Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-63368; File No. SR-NSCC-2010-15]

                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”),[1]                                          notice is hereby given that on November 18, 2010, the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared primarily by NSCC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.                

## I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The proposed rule change would allow NSCC to add a new automated service to process transfers, replacements, and exchanges of insurance and retirement products through NSCC's Insurance and Retirement Processing Service (“IPS”).

## II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, NSCC 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. NSCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.

### 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 allow NSCC to offer a new automated service to transfer, replace, or exchange (collectively referred to as a “Replacement”) an existing insurance contract that is eligible for NSCC's IPS.                          ( print page 74118)    

#### 1. Background

Currently, the Replacement process is not conducted through a centralized or automated process and requires extensive manual processing of paper forms and other documents. The insurance industry currently utilizes Transfer of Assets forms, 1035 Exchange Forms, or other similar paperwork (collectively referred to as “TOA”) to document the request and the authorization for a Replacement. Currently, once an authorization has been obtained and the needed forms have been executed, the documents are transmitted by facsimile, mail, electronic mail, or other means. Because there is no centralized and automated mechanism for processing Replacements, there is also no centralized and automated settlement process for managing the movement of funds associated with Replacements. This lack of centralized and automated processing makes the overall Replacement process time consuming and labor intensive.

#### 2. Proposed Amendments

NSCC proposes to add a new Section 11 to Rule 57 (“Insurance and Retirement Processing Services”) so that NSCC can provide a service that will centralize and automate the processing of Replacements and will decrease the administrative burden on and risk to NSCC Members, Insurance Carrier/Retirement Service Members, Mutual Fund/Insurance Services Members, and Data Services Only Members.

Under the proposal, an Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services Member would be able to initiate a Replacement (“Receiving Carrier”) by submitting an instruction to NSCC to process a Replacement (“Request for Replacement”). NSCC would then transmit the Request for Replacement to the designated Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services Member (“Delivering Carrier”). The Delivery Member would have to confirm, reject, or request modification to the Request for Replacement in the format and by such time as established by NSCC. NSCC would delete from the IPS transfers that are not confirmed or rejected. The IPS would also incorporate and automate the settlement of confirmed Replacements into NSCC's existing settlement process for IPS.

NSCC states that the proposed service would decrease the operational risk inherent in the processing of paper documentation, would provide a uniform platform for Replacements, and would provide uniform rules and procedures for Replacements.

Under the proposed new Section 11, the Delivering Carrier waives the obligation of the Receiving Carrier to submit a signed physical copy of the TOA unless specifically required by state or local law. The transfer of any physical documents related to Replacements that are required under state law would continue to be transferred outside of NSCC. It would be the sole obligation of the Insurance Carrier/Retirement Services Members involved in the Replacement to confirm that all legal requirements, including any requirement to obtain a signed physical copy of the TOA imposed by applicable state or local law, are satisfied prior to confirming a Request for Replacement. The Replacement service would permit the transfer of documentation as an attachment to the Request for Replacement, but this would not be a requirement to utilize the Replacement service. The waiver of the obligation to submit signed physical documents is intended to improve the orderly processing of Replacements.

Finally, NSCC proposes to update the Fee Schedule to incorporate the fees associated with processing a Request for Replacement. The fee associated with a Request for Replacement, including submitting incremental replacement status messages and money settlement would be $5.00 per Request for Replacement. The cost would be divided between the carriers associated with the transaction with the Receiving Carrier responsible for $3.75 per transaction, which is three-fourths of the cost of the Replacement service, and the Delivering Carrier responsible for the remaining $1.25 fee, which is one-fourth of the cost. The fee associated with obtaining the status of a pending Request for Replacement, including incremental statuses, would be $1.00 per pending status request. The cost would be divided evenly between the Receiving Carrier and the Distributor, each of which would be responsible for paying a fee of $0.50.

#### 3. Implementation Timeframe

NSCC intends for the Replacement service to be implemented on or after January 1, 2011. Members would be advised of the specific implementation date through the issuance of an NSCC Important Notice.

                    NSCC states that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act [2]                                          and the rules and regulations thereunder because it will assist NSCC's Members in processing Replacements in a timely and efficient manner. NSCC further states that the proposed rule change is also consistent with Recommendation 15 of the CPSS/IOSCO Recommendations for Securities Settlement Systems in that the Replacement service should reduce manual errors, lower costs, and increase the speed of processing Replacements through the use of automation.                

### B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

NSCC believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

### C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others

NSCC has not solicited or received written comments relating to the proposed rule change. NSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments it receives.

## III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

                    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the                     **Federal Register**                     or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 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 or disapprove such proposed rule change, or

(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

## IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
    - Electronic comments may be submitted by using the Commission's Internet comment form http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml,                      or send an e-mail to                      rule-comment@sec.gov.                      Please include File No. SR-NSCC-2010-15 on the subject line.                
    - Paper comments should be sent in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

                    All submissions should refer to File No. SR-NSCC-2010-15. This file                           ( print page 74119)                        number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 Web site                     *http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml.*                     Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C 552, will be available for Web site 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at NSCC's principal office and NSCC's Web site                     *http://www.dtcc.com/​legal/​rule_​filings/​nscc/​2010.php*                    . All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submission should refer to File No. SR-NSCC-2010-15 and should be submitted within December 21, 2010 days after the date of publication.[3] 

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

Elizabeth M. Murphy, 

Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
        Back to Citation      

2.                             15 U.S.C. 78q-1.                    
        Back to Citation      

3.                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                    
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. 2010-30088 Filed 11-29-10; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P