, at 84 FR 61114.
5 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87476
(Nov. 6, 2019), 84 FR 61114 (Nov. 12, 2019) (File
No. SR–OCC–2019–807) (‘‘Notice of Filing’’). On
October 10, 2019, OCC also filed a related proposed
rule change (SR–OCC–2019–010) with the
Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 19b–4 thereunder
(‘‘Proposed Rule Change’’). 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and
17 CFR 240.19b–4, respectively. In the Proposed
Rule Change, which was published in the Federal
Register on October 29, 2019, OCC seeks approval
1 12
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
Continued
12DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67977-67981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26730]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-87672; File No. SR-OCC-2019-806]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation;
Notice of No Objection To Advance Notice Related To Proposed Changes to
The Options Clearing Corporation's Rules, Clearing Fund Methodology
Policy, and Clearing Fund and Stress Testing Methodology
December 6, 2019.
I. Introduction
On October 10, 2019, The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'')
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'')
advance notice SR-OCC-2019-806 (``Advance Notice'') 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) \2\ under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Exchange Act'') \3\ to make changes to OCC's Clearing Fund and
stress testing rules and methodology.\4\ The Advance Notice was
published for public comment in the Federal Register on November 12,
2019,\5\ and the Commission has received no comments regarding the
changes proposed in the Advance Notice.\6\ The Commission is hereby
providing notice of no objection to the Advance Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(n)(1)(i).
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
\4\ See Notice of Filing infra note 5, at 84 FR 61120.
\5\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87475 (Nov. 6, 2019), 84
FR 61120 (Nov. 12, 2019) (File No. SR-OCC-2019-806) (``Notice of
Filing''). On October 10, 2019, OCC also filed a related proposed
rule change (SR-OCC-2019-009) with the Commission pursuant to
Section 19(b)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 19b-4 thereunder
(``Proposed Rule Change''). 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and 17 CFR 240.19b-
4, respectively. In the Proposed Rule Change, which was published in
the Federal Register on October 29, 2019, OCC seeks approval of
proposed changes to its rules necessary to implement the Advance
Notice. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87386 (Oct. 23, 2019),
84 FR 57911 (Oct. 29, 2019). The comment period for the related
Proposed Rule Change filing closed on November 19, 2019.
\6\ Since the proposal contained in the Advance Notice was also
filed as a proposed rule change, all public comments received on the
proposal are considered regardless of whether the comments are
submitted on the Proposed Rule Change or the Advance Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Background 7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the
meanings specified in OCC's Rules and By-Laws, available at https://www.theocc.com/about/publications/bylaws.jsp.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted above, OCC proposes to revise its Clearing Fund and stress
testing rules and methodology. Specifically, OCC proposes to: (1)
Incorporate a new set of stress test scenarios to be used in the
monthly sizing of OCC's Clearing Fund that are designed to capture the
risks of extreme moves in individual or small subsets of securities;
(2) revise OCC's stress testing methodology for modeling certain
volatility index futures; (3) modify OCC's methodology for allocating
Clearing Fund contribution requirements to standardize the margin risk
component of the allocation formula for all Clearing Members; and (4)
adopt an additional threshold for notifying senior management of intra-
day margin calls based on certain stress test results. OCC also
proposes to correct certain rules concerning OCC's cooling-off period
and replenishment/assessment powers.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Additionally, OCC proposes clarifying and conforming changes
to its Rules, Clearing Fund Methodology Policy (``Policy''), and
Stress Testing and Clearing Fund Methodology Description
(``Methodology Description'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Sizing Stress Test Scenarios
On a monthly basis, OCC establishes the size of its Clearing Fund
at the level it believes is necessary to maintain sufficient financial
resources to cover losses arising from the default of the two Clearing
Member Groups that would potentially cause the largest aggregate credit
exposure to OCC under certain stress scenarios.\9\ OCC determines the
size of its Clearing Fund each month through an approach based on
broad-based market and systemic shocks (``Systemic Scenarios'').\10\
OCC proposes to incorporate an additional set of stress test scenarios
to be used in the monthly sizing of OCC's Clearing Fund that are
designed to capture the risks of extreme moves in individual or small
subsets of securities (``Idiosyncratic Scenarios''). The Idiosyncratic
Scenarios would be in addition to the existing Systemic Scenarios.
