Appendix A to Part 18 - Form 40
17:1.0.1.1.17.0.7.8.14 : Appendix A
Appendix A to Part 18 - Form 40 Note:
This Appendix is a representation of the final reporting form,
which will be submitted in an electronic format pursuant to the
rules in part 18, either via the Commission's web portal or via
XML-based, secure FTP transmission.
General
Instructions
Who Must File a Form 40 - 17 CFR 18.04(a) requires every person
who owns or controls a reportable position to file a Form 40 -
Statement of Reporting Trader with the Commission. 17 CFR 18.04(b)
requires every volume threshold account controller, person who owns
a volume threshold account, reportable sub-account controller, and
person who owns a reportable sub-account to file a Form 40 -
Statement of Reporting Trader with the Commission. 17 CFR 20.5
requires every person subject to books or records under 17 CFR 20.6
to file a 40S filing 3 with the Commission.
3 As used in this document, “Form 40” may refer to either a Form
40 - Statement of Reporting Trader or a 40S Filing, as appropriate,
and as the context may require.
When to file - A reporting trader must file a Form 40 on call by
the Commission or its designee.
Where to file - The Form 40 should be submitted (a) via the
CFTC's web-based Form 40 submission process at www.cftc.gov,
(b) via a secure FTP data feed to the Commission, or (c) as
otherwise instructed by the Commission or its designee. If
electronic submission attempts fail, the reporting trader shall
contact the Commission at [email protected] for further
technical support.
When to update - A reporting trader required to complete a Form
40 will be under a continuing obligation, per direction in the
special call, to update and maintain the accuracy of the
information it provides. Reporting traders can update this
information by either visiting the CFTC's web-based Form 40 portal
to review, verify, and/or update their information, or by
submitting updated information via FTP.
Signature - Each Form 40 submitted to the Commission must be
signed or otherwise authenticated by either (1) the reporting
trader submitting the form or (2) an individual that is duly
authorized by the reporting trader to provide the information and
representations contained in the form.
What to File - All reporting traders that are filing a Form 40
pursuant to either 17 CFR 18.04(a) (i.e. reportable position
reporting traders) or 17 CFR 20.5 (i.e. swaps books and
records reporting traders) must complete all questions. All
reporting traders that are filing a Form 40 pursuant to 17 CFR
18.04(b) (i.e. volume threshold account controllers, persons
who own a volume threshold account, reportable sub-account
controllers, and persons who own a reportable sub-account reporting
trader) must complete all questions unless they are natural
persons. Reporting traders that are filing a Form 40 pursuant
to 17 CFR 18.04(b) who are natural persons shall mark not
applicable for questions 7 and 8.
Please be advised that pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(b)(2)(i), you
are not required to respond to this collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Table of Contents 1. General information for Reporting Trader 2.
Contact Information for Individual Responsible for Trading
Activities 3. Contact Information for Individual Responsible for
Risk Management Operations 4. Contact information for Individual
Responsible for Information on the Form 40 5. Omnibus Account
Identification 6. Foreign Government Affiliation 7. Non-Domestic
Entity Indicator 8. Ownership Structure (Parent/Parents) 9.
Ownership Structure (Subsidiary/Subsidiaries) 10. Control of
Reporting Trader's Trading Activities by Others 11. Control of
Other's Trading Activities by Reporting Trader 12. Other Parties
Influencing Trading of Reporting Trader 13. Trading Subject to
Express or Implied Agreement 14. Commodity Index Trading Indicator
15. Swap Dealer Identification 16. Major Swap Participant
Identification 17. Business Sectors, Subsectors and Occupation 18.
Commodities Being Traded in Derivative Markets 19. Business Purpose
for Trading in Derivative Markets 20. Signature/Authentication,
Name, and Date Acknowledgement of Definitions
Before proceeding with your submission, please check this box to
indicate that you have read the definitions for the following terms
- as they are used in the Form 40:
Commodity (or commodities) - generally, all goods and articles
(except onions and motion picture box office receipts, or any
index, measure, value, or data related to such receipts), and all
services, rights, and interests (except motion picture box office
receipts, or any index, measure, value, or data related to such
receipts) in which contracts for future delivery are presently or
in the future dealt in (see 7 U.S.C. 1a(9)).
