[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 243 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81961-81964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27728]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-90649; File Nos. SR-DTC-2020-018; SR-FICC-2020-018; SR-
NSCC-2020-021]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filings and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 
Rule Changes To Amend the Clearing Agencies Liquidity Risk Management 
Framework

December 11, 2020.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on November 30, 2020, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC''), Fixed 
Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC''), and National Securities 
Clearing Corporation (``NSCC,'' and collectively, the ``Clearing 
Agencies'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule changes as described in Items I, II 
and III below, which Items have been primarily prepared by the Clearing 
Agencies. The Clearing Agencies filed the proposed rule changes 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\4\ The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule changes from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Clearing Agencies' Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Changes

    The proposed rule changes consist of amendments to the Clearing 
Agency Liquidity Risk Management Framework (``Framework'') of the 
Clearing Agencies. Specifically, the proposed rule changes would (1) 
reflect that a stress testing team (``Stress Testing Team'') has taken 
over certain responsibilities related to liquidity risk management; (2) 
simplify the description of the FICC qualifying liquidity resources, 
which are identical for each of its divisions; (3) reflect the 
inclusion of the proceeds of NSCC's issuance and private placement of 
term debt as an additional NSCC liquidity resource; (4) revise the 
description of NSCC's supplemental liquidity deposits to allow for 
future revisions to this requirement; (5) reflect the reclassification 
of a stress scenario that assumes the default of multiple participants 
as an informational stress scenario; and (6) make other revisions in 
order to clarify and simplify the descriptions within the Framework, as 
further described below.

II. Clearing Agencies' Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Changes

    In their filings with the Commission, the Clearing Agencies 
included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the 
proposed rule changes and discussed any comments they received on the 
proposed rule changes. The text of these statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Clearing Agencies have 
prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the 
most significant aspects of such statements.

(A) Clearing Agencies' Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Changes

1. Purpose
    The Clearing Agencies adopted the Framework \5\ to set forth the 
manner in which they measure, monitor and manage the liquidity risks 
that arise in or are borne by each of the Clearing Agencies, including 
(i) the manner in which each of the Clearing Agencies deploy their 
respective liquidity tools to meet their settlement obligations on an 
ongoing and timely basis, and (ii) each applicable Clearing Agencies' 
use of intraday liquidity.\6\ In this way, the Framework describes the 
liquidity risk management of each of the Clearing Agencies and how the 
Clearing Agencies meet the applicable requirements of Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(7).\7\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82377 (December 21, 
2017), 82 FR 61617 (December 28, 2017) (SR-DTC-2017-004; SR-NSCC-
2017-005; SR-FICC-2017-008 (``Initial Filing'').
    \6\ See 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i), (ii), and (iv) through 
(ix).
    \7\ Id.
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    The Clearing Agencies are proposing changes to the Framework that 
would update, clarify and simplify the descriptions, but would not make 
any substantive revisions to how the Clearing Agencies manage their 
liquidity risks and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements. 
More specifically, the proposed changes would (1) reflect that the 
Stress Testing

[[Page 81962]]

