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1 78 FR 45292 (July 26, 2013). The Commission originally published proposed and further proposed guidance on July 12, 2012 and January 7, 2013, respectively. See Cross-Border Application of Certain Swaps Provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, 77 FR 41214 (July 12, 2012) and Further Proposed Guidance Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations, 78 FR 909 (Jan. 7,
2013). 2 78 FR 43785 (July 22, 2013).

3 The Entity-Level Requirements under the Exemptive Order consist of 17 CFR 1.31, 3.3,

23.201, 23.203, 23.600, 23.601, 23.602, 23.603, 23.605, 23.606, 23.608, 23.609, and parts 45 and 46 of the Commission’s regulations.

4 For purposes of this notice, the Internal Business Conduct Requirements consist of 17 CFR

3.3, 23.201, 23.203, 23.600, 23.601, 23.602, 23.603, 23.605, and 23.606. questions regarding information sharing,
cooperation, supervision, and enforcement

will remain unanswered until the
Commission and our fellow regulators

execute these MOUs.

Second, the Commission has issued timelimited no-action relief for the swap data
repository reporting requirements. These
comparability determinations will be done as
separate notices. However, the timing and
process for these determinations remain

uncertain.

Third, the Commission has failed to provide clarity on the process for addressing the comparability determinations that it

declined to undertake at this time. The Notices only state that the Commission may address these requests in a separate notice at a later date given further developments in the law and regulations of other jurisdictions. To promote certainty in the financial markets, the Commission must provide a clear path forward for market participants and foreign regulators.

The following steps would be a better approach: (1) The Commission should extend the Exemptive Order to allow foreign regulators to further implement their regulatory regimes and coordinate with them to implement a harmonized substituted compliance process; (2) the Commission should implement a flexible, outcomes-based approach to the substituted compliance process and apply it similarly to all jurisdictions; and (3) the Commission should work closely with our fellow regulators to expeditiously implement MOUs that resolve regulatory differences and address regulatory oversight issues.

Conclusion

While I support the narrow comparability

determinations that the Commission has made, it was my hope that the Commission would work with foreign regulators to implement a substituted compliance process that would increase the global harmonization effort. I am disappointed that the Commission has failed to implement such a

process.

I do believe that in the longer term, the swaps regulations of the major jurisdictions will converge. At this time, however, the Commission’s comparability determinations

have done little to alleviate the burden of regulatory uncertainty and duplicative compliance with both U.S. and foreign regulations.

The G–20 process delineated and put in place the swaps market reforms in G–20 member nations. It is then no surprise that

the Commission must learn to coordinate with foreign regulators to minimize confusion and disruption in bringing much needed clarity to the swaps market. For all these shortcomings, I respectfully dissent from the Commission’s approval of the

Notices.

[FR Doc. 2013–30979 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6351–01–P COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING** 

**COMMISSION**

**Comparability Determination for Hong Kong: Certain Entity-Level**  **Requirements**

**AGENCY :**  Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Comparability Determination for Certain Requirements under the laws of Hong Kong.

**SUMMARY :**  The following is the analysis and determination of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘‘Commission’’) regarding certain parts of a request by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (‘‘HKMA’’) that the

Commission determine that laws and regulations applicable in Hong Kong provide a sufficient basis for an affirmative finding of comparability with respect to the following regulatory obligations applicable to swap dealers (‘‘SDs’’) and major swap participants (‘‘MSPs’’) registered with the Commission: (i) Chief compliance officer; (ii) risk management; and (iii) swap data recordkeeping (collectively,

the ‘‘Internal Business Conduct Requirements’’).

**DATES :**  Effective Date: This

determination will become effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register

.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Gary

Barnett, Director, 202–418–5977, gbarnett@cftc.gov, Frank Fisanich, Chief
Counsel, 202–418–5949, ffisanich@ cftc.gov, and August A. Imholtz III, Special Counsel, 202–418–5140, aimholtz@cftc.gov, Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC

20581.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

I. Introduction

On July 26, 2013, the Commission published in the Federal Register its ‘‘Interpretive Guidance and Policy Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations’’ (the
‘‘Guidance’’). 1 In the Guidance, the Commission set forth its interpretation

of the manner in which it believes that section 2(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act (‘‘CEA’’) applies Title VII’s swap provisions to activities outside the U.S. and informed the public of some of the policies that it expects to follow, generally speaking, in applying Title VII and certain Commission regulations in contexts covered by section 2(i). Among other matters, the Guidance generally described the policy and procedural

framework under which the

Commission would consider a substituted compliance program with respect to Commission regulations applicable to entities located outside the U.S. Specifically, the Commission addressed a recognition program where compliance with a comparable regulatory requirement of a foreign jurisdiction would serve as a reasonable substitute for compliance with the attendant requirements of the CEA and the Commission’s regulations promulgated thereunder.

In addition to the Guidance, on July
22, 2013, the Commission issued the Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations (the ‘‘Exemptive Order’’). 2 Among other things, the Exemptive Order provided

time for the Commission to consider substituted compliance with respect to six jurisdictions where non-U.S. SDs are currently organized. In this regard, the Exemptive Order generally provided

non-U.S. SDs and MSPs in the six jurisdictions with conditional relief from certain requirements of Commission regulations (those referred to as ‘‘Entity-Level Requirements’’ in the
Guidance) until the earlier of December 21, 2013, or 30 days following the issuance of a substituted compliance

determination. 3

On July 12, 2013, the HKMA (the ‘‘applicant’’) submitted a request that

the Commission determine that laws and regulations applicable in Hong Kong provide a sufficient basis for an affirmative finding of comparability with respect to certain Entity-Level Requirements, including the Internal Business Conduct Requirements. 4 The applicant provided Commission staff with updated submissions on August 8
and 19, 2013. On November 11,
November 28, and December 6, 2013, the applicant further supplemented the application with corrections and additional materials. The following is


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5 This notice does not address swap data repository reporting (‘‘SDR Reporting’’). The Commission may provide a comparability determination with respect to the SDR Reporting requirement in a separate notice.

6 Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).

7 7 U.S.C. 2(i).

8 The compliance dates are summarized on the Compliance Dates page of the Commission’s Web
site. (http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/ DoddFrankAct/ComplianceDates/index.htm. ) 9 78 FR 45342–45.

10 See the Guidance, 78 FR 45342–44.

11 Under §§ 23.203 and 23.606, all records required by the CEA and the Commission’s regulations to be maintained by a registered SD or

MSP shall be maintained in accordance with Commission regulation 1.31 and shall be open for inspection by representatives of the Commission, the United States Department of Justice, or any applicable U.S. prudential regulator.

In its Final Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations, 78 FR 858 (Jan. 7, 2013), the Commission noted that an applicant for registration as a SD or MSP must file

a Form 7–R with the National Futures Association and that Form 7–R was being modified at that time to address existing blocking, privacy, or secrecy laws of foreign jurisdictions that applied to the books and records of SDs and MSPs acting in those jurisdictions. See id. at 871–72 n. 107. The modifications to Form 7–R were a temporary measure intended to allow SDs and MSPs to apply for registration in a timely manner in recognition of the existence of the blocking, privacy, and secrecy laws. In the Guidance, the Commission clarified that the change to Form 7–R impacts the registration application only and does not modify the Commission’s authority under the CEA and its regulations to access records held by registered SDs and MSPs. Commission access to a registrant’s books and records is a fundamental regulatory tool necessary to properly monitor and examine each registrant’s compliance with the CEA and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. The Commission has maintained an ongoing dialogue on a bilateral and multilateral basis with foreign regulators and with registrants to address books and records access issues and may consider appropriate measures where requested to do so.

12 See e.g., sections 4s(f)(1)(C), 4s(j)(3) and (4) of

the CEA.

13 See e.g., §§ 23.203(b) and 23.606.

14 See supra note 9.

15 Because the applicant’s request and the

Commission’s determinations herein are based on the comparability of the requirements applicable to Authorized Institutions (‘‘AI’’) regulated by the

HKMA, an SD or MSP that is not an AI, or is otherwise not subject to the requirements applicable to AIs upon which the Commission bases its determinations, may not be able to rely on the Commission’s comparability determinations

herein. the Commission’s analysis and determination regarding the Internal Business Conduct Requirements, as

detailed below. 5

II. Background

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street

Reform and Consumer Protection Act6 (‘‘Dodd-Frank Act’’ or ‘‘Dodd-Frank’’),
which, in Title VII, established a new regulatory framework for swaps.

Section 722(d) of the Dodd-Frank Act amended the CEA by adding section 2(i), which provides that the swap provisions of the CEA (including anyCEA rules or regulations) apply to crossborder activities when certain conditions are met, namely, when such activities have a ‘‘direct and significant
connection with activities in, or effect
on, commerce of the United States’’ or when they contravene Commission rules or regulations as are necessary or appropriate to prevent evasion of the swap provisions of the CEA enacted

under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act. 7 In the three years since its enactment,

the Commission has finalized 68 rules and orders to implement Title VII of the

Dodd-Frank Act. The finalized rules include those promulgated under
section 4s of the CEA, which address registration of SDs and MSPs and other substantive requirements applicable to SDs and MSPs. With few exceptions, the delayed compliance dates for the Commission’s regulations implementing such section 4s requirements applicable to SDs and MSPs have passed and new SDs and MSPs are now required to be in full compliance with such regulations upon registration with the

Commission. 8 Notably, the requirements

under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act related to SDs and MSPs by their terms apply to all registered SDs and MSPs, irrespective of where they are located, albeit subject to the limitations of CEA
section 2(i).

