Document ID: SEC-2021-0452-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: National Securities Clearing Corp.
Posted Date: 2021-04-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 62 (Friday, April 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17440-17448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06770]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-91428; File No. SR-NSCC-2021-004]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed 
Rule Change To Amend the Recovery & Wind-Down Plan

March 29, 2021.
    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 March 23, 2021, National Securities Clearing Corporation (``NSCC'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the clearing agency. NSCC filed the 
proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \3\ of the Act and 
Rule 19b-4(f)(4) thereunder.\4\ The Commission is publishing this 
notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change 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)(4).

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[[Page 17441]]

I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change \5\ consists of amendments to the R&W Plan 
to (i) reflect business and product developments, (ii) make certain 
changes to improve the clarity of the Plan, (iii) remove provisions 
covering certain ``business-as-usual'' actions, and (iv) make certain 
technical corrections, as described in greater detail below.
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    \5\ Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the 
Rules and Procedures of NSCC (the ``Rules''), available at https://
dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/legal/rules/nscc_rules.pdf, or in 
the Recovery & Wind-down Plan of NSCC (the ``R&W Plan'' or 
``Plan'').
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

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

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The proposed rule change would amend the R&W Plan to (i) reflect 
business and product developments, (ii) make certain changes to improve 
the clarity of the Plan, (iii) remove provisions covering certain 
``business-as-usual'' actions, and (iv) make certain technical 
corrections. Each of the proposed revisions is further described below.
Background
    The R&W Plan was adopted in August 2018 \6\ and is maintained by 
NSCC for compliance with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act.\7\ The 
R&W Plan sets forth the plan to be used by the Board and NSCC 
management in the event NSCC encounters scenarios that could 
potentially prevent it from being able to provide its critical services 
as a going concern. The R&W Plan is structured as a roadmap that 
defines the strategy and identifies the tools available to NSCC to 
either (i) recover, in the event it experiences losses that exceed its 
prefunded resources (such strategies and tools referred to herein as 
the ``Recovery Plan'') or (ii) wind-down its business in a manner 
designed to permit the continuation of NSCC's critical services in the 
event that such recovery efforts are not successful (such strategies 
and tools referred to herein as the ``Wind-down Plan''). The recovery 
tools available to NSCC are intended to address the risks of (a) 
uncovered losses or liquidity shortfalls resulting from the default of 
one or more of its Members, and (b) losses arising from non-default 
events, such as damage to NSCC's physical assets, a cyber-attack, or 
custody and investment losses, and the strategy for implementation of 
such tools. The R&W Plan also describes the strategy and framework for 
the orderly wind-down of NSCC and the transfer of its business in the 
event the implementation of the available recovery tools does not 
successfully return NSCC to financial viability.
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    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 83974 (August 28, 
2018), 83 FR 44988 (September 4, 2018), (SR-NSCC-2017-017); and 
83955 (August 27, 2018), 83 FR 44340 (August 30, 2018) (SR-NSCC-
2017-805).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii). NSCC is a ``covered clearing 
agency'' as defined in Rule 17Ad-22(a)(5) under the Act and must 
comply with paragraph (e) of Rule 17Ad-22.
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    The R&W Plan is managed and developed by NSCC's parent company, the 
Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (``DTCC''),\8\ and is managed 
by the Office of Recovery & Resolution Planning (referred to in the 
Plan as the ``R&R Team'') on behalf of NSCC, with review and oversight 
by the DTCC Management Committee and the Board.
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    \8\ DTCC operates on a shared service model with respect to NSCC 
and its other affiliated clearing agencies, The Depository Trust 
Company{ XE ``NSCC'' {time}  (``DTC'') and Fixed Income Clearing 
Corporation (``FICC''). Most corporate functions are established and 
managed on an enterprise-wide basis pursuant to intercompany 
agreements under which it is generally DTCC that provides relevant 
services to NSCC, DTC{ XE ``NSCC'' {time}  and FICC (collectively, 
the ``Clearing Agencies'').
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Proposed Amendments to the R&W Plan
    The Board, or such committees as may be delegated authority by the 
Board from time to time pursuant to its charter, is required to review 
and approve the R&W Plan biennially.\9\ In connection with the first 
biennial review of the Plan, NSCC is proposing the revisions described 
in greater detail below. The proposed rule change is designed to update 
and enhance the clarity of the Plan to ensure it is current in the 
event it is ever necessary to be implemented. None of the proposed 
changes modify NSCC's general objectives and approach with respect to 
its recovery and wind-down strategy as set forth under the current 
Plan.
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    \9\ Supra note 6.
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A. Proposed Changes To Reflect Business or Product Developments
1. Updates to DTCC Business Profile, Intercompany Arrangements, FMI 
Links and Governance
    NSCC is proposing the following changes to the DTCC Business 
Profile, Intercompany Arrangements, FMI Links and Governance sections 
of the Plan based upon business updates that have occurred since the 
time the Plan was adopted.
    Section 2.1 (DTCC Business Profile) of the Plan describes that DTCC 
is a user-owned and user-governed holding company for a group of direct 
and indirect subsidiaries and joint ventures. This section includes a 
brief summary of each of the three subsidiaries (DTC, FICC and NSCC) 
that have been designated as systemically important financial market 
utilities (``SIFMUs'') by the Financial Stability Oversight Council. 
The proposed rule change would revise the introductory paragraph of 
this section to remove reference to joint ventures because DTCC 
currently has no joint ventures.
    Section 2.4 (Intercompany Arrangements) of the Plan currently 
describes how corporate support services are provided to NSCC from 
DTCC, and to DTCC's other subsidiaries through intercompany agreements 
under a shared services model. NSCC is proposing to update Table 2-A 
(SIFMU Legal Entity Structure and Intercompany Agreements), which 
delineates NSCC's affiliates, to reflect the name change of Omgeo Pte 
Ltd by removing ``Omgeo Pte Ltd'' and replacing it with the new name of 
this entity, ``DTCC Singapore Pte. Ltd.'' A related footnote would also 
be added to make clear that the services provided by DTCC Singapore 
Pte. Ltd. are performed through its branch office in Manila, DTCC 
Manila. Additionally, this section includes a separate table, Table 2-
B, that lists each of the DTCC facilities utilized by the Clearing 
Agencies and indicates whether the facility is owned or leased by DTCC. 
NSCC proposes to update this table to add Boston, Massachusetts as an 
additional location of a DTCC facility and to indicate that this 
facility is leased by DTCC.
    Currently, Section 2.5 (FMI Links) of the Plan describes some, but 
not all, of the key financial market infrastructures (``FMIs''), both 
domestic and foreign, that NSCC has identified as critical ``links.'' 
\10\ In order to better align with