Because OCC's monthly Clearing Fund sizing process is designed to cover
OCC's largest aggregate stress test exposures, the expansion of the set
of Clearing Fund sizing stress tests could not reduce the size of OCC's
Clearing Fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61121.
\10\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122. See also, Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 83735 (Jul. 27, 2018), 83 FR 37855, 37857
(Aug. 2, 2019) (SR-OCC-2018-008) (describing OCC's Clearing Fund
sizing stress test scenarios as an approach based on hypothetical
stress scenarios that assume shocks to the Cboe S&P 500 Index
(``SPX'') associated with a 1-in-80-year market event).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In constructing the Idiosyncratic Scenarios, OCC would shock each
single-name equity (i.e., excluding exchange-traded funds, exchange-
traded notes, indices, and non-equity products). OCC would evaluate the
effects of such shocks on every Clearing Member Group's portfolios.
Within each Clearing Member Group's portfolio, OCC would identify the
four single-name equities for which such shocks would result in the
largest losses. OCC would then identify the two Clearing Member Groups
with the largest aggregate losses. The combined losses of the two
identified Clearing Member Groups would represent the loss that OCC
would seek to cover in its monthly Clearing Fund sizing process. OCC
believes that implementing the proposed Idiosyncratic Scenarios would
enhance OCC's stress testing methodology and overall resiliency by
providing a more comprehensive suite of sizing stress tests to ensure
that OCC maintains an appropriate level of financial resources to cover
its credit exposures under scenarios addressing both systemic market
risks and idiosyncratic risks.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Volatility Index Futures
Under OCC's current stress testing methodology, prices shocks for
futures based on the Cboe Volatility Index (``VIX'') \12\ are
equivalent to a price shock for the underlying. Because the VIX has no
term structure, this process produces a uniform shock across
expirations of the VIX futures contracts. Futures contracts for
different expirations, however, generally trade at different prices
reflecting the differing future price expectations of the underlying
asset.\13\ OCC believes that applying a uniform shock across
expirations is unrealistic, and that it would lead to an overestimation
of VIX futures price shocks, particularly in market decline
scenarios.\14\ As noted above, OCC proposes to revise its stress
testing methodology for modeling certain volatility index futures.
[[Page 67978]]
Specifically, the proposed change would produce differing price shocks
for VIX futures across the term structure. The proposed methodology
would be based on SPX volatility shocks across different expirations,
as opposed to the current methodology's reliance on a single shock to
the VIX. OCC believes that implementation of the proposed methodology
would improve pricing for VIX futures as well as VIX options.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ The VIX is an index designed to measure the 30-day expected
volatility of the SPX.
\13\ When there is a large shock to the VIX it has consistently
been observed that the change in price of near-term VIX future
contracts is much larger than for further out expirations. See
Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122, n. 11.
\14\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61122.
\15\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123. OCC uses VIX futures
to calculate theoretical values for VIX options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Clearing Fund Allocation
OCC allocates Clearing Fund contribution requirements to individual
Clearing Members, in part, based on each Clearing Member's
proportionate share of risk margin, which OCC refers to as ``total
risk.'' \16\ The majority of Clearing Member margin requirements are
based on OCC's System for Theoretical Analysis and Numerical
Simulations (``STANS''), which is OCC's proprietary risk management
system. The margin requirement for certain Clearing Members' accounts,
however, is calculated using the Standard Portfolio Analysis of Risk
Margin Calculation System (``SPAN''), which reflects customer gross
margining.\17\ OCC proposes to define ``total risk'' as based on the
same margin model for all Clearing Members.\18\ OCC believes it is more
appropriate to use the same margin risk measurement for all Clearing
Members when allocating Clearing Fund contribution requirements to
allow for a more equitable comparison across all accounts.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ Currently, OCC uses the following weighting in its
allocation of clearing fund requirements: 70 percent total risk; 15
percent open interest; and 15 percent volume. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 83735 (Jul. 27, 2018), 83 FR 37855, 37863
(Aug. 2, 2019) (SR-OCC-2018-008).