Team that has taken over certain responsibilities related to liquidity 
risk management; (2) simplify the description of the FICC qualifying 
liquidity resources, which are identical for each of its divisions; (3) 
reflect the inclusion of the proceeds of NSCC's issuance and private 
placement of term debt as an additional NSCC liquidity resource; (4) 
revise the description of NSCC's supplemental liquidity deposits to 
allow for future revisions to this requirement; (5) reflect the 
reclassification of a stress scenario that assumes the default of 
multiple participants as an informational stress scenario; and (6) make 
other revisions in order to clarify and simplify the descriptions 
within the Framework. Each of these proposed changes are described in 
greater detail below.
i. Proposed Amendments To Reflect Creation of Stress Testing Team
    First, the proposed changes would reflect that the Stress Testing 
Team within the Group Chief Risk Office of DTCC (``GCRO''),\8\ which 
previously was responsible for market risk stress testing, took over 
stress testing and other responsibilities related to liquidity risk 
management in late 2019. This change was intended to centralize stress 
testing and related responsibilities under one team. Because this team 
has taken responsibility for certain actions described in the 
Framework, the proposed changes would identify this team as responsible 
for those actions. For example, the Stress Testing Team would be 
identified as responsible for performing daily stress testing of the 
qualifying liquid resources that are held by each of NSCC and FICC in 
compliance with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(i), and as responsible for certain 
actions related to the development and maintenance of stress 
scenarios.\9\ The proposed changes would also identify the Stress 
Testing Working Group as responsible for reviewing and approving stress 
scenarios on a monthly basis to determine that they meeting regulatory 
requirements.
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    \8\ The parent company of the Clearing Agencies is The 
Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (``DTCC''). DTCC operates on 
a shared services model with respect to the Clearing Agencies and 
its other subsidiaries. Most corporate functions are established and 
managed on an enterprise-wide basis pursuant to intercompany 
agreements under which it is generally DTCC that provides a relevant 
service to a subsidiary, including the Clearing Agencies.
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i).
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    In connection with this proposed change, the Clearing Agencies are 
also proposing to include a general statement in Section 1 (Executive 
Summary) of the Framework, that, unless otherwise specified, actions in 
the Framework related to stress testing are performed by the Stress 
Testing Team and all other actions described in the Framework are the 
responsibility of the Liquidity Product Risk Unit. The proposed changes 
would also revise descriptions of certain actions to remove references 
to the group that is responsible for those actions. These proposed 
changes would simplify the description of these actions, while 
clarifying the teams responsible for conducting these actions in a 
general statement within the Framework.
ii. Proposed Amendments To Simplify the Description of FICC's Liquidity 
Resources
    Second, the proposed changes would consolidate Sections 5.2.1 and 
5.2.2 (in the proposed amended Framework, Section 5.2.2) to simplify 
the description of FICC's qualifying liquidity resources, which are 
identical for its Government Securities Division (``GSD'') and 
Mortgage-Backed Securities Division (``MBSD'').\10\ The qualifying 
liquidity resources of both GSD and MBSD consist of deposits to their 
respective Clearing Funds, consisting of both cash and eligible 
securities,\11\ and funds available from their respective rules-based 
committed Capped Contingency Liquidity Facility programs.\12\ The 
proposed changes would simplify the Framework by consolidating two 
sections that currently describe identical resources for the two 