[[Page 17442]]

the structure of DTCC's inventory of links maintained by DTCC's 
Systemic Risk Office (``SRO''), which includes all of NSCC's link 
relationships, the proposed rule change would delete the current ``FMI 
Links'' section of the R&W Plan and replace it with a revised version 
of Section 2.5 that would include an overview of NSCC's link 
arrangements, a related footnote to the definition of a ``link'' under 
Rule 17Ad-22(a)(8) under the Act, and a table (Table 2-C: Links) 
listing all of NSCC's FMI link arrangements. The table would list the 
link, the link category (i.e., whether the link is a central 
counterparty, settlement interface, or matching utility), and a brief 
description. The proposed rule change would also add a table (Table 2-
D: Schedule A Relationships) that would identify certain critical 
external service providers that, as determined by NSCC's management, do 
not meet the specified criteria of ``link'' but nevertheless are 
subject to the same review process as is conducted for links, referred 
to within NSCC as ``Schedule A Relationships,'' and a related footnote. 
This change would align with the structure of SRO's inventory of 
Schedule A Relationships.
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    \10\ As defined in Rule 17Ad-22(a)(8) under the Act, a link 
``means, for purposes of paragraph (e)(20) of [Rule 17Ad-22], a set 
of contractual and operational arrangements between two or more 
clearing agencies, financial market utilities, or trading markets 
that connect them directly or indirectly for the purposes of 
participating in settlement, cross margining, expanding their 
services to additional instruments or participants, or for any other 
purposes material to their business.'' 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(a)(8).
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    Section 4.3 (Recovery and Wind-down Program Governance) of the Plan 
currently contains a paragraph that identifies DTCC's ``R&R Steering 
Group'' as the internal group responsible for ensuring that each of the 
Clearing Agencies observes recovery planning requirements, and that 
recovery planning is integrated into the Clearing Agencies' overall 
governance processes including the preparation, review, and filing of 
the Clearing Agencies' R&W Plans. Pursuant to the proposed rule change, 
NSCC would revise Section 4.3 to reflect an internal organizational 
name change. The proposal would change the name of the R&R Steering 
Group to the ``Recovery and Wind-down Planning Council'' to reflect its 
role as an advisory body.\11\ This name change would not change the 
composition, role or responsibilities of this internal group, which 
includes selected members of DTCC's Management Committee and members of 
DTCC's financial and operational risk management, product management, 
legal, and treasury/finance teams that are responsible for providing 
strategic guidance and direction for the recovery and wind-down program 
\12\ and the Plan. Additionally, for purposes of clarification, the 
proposal would add the words ``, where necessary,'' to refer to when 
the council would engage with internal working groups.
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    \11\ In accordance with DTCC's Policy on Governance of Internal 
Committees and Councils, a ``council'' is defined as an advisory 
body that has no decision-making authority. A council may be formed 
by any committee or a Managing Director. Councils will share 
information, discuss topics, and make recommendations to its 
initiating committee or Managing Director. Councils report up to 
their initiating committee or Managing Director.
    \12\ In 2013, DTCC launched its Recovery & Resolution Planning 
Program for DTC, NSCC, and FICC as part of its continued commitment 
to enhancing risk management. The Office of Recovery & Resolution 
Planning was established to manage the program and the development 
of the recovery and wind-down plans for the Clearing Agencies.
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2. Liquidity Shortfalls
    Section 5.3 (Liquidity Shortfalls) of the Plan identifies tools 
that may be used to address foreseeable shortfalls of NSCC's liquidity 
resources following a Member default. The goal in managing NSCC's 
qualified liquidity resources is to maximize resource availability in 
an evolving stress situation, to maintain flexibility in the order and 
use of sources of liquidity, and to repay any third-party lenders of 
liquidity in a timely manner. This section includes a table (Table 5-C) 
that lists NSCC liquidity tools and resources.\13\ The proposed rule 
change would update this section to include a reference to cash 
proceeds from outstanding term debt issuance in addition to the other 
examples of NSCC's qualifying liquid resources. A footnote would also 
be added providing the citation to NSCC's advance notice filing 
covering the term debt issuance.\14\
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    \13\ Table 5-C lists the following NSCC liquidity tools: Utilize 
short-settling liquidating trades, Increase the speed of portfolio 
asset sales, Credit Facility, Unissued Commercial Paper, Non-
Qualifying Liquid Resources, and Uncommitted stock loan and equity 
repos.
    \14\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87912 (January 8, 
2020), 85 FR 2187 (January 14, 2020) (SR-NSCC-2019-802).
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B. Proposal To Make Certain Clarifications to the R&W Plan
1. Critical Services and Indicative Non-Critical Services
    Section 3 (Critical Services) of the Plan defines the criteria for 
classifying certain of NSCC's services as ``critical,'' \15\ and 
identifies such critical services and the rationale for their 
classification. The identification of NSCC's critical services is 
important for evaluating how the recovery tools and the wind-down 
strategy would facilitate and provide for the continuation of NSCC's 
critical services to the markets it serves. This section also includes 
a list of indicative non-critical services.
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    \15\ The criteria that is used to identify an NSCC service or 
function as critical includes consideration as to whether (1) there 
is a lack of alternative providers or products; (2) failure of the 
service could impact NSCC's ability to perform its central 
counterparty services; (3) failure of the service could impact 
NSCC's ability to perform its netting services, and, as such, the 
availability of market liquidity; and (4) the service is 
interconnected with other participants and processes within the U.S. 
financial system (for example, with other FMIs, settlement banks, 
broker-dealers, and exchanges).
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    This section includes a table (Table 3-B: NSCC Critical Services) 
that lists each of the services, functions or activities that NSCC has 
identified as ``critical'' based on the applicability of the criteria. 
As more fully described below, the proposed rule change would clarify 
in Table 3-B the description of some of the critical services and 
update the table to include an additional critical service. While the 
clarifying changes do not change the classification of the relevant 
service (as being either ``critical'' or ``indicative non-critical''), 
nor impact the existing classification of other services, NSCC believes 
these revisions would enhance the clarity of the descriptions of them.
    First, the proposed rule change would revise the entries for ``3. 
Obligation Warehouse'' and ``10. CNS/Prime Broker Interface'' to delete 
the check mark denoting the lack of alternative providers and products 
as one of the determinants for its classification as a critical 
service. Second, the proposed rule change would replace the name of the 
service identified in the current plan as exchange-traded fund ``5. 
ETF'' to exchange-traded products ``5. ETPs'' in order to more 
accurately align with the scope of what is covered by these services. 
Third, currently the critical service ``6. ACATS'' \16\ is described as 
``A service under which Members can transfer their customers' assets 
from one brokerage account and/or bank to another, while processing 
through CNS.'' The proposed rule change would add at the end of this 
description the phrase ``, DTC, Obligation Warehouse, OCC and others,'' 
in order to include a more comprehensive description of this service. 
Fourth, in the description of ``11. Balance Order Netting,'' the 
proposed rule change would delete the phrase ``balance order 
transactions'' and replace it with ``Balance Order Contracts'' because 
it is a defined term under the Rules.\17\
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    \16\ ``ACATS'' refers to NSCC's Automated Customer Accounts 
Transfer Service.
    \17\ Pursuant to Rule 5, supra note 5, ``Balance Order 
Contracts'' is defined as Compared Contracts for Balance Order 
Securities and other transactions in respect of Balance Order 
Securities submitted to NSCC under the Rules.