Commodity Index Trading (“CIT”) - means:
a. An investment strategy that consists of investing in an
instrument (e.g., a commodity index fund, exchange-traded fund for
commodities, or exchange-traded note for commodities) that enters
into one or more derivative contracts to track the performance of a
published index that is based on the price of one or more
commodities, or commodities in combination with other securities;
or
b. An investment strategy that consists of entering into one or
more derivative contracts to track the performance of a published
index that is based on the price of one or more commodities, or
commodities in combination with other securities.
Control - as used in this Form, “control” means to actually
direct, by power of attorney or otherwise, the trading of a special
account or a consolidated account. A special account or a
consolidated account may have more than one controller.
Derivatives - futures, options on futures, and swaps.
Omnibus volume threshold account - means any trading account
that, on an omnibus basis, carries reportable trading volume on or
subject to the rules of a reporting market that is a board of trade
designated as a contract market under section 5 of the Act or a
swap execution facility registered under section 5h of the Act.
Parent - for purposes of Form 40, a person is a parent of a
reporting trader if it has a direct or indirect controlling
interest in the reporting trader; and a person has a controlling
interest if such person has the ability to control the reporting
trader through the ownership of voting equity, by contract, or
otherwise.
Person - an individual, association, partnership, corporation,
trust, or government agency and/or department.
Reportable sub-account - means any trading sub-account of an
omnibus volume threshold account or omnibus reportable sub-account,
which sub-account executes reportable trading volume.
Reportable sub-account controller - means a natural person who
by power of attorney or otherwise actually directs the trading of a
reportable sub-account. A reportable sub-account may have more than
one controller.
Reportable trading volume - means contract trading volume that
meets or exceeds the level specified in 17 CFR 15.04.
Reporting trader - a person who must file a Form 40, whether
pursuant to 17 CFR 18.04(a), 17 CFR 18.04(b), or 17 CFR 20.05.
Subsidiary - for purposes of Form 40, a person is a subsidiary
of a reporting trader if the reporting trader has a direct or
indirect controlling interest in the person; and a reporting trader
has a controlling interest if such reporting trader has the ability
to control the person through the ownership of voting equity, by
contract, or otherwise.
Volume threshold account - means any trading account that
carries reportable trading volume on or subject to the rules of a
reporting market that is a board of trade designated as a contract
market under section 5 of the Act or a swap execution facility
registered under section 5h of the Act.
Volume threshold account controller - means a natural person who
by power of attorney or otherwise actually directs the trading of a
volume threshold account. A volume threshold account may have more
than one controller.
CFTC Form 40 General Information for Reporting Trader:
For question 1, please provide the name, contact information and
other requested information regarding the reporting trader. If the
reporting trader is an individual, provide their full legal name
and the name of the reporting trader's employer.
1. Indicate whether the reporting trader is a legal entity or a
natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name of Reporting Trader Street
Address City State Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 4
4 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Email Address Web site NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if
any) Name of Employer Employer NFA ID (if any) Employer Legal
Entity Identifier (if any) Contact Information
For questions 2, 3, and 4, provide the name and contact
information as requested.
2. Individual to contact regarding the derivatives trading of
the reporting trader (this individual should be able to answer
specific questions about the reporting trader's trading activity
when contacted by Commission staff):
Check here if this individual has the same contact information
as that of the reporting trader.
Name Street Address City State Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number
5
5 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Email Address NFA ID (if any)
3. Individual to contact regarding the risk management
operations of the reporting trader (this individual should be able
to answer specific questions about the reporting trader's risk
management operations, including account margining, when contacted
by Commission staff):
Check here if this individual has the same contact information
as that of the reporting trader.
