JOINT REPORT

ON

INTERNATIONAL SWAP REGULATION

Required by Section 719(c) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 

Reform and Consumer Protection Act

January 31, 2012
ii

T A BLE OF C ONTENTS

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1

I. Congressional Study Mandate ..................................................................................................... 5

A. Statutory Language................................................................................................................. 5

B. Process and Approach............................................................................................................. 6

II. Regulatory Framework for OTC Derivatives.............................................................................. 10

A. The Americas....................................................................................................................... 15

1. United States.................................................................................................................... 15

2. Canada............................................................................................................................. 50

3. Brazil............................................................................................................................... 57

B. European Union ................................................................................................................... 60

C. Asia..................................................................................................................................... 73

1. Japan ............................................................................................................................... 73

2. China ............................................................................................................................... 79

3. Hong Kong....................................................................................................................... 81

4. Singapore ......................................................................................................................... 89

5. Australia .......................................................................................................................... 90

6. Republic of Korea............................................................................................................. 94

III. Regulatory Comparison ........................................................................................................ 98

A. Open Issues.......................................................................................................................... 99

1. Market Participant Issues................................................................................................... 99

2. Clearing Issues ............................................................................................................... 100

3. Reporting Issues ............................................................................................................. 102

4. Execution Issues............................................................................................................. 103

B. Harmonization Efforts ........................................................................................................ 105

C. Recommendations.............................................................................................................. 109

IV. Conclusion......................................................................................................................... 111

Appendix I. Swap Market Information ........................................................................................... 113

Appendix II. Tables Summarizing Regulatory Approaches in Studied Jurisdictions ........................... 140

Appendix III. International Initiatives Involved in Developing Policy for OTC 

Derivatives Regulation............................................................................................151
1

Introduction

Effectively regulated financial markets are a necessary component of a strong economy. 

When the financial system failed three years ago, over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives were 

unregulated, and financial systems and participants were interconnected to a greater extent than 

ever before. The global nature of OTC derivatives requires comprehensive international 

cooperation and coordination.

Efforts to regulate OTC derivatives are under way in the United States and abroad. The 

financial crisis of 2008 has led to broad international consensus on the need for improved 

transparency, mitigation of systemic risk, and protection against market abuse, and extraordinary 

coordination on how best to achieve sound regulation appropriately tailored to the OTC 

derivatives market.1 Jurisdictions with major OTC derivatives markets have taken steps toward 

regulating OTC derivatives – with variance in pace, but with consistency among many of the 

ultimate policy goals.

In the United States, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 

(“DFA”) provides the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the Securities 

and Exchange Commission (“SEC” and, together with the CFTC, the “Commissions”) with the 

authority to regulate certain types of derivatives that currently are entered into bilaterally and that 

typically are not cleared. Subject to certain exceptions, Title VII of the DFA (“Title VII”) 

requires the CFTC to regulate those derivatives defined as swaps, and requires the SEC to 

regulate derivatives defined as security-based swaps. The Commissions are in the midst of 

promulgating regulations to implement this statutory mandate.

 

1

See discussion infra under Section II (Regulatory Framework for OTC Derivatives).
2

DFA Section 719(c) requires the Commissions jointly to conduct a study (“Study”) and 

then to report to Congress (“Report”) on how swaps and security-based swaps2(collectively 

“Swaps”, unless otherwise indicated) are regulated in the United States, Asia, and Europe and to 

identify areas of regulation that are similar and other areas of regulation that could be 

harmonized. Section 719(c) also calls for the Report to identify major dealers, exchanges, 

clearinghouses, clearing members, and regulators in each geographic area and to list the major 

contracts (including trading volumes, clearing volumes, and notional values), the methods for 

clearing swaps, and the systems used for setting margin in each geographic area.

The Study is one facet of the CFTC’s and the SEC’s work in analyzing the international 

context and implications of the DFA. Congress directed the Commissions (and prudential 

regulators) in Section 752(a) of the legislation to “as appropriate . . . consult and coordinate with 

foreign regulatory authorities on the establishment of consistent international standards with 

respect to the regulation ... of swaps, security-based swaps, swap entities, and security-based 

swap entities” in order to “promote effective and consistent global regulation of swaps and 

security-based swaps”.

CFTC and SEC staffs have considered international standards and principles in 

developing regulations, have consulted and coordinated with foreign regulators, and will 

continue to recommend that the Commissions enter into memoranda of understanding, as 

appropriate, to promote access to information and cooperative oversight by regulators. Staffs of 

both Commissions are actively engaged in numerous international projects related to the 

clearing, reporting, trading, and risk management of OTC derivatives. For example, staffs

currently are working on a project of the International Organization of Securities Commissions 

 

2

Section 719(c) is entitled “International Swap Regulation” and sometimes refers solely to swaps and, at 

other times, refers both to swaps and security-based swaps. However, Congress mandated a joint CFTCSEC study and, accordingly, the Commissions have interpreted the terms “swap” and “swaps” to include 

both swap(s) and security-based swap(s) in the context of this statutory provision.
3

(“IOSCO”) to coordinate the application of central clearing requirements for counterparties to 

OTC derivatives transactions3and on a project of the Committee on Payment and Settlement 

Systems (“CPSS”) and IOSCO on principles for financial market infrastructures, including 

derivatives central counterparties (“CCPs”) and trade repositories (“TRs”).4 Staffs are 

participating in the Financial Stability Board (“FSB”) OTC Derivatives Working Group 

(“ODWG”), which monitors progress being made in implementing OTC derivatives market 

reforms.5 Staffs also are participating in technical dialogues with regulatory counterparts in the 

European Union (“EU”), Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada. These discussions are 

designed to increase understanding of each other’s regulatory approaches and to coordinate 

regulatory proposals to the greatest extent possible.6 Most recently, leaders and senior 

representatives of the CFTC and SEC met with regulators from Canada, the European Union, 

Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore on December 8, 2011, to discuss cross-border issues related to 

 

3 This IOSCO report is expected to be published in January 2012. See OTC Derivatives Market Reforms: 

Progress Report on Implementation (October 11, 2011) (“FSB October 2011 Report”) at p. 4 and Appendix 

I, available at http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_111011b.pdf; see also Financial 

Stability Board, Implementing OTC Derivatives Market Reforms (October 25, 2010) (“FSB October 2010 

Report”) at p. 5, ¶ 12 (“To minimise the potential for regulatory arbitrage, IOSCO, working with other

authorities as appropriate, should coordinate the application of central clearing requirements on a product 

and participant level, and any exemptions from them.”), available at 

http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_101025.pdf.

4

See CPSS-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures, Consultative Report (March 2011), 

available at http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss94.pdf. These standards will be included in a final report that is 

expected to be published in early 2012. See FSB October 2011 Report at Appendix I; see also FSB 

October 2010 Report at p. 5, ¶ 9 (“To help ensure a global regulatory level playing field and increase the 

safety of the financial system, CCPs that clear OTC derivatives should be subject to robust and consistently 

applied supervision and oversight on the basis of regulatory standards, that, at a minimum, meet evolving 

international standards developed jointly by CPSS and IOSCO.”).

5 The ODWG is led by representatives of CPSS, IOSCO, and the European Commission (“EC”). The SEC 

co-chairs the ODWG on behalf of IOSCO. The ODWG includes international standard setters and 

authorities responsible for transforming the G-20 commitments into standards and regulations. 

Jurisdictions include: Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, United 

Kingdom, and United States. The ODWG also includes representatives from the European Central Bank 

(“ECB”), Bank for International Settlements (“BIS”), International Monetary Fund (“IMF”), and FSB. The 

ODWG makes regular progress reports to the FSB, assessing the adequacy of progress being made to fully 

and consistently implement the G-20 commitments to central clearing, trading on exchanges and electronic 

trading platforms, reporting to TRs, and capital requirements.

6

In addition, through staff at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, high-level discussions on OTC 

derivatives issues have involved a wider range of economic officials in European and Asian countries.
4

OTC derivatives. The authorities agreed to continue bilateral regulatory dialogues and to meet 

as a group again in early 2012.7

The Commissions also recognize that Swaps business currently flows across national 

borders, with agreements negotiated and executed between counterparties in different 

jurisdictions and individual transactions often booked and risk-managed in other jurisdictions. 

Accordingly, the Commissions will develop proposals seeking public input on certain crossborder issues arising from the application of Title VII.8

The Study has provided a comprehensive means to gather information on OTC 

derivatives.

9

 Staff believes that this Report will be a useful guide to OTC derivatives regulation 

and markets inside and outside the United States, and a timely comparative tool in the ongoing 

effort to achieve consistency in regulation.

This Report includes four sections. Section I discusses the Congressional mandate for the 

Study and Report, including the process and approach used by CFTC and SEC staff. Section II 

describes the regulatory framework for OTC derivatives in the Americas, European Union, and 

Asia, and Section III analyzes the similarities and differences across jurisdictions, discusses 

 

7 Global Regulators Joint Statement on OTC Derivatives (December 9, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/SpeechesTestimony/opagensler-101 and 

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2011/2011-260.htm.

8

In addition, CFTC and SEC staff held a public roundtable on August 1, 2011, to discuss international issues 

relating to implementation of Title VII. The roundtable agenda included the following topics: (1) crossborder transactions; (2) global entities; and (3) market infrastructure. The CFTC has posted a transcript of 

the roundtable at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@swaps/documents/dfsubmission/dfsubmission21_080111-

trans.pdf, and the SEC has posted a transcript at http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2011/2011-151-

transcript.pdf. Public comments are posted on the CFTC website at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=1065, and on the SEC website at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-636/4-636.shtml.

9 The regulatory distinctions between the terms “swap” and “security-based swap” as used in Title VII are 

not co-extensive with terms used in foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, the term “OTC derivatives”, which 

is used in this Report to refer to Swaps across various jurisdictions, includes products that may, or may not, 

fall within the DFA’s scope.
5

potential areas for harmonization, and makes recommendations for next steps.10 Finally, Section 

IV provides the conclusion of the Study and Report.

I. Congressional Study Mandate

A. Statutory Language

The DFA was enacted on July 21, 2010.11 Section 719(c) of the legislation mandates the 

Study and this Report:

(1) IN GENERAL.–The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the 

Securities and Exchange Commission shall jointly conduct a study–

(A) relating to–

(i) swap regulation in the United States, Asia, and Europe; and

(ii) clearing house and clearing agency regulation in the United States, 

Asia, and Europe; and

(B) that identifies areas of regulation that are similar in the United States, Asia 

and Europe and other areas of regulation that could be harmonized[.]

(2) REPORT.–Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange 

Commission shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 

Forestry and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 

Senate and the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Financial 

Services of the House of Representatives a report that includes a description of 

the results of the study under subsection (a),[

12] including–

(A) identification of the major exchanges and their regulator in each 

geographic area for the trading of swaps and security-based swaps including a 

listing of the major contracts and their trading volumes and notional values as 

well as identification of the major swap dealers participating in such markets;

(B) identification of the major clearing houses and clearing agencies and their 

regulator in each geographic area for the clearing of swaps and security-based 

swaps, including a listing of the major contracts and the clearing volumes and 

notional values as well as identification of the major clearing members of such 

clearing houses and clearing agencies in such markets;

(C) a description of the comparative methods of clearing swaps in the United 

States, Asia, and Europe; and

(D) a description of the various systems used for establishing margin on 

individual swaps, security-based swaps, and swap portfolios.

 

10 Appendix I includes information on dealers, markets, and CCPs in each region.

11 See Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010). 

The DFA text may be accessed at http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/index.htm.

12 The reference to “subsection (a)” presumably should be replaced with a reference to paragraph (1) because 

no such subsection (a) applies to this Study.
6

In setting forth the scope of the Study, Section 719(c)(1) refers solely to “swap 

regulation” and to “clearing house and clearing agency regulation”. In mandating the Report to 

Congress, Section 719(c)(2) refers more broadly to swaps and security-based swaps, swap 

dealers, exchanges, clearinghouses, and clearing agencies. Accordingly, CFTC and SEC staff 

reconciled these two provisions to establish a scope for the Study that is consistent with the 

direction of Congress. Staffs also included regulation of TRs, given the significant work already 

being done in this area.

With respect to geographic scope, Section 719(c) refers to the United States, Europe,13

and Asia. However, Canada and Brazil also have OTC derivatives markets and are involved 

with efforts to regulate OTC derivatives. Accordingly, CFTC and SEC staff included these 

jurisdictions within the scope of the Study so as not to overlook the breadth of regulation taking 

place within the Americas.

B. Process and Approach

The Commissions initiated the Study by issuing a request for information through public 

comment (“Request for Comment”).14 They stated that the Request for Comment would be an 

effective and transparent means of gathering information necessary for the Study and Report 

from interested parties. The Commissions also stated that the public comment process would, as 

needed, be supplemented by other means of gathering the comprehensive range of information 

requested by Congress.15

 

13 In preparing this Report, staff has interpreted the mandate of Section 719(c) to mean the European Union, 

which includes the United Kingdom.

14 Acceptance of Public Submissions for a Study on International Swap Regulation Mandated by Section 

719(c) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 76 Fed. Reg. 44508 (July 26, 

2011), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-

18763a.pdf and http://www.sec.gov/rules/other/2011/34-64926.pdf.

15 The Commissions stated that staff had the discretion to consider comments filed after the close of the 60-

day comment period and could consult with interested and/or relevant parties after the comment period 
7

The timing of legislative and regulatory developments differs across jurisdictions. In the 

United States, the DFA was enacted in July 2010. Most regulations required under Title VII 

have been proposed, and some regulations have been finalized.

16

 Other jurisdictions have been 

proceeding under different timeframes. For example, the Japanese legislature adopted statutory 

amendments in May 2010 that are applicable to the regulation of OTC derivatives, and full 

implementation is expected by November 2012. European legislators are debating legislation on 

clearing and TRs that was proposed in September 2010, and technical standards for 

implementation are expected to be proposed by June 2012. Other jurisdictions have not yet 

proposed or adopted statutory or regulatory changes, but have published consultation documents 

to gather public comment on the appropriate regulation of OTC derivatives. Accordingly, CFTC 

and SEC staff has attempted to strike a balance between meeting the statutory deadline for the 

Report and providing information to Congress that is as current as possible. This Report is 

current as of December 31, 2011.17

Thirty-four submissions were received in response to the Request for Comment. The 

following 12 market infrastructure providers filed comments: CME Group, Inc.;18

IntercontinentalExchange, Inc.;19 Kansas City Board of Trade;20 BM&FBOVESPA;21

 

closed in order to obtain additional or clarifying information.

16 The CFTC and SEC websites provide extensive information on the DFA’s implementation, respectively at 

http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/index.htm and http://www.sec.gov/spotlight/doddfrank.shtml.

17 The portions of the Report that discuss the U.S. regulatory framework are current as of January 23, 2012.

18 The comment filed by CME Group, Inc. (“CME Group”) discusses CME Clearing, and is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=49906&SearchText=.

19 The comment filed by IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (“ICE”) discusses ICE Clear U.S., Inc.; ICE Clear 

Europe Ltd. (“ICE Clear Europe”); ICE Clear Canada; The Clearing Corporation; ICE Clear Credit LLC 

(“ICE Clear Credit”); ICE Futures U.S., Inc.; ICE U.S. OTC Markets, LLC (“ICE U.S. OTC”); ICE Futures 

Europe; and ICE Futures Canada. It is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=49905&SearchText=.

20 The comment filed by the Kansas City Board of Trade (“KCBT”) discusses the KCBT Clearing Corp., and 

is available at http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48202&SearchText=.
8

LCH.Clearnet Group;22 Eurex Clearing AG;23 NYSE Euronext;24 SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd.;25

Japan Securities Clearing Corporation;26 Singapore Exchange Derivatives Clearing Ltd.;27

National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd.;

28 and Shanghai Clearing House.29

 One 

central bank, the ECB, filed a comment.30 Five regulators filed comments: Ontario Securities 

Commission, Alberta Securities Commission, Financial Services Agency of Japan, Financial 

Supervisory Service of Korea, and Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores of Spain.31 Five 

 

21 The comment filed by BM&FBOVESPA is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48244&SearchText= and at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-9.pdf.

22 The comment filed by LCH.Clearnet Group Ltd. (“LCH Group”) discusses both LCH.Clearnet Ltd. (based 

in London) and LCH.Clearnet SA (based in Paris), and is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48483&SearchText= and at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-10.pdf.

23 The comment filed by Eurex Clearing AG (“Eurex”) is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48209&SearchText= and at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-6.pdf.

24 The comment filed by NYSE Euronext is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48213&SearchText= and at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-8.pdf.

25 The comment from SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd. is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48103&SearchText= and at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-7.pdf.

26 The comment filed by Japan Securities Clearing Corporation (“JSCC”) is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48197&SearchText=.

27 The comment filed by Singapore Exchange Derivatives Clearing Ltd. (“SGX-DC”) is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48196&SearchText=.

28 The comment filed by National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd. (“NCDEX”) is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48172&SearchText=.

29 The comment filed by Shanghai Clearing House (“SCH”) is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=50009&SearchText=.

30 The comment filed by the ECB is available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48391&SearchText= and at 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-11.pdf.

31 Comments from these regulators are available at: Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48509&SearchText= and 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-12.pdf); Alberta Securities Commission (“ASC”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=49918&SearchText); Financial 

Services Agency of Japan (“JFSA”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48272&SearchText=, 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=49926&SearchText= (“JFSA 

Presentation”), and http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-5.pdf); Financial Supervisory Service of 

Korea (“KFSS”) 
9

trade or interest groups filed comments: the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, 

Inc.; Alternative Investment Management Association Ltd.; Association of Financial Guaranty 

Insurers; Better Markets, Inc.; and Americans for Financial Reform.32 Ten individuals filed 

comments.33

In addition, CFTC and SEC staff relied on public sources, including the FSB34 report in 

October 2011 on efforts across 19 jurisdictions to regulate OTC derivatives.35 The FSB October 

2011 Report provides a detailed assessment of progress related to central clearing, exchange and 

electronic platform trading, reporting to repositories, capital requirements, and standardization of 

OTC derivatives. The assessment relies upon information provided by FSB member 

 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48185&SearchText=); and Comisión 

Nacional del Mercado de Valores of Spain (“CNMV”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=49971&SearchText=).

32 Comments from these entities are available at: International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 

(“ISDA”) (http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48222&SearchText= and 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-3.pdf); Alternative Investment Management Association Ltd. 

(“AIMA”) (http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48200&SearchText= and 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-2.pdf); Association of Financial Guaranty Insurers (“AFGI”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48178&SearchText= and 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-1.pdf); Better Markets, Inc. (“BMI”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48225&SearchText= and 

http://www.sec.gov/comments/4-635/4635-4.pdf); and Americans for Financial Reform (“AFR”) 

(http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=48237&SearchText=).