To provide guidance as to the Commission’s views regarding the scope of the cross-border application of Title
VII of the Dodd-Frank Act, the

Commission set forth in the Guidance its interpretation of the manner in which it believes that Title VII’s swap provisions apply to activities outside the U.S. pursuant to section 2(i) of the CEA. Among other matters, the Guidance generally described the policy and procedural framework under which

the Commission would consider a substituted compliance program with respect to Commission regulations applicable to entities located outside the U.S. Specifically, the Commission addressed a recognition program where compliance with a comparable regulatory requirement of a foreign jurisdiction would serve as a reasonable substitute for compliance with the attendant requirements of the CEA and the Commission’s regulations. With respect to the standards forming the basis for any determination of comparability (‘‘comparability determination’’ or ‘‘comparability finding’’), the Commission stated:

In evaluating whether a particular category of foreign regulatory requirement(s) is comparable and comprehensive to the applicable requirement(s) under the CEA and Commission regulations, the Commission

will take into consideration all relevant factors, including but not limited to, the comprehensiveness of those requirement(s), the scope and objectives of the relevant regulatory requirement(s), the comprehensiveness of the foreign regulator’s supervisory compliance program, as well as the home jurisdiction’s authority to support and enforce its oversight of the registrant. In this context, comparable does not necessarily
mean identical. Rather, the Commission

would evaluate whether the home jurisdiction’s regulatory requirement is comparable to and as comprehensive as the corresponding U.S. regulatory requirement(s). 9

Upon a comparability finding,
consistent with CEA section 2(i) and comity principles, the Commission’s policy generally is that eligible entities may comply with a substituted compliance regime, subject to any conditions the Commission places on its finding, and subject to the

Commission’s retention of its examination authority and its enforcement authority. 10

In this regard, the Commission notes that a comparability determination cannot be premised on whether an SD or MSP must disclose comprehensive information to its regulator in its home jurisdiction, but rather on whether

information relevant to the Commission’s oversight of an SD or MSP would be directly available to the Commission and any U.S. prudential regulator of the SD or MSP. 11 The Commission’s direct access to the books and records required to be maintained by an SD or MSP registered with the Commission is a core requirement of the

CEA 12 and the Commission’s regulations, 13 and is a condition to registration. 14

III. Regulation of SDs and MSPs in
Hong Kong

The HKMA administers the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and is the government authority in Hong Kong responsible for maintaining monetary and banking stability. 15 Its main

functions are:

• Maintaining currency stability

within the framework of the Linked Exchange Rate system;

• Promoting the stability and integrity of the financial system, including the banking system;

• Helping to maintain Hong Kong’s

status as an international financial center, including the maintenance and development of Hong Kong’s financial
infrastructure; and

• Managing the Exchange Fund.


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16 78 FR 45343.

17 78 FR 45343.

18 78 FR 45343.

19 78 FR 45343. The Commission’s substituted compliance program would generally be available for SDR Reporting, as outlined in the Guidance, only if the Commission has direct access to all of the data elements that are reported to a foreign trade repository pursuant to the substituted compliance program. Thus, direct access to swap data is a threshold matter to be addressed in a comparability evaluation for SDR Reporting. Moreover, the Commission explains in the Guidance that, due to its technical nature, a comparability evaluation for SDR Reporting ‘‘will generally entail a detailed comparison and technical analysis.’’ A more particularized analysis will generally be necessary to determine whether data stored in a foreign trade repository provides for effective Commission use, infurtherance of the regulatory purposes of the DoddFrank Act. See 78 FR 45345.

20 A finding of comparability may not be possible for a number of reasons, including the fact that the foreign jurisdiction has not yet implemented or finalized particular requirements.

21 78 FR 45343.

22 As explained in the Guidance, such ‘‘approaches used will vary depending on the circumstances relevant to each jurisdiction. One example would include coordinating with the foreign regulators in developing appropriate regulatory changes or new regulations, particularly where changes or new regulations already are being considered or proposed by the foreign regulators or legislative bodies. As another example, the Commission may, after consultation with the appropriate regulators and market participants, include in its substituted compliance determination a description of the means by which certain swaps market participants can achieve substituted compliance within the construct of the foreign regulatory regime. The identification of the means by which substituted compliance is achieved would be designed to address the regulatory objectives and

outcomes of the relevant Dodd-Frank Act requirements in a manner that does not conflict with a foreign regulatory regime and reduces the likelihood of inconsistent regulatory obligations. For example, the Commission may specify that [SDs] and MSPs in the jurisdiction undertake certain recordkeeping and documentation for swap activities that otherwise is only addressed by the foreign regulatory regime with respect to financial activities generally. In addition, the substituted compliance determination may include provisions for summary compliance and risk reporting to the

Commission to allow the Commission to monitor whether the regulatory outcomes are being achieved. By using these approaches, in the interest of comity, the Commission would seek to achieve its regulatory objectives with respect to the Commission’s registrants that are operating in foreign jurisdictions in a manner that works in harmony with the regulatory interests of those jurisdictions.’’ 78 FR 45343–44.

23 ‘‘Swaps activities’’ is defined in Commission regulation 23.600(a)(7) to mean, ‘‘with respect to a registrant, such registrant’s activities related to swaps and any product used to hedge such swaps, including, but not limited to, futures, options, other swaps or security-based swaps, debt or equity securities, foreign currency, physical commodities,

and other derivatives.’’ The Commission’s regulations under Part 23 (17 CFR Part 23) are limited in scope to the swaps activities of SDs and

MSPs.

24 No SD or MSP that is not legally required to comply with a law or regulation determined to be comparable may voluntarily comply with such law or regulation in lieu of compliance with the CEA and the relevant Commission regulation. Each SD or MSP that seeks to rely on a comparability determination is responsible for determining whether it is subject to the laws and regulations found comparable. Currently, there are no MSPs organized outside the U.S. and the Commission therefore cautions any non-financial entity organized outside the U.S. and applying for registration as an MSP to carefully consider whether the laws and regulations determined to be comparable herein are applicable to such entity.

25 The Commission has provided the relevant foreign regulator(s) with opportunities to review and correct the applicant’s description of such laws and regulations on which the Commission will base its comparability determination. The Commission relies on the accuracy and completeness of such review and any corrections received in making its comparability determinations. A comparability determination based on an inaccurate description of foreign laws and regulations may not be valid. IV. Comparable and Comprehensiveness Standard

The Commission’s comparability analysis will be based on a comparison of specific foreign requirements against the specific related CEA provisions and Commission regulations as categorized

and described in the Guidance. As explained in the Guidance, within the
framework of CEA section 2(i) and principles of international comity, the Commission may make a comparabilitydetermination on a requirement-byrequirement basis, rather than on the basis of the foreign regime as a whole. 16 In making its comparability determinations, the Commission may

include conditions that take into account timing and other issues related to coordinating the implementation of reform efforts across jurisdictions. 17

In evaluating whether a particular category of foreign regulatory requirement(s) is comparable and comprehensive to the corollary requirement(s) under the CEA and Commission regulations, the

Commission will take into consideration all relevant factors, including, but not

limited to:

• The comprehensiveness of those requirement(s),

• The scope and objectives of the relevant regulatory requirement(s),

• The comprehensiveness of the foreign regulator’s supervisory compliance program, and

• The home jurisdiction’s authority to support and enforce its oversight of the registrant. 18

In making a comparability
determination, the Commission takes an ‘‘outcome-based’’ approach. An ‘‘outcome-based’’ approach means that when evaluating whether a foreign jurisdiction’s regulatory requirements are comparable to, and as comprehensive as, the corollary areas of the CEA and Commission regulations, the Commission ultimately focuses on regulatory outcomes (i.e., the home jurisdiction’s requirements do not have
to be identical). 19 This approach recognizes that foreign regulatory systems differ and their approaches vary and may differ from how the
Commission chose to address an issue, but that the foreign jurisdiction’s regulatory requirements nonetheless achieve the regulatory outcome sought to be achieved by a certain provision of the CEA or Commission regulation.

In doing its comparability analysis the Commission may determine that no comparability determination can be

made 20 and that the non-U.S. SD or
non-U.S. MSP, U.S. bank that is an SD or MSP with respect to its foreign branches, or non-registrant, to the extent applicable under the Guidance, may be required to comply with the CEA and Commission regulations.