divisions of FICC. The proposed changes would also make conforming 
changes to section numbers, footnotes, and cross-references in Section 
2 (Glossary of Key Terms).
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    \10\ ``Qualifying liquid resources'' are defined in Rule 17Ad-
22(a)(14). 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(a)(14).
    \11\ Rule 4, Section 5 (Use of Clearing Fund) of the Rulebook of 
GSD and Rule 4, Section 5 (Use of Clearing Fund) of the Clearing 
Rules of MBSD, available at http://dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.
    \12\ Rule 22A, Section 2a (Liquidity Requirements of Netting 
Members) of the Rulebook of GSD and Rule 17, Section 2a (Capped 
Contingency Liquidity Facility) of the Clearing Rules of MBSD, 
available at http://dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.
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iii. Proposed Amendments To Include Term Debt as NSCC Liquidity 
Resource
    Third, the proposed changes would amend Section 5.2.3, which 
currently describes each of the qualifying liquidity resources of 
NSCC.\13\ NSCC recently began raising additional prefunded liquidity 
through the issuance and private placement of term debt in the form of 
medium- and long-term unsecured notes.\14\ The proposed changes would 
amend Section 5.2.3 to include a description of the proceeds of these 
debt issuances as an additional qualifying liquidity resource of NSCC. 
The proposed changes would update this section to accurately identify 
all qualifying liquidity resources of NSCC.
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    \13\ Supra note 10.
    \14\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88146 (February 7, 
2020), 85 FR 8046 (February 12, 2020) (SR-NSCC-2019-802).
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iv. Proposed Amendments To Revise Description of NSCC Supplemental 
Liquidity Deposits
    Fourth, the proposed changes would also amend Section 5.2.3 (in the 
proposed amended Framework, Section 5.2.2) to revise the description of 
the supplemental liquidity deposits, or ``SLD.'' Under Rule 4(A) of the 
NSCC Rules & Procedures (``NSCC Rules''), Members whose default would 
pose the largest liquidity exposure to NSCC are required to make 
additional deposits to the NSCC Clearing Fund in the form of SLD to 
cover that liquidity exposure.\15\
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    \15\ Rule 4(A) of the NSCC Rules, available at http://dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures.
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    The proposed changes to Section 5.2.3 would remove references to 
certain aspects of the SLD requirements that NSCC is planning to amend 
pursuant to a separate proposed rule change to be filed.\16\ The 
proposed changes to Section 5.2.3 would remove these descriptions but 
would retain a complete and clear description of the SLD requirements 
for purposes of the Framework. The proposed changes would allow the 
Framework to accurately describe the SLD requirements, notwithstanding 
any future changes to those requirements.
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    \16\ Such proposed changes to Rule 4(A) of the NSCC Rules would 
be filed by NSCC pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Act. 15 U.S.C. 
78s(b)(1).
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v. Proposed Amendments To Update the Multiple Member Default Stress 
Scenario
    Fifth, the proposed changes would update Sections 6.2.3 to reflect 
the recent reclassification of a stress scenario that assumes a 
simultaneous default of multiple unaffiliated participants or multiple 
Affiliated Families from a ``Regulatory Level 3 Scenario'' to an 
``Informational Level 3 Scenario.'' Section 6.2 describes how FICC and 
NSCC measure the sufficiency of their respective qualifying liquid 
resources through daily liquidity studies, across a range of stress 
scenarios in compliance with the requirements under Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(7)(i) and (vi)(A).\17\ One set of stress scenarios are 
categorized as Level 3