33 Comments from the following submitters are available on the CFTC website at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=1072: Ja Sto; C. Harvin; Carol C.; 

Roxana Wepf; Mary S. Smith; S. Walsh; Mike Straub; Hollie Bethany; Eva Trowbridge; and Dana 

Dellinger. None of these comments is responsive to the Request for Comment. Instead, for the most part, 

they urge the imposition of limits on speculators.

34 The FSB was established: (1) to coordinate at the international level the work of national financial 

authorities and international standard setting bodies; and (2) to develop and promote implementation of 

effective regulatory, supervisory, and other financial sector policies. FSB members include national 

authorities responsible for financial stability in significant international financial centers, international 

financial institutions, sector-specific international groupings of regulators and supervisors, and committees 

of central bank experts. The SEC is a member of the FSB. FSB members represent 24 jurisdictions: 

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, 

Mexico, The Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, 

Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States. Other members are: the BIS, ECB, EC, IMF, 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank. International standardsetting bodies and other groups include: the CPSS, IOSCO, Basel Committee on Banking Supervision

(“BCBS”), International Accounting Standards Board, International Association of Insurance Supervisors, 

and Committee on the Global Financial System (“CGFS”). More information is provided on the FSB 

website, available at http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/.

35 See supra note 3.
10

jurisdictions in response to a questionnaire regarding regulation of the OTC derivatives 

markets.36

II. Regulatory Framework for OTC Derivatives

The financial crisis that began in 2008 sparked a new international effort to strengthen

financial regulation. With respect to OTC derivatives, the Group of 20 (“G-20”)37 agreed in 

September 2009 that:

All standardised OTC derivative contracts should be traded on exchanges or 

electronic trading platforms, where appropriate, and cleared through central 

counterparties by end-2012 at the latest. OTC derivative contracts should be 

reported to trade repositories. Non-centrally cleared contracts should be subject 

to higher capital requirements. We ask the FSB and its relevant members to 

assess regularly implementation and whether it is sufficient to improve 

transparency in the derivatives markets, mitigate systemic risk, and protect against 

market abuse.38

At the initiative of the FSB, the ODWG was formed in April 2010 to make 

recommendations on implementation of the G-20 Leaders’ commitments. In June 2010, the G20 reaffirmed its commitments on strengthening regulation of OTC derivatives:

We pledged to work in a coordinated manner to accelerate the implementation of 

... OTC[] derivatives regulation and supervision and to increase transparency and 

standardization. We reaffirm our commitment to trade all standardized OTC 

derivatives contracts on exchanges or electronic trading platforms, where 

appropriate, and clear through [CCPs] by end-2012 at the latest. OTC derivative 

 

36 A copy of the questionnaire is included as Appendix VII to the FSB October 2011 Report. Member 

jurisdictions were asked to submit responses by July 1, 2011. Their responses were posted on the FSB’s 

internal website, but were not made publicly available. The FSB October 2011 Report includes tables 

summarizing member responses, but does not include the detailed responses themselves. See FSB October 

2011 Report, Appendix VIII.

37 The G-20 was established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing 

economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. G-20 membership includes the Finance Ministers 

and Central Bank Governors of 19 countries and the EU: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the 

EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the 

Republic of Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States. In addition, the Managing Director of the 

IMF, President of the World Bank, and Chairmen of the International Monetary and Financial Committee 

and Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank also participate in G-20 meetings on an exofficio basis. More information is provided on the G-20 website, available at http://www.g20.org/en.

38 Leaders’ Statement, The Pittsburgh Summit, ¶ 13 (subparagraph on improving OTC derivatives markets) 

(September 24-25, 2009), available at http://g20mexico.org/images/stories/canalfinan/docs/uk/

02pittsburgh.pdf.
11

contracts should be reported to [TRs]. We will work towards the establishment of 

CCPs and TRs in line with global standards and ensure that national regulators 

and supervisors have access to all relevant information. In addition we agreed to 

pursue policy measures with respect to haircut-setting and margining practices for 

... OTC derivatives transactions that will reduce procyclicality and enhance 

financial market resilience. We recognized that much work has been done in this 

area. We will continue to support further progress in implementing these 

measures. ... We committed to accelerate the implementation of strong measures 

to improve transparency and regulatory oversight of ... over-the-counter 

derivatives in an internationally consistent and non-discriminatory way.39

In October 2010, the FSB released a report containing 21 recommendations for 

authorities, which it summarized under four categories:

 Standardisation: The proportion of the market that is standardised should be 

substantially increased in order to further the G-20’s goals of increased central 

clearing and trading on organised platforms, and hence mitigate systemic risk 

and improve market transparency. [This] report sets out recommendations for 

authorities to work with market participants to increase standardisation, 

including through introducing incentives and, where appropriate, regulation.

 Central clearing: To implement the G-20 commitment effectively, it is 

necessary to specify the factors that should be taken into account when 

determining whether a derivative contract is standardised and therefore 

suitable for clearing. The recommendations do this, as well as address 

mandatory clearing requirements; robust risk management requirements for 

the remaining non-centrally cleared markets; and supervision, oversight and 

regulation of [CCPs] themselves.

 Exchange or electronic platform trading: Further work is being set in train in 

the coming months to identify what actions may be needed to fully achieve 

the G-20 commitment that all standardised products be traded on exchanges or 

electronic trading platforms, where appropriate.

 Reporting to trade repositories: Authorities must have a global view of the 

OTC derivatives markets, through full and timely access to the data needed to 

carry out their respective mandates. The recommendations help achieve this 

objective, including that [TR] data must be comprehensive, uniform and 

reliable and, if from more than one source, provided in a form that facilitates 

aggregation on a global scale.40

 

39 The G-20 Toronto Summit Declaration, Annex II, ¶¶ 25-26 (Financial Sector Reform) (June 26-27, 2010), 

available at http://g20mexico.org/images/stories/canalfinan/docs/repcore/05declaration.pdf. See also ¶ 19 

(“We agreed to strengthen financial market infrastructure by accelerating the implementation of strong 

measures to improve transparency and regulatory oversight of ... [OTC] derivatives in an internationally 

consistent and nondiscriminatory way.”).

40 Implementing OTC Derivatives Market Reforms, pp. 1-2 (October 25, 2010), available at 

http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_101025.pdf.
12

The FSB October 2010 Report also emphasized the importance of continued international 

coordination and recognized that “[w]ork should be taken forward by the relevant standard 

setters and authorities to achieve international consistency”.

41

 Also in October 2010, IOSCO 

formed the Task Force on OTC Derivatives Regulation (“IOSCO Task Force”) to coordinate 

securities and futures regulators’ efforts to work together in the development of supervisory and 

oversight structures related to OTC derivatives markets. The IOSCO Task Force seeks to 

develop international standards related to OTC derivatives regulation, coordinate other 

international initiatives relating to OTC derivatives regulation, and serve as a centralized group 

within IOSCO through which IOSCO members can consult and coordinate generally on issues 

relating to OTC derivatives regulation.42

In November 2010, the G-20 endorsed the FSB recommendations:

We also firmly recommitted to work in an internationally consistent and 

nondiscriminatory manner to strengthen regulation and supervision on ... OTC 

derivatives ... We endorsed the FSB’s recommendations for implementing OTC 

derivatives market reforms, designed to fully implement our previous 

commitments in an internationally consistent manner, recognizing the importance 

of a level playing field. We asked the FSB to monitor the progress regularly.43

 

41 Id. at p. 2.

42 IOSCO Forms Task Force on OTC Derivatives Regulation (October 15, 2010), available at 

http://www.iosco.org/news/pdf/IOSCONEWS191.pdf. The IOSCO Task Force is led by the CFTC, SEC, 

the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom (“UK FSA”), and the Securities and Exchange 

Board of India (“SEBI”). The Task Force will set out international standards in the areas of trading, data 

reporting (including minimum requirements and standardized formats, and methodology and mechanisms 

for aggregation of data), clearing, oversight of dealers and other market participants and, to the extent 

desirable and feasible, exchange and electronic trading.

In addition to the groups and initiatives already mentioned, staff of the CFTC and SEC participate in two 

other groups active in OTC derivatives:

(1) OTC Derivatives Supervisors Group (“ODSG”) – originated in 2005, when the Federal Reserve Bank 

of New York (“New York Fed”) hosted a meeting with representatives of major OTC derivatives market 

participants and their domestic and international supervisors to address the emerging risks of inadequate 

infrastructure for the rapidly growing market in credit derivatives. For more information on the ODSG and 

its efforts to increase process and product standardization, please visit 

http://newyorkfed.org/markets/otc_derivatives_supervisors_group.html.

(2) OTC Derivatives Regulators’ Forum (“ODRF”) – formed in 2009 to provide regulators with a means to 

cooperate, exchange views, and share information related to OTC derivatives CCPs and TRs. For more 

information on the ODRF, please visit http://www.otcdrf.org/.

43 The G20 Seoul Summit Leaders’ Declaration, The Seoul Summit Document, ¶ 37 (November 11-12, 
13

The FSB released its first progress report on implementation of the G-20 Leaders’ 

commitments in April 2011.44 The report pointed to several international developments,45 but 

expressed concern regarding the likelihood of many jurisdictions meeting the G-20’s end-2012 

deadline. The FSB recognized that implementation was just beginning, but said it was 

“concerned with the substantial variation across jurisdictions in the pace of implementation” and 

warned that “jurisdictions need to take substantial, concrete steps toward implementation 

immediately” in order to meet the G-20’s end-2012 deadline.46

As mentioned above, the FSB released its second progress report in October 2011. The 

FSB October 2011 Report, issued more than two years after agreement to the G-20 Leaders’ 

commitments and a bit more than a year before the end-2012 deadline, provides a more detailed 

assessment of progress toward the G-20 Leaders’ commitments. The FSB reiterated its concerns 

about the pace of regulatory efforts and again emphasized the importance of cooperation:

The FSB believes that the highest current priority in implementation of OTC 

derivatives markets reforms is to increase the pace of legislative and regulatory 

action to ensure that frameworks are in place as soon as possible. Jurisdictions 

should aggressively push forward to meet the end-2012 deadline in as many areas 

as possible, including accelerating jurisdictional policy decision-making with 

regard to organised platform trading. ... To ensure consistency in implementation, 

and avoid overlaps, gaps, and conflicts in legislative and regulatory frameworks 

that may risk compromising reform objectives, specific overlaps, gaps, and 

 

2010), available at http://g20mexico.org/images/stories/canalfinan/docs/repcore/01seoul.pdf.

44 OTC Derivatives Market Reforms: Progress Report on Implementation (April 15, 2011) (“FSB April 2011 

Report”), available at http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_110415b.pdf.

45 Developments include, e.g.: IOSCO Report on Trading of OTC Derivatives (February 2011) 

(recommending a flexible approach in defining “exchanges or electronic trading platforms” for the 

purposes of addressing the G-20 objectives and to be followed up by additional analysis on market use of 

multi- or single-dealer platforms), available at 

http://www.iosco.org/library/pubdocs/pdf/IOSCOPD345.pdf; and CPSS-IOSCO Report on OTC 

Derivatives Data Reporting and Aggregation Requirements, Consultative Report (August 2011) (to be 

finalized by end-2011), available at http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss96.pdf. CFTC and SEC staff continues to 

be actively engaged in many such international projects on the clearing, reporting, trading, and risk 

management of OTC derivatives.

46 FSB April 2011 Report at p. 4. This report is based upon responses to a questionnaire FSB members 

completed in January 2011.
14

conflicts should continue to be discussed, as a matter of priority, bilaterally 

between or multilaterally among jurisdictions. Solutions also should come 

through consistency across jurisdictions in application of international standards 

that either address such issues directly or set out processes and expectations for 

international cooperation between authorities.47

The FSB’s ODWG will continue to monitor implementation of OTC derivatives reforms. 

The FSB will continue to encourage full and consistent implementation of the G-20 Leaders’ 

commitments through development of international standards, adoption of legislative and 

regulatory frameworks, and changes in market structures and activities.

In November 2011, the G-20 continued to endorse the FSB recommendations:

Reforming the over the counter derivatives markets is crucial to build a more 

resilient financial system. All standardized over-the-counter derivatives contracts 

should be traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms, where appropriate, 

and centrally cleared, by the end of 2012; OTC derivatives contracts should be 

reported to [TRs], and non-centrally cleared contracts should be subject to higher 

capital requirements. We agree to cooperate further to avoid loopholes and 

overlapping regulations. A coordination group is being established by the FSB to 

address some of these issues, complementing the existing OTC derivatives 

working group. We endorse the FSB progress report on implementation and ask 

the CPSS and IOSCO to work with FSB to carry forward work on identifying data 

that could be provided by and to [TRs], and to define principles or guidance on 

regulators’ and supervisors’ access to data held by [TRs]. We call on the [BCBS 

and IOSCO] together with other relevant organizations to develop for consultation 

standards on margining for non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives by June 2012, 

and on the FSB to continue to report on progress towards meeting our 

commitments on OTC derivatives.48

CFTC and SEC staff will continue to monitor and participate in international efforts by the G-20 

and other groups to help coordinate regulation of OTC derivatives.

 

47 FSB October 2011 Report at p. 21.

48 Cannes Summit Final Declaration, ¶ 24 (November 4, 2011), available at http://www.g20.org/images/

stories/canalfinan/docs/01cannes.pdf; see also ¶ 27 (“We agree to intensify our monitoring of financial 

regulatory reforms, report on our progress and track our deficiencies. To do so, we endorse the FSB 

coordination framework for implementation monitoring, notably on key areas such as ... OTC derivatives 

reforms ...”) and ¶ 31 (“We also call on IOSCO to assess the functioning of credit default swap (CDS) 

markets and the role of those markets in price formation of underlying assets by our next Summit. We 

support the creation of a global legal entity identifier (LEI) which uniquely identifies parties to financial 

transactions. We call on the FSB to take the lead in helping coordinate work among the regulatory 

community to prepare recommendations for the appropriate governance framework, representing the public 

interest, for such a global LEI by our next Summit.”).
15

A. The Americas

1. United States

Title VII amends the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”),

49 the Securities Act of 1933

(“Securities Act”),

50 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)51 to establish a 

comprehensive new regulatory framework for Swaps to reduce risk, increase transparency, and 

promote market integrity within the financial system. Among other things, Title VII: (1)

provides for the registration and comprehensive regulation of swap dealers (“SDs”), securitybased swap dealers (“SBSDs”), major swap participants (“MSPs”), and major security-based 

swap participants (“MSBSP”); (2) imposes clearing and trade execution requirements on Swaps, 

subject to certain exceptions; (3) creates recordkeeping and real-time reporting regimes; and (4)

enhances the Commissions’ rulemaking and enforcement authorities with respect to certain 

products, entities, and intermediaries subject to the Commissions’ oversight.52

DFA Sections 754 and 774 state that, unless otherwise provided, DFA provisions are 

effective on the later of 360 days after the DFA’s enactment (i.e., July 16, 2011) (“selfeffectuating”) or, to the extent rulemaking is required, not less than 60 days after publication of 

the final regulation. The Commissions are continuing to implement the DFA, and also have 

taken certain actions to minimize undue disruption and uncertainty for markets and participants 

during the transition period. In June 2011, the SEC issued an exemptive order to provide 

guidance as to which of DFA Title VII’s requirements would apply to security-based swaps as of 

July 16, 2011, and temporary relief to market participants from compliance with certain of those 

 

49 7 U.S.C. §1 et seq., as amended.

50 15 U.S.C. §77a et seq., as amended.

51 15 U.S.C. §78a et seq., as amended.

52 In addition, Title I of the DFA establishes the Financial Stability Oversight Council (“FSOC”), which is 

comprised of the leaders of various financial regulators (including the CFTC and SEC Chairmen) and other 

participants. DFA Section 112 directs the FSOC, among other things, to monitor and respond to emerging 

risks to the stability of the U.S. financial system, including risks arising from the Swaps market.
16

requirements.

53 In July 2011, the CFTC issued an order (“CFTC July 2011 Order”) granting 

temporary relief from certain statutory provisions that otherwise would have taken effect on July 

16, 2011, and setting an expiration date of December 31, 2011, at the latest, for the relief.54 In 

December 2011, the CFTC amended the CFTC July 2011 Order to extend the latest expiration 

date to July 16, 2012.55 In addition, in September 2011, the CFTC proposed a phased-in 

approach to implementation whereby compliance with specified requirements would be 

mandated first within 90 days by certain swap entities, then within 180 days by certain other 

market participants, and then within 270 days by others.56

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

Title VII gives the CFTC authority to regulate “swaps” and gives the SEC authority to 

regulate “security-based swaps”, as such terms are defined in the DFA.

57

 The swap definition is 

comprehensive and includes a wide range of agreements, contracts, and transactions, as well as 

 

53 Temporary Exemptions and Other Temporary Relief, Together with Information on Compliance Dates for 

New Provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Applicable to Security-Based Swaps, 76 Fed. Reg. 

36287 (June 22, 2011), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/exorders/2011/34-64678fr.pdf.

54 Effective Date for Swap Regulation, 76 Fed. Reg. 42508 (July 19, 2011) (“CFTC July Order”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-18248a.pdf. The CFTC 

Order, which was effective on July 14, 2011, provided temporary relief from compliance with selfeffectuating provisions that reference terms requiring further definition and from certain CEA provisions 

that may have applied as of July 16, 2011, as a result of the repeal of various exemptions and exclusions in 

current law.

55 Amendment to July 14, 2011 Order for Swap Regulation, 76 Fed. Reg. 80233 (December 23, 2011), 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-32841a.pdf.

56 Swap Transaction Compliance and Implementation Schedule: Trading Documentation and Margining 

Requirements under Section 4s of the CEA, 76 Fed. Reg. 58176 (September 20, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-24128a.pdf; and Swap 

Transaction Compliance and Implementation Schedule: Clearing and Trade Execution Requirements under 

Section 2(h) of the CEA, 76 Fed. Reg. 58186 (September 20, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-24124a.pdf.

57 DFA Section 721(a)(21) Act amended CEA Section 1a by adding a swap definition in subsection (47), and 

DFA Section 761(a)(6) amended Section 3(a) of the Exchange Act by adding a security-based swap 

definition in paragraph (68).
17

various exclusions and rules of construction.58 The security-based swap definition defines 

security-based swaps as swaps with certain specified characteristics.