The starting point in the Commission’s analysis is a consideration of the regulatory objectives of the foreign jurisdiction’s regulation of swaps and swap market participants. As stated in the Guidance, jurisdictions may not have swap specific regulations in some areas, and instead have regulatory or supervisory regimes that achieve comparable andcomprehensive regulation to the DoddFrank Act requirements, but on a more general, entity-wide, or prudential,

basis. 21 In addition, portions of a foreign regulatory regime may have similar regulatory objectives, but the means by which these objectives are achieved with respect to swaps market activities may not be clearly defined, or may not expressly include specific regulatory

elements that the Commission concludes are critical to achieving the regulatory objectives or outcomes required under the CEA and the Commission’s regulations. In these
circumstances, the Commission will work with the regulators and registrants in these jurisdictions to consider alternative approaches that may result

in a determination that substituted compliance applies. 22 Finally, the Commission will generally rely on an applicant’s description of the laws and regulations of the foreign jurisdiction in making its comparability determination. The Commission considers an application to be a representation by the applicant that the laws and regulations submitted are
in full force and effect, that the description of such laws and regulations is accurate and complete, and that, unless otherwise noted, the scope of such laws and regulations encompasses the swaps activities 23 of SDs and

MSPs 24 in the relevant jurisdictions. 25 Further, as stated in the Guidance, the Commission expects that an applicant


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26 78 FR 45345.

27 See 78 FR 45348–50. The Commission notes that registrants and other market participants are responsible for determining whether substituted compliance is available pursuant to the Guidance based on the comparability determination contained herein (including any conditions or exceptions), and its particular status and

circumstances.

28 This notice does not address § 23.608 (Restrictions on counterparty clearing relationships) nor § 23.609 (Clearing member risk management). The Commission declines to take up the request for a comparability determination with respect to these regulations due to the Commission’s view that there are not laws or regulations applicable in Hong Kong to compare with the prohibitions and requirements of §§ 23.608 or 23.609. The Commission may provide a comparability determination with respect to these regulations at a later date in consequence of further developments in the law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong.

This notice also does not address capital adequacy because the Commission has not yet

finalized rules for SDs and MSPs in this area, nor SDR Reporting. The Commission may provide a comparability determination with respect to these requirements at a later date or in a separate notice.

29 An MOU is one type of arrangement between or among regulators. Supervisory arrangements could include, as appropriate, cooperative arrangements that are memorialized and executed as addenda to existing MOUs or, for example, as independent bilateral arrangements, statements of

intent, declarations, or letters.

30 78 FR 45344. 31 Section 4s(j)(3) and (4) of the CEA and Commission regulation 23.606 require a registered SD or MSP to make all records required to be

maintained in accordance with Commission regulation 1.31 available promptly upon request to, among others, representatives of the Commission.

See also 7 U.S.C. 6s(f); 17 CFR 23.203. In the

Guidance, the Commission states that it ‘‘reserves this right to access records held by registered [SDs] and MSPs, including those that are non-U.S. persons who may comply with the Dodd-Frank recordkeeping requirement through substituted compliance.’’ 78 FR 45345 n. 472; see also id. at 45342 n. 461 (affirming the Commission’s authority under the CEA and its regulations to access books and records held by registered SDs and MSPs as ‘‘a fundamental regulatory tool necessary to properly monitor and examine each registrant’s compliance with the CEA and the regulations adopted pursuant
thereto’’).

32 The Commission retains its examination authority, both during the application process as well as upon and after registration of an SD or MSP.

See 78 FR 45342 (stating Commission policy that ‘‘eligible entities may comply with a substituted compliance regime under certain circumstances, subject, however, to the Commission’s retention of its examination authority’’) and 45344 n. 471 (stating that the ‘‘Commission may, as it deems appropriate and necessary, conduct an on-site examination of the applicant’’). would notify the Commission of any material changes to information submitted in support of a comparability determination (including, but not limited to, changes in the relevant supervisory or regulatory regime) as, depending on the nature of the change, the Commission’s comparability determination may no longer be valid. 26

The Guidance provided a detailed discussion of the Commission’s policy regarding the availability of substituted compliance 27 for the Internal Business Conduct Requirements. 28

V. Supervisory Arrangement

In the Guidance, the Commission
stated that, in connection with a

determination that substituted compliance is appropriate, it would expect to enter into an appropriate memorandum of understanding (‘‘MOU’’) or similar arrangement 29 with the relevant foreign regulator(s). Although existing arrangements would indicate a foreign regulator’s ability to cooperate and share information, ‘‘going
forward, the Commission and relevant foreign supervisor(s) would need to establish supervisory MOUs or other arrangements that provide for information sharing and cooperation in the context of supervising [SDs] and

MSPs.’’ 30

The Commission is in the process of developing its registration andsupervision regime for provisionallyregistered SDs and MSPs. This new initiative includes setting forth supervisory arrangements with authorities that have joint jurisdiction over SDs and MSPs that are registered with the Commission and subject to U.S. law. Given the developing nature of the Commission’s regime and the fact that the Commission has not negotiated prior supervisory arrangements with certain authorities, the negotiation of supervisory arrangements presents a unique opportunity to develop close working relationships between and among authorities, as well as highlight any potential issues related to cooperation and information sharing.

Accordingly, the Commission is negotiating such a supervisory arrangement with each applicable foreign regulator of an SD or MSP. The Commission expects that the arrangement will establish expectations for ongoing cooperation, address direct
access to information, 31 provide for notification upon the occurrence of specified events, memorialize understandings related to on-site

visits, 32 and include protections relatedto the use and confidentiality of nonpublic information shared pursuant to the arrangement.

These arrangements will establish a roadmap for how authorities will consult, cooperate, and share information. As with any such arrangement, however, nothing in these arrangements will supersede domestic laws or resolve potential conflicts of law, such as the application of domestic secrecy or blocking laws to regulated

entities. VI. Comparability Determination and Analysis

The following section describes the requirements imposed by specific

sections of the CEA and the Commission’s regulations for the

Internal Business Conduct Requirements that are the subject of this comparability determination, and the Commission’s regulatory objectives with respect to such requirements. Immediately following a description of the requirement(s) and regulatory objective(s) of the specific Internal Business Conduct Requirements that the requestor submitted for a comparability
determination, the Commission provides a description of the foreign jurisdiction’s comparable laws, regulations, or rules and whether such laws, regulations, or rules meet the applicable regulatory objective.

The Commission’s determinations in this regard and the discussion in this

section are intended to inform the public of the Commission’s views regarding whether the foreign jurisdiction’s laws, regulations, or rules may be comparable and comprehensiveas those requirements in the DoddFrank Act (and Commission regulations promulgated thereunder) and therefore, may form the basis of substituted compliance. In turn, the public (in the foreign jurisdiction, in the United States, and elsewhere) retains its ability to present facts and circumstances that

would inform the determinations set

forth in this notice.

As was stated in the Guidance, the Commission recognizes the complex and dynamic nature of the global swap

market and the need to take an adaptable approach to cross-border issues, particularly as it continues to work closely with foreign regulators to address potential conflicts with respect to each country’s respective regulatory regime. In this regard, the Commission may review, modify, or expand the determinations herein in light of

comments received and future developments.

A. Chief Compliance Officer (§ 3.3)

Commission Requirement: Implementing section 4s(k) of the CEA, Commission regulation 3.3 generally sets forth the following requirements for

SDs and MSPs:

• An SD or MSP must designate an individual as Chief Compliance Officer
(‘‘CCO’’);

• The CCO must have the responsibility and authority to develop the regulatory compliance policies and procedures of the SD or MSP;


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• The CCO must report to the board

of directors or the senior officer of the

SD or MSP;

• Only the board of directors or a senior officer may remove the CCO;

• The CCO and the board of directors must meet at least once per year;

• The CCO must have the background and skills appropriate for the responsibilities of the position;

• The CCO must not be subject to disqualification from registration under
sections 8a(2) or (3) of the CEA;

• Each SD and MSP must include a designation of a CCO in its registration application;

• The CCO must administer the regulatory compliance policies of the SD

or MSP;

• The CCO must take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the CEA and Commission regulations, and resolve
conflicts of interest;

• The CCO must establish proceduresfor detecting and remediating noncompliance issues;

• The CCO must annually prepare and sign an ‘‘annual compliance report’’ containing: (i) A description of policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance; (ii) an assessment of the effectiveness of such policies and procedures; (iii) a description of material non-compliance issues and the
action taken; (iv) recommendations of improvements in compliance policies; and (v) a certification by the CCO or
CEO that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge and belief, the annual report is accurate and complete under penalty
of law; and

• The annual compliance report must be furnished to the CFTC within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year of the SD or MSP, simultaneously with its annual financial condition report.

Regulatory Objective: The Commission believes that compliance by SDs and MSPs with the CEA and the Commission’s rules greatly contributes to the protection of customers, orderly and fair markets, and the stability and integrity of the market intermediaries registered with the Commission. The Commission expects SDs and MSPs to strictly comply with the CEA and the

Commission’s rules and to devote sufficient resources to ensuring such compliance. Thus, through its CCO rule,

the Commission seeks to ensure firms have designated a qualified individual as CCO that reports directly to the board

of directors or the senior officer of the firm and that has the independence, responsibility, and authority to develop and administer compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the CEA and Commission regulations, resolve conflicts of interest, remediate noncompliance issues, and report annually to the Commission and the board or senior officer on compliance of

the firm.

Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as section 4s(k) of the CEA and Commission regulation 3.3.