Name Street Address City State Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number
6
6 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Email Address NFA ID (if any)
4. Individual responsible for the information on the Form 40
(this individual should be able to verify, clarify, and explain the
answers submitted by a reporting trader on the Form 40):
Check here if this individual has the same contact information
as that of the reporting trader.
Name Street Address City State Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number
7
7 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Omnibus Account Identification
For question 5, indicate whether the reporting trader has a
customer omnibus account with a futures commission merchant,
clearing member, or foreign broker (NOTE: For the purpose of this
question, an omnibus account is an account that one futures
commission merchant, clearing member or foreign broker carries for
another in which the transactions of multiple individual accounts
are combined. The identities of the holders of the individual
accounts are not generally known or disclosed to the carrying firm.
In addition, the Commission has traditionally identified omnibus
accounts as either house or customer omnibus
accounts. House omnibus accounts exclusively contain the
proprietary accounts of the omnibus account originator. Customer
omnibus accounts contain the accounts of customers of the omnibus
account originator. It is the obligation of the omnibus account
originator to correctly identify the omnibus account type to the
reporting entity):
5. Does the reporting trader have a customer omnibus account
with a futures commission merchant, clearing member, or foreign
broker? YES/NO
IF YES, Give the name(s) of the futures commission merchant,
clearing member, or foreign broker carrying the account(s) of the
reporting trader.
Foreign Government Affiliation
For question 6, please complete the following (NOTE: For the
purpose of this question, affiliation can include, but is not
limited to, a situation (1) where the foreign government directly
or indirectly controls the reporting trader's assets, operations,
and/or derivatives trading, or (2) where the reporting trader
operates as a direct or indirect subsidiary of a foreign
government, its agencies or departments, or any investment program
of the foreign government):
6. Is the reporting trader directly or indirectly affiliated
with a government other than that of the United States? YES/NO
IF YES, give the name of the government(s).
IF YES, explain the nature of the affiliation between the
reporting trader and the government(s) listed above.
Non-Domestic Entity Indicator
For question 7, if the Reporting Trader is a legal entity,
please complete the following.
7. Is the reporting trader organized under the laws of a country
other than the United States? YES/NO
IF YES, give the name of the country or countries under whose
laws the reporting trader is organized.
Ownership Structure of the Reporting Trader
For questions 8 and 9, provide the requested ownership
information only as applicable.
If the Reporting Trader is a commodity pool, also provide the
requested information in questions 8i, 8ii, and 8iii. If the
Reporting Trader is reporting commodity pools in which it has an
ownership interest, also provide the requested information in
questions 9i, 9ii, and 9iii.
8. List all the parents of the reporting trader (including the
immediate parent and any parent(s) of its parent) and, separately,
all persons that have a 10 percent or greater ownership interest in
the reporting trader (commodity pool investors are deemed to have
an ownership interest in the pool). For each such parent or 10
percent or greater owner include the following information:
Indicate whether the party identified below is a legal entity or
a natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name Street Address City State
Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 8
8 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Web site 9
9 The Web site and NFA ID requested in this question are only
required to be reported to the extent the respondent has this
information available in its records. Respondents are not required
to poll customers or other parties for the Web site and NFA ID if
this information has not been previously collected.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if any)
Parent Company/10% Owner/or Both Indicator
8i. For each person identified in question 8 that is a limited
partner, shareholder, or other similar type of pool participant,
indicate if they are a principal or affiliate of the operator of
the commodity pool.
Principal/Affiliate Indicator
8ii. For each person identified in question 8 that is a limited
partner, shareholder, or other similar type of pool participant,
indicate if they are also a commodity pool operator of the
pool.
Commodity Pool Operator Indicator
8iii. For each person identified in question 8 that is a limited
partner, shareholder, or other similar type of pool participant and
where the operator of the commodity pool is exempt from
registration under § 4.13 of the Commission's regulations, indicate
if that person has an ownership or equity interest of 25 percent or
greater in the commodity pool.