59

DFA Section 712(d)(1) provides that the CFTC and the SEC, in consultation with the 

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve Board”), shall jointly 

further define the terms “swap”, “security-based swap”, and “security-based swap agreement” 

(“SBSA”).60 DFA Section 712(a)(8) provides further that the Commissions, after consultation 

with the Federal Reserve Board, shall jointly prescribe such regulations regarding “mixed 

swaps” as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of Title VII.61 In addition, DFA Sections 

 

58 CEA Section 1a(47) provides: In general, a swap, subject to enumerated exceptions, is any agreement, 

contract, or transaction: (i) that is a put, call, cap, floor, collar, or similar option of any kind that is for the 

purchase or sale, or based on the value, of 1 or more interest or other rates, currencies, commodities, 

securities, instruments of indebtedness, indices, quantitative measures, or other financial or economic 

interests or property of any kind; (ii) that provides for any purchase, sale, payment, or delivery (other than a 

dividend on an equity security) that is dependent on the occurrence, nonoccurrence, or the extent of the 

occurrence of an event or contingency associated with a potential financial, economic, or commercial 

consequence; (iii) that provides on an executory basis for the exchange, on a fixed or contingent basis, of 1 

or more payments based on the value or level of 1 or more interest or other rates, currencies, commodities, 

securities, instruments of indebtedness, indices, quantitative measures, or other financial or economic 

interests or property of any kind, or any interest therein or based on the value thereof, and that transfers, as 

between the parties to the transaction, in whole or in part, the financial risk associated with a future change 

in any such value or level . . . including any agreement, contract, or transaction commonly known as— (I) 

an interest rate swap; (II) a rate floor; (III) a rate cap; (IV) a rate collar; (V) a cross-currency rate swap; 

(VI) a basis swap; (VII) a currency swap; (VIII) a foreign exchange (“FX”) swap; (IX) a total return swap; 

(X) an equity index swap; (XI) an equity swap; (XII) a debt index swap; (XIII) a debt swap; (XIV) a credit 

spread; (XV) a credit default swap; (XVI) a credit swap; (XVII) a weather swap; (XVIII) an energy swap; 

(XIX) a metal swap; (XX) an agricultural swap; (XXI) an emissions swap; and (XXII) a commodity swap; 

(iv) that is an agreement, contract, or transaction that is, or in the future becomes, commonly known to the 

trade as a swap...; or (v) that is any combination or permutation of, or option on, any agreement, contract, 

or transaction described in any of the foregoing clauses. Security-based swaps are excluded from the swap 

definition.

59 Section 3(a)(68) of the Exchange Act provides that security-based swaps are defined as swaps (without 

regard to the exclusion from the swap definition for security-based swaps) that also are based on certain 

underlying assets, including a single security, a loan, a narrow-based group or index of securities, or events 

relating to a single issuer or issuers of securities in a narrow-based security index.

60 This provision also provides for further definition of the terms “swap dealer”, “security-based swap 

dealer”, “major swap participant”, “major security-based swap participant”, and “eligible contract 

participant”.

61 Section 721(a) of the DFA describes the category of “mixed swap” by adding new Section 1a(47)(D) to the 

CEA, and Section 761(a) of the DFA includes the category of “mixed swap” by adding new Section 

3(a)(68)(D) to the Exchange Act. A mixed swap is defined as a subset of security-based swaps that also are 

based on the value of one or more interest or other rates, currencies, commodities, instruments of 

indebtedness, indices, quantitative measures, other financial or economic interest or property of any kind 

(other than a single security or a narrow-based security index), or the occurrence, non-occurrence, or the 
18

721(b) and 761(b) provide that the Commissions may adopt regulations to further define terms 

included in Subtitles A and B of Title VII, respectively, and DFA Sections 721(c) and 761(b) 

provide the Commissions with authority to define the terms “swap” and “security-based swap”

(as well as the terms “swap dealer”, “major swap participant”, “eligible contract participant”,

“security-based swap dealer”, and “major security-based swap participant”), to include 

transactions and entities that have been structured to evade the requirements of Subtitles A and 

B, respectively, of Title VII.

After receiving public input in response to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(“ANPRM”) issued in August 2010,62 the CFTC and the SEC published a joint proposed release 

for public comment in May 2011 with respect to the swap, security-based swap, and securitybased swap agreement definitions and the regulation of mixed swaps.

63

 Although the 

Commissions stated that extensive further definition of the terms by regulation was not 

necessary, they proposed interpretive guidance, and in some cases regulations, regarding, among 

other things: (1) the regulatory treatment of certain types of agreements, contracts, and 

transactions, such as insurance products and certain consumer and commercial contracts; (2) the 

exclusion of forward contracts from the swap and security-based swap definitions; (3) the status 

of certain commodity-related products including various FX products and forward rate 

 

extent of the occurrence of an event or contingency associated with a potential financial, economic, or 

commercial consequence (other than the occurrence, non-occurrence, or extent of the occurrence of an 

event relating to a single issuer of a security or the issuers of securities in a narrow-based security index, 

provided that such event directly affects the financial statements, financial condition, or financial 

obligations of the issuer).

62 Definitions Contained in Title VII of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 75 

Fed. Reg. 51429 (August 20, 2010) (“Definitions ANPRM”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-20567a.pdf.

63 Further Definition of “Swap,” “Security-Based Swap,” and “Security-Based Swap Agreement”; Mixed 

Swaps; Security-Based Swap Agreement Recordkeeping, 99 Fed. Reg. 29818 (May 23, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-11008a.pdf; see also

Correction (numbering and citation), 76 Fed. Reg. 32880 (June 7, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-13976a.pdf.
19

agreements; (4) the regulatory treatment of swaps and security-based swaps involving interest (or 

other) rates and yields; (5) the regulatory treatment of total return swaps; (6) the application of 

the definition of “narrow-based security index” in distinguishing between certain swaps and 

security-based swaps, including credit default swaps (“CDS”) and index CDS; and (7) the 

specification of certain swaps and security-based swaps that are, and are not, mixed swaps. The 

Commissions also proposed regulations: (1) establishing books and records requirements 

applicable to SBSAs;

64 (2) providing a mechanism for requesting that the Commissions interpret 

whether a particular type of agreement, contract, or transaction (or class of agreements, 

contracts, or transactions) is a swap, security-based swap, or both (i.e., a mixed swap); and (3)

providing a mechanism for evaluating the applicability of certain regulatory requirements to 

particular mixed swaps. In addition, the CFTC proposed regulations to implement the antievasion authority provided in the DFA.

Pursuant to CEA Section 1a(47)(E)(i), as enacted by DFA Section 721(a)(21), FX 

forwards and FX swaps65 are considered swaps unless the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 

the Treasury (“Treasury Secretary”) issues a written determination that either FX swaps, FX 

forwards, or both: (1) should not be regulated as swaps under the DFA; and (2) are not 

structured to evade the DFA in violation of any regulation promulgated by the CFTC pursuant to 

DFA Section 721(c). However, even after such a determination, the transactions still would be 

 

64 The CEA includes the definition of “security-based swap agreement” in subparagraph (A)(v) of the swap 

definition in CEA Section 1a(47). Section 761(a) of the DFA defines the term “security-based swap 

agreement” by adding new Section 3(a)(78) to the Exchange Act. “Security-based swap agreement” is 

defined as a “swap agreement” (as defined in Section 206A of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, of which “a 

material term is based on the price, yield, value, or volatility of any security or any group or index of 

securities, including any interest therein” but does not include a security-based swap.

65 See CEA Sections 1a(24) and 1a(25) (defining the terms “foreign exchange forward” and “foreign 

exchange swap”, respectively).
20

subject to reporting to a TR, or the CFTC if no TR accepts such transaction, and SDs and MSPs 

engaging in such transactions still would be subject to business conduct standards.66

The Treasury Secretary has proposed excluding FX swaps and forwards from the swap 

definition under the CEA.67 This proposed exclusion would not affect other products involving 

foreign currency. If the Treasury Secretary issues a final determination, an exclusion of FX 

forwards and FX swaps would become effective upon the Treasury Secretary’s submission of the 

final determination to the appropriate Congressional committees.68

b. Types of Market Participants

Title VII gives the CFTC authority to regulate entities that fall within the definition of the 

terms “swap dealer” or “major swap participant” and gives the SEC authority to regulate entities

that fall within the definition of the terms “security-based swap dealer” or “major security-based 

swap participant”.69 The statute sets forth the two dealer definitions in terms of whether an 

entity engages in certain types of activities: (1) holding oneself out as a dealer in Swaps; (2) 

making a market in Swaps; (3) regularly entering into Swaps with counterparties as an ordinary 

course of business for one’s own account; or (4) engaging in activity causing oneself to be 

commonly known in the trade as a dealer or market maker in Swaps.70 Entities that enter into 

swaps or security-based swaps for their own accounts, either individually or in a fiduciary 

 

66 See CEA Sections 1a(47)(E)(iii) and (iv) (reporting and business conduct standards, respectively). In 

addition, such transactions remain subject to antifraud and anti-manipulation prohibitions if they are traded 

on an exchange or execution facility, or if they are cleared. See CEA Section 1a(47)(F)(i).

67 Notice of Proposed Determination of Foreign Exchange Swaps and Foreign Exchange Forwards under the 

Commodity Exchange Act, 76 Fed. Reg. 25774 (May 5, 2011), available at 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-05/pdf/2011-10927.pdf.

68 See CEA Section 1a(47)(E)(ii).

69 DFA Section 721(a)(21) amended CEA Section 1a by adding a swap dealer definition in subsection (49) 

and a major swap participant definition in subsection (33). DFA Section 761(a)(6) amended Section 3(a) of 

the Exchange Act by adding a security-based swap dealer definition in paragraph (71) and a major swap 

participant definition in paragraph (67).

70 In addition, the swap dealer definition (but not the definition of security-based swap dealer) provides that 

an insured depository institution (“IDI”) is not to be considered a swap dealer to the extent it offers to enter 

into a swap with a customer in connection with originating a loan with that customer.
21

capacity but not as part of a regular business, are not included within the definitions. The 

definitions provide for the Commissions to exempt from the dealer designation an entity that 

engages in a de minimis quantity of dealing in connection with transactions with or on behalf of 

its customers. In the major participant context, the two statutory definitions focus on the market 

impacts and risks associated with an entity’s Swap positions, and specifically encompass: (1) 

entities that maintain a “substantial position”71 in any of the “major” categories of Swaps, as 

those categories are determined by the CFTC or the SEC as applicable;72 (2) entities whose 

outstanding Swaps create “substantial counterparty exposure that could have serious adverse 

effects on the financial stability of the United States banking system or financial markets”; or (3) 

any financial entity that is “highly leveraged relative to the amount of capital such entity holds 

and that is not subject to capital requirements established by an appropriate Federal banking 

agency” and that maintains a “substantial position” in Swaps for any of the “major” categories of 

Swaps.73 With respect to the dealer or major participant designation, an entity may be 

designated for one or more types, classes or categories of Swaps or (in the case of dealers) 

activities.

 

71 The statute directs the CFTC or the SEC to define the term “substantial position” for the respective 

definition at the threshold determined to be “prudent for the effective monitoring, management, and 

oversight of entities that are systemically important or can significantly impact the financial system of the 

United States.” The definitions further provide that the Commissions shall consider the entity’s “relative 

position in uncleared as opposed to cleared [swaps or security-based swaps] and may take into 

consideration the value and quality of collateral held against counterparty exposures.”

72 This portion of the definition excludes both “positions held for hedging or mitigating commercial risk” and 

positions maintained by or contracts held by any employee benefit plan (as defined in paragraphs (3) and 

(32) of Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”)) for the primary 

purpose of hedging or mitigating risks directly associated with the operation of the plan.

73 In addition, the major swap participant definition (but not the definition of major security-based swap 

participant) includes an exception for any “entity whose primary business is providing financing, and uses 

derivatives for the purpose of hedging underlying commercial risks related to interest rate and foreign 

currency exposures, 90 percent or more of which arise from financing that facilitates the purchase or lease 

of products, 90 percent or more of which are manufactured by the parent company or another subsidiary of 

the parent company.”
22

As noted above, DFA Section 712(d)(1) provides that the CFTC and the SEC, in 

consultation with the Federal Reserve Board, shall jointly further define the terms “swap dealer”, 

“security-based swap dealer”, “major swap participant”, “major security-based swap 

participant”, and “eligible contract participant”. In addition, DFA Sections 721(b) and 761(b) 

provide that the Commissions may adopt regulations to further define terms included in Subtitles 

A and B of Title VII, respectively, and DFA Sections 721(c) and 761(b) Act provide the 

Commissions with authority to define the terms “swap dealer”, “major swap participant”, 

“security-based swap dealer”, and “major security-based swap participant” to include 

transactions and entities that have been structured to evade the requirements of Subtitles A and 

B, respectively, of Title VII.

After receiving public input in response to the Definitions ANPRM,74 the CFTC and the 

SEC issued joint proposed regulations and interpretive guidance in December 2010 with respect 

to the definitions of the terms “swap dealer”, “security-based swap dealer”, “major swap 

participant”, “major security-based swap participant”, and “eligible contract participant”.

75

 The 

Commissions proposed certain factors that are relevant to entities when determining their status 

with respect to the defined terms and also recognized the importance of crafting regulations that 

maximize the benefits of the framework created by the DFA in a way that is flexible enough to 

respond to market developments. The proposed regulations further define certain aspects of the 

meaning of the terms “swap dealer” and “security-based swap dealer” and provide guidance on 

how the Commissions propose to interpret these terms: (1) the types of activities that would 

cause a person to be an SD or SBSD, including differences in how the two definitions should be 

 

74 Definitions ANPRM, available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-20567a.pdf.

75 Further Definition of “Swap Dealer,” “Security-Based Swap Dealer,” “Major Swap Participant,” “Major 

Security-Based Swap Participant” and “Eligible Contract Participant”, 75 Fed. Reg. 80174 (December 21, 

2010) (“Definition Proposal”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-31130a.pdf.
23

applied; (2) the statutory provisions requiring the Commissions to exempt entities from the 

dealer definitions in connection with de minimis activity; (3) the exception from the SD 

definition in connection with loans by IDIs; (4) the possibility that a person may be considered a 

dealer for some types, classes or categories of swaps, security-based swaps, or activities but not 

others; and (5) certain interpretative issues that arise in particular situations. In addition, the 

proposed regulations further define the MSP and MSBSP definitions by specifically addressing: 

(1) the “major” categories of Swaps; (2) the meaning of the term “substantial position”; (3) the 

meaning of the phrase “hedging or mitigating commercial risk”; (4) the meaning of the phrase 

“substantial counterparty exposure that could have serious adverse effects on the financial 

stability of the United States banking system or financial markets”; (5) the meanings of the terms 

“financial entity” and “highly leveraged”; and (6) certain interpretive issues.76

i. Registration Requirements

Entities that act as SDs or SBSDs, or that are MSPs or MSBSPs (“Swaps Entities”) must 

register as such.77 In addition, an entity required to be registered as an SD or MSP shall register 

with the CFTC regardless of whether it also is registered with the SEC as an SBSD or MSBSP, 

and vice versa.

78

CEA Section 4s(b)(2) provides that the CFTC shall prescribe the form and manner, and 

the information required to be provided, to apply for registration as SDs or MSPs. The CFTC 

promulgated final regulations in January 2012.

79

 The regulations set forth a process for 

 

76 The Commissions also proposed regulations to specify the use of a daily average methodology for 

identifying whether an entity meets one of the major participant definitions, provide for a reevaluation 

period for certain entities that exceed the relevant daily average by a small amount, and provide for a 

minimum length of time before an entity may no longer be deemed a major participant.

77 DFA Section 731 adds Section 4s to the CEA, and governs the registration and regulation of SDs and 

MSPs. DFA Section 764 adds Section 15F to the Exchange Act, and governs the registration and 

regulation of SBSDs and MSBSPs.

78 See CEA Section 4s(c) and Exchange Act Section 15F(c).

79 Registration of Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants, 77 Fed. Reg. 2613 (January 19, 2012), 
24

registering SDs and MSPs,80 and would require such entities to become members of a registered 

futures association and to confirm that persons associated with them are not subject to a statutory 

disqualification under the CEA before permitting such persons to effect or be involved in 

effecting swap transactions.

Exchange Act Section 15F(d)(1) provides that the SEC shall adopt regulations for entities 

registered as SBSDs or MSBSPs. The SEC issued proposed regulations in October 2011,81 and 

the comment period closed on December 19, 2011. The proposal set forth a process for 

registering SBSDs and MSBSPs, and would require those entities that reside outside the United 

States to identify a U.S. agent that can accept legal documents on behalf of the entity and to 

certify and submit an opinion of counsel that the non-U.S. entity is able to provide the SEC with 

access to its books and records and submit to onsite inspections and examination by the SEC.82

In addition, DFA Section 716 prohibits an IDI from receiving Federal assistance if it also 

is an SD or SBSD that engages in activities that are not covered by the exclusion in DFA Section 

716(d) (known as the “Push-Out Rule”).83 The prohibition does not apply to the extent the IDI 

SD or SBSD engages in hedging and other risk-mitigating activities or acts as an SD or SBSD 

 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2012-792a.pdf.

80 Registration continues until the effective date of any revocation or withdrawal of such registration.

81 Registration of Security-Based Swap Dealers and Major Security-Based Swap Participants, 76 Fed. Reg. 

65784 (October 24, 2011), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-10-24/pdf/2011-26889.pdf.

82 Id.

83 In addition, DFA Section 716(m) provides that banking entities must comply with the ban on proprietary 

trading and restrictions on investing in and sponsoring private equity and hedge funds set forth in DFA 

Section 619 (known as the “Volcker Rule”). In November 2011, the Office of the Comptroller of the 

Currency (“OCC”), Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and SEC 

published proposed regulations to implement this statutory provision. Prohibitions and Restrictions on 

Proprietary Trading and Certain Interests in, and Relationships with, Hedge Funds and Private Equity 

Funds, 76 Fed. Reg. 68846 (November 7, 2011), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-

07/pdf/2011-27184.pdf. Public comments must have been received on or before January 13, 2012. The 

CFTC issued proposed regulations in January 2012. Prohibitions and Restrictions on Proprietary Trading 

and Certain Interests in, and Relationships with, Hedge Funds and Covered Funds (January 11, 2012), 

available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@newsroom/documents/file/federalregister011112c.pdf.
25

for Swaps involving rates or reference assets that are permissible investments for national 

banks.

84

 Under DFA Section 716(c), an IDI (that is part of a holding company supervised by the 

Federal Reserve) can retain its access to such assistance if it transfers covered activities to a nonIDI affiliate (“Push-Out Affiliate”) that is a Swaps Entity, if the affiliate complies with the 

requirements of DFA Section 716(c), including such requirements as the CFTC, SEC, or Federal 

Reserve Board may establish. The CFTC has not proposed specific requirements for Push-Out 

Affiliates, but any such entity that falls within the SD or MSP definition would be subject to 

registration and regulation as such. Similarly, any such entity that falls within the SBSD or 

MSBSP definition would be subject to registration and regulations by the SEC.

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

Prudential regulatory requirements include requirements related to capital, margin, risk 

management, segregation, and liquidity. Title VII imposes requirements in each of these areas.

Under Title VII, Swaps Entities are required to comply with minimum capital and 

minimum initial and variation margin requirements. In general, minimum capital requirements 

are designed to provide firms with sufficient liquidity to meet unsubordinated obligations to 

customers and counterparties and sufficient resources to wind-down in an orderly manner 

without the need for a formal proceeding. Minimum margin requirements are generally intended 

to regulate the amount of credit directed into Swaps and related transactions and to help protect 

Swaps Entities and their customers from price fluctuations and against losses arising from undue 

leverage. Minimum margin requirements also can help manage counterparty credit risk.

