70 FR 144 pgs. 43732-43733 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Conform Its Year-End Financial Reporting Deadline Applicable to Clearing Members Primarily Regulated as Futures Commission Merchants With the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Regulations
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 144Pages: 43732 - 43733
Docket number: [Release No. 34-52110; No. SR-OCC-2005-11]
FR document: [FR Doc. E5-4017 Filed 7-27-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-52110; No. SR-OCC-2005-11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Conform Its Year-End Financial Reporting Deadline Applicable to Clearing Members Primarily Regulated as Futures Commission Merchants With the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Regulations
July 22, 2005.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"),1notice is hereby given that on July 14, 2005, the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule change described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by OCC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the rule change from interested parties.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change would conform OCC's year-end financial reporting deadline applicable to clearing members primarily regulated as Futures Commission Merchants ("FCM") with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's ("CFTC") Regulation 1.10(b)(ii).
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, OCC 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. OCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.2
Footnotes:
2 The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by OCC.
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
OCC Rule 306, Interpretation .02 currently provides that a clearing member that is not fully registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer but that is registered with the CFTC as an FCM must file its annual audited financial report on Form 1-FR-FCM with OCC within 60 days of the end of its fiscal year unless OCC consents to an extension.3However, under CFTC Regulation 1.10(b)(ii), an FCM has up to 90 days after the close of its fiscal year to file that report with the CFTC. Clearing members that comply with CFTC Regulation 1.10(b)(ii) have requested that OCC conform its year-end financial reporting deadline to CFTC's to provide a consistent filing requirement.
Footnotes:
3 This 60-day deadline mirrors the year-end financial reporting deadline applicable to broker-dealers.
OCC believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 17A of the Act,4as amended, because the change is designed to facilitate the establishment of coordinated facilities for clearance and settlement of transactions by conforming OCC's rules to the CFTC financial reporting obligation. The proposed rule change is not inconsistent with the existing rules of OCC.
Footnotes:
4 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
OCC does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition.
(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were not and are not intended to be solicited with respect to the proposed rule change and none have been received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act5and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)6thereunder because it does not adversely affect the safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of OCC or for which it is responsible and 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 the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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.
Footnotes:
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
6 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-OCC-2005-11 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-OCC-2005-11. 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filings also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of OCC and on OCC's Web site at http://www.optionsclearing.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-OCC-2005-11 and should be submitted on or before August 18, 2005.
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.7
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
Footnotes:
7 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
[FR Doc. E5-4017 Filed 7-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P