\17\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123, n. 16 (stating that
``OCC calculates margin requirements for segregated futures accounts
using both SPAN on a gross basis and STANS on a net basis, and if at
any time OCC staff observes a segregated futures account where
initial margin calculated pursuant to STANS on a net basis exceeds
the initial margin calculated pursuant to SPAN on a gross basis, OCC
collateralizes this risk exposure by applying an additional margin
charge in the amount of such difference to the account'' (citation
omitted)).
\18\ Specifically, OCC proposes to use STANS plus certain add-on
charges as the basis for determining each Clearing Member's
proportionate share of total risk.
\19\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Margin Call Notification
On a daily basis, OCC evaluates the sufficiency of its financial
resources based on OCC's potential exposure to Clearing Member Groups
under certain stress test scenarios (``Sufficiency Stress Tests'').
Based on the results of the Sufficiency Stress Tests, OCC may call for
additional collateral to ensure that it maintains sufficient financial
resources to guard against potential losses. For example, OCC is
authorized to make an intra-day margin call against a Clearing Member
Group whose Sufficiency Stress Test exposures breach a pre-determined
threshold. Currently, OCC's rules require that written notification of
such intra-day margin calls in excess of $500 million be provided to
OCC's Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating
Officer (``Office of the CEO''). OCC proposes to revise its rules to
require that written notification of stress test-related intra-day
margin calls also be sent to the Office of the CEO when a stress test-
related intra-day margin call would exceed 75 percent of the Clearing
Member's excess net capital. OCC believes that this additional
notification requirement is appropriate because it would allow OCC's
senior management to be informed as soon as practicable of, and to
subsequently monitor, circumstances where a margin call may strain a
particular Clearing Member's ability to meet such requirements based on
its financial condition or the amount of collateral it has available to
pledge when certain pre-identified thresholds have been exceeded.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61123.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. Cooling-Off Period
In 2018, OCC implemented a set of recovery tools, including
revisions to OCC's authority to assess its Clearing Members for funds
to replenish OCC's Clearing Fund.\21\ For example, OCC implemented a
``cooling-off period'' during which its authority to levy such
assessments is capped, which provides certainty to Clearing Members
regarding their potential obligations to OCC. In proposing such
revisions, OCC intended that the cooling-off period would be triggered
by any proportionate Clearing Fund charges to Clearing Members related
to the default of a Clearing Member.\22\ OCC's current rules, however,
do not provide for a cooling-off period based on proportionate Clearing
Fund charges arising out of two specific sets of circumstances: (1) In
connection with protective transactions effected for the account of OCC
pursuant to Chapter XI of OCC's Rules and (2) as a result of a failure
of any Clearing Member to make any other required payment or render any
other required performance (as provided in clauses (v) and (vi) of OCC
Rule 1006(a)). OCC proposes to revise its rules such that any
proportionate Clearing Fund charges to Clearing Members related to the
default of a Clearing Member, including the two listed above, would
trigger a cooling-off period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83916 (Aug. 23,
2018), 83 FR 44076 (Aug. 29, 2018) (SR-OCC-2017-020).