CEA Section 4s(e)(1)(B) provides that the CFTC shall prescribe capital and margin 

requirements for SDs and MSPs for which there is not a prudential regulator85 and Exchange Act 

 

84 Permissible activities of national banks are set forth in 12 U.S.C. Section 24 (Seventh) and regulations 

thereunder.

85 The term “prudential regulator” is defined in CEA Section 1a(39), as amended by DFA Section 721, and 
26

Section 15F(e)(1)(B) provides that the SEC shall prescribe capital and margin requirements for 

SBSDs and MSBSPs for which there is not a prudential regulator. CEA Section 4s(e)(1)(A) and 

Exchange Act Section 15F(e)(1)(A) provide that the prudential regulators shall prescribe capital 

and margin requirements for Swaps Entities for which there is a prudential regulator. To offset 

the greater risk that uncleared Swaps pose to Swaps Entities and the financial system, CEA 

Section 4s(e)(3)(A) and Exchange Act Section 15F(e)(3)(A) direct the CFTC, SEC, and 

prudential regulators to adopt capital and margin requirements that: (1) help ensure the safety 

and soundness of the registrant; and (2) are appropriate for the risk associated with the uncleared 

Swaps they hold.86 In May 2011, the prudential regulators proposed capital and margin 

requirements for Swaps Entities within their jurisdiction,87 and the CFTC proposed regulations 

for capital and margin requirements for uncleared swaps of SDs and MSPs in May 201188 and 

April 2011,89 respectively. The SEC plans to propose capital, margin, segregation, and other 

prudential and risk-related regulatory requirements for SBSDs and MSBSPs in 2012.90

 

includes the Federal Reserve Board, OCC, FDIC, Farm Credit Administration, and Federal Housing 

Finance Agency. In the case of the Federal Reserve Board, it is the prudential regulator for certain banks, 

as well as for bank holding companies and any foreign banks treated as bank holding companies. It also is 

the prudential regulator for subsidiaries of these bank holding companies and foreign banks, but not their 

nonbank subsidiaries that are required to be registered with the CFTC or SEC as Swaps Entities.

86 CEA Section 4s(e)(2)(C) and Exchange Act Section 15F(e)(2)(C) further require the regulators, in setting 

capital requirements for entities designated as Swaps Entities for a single type or single class or category of 

Swap or activities, to take into account the risks associated with other types/classes/categories of Swap and 

other activities conducted by that entity that are not otherwise subject to regulation by virtue of its status as 

a Swaps Entity. In addition, CEA Section 4s(e)(3)(C) and Exchange Act Section 15F(e)(3)(C) permit the 

use of noncash collateral, as the regulators each determine to be consistent with preserving the financial 

integrity of markets trading Swaps and preserving the stability of the U.S. financial system.

87 Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities, 76 Fed Reg. 27564 (May 11, 2011), available 

at http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/06/24/2011-16004/margin-and-capital-requirements-forcovered-swap-entities.

88 Capital Requirements of Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants, 76 Fed. Reg. 27802 (May 12, 2011), 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-10881a.pdf.

89 Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants, 76 Fed Reg. 

23732 (April 28, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-9598a.pdf. The proposed 

regulations would not impose margin requirements on nonfinancial end users.

90 Swaps entered into by SEC-registered broker-dealers are currently subject to the SEC’s existing financial 
27

CEA Section 4s(j)(2) and Exchange Act Section 15F(j)(2) require registered Swaps 

Entities to establish robust and professional risk management systems adequate for managing 

their businesses. The CFTC issued proposals related to risk management for SDs and MSPs in 

November 201091 and risk management for cleared trades by futures commission merchants 

(“FCMs”), SDs, and MSPs that are clearing members of derivatives clearing organizations 

(“DCOs”) in August 2011.92 The SEC proposed regulations related to risk management in July 

2011.93

DFA Sections 724(c) and 763(d), which added CEA Section 4s(l) and Exchange Act 

Section 3E(f), respectively, set forth certain requirements concerning the rights of counterparties 

to Swaps Entities with respect to the treatment of margin for uncleared swaps: (1) a Swaps 

Entity must notify each counterparty at the beginning of a Swap transaction that the counterparty 

has the right to require segregation of the funds or other property that it supplies to margin, 

guarantee, or secure its obligations; and (2) at the request of the counterparty, the Swaps Entity 

must segregate such funds or other property with an independent third party. The CFTC 

proposed regulations in this area in December 2010.94 As noted above, the SEC plans to propose 

regulations in 2012.

 

responsibility program for broker-dealers, which includes capital, margin, segregation, and other prudential 

regulatory requirements.

91 Regulations Establishing and Governing the Duties of Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants, 75 Fed. 

Reg. 71397 (November 23, 2010) (“SD and MSP Duties Proposal”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-29009a.pdf.

92 Clearing Member Risk Management, 76 Fed. Reg. 45724 (August 1, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-19362a.pdf.

93 Business Conduct Standards for Security-Based Swap Dealers and Major Security-Based Swap 

Participants, 76 Fed. Reg. 42396 (July 18, 2011) (“SBSD and MSBSP Business Conduct Proposal”), 

available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/34-64766fr.pdf.

94 Protection of Collateral of Counterparties to Uncleared Swaps; Treatment of Securities in a Portfolio 

Margining Account in a Commodity Broker Bankruptcy, 75 Fed. Reg. 75432 (December 3, 2010), 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-29831a.pdf.
28

With respect to cleared swaps, DFA Section 724(a), adding CEA Section 4d(f)(2), 

requires that each FCM95 and DCO segregate customer collateral supporting cleared swaps. The 

FCM and the DCO: (1) must hold such customer collateral in a segregated account (or location), 

separate from the property belonging to the FCM or DCO; and (2) must not use the collateral of 

one customer to cover the obligations of another customer or the obligations of the FCM or 

DCO. DFA Section 763, adding Exchange Act Section 3E, imposes substantially identical 

requirements for brokers, dealers, and SBSDs. The CFTC released final regulations in this area 

in January 2012,

96 and the SEC plans to propose regulations in 2012.

Finally, DFA Sections 724(a) and 763(d), adding CEA Section 4d(f)(4) and Exchange 

Act Section 3E(d), respectively, provide that segregated customer collateral supporting cleared 

Swaps may only be invested in obligations of the United States, obligations fully guaranteed as 

to principal and interest by the United States, general obligations of any State or of any political 

subdivision thereof, or any other investment that the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, may permit. 

CFTC Regulation 1.2597 addresses the investment of customer funds. The CFTC’s Customer 

Segregation Rulemaking permits FCMs and DCOs to invest cleared swaps customer collateral in 

accordance with CFTC Regulation 1.25. In December 2011, the CFTC promulgated final 

regulations amending Regulation 1.25.98 Pursuant to these amendments, FCMs and DCOs only 

may invest customer funds in U.S. Treasury bonds, municipal securities, securities issued by 

 

95 SDs must register as FCMs in order to intermediate cleared swaps. See DFA Section 724(a), adding CEA 

Section 4d(f)(1).

96 Protection of Cleared Swaps Customer Contracts and Collateral; Conforming Amendments to the 

Commodity Broker Bankruptcy Provisions (January 11, 2012) (“Customer Segregation Rulemaking”), 

available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@newsroom/documents/file/federalregister011112d.pdf.

97 CFTC regulations are found at 17 CFR Ch. 1 (2011) and are accessible on the Commission’s website at 

http://www.cftc.gov.

98 Investment of Customer Funds and Funds Held in an Account for Foreign Futures and Foreign Options 

Transactions, 76 Fed. Reg. 78776 (December 19, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-31689a.pdf.
29

U.S. government sponsored entities, U.S.-backed commercial paper, U.S.-backed corporate 

notes, certificates of deposit, and money market mutual funds. Permitted investments also are 

subject to various limitations, such as concentration and time-to-maturity limits, in order to 

further protect customer funds from credit, liquidity, and market risks. The CFTC also 

eliminated in-house transactions and repurchase agreements with affiliates. The SEC plans to 

propose regulations related to Section 3E(d) of the Exchange Act in 2012.

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

Registered Swaps Entities must comply with business conduct requirements in Title VII. 

Such requirements address, among other things, interaction with counterparties, disclosure, 

supervision, reporting, recordkeeping, documentation, confirmation, valuation, conflicts of 

interest, and avoidance of fraud and other abusive practices.

CEA Section 4s(f) and Exchange Act Section 15F(f) require registered Swaps Entities to 

comply with reporting and recordkeeping requirements established by either the CFTC or SEC, 

as applicable, and for their books and records to be open to inspection and examination by the 

regulator. CEA Section 4s(g) and Exchange Act Section 15F(g) require registered Swaps 

Entities to maintain daily trading and related records and recorded communications as required 

by the applicable Commission. Requirements include daily trading records for each counterparty 

in a manner and form that are identifiable with each Swap transaction and a complete audit trail 

for conducting comprehensive and accurate trade reconstructions. The CFTC proposed 

regulations in this area in December 2010.

99

 The SEC plans to propose regulations in this area in 

2012.

 

99 Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Daily Trading Records Requirements for Swap Dealers and Major Swap 

Participants, 75 Fed. Reg. 76666 (December 9, 2010), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-30884a.pdf.
30

CEA Section 4s(h) and Exchange Act Section 15F(h) require registered Swaps Entities to 

comply with business conduct standards established by the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, that 

include verification that their counterparties meet the standards for eligible contract participants 

(“ECPs”);100 disclosure to their counterparties (that are not also Swaps Entities) of information 

about the material risks and characteristics of the Swap, any material incentives or conflicts of 

interests the Swaps Entity may have in connection with the Swap, the daily mark of the 

transaction received from the appropriate DCO or clearing agency if the Swap is cleared and the 

counterparty requests the information, and the daily mark of the transaction from the Swaps 

Entity for an uncleared Swap; and a duty to communicate in a fair and balanced manner based on 

principles of fair dealing and good faith. The statutes also authorize the Commissions to impose 

standards that relate to fraud, manipulation, and other abusive practices; diligent supervision; 

adherence to applicable position limits; and such other matters as the Commission(s) may deem 

appropriate. Additional requirements apply to dealings with “special entities”, including 

municipalities, pension plans, and endowments.

101

 Among other things, an SD or SBSD acting 

as advisor to a special entity has a duty to act in the best interests of such a special entity, and a 

Swaps Entity that is a counterparty to a special entity must have a reasonable basis to believe that 

the special entity is advised by an independent representative that meets certain statutory criteria. 

 

100 Under DFA Section 723(a)(2), adding CEA Section 2(e), a person who is not an ECP cannot enter into a 

swap except on a DCM. Under DFA Section 763(e), adding Exchange Act Section 6(l), a person who is 

not an ECP cannot enter into a security-based swap except on a registered national securities exchange. 

Under DFA Section 768(b), adding Securities Act Section 5(d), a person may not offer to sell, offer to buy 

or purchase, or sell a security-based swap to a person that is a not an ECP unless a registration statement 

under the Securities Act is in effect with respect to that security-based swap. The term “eligible contract 

participant” is defined in CEA Section 1a(18). Under Exchange Act Section 3(a)(65), the term “eligible 

contract participant” has the same meaning as in CEA Section 1a. The CFTC and SEC published a joint 

proposed release for public comment in December 2010 further defining the term “eligible contract 

participant”. See Definition Proposal, available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-31130a.pdf.

101 See CEA Section 4s(h)(2)(C) and Exchange Act Section 15F(h)(2)(C). These additional requirements do 

not apply if the special entity initiates the transaction on an exchange or Swap execution facility and the 

Swaps Entity does not know the identity of the counterparty to the transaction. See CEA Section 4s(h)(7) 

and Exchange Act Section 15F(h)(7).
31

The CFTC released final regulations with respect to business conduct standards in January

2012.

102

 The CFTC promulgated final regulations in July 2011 with respect to fraud, 

manipulation, and other abusive practices (which apply to all persons, not just Swaps Entities)103

and in November 2011 with respect to adherence to applicable position limits (which apply to all 

traders, not just Swaps Entities).104 The SEC issued proposed regulations with respect to 

business conduct standards in July 2011 and proposed regulations with respect to fraud, 

manipulation, and other abusive practices (which apply to all persons, not just Swaps Entities) in 

November 2010.105

CEA Section 4s(i) and Exchange Act Section 15F(i) require registered Swaps Entities to 

comply with documentation standards established by the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, that relate 

to timely and accurate confirmation, processing, netting, documentation, and valuation of all 

Swaps. The CFTC proposed regulations in this area in December 2010 and February, March, 

and August 2011.

106

 In its Confirmation Proposal, the CFTC noted that it expects that SDs and 

 

102 Business Conduct Standards for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants with Counterparties, (January

11, 2012), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@newsroom/documents/file/federalregister011112e.pdf.

103 Prohibition on the Employment, or Attempted Employment, of Manipulative and Deceptive Devices and 

Prohibition on Price Manipulation, 76 Fed. Reg. 41398 (July 14, 2011) (adopted to implement Section 753 

of the DFA, which amended CEA Section 6(c)), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-17549a.pdf.

104 Position Limits for Futures and Swaps, 76 Fed. Reg. 71626 (November 18, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-28809a.pdf.

105 SBSD and MSBSP Business Conduct Proposal, available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/34-

64766fr.pdf; Prohibition Against Fraud, Manipulation, and Deception in Connection with Security-Based 

Swaps, 75 Fed. Reg. 68560 (November 8 2010), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-

63236fr.pdf.

106 Swap Trading Relationship Documentation Requirements for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants, 

76 Fed. Reg. 6715 (February 8, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-2643a.pdf; Confirmation, 

Portfolio Reconciliation, and Portfolio Compression Requirements for Swap Dealers and Major Swap 

Participants, 75 Fed. Reg. 81519 (December 28, 2010) (“Confirmation Proposal”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-32264a.pdf; Orderly 

Liquidation Termination Provision in Swap Trading Relationship Documentation for Swap Dealers and 

Major Swap Participants, 76 Fed. Reg. 6708 (February 8, 2011) (noting that the proposal would not be 

applicable to cleared swaps, which are covered by DFA Section 210(c)(8)(G)), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-2642a.pdf; Requirements 
32

MSPs would be able to comply with the confirmation requirements by executing a swap on a 

swap execution facility (“SEF”) or on a designated contract market (“DCM”), or by clearing a 

swap through a DCO, and that it expects that SDs and MSPs would be able to comply with the 

portfolio reconciliation and portfolio compression requirements by clearing a swap through a 

DCO. The SEC proposed regulations in January 2011107 that would govern the delivery of trade 

acknowledgments and the verification of those trade acknowledgments in security-based swap 

transactions by SBSDs and MSBSPs. The proposal also stated that SBSDs and MSBSPs could 

satisfy certain requirements if a clearing agency provided a trade acknowledgment and verified 

the terms of such trade acknowledgment for an applicable security-based swap.

CEA Section 4s(j) and Exchange Act Section 15F(j) require registered Swaps Entities to 

comply at all times with several duties: monitoring of trading to prevent violations of applicable 

position limits, risk management procedures,108 disclosure of information to the Commissions 

and prudential regulators, the ability to obtain information to perform functions and provide to 

the Commissions and prudential regulators, implementation of systems and procedures related to 

addressing conflicts of interest, and satisfaction of antitrust considerations. The CFTC proposed 

regulations in this area in November 2010,

109 and the SEC proposed regulations in July 2011.110

 

for Processing, Clearing, and Transfer of Customer Positions, 76 Fed. Reg. 13101 (March 10, 2011), 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-4707a.pdf; and 

Customer Clearing Documentation and Timing of Acceptance for Clearing, 76 Fed. Reg. 45730 (August 1, 

2011), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-

19365a.pdf, and Correction (incorrect text corrected), 76 Fed. Reg. 47529 (August 5, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-19874a.pdf.

107 Trade Acknowledgement and Verification of Security-Based Swap Transactions, 76 Fed. Reg. 3859 

(January 21, 2011), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-01-21/pdf/2011-1218.pdf.

108 Risk management requirements are discussed in the previous section.

109 SD and MSP Duties Proposal, available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-29009a.pdf; and

Implementation of Conflicts of Interest Policies and Procedures by Swap Dealers and Major Swap 

Participants, 75 Fed. Reg. 71391 (November 23, 2010), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-29006a.pdf.

110 SBSD and MSBSP Business Conduct Proposal, available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/34-
33

CEA Section 4s(k) and Exchange Act Section 15F(k) require registered Swaps Entities to 

designate a chief compliance officer, who must carry out certain enumerated duties and must 

prepare annual compliance reports. The CFTC proposed regulations in this area in November 

2010,

111 and the SEC proposed regulations in July 2011.112

c. Clearing Requirements

Title VII requires Swaps that the CFTC or SEC determines are required to be cleared to 

be submitted for clearing to a registered or exempt clearinghouse. The mandatory clearing 

requirement applies to “persons” engaging in such Swaps, but certain end-users that use these 

Swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial risk are excepted from this requirement. Title VII also 

sets forth comprehensive requirements with which clearinghouses must comply.

i. Clearing Mandate

Swaps that are required to be cleared must be submitted for clearing to a registered or 

exempt clearinghouse.113 DFA Sections 723(a)(3) and 763(a), which added CEA Section 2(h) 

and Exchange Act Section 3C, respectively, each provide for two approaches to the 

determination of which swaps are to be cleared: (1) the CFTC or SEC may determine upon its 

own initiative whether a Swap or a group, category, type, or class of Swaps should be required to 

 

64766fr.pdf.

111 Designation of a Chief Compliance Officer; Required Compliance Policies; and Annual Report of a Futures 

Commission Merchant, Swap Dealer, or Major Swap Participant, 75 Fed. Reg. 70881 (November 19, 

2010), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-

29021a.pdf.

112 SBSD and MSBSP Business Conduct Proposal, available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/34-

64766fr.pdf.