25% Ownership Indicator
9. List all the subsidiaries of the reporting trader (including
the immediate subsidiary and any subsidiaries of those
subsidiaries) and, separately, all persons in which the reporting
trader has a 10 percent or greater ownership interest (including a
10 percent or greater interest in a commodity pool(s)). Only list
subsidiaries and persons that engage in derivatives trading. For
each such subsidiary and/or person include the following
information:
Indicate whether the party identified below is a legal entity or
a natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name Street Address City State
Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 10
10 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Web site 11
11 The Web site and NFA ID requested in this question are only
required to be reported to the extent the respondent has this
information available in its records. Respondents are not required
to poll customers or other parties for the Web site and NFA ID if
this information has not been previously collected.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if any)
Subsidiary/10% Ownership/or Both Indicator
9i. For each person identified in question 9 that is a commodity
pool and for which you are a limited partner, shareholder or other
similar type of pool participant, indicate if you are a principal
or affiliate of the operator of the commodity pool.
Principal/Affiliate Indicator
9ii. For each person identified in question 9 that is a
commodity pool and for which you are a limited partner, shareholder
or other similar type of pool participant, indicate if you are the
commodity pool operator for the pool.
Commodity Pool Operator Indicator
9iii. For each person identified in question 9 that is a
commodity pool and for which you are a limited partner, shareholder
or other similar type of pool participant and for which the
operator of the commodity pool is exempt from registration under §
4.13 of the Commission's regulations, indicate if you have an
ownership or equity interest of 25 percent or greater in the
commodity pool.
25% Ownership Indicator Control of Trading
For questions 10, 11, 12, and 13 provide the requested control
information only as applicable.
10. List all persons outside of the reporting trader that
control some or all of the derivatives trading of the reporting
trader (including persons that may have been previously identified
as a parent, above):
Indicate whether the party identified below is a legal entity or
a natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name Street Address City State
Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 12
12 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Web site 13
13 The Web site and NFA ID requested in this question are only
required to be reported to the extent the respondent has this
information available in its records. Respondents are not required
to poll customers or other parties for the Web site and NFA ID if
this information has not been previously collected.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if any)
Some/All Indicator
11. List all persons for which the reporting trader controls
some or all of the derivatives trading (including persons that may
have been previously identified as a subsidiary, above):
Indicate whether the party identified below is a legal entity or
a natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name Street Address City State
Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 14
14 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Web site 15
15 The Web site and NFA ID requested in this question are only
required to be reported to the extent the respondent has this
information available in its records. Respondents are not required
to poll customers or other parties for the Web site and NFA ID if
this information has not been previously collected.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if any)
Some/All Indicator
12. List any other person(s) that directly or indirectly
influence, or exercise authority over, some or all of the trading
of the reporting trader, but who do not exercise “control” as
defined in this Form: Indicate whether the party identified below
is a legal entity or a natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name Street Address City State
Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 16
16 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Web site 17
17 The Web site and NFA ID requested in this question are only
required to be reported to the extent the respondent has this
information available in its records. Respondents are not required
to poll customers or other parties for the Web site and NFA ID if
this information has not been previously collected.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if any)
Some/All Indicator
13. Is some or all of the derivatives trading of the reporting
trader subject to an express or implied agreement or understanding
with any other person(s) not addressed in questions 10, 11, or 12,
above? YES/NO
If yes, provide the following information:
Indicate whether the party identified below is a legal entity or
a natural person:
Legal entity: Natural person: Name Street Address City State
Country Zip/Postal Code Phone Number 18
18 Please provide a direct number, without any telephone
extension. Non-U.S. respondents should also provide the applicable
international area code.
Web site 19
19 The Web site and NFA ID requested in this question are only
required to be reported to the extent the respondent has this
information available in its records. Respondents are not required
to poll customers or other parties for the Web site and NFA ID if
this information has not been previously collected.
Email Address NFA ID (if any) Legal Entity Identifier (if any)
Some/All Indicator Commodity Index Trading Indicator
For question 14, please answer the following:
14i. Is the reporting trader engaged in commodity index trading
as defined in paragraph (a) of the definition of CIT above?