\22\ See Notice of Filing, 84 FR at 61124. Such triggers include
the assessments arising out of a Clearing Member's failure to meet
its obligations regarding confirmed trades, exercised or assigned
contracts, stock loan transactions, or the liquidation of a Clearing
Member's open positions. See id. at n. 22.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Commission Findings and Notice of No Objection
Although the Clearing Supervision Act does not specify a standard
of review for an advance notice, the stated purpose of the Clearing
Supervision Act is instructive: 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 (``SIFMUs'') and strengthening the
liquidity of SIFMUs.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See 12 U.S.C. 5461(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act \24\ authorizes
the Commission to prescribe regulations containing risk-management
standards for the payment, clearing, and settlement activities of
designated clearing entities engaged in designated activities for which
the Commission is the supervisory agency. Section 805(b) of the
Clearing Supervision Act \25\ provides the following objectives and
principles for the Commission's risk-management standards prescribed
under Section 805(a):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(a)(2).
\25\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To promote robust risk management;
to promote safety and soundness;
to reduce systemic risks; and
to support the stability of the broader financial system.
Section 805(c) provides, in addition, that the Commission's risk-
management standards may address such areas as risk-management and
default policies and procedures, among other areas.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has adopted risk-management standards under Section
805(a)(2) of the Clearing Supervision Act and Section 17A of the
Exchange Act (the ``Clearing Agency Rules'').\27\
[[Page 67979]]
The Clearing Agency Rules require, among other things, each covered
clearing agency to establish, implement, maintain, and enforce written
policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to meet certain
minimum requirements for its operations and risk-management practices
on an ongoing basis.\28\ As such, it is appropriate for the Commission
to review advance notices against the Clearing Agency Rules and the
objectives and principles of these risk management standards as
described in Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act. As
discussed below, the Commission believes the changes proposed in the
Advance Notice are consistent with the objectives and principles
described in Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act,\29\ and in
the Clearing Agency Rules, in particular Rules 17Ad-22(e)(2) and
(4).\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
68080 (October 22, 2012), 77 FR 66220 (Nov. 2, 2012) (S7-08-11). See
also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78961 (September 28, 2016),
81 FR 70786 (October 13, 2016) (S7-03-14) (``Covered Clearing Agency
Standards''). The Commission established an effective date of
December 12, 2016 and a compliance date of April 11, 2017 for the
Covered Clearing Agency Standards. OCC is a ``covered clearing
agency'' as defined in Rule 17Ad-22(a)(5). The Commission
established an effective date of December 12, 2016 and a compliance
date of April 11, 2017 for the Covered Clearing Agency Standards.
OCC is a ``covered clearing agency'' as defined in Rule 17Ad-
22(a)(5).
\28\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22.
\29\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
\30\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(2) and 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Consistency With Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act
The Commission believes that the proposal contained in OCC's
Advance Notice is consistent with the stated objectives and principles
of Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision Act. Specifically, as
discussed below, the Commission believes that the changes proposed in
the Advance Notice are consistent with promoting robust risk management
in the area of credit risk, promoting safety and soundness, reducing
systemic risks, and supporting the stability of the broader financial
system.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission believes that the proposed changes to OCC's stress
testing methodology are consistent with the promotion of robust risk
management as well as safety and soundness at OCC. As described above,
OCC proposes to expand the suite of stress tests it uses to size the
Clearing Fund each month, and to revise OCC's estimation of VIX futures
prices for stress testing. The introduction of the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios to the monthly sizing of OCC's Clearing Fund would be in
addition to the Systemic Scenarios OCC already uses to size its
Clearing Fund and would help OCC address risks not currently
contemplated by OCC's Systemic Scenarios. Additionally, OCC proposes to
revise its process for shocking VIX futures prices to reflect the
actual term structure dynamics of such futures. OCC's current use of a
uniform shock for VIX futures contracts, regardless of tenure, is
inconsistent with its observation that futures contracts with different
expirations generally trade at different prices reflecting the
differing future price expectations of the underlying asset. By
enhancing its methodology for modeling price shocks for VIX futures,
OCC should be able to produce more appropriate VIX futures price shocks
in its stress scenarios, which in turn should enhance OCC's ability to
accurately and appropriately size its Clearing Fund. The Commission
believes that these changes, taken together, are consistent with the
promotion of robust risk management as well as safety and soundness at
OCC.