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[[Page 17443]]

    Also, the proposed rule change would update Table 3-B (NSCC 
Critical Services) to add ``Account Information Transmission'' 
(``AIT''). This new entry would include in the description of AIT \18\ 
that it is being enhanced in support of the bulk transfer initiative, 
which is an industry effort designed to prepare carrying broker-dealers 
for an emergency mass transfer of large quantities of customer accounts 
and assets from a distressed broker to a financially secure broker.\19\ 
In the column that delineates the determinant for its classification as 
a critical service, this new entry would have a check mark that denotes 
this is because of a lack of alternative providers and products.
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    \18\ As set forth in Table 3-B of the Plan, the ``AIT'' service 
is described as a secure data transport facility that allows NSCC 
Members to perform a single movement of many customer brokerage 
accounts.
    \19\ See https://www.sifma.org/resources/general/bulk-transfer-playbook.
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2. Member Default Losses Through the Crisis Continuum
    Section 5 (Member Default Losses through the Crisis Continuum) of 
the Plan is comprised of multiple subsections that identify the risk 
management surveillance, tools, and governance that NSCC may employ 
across an increasing stress environment, referred to as the ``Crisis 
Continuum.'' \20\ This section currently identifies, among other 
things, the tools that can be employed by NSCC to mitigate losses, and 
mitigate or minimize liquidity needs, as the market environment becomes 
increasingly stressed. As more fully described below, the proposed rule 
change would clarify certain language.
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    \20\ As set forth in the Recovery Plan, the phases of the 
``Crisis Continuum'' include (1) a stable market phase, (2) a 
stressed market phase, (3) a phase commencing with NSCC's decision 
to cease to act for a Member or Affiliated Family, and (4) a 
recovery phase.
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    Section 5.2.1 (Stable Market Phase) describes NSCC's risk 
management activities in the normal course of business. These 
activities include (i) the routine monitoring of margin adequacy 
through daily evaluation of backtesting and stress testing results that 
review the adequacy of NSCC's margin calculations, and escalation of 
those results to internal and Board committees and (ii) routine 
monitoring of liquidity adequacy through review of daily liquidity 
studies that measure sufficiency of available liquidity resources to 
meet cash settlement obligations of the Member that would generate the 
largest aggregate payment obligation. Further, under the heading 
``Market Risk Monitoring and Stable Market Indicators,'' this section 
states that the amount of Clearing Fund required from each Member is 
determined principally by Value-at-Risk (``VaR'') calculations,\21\ and 
that in order to ensure the VaR model accurately reflects market 
conditions and provides adequate protection against market risk, NSCC 
evaluates several factors on an ongoing basis.
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    \21\ As described in the Plan, Value-at-Risk (``VaR'') 
calculations are based on the potential price-change volatility of 
unsettled positions according to NSCC's risk-based margin model.
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    The proposed rule change would remove the following factor as one 
of those evaluated, because it is no longer part of NSCC's model 
calculation, ``Implied volatility to assess whether a potential 
increase in market price volatility may not be fully incorporated in 
the historical price moves.'' \22\ The elimination of the language 
regarding implied volatility provides a more accurate representation of 
the risk model calculation. Consistent with the above, NSCC would also 
remove the paragraph in this section that states that implied market 
price volatility as measured by benchmarks such as the VIX index does 
not indicate material changes in market price volatility are expected.
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    \22\ The remaining factors set forth in the Plan that NSCC 
evaluates to ensure that the VaR model accurately reflects market 
conditions and provides adequate protection against market risk are: 
(i) Backtesting and other model performance monitoring to assess the 
robustness of the Clearing Fund requirements, and (ii) stress 
testing based on real historical and hypothetical scenarios to 
assess the margin adequacy under extreme but plausible market 
conditions. The Clearing Fund Formula is described in Procedure XV 
(Clearing Fund Formula and Other Matters), supra note 5.
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    Section 5.2.4 (Recovery Corridor and Recovery Phase) outlines the 
early warning indicators to be used by NSCC to evaluate its options and 
potentially prepare to enter the ``Recovery Phase,'' which phase refers 
to the actions to be taken by NSCC to restore its financial resources 
and avoid a wind-down of its business. Included in this section are 
descriptions of potential stress events that could lead to recovery, 
and several early warning indicators and metrics that NSCC has 
established to evaluate its options and potentially prepare to enter 
the Recovery Phase. These indicators, which are referred to in the 
Recovery Plan as recovery corridor indicators (``Corridor 
Indicators''),\23\ are calibrated against NSCC's financial resources 
and are designed to give NSCC the ability to replenish financial 
resources, typically through business as usual (``BAU'') tools applied 
prior to entering the Recovery Phase.
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    \23\ The majority of the Corridor Indicators, as identified in 
the Recovery Plan, relate directly to conditions that may require 
NSCC to adjust its strategy for hedging and liquidating a defaulting 
Member's portfolio, and any such changes would include an assessment 
of the status of the Corridor Indicators.
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    Included in this section is a table (Table 5-A: Corridor 
Indicators) that for each Corridor Indicator identifies the (i) 
measures of the indicator, (ii) evaluations of the status of the 
indicator, (iii) metrics for determining the status of the 
deterioration or improvement of the indicator, and (iv) ``Corridor 
Actions,'' which are steps that may be taken to improve the status of 
the indicator,\24\ as well as management escalations required to 
authorize those steps. For the entry in the table for ``Hedge 
Effectiveness,'' the proposed rule change would revise the text for 
clarity by adding to the existing description of measures of this 
indicator that hedge effectiveness is most relevant prior to commencing 
the hedging and liquidation strategy but is updated as necessary with 
changes in market prices and/or position liquidations. Also, the text 
that identifies Financial Risk Management as the internal group 
responsible for measuring the metrics for determining the status of the 
deterioration or improvement of the ``Hedge Effectiveness'' indicator 
would be revised to add that this is done with input from NSCC's 
investment advisor.
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    \24\ In this regard, the Corridor Actions that would be 
identified in the Plan are indicative but not prescriptive; 
therefore, if NSCC needs to consider alternative actions due to the 
applicable facts and circumstances, the escalation of those 
alternative actions would follow the same escalation protocol 
identified in the Plan for the Corridor Indicator to which the 
action relates.
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    Section 5.2.4 also includes language that requires NSCC management 
to review the Corridor Indicators and the related metrics at least 
annually and modify these metrics as necessary in light of observations 
from simulation of Member defaults and other analyses. In order to more 
closely align with the biennial cycle of DTCC's multi-member closeout 
simulation exercise, the proposed rule change would shift the timing of 
management's review of the Corridor Indicators and related metrics from 
annually to biennially. NSCC believes this change is necessary for 
consistency with the cycle of the multi-member closeout simulation, in 
which the Corridor Indicators and metrics are assessed as part of the 
simulation exercise.
    There is an additional table in Section 5.2.4, (Table 5-B: Loss 
Waterfall Tools) that delineates the tools that comprise NSCC's loss 
allocation waterfall as set forth under the Rules.\25\ This table has 
four columns (``Order,'' ``Tool,'' ``Relevant Rules/Documents,'' and

