[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-3487] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: February 15, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-33598; International Series Release No. 636; File No. SR-OCC-93-18] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating To Restructuring of an Associate Clearinghouse of OCC February 8, 1994 Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on December 2, 1993, The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') 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 primarily by OCC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments from interested persons on the proposed rule change. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) (1988). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The proposed rule change will permit the restructuring of an associate clearinghouse of OCC which facilitates the issuance, clearance, and settlement of options on the Major Market Index (``XMI'') traded on the European Options Exchange (``EOE'') that are identical to and fungible with those traded on the American Stock Exchange (``AMEX''). 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. 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 such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In August 1987, the Commission approved a proposal that enabled OCC to issue, clear, and settle XMI options traded on the EOE that are identical to and fungible with XMI options traded on AMEX.\2\ To perform such functions, OCC entered into several agreements including an international market Agreement: XMI Options (``IMA'') with AMEX and EOE and an Associate Clearinghouse Agreement (``ACA'') with ACHA Associate Clearing House Amsterdam B.V. (``ACHA''). The IMA governs the relationships among OCC, AMEX, and EOE with respect to the issuance, trading, and clearance of XMI options, and the ACA governs the relationship between ACHA and OCC with respect to the clearance and settlement of transactions in XMI options by EOE Members. ACHA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the EOCC Clearing Corporation B.V. (``EOCC''), which was formed to interface with OCC for such purposes. Under the ACA, ACHA is both an associated clearinghouse and an index clearing member of OCC. In addition to the IMA and ACA, OCC also entered into a letter agreement, dated August 20, 1987, with the EOE and ACHA which further facilitates the clearance and settlement of XMI Options traded on the EOE. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\Securities Exchange Act Release No. 24832 (August 21, 1987), 52 FR 32377 [File No. SR-OCC-87-9] (order approving OCC's proposal to issue, clear, and settle XMI options traded on the EOE) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACHA has advised OCC that EOCC intends to absorb all of ACHA's operations by assuming ACHA's role as an associated clearinghouse and index clearing member of OCC. To effectuate this restructuring, ACHA has assigned to EOCC all of its agreements, rights, and obligations under the ACA, as amended, and under the August 1987 letter agreement, as amended. In accordance with the terms of the agreements, the respective parties thereto propose to execute assignments of or amendments to such agreements to facilitate EOCC's assumption of ACHA's operations. OCC consents to ACHA's assignment of its agreements, obligations, and rights under the ACA to EOCC\3\ and to ACHA's assignment of the commitments under the letter agreement of August 1987 to EOCC and EOE.\4\ Finally, OCC, AMEX, and EOE have amended the IMA to reference the existence of an associated clearinghouse agreement between OCC and EOCC.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\Assignment and Amendment of Associate Clearinghouse Agreement among ACHA, OCC, and EOCC, which is attached as Exhibit A to Form 19b-4, File No. SR-OCC-93-18. \4\Letter agreement among Optiebeurs N.V., EOCC, and OCC, which is attached as Exhibit B to Form 19b-4, File No. SR-OCC-93-18. \5\Second Amendment to International Market Agreement: XMI Options among OCC, AMEX, and Optiebeurs N.V., which is attached as Exhibit C to Form 19b-4, File No. SR-OCC-93-18. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the purposes and requirements of Section 17A of the Act because it continues to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of transactions in XMI options in the United States and Europe and the safeguarding of funds relating thereto while not significantly altering the structure for the clearance and settlement of XMI options in the United States and Europe. B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition OCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will 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 rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act\6\ and subparagraph (e) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder\7\ because it effects a change in an existing service of a registered clearing agency that (i) does not adversely affect the safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of the agency 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 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A) (1988). \7\17 CFR 240.19b-4(e) (1993). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street NW., Washington, DC 20549. 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, 450 Fifth Street NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the above-referenced self-regulatory organization. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-OCC-93-18 and should be submitted by March 8, 1994. For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\8\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) (1993). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 94-3487 Filed 2-14-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-M