The Commission also believes that the proposed changes to OCC's
stress testing methodology are generally consistent with reducing
systemic risk and supporting the broader financial system. The
introduction of the Idiosyncratic Scenarios and revision of stress test
shocks to VIX futures are designed to provide OCC with a more robust
and accurate stress testing methodology. OCC uses its stress testing
methodology to size and monitor its total financial resources. OCC
relies on such resources to manage the potential losses arising out of
the default of a Clearing Member under extreme but plausible market
conditions. Strengthening the methodology that OCC uses to manage its
financial resources, therefore, strengthens OCC's ability to manage
Clearing Member defaults, which, in turn, enhances OCC's ability to
manage systemic risk and to support the broader financial system.
The Commission believes that the proposed changes regarding notice
of intra-day margin requirements and allocation of Clearing Fund
requirements also are consistent with the promotion of robust risk
management at OCC. Currently, OCC notifies its Office of the CEO when
intra-day margin calls generated in response to OCC's daily stress
tests are large in absolute terms (i.e., in excess of $500 million).
OCC proposes to also notify its Office of the CEO when such margin
calls are large relative to the Clearing Member against which they are
made (i.e., in excess of 75 percent of the Clearing Member's excess net
capital). The Commission believes that such notification would provide
additional meaningful risk management information to OCC's senior
management, which in turn could be used to inform critical decisions.
Additionally, OCC proposes to revise its method of allocating Clearing
Fund contribution requirements across Clearing Members. OCC proposes to
redefine the ``total risk'' component of its Clearing Fund allocation
formula such that it would rely on the same underlying model for all
Clearing Members when calculating total risk (as opposed to using
different models for different Clearing Members depending on their
cleared positions). The proposed change would not alter the allocation
weighting, but, in the Commission's view, it would provide a more
consistent metric by which to assess risks across Clearing Members.\32\
The Commission believes that these changes as well are consistent with
the promotion of robust risk management as well as safety and soundness
at OCC.
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\32\ While the proposed change would not affect the total size
of the Clearing Fund, it would result in changes to Clearing
Members' proportionate share of the Clearing Fund.
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Finally, the Commission believes that the proposed expansion of
triggers for the cooling-off period is consistent with the promotion of
safety and soundness at OCC. The Commission continues to believe that
the cooling-off period provides certainty and predictability regarding
Clearing Members' maximum liability for Clearing Fund
contributions.\33\ Currently, however, the cooling-off period would be
triggered by some, but not all proportionate Clearing Fund charges to
Clearing Members arising out of a Clearing Member's failure to meet
certain obligations under OCC's rules. OCC proposes to expand the set
of events that would trigger the cooling-off period to include certain
protective transactions and the failure of a Clearing Member to meets
its obligations under certain of OCC's rules. The two events to be
added as cooling-off period triggers are similar to the current
triggers in that they pertain to proportionate Clearing Fund charges
designed to manage the failure of a Clearing Member to meet its
obligations to OCC. The Commission believes that including these two
additional events as cooling-off period triggers would provide Clearing
Members with additional certainty and predictability regarding their
potential maximum liability for Clearing Fund contributions, which in
turn is consistent with the promotion of safety and soundness at OCC.
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\33\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83916 (Aug. 23,
2018), 83 FR 44076, 44082 (Aug. 29, 2018) (SR-OCC-2017-020).
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Accordingly, and for the reasons stated above, the Commission
believes the changes proposed in the Advance
[[Page 67980]]
Notice are consistent with Section 805(b) of the Clearing Supervision
Act.\34\
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\34\ 12 U.S.C. 5464(b).
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B. Consistency With Rule 17Ad-22(e)(2) Under the Exchange Act
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(2)(v) under the Exchange Act requires that a
covered clearing agency establish, implement, maintain, and enforce
written policies and procedures reasonably designed to provide for
governance arrangements that, among other things, specify clear and
direct lines of responsibility.\35\
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\35\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(2)(v).