• Hong Kong Banking Ordinance, Section 72B requires all AIs (i.e., banks,restricted license banks and deposittaking companies), including a bank that is registered as an SD, to appoint a manager principally responsible for the compliance function.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that the primary role of the compliance function is to ensure that the AI is in compliance with the statutory provisions, regulatory requirements, and codes of conduct applicable to its banking or other regulated activities. To this end, the compliance function must ensure that the compliance policies and procedures developed by it or other departments are adequate and effective.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that the compliance function should have appropriate standing and authority within an AI, with a direct reporting line to a designated committee (e.g.,
Audit Committee) or senior management. AIs are required to have a compliance function that is responsible for ensuring the firm’s compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The compliance function must have sufficient authority and independence to function effectively. It should also be able to carry out its duties on its own initiative in all business and operating units of the AI in which compliance risk exists, with unfettered access to any records or files necessary to enable it to

conduct its work.

• Under the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module CG–1, the board of directors is responsible for the appointment and removal of senior management, including the compliance manager. The board must meet regularly with senior management and internal control functions (including those responsible for internal audit, risk management and compliance) to review the policies and controls in order to identify areas that need improvement and address significant risks and issues.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module CG–1 provides that senior managers, such as the compliance manager, are required to have appropriate background and skills to enable them to manage and supervise

the AI’s internal control and risk management functions, including compliance. Further, the manual also provides guidance for assessing whether senior management, including the CCO, is ‘‘fit and proper.’’ One of the considerations is whether the person has a record of non-compliance with various non-statutory codes or has been reprimanded, censured, disciplined or publicly criticized by professional or regulatory bodies.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that the compliance function must monitor and test compliance. The compliance

function also must establish a compliance program that sets out its planned activities.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that the compliance function must report regularly to senior management on compliance matters. Additionally, the

chief executive of an AI must endorse the Certificate of Compliance submitted to the HKMA quarterly to confirm compliance with the specified statutory requirements under the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance.

Commission Determination: The Commission finds that the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above are generally identical in intent to § 3.3 by seeking to ensure firms have designated a qualified individual as the compliance officer that reports directly to a sufficiently senior

function of the firm and that has the independence, responsibility, and authority to develop and administer compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the CEA and Commission regulations, remediate noncompliance issues, and report regularly on compliance of the firm.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual that govern the compliance manager and compliance function within an AI are comparable to and as comprehensive as § 3.3, with the exception of § 3.3(f) concerning certifying and furnishing an annual compliance report to the Commission.

Notwithstanding that the Commission

has not determined that the requirements of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual are comparable to and as comprehensive as § 3.3(f), any SD or


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33 7 U.S.C. 6s(j).

34 See Final Swap Dealer and MSP Recordkeeping Rule, 77 FR 20128 (April 3, 2012) (relating to risk management program, monitoring of position limits, business continuity and disaster recovery, conflicts of interest policies and procedures, and general information availability, respectively).

35 See Customer Documentation Rule, 77 FR 21278. Also, SDs must comply with Commission regulation 23.608, which prohibits SDs providing clearing services to customers from entering into agreements that would: (i) Disclose the identity of a customer’s original executing counterparty; (ii) limit the number of counterparties a customer may trade with; (iii) impose counterparty-based position limits; (iv) impair a customer’s access to execution

of a trade on terms that have a reasonable relationship to the best terms available; or (v) prevent compliance with specified time frames for acceptance of trades into clearing.

36 ‘‘Swaps activities’’ is defined in Commission regulation 23.600(a)(7) to mean, ‘‘with respect to a registrant, such registrant’s activities related to swaps and any product used to hedge such swaps, including, but not limited to, futures, options, other swaps or security-based swaps, debt or equity securities, foreign currency, physical commodities, and other derivatives.’’ The Commission’s regulations under 17 CFR Part 23 are limited in scope to the swaps activities of SDs and MSPs.

37 As stated above, this notice does not address § 23.608 (Restrictions on counterparty clearing relationships) nor § 23.609 (Clearing member risk management). The Commission declines to take up the request for a comparability determination with respect to these regulations due to the

Commission’s view that there are not laws or regulations applicable in Hong Kong to compare with the prohibitions and requirements of §§ 23.608 or 23.609. The Commission may provide a comparability determination with respect to these regulations at a later date in consequence of further developments in the law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong. MSP to which both § 3.3 and the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above are applicable would generally be deemed to be in compliance with § 3.3(f) if that SD or MSP complies with the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above, subject to certifying and furnishing the Commission with the compliance reports required under the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above in accordance with
§ 3.3(f). The Commission notes that it generally expects registrants to submit required reports to the Commission in the English language.

B. Risk Management Duties (§§ 23.600— 23.609)

Section 4s(j) of the CEA requires each

SD and MSP to establish internal policies and procedures designed to, among other things, address risk management, monitor compliance with position limits, prevent conflicts of interest, and promote diligent supervision, as well as maintain business continuity and disaster

recovery programs. 33 The Commission adopted regulations 23.600, 23.601,
23.602, 23.603, 23.605, and 23.606 to implement the statute. 34 The Commission also adopted regulation 23.609, which requires certain risk management procedures for SDs or MSPs that are clearing members of a derivatives clearing organization
(‘‘DCO’’). 35 Collectively, these requirements help to establish a robust and comprehensive internal risk management program for SDs and MSPs with respect to their swaps activities, 36 which is critical to effective systemic risk management for the overall swaps market. In making its comparability determination with regard to these risk management duties, the Commission will consider each regulation individually. 37

1. Risk Management Program for SDs
and MSPs (§ 23.600)

Commission Requirement: Implementing section 4s(j)(2) of the CEA, Commission regulation 23.600 generally requires that:

• Each SD or MSP must establish and enforce a risk management program consisting of a system of written risk management policies and procedures designed to monitor and manage the risks associated with the swap activities of the firm, including without limitation, market, credit, liquidity, foreign currency, legal, operational, and settlement risks, and furnish a copy of such policies and procedures to the CFTC upon application for registration and upon request;

• The SD or MSP must establish a risk management unit independent from the business trading unit;

• The risk management policies and procedures of the SD or MSP must be approved by the firm’s governing body;

• Risk tolerance limits and exceptions

therefrom must be reviewed and approved quarterly by senior management and annually by the governing body;

• The risk management program must have a system for detecting breaches of risk tolerance limits and alerting supervisors and senior management, as appropriate;

• The risk management program must account for risks posed by affiliates and be integrated at the consolidated entity
level;

• The risk management unit must provide senior management and the governing body with quarterly risk exposure reports and upon detection of any material change in the risk exposure
of the SD or MSP;

• Risk exposure reports must be

furnished to the CFTC within five business days following provision to senior management;

• The risk management program must have a new product policy for assessing the risks of new products prior to engaging in such transactions;

• The risk management program must have policies and procedures providing for trading limits, monitoring of trading, processing of trades, and separation of personnel in the trading unit from personnel in the risk management unit;

and

• The risk management program must be reviewed and tested at least annually and upon any material change in the

business of the SD or MSP.

Regulatory Objective: Through the required system of risk management, the

Commission seeks to ensure that firms are adequately managing the risks of their swaps activities to prevent failure
of the SD or MSP, which could result in losses to counterparties doing business with the SD or MSP, and systemic risk more generally. To this end, the

Commission believes the risk management program of an SD or MSP must contain at least the following

critical elements:

• Identification of risk categories;

• Establishment of risk tolerance limits for each category of risk and approval of such limits by senior management and the governing body;

• An independent risk management unit to administer a risk management program; and

• Periodic oversight of risk exposures by senior management and the governing body.

Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as section 4s(j)(2) of the CEA and Commission regulation 23.600.

HKMA represents to the Commission that it generally requires AIs to have adequate risk management policies, procedures, systems and controls to identify, assess, measure, monitor, and control eight types of inherent risks arising from their activities (on and off balance sheet, and including swap
activities) under SA–1 Risk-based Supervisory Approach.

HKMA also represents to the Commission that the risk management requirements in its guidelines apply to swap activities conducted by AIs.

HKMA further represents to the

Commission that it has dedicated guidelines on major types of risk (e.g., management of credit (including


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38 The setting of position limits by the Commission, a DCM, or a SEF is subject to requirements under the CEA and Commission regulations other than § 23.601. The setting of position limits and compliance with such limits is not subject to the Commission’s substituted compliance regime. counterparty credit), market, liquidity and operational risks, etc.). Specifically:

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that the board is responsible for articulating risk management strategies. Senior management must develop, and the board must approve, a risk management framework based on risk management strategies that is consistent with the AI’s business goals and risk appetite. Senior management must: formulate detailed policies, procedures and limits for managing different aspects of risk arising from the AI’s business activities; design and implement a risk management framework; and ensure that the relevant control systems within

the framework function as intended. The risk management policies and procedures must be approved by the board or its designated committee(s). The board also must exercise oversight

over the effectiveness of the risk management framework.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that AIs

should have a dedicated risk management function. The risk management function must be independent from the risk-taking and operational units which it reviews. The risk management function must have

unfettered access to information from the risk-taking and operational units.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that a set of limits should be put in place to control an AI’s exposure to various quantifiable risks associated with its

business activities and to control

different sources of risk concentration.

These limits should be documented and approved by the board or its designated
committee(s). Limit utilization should be closely monitored, and excesses or exceptions should be reported promptly to senior management for necessary

action.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that risk management must be conducted on a group-wide basis by managing the relevant risks of the parent bank and its group entities as a whole.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that a sound risk management system should include adequate risk measurement, monitoring and reporting systems to support all business activities and related risks. The risk management information system should be capable of reporting excesses in limits and policy exceptions, and alerting management of risk exposures approaching pre-set limits. The risk management information system also should be able to produce information at appropriate intervals, including at more frequent intervals in times of stress as required by management.

