CFTC

CFTC Approves Final Swap Dealer Capital Rule

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On July 22, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved a final rule regarding new capital and financial reporting requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants that are not subject to supervision by a banking regulator and imposing financial reporting requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants generally. The final rule provides swap dealers and major swap participants three alternative methods to establish and meet minimum capital requirements depending on the characteristics of their business. The final rule also includes: a comprehensive model approval process; accompanying financial reporting, recordkeeping, and notification requirements; and a substituted compliance determination process for those swap dealers that may already be required to maintain capital in accordance with a foreign regulator. Release.

CFTC Approves Final Rule Regarding Registration Requirements for Commodity Pool Operators

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On June 4, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) finalized a rule to prohibit certain commodity pool operators from relying on the registration exemptions found in Regulation 4.13 in Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations (“Regulation 4.13”). The final rule generally prohibits persons who have, or whose principals have, any of the disqualifying factors listed in Section 8a (2) of the Commodity Exchange Act from claiming one of the exemptions to the commodity-pool-operator registration requirements set forth in Regulation 4.13. Release.

CFTC: Interim Final Rule – Uncleared Swaps Margin – Proposed Rule: CPO Registration Exemption

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On May 28, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved an interim rule to grant an extension of the compliance schedule for initial margin requirements for uncleared swaps in response to operational challenges certain entities are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFTC also approved a proposed rule that amends regulation 3.10(c)(3), which provides an exemption from registration as a CPO for certain persons located outside the U.S. who are operating offshore commodity pools that are neither offered nor sold to U.S. participants. Release.

CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight Supplements No-Action Relief to SEFs and DCMs from Certain CFTC Regulations for Correction of Errors

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On January 8, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Division of Market Oversight issued a no-action letter that provides an alternative error correction process by which swap execution facilities (SEFs) and designated contract markets (DCMs) may permit counterparties to determine that an error has occurred and correct the error, subject to ex post facto review by the SEF or DCM. The no-action letter supplements the relief provided in CFTC Letter 17-27, which provided relief from certain CFTC regulations to permit SEFs and DCMs to correct clerical or operational errors discovered after a swap has been cleared. CFTC Release.

Agencies Publish Rule Excluding Community Banks from Volcker Rule

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On July 9, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Reserve Board, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted a final rule that excludes community banks from the Volcker Rule, which restricts banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading and from owning, sponsoring or having certain relationships with hedge funds or private equity funds. Under the final rule that was adopted, community banks with $10 billion or less in total consolidated assets, and which have total trading assets and liabilities that are 5% or less than such community bank’s total consolidated assets, will be excluded from the Volcker Rule.

 

CFTC Approves a Final Rule Revising Privacy Notice Requirements

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On April 19, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved a final rule to revise an existing CFTC regulation that currently requires certain merchants and dealers, among other persons, to provide annual privacy notices to customers. The new rule will remove this requirement to provide annual privacy notices when certain conditions are met. Release.

CFTC and MAS Mutually Recognize Certain Derivatives Trading Venues in the U.S. and Singapore

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On March 13, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued an order exempting certain derivatives trading facilities regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from the requirement to register with the CFTC as swap execution facilities (SEFs), and MAS announced the issuance of regulations exempting certain derivatives trading venues regulated by the CFTC from the requirement to be a MAS-authorized approved exchange (AE) or recognized market operator (RMO) before establishing or operating an organized market. Press Release. CFTC Order of Exemption. MAS Order of Exemption.