[[Page 17444]]

``Responsible Body/Personnel'') and is organized by the order in which 
the liquidity resources are to be applied by NSCC. Within Table 5-B, 
Corporate Contribution is the first entry under the column labeled 
``Tool.'' Currently, the narrative for this entry includes a 
description of Corporate Contribution and delineates that in the event 
of a cease to act, before applying the Clearing Fund deposits of 
Members (other than the defaulting Member) to cover any resulting loss, 
NSCC will apply the Corporate Contribution.\26\ For purposes of 
clarity, this language would be revised to remove the words ``applying 
the Clearing Fund Deposits of'' and replace them with ``charging the 
Members on a pro rata basis.''
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    \25\ Rule 4, supra note 5.
    \26\ Id.
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    Within this same entry in Table 5-B, the proposed rule change would 
also revise the current text of the definition of Corporate 
Contribution, in order to more closely align with how this term is 
defined under Rule 4. Specifically, pursuant to the proposed rule 
change the definition of Corporate Contribution would be revised to 
state that, ``The Corporate Contribution is an amount that is equal to 
50% of the amount calculated by NSCC in respect of its General Business 
Risk Capital Requirement for losses that occur over any rolling 12 
month period.'' \27\
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    \27\ Pursuant to Rule 4, supra note 5, for any loss allocation 
pursuant to Section 4 of Rule 4, whether arising out of or relating 
to a Defaulting Member Event or a Declared Non-Default Loss Event, 
NSCC's corporate contribution to losses or liabilities that are 
incurred by NSCC with respect to an Event Period (``Corporate 
Contribution'') shall be an amount that is equal to fifty (50) 
percent of the amount calculated by NSCC in respect of its General 
Business Risk Capital Requirement as of the end of the calendar 
quarter immediately preceding the Event Period.
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    Additionally, with respect to the second entry in Table 5-B, ``Loss 
Allocation,'' the descriptive text in the ``Responsible Body/
Personnel'' column would be revised to more closely align with the same 
language contained in Rule 4. The revised text would state, ``Members 
will be obligated to pay the loss allocation on the second business day 
after the Corporation issues any such notice and to continue to fully 
fund their Clearing Fund required deposits to the extent of any 
shortfalls.''
3. Non-Default Losses
    Section 6 (Non-Default Losses) of the Plan outlines how NSCC would 
address losses that result other than from a Member default. This 
section provides a roadmap to other documents that describe these 
events in greater detail and outlines NSCC's approach to monitoring 
losses that could result from a non-default event. This section also 
includes a description of Rule 60 (Market Disruption and Force 
Majeure), referred to in the Plan as the ``Force Majeure Rule,'' \28\ 
which pertains to how NSCC addresses extraordinary events that occur 
outside the control of NSCC and its Members. As more fully described 
below, the proposed rule change would clarify certain language.
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    \28\ Supra note 6.
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    Section 6.4 (Resources to Cover Non-Default Losses) provides that 
NSCC maintains two categories of financial resources to cover losses 
and expenses arising from non-default risks or events: (i) Liquid Net 
Assets Funded by Equity (``LNA''), including, pursuant to Rule 4, the 
required Corporate Contribution,\29\ and (ii) loss-allocation charges 
to Members in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4.\30\ Following 
an overview of the four buckets of LNA which can be applied towards 
non-default losses,\31\ there is a paragraph under the heading ``Loss 
Allocation to Members, backed by the Clearing Fund'' that provides that 
non-default losses could be allocated among Members as provided in Rule 
4. There is sentence that describes the timeframe in which such losses 
charged to Members are required to be paid. Currently, this sentence 
