Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), notice is hereby given that on November 23, 2010, National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change described in Items I and II below, which items have been prepared primarily by NSCC. NSCC filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) thereunder so that the proposed rule change was effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.
The text of the proposed rule change is attached as Exhibit 5 to NSCC's filing, which is available at http://www.dtcc.com/downloads/legal/rule_filings/2010/nscc/2010-17.pdf.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change will discontinue NSCC's Cost Basis Reporting Service (“CBRS”).
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.
The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by the NSCC.
(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 delete the rule regarding NSCC's CBRS as the CBRS offered by NSCC will be terminated. The effective date of the termination of CBRS as a NSCC service offering will be December 10, 2010.
For purposes of efficiency and enhanced customer service, DTCC Solutions LLC (“DTCC Solutions”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which offers services similar in nature to the CBRS, will offer the CBRS. CBRS as offered by DTCC Solutions will support a broader group of financial institutions and entities that are currently not eligible to become NSCC members, such as transfer agents and securities issuers. NSCC believes that discontinuing CBRS at NSCC and reestablishing the service at DTCC Solutions will not disadvantage NSCC members in any way.
Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, among other things, that the rules of a clearing agency be designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a national system for prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in the clearance and settlement of securities transactions, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. NSCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with these requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to NSCC because discontinuing the CBRS will allow for more efficient allocation of NSCC's resources.
15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is 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
No written comments relating to the proposed rule change have been solicited or received. NSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments received by NSCC.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) thereunder because it effects a change in an existing service of NSCC that: (i) Does not adversely affect the safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of NSCC or for which it is responsible and (ii) does not significantly affect the respective rights or obligations of the clearing agency or persons using the service. At any time within sixty days of the filing of such 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.
17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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 e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NSCC-2010-17 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments 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 Number SR-NSCC-2010-17. This file 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 Section, 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 filings also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of NSCC and on NSCC's Web site, http://www.dtcc.com . 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 submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2010-17 and should be submitted on or before December 29, 2010.
For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.9
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-30881 Filed 12-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P