• The HKMA collects internal risk exposure reports from the AIs. AIs are required to submit quarterly capital adequacy ratio returns to the HKMA

that address market risk. HKMA also conducts regular surveys on AIs’ derivative exposures.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that AIs should have in place an internally approved and well-documented ‘‘new product approval policy’’ which addresses not only the development and approval of entirely new products and services but also significant changes in the features of existing products and

services.

Commission Determination: The Commission finds that the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above are generally identical in intent to § 23.600 by requiring a system of risk management that seeks to ensure that firms are adequately managing the risks of their swaps activities to prevent failure of the SD or
MSP, which could result in losses to counterparties doing business with the SD or MSP, and systemic risk more generally. Specifically, the Commission finds that the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above comprehensively require SDs and MSPs to establish risk management programs containing the following

critical elements:

• Identification of risk categories;

• Establishment of risk tolerance limits for each category of risk and approval of such limits by senior management and the governing body;

• An independent risk management unit to administer a risk management program; and

• Periodic oversight of risk exposures by senior management and the governing body.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the risk management program requirements of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, as specified above, are comparable to and as comprehensive as § 23.600, with the exception of § 23.600(c)(2) concerning the requirement that each SD and MSP produce a quarterly risk exposure report and provide such report to its senior management, governing body, and the

Commission.

Notwithstanding that the Commission

has not determined that the requirements of the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual are comparable to and as comprehensive as § 23.600(c)(2), any SD or MSP to which both § 23.600 and the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above are applicable would generally be deemed to be in compliance with § 23.600(c)(2) if that SD or MSP complies with the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above, subject to compliance with the requirement that it produce quarterly risk exposure reports and provide such reports to its senior management, governing body, and the

Commission in accordance with
§ 23.600(c)(2). The Commission notes that it generally expects reports furnished to the Commission by registrants to be in the English language.

2. Monitoring of Position Limits
(§ 23.601)

Commission Requirement: Implementing section 4s(j)(1) of the CEA, Commission regulation 23.601 requires each SD or MSP to establish and enforce written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to monitor for, and prevent violations of, applicable position limits established by the Commission, a designated contract market (‘‘DCM’’), or a swap execution facility (‘‘SEF’’). 38 The policies and procedures must include an early warning system and provide for

escalation of violations to senior management (including the firm’s governing body).

Regulatory Objective: Generally, position limits are implemented to ensure market integrity, fairness, orderliness, and accurate pricing in the commodity markets. Commission regulation 23.601 thus seeks to ensure

that SDs and MSPs have established the necessary policies and procedures to monitor the trading of the firm to prevent violations of applicable position limits established by the Commission, a DCM, or a SEF. As part of its Risk Management Program, § 23.601 is

intended to ensure that established position limits are not breached by the

SD or MSP.

Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as section 4s(j)(1) of the


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39 In addition to the foregoing, the applicant also submitted various guidelines and required best practices concerning the setting of internal risk tolerance limits and monitoring for compliance with such internal limits. Although the Commission recognizes these as prudent risk management practices, the Commission does not believe that these provisions are relevant for a comparability determination with respect to § 23.601 because § 23.601 requires monitoring for compliance with external position limits set by the Commission, a

DCM, or a SEF. CEA and Commission regulation

§ 23.601.

The applicant represents to the

Commission that AIs have a responsibility to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, whether in Hong Kong or outside of Hong Kong, including applicable position limits established by the
Commission, a DCM, or a SEF. Under the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, module IC–1, General Risk Management Controls paragraph 5.1.3, an AI’s internal control system must cover controls relating to compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, which would require a system of controls to maintain compliance with applicable position limits established by
the Commission, a DCM, or a SEF. AI’s must maintain adequate systems of control to maintain a banking license pursuant to the Banking Ordinance, Schedule 7, paragraph 10. 39

Commission Determination: The

Commission finds that the HKMA and Banking Ordinance standards specified above are generally identical in intent to § 23.601 by requiring SDs and MSPs to establish necessary policies and procedures to monitor the trading of the firm to prevent violations of applicable position limits established by applicable laws and regulations, including those of
the Commission, a DCM, or a SEF. Specifically, the Commission finds that the HKMA and Banking Ordinance standards specified above, while not specific to the issue of position limit compliance, nevertheless comprehensively require SDs and MSPs to monitor for regulatory compliance generally, including monitoring for compliance with position limits set pursuant to applicable law (including the CEA and Commission regulations)

and escalation of violations to senior management (including the board of directors) responsible for such compliance.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the compliance monitoring requirements of the HKMA and Banking Ordinance standards, as specified above, are comparable to and as comprehensive as
§ 23.601. For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission notes that this determination may not be relied on to relieve an SD or MSP from its obligation to strictly comply with any applicable position limit established by the

Commission, a DCM, or a SEF.

3. Diligent Supervision (§ 23.602)

Commission Requirement: Commission regulation 23.602 implements section 4s(h)(1)(B) of the CEA and requires each SD and MSP to establish a system to diligently supervise all activities relating to its business performed by its partners, members, officers, employees, and agents. The system must be reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the CEA and CFTC regulations. Commission regulation 23.602 requires that the supervisory system must specifically designate qualified persons with authority to carry out the supervisory responsibilities of the SD or MSP for all activities relating to its

business as an SD or MSP.

Regulatory Objective: The Commission’s diligent supervision rule

seeks to ensure that SDs and MSPs strictly comply with the CEA and the
Commission’s rules. To this end, through § 23.602, the Commission seeks

to ensure that each SD and MSP not only establishes the necessary policies and procedures that would lead to compliance with the CEA and Commission regulations, but also establishes an effective system of internal oversight and enforcement of such policies and procedures to ensure that such policies and procedures are diligently followed.

Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as section 4s(h)(1)(B) of the CEA and Commission regulation

23.602.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module CG–1 provides that the board is ultimately responsible for overseeing senior management to operate within the risk appetite and strategies prescribed by the board, on a prudent basis and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and supervisory standards.

• The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module IC–1 provides that an AI’s internal control system should, among others, cover controls relating to compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

• The Hong Kong Banking Ordinance provides that senior management are responsible for carrying out the supervisory responsibilities of the AIs, and they can be personally liable for breaches of the Banking Ordinance committed by AIs.

Commission Determination: The Commission finds that the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above are generally identical
in intent to § 23.602 because such

standards seek to ensure that SDs and MSPs strictly comply with applicable
law, which would include the CEA and the Commission’s regulations. Through the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above, Hong Kong laws and regulations

seek to ensure that each SD and MSP not only establishes the necessary policies and procedures that would lead to compliance with applicable law,

which would include the CEA and Commission regulations, but also establishes an effective system of internal oversight and enforcement of such policies and procedures to ensure that such policies and procedures are diligently followed.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the internal supervision requirements of the provisions of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, as specified above, are comparable to and as comprehensive as

§ 23.602.

4. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (§ 23.603)

Commission Requirement: To ensure the proper functioning of the swaps markets and the prevention of systemic risk more generally, Commission regulation 23.603 requires each SD and MSP, as part of its risk management program, to establish a business continuity and disaster recovery plan that includes procedures for, and the maintenance of, back-up facilities, systems, infrastructure, personnel, and other resources to achieve the timely recovery of data and documentation and to resume operations generally within the next business day after the disruption.

Regulatory Objective: Commission regulation 23.603 is intended to ensure that any market disruption affecting SDs and MSPs, whether caused by natural
disaster or otherwise, is minimized in length and severity. To that end, this requirement seeks to ensure that entities adequately plan for disruptions and devote sufficient resources capable of carrying out an appropriate plan within one business day, if necessary.


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Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as Commission regulation 23.603.

• HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual,

Module TM–G–2 on Business Continuity Planning requires all AIs to have adequate and regularly tested business continuity plans.

Commission Determination: The Commission finds that the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified above are generally identical
in intent to § 23.603 because such standards seek to ensure that any market disruption affecting SDs and MSPs, whether caused by natural disaster or otherwise, is minimized in length and severity. To that end, the Commission finds that the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual specified

above seek to ensure that entities adequately plan for disruptions and devote sufficient resources capable of carrying out an appropriate plan in a timely manner.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the business continuity and disaster recovery requirements of the provisions of the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, as specified above, are comparable to and as comprehensive as

§ 23.603.

5. Conflicts of Interest (§ 23.605)

Commission Requirement: Section 4s(j)(5) of the CEA and Commission regulation 23.605(c) generally require

each SD or MSP to establish structural and institutional safeguards to ensure that the activities of any person within the firm relating to research or analysis of the price or market for any commodity or swap are separated by appropriate informational partitions
within the firm from the review, pressure, or oversight of persons whose involvement in pricing, trading, or clearing activities might potentially bias their judgment or supervision.

