Rule · SEC · 10 Feb 2014 · 2014-02834
Registered broker-dealers’ limited exemptions from Section 7(c), Regulation T, Section 15(c)(3), Rules 15c3-1, 15c3-3 and 15c3-4, Sections 17(a) and (b), Rules 17a-3 through 17a-5 and 17a-13, and the broker and dealer registration requirements of Section 15(a)(1) are extended until the compliance date of final rules on capital, margin, segregation, recordkeeping and reporting for security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants, or three years after the Order’s effective date. The Rule 15c3-3 exemption is unavailable for cleared security-based swap activities and positions of broker-dealers that are clearing agency members holding customer funds or securities.
17 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1See Order Granting Temporary Exemptions under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in Connection with the Pending Revisions of the Definition of ‘‘Security’’ to Encompass SecurityBased Swaps, Exchange Act Release No. 64795 (Jul. 1, 2011), 76 FR 39927 (Jul. 7, 2011) (‘‘Exchange Act Exemptive Order’’). 2The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111–203, 124, Stat. 1376 (2010). 3Exchange Act Section 3(a)(10), 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(10), as revised by Section 761(a)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act. 4See Exchange Act Exemptive Order. 5 Id. The Title VII amendments of the Dodd-Frank Act generally became effective on July 16, 2011 (360 days after the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act). 6See Exchange Act Exemptive Order at 5–6. 7See Exchange Act Exemptive Order at 39–44. 8The Exchange Act Exemptive Order provided a temporary exemption from Sections 5 and 6 of the Exchange Act until the earliest compliance date set forth in any of the final rules regarding registration of security-based swap execution facilities. The Exchange Act Exemptive Order also provided that Continued SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–71485; File No. S7–27–11] Order Extending Temporary Exemptions Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in Connection with the Revision of the Definition of ‘‘Security’’ to Encompass SecurityBased Swaps, and Request for Comment
I. Introduction
The Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) is extending certain temporary exemptive relief contained in a prior Commission order (‘‘Exchange Act Exemptive Order’’) 1 in connection with the revision of the Exchange Act definition of ‘‘security’’ to encompass securitybased swaps. These temporary exemptions were provided by the Commission on July 1, 2011 and are set to expire on February 11, 2014 (‘‘Expiring Temporary Exemptions’’). As described in more detail below, the Commission is extending the expiration date for the Expiring Temporary Exemptions. Specifically, for those Expiring Temporary Exemptions that are not directly linked to pending security-based swap rulemakings, the Commission is extending the expiration date until the earlier of such time as the Commission issues an order or rule determining whether any continuing exemptive relief is appropriate for security-based swap activities with respect to any of these Exchange Act provisions or until three years following the effective date of this Order. For each Expiring Temporary Exemption that is related to pending security-based swap rulemakings, the Commission is extending the expiration date until the compliance date for the related securitybased swap-specific rulemaking. The approach for extending the exemptions related to security-based swap rulemakings reflected in this Order is intended to facilitate a timely phased-in determination regarding the application of the relevant provisions of the Exchange Act to security-based swaps based on the development of the relevant rules mandated by the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (‘‘Dodd-Frank Act’’) 2 as the Commission moves toward finalizing those rules. This approach also provides the Commission flexibility while Dodd-Frank Act rulemaking is still in progress to determine whether continuing relief should be provided for any Exchange Act provisions that are not directly linked to specific securitybased swap rulemaking.