113 CEA Section 2(h)(1) mandates that swaps that are required to be cleared must be submitted to a registered 

or exempt DCO, and Exchange Act Section 3C(a)(1) mandates that security-based swaps that are required 

to be cleared must be submitted for clearing to a registered or exempt clearing agency. The term 

“derivatives clearing organization” is defined in CEA Section 1a(15). The term “clearing agency” is 

defined in Exchange Act Section 3(a)(23). Further, CEA Section 2(h)(6) and Exchange Act Section 3C(f) 

provide that Swaps entered into before the DFA’s enactment (July 21, 2010) or before application of the 

clearing requirement are exempt from clearing if reported to a registered repository or to the appropriate 

Commission.
34

be cleared (“top-down approach”); or (2) a clearinghouse initiates such a determination by the 

CFTC or SEC if it plans to accept for clearing a Swap or a group, category, type, or class of 

Swaps (“bottom-up approach”).114

CEA Section 2(h)(2)(D) and Exchange Act Section 3C(b)(4) enumerate five factors that 

must be taken into account in making the mandatory clearing determination: (1) the existence of 

significant outstanding notional exposures, trading liquidity, and adequate pricing data; (2) the 

availability of rule framework, capacity, operational expertise and resources, and credit support 

infrastructure to clear the contract on terms that are consistent with the material terms and 

trading conventions on which the contract is then traded; (3) the effect on the mitigation of 

systemic risk, taking into account the size of the market for such contract and the resources of the 

clearinghouse available to clear the contract; (4) the effect on competition, including appropriate 

fees and charges applied to clearing; and (5) the existence of reasonable legal certainty in the 

event of the insolvency of the relevant clearinghouse or one of more of its clearing members with 

regard to the treatment of customer and Swap counterparty positions, funds, and property.115

With respect to end-users, CEA Section 2(h)(7) and Section 3C(g) of the Exchange Act 

provide an exception from the mandatory clearing requirement for Swaps if one of the Swap 

counterparties: (1) is not a financial entity;116 (2) is using Swaps to hedge or mitigate 

 

114 Pursuant to CEA Section 2(h)(2)(B)(ii) and Exchange Act Section 3C(b)(2)(B), Swaps already listed for 

clearing as of the date of the DFA’s enactment (July 21, 2010) are considered submitted to the CFTC or 

SEC, respectively, for mandatory clearing determinations.

115 Pursuant to CEA Section 2(h)(1)(B) and Exchange Act Section 3C(a)(2), the rules of a clearinghouse that 

clears Swaps required to be cleared must provide for open access such that Swaps with the same terms and 

conditions may be offset with each other within the clearinghouse, and the clearinghouse must provide for 

non-discriminatory clearing of a Swap executed bilaterally or on or through the rules of an unaffiliated 

market, exchange, or execution facility.

116 CEA Section 2(h)(7)(C)(ii) requires the CFTC to consider whether to except small banks, savings 

associations, farm credit systems institutions, and credit unions from the definition of financial entity, 

including those with total assets of $10 billion or less (“SFI”). This type of exception would permit SFIs to 

use the end-user exception from the mandatory clearing requirement, which is otherwise unavailable to 

financial entities. Exchange Act Section 3C(g)(3)(B) imposes a similar requirement on the SEC.
35

commercial risk; and (3) notifies the CFTC (for swaps) or the SEC (for security-based swaps) 

how the counterparty generally meets its financial obligations associated with entering into noncleared Swaps. The term “financial entity” means: (1) an SD; (2) an SBSD; (3) an MSP; (4) an 

MSBSP; (5) a commodity pool;117 (6) a private fund;118 (7) an employee benefit plan;119 or (8) a 

person predominantly engaged in activities that are in the business of banking or in activities that 

are financial in nature.120

CEA Sections 2(h)(2)(E) and 2(h)(3)(D) require the CFTC, and Exchange Act Sections

3C(b)(5) and 3C(c)(4) require the SEC, to adopt regulations for the review of a clearinghouse’s 

submission of a Swap, or a group, category, type, or class of Swaps, it seeks to accept for 

clearing and, in the context of a stay of the clearing requirement, for the review of a 

clearinghouse’s clearing of a Swap, or a group, category, type, or class of Swaps. The CFTC 

promulgated final regulations in July 2011 that establish procedures for determining the 

eligibility of a DCO to clear swaps,121 for the submission of swaps by a DCO to the CFTC for a 

mandatory clearing determination, for CFTC-initiated reviews of swaps, and for staying a 

clearing requirement.122 In December 2010, the CFTC proposed regulations on the end-user 

exception.

123

 In December 2010, the SEC proposed regulations on the process for the 

submission of security-based swaps to the SEC for review for a mandatory clearing 

 

117 See CEA Section 1a(10).

118 See Section 202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

119 See Sections 3(3) and 3(32) of ERISA.

120 See Section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

121 DFA Section 745(b), adding CEA Section 5c(c)(5)(C)(iii), requires the CFTC to prescribe criteria, 

conditions, or regulations under which the Commission will determine the initial eligibility or the 

continuing qualification of a clearinghouse to clear swaps.

122 Process for Review of Swaps for Mandatory Clearing, 76 Fed. Reg. 44464 (July 26, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-18663a.pdf.

123 End-User Exception to Mandatory Clearing of Swaps, 75 Fed. Reg. 80747 (December 23, 2010), available 

at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-31578a.pdf.
36

determination and for staying a clearing determination.

124

 Also in December 2010, the SEC 

proposed regulations on the end-user exception, including rule text that would give certain small 

financial institutions an opportunity to qualify for the end-user exception through an exemption 

from the definition of a financial entity in Exchange Act Section 3C(g)(3)(A).

125

ii. Registration Requirements for CCPs

An entity acting as a CCP for swaps must be registered with the CFTC as a DCO, and an 

entity acting as a CCP for security-based swaps must be registered with the SEC as a clearing 

agency (unless the entity is operating under an exemption granted by either Commission). An 

entity may register in both capacities. DFA Section 725(a) amended CEA Section 5b(a), which 

requires registration of entities performing the functions of a DCO with respect to, among other 

things, a swap.126 DFA Section 763(b) added Section 17A(g)-(m) to the Exchange Act and 

requires registration of entities performing the functions of a clearing agency with respect to a 

security-based swap that is required to be centrally cleared.

127

 

124 Process for Submissions for Review of Security-Based Swaps for Mandatory Clearing and Notice Filing 

Requirements for Clearing Agencies; Technical Amendments to Rule 19b-4 and Form 19b-4 Applicable to 

All Self-Regulatory Organizations, 75 Fed. Reg. 82490 (December 30, 1010), available at 

http://sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-63557fr.pdf; see also Exemptions for Security-Based Swaps Issued 

by Certain Clearing Agencies, 76 Fed. Reg. 34920 (June 15, 2011), available at 

http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/33-9222fr.pdf; Extension of Temporary Exemptions for Eligible 

Credit Default Swaps to Facilitate Operation of Central Counterparties to Clear and Settle Credit Default 

Swaps, 76 Fed. Reg. 40223 (July 8, 2011) (final temporary rules), available at 

http://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2009/33-9063fr.pdf; and Exemptions for Security-Based Swaps, 76 Fed. 

Reg. 40605 (July 11, 2011) (interim final rules), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/interim/2011/33-

9231fr.pdf.

125 End-User Exception to Mandatory Clearing of Security-Based Swaps, 75 Fed. Reg. 79992 (December 21, 

2010), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-63556fr.pdf.

126 CEA Section 5b(b) also permits voluntary registration of entities clearing agreements, contracts, or 

transactions that are not required to be cleared under the CEA. In addition, DFA Section 725(b) added 

CEA Section 5b(g), which provides that a registered clearing agency (or a depository institution) that is 

required to be registered as a DCO is deemed to be registered under CEA Section 5b to the extent that, 

prior to enactment (July 21, 2010), the clearing agency cleared swaps (or the depository institution cleared 

swaps as a multilateral clearing organization).

127 Exchange Act Section 17A(h) also permits voluntary registration of entities clearing agreements, contracts, 

or transactions that are not required to be cleared under Title VII. Exchange Act Section 17A(l) provides 

that a registered DCO (or a depository institution) that is required to be registered as a clearing agency is 

deemed to be registered solely for the purpose of clearing security-based swaps to the extent that, prior to 
37

The CFTC and SEC each have discretion to determine whether to grant an exemption 

from registration for a particular clearinghouse. CEA Section 5b(h) and Exchange Act Section 

17A(k) provide:

The [CFTC/SEC] may exempt, conditionally or unconditionally, a [DCO/clearing 

agency] from registration under this section for the clearing of [swaps/securitybased swaps] if the [CFTC/SEC] determines that the [DCO/clearing agency] is 

subject to comparable, comprehensive supervision and regulation by the 

[SEC/CFTC] or the appropriate government authorities in the home country of the 

[organization/agency]. Such conditions may include, but are not limited to, 

requiring that the [DCO/clearing agency] be available for inspection by the 

Commission and make available all information requested by the Commission.

iii. Regulatory Requirements for CCPs

To be registered and to maintain registration as a DCO, CEA Section 5b(c)(2)(A), as 

amended by DFA Section 725(c), requires DCOs to comply with specified core principles and 

any requirements the CFTC may impose by rule or regulation. To be registered and to maintain 

registration as a clearing agency, Exchange Act Sections 17A(b) and (i) require clearing agencies 

to comply with regulatory standards as established by SEC rule.128 Subject to CFTC or SEC rule 

or regulation, registered clearinghouses have reasonable discretion in establishing their manner 

of compliance.

CEA Section 5b(i) and Exchange Act Section 3C(j) require each registered clearinghouse 

to designate a chief compliance officer who must comply with certain specified duties and must 

prepare and file an annual report. In addition, DFA Section 725(c) amended CEA Section 

5b(c)(2) to revise existing core principles in, and add new core principles to, the existing CEA 

 

enactment (July 21, 2010), the DCO cleared swaps pursuant to an exemption from registration as a clearing 

agency (or the depository institution cleared swaps as a multilateral clearing organization).

128 Exchange Act Section 17A(j) requires the SEC to adopt rules governing registered clearing agencies for 

security-based swaps. With respect to international coordination, Exchange Act Section 17A(i) provides 

that “[i]n establishing any such standards, and in the exercise of its oversight of such a clearing agency 

pursuant to this title, the Commission may conform such standards or oversight to reflect evolving United 

States and international standards.” In addition, Exchange Act Section 17A(m) provides that the SEC “may 

conform the core principles established in this section to reflect evolving United States and international 

standards.”
38

regime for DCOs. These core principles include (as lettered in the CEA): (A) compliance; (B) 

financial resources; (C) participant and product eligibility; (D) risk management; (E) settlement 

procedures; (F) treatment of funds; (G) default rules and procedures; (H) rule enforcement; (I) 

system safeguards; (J) reporting; (K) recordkeeping; (L) public information; (M) information 

sharing; (N) antitrust considerations; (O) governance fitness standards; (P) conflicts of interest; 

(Q) composition of governing boards; and (R) legal risk. DFA Section 725(d) required the 

CFTC to promulgate regulations mitigating conflicts of interest in connection with the conduct 

of business by an SD or MSP with a DCO that clears swaps in which the SD or MSP has a 

material debt or material equity investment.129 DFA Section 725(e) adds CEA Section 5b(k),130

which requires DCOs that clear swaps to provide the CFTC with all information that is deemed 

necessary and requires the CFTC to adopt data collection and maintenance requirements for 

swaps cleared by DCOs that are comparable to corresponding requirements for swaps data 

reported to swap data repositories (“SDRs”) and swaps traded on SEFs.

The CFTC promulgated final regulations for DCOs in October 2011.131 The CFTC stated 

that its regulations are consistent with current international standards for CCPs.132 The SEC 

 

129 See also DFA Sections 726 (requiring CFTC rulemaking) and 765 (requiring SEC rulemaking); 

Governance Requirements for Derivatives Clearing Organizations, Designated Contract Markets, and Swap 

Execution Facilities; Additional Requirements Regarding the Mitigation of Conflicts of Interest, 76 Fed. 

Reg. 722 (January 6, 2011) (“Governance and Conflicts Proposal”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-31898a.pdf; and 

Ownership Limitations and Governance Requirements for Security-Based Swap Clearing Agencies, 

Security-Based Swap Execution Facilities, and National Securities Exchanges with Respect to SecurityBased Swaps under Regulation MC, 75 Fed. Reg. 65882 (October 26, 2010) (“Ownership and Governance 

Proposal”), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-10-26/pdf/2010-26315.pdf.

130 Subject to CEA Section 8 and upon request, the CFTC shall share information on cleared swaps that is 

collected from DCOs pursuant to CEA Section 5b(k)(2) with foreign financial supervisors (including 

foreign futures authorities), foreign central banks, foreign ministries, and any other person that the CFTC

determines to be appropriate. CEA Section 5b(k)(5) requires that the CFTC’s sharing of such information 

be contingent upon receipt of a written agreement to comply with the confidentiality requirements 

described in CEA Section 8 and an agreement to indemnify the CFTC for any expenses arising from 

litigation related to the information provided under CEA Section 8. The restriction does not affect a DCO’s 

ability to share information.

131 Derivatives Clearing Organization General Provisions and Core Principles, 76 Fed. Reg. 69334 (November 

8, 2011), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-
39

proposed regulations for clearing agencies that it believes are consistent with current 

international standards for CCPs in March 2011.

133

d. Reporting Requirements

Title VII requires all Swaps to be reported to a registered data repository or, if no such 

repository will accept the Swap, to the appropriate Commission. Swaps also are subject to posttrade transparency requirements. In addition, Title VII sets forth comprehensive requirements 

with which data repositories must comply.

i. Reporting Mandate

Several provisions in DFA Title VII address the reporting requirement for Swaps. DFA 

Sections 727 and 763(i) added CEA Section 2(a)(13)(G) and Exchange Act 13(m)(1)(G), 

respectively, which require that both cleared and uncleared Swaps be reported to a registered 

repository. DFA Section 723(a) added Section 2(h)(5)(B) to the CEA and DFA Section 763(a) 

added Section 3C(e) to the Exchange Act, and they provide that reporting regulations that the 

Commissions adopt also cover the reporting of Swaps entered into before enactment of the DFA

on July 21, 2010 (“pre-enactment Swaps”) and for the reporting of Swaps entered into on or after 

that date (“post-enactment Swaps”). DFA Sections 729 and 766 established in new CEA Section 

4r(a)(2)(A) and new Exchange Act Section 13A(a)(2)(A), respectively, that uncleared preenactment Swaps whose terms have not expired as of the enactment date must be reported to a 

 

27536a.pdf; see also Provisions Common to Registered Entities, 76 Fed. Reg. 44776 (July 27, 2011), 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-18661a.pdf.

132 These standards consist of those developed several years ago by IOSCO and CPSS: Recommendations for 

Securities Settlement Systems (November 2001) and Recommendations for Central Counterparties 

(November 2004), which are available at http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss46.pdf and 

http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss64.pdf, respectively. These recommendations eventually will be replaced by 

the CPSS-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures, which are expected to be finalized in 

early 2012. See CPSS-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures, Consultative Report (March 

2011), available at http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss94.pdf.

133 Clearing Agency Standards for Operation and Governance, 76 Fed. Reg. 14472 (March 16, 2011), available 

at http://sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/34-64017fr.pdf; see also Ownership and Governance Proposal, 

available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-10-26/pdf/2010-26315.pdf.
40

registered data repository or to the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, and in new CEA Section 

4r(a)(2)(B) and new Exchange Act Section 13A(a)(2)(B) that the Commissions promulgate

interim final regulations in this area. CEA Section 4r(b)-(d) and Exchange Act Section 13A(b)-

(d) set forth separate reporting and recordkeeping requirements in connection with uncleared 

Swaps for which data has not been accepted by a repository. DFA Section 730 added Section 4t 

to the CEA, which requires large trader reporting for swaps or compliance with CFTC-specified 

limits where the Commission determines that a swap performs a significant price discovery 

function with respect to registered entities.134 DFA Section 763(h) added Section 10B(d) to the 

Exchange Act, which authorizes the SEC to require large trader reporting for security-based 

swaps.

With respect to reporting to the public, DFA Section 727 added CEA Section 2(a)(13) 

and DFA Section 763(i) added Exchange Act Section 13(m) to require real-time public reporting, 

defined as the reporting of data relating to a Swap transaction, including price and volume, as 

soon as technologically practicable after the time at which the transaction has been executed. 

CEA Section 2(a)(13)(C) and Exchange Act Section 13(m)(1)(C) authorize Commission 

rulemaking, and CEA Section 2(a)(13)(E) and Exchange Act Section 13(m)(1)(E) require (with 

respect to cleared Swaps) protection of the identity of participants, specification of criteria and 

timing for large notional transactions, and consideration of whether public disclosure will 

materially reduce market liquidity.135 CEA Section 2(a)(13)(D) and Exchange Act Section 

13(m)(1)(D) provide that the Commissions may require registered entities to publicly 

disseminate the transaction and pricing data required to be reported. CEA Section 2(a)(13)(F) 

 

134 The term “registered entity” is defined in CEA Section 1a(40) and includes DCMs; registered DCOs, SEFs, 

and SDRs; and electronic trading facilities (see CEA Section 1a(16)) on which a significant price discovery 

contract, as determined by the CFTC, is executed or traded.

135 In addition, CEA Section 2(a)(13)(C)(iii) requires that the business transactions and market positions of any 

person with respect to most uncleared swaps not be disclosed.
41

and Exchange Act Section 13(m)(1)(F) require counterparties (including their agents) to report 

transaction information to the appropriate registered entity in a timely manner as may be 

prescribed by the CFTC or SEC, respectively.

With respect to aggregate data, CEA Section 2(a)(14) and Exchange Act Section 

13(m)(2) provide that the Commissions shall issue semiannual and annual written reports to 

make publicly available information relating to trading and clearing in major Swap categories 

and market participants and developments in new products. The Commissions must consult with 

the OCC, BIS, and other regulatory bodies as necessary, and may delegate their public reporting 

responsibilities.

The CFTC promulgated final regulations in January 2012 that establish swap data 

recordkeeping and reporting requirements applicable to registered SDRs, DCOs, DCMs, SEFs, 

SDs, MSPs, and non-SD/MSP counterparties.136 The regulations require that all DCOs, DCMs, 

SEFs, and swap counterparties keep full, complete, and systematic records (together with all 

pertinent data and memoranda) of all activities relating to the business of such entities or persons 

with respect to swaps. The regulations also require that reporting include data from each of two 

important stages in the existence of a swap – the creation of the swap and the continuation of the 

swap over its existence until its final termination or expiration. The CFTC stated that it is 

committed to a cooperative international approach to recordkeeping and reporting, and noted that 

it had consulted extensively with various foreign regulatory authorities in the process of

promulgating the regulations.

In addition, the CFTC issued interim final regulations in October 2010 requiring 

reporting of unexpired pre-enactment swaps137 and in December 2010 to ensure preservation of 

 

136 Swap Data Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, 77 Fed. Reg. 2136 (January 13, 2012), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-33199a.pdf.

137 Interim Final Rule for Reporting Pre-Enactment Swap Transactions, 75 Fed. Reg. 63080 (October 14, 
42

data related to post-enactment swaps.138 In April 2011, the CFTC proposed regulations on 

recordkeeping and reporting requirements for unexpired pre-enactment swaps and for swaps 

entered into after DFA enactment but before the compliance date specified in the Commission’s 

final reporting regulations (“transition swaps”).139 In July 2011, the CFTC issued final 

regulations on large trader reporting for physical commodity swaps.140 With respect to real-time 

public reporting, the CFTC promulgated final regulations in January 2012.