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As described above, OCC proposes to add a new internal reporting
requirement regarding certain intra-day margin calls. OCC may call for
additional margin from Clearing Members based on the results of its
Sufficiency Stress Tests. In addition to notifying its Office of the
CEO when such margin calls are large in absolute terms (i.e., in excess
of $500 million), OCC now proposes to also notify to its Office of the
CEO when such margin calls are large relative to the Clearing Member
against which they are made (i.e., in excess of 75 percent of the
Clearing Member's excess net capital). The Commission agrees that such
notification would inform OCC's senior management, who could then
monitor circumstances as appropriate, when an intra-day margin call
could strain the resources of a particular Clearing Member based on its
financial condition. Accordingly, the Commission believes that the
adoption of such a notification requirement is consistent with Rule
17Ad-22(e)(2)(v) under the Exchange Act.\36\
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\36\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(2)(v).
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C. Consistency With Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4) Under the Exchange Act
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4) under the Exchange Act requires, in part, that a
covered clearing agency establish, implement, maintain, and enforce
written policies and procedures reasonably designed to effectively
identify, measure, monitor, and manage its credit exposures to
participants and those arising from its payment, clearing, and
settlement processes.\37\
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\37\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4).
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1. Stress Testing
Rules 17Ad-22(e)(4)(i) and (iii) under the Exchange Act require
that a covered clearing agency's policies and procedures meet the
requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4) by maintaining financial resources
at the minimum to enable OCC to cover a wide range of foreseeable
stress scenarios that include, but are not limited to, the default of
the participant family that would potentially cause the largest
aggregate credit exposure for OCC in extreme but plausible market
conditions.\38\ Further, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4)(vi) under the Exchange Act
requires that a covered clearing agency's policies and procedures meet
the requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4) by testing the sufficiency of a
covered clearing agency's total financial resources available to meet
the minimum financial resource requirements under Rules 17Ad-
22(e)(4)(i) through (iii).\39\
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\38\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(i) and 17 CFR 240.17Ad-
22(e)(4)(iii).
\39\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(vi).
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As described above, OCC proposes to expand the set of stress tests
that it uses to size the Clearing Fund by adding the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios to its current suite of stress tests. The Idiosyncratic
Scenarios are designed to capture the risk of extreme moves in
individual securities or small subsets of securities while the current
Systemic Scenarios are based on broad-based market and systemic shocks.
Consistent with the general view that expanding the types of scenarios
that a clearing agency uses in its monthly sizing process makes the
clearing agency's risk management robust to a broader range of shocks,
the Commission believes that OCC's proposal to add the Idiosyncratic
Scenarios to its suite of stress tests would be a strengthening change
that is consistent with the requirements of Rules 17Ad-22(e)(4)(i) and
(iii) under the Exchange Act.\40\
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\40\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(i) and 17 CFR 240.17Ad-
22(e)(4)(iii).
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Additionally, OCC proposes to revise its stress testing methodology
to produce differing price shocks for VIX futures across the term
structure. The proposed methodology would be based on SPX volatility
shocks across different expirations, as opposed to the current
methodology's reliance on a single shock to the VIX. As discussed
above, these changes would help OCC produce more appropriate VIX
futures price shocks in its stress scenarios, which in turn should
enhance OCC's ability to accurately and appropriately size its Clearing
Fund, consistent with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4)(vi).
Accordingly, the Commission believes that, taken together, OCC's
proposed changes to its stress testing methodology would be consistent
with the requirements of Rules 17Ad-22(e)(4)(i), (iii), and (vi).\41\
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\41\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(i); 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(iii);
and 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4) (vi).
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2. Clearing Fund Allocation
As noted above, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4) under the Exchange Act generally
requires that a covered clearing agency establish, implement, maintain,
and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to
effectively identify, measure, monitor, and manage its credit exposures
to participants and those arising from its payment, clearing, and
settlement processes.\42\
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\42\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4).