II. Discussion
A. Background
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act amended the Exchange Act definition of ‘‘security’’ to expressly encompass security-based swaps.3 The expansion of the definition of the term ‘‘security’’ has changed the scope of the Exchange Act regulatory provisions that apply to security-based swaps and has raised certain complex questions that require further consideration. On July 1, 2011, the Commission issued an order granting temporary exemptive relief from compliance with certain provisions of the Exchange Act in connection with the revision of the Exchange Act definition of ‘‘security’’ to encompass security-based swaps.4 The overall approach of the Exchange Act Exemptive Order was directed toward maintaining the status quo during the implementation process for the DoddFrank Act, by preserving the application of particular Exchange Act requirements that were already applicable in connection with instruments that became ‘‘security-based swaps’’ following the effective date of the DoddFrank Act,5 but deferring the applicability of additional Exchange Act requirements in connection with those instruments explicitly being defined as ‘‘securities’’ as of the effective date.6 The Expiring Temporary Exemptions generally provide for the following exemptions from Exchange Act: (a) Temporary exemptions in connection with security-based swap activity by certain ‘‘eligible contract participants’’; and (b) temporary exemptions specific to security-based swap activities by registered brokers and dealers.7 These Expiring Temporary Exemptions8 are
no security-based swap contract entered into on or after July 16, 2011 shall be void or considered voidable by reason of Section 29(b) of the Exchange Act because any person that is a party to the contract violated a provision of the Exchange Act for which the Commission has provided exemptive relief in the Exchange Act Exemptive Order, until such time as the underlying exemptive relief expires. This extension order does not affect either of these expiration dates. 9See Further Definition of ‘‘Swap,’’ ‘‘SecurityBased Swap,’’ and ‘‘Security-Based Swap Agreement’’; Mixed Swaps; Security-Based Swap Agreement Recordkeeping, Exchange Act Release No. 67453 (Jul. 18, 2012), 77 FR 48207 (Aug. 13,
2012) (‘‘Product Definitions Adopting Release’’)
(extending the expiration date of the Expiring Temporary Exemptions to February 11, 2013) and Order Extending Temporary Exemptions under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in Connection with the Revision of the Definition of ‘‘Security’’ to Encompass Security-Based Swaps, and Request for Comment, Exchange Act Release No. 68864 (Feb. 7, 2013), 78 FR 10218 (Feb. 13, 2013) (‘‘Extension Release’’) (extending the expiration date to February 11, 2014). Before issuing the Extension Release, the Commission received a request to extend the Expiring Temporary Exemptions from market participants, citing concerns that key issues and questions regarding the application of the federal securities laws remained unresolved and continuing concerns about the potential for unnecessary disruption to the security-based swap market. See SIFMA Request for Extension of the Expiration Date of the SEC’s Exchange Act Exemptive Order and SBS Interim final Rules (Dec. 20, 2012) (‘‘SIFMA Extension Request’’), which is available at http://www.sec.gov/comments/s7-27- 11/s72711-12.pdf. 10See Statement of General Policy on the Sequencing of the Compliance Dates for Final Rules Applicable to Security-Based Swaps Adopted Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Exchange Act Release No. 67177 (Jun. 11, 2012), 77 FR 35625 (Jun. 14, 2012). See also Reopening of Comment Periods for Certain Rulemaking Releases and Policy Statement Applicable to Security-Based Swaps Proposed Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Exchange Act Release No. 69491 (May 1, 2013), 78 FR 30800 (May 23, 2013) (‘‘Reopening Release’’) which reopened the comment period until July 22, 2013. See also e.g. Product Definitions Adopting Release; Further Definition of ‘‘Swap Dealer,’’ ‘‘Security-Based Swap Dealer,’’ ‘‘Major Swap Participant,’’ ‘‘Major Security-Based Swap Participant’’ and ‘‘Eligible Contract Participant’’, Exchange Act Release No. 66868 (Apr. 27, 2012), 77 FR 30596 (May 23, 2012); Process for Submissions for Review of SecurityBased Swaps for Mandatory Clearing and Notice Filing Requirements for Clearing Agencies; Technical Amendments to Rule 19b-4 and Form 19b-4 Applicable to all Self-Regulatory Organizations, Exchange Act Release No. 67286 (Jun. 28, 2012), 88 FR 41602 (Jul. 13, 2012); Clearing Agency Standards, Exchange Act Release No. 68080 (Oct. 22, 2012), 77 FR 66219 (Nov. 2, 2012). 11See Exchange Act Exemptive Order. 12See Capital, Margin, and Segregation Requirements for Security-Based Swap Dealers and Major Security-Based Swap Participants and Capital Requirements for Broker-Dealers, Exchange Act Release No. 68071 (Oct. 18, 2012), 77 FR 70213 (Nov. 23, 2012) (‘‘Security-Based Swap Capital and Margin Rules’’). See also Reopening Release. 13See Trade Acknowledgement and Verification of Security-Based Swap Transactions, Exchange Act Release No. 63727