states that losses are to be paid by Members ``within 2 business days 
of the date of receipt of a notice of a loss allocation charge . . . 
.'' However, this is not the same language used to describe this timing 
in Rule 4. In order to be consistent with the language formulation set 
out in Rule 4, the proposed rule change would revise this sentence to 
state, ``Losses charged to Members are required to be paid by Members 
on the second business day after the Corporation issues any such notice 
of a loss allocation charge and, if not timely paid by any Member, the 
Corporation may treat that Member as having failed to satisfy its 
obligation and apply the Clearing Fund deposit of that Member to 
satisfy its loss allocation obligation.'' \32\
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    \29\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 84428 (October 15, 
2018), 83 FR 53128 (October 19, 2018) (SR-NSCC-2018-008); and 89360 
(July 21, 2020), 85 FR 45280 (July 27, 2020) (SR-NSCC-2020-014) 
(filings amending the Clearing Agency Policy on Capital Requirements 
(the ``Capital Policy'') and the Clearing Agency Capital 
Replenishment Plan (the ``Capital Plan'')). The initial Capital 
Policy and Capital Plan were approved by the Commission in 2017--see 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81105 (July 7, 2017), 82 FR 
32399 (July 13, 2017) (SR-DTC-2017-003, SR-NSCC-2017-004, SR-FICC-
2017-007).
    \30\ Rule 4, supra note 5.
    \31\ As set forth in the Plan, NSCC maintains the following four 
buckets of LNA, which can be applied towards a non-default loss: (i) 
General Business Risk Capital as determined in the Capital Policy, 
supra note 29, (ii) the Corporate Contribution, (iii) a ``Buffer,'' 
as described in the Capital Policy, and (iv) excess LNA, which 
refers to any available LNA held at NSCC above the required amounts 
for General Business Risk Capital, the Corporate Contribution, and 
Buffer.
    \32\ Rule 4, supra note 5.
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    Section 6.6 (Market Disruption and Force Majeure Rule) describes 
the Force Majeure Rule. The Force Majeure Rule was adopted at the same 
time as the Plan \33\ and provides an additional resiliency tool 
designed to mitigate the risks caused by market disruption events and 
thereby minimize the risk of financial loss that may result from such 
events. The proposed rule change would remove the following phrase 
after the reference to the Force Majeure Rule in the first paragraph of 
this section, ``, adopted in conjunction with this Plan,'' because it 
is not necessary as both the Plan and the Force Majeure Rule are no 
longer newly adopted. In addition, to remain consistent with the usage 
of ``Force Majeure'' and ``Market Disruption Event'' throughout this 
section, NSCC would conform all references to the defined terms ``Force 
Majeure'' and ``Market Disruption Event,'' so that they appear as 
capitalized terms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ Supra note 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule change would also make revisions to the second 
paragraph of Section 6.6. First, for purposes of clarity and 
readability, the following text would be removed from the beginning of 
the second sentence: ``Most FMIs have rules designed to deal with force 
majeure or market disruption events, and.'' Second, the reference to 
``Superstorm Sandy'' would be removed from the last sentence of this 
paragraph along with the related footnote that references Superstorm 
Sandy as an example of circumstances in which NSCC needed to fashion a 
work-around necessitated by a force majeure event. NSCC believes 
inclusion of references to Superstorm Sandy are outdated and no longer 
necessary to be included in the Plan.
C. Remove Provisions Covering Certain ``Business-as-Usual'' Actions
    Section 8.6 (Actions and Preparation) of the Plan sets forth the 
legal framework and strategy for the orderly wind-down of NSCC if the 
use of the recovery tools described in the Recovery Plan do not 
successfully return NSCC to financial viability. This section includes 
an overview of the actions and preparations to be taken by NSCC and 
DTCC in connection with executing the wind-down portions of the Plan. 
Section 8.6.1 (Business-as-Usual Actions) describes those actions that 
NSCC or

[[Page 17445]]

