CFTC Staff Letter 98-08 (No-Action): Exemption from Rule 4.23(a) Books and Records Location Requirement

98-08
CFTC Letter No. 98-08
November 12, 1997
Division of Trading & Markets
Re: Request for Relief From the Books and Records Location Requirement of Rule 4.23(a) Dear :
This is in response to your letter dated October 13, 1997 to the Division of Trading and Markets ("Division") of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission"), as supplemented by telephone conversations with Division staff. By your correspondence, you request that the Division exempt "X", a registered commodity pool operator ("CPO"), from the requirement in Rule 4.23(a)1 that a CPO maintain certain books and records for each pool it operates at its main business office in accordance with Rule 1.31. Based upon the representations made in your correspondence, we understand the relevant facts to be as follows. "X's" main business office is in Tennessee. However, the books and records of the pools of which "X" serves as a CPO are located at "X's" branch office in New Jersey, where all of the accounting for the pools occurs. "X" seeks relief from the location requirement of Rule 4.23(a) in order that it may maintain the books and records of the pools that it operates at its branch office in New Jersey. Based upon the foregoing representations, pursuant to the authority delegated by Rule 140.93(a) (1) and subject to the conditions specified herein, the Division hereby exempts "X" from the requirements of Rule 4.23(a) such that "X" may maintain the books and records for the pools it operates at its branch office in New Jersey. This exemption is, however, subject to the conditions that: (1) "X" notify the Division if the location of any such records changes from that represented to us; (2) "X" remains responsible for the maintenance of all required books and records and for assuring their availability to the Commission, the National Futures Association, or any other agency authorized to review such books and records, in accordance with Commission regulations; (3) within forty-eight hours after a request by a Commission representative, "X" will obtain the original books and records from its branch office in New Jersey and provide them for inspection at "X's" main business office in Tennessee; and (4) "X" discloses in the Disclosure Document for each pool it operates that all Commission-required books and records are kept at "X's" branch office in New Jersey. This exemption is further subject to the condition that "X" remains fully responsible for compliance with Rule 4.23. The relief granted by this letter does not excuse "X" from compliance with any other applicable file:///S|/Website%20Management/LegacyDataCopyasof2010-04-21/tm/letters/98letters/tm98-08.htm (1 of 2) [5/6/2010 7:30:22 PM]