Extension of No-action relief letters 20-39 and 21-17 which were granted to ensure the continued availability, following Brexit, of regulatory relief under certain existing CFTC comparability determinations and exempt...

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CFTC Staff Letters (2008-present) › Extension of No-action relief letters 20-39 and 21-17 which were granted to ensure the continued availability, following Brexit, of regulatory relief under certain existing CFTC comparability determinations and exempt...

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Summary: Extension of No-action relief letters 20-39 and 21-17 which were granted to ensure the continued availability, following Brexit, of regulatory relief under certain existing CFTC comparability determinations and exemption orders originally issued by the CFTC for EU entities, while CFTC staff undertakes an analysis of UK law in order to make appropriate recommendations of comparability or exemption to the CFTC.

CFTC LETTER NO. 21-24 NO-ACTION NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Re: Extended No-Action Relief in Connection With Certain Previously

Granted Commission Determinations and Exemptions, in Response to

the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom From the European Union

Introduction

The Division of Market Oversight (“DMO”) and the Market Participants Division

(“MPD”) (together, the “Divisions”) are jointly issuing this letter to extend time-limited

no-action relief pursuant to CFTC Staff Letters 20-391 and 21-172 in connection with the

following actions (collectively, the “Existing Commission Actions”) of the

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC” or “Commission”), in response to

the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (“UK”) from the European Union (“EU”),

commonly referred to as “Brexit:”

Comparability Determination for the European Union: Certain Entity-Level

Requirements;3

Comparability Determination for the European Union: Certain Transaction-Level

Requirements;4

1 CFTC Staff Letter 20-39 (November 24, 2020), available at https://www.cftc.gov/csl/20-39/download.

2 CFTC Staff Letter 21-17 (August 31, 2021), available at https://www.cftc.gov/csl/21-17/download.

3 Comparability Determination for the European Union: Certain Entity-Level Requirements (December

27, 2013), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2013-

30980a.pdf

4, 2020), available at https://www.cftc.gov/csl/20-39/download.

2 CFTC Staff Letter 21-17 (August 31, 2021), available at https://www.cftc.gov/csl/21-17/download.

3 Comparability Determination for the European Union: Certain Entity-Level Requirements (December

27, 2013), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2013-

30980a.pdf.

4 Comparability Determination for the European Union: Certain Transaction-Level Requirements

(December 27, 2013), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2013-

30981a.pdf.

U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

Three Lafayette Centre

1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20581

Telephone: (202) 418-5000

www.cftc.gov

Market

Participants

Division

Amanda L. Olear

Acting Director

Division of Market

Oversight

Meghan Tente

Acting Director

Page 2

Comparability Determination for the European Union: Margin Requirements for

Uncleared Swaps for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants (with items 1

and 2, the “EU Comparability Determinations”);5 and

In the Matter of the Exemption of Multilateral Trading Facilities and Organised

Trading Facilities Authorized Within the European Union from the Requirement

to Register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as Swap Execution

Facilities (the “Exemptive Order”).6

CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17 were provided in accordance with the Joint Statement

by UK and US Authorities on Continuity of Derivatives Trading and Clearing Post-Brexit

of February 25, 2019.7 This letter will supersede CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17, and

the relief provided by this letter will become effective immediately upon issuance. No

person may rely on CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17 after the issuance of this letter.

II.

Background

In June 2016, the people of the UK voted by referendum to leave the EU

atives Trading and Clearing Post-Brexit

of February 25, 2019.7 This letter will supersede CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17, and

the relief provided by this letter will become effective immediately upon issuance. No

person may rely on CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17 after the issuance of this letter.

II.

Background

In June 2016, the people of the UK voted by referendum to leave the EU. On March 29,

2017, the UK submitted notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU at the

conclusion of a two-year period pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.8

On October 19, 2019, the UK and the EU entered into the Agreement on the withdrawal

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union

and the European Atomic Energy Community (the “Withdrawal Agreement”).9

Pursuant to the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK left the EU as of the end of January 31,

2020 and entered into a transition period that expired on December 31, 2020.

5 Comparability Determination for the European Union: Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps for

Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants (October 18, 2017), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2017-

22616a.pdf.

