96-30813. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Permanent Approval on an Accelerated Basis of a Proposed Rule Change Concerning Equity TIMS  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 4, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 64406-64407]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-30813]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. 34-37985; File No. SR-OCC-96-16]
    
    
    Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; 
    Notice of Filing and Order Granting Permanent Approval on an 
    Accelerated Basis of a Proposed Rule Change Concerning Equity TIMS
    
    November 25, 1996.
        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
    (``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on November 8, 1996, The 
    Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') 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 OCC. The Commission is publishing this notice and order to 
    solicit comments from interested persons and to grant permanent 
    approval of the proposed rule change on an accelerated basis.
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        \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) (1988).
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    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of 
    Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
    
        The proposed rule change seeks permanent approval of OCC's use of 
    its Theoretical Intermarket Margin System (``TIMS'') for calculating 
    clearing margin positions in equity options.\2\ Since its initial 
    temporary approval of Equity TIMS in 1991, the Commission has extended 
    the temporary approval five times.\3\
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        \2\ Equity TIMS is a modified version of OCC's Non-Equity TIMS, 
    which is OCC's margin system used to calculate requirements on 
    options for which the underlying asset is anything but an equity 
    security. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 23167 (April 22, 
    1986), 51 FR 16127 [File No. SR-OCC-85-21] (order approving Non-
    Equity TIMS). On March 1, 1991, the Commission temporarily approved 
    a proposed rule change that authorized OCC to use TIMS to calculate 
    clearing member margin requirements on equity options. At that time, 
    OCC phased out its previous margin system, known as the ``production 
    system,'' and since then has used Equity TIMS to calculate its 
    clearing members' margin requirements on equity option positions. 
    For a complete description of Equity TIMS, refer to Securities 
    Exchange Act Release No. 28928 (March 1, 1991), 56 FR 9995 [File No. 
    SR-OCC-89-12] (order approving the use of Equity TIMS to calculate 
    margin on equity options on a temporary basis through May 31, 1992).
        \3\ Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 30761 (May 29, 1992), 
    57 FR 24286 [File No. SR-OCC-92-15] (order extending the approval of 
    Equity TIMS through May 31, 1993); 32388 (May 28, 1993), 58 FR 31989 
    [File No. SR-OCC-93-06] (order extending the approval of Equity TIMS 
    through May 31, 1994); 34065 (May 13, 1994), 59 FR 26534 [File No. 
    SR-OCC-94-03] (order extending the approval of Equity TIMS through 
    May 31, 1995); 36003 (July 21, 1995), 60 FR 38880 [File No. SR-OCC-
    95-07] (order extending the approval of Equity TIMS through May 31, 
    1996) and 37449 (July 17, 1996), 61 FR 38498 [File No. SR-OCC-96-06] 
    (order extending the approval of Equity TIMS through November 30, 
    1996).
    
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    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 such 
    statements.\4\
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        \4\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
    prepared by OCC.
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    (A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
    
        Equity TIMS utilizes options price theory (i.e., an option pricing 
    model) to project the cost of liquidating each clearing member's long 
    and short equity option positions on which OCC is entitled to assert a 
    lien in the event of a ``worst case'' theoretical change in the price 
    of the underlying securities. This projected liquidation cost is then 
    used by Equity TIMS to calculate for each clearing member a margin 
    requirement to cover that cost.
        OCC presented a report to Commission staff in April 1995 pursuant 
    to staff inquiries as to whether volatility for a ten-year period 
    should be used to determine equity options margin intervals. OCC's 
    analysis suggests that a ten-year time frame presents problems in 
    adequately assessing the potential future volatility of individual 
    equities. OCC asserts that some equities (e.g., those in initial public 
    offerings) with traded options experienced high volatility less then 
    ten years ago but now are well established, less volatile securities. 
    However, some equities with traded options that historically have 
    experienced lower volatility have experienced volatility increases due 
    to market factors or changes in the business climate.
        Accordingly, OCC explored alternatives to using a ten-year period 
    for determining equity options margin intervals. As a result of its 
    research into such alternatives, OCC believes that the use of a four-
    year stable distribution for the purposes of determining equity margin 
    intervals within Equity TIMS should address the Commission's concerns. 
    Stable distributions essentially seek to fit a probability distribution 
    to a sample of historical data without any implicit assumptions of 
    normalcy. OCC believes that stable distribution parameters will provide 
    it with a greater breadth and quality of information from a given 
    period of historical data and proposes to use a four-year period for 
    purposes of setting option margin intervals.
        OCC believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
    requirements of Section 17A of Act and the rules and regulations 
    promulgated thereunder because Equity TIMS should enhance OCC's ability 
    to safeguard the securities and funds for which it is responsible.
    
    (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
    
        Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires that the rules of a 
    clearing agency be designed to assure the safeguarding of securities 
    and funds which are in the custody or control of the clearing agency or 
    for which it is responsible. The Commission believes that OCC's 
    proposal to utilize Equity TIMS meets this requirement. Because the 
    Commission wanted to analyze and to monitor the results of the use of 
    Equity TIMS before determining whether to grant permanent approval, the 
    Commission previously approved the proposed rule change on a temporary 
    basis. Because OCC's use of Equity TIMS during the temporary approval 
    period has resulted in better assessments of OCC's risk exposure 
    associated with the clearance and settlement of its clearing members' 
    equity option positions and has resulted in calculations of clearing 
    margin that more accurately reflect the risk exposure, the Commission 
    is now permanently approving Equity TIMS.
        OCC has requested that the Commission find good cause for approving 
    the proposal prior to the thirtieth day after the publication of notice 
    of filing of the proposed rule change. The Commission finds good cause 
    for approving OCC's proposal prior to the thirtieth day after 
    publication of notice of filing because accelerated approval will allow 
    OCC to continue to use Equity TIMS without interruption at the 
    conclusion of the current temporary approval period. The Commission 
    notes that during the previous temporary approval periods neither OCC 
    nor the Commission have received any adverse comments regarding Equity 
    TIMS, and none are expected with regard to this filing.
    
    IV. Solicitation of Comments
    
        Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
    arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submission 
    should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
    Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
    Copies of the submissions, 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. Sec. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in 
    the Commission's Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such filings will also be available 
    for inspection and copying at the principal office of OCC. All 
    submissions should refer to file number SR-OCC-96-16 and should be 
    submitted by December 26, 1996.
        It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
    that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-OCC-96-16) be, and hereby 
    is, approved on an accelerated basis.
    
        For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.\5\
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        \5\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) (1996).
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    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-30813 Filed 12-3-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/04/1996
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
96-30813
Pages:
64406-64407 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-37985, File No. SR-OCC-96-16
PDF File:
96-30813.pdf