(Jan. 14, 2011), 76 FR 3859 (Jan. 21, 2011) (‘‘Trade Acknowledgement Rule’’). See also Reopening Release. 14See Registration and Regulation of SecurityBased Swap Execution Facilities, Exchange Act Release No. 63825 (Feb. 2, 2011), 76 FR 10948 (Feb. 28, 2011) (‘‘Security-Based Swap Execution Facility Rules’’). See also Reopening Release. 15See 15 U.S.C. 78o–10(f). 16This is also consistent with previous requests to extend the Expiring Temporary Exemptions. See SIFMA Extension Request. The Commission has also received a request for certain permanent exemptions upon the expiration of the exemptions contained in the Exchange Act Exemptive Order. See SIFMA SBS Exemptive Relief Request (Dec. 5, 2011), which is available at http://www.sec.gov/ comments/s7-27-11/s72711-10.pdf. 17Subsequent to the issuance of the Exchange Act Exemptive Order, the Commission adopted rules related to certain requirements applicable to municipal advisors. See Registration of Municipal Advisors, Exchange Act Release No. 70462 (Sep. 20, 2013), 78 FR 67467 (Nov. 12, 2013). The temporary exemptions provided in this order do not apply to these recently adopted rules. currently scheduled to expire on February 11, 2014.9 To date, the Commission has proposed substantially all of the rules related to the new regulatory regime for derivatives under Title VII and has begun the process of adopting these rules.10 Keeping with the Dodd-Frank Act’s stated objective of promoting financial stability in the U.S. financial system, the Commission has expressed its intent to move forward deliberatively in implementing the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, while minimizing unnecessary disruption and costs to the markets.11 Among the rules for this new regulatory framework that the Commission has proposed are rules relating to (i) capital, margin, and segregation requirements for securitybased swap dealers and major securitybased swap participants,12 (ii) securitybased swap trade acknowledgement,13 and (iii) security-based swap execution facilities registration requirements.14 In addition, the Commission has also been mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act to promulgate recordkeeping and reporting requirements for security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants.15 B. Extension of Temporary Exemptions The Commission believes it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, and consistent with the protection of investors to extend the Expiring Temporary Exemptions in order to avoid any potential market disruption stemming from the application of existing rules to securitybased swap activities. Although the Commission is making significant progress in establishing and finalizing the new regulatory regime for securitiesbased swaps, key issues and questions regarding the application of the federal securities laws to security-based swaps remain unresolved. However, because the Commission has proposed substantially all of the rules related to the new regulatory regime for
derivatives under Title VII, the Commission is able to better calibrate the need for extensions of the Expiring Temporary Exemptions based on how those exemptions relate to ongoing rulemaking. Accordingly, under this approach an extension of the Expiring Temporary Exemptions will provide the Commission with additional time to consider the potential impact of the revision of the Exchange Act definition of ‘‘security’’ on the scope of Exchange Act provisions applicable to securitybased swaps, as well as the appropriateness of applying certain Exchange Act provisions to securitybased swap activities in light of the Commission’s continuing rulemaking efforts.16 While the Commission is generally extending the Expiring Temporary Exemptions, it is refining the applicable expiration dates for these exemptions by (1) extending the expiration date of certain Expiring Temporary Exemptions that are generally not directly related to specific security-based swap rulemakings until the earlier of such time that the Commission issues an order or rule determining whether any continuing exemptive relief is appropriate for security-based swap activities with respect to any of these Exchange Act provisions or until three years following the effective date of this Order, and (2) extending the expiration date of other Expiring Temporary Exemptions that are directly related to specific security-based swap rulemakings, until the compliance date for the relevant security-based swap rulemaking.17 This approach recognizes the continuing development of the new regulatory regime for security-based swaps and takes into consideration the interrelation of certain existing Exchange Act provisions with this new regime. Specifically, the Commission believes it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, and consistent with the protection of investors for the subset of Expiring Temporary Exemptions that are related to certain ongoing rulemakings to be addressed within any such rulemakings that are finalized in order to determine what, if any, exemptions would be appropriate based on the structure of the regulatory framework. The expiration dates of this subset of Expiring Temporary Exemptions will be extended until they are addressed within any relevant rulemakings relating to: (i) Capital, margin, and segregation requirements