YES/NO
14ii. Is the reporting trader engaged in commodity index trading
as defined in paragraph (b) of the definition of CIT above?
YES/NO
a. If the reporting trader is engaged in CIT (as defined in
paragraph (b)) with respect to one or more commodities or commodity
groups appearing on Supplemental List II, indicate whether the
reporting trader is, in the aggregate, pursuing long exposure or
short exposure with respect to such commodities or commodity
groups. It is not necessary to respond to this question with
respect to CIT that tracks the performance of multiple unrelated
commodities or commodity groups (e.g., an investment in an
exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of an index
representing commodities spanning multiple commodity groups).
14iii. If the reporting trader is currently engaged in commodity
index trading as defined in paragraphs (a) or (b) of the CIT
definition above, indicate the month and year on which the
reporting trader first became engaged in commodity index
trading.
Swaps Participation Indicators
For questions 15 and 16, please indicate if the reporting trader
meets the specified definition:
15. Is the reporting trader a Swap Dealer, as defined in § 1.3
of regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act? YES/NO
16. Is the reporting trader a Major Swap Participant, as defined
in § 1.3 of regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act?
YES/NO
Nature of Business and of Derivatives Trading Activities
For questions 17, 18, and 19 provide the requested information
only as applicable.
17. Select all business sectors and subsectors that pertain to
the business activities or occupation of the reporting trader. If
more than one business subsector is selected, indicate which
business subsector primarily describes the nature of the reporting
trader's business.
Choose From Supplemental List I
18. Select all commodity groups and individual commodities that
the reporting trader presently trades or expects to trade in the
near future in derivative markets.
Choose From Supplemental List II
19. For each selected individual commodity identified in
question 18, indicate the business purpose(s) for which the
reporting trader uses derivative markets. If the reporting trader
has more than one business purpose for trading in an individual
commodity, also indicate the predominant business purpose.
Choose From Supplemental List III Signature/Authentication, Name,
and Date
20. Please sign/authenticate the Form 40 prior to
submitting.
Signature/Electronic Authentication:
By checking this box and submitting this form (or by clicking
“submit,” “send,” or any other analogous transmission command if
transmitting electronically), I certify that I am duly authorized
by the reporting trader identified below to provide the information
and representations submitted on this Form 40, and that the
information and representations are true and correct. Reporting
Trader Authorized Representative (Name and Position): __________
(Name) __________ (Position) Submitted on behalf of: _____
(Reporting Trader Name) Date of Submission: __________ Supplemental
List I: List of Business Sectors and Subsectors
Business
Sector Subsector
Agriculture and Forestry Oilseed
Farming Grain Farming Fruit and Tree Nut Farming Other Crop Farming
(Specify) Cattle Ranching and Farming Hog and Pig Farming Poultry
and Egg Production Sheep and Goat Farming Other Animal Production
Forestry, Logging, or Timber Production Cooperative Other (Specify)
Mining, Oil and Natural Gas Extraction Oil Exploration/Production
Natural Gas Exploration/Production Coal Mining Precious Metal
Mining Non-Precious Metal Mining Other (Specify) Utilities
Utility/Cooperative Electric Power Generation Local Distribution
Company Natural Gas Distribution Other (Specify) Construction
Building Construction Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
Other (Specify) Manufacturing, Refining and Processing Animal Food
Manufacturing Grain Milling Oilseed Milling Sugar and Confectionery
Product Manufacturing Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty
Food Manufacturing Dairy Product Manufacturing Animal Slaughtering
and Processing Bakeries Other Food Manufacturing Beverage
Manufacturing Textile Mills Textile Product Mills Apparel
Manufacturing Wood Product Manufacturing Paper Manufacturing Pulp,
Paper, and Paperboard Mills Petroleum and Coal Products
Manufacturing Renewable Fuels Manufacturing Petrochemical/Chemical
Manufacturing Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing Natural
Gas Processing Precious Metal Processor/Smelter Non-Precious Metal
Processor Metals Fabricator Other (Specify) Wholesale Trade Lumber
and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers Metal and
Mineral Merchant Dealer Grocery and Related Product Merchant
Wholesaler Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers Chemical
and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers Petroleum and Petroleum
Products Merchant Wholesalers Natural Gas, Power Marketer
Importer/Exporter (specify commodities) Other (Specify) Retail
Trade Building Materials and Supplies Dealers Food and Beverage
Stores Jeweler/Precious Metals Retailer Vehicle Fuel
Retailer/Convenience Store Operator Fuel Dealers Other (Specify)
Transportation and Warehousing Air Transport Trucking Pipeline
Transportation of Crude Oil Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage Energy Distributor
(warehousing, storage) Other (Specify)
End User (NOTE: May not
be the only/primary subsector selected) Metals End User
(Construction Co., Brass Mill, Steel Mill) Emissions End User
(Factory, Industrial Cos.) Petroleum End User (Airline Cos.