DTCC may take to prepare for wind-down in the period before NSCC 
experiences financial distress.
    Under the current plan, the Business-as-Usual Actions are (i) 
educating the Board to keep them informed of the Plan and the actions 
the Board would need to take to implement it, (ii) engaging in 
discussions with key linked FMIs as to the key elements of NSCC's wind-
down strategy and the expected actions of the respective link parties 
should a wind-down be implemented, (iii) developing and maintaining an 
index of internal data that includes the critical, ancillary, and non-
critical services that NSCC provides to its membership, the support 
NSCC receives from DTCC and from its other affiliates, key third-party 
vendors, key personnel, NSCC assets and liabilities, and agreements and 
arrangements NSCC has with liquidity providers and with other FMIs, 
(iv) developing administrative wind-down guidance that identifies key 
Board and management actions that would be taken during the Recovery 
Phase and ``Runway Period'' \34\ prior to NSCC's failure, and in 
connection with its Chapter 11 proceedings, and (v) preparing 
constituent documents for the Failover Entity \35\ and evaluating 
capitalization options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ The Wind-down Plan identifies the time period leading up to 
a decision to wind-down NSCC as the ``Runway Period.''
    \35\ As set forth in Section 8.4.1 (General Objectives and 
Approach) of the Plan, in the event that no viable or preferable 
third-party transferee timely commits to acquire the business and 
services of NSCC, the transfer will be effectuated to a failover 
entity created for that purpose (referred to as the ``Failover 
Entity''), that would be owned by a trust held, to the extent of the 
value of the Failover Entity attributed to NSCC's transferred 
business and services, for the benefit of NSCC's bankruptcy estate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to the proposed rule change, NSCC would remove the 
Business-as-Usual Actions section (currently Section 8.6.1) in its 
entirety because each of the actions outlined have either been 
completed or would be addressed in NSCC's internal procedures going 
forward. This includes certain documents necessary to effect the wind-
down aspects of the Plan that were in the process of being finalized 
when the Plan was adopted and have since been completed. Since adoption 
of the Plan,\36\ NSCC has completed all necessary internal 
documentation, including DTCC's internal wind-down guidance, the 
constituent documentation for the Failover Entity, and the evaluation 
of NSCC's capitalization options. Further, the other actions included 
in this section (e.g., maintaining an index of non-critical services, 
educating the Board on the Plans) would be addressed, going forward, in 
DTCC's Recovery & Resolution Planning Procedures maintained by the R&R 
Team.\37\ As a result of this proposed change, current Section 8.6.2 
(Recovery and Runway Period Actions) would be renumbered as Section 
8.6.1. Also, consistent with the proposed removal of Business-as-Usual 
Actions that have been completed, the proposed rule change would remove 
from the first sentence of proposed Section 8.6.1 (current Section 
8.6.2) the words ``Among other things, the guidance would provide'' and 
replace them with ``The DTCC Clearing Agency Wind-down Guidance 
developed in connection with this Plan provides.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ Supra note 6.
    \37\ The R&R Team is responsible for maintaining the DTCC 
``Office of Recovery & Resolution Planning Procedures'' document. 
The purpose of these procedures is to communicate roles and 
responsibilities, and procedures for the documentation of the R&W 
Plans covering each of the Clearing Agencies, in compliance with 
applicable rules and regulations. These procedures also describe the 
biennial closeout simulation exercise whereby the Plans for each 
clearing agency are tested through the simulation of a multi-member 
default.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Technical Revisions
    The proposal would also make several technical changes and 
corrections to the Plan. NSCC believes that these proposed changes 
would not substantively alter the meaning of the applicable sections 
and would improve the overall readability and clarity of the Plan. 
Specifically, NSCC is proposing to make the following changes and 
corrections:
    1. In Section 1.3 (Summary), in the list of topics covered under 
the Plan, in the seventh bullet point, add ``Recovery Corridor and'' 
prior to the words ``Recovery Phase'' to correctly state the full name 
of this section of the Plan.
    2. In Section 1.4 (Conventions), in the third paragraph, delete the 
words ``conjunction with'' and replace them with ``support of,'' and 
delete the words ``also adopted'' and replace them with ``maintains.'' 
Accordingly, under the proposed rule change this paragraph would state, 
``In support of this Plan, NSCC maintains (i) a Market Disruption and 
Force Majeure Rule (the ``Force Majeure Rule''), (ii) a ``Corporation 
Default Rule'' and (iii) a Wind-down of the Corporation Rule (the 
``Wind-down Rule''), each as described herein.''
    3. In Section 2.1 (DTCC Business Profile), under the heading ``DTCC 
SIFMU Subsidiaries'':
     In the description of NSCC, add ``, netting,'' after the 
word ``clearing''; and after the words ``exchange-traded,'' delete 
``fund (``ETF'')'' and replace it with ``products (``ETPs'').''
     In the description of NSCC's affiliated clearing agency, 
FICC, with respect to the Government Securities Division (``GSD''), add 
the word ``netting,'' after ``clearing.''
     In the description of the Mortgage-Backed Securities 
Division (``MBSD'') of FICC, delete the modifier ``To-Be-Announced'' 
before the phrase ``pass-through mortgage-backed securities issued by 
Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.''
     In the sentence that describes FICC's publication of the 
GCF Repo[supreg] Index, add the parenthetical ``(``GCF 
Repos[supreg]'')'' after the words ``general collateral finance 
repurchase transactions.''
    4. In Section 2.2 (NSCC Guaranteed Services Summary), in the first 
sentence of the third paragraph, replace ``CNS positions'' with ``CNS 
Fails Positions'' because CNS Fails Position is a defined term under 
the Rules. Also, in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, add the 
word ``guaranteed'' prior to ``Balance Order System.''
    5. In Section 2.3 (NSCC Non-Guaranteed Services Summary), under the 
heading, ``Wealth Management Services,'' in the second sentence, 
replace the word ``procession'' with ``processing'' to correct a 
typographical error.
    6. In Section 3.2 (Criteria Used to Determine Criticality), in the 
second sentence that currently states, ``Each service was assessed for 
criticality to determine the potential systemic impact from a service 
disruption,'' add the word ``resulting'' after the word ``impact.''
    7. In Section 4.1 (DTCC and SIFMU Governance Structure), in the 
third paragraph, which lists each of the Board committees, delete 
``Board'' before the words ``Risk Committee.'' Additionally, in the 
footnote in this section that provides the citation of a previous 
proposed rule change covering the Clearing Agency Risk Management 
Framework, add a reference to NSCC's amended filing published July 9, 
2020.
    8. In Section 5.1 (Introduction), in the fourth paragraph, 
capitalize the word ``board.'' Under the heading ``Market Risk 
Management,'' in the last sentence of the first paragraph, remove the 
capitalization of the words ``Clearing Agency Cross-Guaranty 
Agreements'' because this is not a defined term in the Plan. For 
purposes of clarity and readability, the proposed rule change would 
also shift to Section 4.1 the footnote currently included in Section 
5.1 regarding the Rules covering a ``cease to act,'' insolvency of a 
Member,