18 15 U.S.C. 78mm. Section 36 of the Exchange Act authorizes the Commission to conditionally or unconditionally exempt, by rule, regulation, or order any person, security, or transaction (or any class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions) from any provision or provisions of the Exchange Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, to the extent such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, and is consistent with the protection of investors. 19 In late 2012, the Commission proposed the Security-Based Swap Capital and Margin Rules. The proposed rules, if adopted, will clarify how certain Exchange Act provisions relating to the capital, margin, and segregation requirements of registered broker-dealers will apply to the security-based swap activities of registered broker-dealers. 20 15 U.S.C. 78g. 21 12 CFR 220.1 et seq. 22Under the approach of preserving the status quo, the Exchange Act Exemptive Order provided registered broker-dealers a limited exemption from
Section 7(c) and Regulation T only to the extent that
these provisions did not apply to the broker-dealer’s security-based swap positions or activities prior to expansion of the definition of ‘‘security’’ to include security-based swaps. 23 15 U.S.C. 78o(c)(3). 24 17 CFR 240.15c3–1. 25 17 CFR 240.15c3–1a through 15c3–1g. 26 17 CFR 240.15c3–3. 27 17 CFR 240.15c3–3a. 28 17 CFR 240.15c3–4. 29Under the approach of preserving the status quo, the Exchange Act Exemptive Order provided registered broker-dealers a limited exemption from
Section 15(c)(3) and Rules 15c3–1 and 15c3–3 only
to the extent that these provisions did not apply to the broker-dealer’s security-based swap positions or activities prior to expansion of the definition of ‘‘security’’ to include security-based swaps. However, the limited exemption from Rule 15c3– 3 is not available for registered broker-dealers’ activities and positions related to cleared securitybased swaps, to the extent that a broker-dealer is a member of a clearing agency that functions as a central counterparty for security-based swaps, and holds customer funds or securities in connection with cleared security-based swaps. 30See 15 U.S.C. 78o–10(f). 31 15 U.S.C. 78q(a). 32 15 U.S.C. 78q(b). 33 17 CFR 240.17a–3 through 17a–5. 34 17 CFR 240.17a–11. 35 17 CFR 240.17a–13. 36Under the approach of preserving the status quo, the Exchange Act Exemptive Order provided registered broker-dealers a limited exemption from Sections 17(a) and (b), Rules 17a–3 through 17a–5, and Rule 17a–13 only to the extent that these provisions did not apply to the broker-dealer’s security-based swap positions or activities prior to expansion of the definition of ‘‘security’’ to include security-based swaps. 37 15 U.S.C. 78o(a)(1). 38The Exchange Act Exemptive Order excluded from the exemption (1) the ‘‘broker’’ registration requirements of Section 15(a)(1) (and other Exchange Act requirements that apply to a nonregistered broker) for broker activities involving security-based swaps by persons that are members of a clearing agency that functions as a central counterparty for security-based swaps and that holds customer funds and securities in connection with security-based swaps; and (2) the ‘‘dealer’’ registration requirements of Section 15(a)(1) (and other Exchange Act requirements that apply to a non-registered dealer) for security-based swaps dealing activities unless those activities involve counterparties that meet the definition of an eligible contract participant. 39See supra note 19. 40See 15 U.S.C. 78o–10(f). for security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants, (ii) recordkeeping and reporting requirements for security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants, (iii) security-based swap trade acknowledgement rules, and/or (iv) registration requirements for security-based swap execution facilities. In addition, with respect to the subset of Expiring Temporary Exemptions that are not directly related to specific security-based swap rulemakings, the Commission believes it would be appropriate for these exemptions to continue for three years or until such time as the Commission issues an order or rule determining whether any continuing exemption is applicable to any of these provisions. This approach is designed to limit the potential for market disruptions. Moreover, this approach is designed to provide sufficient time for the Commission to explore and potentially develop an appropriate framework for regulating security based swap activities and to provide sufficient
time for public input regarding any such potential framework. Accordingly, pursuant to its authority under Section 36 of the Exchange Act,18 the Commission believes it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, and consistent with the protection of investors to extend the Expiring Temporary Exemptions that are not related to specific securities-based swap rulemakings until the earlier of the time that the Commission issues an order or rule determining whether continuing exemptive relief is appropriate or until three years after the effective date of this Order. The Commission is also, pursuant to its authority under Section 36, extending the below outlined Expiring Temporary Exemptions, until the earliest compliance dates established in applicable rulemakings.