[[Page 81963]]

Scenarios, which are further identified as either (1) Regulatory Stress 
Scenarios, which are stress scenarios that meet the requirements set 
forth in Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(vi)(A),\18\ and (2) Informational Stress 
Scenarios, which are stress scenarios that are not designed to meet the 
requirements set forth in Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(vi)(A),\19\ but are used 
for both informational and monitoring purposes.
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    \17\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(i) and (vi)(A).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(7)(vi)(A).
    \19\ Id.
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    NSCC previously included a stress scenario that assumed the default 
of multiple participants as a Regulatory Level 3 Scenario, despite the 
fact that this scenario utilizes parameters and assumptions that exceed 
the requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(7)(vi)(A).\20\ NSCC has 
reclassified this scenario as an Informational Level 3 Scenario and, as 
such, it is utilized for informational and monitoring purposes only. 
The proposed changes would reflect this reclassification in Section 
6.2.3, where Level 3 Scenarios are described.
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    \20\ Id.
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vi. Proposed Amendments To Clarify and Simplify Descriptions in the 
Framework
    Finally, the proposed changes would make minor updates to certain 
descriptions in the Framework to clarify and simplify those 
descriptions. For example, the proposed changes would amend Section 2 
(Glossary of Key Terms) to use the term ``Group Chief Risk Office'' in 
the definition of the Liquidity Product Risk Unit, instead of using the 
defined term ``GCRO'' which is not otherwise defined in the Framework. 
The proposed changes would also amend Section 2 to update the defined 
terms of ``CP Program'', ``Prefunded Liquidity'', and ``Term Debt 
Issuance'' in connection with the proposed changes to include term debt 
as an NSCC liquidity resource, as described above.
    The proposed changes would also clarify the names of certain groups 
identified in the Framework. For example, the team that is responsible 
for market risk management would be referred to as ``Market Risk 
Management'' rather than the ``Market Risk unit''.
    These proposed changes would not make any substantive revisions to 
the amended descriptions in the Framework but would clarify and 
simplify those descriptions with immaterial updates.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Clearing Agencies believe that the proposed changes are 
consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act, for the reasons 
described below.\21\
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    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, in part, that the rules 
of a registered clearing agency be designed to promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions, and to 
assure the safeguarding of securities and funds which are in the 
custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is 
responsible, for the reasons described below.\22\ As described above, 
the proposed changes would update the Framework to (1) reflect a change 
in the teams responsible for certain actions, (2) include an additional 
liquidity resource at NSCC, and (3) reflect a change in the 
classification of one of the stress scenarios used by NSCC and FICC. 
The proposed changes would also simplify the description of the FICC 
qualifying liquidity resources, update the description of the NSCC SLD, 
and make other updates to clarify and simplify descriptions in the 
Framework. By updating the Framework to reflect these changes, and 
creating clearer, simpler descriptions, the Clearing Agencies believe 
the proposed changes would make the Framework more effective in 
describing liquidity risk management that is conducted by the Clearing 
Agencies, as described therein.
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    \22\ Id.
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    The Framework describes how the Clearing Agencies carry out its 
liquidity risk management strategy such that, with respect to FICC and 
NSCC, they maintain liquid resources sufficient to meet the potential 
amount of funding required to settle outstanding transactions of a 
defaulting participant or family of affiliated participants in a timely 
manner, and with respect to DTC, it maintains sufficient available 
liquid resources to complete system-wide settlement on each business 
day, with a high degree of confidence and notwithstanding the failure 
to settle of the participant or affiliated family of participants with 
the largest settlement obligation. As such, the Clearing Agencies' 
liquidity risk management strategies address the Clearing Agencies' 
maintenance of sufficient liquid resources, which allow them to 
continue the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
and can continue to assure the safeguarding of securities and funds 
which are in their custody or control or for which they are responsible 
notwithstanding the default of a participant or family of affiliated 
participants.
    The proposed changes to update the Framework and improve the 
clarity and accuracy of the descriptions of liquidity risk management 
functions within the Framework would assist the Clearing Agencies in 
carrying out these functions. Therefore, the Clearing Agencies believe 
the proposed changes are consistent with the requirements of Section 
17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\23\
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    \23\ Id.
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(B) Clearing Agencies Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Clearing Agencies do not believe the proposed changes to the 
Framework described above would have any impact, or impose any burden, 
on competition. As described above, the proposed changes would update 
the Framework, and would improve the clarity and accuracy of the 
descriptions of the Clearing Agencies' liquidity risk management 
functions. Therefore, the proposed changes are technical and non-
material in nature, relating mostly to the operation of the Framework 
rather than the liquidity risk management functions described therein. 
As such, the Clearing Agencies do not believe that the proposed rule 
changes would have any impact on competition.

(C) Clearing Agencies' Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule 
Changes Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The Clearing Agencies have not solicited or received any written 
comments relating to this proposal. The Clearing Agencies will notify 
the Commission of any written comments received by the Clearing 
Agencies.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule changes do not:
    (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest;
    (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and
    (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was 
filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has 
become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \24\ and 
Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\25\
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \25\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
changes, the Commission summarily may

[[Page 81964]]

temporarily suspend such rule changes if it appears to the Commission 
that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, 
for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Numbers SR-DTC-2020-018, SR-FICC-2020-018, and SR-NSCC-2020-021 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 Numbers SR-DTC-2020-018, SR-FICC-
2020-018, and SR-NSCC-2020-021. These file numbers should be included 
on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process 
and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. 
The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet 
website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, 
all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the 
proposed rule changes that are filed with the Commission, and all 
written communications relating to the proposed rule changes 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 Clearing Agencies and on DTCC's website 
(http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx). All comments received 
will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Numbers SR-DTC-2020-018, SR-FICC-2020-018, and SR-
NSCC-2020-021 and should be submitted on or before January 7, 2021.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\26\
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    \26\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-27728 Filed 12-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