141

The SEC proposed regulations in December 2010 that would establish security-based 

swap reporting and real-time public reporting requirements,

142 as well as recordkeeping for 

security-based swap data repositories (“SBSDRs”).

143 The proposal identifies the transaction 

information that would be required to be reported, establishes reporting obligations, and specifies 

the timeframes for reporting and disseminating information. In addition, the SEC issued an 

interim final temporary rule in October 2010 relating to unexpired security-based swaps entered 

into before DFA enactment.144

 

2010), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-

25325a.pdf.

138 Reporting Certain Post-Enactment Swap Transactions, 75 Fed. Reg. 78892 (December 17, 2010), available 

at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-31579a.pdf.

139 Swap Data Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements: Pre-Enactment and Transition Swaps, 76 Fed. 

Reg. 22833 (April 25, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-9446a.pdf.

140 Large Trader Reporting for Physical Commodity Swaps, 76 Fed. Reg. 43851 (July 22, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-18054a.pdf.

141 Real-Time Public Reporting of Swap Transaction Data, 77 Fed. Reg. 1182 (January 9, 2012), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-33173a.pdf.

142 Regulation SBSR – Reporting and Dissemination of Security-Based Swap Information, 75 Fed. Reg. 75208 

(December 2, 2010), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-63346fr.pdf.

143 Security-Based Swap Data Repository Registration, Duties, and Core Principles, Exchange Act Release 

No. 63347 (November 19, 2010), 75 Fed. Reg. 77306 (December 10, 2010), corrected at 75 Fed. Reg.

79320 (December 20, 2010) and 76 Fed. Reg. 2287 (January 13, 2011) (“SBSDR Proposal”), available at

http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-63347fr.pdf.

144 Reporting of Security-Based Swap Transaction Data, 75 Fed. Reg. 64643 (October 20, 2010), available at

http://www.sec.gov/rules/interim/2010/34-63094.pdf.
43

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

DFA Section 728 added Section 21 to the CEA, which requires registration of entities 

performing the functions of an SDR.145 DFA Section 763(i) added Section 13(n) to the 

Exchange Act, which requires registration of entities performing the functions of a SBSDR.146 

SDRs and SBSDRs are subject to inspection and examination by any representative of the CFTC 

or SEC, respectively.

CEA Section 21(h) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(9) provide that the CFTC and SEC, 

respectively, shall adopt rules governing registered repositories. The CFTC promulgated final 

regulations in September 2011.147 The CFTC noted its extensive coordination with foreign 

regulators and stated that its regulations reflect the intent to harmonize its approach to the extent 

possible with the EC proposal on regulation of TRs148 and to largely adopt CPSS-IOSCO 

recommendations on TRs.149 The SEC proposed rules in November 2010.

150

 The proposal sets 

forth a process for registering SBSDRs, and discussed certain issues related to those that are 

domiciled outside the United States. The SEC stated that its proposed rules draw from the 

 

145 The term “swap data repository” is defined in CEA Section 1a(48) to mean “any person that collects and 

maintains information or records with respect to transactions or positions in, or the terms and conditions of, 

swaps entered into by third parties for the purpose of providing a centralized recordkeeping facility for 

swaps.” CEA Section 21(a)(1)(B) permits DCOs to register as SDRs, and CEA Section 21(g) requires 

SDR registration regardless of whether the repository also is licensed as a bank or registered with the SEC 

as an SBSDR.

146 The term “security-based swap data repository” is defined in Exchange Act Section 3(a)(75) as “any person 

that collects and maintains information or records with respect to transactions or positions in, or the terms

and conditions of, security-based swaps entered into by third parties for the purpose of providing a 

centralized recordkeeping facility for security-based swaps.” Exchange Act Section 13(m)(1)(H) permits 

clearing agencies to register as SBSDRs, and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(8) requires SBSDR registration 

regardless of whether the repository also is registered with the CFTC as an SDR.

147 Swap Data Repositories: Registration Standards, Duties and Core Principles, 76 Fed. Reg. 54538 

(September 1, 2011) (“SDR Final Regulations”), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-20817a.pdf.

148 See infra Section II.B.1.

149 See CPSS-IOSCO Considerations for Trade Repositories in OTC Derivatives Markets, Consultative Report 

(May 2010), available at http://www.bis.org/publ/cpss90.pdf.

150 SBSDR Proposal, available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-63347fr.pdf.
44

CPSS-IOSCO recommendations for TRs and from ODRF recommendations on the functionality 

of TRs.151

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Repositories

To be registered and to maintain registration as an SDR, CEA Section 21(a)(3) requires 

SDRs to comply with DFA requirements and core principles and any requirements the CFTC 

may impose by rule or regulation. To be registered and to maintain registration as an SBSDR, 

Exchange Act Section 13(n)(3) requires SBSDRs to comply with DFA requirements and core 

principles and any requirements the SEC may impose by rule or regulation. Unless otherwise 

determined by the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, in a rule or regulation, repositories have 

reasonable discretion in establishing the manner in which they comply with the core 

principles.152

CEA Section 21(b) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(4) provide that the Commissions 

shall prescribe data element, data collection, and data maintenance standards for repositories, and 

that such data element standards must be consistent for registered entities and reporting 

counterparties.153 CEA Section 21(c) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(5) set forth several duties 

with which repositories must comply, including: (1) acceptance, confirmation, and maintenance 

of data; (2) provision of direct electronic access to the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, or any 

designee; (3) establishment at the direction of the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, of automated 

systems for monitoring, screening, and analyzing data;

154 (4) maintenance of the privacy of any 

and all transaction information; and (5) sharing of data on a confidential basis with certain 

 

151 Id. at 75 Fed. Reg. 77317. See OTC Derivatives Regulators’ Forum Overview, available at 

http://www.otcdrf.org/.

152 See CEA Section 21(a)(3)(B) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(3)(B).

153 The data element, data collection, and data maintenance standards also must be comparable to data 

standards for clearinghouses in connection with their clearing of Swaps.

154 CEA Section 21(c)(5) also includes compliance and frequency of end-user clearing exception claims.
45

specified entities or those determined to be appropriate, upon request and after Commission 

notification.155

CEA Section 21(d) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(5)(H) require receipt by the 

repository of a written agreement on confidentiality and indemnification before data may be 

shared with certain specified entities and those determined to be appropriate.156 In addition CEA 

Section 21(e) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(6) require each repository to designate a chief 

compliance officer who must comply with certain specified duties and must prepare and file an 

annual compliance report, which must accompany each appropriate financial report of the 

repository. CEA Section 21(f) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(7) require repositories to comply 

with core principles related to the following areas: (1) antitrust considerations; (2) governance 

arrangements; and (3) conflicts of interest. Moreover, the CFTC or SEC may develop additional 

duties applicable to repositories, including duties to minimize conflicts of interest, protect data, 

ensure compliance, and guarantee the safety and security of such entities.157

CEA Section 21(h) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(9) provide that the CFTC and SEC, 

respectively, shall adopt regulations governing registered repositories. As described above, the 

CFTC promulgated final regulations in September 2011.158 Pursuant to authority granted in 

 

155 CEA Section 21(c)(8) also requires establishment and maintenance of emergency procedures, backup 

facilities, and a disaster recovery plan.

156 In its release, the CFTC clarified that the indemnification and notification requirements do not apply when 

a repository is registered with the CFTC and also is registered in a foreign jurisdiction; and the foreign 

regulator, acting within the scope of its jurisdiction, seeks information directly from the repository, 

applicable statutory confidentiality provisions are met, and a memorandum of understanding is in place 

between the CFTC and regulator(s). The SEC addressed issues regarding indemnification and notification 

requirements in the SBSDR Proposal and requested comments, which it is currently reviewing.

157 CEA Section 21(f)(4)(C) provides that the CFTC shall establish additional duties for registered SDRs in 

order to minimize conflicts of interest, protect data, ensure compliance, and guarantee the safety and 

security of such entities. Exchange Act Section 13(n)(7)(D)(iii) provides that the SEC shall establish 

comparable duties for persons to whom the SEC delegates public reporting responsibilities. With respect to 

international coordination, CEA Section 21(f)(4)(B) and Exchange Act Section 13(n)(7)(D)(ii) provide that 

the Commissions “may take into consideration any evolving standard of the United States or the 

international community”.

158 SDR Final Regulations, available at 
46

CEA Section 21(f)(4), the CFTC adopted three duties in addition to those specified in the statute, 

– maintenance of sufficient financial resources; provision of a disclosure document to market 

participants; and a requirement of open, non-discriminatory access to SDR services. The SEC 

proposed regulations governing SBSDR registration, duties, and core principles in December 

2010.

159

e. Execution Requirements

Title VII requires the execution of those Swaps that are required to be cleared to occur on 

a DCM or a registered or exempt SEF (in the case of swaps) or an exchange or a registered or 

exempt security-based swap execution facility (“SBSEF”) (in the case of security-based swaps) , 

unless no such entities make these Swaps available to trade.160 Title VII also sets forth 

comprehensive registration, operational, and self-regulatory requirements with which execution 

facilities must comply.

i. Execution Mandate

DFA Sections 723(a) and 763(a), which added CEA Section 2(h)(8) and Exchange Act 

Section 3C(h), respectively, provide that Swaps subject to the mandatory clearing requirement 

must be executed by counterparties on either an organized market or on a registered or exempt 

execution facility.161 However, this mandatory execution requirement does not apply if no 

 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-20817a.pdf.

159 SBSDR Proposal, available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2010/34-63347fr.pdf.

160 This Report will refer to DCMs and exchanges as “organized markets” and to SEFs and SBSEFs as 

“execution facilities”, unless otherwise indicated.

161 CEA Section 2(h)(8) mandates that, with respect to transactions involving swaps subject to the clearing 

requirement of CEA Section 2(h)(1), counterparties shall execute the transaction on a DCM or on a 

registered or exempt SEF. The term “swap execution facility” is defined in CEA Section 1a(50) as “a 

trading system or platform in which multiple participants have the ability to execute or trade swaps by 

accepting bids and offers made by multiple participants in the facility or system, through any means of 

interstate commerce, including any trading facility, that – (A) facilitates the execution of swaps between 

persons; and (B) is not a designated contract market.”

Exchange Act Section 3C(h) mandates that, with respect to transactions involving security-based swaps 

subject to the clearing requirement of Exchange Act Section 3C(a)(1), counterparties shall execute the 
47

organized market or execution facility makes the Swap available to trade, or if the Swap is 

subject to the end-user exception from clearing. If a counterparty is not an ECP, however, DFA 

Sections 723(a)(2) and 763(e), adding CEA Section 2(e) and Exchange Act Section 6(l), 

respectively, require that a transaction in a Swap with or for that non-ECP counterparty must be

effected on an organized market.

ii. Registration Requirements for Markets

No entity may operate a facility for the trading or processing162 of Swaps unless the entity 

is registered as (or exempt from registration as) an execution facility or is an organized 

market.

163

 DFA Section 733 added CEA Section 5h, and DFA Section 763(c) added Exchange 

Act Section 3D, which require registration of execution facilities.164 With respect to swaps, CEA 

Section 5h(e) states that the goal of CEA Section 5h is “to promote the trading of swaps on 

execution facilities and to promote pre-trade price transparency in the swaps market.”

 

transaction on an exchange or on a registered or exempt security-based swap execution facility (“SBSEF”). 

The term “security-based swap execution facility” is defined in Exchange Act Section 3(a)(77) as “a 

trading system or platform in which multiple participants have the ability to execute or trade security-based 

swaps by accepting bids and offers made by multiple participants in the facility or system, through any 

means of interstate commerce, including any trading facility, that – (A) facilitates the execution of securitybased swaps between persons; and (B) is not a national securities exchange.”

162 See CEA Section 5h(a). Although a registered SEF may make available for trading any swap and may 

facilitate trade processing of any swap, a SEF may not list for trading or confirm the execution of any swap 

in an agricultural commodity (as defined by the CFTC), except pursuant to a CFTC regulation allowing the 

swap under such terms and conditions as the Commission shall prescribe. See CEA Section 5h(b); see also

DFA Section 723(c) (prohibiting agricultural swaps, unless permitted by CFTC rule, regulation, or order). 

In July and August 2011, the CFTC promulgated final regulations in this area. See Agricultural 

Commodity Definition, 76 Fed. Reg. 41048 (July 13, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-17626a.pdf; and 

Agricultural Swaps, 76 Fed. Reg. 49291 (August 10, 2011), available at 

http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2011-20337a.pdf.

See Exchange Act Section 3D(b). A registered SBSEF may make available for trading any security-based 

swap and may facilitate trade processing of any security-based swap.

163 Pursuant to CEA Section 5h(c) and Exchange Act Section 3D(c), an organized market that also operates an 

execution facility and uses the same electronic trade execution system for listing and executing trades of 

Swaps must identify whether the electronic trading of such Swaps is taking place on or through the 

organized market or the execution facility.

164 CEA Section 5h(a)(2) requires that any entity registered as a SEF shall register with the CFTC regardless of 

whether the entity also is registered with the SEC as a SBSEF, and Exchange Act Section 3D(a)(2) requires 

that any entity registered as a SBSEF shall register with the SEC regardless of whether the entity also is 

registered with the CFTC as a SEF.
48

The CFTC and SEC each have discretion to determine whether to grant an exemption 

from registration for a particular execution facility, but the statutory language added by the DFA 

for each Commission differs. CEA Section 5h(g) provides:

The [CFTC] may exempt, conditionally or unconditionally, a [SEF] from 

registration under this section if the [CFTC] finds that the facility is subject to 

comparable, comprehensive supervision and regulation on a consolidated basis by 

the [SEC], a prudential regulator, or the appropriate governmental authorities in 

the home country of the facility.

Exchange Act Section 3D(e) provides:

The [SEC] may exempt, conditionally or unconditionally, a [SBSEF] from 

registration under this section if the [SEC] finds that the facility is subject to 

comparable, comprehensive supervision and regulation on a consolidated basis by 

the [CFTC].165

CEA Section 5h(h) and Exchange Act Section 3D(f) require the CFTC and SEC, 

respectively, to prescribe regulations governing the regulation of execution facilities. The CFTC 

proposed regulations, guidance, and acceptable practices in January 2011 regarding the 

registration and operational requirements for SEFs, including regulations and procedures for the 

listing and execution of swaps on or through SEFs.166 In the proposal, the CFTC noted the 

similarity of certain requirements of the UK FSA and also requested comment related to the 

business structure of SEFs located in foreign jurisdictions. The SEC proposed regulations in 

February 2011 on the registration and regulation of SBSEFs.167 In the release, the SEC

requested comment related to access to the books and records of foreign participants and 

accounting requirements for foreign private issuers, as well as comment related to international 

information sharing agreements and the registration process for non-U.S. persons.

 

165 The SEC also has general and broad exemptive authority under Exchange Act Section 36.

166 Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities, 76 Fed. Reg. 1214 (January 7, 

2011), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-

32358a.pdf.

167 Registration and Regulation of Security-Based Swap Execution Facilities, 76 Fed. Reg. 10948 (February 

28, 2011), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2011/34-63825fr.pdf.
49

iii. Regulatory Responsibilities for Markets

To be registered and to maintain registration as a SEF, CEA Section 5h(f)(1) requires 

SEFs to comply with specified core principles and any requirements the CFTC may impose by 

rule or regulation.168 To be registered and to maintain registration as an SBSEF, Exchange Act 

Section 3D(d)(1) requires SBSEFs to comply with specified core principles and any 

requirements the SEC may impose by rule or regulation. Subject to CFTC or SEC, as applicable, 

rule or regulation, execution facilities have reasonable discretion in establishing their manner of 

compliance.

CEA Section 5h(f) and Exchange Act Section 3D(d) require execution facilities to 

comply with core principles related to the following areas: (1) compliance with core principles; 

(2) compliance with rules; (3) Swaps not readily susceptible to manipulation; (4) monitoring of 

trading and trade processing; (5) ability to obtain information; (6) position limits or 

accountability (not applicable to SBSEFs); (7) financial integrity of transactions; (8) emergency 

authority; (9) timely publication of trading information; (10) recordkeeping and reporting; (11) 

antitrust considerations; (12) conflicts of interest; (13) financial resources; (14) system 

safeguards; and (15) designation of chief compliance officer.

CEA Section 5h(h) and Exchange Act Section 3D(f) require the CFTC and SEC, 

respectively, to prescribe regulations governing the regulation of execution facilities.169 As 

 

168 The DFA applied certain operational requirements and regulatory responsibilities pertaining to Swaps 

trading on organized markets. In addition, DFA Section 735(b) amended CEA Section 5(d) to revise 

existing core principles in, and add new core principles to, the existing CEA regime for DCMs.

169 In addition, DFA Section 725(d) requires the CFTC to promulgate regulations mitigating conflicts of 

interest in connection with the conduct of business by an SD or MSP with a DCM or SEF that trades swaps 

in which the SD or MSP has a material debt or material equity investment. See also DFA Sections 726 

(requiring CFTC rulemaking) and 765 (requiring SEC rulemaking); Governance and Conflicts Proposal, 

available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrfederalregister/documents/file/2010-31898a.pdf; 

and Ownership and Governance Proposal, available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-10-

26/pdf/2010-26315.pdf.
50

described above, the CFTC proposed regulations in January 2011, and the SEC proposed 

regulations in February 2011.

2. Canada

Canadian provincial and territorial regulators are developing proposals for the regulation 

of OTC derivatives. In October 2010, the Canadian OTC Derivatives Working Group

(“CDWG”)170 published a discussion paper on reforming OTC derivatives markets in Canada, 

which included preliminary recommendations on capital requirements, standardization of 

contracts, clearing, reporting, and trading.

171

 In November 2010, the Canadian Securities 

Administrators (“CSA”)172 released a consultation document on regulation of the Canadian OTC 

derivatives market that addressed potential prudential requirements, clearing, reporting, trading, 

and enforcement.

173

 The CSA Derivatives Committee (“CSA Committee”) noted that, for each 

of these areas, clear jurisdictional authority and specific rulemaking powers must be set out in 

provincial securities and derivatives legislation.174 In June 2011, the CSA published a 

 

170 The inter-agency group, formed in December 2009, is chaired by the Bank of Canada and includes the 

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, federal Department of Finance, Ontario Securities 

Commission, Autorité des marchés financiers, and Alberta Securities Commission. For more information, 

see http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2010/10/notices/reform-of-over-the-counter/.

171 Reform of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Derivatives Markets in Canada: Discussion Paper from the Canadian 

OTC Derivatives Working Group (October 26, 2010), available at http://www.bankofcanada.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2010/10/reform.pdf.

172 The CSA, an organization of Canada’s provincial and territorial securities regulators, primarily is 

responsible for developing a harmonized approach to securities regulation across Canada. For more 

information, see the CSA website, available at http://www.securitiesadministrators.ca/aboutcsa.aspx?id=45&linkidentifier=id&itemid=45.