6 In the Matter of the Exemption of Multilateral Trading Facilities and Organised Trading Facilities

Authorized Within the European Union from the Requirement to Register with the Commodity Futures

Trading Commission as Swap Execution Facilities (December 8, 2017), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@requestsandactions/documents/ifdocs/mtf

_otforder12-08-17.pdf

n the Matter of the Exemption of Multilateral Trading Facilities and Organised Trading Facilities

Authorized Within the European Union from the Requirement to Register with the Commodity Futures

Trading Commission as Swap Execution Facilities (December 8, 2017), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/idc/groups/public/@requestsandactions/documents/ifdocs/mtf

_otforder12-08-17.pdf. See also In the Matter of the Exemption of Multilateral Trading Facilities and

Organised Trading Facilities Authorized Within the European Union from the Requirement to Register

with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as Swap Execution Facilities: Second Amendment To

Appendix A To Order Of Exemption (July 23, 2020), available at

https://www.cftc.gov/International/ForeignMarketsandProducts/ExemptSEFs.

7 Available at https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/7876-19. Pursuant to the Joint Statement,

the Commission committed to extending existing regulatory relief granted by the CFTC to EU firms,

including UK firms, to UK firms at the point of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

8 See Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12012M050&from=EN.

9 Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the

European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Nov. 12, 2019), available at https://eur-

lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1580206007232&uri=CELEX%3A12019W/TXT%2802%29.

European Union, available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12012M050&from=EN.

9 Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the

European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Nov. 12, 2019), available at https://eur-

lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1580206007232&uri=CELEX%3A12019W/TXT%2802%29.

Page 3

To prepare for the expiration of the transition period, the UK government took actions to

provide regulatory certainty, including passing the European Union (Withdrawal) Act

2018 (“EU(W)A”), which, at the expiration of the transition period, incorporated

relevant EU law and regulations into UK law and regulations, and granted existing

authority vested in certain EU institutions to the Financial Conduct Authority, the Bank

of England including the Prudential Regulation Authority, and Her Majesty’s Treasury.

Commission staff has been engaged with staff of the relevant UK authorities to learn about

the regulatory and supervisory framework that now applies in the UK.

The foregoing actions by the UK government aim to preserve the regulatory status quo

for UK entities benefitting from the Existing Commission Actions in all material respects

following the expiration of the transition period.

In November 2020, ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period, CFTC Staff Letter

20-39 was issued to provide a no-action position benefiting certain swap dealers, as well

as certain multilateral trading facilities (“MTFs”), organised trading facilities (“OTFs”),

and their market participants. In August 2021, CFTC Staff Letter 21-17 was issued to

amend the DMO no-action position provided in CFTC Staff Letter 20-39 in order to

expand its scope to include three MTFs and one OTF authorized in the UK that were not

eligible to rely on DMO’s no-action position under CFTC Staff Letter 20-39, but were

similarly situated as those UK MTFs and OTFs that were eligible to rely on such position

In August 2021, CFTC Staff Letter 21-17 was issued to

amend the DMO no-action position provided in CFTC Staff Letter 20-39 in order to

expand its scope to include three MTFs and one OTF authorized in the UK that were not

eligible to rely on DMO’s no-action position under CFTC Staff Letter 20-39, but were

similarly situated as those UK MTFs and OTFs that were eligible to rely on such position.

CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17 were meant to maintain the status quo of the Existing

Commission Actions while the Commission worked with the relevant UK authorities to

analyze relevant UK law and, where appropriate, replicate the Existing Commission

Actions for UK entities. The Commission and the relevant UK authorities have not yet

completed this work. Accordingly, the Divisions are extending the time-limited no-action

positions provided in CFTC Staff Letters 20-39 and 21-17, as described below.

III.

Staff Positions

(A)

MPD No-Action Positions

Pursuant to the EU Comparability Determinations and related Commission rules and

guidance, the Commission has recognized that compliance by certain registered swap

dealers with certain requirements under EU laws and regulations will constitute

compliance with corresponding requirements under certain Commission regulations.