[[Page 17446]]

and associated actions.\38\ Additionally, in the footnote included in 
this section that provides the citation to a previous proposed rule 
change covering the Clearing Agency Liquidity Risk Management 
Framework, add a reference to NSCC's amended filing published December 
11, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ See Rule 46 (Restrictions on Access to Services) and Rule 
20 (Insolvency), supra note 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. In Section 5.2.3 (Member Default Phase), under the heading 
``Market Risk Monitoring'':
     In the second sentence of the second paragraph, remove the 
capitalization from the first instance of the word ``Monitoring.''
     In the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, (i) delete 
the word ``close-out'' and replace it with ``liquidation,'' and (ii) 
after the phrase ``of the Defaulting Member's portfolio,'' add the 
parenthetical ``(referred to as a ``closeout'').''
    10. In Section 5.2.4 (Recovery Corridor and Recovery Phase):
     In the first sentence of the first paragraph, add 
quotation marks and make bold the words ``Recovery Corridor.''
     Under the heading ``Recovery Corridor,'' (a) in the second 
sentence of the second paragraph, in the current parenthetical that 
states ``(i.e., as market stress increases, NSCC would expect the 
length of the Recovery Corridor to shorten),'' replace the word 
``shorten,'' with ``be shorter,'' and (b) in the second sentence of the 
last paragraph, after the word ``closeout,'' add an ``s'' to the end of 
the word ``simulation.''
    11. In Section 5.3 (Liquidity Shortfalls), in Table 5-C, which 
lists the tools that can be used to address liquidity shortfalls, in 
the entry for ``Credit Facility,'' in the column titled ``Relevant 
Rules/Documents,'' (a) delete ``Currently, Section 2.03A(h) of the 
Credit Facility,'' because reference to a specific section of the 
credit facility documentation is not necessary, (b) replace the words 
``facility terms'' with ``terms of the Credit Facility,'' and (c) after 
the word ``lenders,'' delete the word ``to'' and replace it with 
``that.''
    12. In Section 6.3 (Risk Mitigation), in the footnote that includes 
the citation to a previous proposed rule change covering the Clearing 
Agency Operational Risk Management Framework, add a reference to NSCC's 
amended filing published December 16, 2020.
    13. In Section 6.4 (Resources to Cover Non-Default Losses), in the 
footnote that includes the citation to a previous proposed rule change 
covering the Capital Policy and Capital Plan, add a reference to NSCC's 
amended filings published July 27, 2020 with respect to the Capital 
Policy, and October 19, 2018 with respect to the Capital Plan.
    14. In Section 6.6 (Market Disruption and Force Majeure Rule):
     In the second bullet point of the third paragraph remove 
the quotation marks from the words ``Market Disruption Event'' and 
delete the parenthetical ``(as defined in the Force Majeure Rule)'' 
because Market Disruption Event was defined earlier in this section.
     In the second sentence of the fourth paragraph, for 
purposes of reflecting present tense, delete the word ``would'' before 
the word ``operate,'' and pluralize ``operate.''
     In the first sentence of the second paragraph:
    [cir] For purposes of reflecting present tense and to improve 
readability, (a) remove the word ``currently'' prior to ``the Force 
Majeure Rule'' and (b) remove the words ``is designed to clarify,'' and 
replace them with ``clarifies,'' and
    [cir] in order to correct a typographical error, insert the word 
``and'' in between ``its Participants'' and ``to mitigate.''
    15. In Section 7.1 (Comprehensiveness), remove the capitalization 
from the words ``Critical Services.''
    16. In Section 7.2 (Effectiveness), under the heading 
``Reliability,'' for the purpose of correcting typographical errors, 
(a) move the second footnote, currently at the end of the last 
sentence, to the end of the last sentence of the introductory paragraph 
of Section 7.2 and (b) in the text of the other footnote that currently 
reads, ``See, for example, DTCC Whitepaper, CCP Resiliency and 
Resources, pg. 2, section 2 (June 2015),'' remove ``, section 2.''
    17. In Section 8.2.1 (Potential Scenarios), in the second sentence 
of the third paragraph, replace ``enhancements to the loss allocation 
process are'' with ``the loss allocation process is.'' Accordingly, 
under the proposed rule change this sentence would state, ``As noted 
above, the loss allocation process is designed to ensure that the full 
Clearing Fund can be applied to losses arising from successive Member 
defaults that occur during an ``Event Period'', and there can be 
successive rounds of loss allocations to address losses arising with 
respect to a given Event Period.''
    18. In Section 8.2.2 (Wind-down Indicators), in the fourth bullet 
point of the third paragraph, in the sentence that currently states, 
``If a Defaulting Member also defaults in provision of other services 
to NSCC--to the extent that a Member were to default both in its 
membership obligations, and additionally in its capacity as either an 
investment counterparty holding material Clearing Fund cash or other 
corporate funds, or as a Settling Bank, this would reduce NSCC's 
prefunded resources and add additional financial strain on Members,'' 
add the words ``a lender under the Credit Facility,'' after the words 
``as either.''
    19. In Section 8.4.1 (General Objectives and Approach), in the 
second paragraph, delete the words ``have been amended to'' after the 
words ``the Rules'' in order to more clearly reflect the fact that the 
Wind-down of the Corporation Rule \39\ was adopted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ Supra note 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. In Section 8.4.4 (Rules Adopted in Connection with the Wind-
down Plan), in the subsection, ``The Wind-down Trigger,'' in the 
parenthetical, ``(Trigger for Implementing Wind-down),'' pluralize the 
word ``Trigger.''
    21. In Section 8.4.5 (Wind-down and Liquidation of NSCC Following 
Transfer), in the third sentence of the first paragraph, delete the 
words ``adoption of the,'' before the words ``Corporation Default 
Rule.''
    22. In proposed Section 8.6.1 (currently section 8.6.2) (Recovery 
and Runway Period Actions), capitalize the word ``chapter'' in two 
places where ``chapter 11'' is not capitalized.
    23. In Section 8.7 (Costs and Time to Effectuate Plan), (a) in the 
second sentence of the fifth paragraph, delete the word ``of'' between 
the words ``detailed'' and ``analysis'' and (b) at the end of the last 
sentence of this section, delete the phrase ``, as provided in the 
Capital Requirements Policy.'' As a result, under the proposed rule 
change, this sentence would state, ``The estimated wind-down costs 
amount will be reviewed and approved by the Board annually.'' Also, in 
the footnote in this section that refers to Section 5 of the Plan, 
correct the title of that section to state, ``Member Default Losses 
through the Crisis Continuum.''
    24. In Appendix 1 (Defined Terms), add each of the new defined 
terms based on the addition of such terms to the Plan, and delete the 
defined terms that were removed based on the deletion of these terms 
from the Plan.
2. Statutory Basis
    NSCC believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements 
of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a 
registered clearing agency. In particular, NSCC believes that the 
amendments to the R&W Plan are consistent with Section