In addition, section 4s(j)(5) of the CEA and Commission regulation 23.605(d)(1) generally prohibits an SD or MSP from directly or indirectly interfering with or attempting to influence the decision of any clearing unit of any affiliated clearing member of a DCO to provide clearing services and activities to a particular customer, including:

• Whether to offer clearing services to a particular customer; • Whether to accept a particular customer for clearing derivatives;

• Whether to submit a customer’s transaction to a particular DCO;

• Whether to set or adjust risk tolerance levels for a particular

customer; or

• Whether to set a customer’s fees

based on criteria other than those generally available and applicable to

other customers.

Commission regulation 23.605(d)(2) generally requires each SD or MSP to create and maintain an appropriate informational partition between business trading units of the SD or MSP and clearing units of any affiliated clearing member of a DCO to reasonably ensure compliance with the Act and the prohibitions set forth in § 23.605(d)(1)

outlined above.

The Commission observes that
§ 23.605(d) works in tandem with Commission regulation 1.71, which requires FCMs that are clearing

members of a DCO and affiliated with

an SD or MSP to create and maintain an appropriate informational partition between business trading units of the SD or MSP and clearing units of the FCM to reasonably ensure compliance with the Act and the prohibitions set
forth in § 1.71(d)(1), which are the same as the prohibitions set forth in
§ 23.605(d)(1) outlined above.

Finally, § 23.605(e) requires that each SD or MSP have policies and procedures that mandate the disclosure to counterparties of material incentives or conflicts of interest regarding the decision of a counterparty to execute a derivative on a swap execution facility or DCM or to clear a derivative through

a DCO.

Regulatory Objective: Commission regulation 23.605(c) seeks to ensure that research provided to the general public by an SD or MSP is unbiased and free

from the influence of the interests of an SD or MSP arising from the SD’s or MSP’s trading business.

In addition, the § 23.605(d) (working
in tandem with § 1.71) seeks to ensure open access to the clearing of swaps by requiring that access to and the provision of clearing services provided by an affiliate of an SD or MSP are not influenced by the interests of an SD’s or MSP’s trading business.

Finally, § 23.605(e) seeks to ensure equal access to trading venues and clearinghouses, as well as orderly and fair markets, by requiring that each SD and MSP disclose to counterparties any

material incentives or conflicts of interest regarding the decision of a counterparty to execute a derivative on
a SEF or DCM, or to clear a derivative through a DCO. Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicants have represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as Commission regulation 23.605.

The applicant represents to the

Commission that AIs that are active in the OTC derivative market are typically also registered with the Hong Kong

Securities and Futures Commission (‘‘HKSFC’’) and hence subject to the

HKSFC’s Code of Conduct. These AI’s registered with the HKSFC include the current SD established in Hong Kong.

Pursuant to Section 16 of the HKSFC’s Code of Conduct, registrants must have:

• Mechanisms ensuring that analysts’ trading activities or financial interests do not prejudice their investment
research and recommendations;

• Mechanisms ensuring that analysts’

investment research and recommendations are not prejudiced by the trading activities, financial interests or business relationships of the firms that employ them;

• Reporting lines for analysts and their compensation arrangements that are structured to eliminate or severely limit actual and potential conflicts of

interest;

• Written internal procedures or controls to identify and eliminate, avoid, manage, or disclose actual and potential analyst conflicts of interest;

• Procedures to ensure that undue
influence of securities issuers,
institutional investors, and other outside parties on analysts is eliminated or managed;

• Controls to ensure that disclosures of actual and potential conflicts of interest are complete, timely, clear, concise, specific, and prominent; and

• Policies to ensure that analysts are held to high integrity standards.

The HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual, Module CG–1 requires that the
board of directors of an AI establish, implement, and maintain written policies that address the various conflicts of interest that may arise in the AI’s business, and that provide for the prevention or management of these

conflicts.

In addition, the Banking Ordinance requires an AI to carry on its business with integrity, prudence and the appropriate degree of professional competence. The applicant represents that if an AI permits conflicts of interest (whether general or particular) to
continue, it would raise doubts with the HKMA as to whether the AI is carrying on its business with integrity, prudence


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and the appropriate degree of professional competence. Carrying on

business in such a manner is one of the continuing authorization criteria under the Banking Ordinance. A failure to comply with such criterion is a ground

for revocation of that AI’s authorization to conduct banking or deposit-taking business in Hong Kong.

Finally, the HKMA has represented to the Commission that, as part of its oversight and enforcement of the foregoing standards for AIs, the HKMA would require any AI (including an AI that is an SD) to adopt measures to prevent or manage any conflicts of interests that may areis or be discovered, including those involving the provision of clearing services by a clearing member of a DCO that is an
affiliate of the AI, or the decision of a counterparty to execute a derivative on
a SEF or DCM, or clear a derivative through a DCO. The measures include information barriers, segregation of duties, and, as appropriate, disclosures.

Commission Determination: The

Commission finds that the HKSFC and Banking Ordinance standards specified above with respect to conflicts of interest that may arise in producing or distributing research are generally
identical in intent to § 23.605(c) because

such standards seek to ensure that research provided to the general public by an SD is unbiased and free from the

influence of the interests of an SD arising from the SD’s trading business.

With respect to conflicts of interest that may arise in the provision of clearing services by an affiliate of an SD
or MSP, the Commission further finds that although the general conflicts of interest prevention requirements in the Banking Ordinance and the HKMA Supervisory Policy Manual do not require with specificity that access to and the provision of clearing services provided by an affiliate of an SD or MSP not be improperly influenced by the interests of an SD’s or MSP’s trading business, such general requirements would require prevention and remediation of such improper influence when recognized or discovered. Thus such standards would ensure open access to clearing.

Finally, although not as specific as the requirements of § 23.605(e) (Undue influence on counterparties), the Commission finds that the general disclosure requirements specified above would ensure equal access to trading venues and clearinghouses by requiring

that each SD and MSP disclose to counterparties any material incentives or conflicts of interest regarding the decision of a counterparty to execute a derivative on a SEF or DCM, or to clear a derivative through a DCO.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the requirements found in Hong Kong’s laws and regulations specified above, in

relation to conflicts of interest are comparable to and as comprehensive as

§ 23.605.

6. Availability of Information for Disclosure and Inspection (§ 23.606)

Commission Requirement: Commission regulation 23.606 implements sections 4s(j)(3) and (4) of the CEA, and requires each SD and MSP
to disclose to the Commission, and an SD’s or MSP’s U.S. prudential regulator (if any) comprehensive information about its swap activities, and to

establish and maintain reliable internal data capture, processing, storage, and other operational systems sufficient to capture, process, record, store, and produce all information necessary to satisfy its duties under the CEA and Commission regulations. Such systems must be designed to provide such

information to the Commission and an SD’s or MSP’s U.S. prudential regulator

within the time frames set forth in the CEA and Commission regulations and

upon request.

Regulatory Objective: Commission regulation 23.606 seeks to ensure that each SD and MSP captures and maintains comprehensive information about their swap activities, and is able

to retrieve and disclose such

information to the Commission and its U.S. prudential regulator, if any, as necessary for compliance with the CEA and the Commission’s regulations and for purposes of Commission oversight, as well as oversight by the SD’s or MSP’s U.S. prudential regulator, if any.

The Commission observes that it would be impossible to meet the regulatory objective of § 23.606 unless the required information is available to the Commission and any U.S. prudential regulator under the foreign legal regime. Thus, a comparability determination with respect to the information access provisions of § 23.606 would be premised on whether

the relevant information would be available to the Commission and any U.S. prudential regulator of the SD or
MSP, not on whether an SD or MSP must disclose comprehensive information to its regulator in its home jurisdiction.

Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as Commission regulation 23.606.

Under Section 56 of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance, AIs are required to produce records and information whenever requested by the HKMA, including information and records relating to the AI’s OTC derivatives or swaps activities. Under the Banking Ordinance, the failure to produce records and information when requested by the HKMA is a criminal offense. The HKMA represents that in order to produce records and information whenever requested by the HKMA, AIs must necessarily have adequate systems

and infrastructure to enable them to

retrieve such records and information.

Commission Determination: The Commission finds that the Banking Ordinance standards specified above are generally identical in intent to § 23.606

because such standards seek to ensure that AIs capture and store comprehensive information about their swap activities, and are able to retrieve

and disclose such information as necessary for compliance with applicable law and for purposes of regulatory oversight.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the requirements of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance with respect to the availability of information for inspection and disclosure, as specified above, are comparable to, and as comprehensive as, § 23.606, with the exception of § 23.606(a)(2) concerning the requirement that an SD or MSP make information required by § 23.606(a)(1) available promptly upon request to Commission staff and the staff of an applicable U.S. prudential regulator. The applicant has not submitted any provision of law or regulations applicable in Hong Kong upon which the Commission could make a finding that SDs and MSPs would be required to retrieve and disclose comprehensive information about their swap activities to the Commission or any U.S. prudential regulator as necessary for compliance

with the CEA and Commission regulations, and for purposes of Commission oversight and the oversight of any U.S. prudential regulator.

