Title 17

SECTION 240.18a-10

240.18a-10 Alternative compliance mechanism for security-based swap dealers that are registered as swap dealers and have limited security-based swap activities.

§ 240.18a-10 Alternative compliance mechanism for security-based swap dealers that are registered as swap dealers and have limited security-based swap activities.

(a) A security-based swap dealer may comply with capital, margin, segregation, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act and chapter I of this title applicable to swap dealers in lieu of complying with §§ 240.18a-1 and 240.18a-3 through 240.18a-9 if:

(1) The security-based swap dealer is registered as such pursuant to section 15F(b) of the Act and the rules thereunder;

(2) The security-based swap dealer is registered as a swap dealer pursuant to section 4s of the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules thereunder;

(3) The security-based swap dealer is not registered as a broker or dealer pursuant to section 15 of the Act or the rules thereunder;

(4) The security-based swap dealer meets the conditions to be exempt from § 240.18a-4 specified in paragraph (f) of that section; and

(5) As of the most recently ended quarter of the fiscal year of the security-based swap dealer, the aggregate gross notional amount of the outstanding security-based swap positions of the security-based swap dealer did not exceed the lesser of the maximum fixed-dollar amount specified in paragraph (f) of this section or 10 percent of the combined aggregate gross notional amount of the security-based swap and swap positions of the security-based swap dealer.

(b) A security-based swap dealer operating under this section must:

(1) Comply with capital, margin, segregation, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act and chapter I of this title applicable to swap dealers and treat security-based swaps or collateral related to security-based swaps as swaps or collateral related to swaps, as applicable, pursuant to those requirements to the extent the requirements do not specifically address security-based swaps or collateral related to security-based swaps;

(2) Disclose in writing to each counterparty to a security-based swap before entering into the first transaction with the counterparty after the date the security-based swap dealer begins operating under this section that the security-based swap dealer is operating under this section and is therefore complying with the applicable capital, margin, segregation, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules promulgated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission thereunder in lieu of complying with the capital, margin, segregation, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements promulgated by the Commission in §§ 240.18a-1 and 240.18a-3 through 240.18a-9;

(3) Immediately notify the Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in writing if the security-based swap dealer fails to meet a condition specified in paragraph (a) of this section;

(4) Simultaneously notify the Commission if the security-based swap dealer is required to send a notice concerning its capital, books and records, liquidity, margin operations, or segregation operations to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission by transmitting to the Commission a copy of the notice being sent to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and

(5) Furnish promptly to a representative of the Commission legible, true, complete, and current copies of those records of the security-based swap dealer that are required to be preserved under the Commodity Exchange Act and chapter I of this title applicable to swap dealers, or any other records of the security-based swap dealer subject to examination pursuant to section 15F of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o-10) that are requested by a representative of the Commission.

(c) A security-based swap dealer that fails to meet one or more of the conditions specified in paragraph (a) of this section must begin complying with §§ 240.18a-1 and 240.18a-3 through 240.18a-9 no later than:

(1) Two months after the end of the month in which the security-based swap dealer fails to meet a condition in paragraph (a) of this section; or

(2) A longer period of time as granted by the Commission by order subject to any conditions imposed by the Commission.

(d)(1) A person applying to register as a security-based swap dealer that intends to operate under this section beginning on the date of its registration must provide prior written notice to the Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of its intent to operate under the conditions of this section.

(2) A security-based swap dealer that elects to operate under this section beginning on a date after the date of its registration as a security-based swap dealer must:

(i) Provide prior written notice to the Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of its intent to operate under the conditions of this section; and

(ii) Continue to comply with §§ 240.18a-1 and 240.18a-3 through 240.18a-9 for at least:

(A) Two months after the end of the month in which the security-based swap dealer provides the notice; or

(B) A shorter period of time as granted by the Commission by order subject to any conditions imposed by the Commission.

(e) The notices required by this section must be sent by facsimile transmission to the principal office of the Commission and the regional office of the Commission for the region in which the security-based swap dealer has its principal place of business or to an email address provided on the Commission's website, and to the principal office of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in a manner consistent with the notification requirements of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The notice must include a brief summary of the reason for the notice and the contact information of an individual who can provide further information about the matter that is the subject of the notice.

(f)(1) The maximum fixed-dollar amount is $250 billion until the three-year anniversary of the compliance date of this section at which time the maximum fixed-dollar amount is $50 billion unless the Commission issues an order to:

(i) Maintain the maximum fixed-dollar amount at $250 billion for an additional period of time or indefinitely; or

(ii) Lower the maximum fixed-dollar amount to an amount that is less than $250 billion but greater than $50 billion.

(2) If, after considering the levels of security-based swap activity of security-based swap dealers operating under this section, the Commission determines that it may be appropriate to change the maximum fixed-dollar amount pursuant paragraph (f)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section, the Commission will publish a notice of the potential change and subsequently will issue an order regarding any such change.

[84 FR 44076, Aug. 22, 2019, as amended at 84 FR 68668, Dec. 16, 2019]