41 17 CFR 240.10b–10.
42 In January 2011, the Commission proposed the Trade Acknowledgement Rule which would govern the way in which certain security-based swap transactions would be acknowledged and verified by the parties. Under the proposed rule, securitybased swap dealers and major security-based swap participants would have to provide to their counterparties a trade acknowledgement detailing information specific to the transaction. The Commission also proposed a limited exemption from the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 10b– 10 for security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants that confirm their security-based swap transactions in compliance with the Trade Acknowledgement Rule. The proposed exemption is intended to avoid the duplicative requirements of having to comply with both Exchange Act Rule 10b–10 and the proposed Trade Acknowledgement Rule. 43 17 CFR 242.300 et seq. 44 In February 2011, the Commission proposed the Security-Based Swap Execution Facility Rules which, if adopted, will create a registration framework for security-based swap execution facilities, as well as, establish rules governing these entities.
4. Expiring Temporary Exemption
Relating to Trade Acknowledgement Rule The Commission is extending the Expiring Temporary Exemption for Exchange Act Rule 10b–10,41 regarding confirmation of transactions, until the earliest compliance date set forth in any final rules regarding trade acknowledgement and verification of security-based swap transactions.42
5. Expiring Temporary Exemption
Relating to Regulation ATS The Commission is extending the Expiring Temporary Exemption for Regulation ATS,43 regarding the regulatory requirements that apply to alternative trading systems, until the earliest compliance date set forth in any final rules regarding the registration of the security-based swap execution facilities.44
III. Solicitation of Comments
The Commission believes that it would be useful to continue to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on any aspect of the temporary exemptions contained in the Exchange Act Exemptive Order, this Order extending the Expiring Temporary Exemptions, and any additional relief that should be granted upon the expiration of the extension of the Expiring Temporary Exemptions, including:
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that apply to a dealer that is not registered with the Commission, solely in connection with dealing activities involving securitybased swaps with counterparties that meet the definition of eligible contract participant as set forth in section 1a(12) of the Commodity Exchange Act. By the Commission. Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–02834 Filed 2–7–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
Note from RegAlert. AI assistants can read this document in full, and search 70,000+ more, through the RegAlert MCP connector (https://mcp.regalert.today/mcp). Free with an account. How to connect ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor.
RegAlert holds no document that amends or replaces this one. This is not a check that it is in force: confirm with the regulator.
“The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111–203, 124, Stat. 1376 (2010).”
“See also Reopening of Comment Periods for Certain Rulemaking Releases and Policy Statement Applicable to Security-Based Swaps Proposed Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Prote…”
“Clearing Agency Standards, Exchange Act Release No. 68080 (Oct. 22, 2012)”
“See Statement of General Policy on the Sequencing of the Compliance Dates for Final Rules Applicable to Security-Based Swaps Adopted Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protect…”
“See Order Granting Temporary Exemptions under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in Connection with the Pending Revisions of the Definition of ‘‘Security’’ to Encompass Security-Based Swaps, Exchange Act Release No. 64795 (Jul. 1, 2011)”
“See Trade Acknowledgement and Verification of Security-Based Swap Transactions, Exchange Act Release No. 63727 (Jan. 14, 2011)”
“Order Extending Temporary Exemptions Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 In Connection With the Revision of the Definition of ‘‘Security’’ To Encompass Security-Based Swaps, Exchange Act Release No. 71485 (Feb. 5, 2014), 79 FR 7731 (…”
“See Order Extending Temporary Exemptions Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in Connection with the Revision of the Definition of “Security” to Encompass Security- Based Swaps, Release No. 34-71485 (Feb. 5, 2014).”
More like this from SEC
SEC published 7 documents in the last 30 days. We email you each new one the day it's published.
Source: Securities and Exchange Commission — original document · Summary generated with machine assistance and reviewed before publication; the authoritative text is the regulator's original document. How RegAlert works
In RegAlert: added