Notwithstanding that the Commission

has not determined that the requirements of the Hong Kong Banking Ordinance are comparable to and as comprehensive as § 23.606(a)(2), any SD
or MSP to which both § 23.606 and the Banking Ordinance standards specified above are applicable would generally be


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40 See the Guidance for a discussion of the availability of substituted compliance with respect to swap data recordkeeping, 78 FR 45332–33. 41 The HKMA noted that a record keeping requirement specific to OTC derivative transactions is intended to be included in the forthcoming law implementing the regulatory regime for such transactions. Pursuant to such regulatory regime, the HKMA tentatively expects that records of OTC derivatives transactions (including swaps) will be required to be maintained for the duration of the contract plus six years thereafter. The retention period for voice recordings is to be decided. The HKMA will set out specific recordkeeping requirements in the regulations or guidelines to be issued to supplement the new regulatory regime. deemed to be in compliance with
§ 23.606(a)(2) if that SD or MSP complies with the Banking Ordinance standards specified above, subject to compliance with the requirement that it produce information to Commission staff and the staff of an applicable U.S. prudential regulator in accordance with
§ 23.606(a)(2).

C. Swap Data Recordkeeping (§§ 23.201
and 23.203)

Commission Requirement: Sections 4s(f)(1)(B) and 4s(g)(1) of the CEA, and Commission regulation 23.201 generally require SDs and MSPs to retain records of each transaction, each position held, general business records (including records related to complaints and sales and marketing materials), records related to governance, financial records, records of data reported to SDRs, and records of real-time reporting data along

with a record of the date and time the SD or MSP made such reports. Transaction records must be kept in a

form and manner identifiable and searchable by transaction and

counterparty.

Commission regulation 23.203, requires SDs and MSPs to maintain records of a swap transaction until the termination, maturity, expiration, transfer, assignment, or novation date of the transaction, and for a period of five years after such date. Records must be ‘‘readily accessible’’ for the first 2 years of the 5 year retention period (consistent
with § 1.31).

The Commission notes that the comparability determination below with respect to §§ 23.201 and 23.203 encompasses both swap data recordkeeping generally and swap data recordkeeping relating to complaints and marketing and sales materials in
accordance with § 23.201(b)(3) and
(4). 40

Regulatory Objective: Through the Commission’s regulations requiring SDs and MSPs to keep comprehensive records of their swap transactions and
related data, the Commission seeks to

ensure the effectiveness of the internal
controls of SDs and MSPs, and transparency in the swaps market for regulators and market participants.

The Commission’s regulations require SDs and MSPs to keep swap data in a

level of detail sufficient to enable regulatory authorities to understand an SD’s or MSP’s swaps business and to assess its swaps exposure.

By requiring comprehensive records of swap data, the Commission seeks to ensure that SDs and MSPs employ effective risk management, and strictly comply with Commission regulations.
Further, such records facilitate effective regulatory oversight.

The Commission observes that it would be impossible to meet the regulatory objective of §§ 23.201 and 23.203 unless the required information is available to the Commission and any U.S. prudential regulator under the foreign legal regime. Thus, a comparability determination with respect to the information access provisions of § 23.203 would be premised on whether the relevant

information would be available to the Commission and any U.S. prudential regulator of the SD or MSP, not on

whether an SD or MSP must disclose comprehensive information to its regulator in its home jurisdiction.

Comparable Hong Kong Law and Regulations: The applicant has represented to the Commission that the following provisions of law and regulations applicable in Hong Kong are in full force and effect in Hong Kong, and comparable to and as comprehensive as sections 4s(f)(1)(B) and 4s(g)(1) of the CEA and §§ 23.201

and 23.203.

Section 20 of Schedule 2 to the Hong Kong Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institution) Ordinance (Cap 615) (the ‘‘AML–CTF Ordinance’’) provides that financial institutions must keep all
documents, data, and information

related to each transaction it carries out. The AML–CTF Ordinance provides that financial institutions must keep all files relating to each customer account and all business correspondence with each

customer. The AML–CTF Ordinance provides that transaction records must be kept for six years after the transaction is completed.

The HKMA represents to the Commission that the recordkeeping requirements in the AML–CTF Ordinance apply to all transactions that

an AI carries out with each of its customers, including swap and OTC

derivative transactions. 41

Commission Determination: The Commission finds that the Hong Kong standards specified above are generally
identical in intent to §§ 23.201 and

23.203 because such standards seek to

ensure the effectiveness of the internal
controls of SDs and MSPs, and transparency in the swaps market for regulators and market participants.

In addition, the Commission finds that the Hong Kong standards specified above require SDs and MSPs to keep swap data in a level of detail sufficient to enable regulatory authorities to understand an SD’s or MSP’s swaps business and to assess its swaps

exposure.

Finally, the Commission finds that the Hong Kong standards specified above, by requiring comprehensive records of swap data, seek to ensure that SDs and MSPs employ effective risk management, seek to ensure that SDs and MSPs strictly comply with applicable regulatory requirements (including the CEA and Commission regulations), and that such records facilitate effective regulatory oversight.

Based on the foregoing and the representations of the applicant, the Commission hereby determines that the recordkeeping requirements of the Hong Kong AML–CTF Ordinance with respect to swap data recordkeeping, as specified above, are comparable to, and as comprehensive as, §§ 23.201 and 23.203, with the exception of § 23.203(b)(2) concerning the requirement that an SD or MSPs make records required by § 23.201 open to inspection by any representative of the
Commission, the United States Department of Justice, or any applicable U.S. prudential regulator. The applicant has not submitted any provision of law or regulations applicable in Hong Kong upon which the Commission could make a finding that SDs and MSPs would be required to make records required by § 23.201 open to inspection by any representative of the
Commission, the United States Department of Justice, or any applicable U.S. prudential regulator.

Notwithstanding that the Commission

has not determined that the requirements of the Hong Kong AML– CTF Ordinance are comparable to and as comprehensive as § 23.203(b)(2), any
SD or MSP to which both § 23.203 and the Hong Kong AML–CTF Ordinance are applicable would generally be deemed to be in compliance with
§ 23.203(b)(2) if that SD or MSP complies with the Hong Kong AML– CTF Ordinance, subject to compliance with the requirement that it make records required by § 23.201 open to inspection by any representative of the
Commission, the United States Department of Justice, or any applicable


### 78863 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Notices

1 Interpretive Guidance and Policy Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations, 78 FR 45292 (Jul. 26, 2013).

2 http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/ SpeechesTestimony/omaliastatement071213b.

3 CEA section 2(i); 7 U.S.C. 2(i).

4 Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform

and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111–203,
124 Stat. 1376 (2010). 5 http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/

pr6678–13.

6 http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@ newsroom/documents/file/odrgreport.pdf. The ODRG agreed to six understandings. Understanding

number 2 states that ‘‘[a] flexible, outcomes-based approach should form the basis of final assessments regarding equivalence or substituted compliance.’’

7 The Commission made a positive comparability determination for Commission regulations
23.504(a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), (b)(4), (c), and (d), but not for Commission regulations 23.504(b)(5) and
(b)(6).

8 Yen-denominated interest rate swaps are subject to the mandatory clearing requirement in both the U.S. and Japan. U.S. prudential regulator in accordance
with § 23.203(b)(2).

Issued in Washington, DC on December 20, 2013, by the Commission.

Melissa D. Jurgens,

Secretary of the Commission.

Appendices to Comparability Determination for Hong Kong: Certain Entity-Level Requirements

Appendix 1—Commission Voting Summary

On this matter, Chairman Gensler and Commissioners Chilton and Wetjen voted in

the affirmative. Commissioner O’Malia voted in the negative.

Appendix 2—Statement of Chairman Gary Gensler and Commissioners Chilton and Wetjen

We support the Commission’s approval of broad comparability determinations that will be used for substituted compliance purposes. For each of the six jurisdictions that has registered swap dealers, we carefully reviewed each regulatory provision of the foreign jurisdictions submitted to us and compared the provision’s intended outcome to the Commission’s own regulatory objectives. The resulting comparability determinations for entity-level requirements permit non-U.S. swap dealers to comply with regulations in their home jurisdiction as a substitute for compliance with the relevant Commission regulations.

These determinations reflect the Commission’s commitment to coordinating our efforts to bring transparency to the swaps market and reduce its risks to the public. The comparability findings for the entity-level requirements are a testament to the comparability of these regulatory systems as we work together in building a strong international regulatory framework.

In addition, we are pleased that the Commission was able to find comparabilitywith respect to swap-specific transactionlevel requirements in the European Union and Japan.

The Commission attained this benchmark by working cooperatively with authorities in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, and Switzerland to reach mutual agreement. The Commission looks forward to continuing to collaborate with both foreign authorities and market participants to build on this progress in the months and years ahead.

Appendix 3—Dissenting Statement of

Commissioner Scott D. O’Malia

I respectfully dissent from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (‘‘Commission’’) approval of the Notices of Comparability Determinations for Certain Requirements under the laws of Australia, Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, and Switzerland (collectively, ‘‘Notices’’). While I support the narrow comparability determinations that the Commission has made, moving forward, the Commission must collaborate with foreign regulators to harmonize our respective regimes consistent with the G–20 reforms. However, I cannot support the Notices because they: (1) Are based on the legally unsound cross-border guidance
(‘‘Guidance’’); 1 (2) are the result of a flawed substituted compliance process; and (3) fail to provide a clear path moving forward. If the Commission’s objective for substitutedcompliance is to develop a narrow rule-byrule approach that leaves unanswered major regulatory gaps between our regulatory framework and foreign jurisdictions, then I believe that the Commission has successfully achieved its goal today.