173 Consultation Paper 91-401 on Over-the-Counter Derivatives Regulation in Canada (CSA Derivatives 

Committee, November 2, 2010) (“Canada OTC Consultation”), available at 

http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/documents/en/Securities-Category9/csa_20101102_91-401_cp-onderivatives.pdf; see Canadian Securities Regulators Seek Comments on Proposed Over-the-Counter 

Derivatives Regulation (Press Release, November 2, 2010), available at http://www.securitiesadministrators.ca/aboutcsa.aspx?id=929. The CSA stated, “The consultation paper summarizes 

recommendations that are intended to strengthen the regulation of Canada’s financial markets and manage 

specific risks related to OTC derivatives. The CSA aims to implement Canada’s G20 commitments in a 

manner appropriate for the Canadian markets and harmonize regulatory oversight to the extent possible 

with international jurisdictions.”

174 Id. at pp. 1, 56. The CSA Committee described its work and the work of the CDWG as “aligned both from 

a subject matter and timetable perspective”. Canada OTC Consultation at p. 9.
51

consultation paper proposing a regulatory framework for reporting to a TR, which it described as 

the first of a series of eight papers that will build on the regulatory proposals contained in its

initial November 2010 document.

175

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

Oversight of OTC derivatives varies among Canadian jurisdictions. In Ontario, the term 

“derivative” includes contracts such as swaps.176 In Alberta, an OTC derivative is included 

under the statutory definition of a futures contract and declared a security under securities 

legislation, but Alberta anticipates proposing legislative amendments in 2012 that would 

separately define and regulate derivatives.

177

 In a number of jurisdictions, including Manitoba, 

OTC derivatives are regulated under the province’s securities legislation.178 In Quebec, 

derivatives contracts are regulated pursuant to separate legislation on derivatives.179

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

Currently the Investment Industry Regulatory Association of Canada (“IIROC”) oversees 

investment dealers that trade derivatives.180 The scope of registration and regulatory

requirements and the issue of the applicability of registration exemptions will be the subject of 

future consultations.181 Alberta and Ontario have indicated that derivatives market participants 

 

175 CSA Consultation Paper 91-402, Derivatives: Trade Repositories (CSA Derivatives Committee, June 23, 

2011) (“Canada TR Consultation”), available at 

http://www.lautorite.qc.ca/files//pdf/consultations/derives/2011juin23-91-402-cons-paper-en.pdf; see

Canadian Securities Administrators Seek Comments on Regulation of Over-the-Counter Derivatives Trade 

Reporting and Repositories (Press Release, June 23, 2011), available at http://www.securitiesadministrators.ca/aboutcsa.aspx?id=971.

176 OSC Submission at p. 1.

177 ASC Submission at pp. 1-2.

178 Canada OTC Consultation at p. 8.

179 Id.

180 ASC Submission at p. 3; see also OSC Submission at p. 1.

181 Canada OTC Consultation at p. 12.
52

will be regulated through a registration process that has yet to be determined and that the new 

framework likely also will identify certain of such participants that are exempt from registration 

but recognized as such by some other means.182

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

Market participants are subject to various capital requirements. Investment dealers, for 

example, are required to abide by capital requirements established by the IIROC.183 Collateral 

obligations for OTC derivatives transactions in many cases are governed by ISDA documents.184 

The CSA Committee recommended that the regulation regime include comprehensive risk-based 

capital requirements that may include specific margin and collateral requirements.

185

 It further 

recommended that capital or collateral requirements should apply to all entities acting as 

financial intermediaries to facilitate trading of OTC derivatives on behalf of third parties, and to 

end-users of OTC derivatives except where use of such transactions is restricted to hedging risks 

related to the end-user’s business activities and does not increase systemic risk to the market.186 

In addition, the CSA Committee suggested that CSA staff work with staff of other regulatory 

agencies to assess existing regulation and suggest amendments as appropriate.187

 

182 OSC Submission at p. 2; ASC Submission at p. 3.

183 Canada OTC Consultation at p. 42.

184 Id. at p. 43.

185 Id. at pp. 44-45 (noting that OTC derivatives market participants that are subject to other satisfactory 

regulatory regimes should be exempt from compliance with the capital regime to be proposed for OTC 

derivatives market participants that are not otherwise subject to a capital regime).

186 Id. at p. 44.

187 Id. at pp. 44-49; see also p. 54 (further analysis required on whether to impose collateral segregation 

requirements).
53

c. Clearing Requirements

i. Clearing Mandate

Canadian authorities are considering a mandatory clearing requirement and expect the 

recently published Canada OTC Consultation to inform their regulatory efforts.

188

 The CSA 

Committee recommended mandatory clearing of OTC derivatives trades determined to be 

appropriate for clearing and also recommended that not all participants in the Canadian OTC 

derivatives markets be subject to mandatory clearing.189 Appropriate legislative changes would 

need to be made that compel the clearing of OTC derivatives, and regulators would need 

rulemaking authority to implement the regime.190

ii. Registration Requirements for CCPs

CCP requirements vary across Canadian jurisdictions. Ontario said its regulatory 

framework includes requirements for a CCP that provides clearing and settlement services to 

Ontario entities, which either must be recognized by the OSC as a clearing agency or be exempt 

from such recognition.191 The ASC has authority to recognize a clearing agency upon filing of 

an application by the entity, but is proposing statutory amendments that explicitly will require 

that such CCPs apply for recognition by the ASC.

192

The CSA Committee recognized that regulators would need the authority to mandate 

clearing despite the potential non-existence of local CCPs, as well as the ability to recognize or 

designate a foreign CCP.193 It raised three possible options for consideration: (1) creation and 

 

188 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2 (provincial legislation expected by the end of 2012) and Table 6 

(considering which asset classes to include, but may exempt FX swaps and forwards).

189 Canada OTC Consultation at p. 27.

190 Id. at p. 26.

191 OSC Submission at p. 3.

192 ASC Submission at p. 4.

193 Canada OTC Consultation at p. 26.
54

use of a Canadian multi-asset CCP; (2) if there is no Canadian CCP, accessing non-Canadian

single-asset and/or multi-asset CCPs, with additional collateral requirements for non-cleared 

trades that are not available for CCP clearing; or (3) creation and use of Canadian single-asset or 

multi-asset CCPs used in combination with linked non-Canadian CCPs.194 Before any 

recommendation can be made, the CSA Committee believes further input and study is needed on 

a Canadian CCP solution versus accessing non-Canadian CCPs.195 

iii. Regulatory Requirements for CCPs

Regulatory responsibilities of CCPs are set forth by each regulator. In its comment letter, 

Ontario said a clearing agency must meet certain criteria based on existing CPSS-IOSCO 

principles, which include criteria relating to governance, fees, access, rules and rulemaking, due 

process, risk management, systems and technology, financial viability and reporting, operational 

reliability, protection of assets, outsourcing, and information sharing and regulatory cooperation. 

Regulations governing CCPs are being developed, but details of the requirements are yet to be 

determined.196 In Alberta, the criteria for obtaining and maintaining recognition from the ASC 

has yet to be determined, but the ASC intends that the criteria adhere to the CPSS-IOSCO 

standards.197

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

Currently no Canadian jurisdiction mandates reporting of OTC derivatives transactions or 

positions. Mandatory reporting is contingent on legislative changes and rules being put into 

 

194 Id. at p. 27.

195 Id. at p. 28.

196 OSC Submission at p. 3.

197 ASC Submission at pp. 4-5.
55

place in various jurisdictions.198 The CSA June 2011 consultation paper recommended that 

Canadian provincial market regulators be enabled by statutory amendments to mandate the 

reporting of all OTC derivatives transactions to an approved TR and that all OTC derivatives

transactions entered into by a Canadian counterparty be reported to an approved TR in real time 

once feasible and within one business day until real-time reporting is implemented (with delayed 

reporting for block trades).

199

 TRs should provide data to Canadian and acceptable foreign 

regulators and central banks in accordance with their regulatory duties and subject to 

confidentiality protection and cooperation arrangements, and should make certain data available 

to the public.200

Ontario intends to establish a regulatory framework for TRs for all derivatives.201 

Alberta said proposed statutory amendments will add a definition of the term “trade repository” 

and provide for the recognition of TRs, but criteria for obtaining and maintaining recognition as 

a TR by the ASC has yet to be determined.202 Both the OSC and ASC anticipate that repositories 

will be required to meet standards established by international standard-setting bodies, such as 

CPSS and IOSCO.203

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

The CSA Committee recommended that any TR intending to carry on business in one or 

more Canadian province should be approved by the applicable provincial market regulator 

through a recognition or designation process, and all TRs operating in Canada should be required 

 

198 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5 (noting that Ontario has amended its securities legislation to support 

reporting to TRs and regulatory access to data).

199 Canada TR Consultation at pp. 3-5, 11-13, 21-23.

200 Id. at pp. 4-5, 19-21, 23-25.

201 OSC Submission at p. 4.

202 ASC Submission at p. 5.

203 OSC Submission at p. 4 and ASC Submission at p. 5.
56

to meet international CPSS-IOSCO standards.204 Reporting to a non-Canadian TR that has been 

approved and meets all Canadian requirements should be acceptable until a Canadian TR is 

operational, or if the mandating of such a TR is rejected by market regulators.205

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

Canada is reviewing whether to require the execution of OTC derivatives on an exchange 

or electronic trading platform, and expects to publish a consultation document on this issue.206 

The CSA Committee discussed the costs and benefits of trading on exchanges or electronic 

trading platforms, supported the benefits of pre-trade transparency resulting from trading of OTC 

derivatives, and recommended that any legislative amendments include the regulatory authority 

to impose a trading requirement.207 However, the CSA Committee said further study in 

collaboration with market participants would be necessary to determine the eventual scope of the 

regulatory mandate.208 The CSA Committee said a trading mandate could apply only to those 

products that have sufficient standardization and liquidity, and that pose a systemic risk.209 

Ontario and Alberta said their regulatory frameworks include requirements for organized 

markets for derivatives, but that details of regulatory requirements have yet to be determined.210

 

204 Canada TR Consultation at pp. 2-4, 7-11, 13-14.

205 Id. at pp. 4, 14-15.

206 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 3.

207 Canada OTC Consultation at pp. 35-39.

208 Id. at p. 39.

209 Id.

210 OSC Submission at p. 2; ASC Submission at pp. 3-4.
57

3. Brazil

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The Brazilian OTC derivatives markets are overseen by the Comissão de Valores 

Mobiliários (“CVM”).

211

 Brazilian law does not limit the types of OTC derivatives contracts 

that can be entered into by counterparties, but contracts that are traded on organized markets 

must be approved by the CVM.212

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

Commercial banks, investment firms, and brokers can enter into OTC derivatives 

contracts in Brazil, provided that the transactions are reported to a TR.

213

 Contingent upon 

authorization by the CVM, which has the legislative authority to stipulate the legal form the 

market participant must take, its board composition, financial requirements, the technical 

qualifications of members and officers, and what fees the participant may charge, other financial 

entities can be authorized to enter into the market.

214

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

Capital requirements for non-centrally cleared derivatives contracts are higher than for 

centrally-cleared derivatives contracts.215

 

211 Law No. 6.385 (December 1976), available at http://www.cvm.gov.br/ingl/regu/regu_6385.ASP at Article 

17.

212 CVM Instruction 467/2008 (2008) (English summary on file with the CFTC). In Brazil, the term 

“organized markets of securities” is defined to include “organized over-the-counter markets”. OTC 

markets may be “organized” or “non-organized”. An organized market is managed by a managing entity 

authorized by the CVM and includes both a trading facility as well as a TR that just registers a contract. A 

non-organized market is not managed by a managing entity authorized by the CVM and encompasses 

business not transacted or registered on an organized market. See also discussion at p. 60.

213 Res. No. 3505/2007 (2007) (English summary on file with the CFTC).

214 Law No. 6.385 (December 1976) at Article 21(5). In addition, the Brazilian Central Bank establishes 

requirements for financial institutions.

215 Brazil Survey Response to FSB Implementation Monitoring Network (September 2011), available at 

http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_111104c.pdf.
58

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

In April 2012, a CVM rule will become effective that allows managing entities of 

organized markets (“MEOMs”) to strengthen minimum standards for intermediaries’ operation 

on organized markets.

216

c. Clearing Requirements

OTC derivatives are not required to be centrally cleared in Brazil,

217 but voluntarily may

be centrally cleared if desired by the counterparties and accepted for clearing by the CCP.

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

Brazilian law requires all OTC derivatives to be reported to a TR.

218

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

A TR must apply for authorization from the CVM as an MEOM.

219

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Repositories

The MEOM is responsible for establishing the operational and governance rules for TRs

through the adoption of bylaws.220 The entity must have a board of directors (with an audit 

committee),221 a chief executive officer (“CEO”),222 a self-regulation council, and a chief officer 

 

216 CVM Instruction 505/2011 (English summary on file with the CFTC), available at 

http://www.tributosdodf.com.br/index.php/content/view/22022.html.

217 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2 and Table 6.

218 FSB October 2011 Report, p. 11, Table 4 and Table 5.

219 CVM Instruction No. 461 (October 2007), Article 109, available at 

http://www.cvm.gov.br/ingl/indexing.asp.

220 Id. at Article 20 (also stipulating substantive areas that the bylaws must govern).

221 The audit committee has the authority to propose the appointment of independent auditors, analyze 

financial statements of the managing entity of organized markets, review its annual report, and assess the 

internal controls of the trade repository. Id. at Article 27.

222 The CEO’s responsibilities include implementing risk mitigation systems, determining fees, and satisfying 

internal reporting requirements. Id. at Section IX.
59

for self-regulatory affairs.223 The MEOM also must prepare annual audited financial statements 

detailing the operation of internal controls and accounting procedures and the quality and safety 

of operating procedures.224 In addition, it must maintain transaction data for at least five 

years.225

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

Brazilian law already provides a framework for the authorization of platforms for 

transacting OTC derivatives, which are called “organized over-the-counter markets”.226 Brazil 

does not anticipate having new laws or regulations in place by end-2012 to require standardized 

OTC derivatives to be traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms.227

ii. Registration Requirements for Markets

An organized OTC market must apply for authorization from the CVM as a MEOM.

228

 

The markets must be structured, maintained, and inspected by a MEOM.

229

 The MEOM must be 

organized as an association or stock corporation and meet the requirements set forth in CVM 

instructions.230

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Markets

The MEOM is responsible for establishing rules that specify the procedures for admission 

to trade on the market, and suspension and exclusion from trading, and that define the 

 

223 Id. at Article 19.

224 Id. at Section X.

225 Id. at Article 63.

226 See supra note 213 and CVM Instruction No. 461 (October 2007).

227 FSB October 2011 Report, p. 9 and Table 3.

228 Id. at Articles 7 and 100.

229 Id. at Article 9.

230 Id.
60

transactions permitted to be transacted on the market.231 The MEOM must maintain records of 

transactions conducted on the organized market for five years.232

An organized OTC market can operate in three ways: (1) as a multilateral trading system 

that enables bids and offers from multiple parties to be exposed to the acceptance and 

competition by all parties authorized to participate in that market;

233 (2) by “carrying out 

transactions that place firm bids and offers” on the market;

234 and (3) through the registration of 

transactions conducted off the market.

235

Organized OTC markets must have systems in place that allow for permanent, regular, 

adequate and efficient pricing of transactions as well as the prompt trading and registration of 

completed transactions.236 Further, the rules of the market must prohibit fraud and manipulation 

and ensure equal treatment to those with access to the platform.237

B. European Union

Significant efforts to regulate OTC derivatives are under way in the European Union. 

This section does not include a separate discussion for each EU member state because, although 

each state currently may have requirements related to OTC derivatives, efforts underway at the 

EU level would soon preempt most such requirements.238

 

231 Id. at Article 15.

232 Id. at Article 16.

233 Id. at Articles 65 and 92.

234 Id. at Article 92.

235 Id.

236 Id. at Article 94.

237 Id. at Article 97.

238 In Europe, in addition to EU member states, Switzerland has large financial institutions that are active 

participants in the OTC derivatives market. Switzerland has not indicated that it intends to propose any 

legislative or regulatory measures to regulate OTC derivatives. Switzerland, however, is working on 

measures that will impact OTC derivatives transactions by reducing counterparty risks for market 

participants that enter into OTC derivatives transactions with Swiss financial institutions, including 

implementation of Basel III standards, which are intended to provide incentives for central clearing of OTC 

derivatives.
61

The European Union has started the process of creating an EU-wide regulatory 

framework for OTC derivatives.239 The EC published proposed legislation – the European 

Market Infrastructure Regulation (“EMIR”) – in September 2010.240 EMIR is being developed 

as a “regulation”, as opposed to an EU directive, which means that EMIR will become effective 

throughout the European Union upon adoption, and will not require separate implementation by 

EU member states. Implementation of certain EMIR provisions will occur through technical 

standards proposed by the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”), along with the 

European Banking Authority (“EBA”), and then adopted by the EC.

EMIR’s objectives consist of increasing transparency in the OTC derivatives market and 

making that market safer by reducing counterparty credit and operational risks. To this end, 

EMIR requires:

 Reporting of derivatives transactions to TRs and creates a new regulatory 

framework for TRs;

 Clearing of eligible OTC derivatives through CCPs and enhances the existing 

regulatory framework for CCPs; and

 Measures to reduce counterparty credit risk and operational risk for bilaterally 

transacted OTC derivatives.

Since the proposal’s release in 2010, the Council of the European Union (“EU Council”) 

and the European Parliament (“EP”) have released several revisions to EMIR. As part of the 

legislative procedure, the EU Council, EP, and EC are negotiating to resolve differences and to 

finalize EMIR, which is expected in 2012. After EMIR is approved, ESMA will have primary 

responsibility for implementation. Under the current draft of EMIR, draft technical standards for 

 

239 Detailed information on EU activities related to derivatives is available at 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/financial-markets/derivatives/index_en.htm.

240 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on OTC Derivatives, Central 

Counterparties and Trade Repositories (September 15, 2010), available at 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/financial-markets/docs/derivatives/20100915_proposal_en.pdf.
62

implementation of EMIR must be submitted by ESMA to the EC by June 30, 2012, for intended 

adoption by the end of 2012.

In December 2010, the EC released a public consultation on revising the Markets in 

Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID”).

241

 The EC’s consultation sought comment on 

several possible revisions to the existing Directive, including expanding its scope to cover OTC 

derivatives and requiring that certain OTC derivatives be traded on exchanges or electronic 

trading platforms.242 In October 2011, the EC published two draft proposals – one for revising 

MiFID (“Revised MiFID”)243 and the other for creating a new regulation entitled the Markets in 

Financial Instruments Regulation (“MiFIR”,

244 together with EMIR, “EU Regulations”). The 

Revised MiFID and MiFIR cover financial instruments broadly, and set forth requirements for 

derivatives generally and for OTC derivatives specifically. The Revised MiFID contains 

provisions on providers of investment services, investor protection, trading venues, providers of 

market data and other reporting services, and powers to be granted by EU member states to 

national competent authorities. Provisions related to OTC derivatives transactions primarily are 

included within MiFIR, and address:

 

241 MiFID is a key component of the EC’s Financial Services Action Plan, which was launched in May 1999. 

It replaced and expanded the 1993 Investment Services Directive by introducing competition among 

different order-execution systems (regulated markets, Multilateral Trading Facilities (“MTFs”), and 

systematic internalizers) and setting out the legal framework for their operations. While introducing a more 

open framework, MiFID seeks to improve investor protection, ensure efficient and transparent markets, and 

enhance the means available to the competent authorities for supervising the activities of the different types 

of intermediaries.