[[Page 17447]]

17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \40\ and Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the 
Act,\41\ for the reasons described below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \41\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, in part, that the rules 
of NSCC be designed to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions.\42\ The Recovery Plan serves to 
promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
transactions by providing NSCC with a roadmap for actions it may employ 
to mitigate losses, and monitor and, as needed, stabilize NSCC's 
financial condition, which would allow it to continue its critical 
clearance and settlement services in stress situations. The Recovery 
Plan is designed to identify the actions and tools NSCC may use to 
address and minimize losses to both NSCC and its membership and provide 
NSCC's management and the Board with guidance in this regard by 
identifying the indicators and governance around the use and 
application of such tools to enable them to address stress situations 
in a manner most appropriate for the circumstances. Further, the Wind-
down Plan establishes a framework for the transfer and orderly wind-
down of NSCC's business. It establishes clear mechanisms for the 
transfer of NSCC's critical services and membership, and for the 
treatment of open, guaranteed CNS transactions in the event of NSCC's 
default. By doing so, the Wind-down Plan is designed to facilitate the 
continuity of NSCC's critical services and enable Members and Limited 
Members to maintain access to NSCC's services through the transfer of 
its membership in the event NSCC defaults or the Wind-down Plan is 
triggered by the Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described above, the proposed rule change would update the R&W 
Plan to (i) reflect business and product developments, (ii) make 
certain clarifications, (iii) remove provisions covering certain 
``business-as-usual'' actions, and (iv) make certain technical 
corrections. By helping to ensure that the R&W Plan reflects current 
business and product developments, and providing additional clarity 
regarding the framework for the transfer and orderly wind-down of 
NSCC's business, NSCC believes that the proposed rule change would help 
it continue to maintain the Plan in a manner that supports the 
continuity of NSCC's critical services and enables its Members and 
Limited Members to maintain access to NSCC's services through the 
transfer of its membership in the event NSCC defaults or the Wind-down 
Plan is ever triggered by the Board. Further, by facilitating the 
continuity of its critical clearance and settlement services, NSCC 
believes the Plan and the proposed rule change would continue to 
promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
transactions. Therefore, NSCC believes the proposed amendments to the 
R&W Plan are consistent with the requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) 
of the Act.
    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act requires NSCC to establish, 
implement, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to maintain a sound risk management framework for 
comprehensively managing legal, credit, liquidity, operational, general 
business, investment, custody, and other risks that arise in or are 
borne by the covered clearing agency, which includes plans for the 
recovery and orderly wind-down of the covered clearing agency 
necessitated by credit losses, liquidity shortfalls, losses from 
general business risk, or any other losses.\43\ The R&W Plan is 
designed to comply with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) and is consistent with 
the Act because it provides plans for the recovery and orderly wind-
down of NSCC necessitated by credit losses, liquidity shortfalls, 
losses from general business risk, or any other losses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, the Recovery Plan defines the risk management 
activities, stress conditions and indicators, and tools that NSCC may 
use to address stress scenarios that could eventually prevent it from 
being able to provide its critical services as a going concern. Through 
the framework of the Crisis Continuum, the Recovery Plan addresses 
measures that NSCC may take to address risks of credit losses and 
liquidity shortfalls, and other losses that could arise from a Member 
default. The Recovery Plan also addresses the management of general 
business risks and other non-default risks that could lead to losses. 
The Wind-down Plan would be triggered by a determination by the Board 
that recovery efforts have not been, or are unlikely to be, successful 
in returning NSCC to viability as a going concern. Once triggered, the 
Wind-down Plan sets forth clear mechanisms for the transfer of NSCC's 
membership and business, and is designed to facilitate continued access 
to NSCC's critical services and to minimize market impact of the 
transfer. By establishing the framework and strategy for the execution 
of the transfer and wind-down of NSCC in order to facilitate continuous 
access to its critical services, the Wind-down Plan establishes a plan 
for the orderly wind-down of NSCC.
    As described above, the proposed rule change would update the R&W 
Plan to (i) reflect business and product developments, (ii) make 
certain clarifications, (iii) remove provisions covering certain 
``business-as-usual'' actions, and (iv) make certain technical 
corrections. By ensuring that material provisions of the Plan are 
current, clear, and technically correct, NSCC believes that the 
proposed amendments are designed to support the maintenance of the Plan 
for the recovery and orderly wind-down of the covered clearing agency 
necessitated by credit losses, liquidity shortfalls, losses from 
general business risk, or any other losses, and, as such, meets the 
requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(e)(3)(ii) under the Act.\44\ Therefore, 
the proposed changes would help NSCC to maintain the Plan in a way that 
continues to be consistent with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(3)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change would have any 
impact, or impose any burden, on competition. NSCC does not anticipate 
that the proposal would affect its day-to-day operations under normal 
circumstances, or in the management of a typical Member default 
scenario or non-default event. The R&W Plan was developed and 
documented in order to satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, as 
discussed above. The proposal is intended to enhance and update the 
Plan to ensure it is clear and remains current in the event it is ever 
necessary to be implemented. The proposed revisions would not effect 
any changes to the overall structure or operation of the Plan or NSCC's 
recovery and wind-down strategy as set forth under the current Plan. As 
such, NSCC believes the proposal would not have any impact, or impose 
any burden, on competition.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    NSCC has not received or solicited any written comments relating to 
this proposal. NSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments 
received by NSCC.

[[Page 17448]]

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) \45\ of the Act and paragraph (f) \46\ of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed 
rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ 15 U.S.C 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \46\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

     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 Number SR-NSCC-2021-004 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2021-004. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (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 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 NSCC 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 Number SR-NSCC-2021-004 and should be submitted on 
or before April 23, 2021.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-06770 Filed 4-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P