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OCC relies on the Clearing Fund as a source of mutualized resources
available to manage losses arising out of a Clearing Member's default.
OCC's method for allocating contributions to the Clearing Fund among
Clearing Members is aligned primarily with the credit risk posed by
each Clearing Member.\43\ OCC proposes to redefine the margin risk
component of its Clearing Fund allocation formula such that it would
rely on the same underlying model--STANS--for all Clearing Members (as
opposed to relying on STANS for most Clearing Members and SPAN for
certain Clearing Members with segregated futures accounts). The
proposed change would not change the overall allocation weighting
(i.e., margin risk would still account for 70 percent of Clearing
Members' Clearing Fund allocation), but the Commission believes it
would provide a more consistent metric by which to assess margin risk
across Clearing Members. Accordingly, the Commission believes that the
proposed change is reasonably designed to support the management of
OCC's credit exposures to its participants. OCC relies on the Clearing
Fund as a source of mutualized resources available to manage losses
arising out of a Clearing Member's default. OCC method for allocating
contributions to the Clearing Fund is aligned primarily with the credit
risk posed by each Clearing Member. The proposed change would not
change the allocation weighting but, the Commission believes, it would
provide a more consistent metric by which to assess risks across
Clearing Members. The Commission believes, therefore, that OCC's
proposed change to its Clearing Fund allocation methodology is
consistent with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4).\44\
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\43\ Clearing Fund allocations are based on a weighting of 70%
margin risk, what OCC refers to as the ``total risk'' component of
its Clearing Fund allocation formula, with open interest and cleared
volume weighted at 15% each.
\44\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4).
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3. Cooling-Off Period
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4)(ix) under the Exchange Act requires, in part,
that a
[[Page 67981]]
covered clearing agency establish, implement, maintain, and enforce
written policies and procedures reasonably designed to describe its
process to replenish any financial resources it may use following a
default or other event in which use of resources is contemplated.\45\
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\45\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(ix).
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As noted above, OCC's current recovery tools include a cooling-off
period, during which OCC's authority to assess Clearing Members for
funds to replenish OCC's Clearing Fund is limited. Recognizing the
limit that such a cooling-off period places on the financial resources
available to OCC, the Commission continues to believe that the cooling-
off period provides certainty and predictability regarding Clearing
Members' maximum liability for Clearing Fund contributions.\46\ OCC
proposes to expand the set of events that would start the cooling-off
period to include proportionate Clearing Fund charges to Clearing
Members triggered by certain protective transactions or the failure of
a Clearing Member to meet certain obligations under OCC's rules,
consistent with OCC's original intention with its prior filing. The two
events to be added as triggers for the cooling-off period are similar
to the current triggers in that they pertain to amounts paid out of the
Clearing Fund to manage the failure of a Clearing Member to meet its
obligations to OCC. Consistent with the Commission's statements
regarding the current formulation of the cooling-off period, the
Commission believes that the proposed expansion is consistent with
OCC's obligations to describe its process to replenish any financial
resources it may use following a default or other event in which use of
resources is contemplated as required under Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4)(ix).\47\
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\46\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83916 (Aug. 23,
2018), 83 FR 44076, 44082 (Aug. 29, 2018) (SR-OCC-2017-020).
\47\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(ix).
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Accordingly, and for the reasons stated above, the Commission
believes the changes proposed in the Advance Notice are consistent with
Rule 17Ad-22(e)(4) under the Exchange Act.\48\
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\48\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4).
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IV. Conclusion
It is therefore noticed, pursuant to Section 806(e)(1)(I) of the
Clearing Supervision Act, that the Commission does not object to
Advance Notice (SR-OCC-2019-806) and that OCC is authorized to
implement the proposed change as of the date of this notice or the date
of an order by the Commission approving proposed rule change SR-OCC-
2019-009 whichever is later.
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-26730 Filed 12-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P