Because the EU laws and regulations relevant for the EU Comparability Determinations

have been incorporated into UK laws and regulations pursuant to the EU(W)(A), MPD

believes that temporary no-action relief is warranted. Accordingly, MPD will not

recommend that the Commission take enforcement action against a swap dealer

registered with the Commission if, in lieu of complying with the corresponding

Commission regulations, it complies with the UK laws and regulations incorporated

pursuant to the EU(W)A in the same manner and subject to the same conditions

contained in the EU Comparability Determinations with respect to the corresponding EU

laws and regulations. This MPD relief will expire upon the earlier of either: (i) the

the Commission if, in lieu of complying with the corresponding

Commission regulations, it complies with the UK laws and regulations incorporated

pursuant to the EU(W)A in the same manner and subject to the same conditions

contained in the EU Comparability Determinations with respect to the corresponding EU

laws and regulations. This MPD relief will expire upon the earlier of either: (i) the

Page 4

effective date of any comparability determination issued by the Commission for the UK

to the extent such determination encompasses the subject matter of the EU Comparability

Determinations; or (ii) December 31, 2022.

(B)

DMO No-Action Positions

In the Exemptive Order, the Commission determined that the EU’s regulatory

frameworks for MTFs and OTFs, respectively, satisfy the standard set forth in section

5h(g) of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”)10 for granting an exemption from the

requirement to register with the Commission as a swap execution facility (“SEF”)

pursuant to CEA section 5h(a)(1).11 Based on this determination, the Commission granted

an exemption from SEF registration to each of the MTFs and OTFs listed in Appendix A

to the Exemptive Order, as such Appendix A may be amended by the Commission from

time to time. Facilities that are granted an exemption from SEF registration pursuant to

CEA section 5h(g) are also eligible facilities upon which counterparties may satisfy the

trade execution requirement of CEA section 2(h)(8).12

Because the EU laws and regulations relevant to the Exemptive Order have been

incorporated into UK laws and regulations pursuant to the EU(W)A, DMO believes that

temporary no-action relief is warranted. Accordingly, DMO will not recommend that the

Commission take an enforcement action against:

(a)

An MTF or OTF that is authorized within the UK and listed in Appendix A to this

letter (each, an “Eligible UK Facility”), for failure to register as a SEF pursuant

to CEA section 5h(a)(1) and Commission Regulation 37.3(a)(1); or

U(W)A, DMO believes that

temporary no-action relief is warranted. Accordingly, DMO will not recommend that the

Commission take an enforcement action against:

(a)

An MTF or OTF that is authorized within the UK and listed in Appendix A to this

letter (each, an “Eligible UK Facility”), for failure to register as a SEF pursuant

to CEA section 5h(a)(1) and Commission Regulation 37.3(a)(1); or

(b)

A counterparty that is subject to the trade execution requirement pursuant to

CEA section 2(h)(8), if such counterparty executes a swap that is subject to such

trade execution requirement on an Eligible UK Facility. 13

10 CEA section 5h(g) authorizes the Commission to grant an exemption from SEF registration if the

Commission finds that a “swap execution facility … is subject to comparable, comprehensive supervision

and regulation on a consolidated basis by … the appropriate governmental authorities in the home country

of the facility.” 7 U.S.C. § 7b-3.

11 Pursuant to CEA section 5h(a)(1), no person may operate a facility for the trading or processing of swaps

unless the facility is registered by the Commission as a SEF or as a designated contract market. 7 U.S.C. §

7b-3. CEA section 5h(a)(1) is implemented in the Commission’s regulations through Commission

Regulation 37.3(a)(1). 17 CFR 37.3(a)(1).

12 Facilities that are granted an exemption from SEF registration pursuant to CEA section 5h(g) may also

offer trading in swaps that are not subject to the trade execution requirement to U.S. person counterparties.

See 7 U.S.C. § 7b-3.

13 This no-action relief does not affect any other requirements under the CEA or the Commission’s

regulations. In particular, as explained in the Exemptive Order, swap transactions executed on Eligible UK

Facilities must still comply with:

(1) The reporting requirements of Parts 43 and 45 of the Commission’s regulations which continue to apply

to counterparties that are subject to such reporting requirements;

lief does not affect any other requirements under the CEA or the Commission’s

regulations. In particular, as explained in the Exemptive Order, swap transactions executed on Eligible UK

Facilities must still comply with:

(1) The reporting requirements of Parts 43 and 45 of the Commission’s regulations which continue to apply

to counterparties that are subject to such reporting requirements;

(2) The swap trading eligibility requirement of CEA section 2(e); and

Page 5

The DMO relief provided herein will expire upon the earlier of either: (i) the effective date

of any exemptive order issued by the Commission pursuant to CEA section 5h(g), for

MTFs and OTFs authorized within the UK; or (ii) December 31, 2022.