Municipalities, Industrial Cos., Trucking Cos.) Information Other
(Specify) Financial Institutions and Investment Management Dealers
and Financial Intermediaries Broker/Dealer Bank Holding Company
Investment/Merchant Bank Non-US Commercial Bank US Commercial Bank
Swaps/Derivatives Dealer Universal Bank
Asset/Investment/Fund
Management: Asset/Investment Manager Institutional Clients
Retail Clients Managed Accounts and Pools (CTAs, CPOs, etc.)
Institutional Clients Retail Clients College Endowment, Trust,
Foundation Fund of Hedge Funds Hedge Fund Mutual Fund Pension Fund
Private Wealth Management Private Bank Exchange Traded Fund Issuer
Exchange Traded Note Issuer
Government Financial
Institution: Central Bank Sovereign Wealth Fund Government
Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) Other Governmental Entity (Specify)
Other Financial or Trading Entities: Arbitrageur Individual
Trader/Investor Floor Broker Floor Trader Market Maker Proprietary
Trader Corporate Treasury Mortgage Originator Savings Bank Credit
Union Insurance Company Other (Specify)
Real Estate Other
(Specify)
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Performing
Arts Companies Promoters of Performing Arts Agents and Managers for
Artists and Entertainers Independent Artists, Writers, Performers
Other (Specify)
Accommodation and Food Services Food
Services Other (Specify)
Public Administration
Administration of Environmental Quality Programs Administration of
Economic Programs Other (Specify) Supplemental List II: Commodity
Groups and Individual Commodities Commodity Group Individual
Commodity GRAINS OATS WHEAT CORN RICE
LIVESTOCK/MEAT
PRODUCTS LIVE CATTLE PORK BELLIES FEEDER CATTLE LEAN HOGS
DAIRY PRODUCTS MILK BUTTER CHEESE
OILSEED AND
PRODUCTS SOYBEAN OIL SOYBEAN MEAL SOYBEANS FIBER COTTON
FOODSTUFFS/SOFTS COFFEE FROZEN CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE SUGAR
COCOA OTHER AGRICULTURAL REAL ESTATE CURRENCY EQUITIES AND EQUITY
INDICIES INTEREST RATES TREASURY COMPLEX OTHER INTEREST RATE
PRODUCTS OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS PETROLEUM AND PRODUCTS JET
FUEL ETHANOL BIODIESEL FUEL OIL HEATING OIL GASOLINE NAPHTHA CRUDE
OIL DIESEL NATURAL GAS AND PRODUCTS NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS NATURAL GAS
ELECTRICITY AND SOURCES COAL ELECTRICITY URANIUM PRECIOUS METALS
PALLADIUM PLATINUM SILVER GOLD BASE METALS STEEL COPPER WOOD
PRODUCTS LUMBER PULP CHEMICALS PLASTICS EMISSIONS WEATHER OTHER
(SPECIFY) Supplemental List III: Business Purposes of Commodity
Derivatives Trading Business Purpose Definition Example
Offsetting Cash or Spot Market Input Price Risk
Using derivative markets for commodities that are direct inputs
or purchases for your business so as to offset price risk
associated with your purchase of these inputs.
