A 4854 - November 11, 1998

A 4854 - November 11, 1998
P&S 4418

TO: ALL PARTICIPANTS

ATTENTION: MANAGING PARTNER/OFFICER; OPERATIONS PARTNER/OFFICER; MANAGER CUSTOMER ACCOUNT TRANSFER DEPARTMENT; MANAGER MARGIN DEPARTMENT; MANAGER DATA PROCESSING DEPARTMENT; MANAGER MUTUAL FUNDS OPERATIONS; MANAGER CASHIERS DEPARTMENT

SUBJECT: REMINDER – ACATS REDESIGN PARTICIPANT SYSTEM TEST STARTS NOVEMBER 16, 1998

Starting Monday, November 16, 1998 and continuing through Thursday, January 21, 1999, participants will be able to participate in a complete system test of the redesigned ACATS System. During this period, participants should be prepared to submit data and receive data whenever they are named as a contra party to an ACATS transaction. Please refer to NSCC Important Notice A4830 dated Sept. 21, 1998 for detailed information regarding this test. Following is some additional information participants may need for this test.

Testing Transfers with Bank Participants

Shortly after the start of the participant system test, NSCC expects the pilot banks to participate in the system test. The list of pilot banks is available as part of the Customer Account Transfer Division Testing Partners chart on the ACATS Website or can be obtained from your NSCC Account Manager.

In addition to the pilot banks, NSCC has established a Test Bank Account (NSCC # 9900). Participants can submit ACATS transactions against this NSCC number and SIAC Enterprise Services Center will respond on behalf of this test bank account. This will enable NSCC participants to test the new ACATS functionality when the contra party is a bank.

Testing Mutual Fund Re-Registrations with Mutual Funds

Refer to NSCC Important Notice 4851dated November 6, 1998 which describes how firms and funds should partner for testing mutual fund re-registrations through the redesigned ACATS Fund/SERV interface.

Updated Participant Testing Schedule

11/16/1998 Start participant testing of ACATS system with full functionality (all transaction types, etc.) available. Testing begins with no transfers in the system (i.e. without conversion data). The test will include five (5) cycles during the day, which will be the same number of cycles processed when the system is implemented. Refer to NSCC Important Notice A4830 that describes the 5 cycles and recaps timings of other output.

12/18/98 Dress Rehearsal Weekend I. "P" Position files and reports available on Sat. (12/19). Support timings, etc. same as live conversion weekend. Conversion data from 12/18 production is included on the "P’ Position file and reports and overlays participant testing system data.

12/21/98 Participant testing continues including conversion data from end-of-business 12/18.

01/08/1999 Dress Rehearsal Weekend 2. . "P" Position files and reports available on Sat. (01/09). Support timings, etc. same as live conversion weekend. Conversion data from 01/08 production is included on the "P’ Position file and reports and overlays participant testing system data.

01/11/1999 Participant testing continues including conversion data from end-of-business 01/08.

01/21/1999 Last day for participant testing of ACATS system.

01/22/1999 Live conversion weekend. Refer to NSCC Important Notice for detailed conversion information.

01/25/1999 Redesigned ACATS in live production.

Questions during Participant System Test

Questions related to the ACATS system and DTC’s Participant Terminal System (PTS) should be faxed to SIAC’s Enterprise Services Center at (212) 383-1298. Questions regarding NSCC’s PCWeb Direct can be directed to NSCC’s Participant Services Department at (212) 412-8432. Mutual Fund questions regarding testing of the ACATS Fund/SERV interface can be directed to the Mutual Fund Hotline at (212) 412-8893.

Edlyn Meringolo
Vice President, Product Development