IV.

Conclusion

This letter, and the positions taken herein, represent the views of the Divisions only, and

do not necessarily represent the position or view of the Commission or of any other office

or division of the Commission. The relief provided in this letter does not excuse persons

relying on it from compliance with any other applicable requirements contained in the

CEA or in Commission regulations. Further, this letter, and the positions taken herein,

are based upon the facts and circumstances presented to the Divisions. Any different,

changed, or omitted material facts or circumstances might render the relief provided by

this letter void.

Finally, as with all staff letters, the Divisions retain the authority to condition further,

modify, suspend, terminate, or otherwise restrict the terms of relief provided herein, in

their discretion.

If you have any questions concerning this correspondence, please contact, Roger Smith,

Associate Chief Counsel, DMO, at (202) 418-5344 or rsmith@cftc.gov; Frank Fisanich,

Chief Counsel, MPD, at (202) 418-5949 or ffisanich@cftc.gov; or Jacob Chachkin,

Associate Chief Counsel, MPD, at (202) 418-5496 or jchachkin@cftc.gov.

(3) The following clearing-related requirements:

concerning this correspondence, please contact, Roger Smith,

Associate Chief Counsel, DMO, at (202) 418-5344 or rsmith@cftc.gov; Frank Fisanich,

Chief Counsel, MPD, at (202) 418-5949 or ffisanich@cftc.gov; or Jacob Chachkin,

Associate Chief Counsel, MPD, at (202) 418-5496 or jchachkin@cftc.gov.

(3) The following clearing-related requirements:

(i)

When a swap transaction executed by a U.S. person on an Eligible UK Facility is a “customer”

position subject to CEA section 4d, the transaction, if intended to be cleared, must be cleared

through a Commission-registered futures commission merchant (“FCM”) at a Commission-

registered derivatives clearing organization (“DCO”);

(ii)

When a swap transaction executed by a U.S. person on an Eligible UK Facility is a “proprietary”

position under Commission Regulation 1.3, the transaction, if intended to be cleared, must be

cleared either through a Commission-registered DCO or a clearing organization that has been

exempted from DCO registration by the Commission pursuant to CEA section 5b(h) (an “Exempt

DCO”); and

(iii)

When a swap transaction is subject to the Commission’s clearing requirement under Part 50 of

the Commission’s regulations, and is entered into by a person that, pursuant to CEA section

2(h)(1), is subject to such clearing requirement, the transaction must be cleared either through a

Commission-registered DCO or an Exempt DCO; provided that, consistent with (i) above, if the

transaction is a “customer” position subject to CEA section 4d, it must be cleared through a

Commission-registered FCM at a Commission-registered DCO, and cannot be cleared through

an Exempt DCO

section

2(h)(1), is subject to such clearing requirement, the transaction must be cleared either through a

Commission-registered DCO or an Exempt DCO; provided that, consistent with (i) above, if the

transaction is a “customer” position subject to CEA section 4d, it must be cleared through a

Commission-registered FCM at a Commission-registered DCO, and cannot be cleared through

an Exempt DCO.

If, as a result of the clearing arrangements that an Eligible UK Facility has in place, some swap transactions

executed on the Eligible UK Facility are cleared by a clearing organization that is not a Commission-

registered DCO, the Eligible UK Facility must, as a condition of receiving the above relief from the SEF

registration requirement, have a rule in its rulebook that requires the types of swap transactions described

in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, if intended to be cleared, to be cleared in a manner consistent with the

requirements described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), respectively. See Exemptive Order at 6-7.

Page 6

Sincerely,

___________________________________

Amanda L. Olear

Acting Director

Market Participants Division

___________________________________

Meghan Tente

Acting Director

Division of Market Oversight

cc:

Regina Thoele, Compliance

National Futures Association, Chicago

Michael Otten, OTC Derivatives

National Futures Association, New York

6-7.

Page 6

Sincerely,

___________________________________

Amanda L. Olear

Acting Director

Market Participants Division

___________________________________

Meghan Tente

Acting Director

Division of Market Oversight

cc:

Regina Thoele, Compliance

National Futures Association, Chicago

Michael Otten, OTC Derivatives

National Futures Association, New York

Page 7

Appendix A

List of UK Authorized MTFs and OTFs covered by this No-Action Relief

Trading Facility Name