Determinations Based on Legally Unsound

Guidance

As I previously stated in my dissent, the Guidance fails to articulate a valid statutory foundation for its overbroad scope and inconsistently applies the statute to different

activities. 2 Section 2(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act (‘‘CEA’’) states that the Commission does not have jurisdiction over foreign activities unless ‘‘those activities have a direct and significant connection with
activities in, or effect on, commerce of the

United States . . .’’ 3 However, the Commission never properly articulated how and when this limiting standard on the
Commission’s extraterritorial reach is met, which would trigger the application of Title

VII of the Dodd-Frank Act 4 and any Commission regulations promulgated thereunder to swap activities that are outside of the United States. Given this statutorily unsound interpretation of the Commission’s extraterritorial authority, the Commission often applies CEA section 2(i) inconsistently and arbitrarily to foreign activities.

Accordingly, because the Commission is relying on the legally deficient Guidance to make its substituted compliance
determinations, and for the reasons discussed below, I cannot support the Notices. The

Commission should have collaborated with foreign regulators to agree on and implement a workable regime of substituted compliance,

and then should have made determinations pursuant to that regime.

Flawed Substituted Compliance Process

Substituted compliance should not be a case of picking a set of foreign rules identical to our rules, determining them to be ‘‘comparable,’’ but then making no determination regarding rules that require extensive gap analysis to assess to what extent each jurisdiction is, or is not, comparable based on overall outcomes of the regulatory regimes. While I support the narrow comparability determinations that the
Commission has made, I am concerned that in a rush to provide some relief, the

Commission has made substituted compliance determinations that only afford narrow relief and fail to address major regulatory gaps between our domestic regulatory framework and foreign jurisdictions. I will address a few examples

below.

First, earlier this year, the OTC Derivatives Regulators Group (‘‘ODRG’’) agreed to a number of substantive understandings to improve the cross-border implementation of

over-the-counter derivatives reforms. 5 The ODRG specifically agreed that a flexible, outcomes-based approach, based on a broad category-by-category basis, should form the basis of comparability determinations. 6

However, instead of following this approach, the Commission has made itscomparability determinations on a rule-byrule basis. For example, in Japan’s Comparability Determination for Transaction-Level Requirements, the Commission has made a positive comparability determination for some of the detailed requirements under the swap trading relationship documentation provisions, but not for other requirements. 7 This detailed approach clearly contravenes the ODRG’s understanding.

Second, in several areas, the Commission has declined to consider a request for a comparability determination, and has also failed to provide an analysis regarding the extent to which the other jurisdiction is, or is not, comparable. For example, the

Commission has declined to address or provide any clarity regarding the European Union’s regulatory data reporting determination, even though the European Union’s reporting regime is set to begin on February 12, 2014. Although the Commission has provided some limited relief with respect to regulatory data reporting, the lack of clarity creates unnecessary uncertainty, especially when the European Union’s reporting regime is set to begin in less than

two months.

Similarly, Japan receives no consideration for its mandatory clearing requirement, even though the Commission considers Japan’s legal framework to be comparable to the U.S.

framework. While the Commission has declined to provide even a partial comparability determination, at least in this instance the Commission has provided a reason: the differences in the scope of entities and products subject to the clearing requirement. 8 Such treatment creates uncertainty and is contrary to increased global harmonization efforts.

Third, in the Commission’s rush to meet
the artificial deadline of December 21, 2013, as established in the Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap


### 78864 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Notices

9 Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance With Certain Swap Regulations, 78 FR 43785 (Jul. 22,
2013).

10 http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/ SpeechesTestimony/opaomalia-29.

11 http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/ SpeechesTestimony/omaliastatement071213b. 1 78 FR 45292 (July 26, 2013). The Commission originally published proposed and further proposed guidance on July 12, 2012 and January 7, 2013, respectively. See Cross-Border Application of Certain Swaps Provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, 77 FR 41214 (July 12, 2012) and Further Proposed Guidance Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations, 78 FR 909 (Jan. 7,
2013). Regulations (‘‘Exemptive Order’’), 9 the Commission failed to complete an important piece of the cross-border regime, namely, supervisory memoranda of understanding
(‘‘MOUs’’) between the Commission and fellow regulators.

I have previously stated that these MOUs, if done right, can be a key part of the global harmonization effort because they provide mutually agreed-upon solutions for differences in regulatory regimes. 10 Accordingly, I stated that the Commission should be able to review MOUs alongside the respective comparability determinations and

vote on them at the same time. Without these MOUs, our fellow regulators are left wondering whether and how any differences,
such as direct access to books and records,

will be resolved.

Finally, as I have consistently maintained, the substituted compliance process should allow other regulatory bodies to engage with

the full Commission. 11 While I am pleased that the Notices are being voted on by the Commission, the full Commission only gained access to the comment letters from foreign regulators on the Commission’s comparability determination draft proposals a few days ago. This is hardly a transparent

process.

Unclear Path Forward

Looking forward to next steps, the Commission must provide answers to several outstanding questions regarding these comparability determinations. In doing so,

the Commission must collaborate with foreign regulators to increase global

harmonization.

First, there is uncertainty surrounding the timing and outcome of the MOUs. Critical questions regarding information sharing, cooperation, supervision, and enforcement

will remain unanswered until the Commission and our fellow regulators

execute these MOUs.

Second, the Commission has issued timelimited no-action relief for the swap data repository reporting requirements. These comparability determinations will be done as separate notices. However, the timing and process for these determinations remain

uncertain.

Third, the Commission has failed to provide clarity on the process for addressing the comparability determinations that it

declined to undertake at this time. The Notices only state that the Commission may address these requests in a separate notice at a later date given further developments in the law and regulations of other jurisdictions. To promote certainty in the financial markets, the Commission must provide a clear path forward for market participants and foreign regulators.

The following steps would be a better approach: (1) The Commission should extend the Exemptive Order to allow foreign regulators to further implement their regulatory regimes and coordinate with them to implement a harmonized substituted compliance process; (2) the Commission should implement a flexible, outcomes-based approach to the substituted compliance process and apply it similarly to all jurisdictions; and (3) the Commission should work closely with our fellow regulators to expeditiously implement MOUs that resolve regulatory differences and address regulatory oversight issues.

Conclusion

While I support the narrow comparability

determinations that the Commission has made, it was my hope that the Commission would work with foreign regulators to implement a substituted compliance process that would increase the global harmonization effort. I am disappointed that the Commission has failed to implement such a

process.

I do believe that in the longer term, the swaps regulations of the major jurisdictions will converge. At this time, however, the Commission’s comparability determinations

have done little to alleviate the burden of regulatory uncertainty and duplicative compliance with both U.S. and foreign regulations.

The G–20 process delineated and put in place the swaps market reforms in G–20 member nations. It is then no surprise that

the Commission must learn to coordinate with foreign regulators to minimize confusion and disruption in bringing much needed clarity to the swaps market. For all these shortcomings, I respectfully dissent from the Commission’s approval of the

Notices.

[FR Doc. 2013–30975 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6351–01–P**

**COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING**

**COMMISSION**

**Comparability Determination for Australia: Certain Entity-Level**  **Requirements**

**AGENCY :**  Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Comparability Determination for Certain Requirements under Australian Regulation.

**SUMMARY :**  The following is the analysis and determination of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘‘Commission’’) regarding certain parts of a request by the Australian Bankers
Association (‘‘ABA’’) that the

Commission determine that laws and regulations applicable in in the

Commonwealth of Australia (‘‘Australia’’) provide a sufficient basis for an affirmative finding of comparability with respect to the following regulatory obligations applicable to swap dealers (‘‘SDs’’) and major swap participants (‘‘MSPs’’) registered with the Commission: (i) Chief compliance officer; (ii) risk management; and (iii) swap data recordkeeping (collectively, the

‘‘Internal Business Conduct Requirements’’).

**DATES :**  Effective Date: This

determination will become effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Gary

Barnett, Director, 202–418–5977, gbarnett@cftc.gov, Frank Fisanich, Chief
Counsel, 202–418–5949, ffisanich@ cftc.gov, Adam Kezsbom, Special
Counsel, 202–418–5372, akezsbom@ cftc.gov, Israel Goodman, Special
Counsel, 202–418–6715, igoodman@ cftc.gov, Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

I. Introduction

On July 26, 2013, the Commission published in the Federal Register its ‘‘Interpretive Guidance and Policy Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations’’ (the
‘‘Guidance’’). 1 In the Guidance, the Commission set forth its interpretation

of the manner in which it believes that section 2(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act (‘‘CEA’’) applies Title VII’s swap provisions to activities outside the U.S. and informed the public of some of the policies that it expects to follow, generally speaking, in applying Title VII and certain Commission regulations in contexts covered by section 2(i). Among other matters, the Guidance generally described the policy and procedural

framework under which the

Commission would consider a substituted compliance program with respect to Commission regulations applicable to entities located outside the U.S. Specifically, the Commission addressed a recognition program where compliance with a comparable regulatory requirement of a foreign jurisdiction would serve as a reasonable substitute for compliance with the attendant requirements of the CEA and the Commission’s regulations promulgated thereunder.

In addition to the Guidance, on July
22, 2013, the Commission issued the Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations (the