67 FR 112 pgs. 40035-40036 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; the Depository Trust Company; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Use of the Federal Reserve Banks' Net Settlement System by Settling Banks
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 112Pages: 40035 - 40036
Docket number: [Release No. 34-46028; File No. SR-DTC-2002-06]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-14612 Filed 6-10-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-46028; File No. SR-DTC-2002-06]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; the Depository Trust Company; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Use of the Federal Reserve Banks' Net Settlement System by Settling Banks
June 4, 2002.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"),1notice is hereby given that on May 7, 2002, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by DTC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change relates to DTC's End-of-Day Settlement Process for settling bank participants of DTC.2Currently settling banks can use the Net Settlement Service ("NSS") of the Federal Reserve Banks (the "FRBs") as one method to satisfy their net-net debit balances at DTC. NSS permits DTC to submit an instruction to a FRB to have the account of the settling bank charged for their DTC end-of-day net-net debit balance. Utilization of NSS serves to eliminate the need for a settling bank to initiate a wire to DTC's account at a FRB in satisfaction of a net-net debit balance. As a result, the risk that a settling bank may incur a late payment fee due to a delay in wiring funds to DTC is reduced. Under the proposed rule change, as described more fully below, (i) all settling banks will be required to use NSS and (ii) any settling bank that only settles for its own account using NSS may opt to not acknowledge its net-net balance at the end of the day.
Footnotes:
2 A copy of the text of DTC's proposed rule change and the attached exhibits are available at the Commission's Public Reference Section or through DTC.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, DTC included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. DTC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.3
Footnotes:
3 The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by DTC.
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
The purpose of the proposed rule change is to reduce settlement risk. In February 2001, DTC adopted NSS as an alternative method for settling banks to satisfy their end-of-day net-net debits.4To date, 31 of the 83 DTC settling banks are using NSS.
Footnotes:
4 Exchange Act Release No. 44176 (April 11, 2001), 66 FR 19821 (April 17, 2001) [File No. SR-DTC-2001-02]. See also Important Notice to Participants Nos. 0842 (November 20, 2000) and 2728 (May 2, 2002) and DTC's memorandum (April 14, 2000). DTC's current and proposed use of NSS, all of which are attached as part of DTC's filing.
NSS eliminates the need for a settling bank to initiate a wire to DTC's FRB account in satisfaction of its end-of-the-day net-net balance and reduces the risk that the settling bank will be delayed in wiring funds to DTC. By reducing the likelihood of late payments, usage of NSS should reduce the likelihood that settling banks will be assessed a late payment fee and that the completion of DTC settlement will be delayed.
The importance of settling banks being able to wire funds to DTC became obvious during the week of September 11, 2001. Completion of settlement at DTC is at risk if all settling banks that are in a net-net debit position cannot initiate a wire to DTC's FRB account. Although DTC expects additional settling banks to begin to use NSS over the next year, DTC believes it is important that the net-net debits of all DTC settling banks are collected using NSS. Therefore DTC proposes to require all settling banks to use NSS to pay their DTC end-of-the-day net-net debit balances by August 31, 2001.
Prior to using NSS, settling banks are required to sign a Settler Agreement with an FRB which incorporates a requirement that settling banks agree to the terms of the Fed's Operating Circular No. 12.5The signed Settler Agreement must be submitted to a FRB through DTC. The Settler Agreement must be on the settling bank's letterhead and must be signed by an authorized signer recognized by the FRB.
Footnotes:
5 The Settler Agreement and Operating Circular No. 12 is attached as part of DTC's filing.
DTC proposes that settling banks use of NSS will be governed by DTC's procedures, including its End-of-Day Settlement Process section of DTC's Settlement Service Guide, as amended by this filing.6Fees connected with the End-of-Day Settlement Process remain unchanged.
Footnotes:
6 An amended version of this section of the Settlement Service guide is attached as part of DTC's filing.
Under Section 6.4 of Operating Circular No. 12, the settlement agent (in this case, DTC) has certain responsibilities regarding the allocation among settling banks using NSS of a claim for indemnity by a FRB. In making such an allocation, DTC will attempt to apply the same loss allocation procedures found in Section 4 and 9 of DTC's Rules and Procedures as it would with respect to losses included in DTC's settlement system.
Currently all settling banks are required to acknowledge their net-net debit balances, and settling banks that also settle for others are required to acknowledge their net-net credit balances. As part of its End-of-the-Day Settlement Process and use of NSS, DTC does not send a settling bank's net-net debit balance to a FRB for collection until the settling bank has acknowledged its balance. Some settling banks have requested that the acknowledgement step no longer be required. Therefore, DTC proposes to permit any settling bank that settles only for its own account using NSS to opt to not acknowledge its balance by signing the NSS Settling Bank Acknowledgement Option Form.7This option does not apply to settling banks that settle for others, as the acknowledgement process includes the option to refuse to pay for a participant for whom that settling bank provides settlement services.
Footnotes:
7 The form is attached as to DTC's filing. In addition, DTC has made changes to its Settling Bank Failure to Settling Procedures to reflect that certain settling banks may opt out of the acknowledgement requirements. See Exchange Act Release No. 41879 (September 15, 1999), 64 FR 51360 (September 22, 1999) [File No. SR-DTC-99-15].
DTC believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act8and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to DTC because it will reduce settlement risk. The proposed rule change will be implemented consistently with the safeguarding of securities and funds in DTC's custody or control or for which it is responsible since the new operation of DTC's settlement processes, as modified by the proposed rule change, will enhance the current operation of the function.
Footnotes:
8 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
DTC does not believe that the proposed rule change would have any material adverse impact on competition.
(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
The proposed rule change has been developed through discussions with several participants. However, DTC has received a letter from one participant expressing concerns regarding the FRB's NSS, and DTC has had subsequent conversations with that participant regarding that letter.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Within thirty-five days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to ninety days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve such proposed rule change or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of DTC. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-DTC-2002-06 and should be submitted by July 2, 2002.
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.9
Footnotes:
9 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-14612 Filed 6-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P