E.g. You are a grain processor, so you use wheat futures to
offset the price risk incidental to your cash purchases of
wheat.
Offsetting Cash or Spot Market Output Price Risk
Using derivative markets for commodities that are direct outputs
or sales of your business so as to offset price risk associated
with your sale of these outputs.
E.g. You are a gasoline refiner, so you use gasoline futures to
offset price risk associated with your production of gasoline.
Offsetting Other Cash or Spot Market Price Risks (Cross Price
Risk)
Using derivative markets for a commodity that is not a direct
input or output of your business, but which has significant price
correlations with the direct inputs or outputs of your
business.
E.g. You manufacture ethanol which is used as an additive in and
competitor for gasoline as a combustive fuel. While you neither
directly consume nor produce gasoline, you may find that the price
you receive for your ethanol product is highly correlated with the
price of gasoline, and therefore you reduce ethanol price risk by
using gasoline futures contracts.
Other Physical Risk Management Strategies
Managing other price risks incidental to the operation of your
business or physical assets through the use of commodity derivative
markets.
E.g. You are a manufacturer with significant international
sales, so you use foreign currency futures to offset risks
associated with changes in the competitiveness of your exports and
therefore the value of your physical assets such as production
plants, land, machinery, etc.
Client Futures/Options on Futures Trading
Fulfilling customer/client desire for portfolio diversification
or exposure to various asset classes through your activity as a
Commodity Pool Operator, Commodity Trading Advisor, or other
similar role.
E.g. You collect funds and execute trading strategies through
the use of futures/options on futures markets at the expressed
intent and for the sole benefit of clients.
Managing Client Swaps Exposure
Reducing risk stemming from holding or executing swaps contracts
on behalf of clients or customers through the use of
futures/options on futures markets.
E.g. You sell crude oil swaps to a client and agree to accept
the risk inherent in the index price. You offset this risk through
purchases of crude oil futures, in effect transferring price risk
from the client to another market participant.
Making Markets/Providing Liquidity
Engaging in derivatives transactions to assume risk and help
transfer ownership of derivative positions from one market
participant to another, realizing the bid-ask spread as the
return.
E.g. You accept risk by buying and selling futures/options on
futures contracts so that other traders can move into and out of
positions when they wish. You then find other traders willing to
take the other side of those transactions.
Arbitrage
Using derivative markets as part of a strategy designed to
realize risk-free profit from pricing anomalies.
E.g. You realize that the wheat futures contract is trading at a
discount (even after considering storage, transport, etc.) relative
to the wheat cash price, and therefore find it profitable to
purchase the wheat futures contract, take delivery, and then resell
the wheat in the cash market for a risk-free profit.
Establishing Price Exposure
Using derivative markets as a way to express your belief in the
future movement of market prices. This strategy does not involve
offsetting risks incidental to your business, but instead involves
directional trading.
E.g. You conduct research and believe that crude oil prices are
due to rise, so you take long futures positions in crude oil to
profit from your predictions.
Financial Asset Management
Using derivatives to diversify, rebalance, or otherwise allocate
financial assets so that risks to the value of the investment
portfolio are reduced. This strategy is used by entities such as
pension funds and endowments to manage overall risk to their
financial portfolios.
E.g. You hold Treasury bonds as a component of your investment
portfolio, and use futures contracts to reduce overall portfolio
risk that would result from falling bond prices.
Managing Proprietary Swaps Exposure
Reducing risk stemming from your proprietary holding or
execution of swaps contracts through the use of futures/options on
futures markets.
E.g. You trade interest rate swaps as part of your business or
investment strategy, and offset some of the risk inherent in those
swaps through your use of Eurodollar futures markets.
Other: Specify
List and explain your business purpose if the above categories
do not adequately describe the reason you trade in a particular
commodity derivative market.
[78 FR 69259, Nov. 18, 2013, as amended at 83 FR 7996, Feb. 23,
2018]