242 Public Consultation: Review of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) (December 8, 

2010), available at 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/consultations/docs/2010/mifid/consultation_paper_en.pdf.

243 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Markets in Financial 

Instruments Repealing Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (October 20, 

2011), available at http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/securities/docs/isd/mifid/COM_2011_656_en.pdf.

244 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Markets in Financial 

Instruments and Amending Regulation [EMIR] on OTC Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade 

Repositories (October 20, 2011), available at 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/securities/docs/isd/mifid/COM_2011_652_en.pdf.
63

 Disclosure of data on trading activity to the public and transaction data to 

regulators and supervisors;

 Mandatory execution of trades in OTC derivatives on trading venues;

 Removing barriers between trading venues and providers of clearing services to 

ensure more competition; and 

 Specific supervisory actions regarding financial instruments and positions in OTC 

derivatives.

When finalized, the Revised MiFID and MiFIR will set the framework for trading standardized 

OTC derivatives on exchanges and trading facilities.

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The proposed EU Regulations and Revised MiFID do not distinguish among OTC 

derivatives in a manner comparable to the DFA distinction between swaps and security-based 

swaps. The primary requirements of the EU Regulations, including the clearing obligation, will 

be applicable to all classes of derivatives, OTC or traded on a regulated market, including 

interest rate, credit, equity, commodity, and FX swaps. EMIR does not exclude any asset classes 

from the clearing obligation. ESMA will, based on a number of criteria, identify which classes 

of OTC derivatives are eligible for and should be subject to a mandatory clearing obligation. 

ESMA, therefore, has the authority to decide that FX swaps are ineligible and therefore should 

not be subject to central clearing requirements. In addition, all classes and types of derivatives, 

both OTC and those traded on exchanges or platforms, are required under EMIR to be reported

to TRs, which in turn, must make the data available to certain public authorities, and, on an 

aggregate basis, to the public.

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

The scope of market participants covered under the EU Regulations would include all 

types of financial institutions (such as banks, insurance companies, asset management 

companies, pension funds, and hedge funds) and certain non-financial institutions whose 
64

aggregate non-hedging OTC derivatives positions exceed a certain threshold. The level of this

threshold will be established in the technical standards, prepared by ESMA and approved by the 

EC, that implement the EU Regulations. Unlike the categories of Swaps Entities established by 

the DFA, the proposed EU Regulations and Revised MiFID do not create new categories of 

regulated entities (e.g., swap dealer) that would be required to register in order to engage in 

certain OTC derivatives activities. EU entities engaging in OTC derivatives activities, however, 

may be registered under existing categories of regulated entities in the EU member states, or may 

fall under the category of non-financial counterparties subject to clearing and reporting 

obligations, if they meet certain conditions.

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

When finalized, EMIR will require risk management standards, including 

collateralization (margining), to be implemented by counterparties to bilateral OTC derivatives. 

Such market participants will be required to benchmark their risk management methods against 

defined best practices. Collateralization requirements, including the timely, accurate, and 

appropriate exchange of collateral, will apply to non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives 

transactions between financial counterparties, and non-financial counterparties above the 

clearing threshold.

For bilateral OTC derivatives, the exchanged collateral must be adequately segregated. 

For centrally cleared derivatives, collateral held by CCPs also will have to be segregated, and 

clearing members must offer individual client segregation to their clients.245 

In July 2011, the EC released a proposal that would replace two Capital Requirements 

Directives with a new directive and regulation (“CRD IV”), which would transpose Basel III246

 

245 EU Council version of EMIR Article 37 (October 4, 2011) (“EU Council version of EMIR”).

246 See International Regulatory Framework for Banks (“Basel III”), available on the BIS website at 

http://www.bis.org/bcbs/basel3.htm. Basel III implementation will require the holding of additional capital 
65

standards into EU and national law. CRD IV governs access to deposit-taking activities, and 

covers enhanced governance, sanctions, capital buffers, and enhanced supervision.247 The 

regulation contains detailed prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms 

with respect to capital, liquidity, leverage, and counterparty credit risk.248 For example, capital 

requirements for non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives would be higher than the requirements 

for centrally-cleared OTC derivatives. As with EMIR and MiFIR, the regulation is directly 

applicable to EU member states and does not require separate implementation by each state.

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

Under EMIR, as proposed, financial institutions, and non-financial institutions that enter 

into non-cleared OTC derivatives transactions above a certain threshold must ensure that 

appropriate procedures and arrangements are in place to measure, monitor, and mitigate 

operational and credit risk. This would include, among other requirements: (1) the timely 

confirmation of the terms of the OTC derivatives where possible by electronic means; and (2)

robust, resilient, and auditable processes for reconciliation of portfolios of OTC derivatives, 

management of associated risks, early identification and resolution of disputes between parties, 

and monitoring the value of outstanding OTC derivatives. Under MiFIR, trading venues are 

 

for non-centrally cleared derivatives contracts compared to the capital held for those contracts that are 

centrally cleared.

247 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Access to the Activity of 

Credit Institutions and the Prudential Supervision of Credit Institutions and Investment Firms and 

Amending Directive 2002/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Supplementary 

Supervision of Credit Institutions, Insurance Undertakings and Investment Firms in a Financial 

Conglomerate (July 20, 2011), available at http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0453:FIN:EN:PDF.

248 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Prudential Requirements for 

Credit Institutions and Investment Firms (July 20, 2011), available in three parts at 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/bank/docs/regcapital/CRD4_reform/20110720_regulation_proposal_pa

rt1_en.pdf; 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/bank/docs/regcapital/CRD4_reform/20110720_regulation_proposal_pa

rt2_en.pdf; and 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/bank/docs/regcapital/CRD4_reform/20110720_regulation_proposal_pa

rt3_en.pdf.
66

subject to conduct of business rules, best execution requirements, and client order handling 

obligations in connection with the transactions concluded on an OTF that is operated by an 

investment firm or a market operator. The Revised MiFID will strengthen the conduct of 

business rules for investment firms, which generally under MiFID are subject to requirements 

regarding corporate governance, organizational structure, recordkeeping, safekeeping of client 

funds, conflicts of interest, providing information to clients, suitability, and the obligation to 

execute orders on the terms most favorable to the client. Finally, the revisions to the Market 

Abuse Directive and the newly proposed Market Abuse Regulation, which are currently 

underway, will ensure regulation keeps pace with market developments, strengthen the fight 

against market abuse across commodity and related derivative markets, reinforce the 

investigative and sanctioning powers of regulators, and reduce administrative burdens on small

and medium-sized issuers.249

c. Clearing Requirements

i. Clearing Mandate

Under EMIR, as proposed, and technical standards to be proposed thereunder, all OTC 

derivatives that have been declared subject to the clearing obligation would be required to be 

cleared through an authorized or recognized CCP.250 The European Union would use top-down 

and bottom-up approaches to determine which OTC derivatives would be subject to the 

 

249 For further information, see generally, the Market Abuse webpage of the EC at 

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/securities/abuse/index_en.htm.

250 EMIR Article 3 (October 4, 2011); see FSB October 2011 Report, p. 7 and Table 2. There is some debate 

as to whether clearing of certain OTC derivatives, primarily denominated in Euro, must take place on a 

CCP established in the EU. The ECB has indicated that it favors such a policy. See ECB, The 

Eurosystem’s Policy Line with Regard to Consolidation in Central Counterparty Clearing (September 

2001), available at http://www.ecb.int/paym/pdf/market/secmar/centralcounterpartyclearing.pdf, referenced 

in Eurosystem Oversight Policy Framework (July 2011), available at

http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/eurosystemoversightpolicyframework2011en.pdf?5c43739067ca2ee42b4f

d338304217c4. However, the UK Treasury opposes this policy, and has challenged the legality of ECB’s 

policy before the European Court of Justice (United Kingdom v. ECB, Case T-496/11 (filed September 15, 

2011), available at http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:340:0029:0030:EN:PDF).
67

mandatory clearing requirement. Under a top-down approach, ESMA, in consultation with the 

European Systemic Risk Board, would identify classes of OTC derivatives that should be 

required to be cleared, but for which no CCP has yet been authorized to clear them. ESMA

would then notify the EC of the classes of contracts that should be subject to the clearing 

obligation and may publish a call for development of proposals for the clearing of these 

contracts.

251

 Before reaching a decision, ESMA would conduct a public consultation and, where 

appropriate, may consult with the competent authorities of third countries. Under a bottom-up 

approach, a CCP would identify OTC derivatives for clearing and apply for authorization to the 

competent authority of the member state where it is established. Upon authorization, the 

authority would immediately notify ESMA of that authorization. ESMA then would, within six 

months, develop and submit to the EC for endorsement draft implementing technical standards. 

EMIR would not subject OTC derivatives that are traded on exchanges to a mandatory central 

clearing requirement; however, MiFIR would require that those transactions be centrally 

cleared.252

The clearing requirement would apply to transactions between financial institutions, as 

well as between financial and non-financial institutions to the extent the value of the nonfinancial institutions’ OTC derivatives transactions exceed a certain clearing threshold (the exact 

terms of such threshold to be defined in technical standards).253 If a non-financial institution 

exceeds that threshold for 30 days over a three-month period, it would be required to clear all of 

 

251 Eligible OTC derivatives (i.e., those subject to mandatory clearing) would be identified by ESMA based on 

a number of criteria, still subject to discussion by the EU Council and EP, and technical standards to be 

drafted by ESMA. Among EMIR drafts, there is agreement that ESMA should at least consider the 

liquidity of OTC derivatives and the availability of fair, reliable, and generally accepted pricing 

information in the relevant class of OTC derivatives. In addition, the EU Council suggests that ESMA also 

take into account the degree of standardization of contractual terms and operational processes. EU Council 

version of EMIR Article 4.3.

252 MiFIR Article 25.

253 In determining whether the non-financial institution exceeded the relevant threshold, any transactions 

entered into by the non-financial institution for hedging purposes would not be counted. 
68

its new OTC derivatives contracts (whether such contracts were entered into for hedging or nonhedging purposes) within three months of becoming subject to the clearing requirement. In 

addition, the EU Council and EP have proposed a temporary exemption for pension funds from 

central clearing.254

OTC derivatives transactions between certain legal entities within a group structure (i.e., 

intra-group transactions) likely will not be subject to clearing requirements in the European 

Union. Current versions of EMIR also include an exception from margin requirements for 

certain types of intra-group transactions.255

Clearing requirements in the European Union likely will specify how market participants 

should treat cross-border OTC derivatives transactions, i.e., transactions where one counterparty 

is located outside of the European Union and/or the CCP is located outside of the European 

Union. EMIR would apply the clearing obligation to trades conducted between EU and non-EU 

entities, unless the trade or the entity is exempt from clearing. The EU entity subject to the 

clearing obligation would be required to clear the transaction with a CCP authorized or 

recognized by ESMA.256

ii. Registration Requirements for CCPs

Under EMIR, CCPs in the European Union, including those clearing OTC derivatives,

would be subject to supervision and oversight by the national competent authority of the EU 

member state in which the CCP is established. Under EMIR, a CCP with clearing transactions 

involving counterparties in more than one EU member state would be overseen by a college of 

competent authorities of the relevant EU member states. The exact role of ESMA and the 

 

254 See EP version of EMIR Article 71(2a) (June 7, 2011) and EU Council version of EMIR Article 71.0; see

also FSB October 2011 Report at Table 6.

255 EU Council version of EMIR Article 3.1(a).

256 EMIR Article 23.1
69

college of such authorities in the authorization and supervision of CCPs is still under 

consideration. In addition, EMIR would establish a recognition regime for CCPs located outside 

of the European Union whose legal and supervisory frameworks have been recognized as 

equivalent to EMIR.

iii. Regulatory Requirements for CCPs

EMIR would require CCPs to comply with detailed prudential, business conduct, and 

organizational requirements,257 which would be supplemented by technical standards. EMIR 

provides that a CCP must mitigate its counterparty credit risk exposure through a number of 

mechanisms, including stringent but non-discriminatory participation requirements, financial 

resources, and other guarantees.258 EMIR also would require a minimum amount of capital for 

authorization of a CCP and require a CCP to have a mutualized default fund to which members 

of the CCP will have to contribute their proportionate share. In addition, a CCP would be 

required to implement adequate internal control mechanisms, including sound administrative and 

accounting procedures, and appropriate governance arrangements. Finally, EMIR would require 

the CCP to maintain a minimum amount of capital to be used in a default procedure before the 

mutualization of losses among non-defaulting clearing members.

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

Under EMIR, all derivatives259– whether centrally cleared or otherwise – would be 

reported by financial and non-financial counterparties260 no later than one business day following 

 

257 EMIR Title IV, Chapter 1.

258 EMIR Title IV, Chapter 2.

259 The EC September proposal required OTC derivatives to be reported to TRs, but the latest proposal dated 

October 4, 2011, by the EU Council and the EP version of June 7, 2011, require all derivatives transactions 

to be reported to TRs. See Articles 7.1 and 6.1, respectively.

260 See EMIR Article 9.1; see also FSB October 2011 Report, p. 11 and Table 5.
70

completion of the transaction to TRs or, alternatively, to ESMA if there is no TR for a particular 

asset class.

261

 MiFIR, in addition, requires that investment firms report transaction data to 

competent authorities by close of business following the conclusion of the transaction.262 EMIR 

also would require regular publication of aggregate data by TRs or by third parties.263 Once

EMIR is finalized, ESMA will produce draft technical standards on: (1) content and format of 

the information to be reported to TRs or ESMA as the case may be; (2) information and data that 

TRs will make public; and (3) data that TRs shall make available to ESMA, market regulators, 

prudential supervisors, and central banks of the European System of Central Banks.

The MiFIR proposal also would create a post-trade transparency/public-dissemination 

mechanism, under which regulated markets, MTFs, and OTFs264 must make transactions data 

available to the public as close to real time as is technically possible.265 Further, regulated 

markets, MTFs, and OTFs would be required to publish aggregate positions of commodity 

derivatives or emissions allowances or derivatives thereof on a weekly basis,

266 and TRs must

publish aggregate by class of derivatives on the contracts reported to it.267

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

Draft versions of EMIR propose to give ESMA the power to register and supervise TRs, 

but EU member state authorities would have access to TR data.

268

 In order to be registered by 

ESMA, a TR would be required to be established in the European Union. EMIR would not 

 

261 The reporting requirement in the EMIR proposal overrides privacy and confidentiality law concerns and 

requires that all relevant data be reported. See id. at p. 19.

262 MiFIR Article 23.1.

263 EMIR Article 67.

264 Regulated market refers to an exchange; MTFs and OTFs are electronic trading platforms.

265 MiFIR Article 9.

266 MiFID II Article 60.

267 EMIR Article 67.1.

268 EMIR Article 67.2(b).
71

require data to be reported to a TR located in the European Union, but a non-EU repository 

would be required to be recognized by ESMA in order for the reporting requirement to be 

satisfied. A recognition regime for non-EU TRs is set out in EMIR for those TRs whose legal 

and supervisory frameworks have been recognized as equivalent to EMIR and whose countries 

have entered into an international agreement with the European Union.

269

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Repositories

EMIR would require registered TRs to comply with detailed requirements to ensure that 

the information they maintain is reliable, secure, and protected.270

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

The MiFIR proposal provides requirements for moving trading in certain eligible OTC 

derivatives across all major asset classes to exchanges or other types of trading venues, including 

a regulated market, an MTF, or an organized trading facility (“OTF”).

271

 The EC predicts that 

final regulation will be in effect by the end of 2013. Exchanges and electronic trading platforms 

would be required to provide multi-dealer functionality (i.e., the capability of enabling multiple 

third-party buying and selling interests to interact).

272

 All OTC derivatives subject to mandatory 

clearing pursuant to EMIR, which are sufficiently liquid as determined by ESMA, would be 

 

269 EMIR Article 63. ESMA would recognize a TR from a third country, where the TR is authorized in and is 

subject to effective surveillance in that third country; the EC has determined that the legal and supervisory 

arrangements of the third country ensure that the TR authorized in that third country comply with 

requirements equivalent to EU requirements; the European Union has entered into an international 

agreement with that third country; and cooperation arrangements have been established to ensure that EU

authorities have immediate and continuous access to all the necessary information.

270 EMIR Articles 65-66.

271 An OTF is a new type of trading venue that is defined as any system or facility, which is not a regulated 

market or MTF, operated by an investment firm or a market operator, in which multiple third-party buying 

and selling interests in financial instruments are able to interact in the system in a way that results in a 

contract in accordance with the provisions of the Revised MiFID. See MiFIR Article 2.1(7).

272 See MiFIR Article 2.1(5)-(7) (defining regulated markets, MTFs, and OTFs). Each definition requires that 

the entity “[bring] together multiple third-party buying and selling interests.” See also FSB October 2011 

Report, at Table 3-4.
72

required to trade on one of three types of trading venues. This obligation would be imposed on 

both financial and non-exempt non-financial counterparties.

ii. Registration Requirements for Markets

MiFIR is designed to require that all OTC derivatives trading is conducted on trading

venues. MiFIR would establish a recognition regime for non-EU trading venues whose legal and 

supervisory frameworks have been recognized as equivalent.

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Markets

MiFIR sets forth specific regulatory requirements for trading venues. EMIR and MiFIR 

would require pre- and post-trade price and volume transparency for all derivatives transactions, 

whether OTC or traded on an organized venue. Some exceptions, exemptions, or waivers of preor post-trade price or volume transparency requirements would be permitted for trades of a 

certain size (e.g., block trades). Pre- and post-trade price and volume transparency requirements 

would be identical across the three types of trading venues, but would be calibrated according to 

the instruments traded.273 In addition, post-trade transparency requirements identical to those 

applicable to trades executed on organized venues are proposed to apply to transactions in 

products that are clearing-eligible but not traded on an organized venue and to products that are 

not required to be cleared and only are reported to a TR, including trades where a counterparty is 

a European dealer (i.e., an investment firm acting as a systematic internalizer).

274

 

273 National regulators of EU member states where a venue is located may grant a waiver, based on the market 

model, the specific characteristics of trading activity in a product and, in certain cases, the liquidity, from 

the pre-trade transparency requirements pursuant to specified criteria, including the market model or the 

type and size of orders. However, ESMA would be required to issue an opinion on the legality of the 

waiver. For post-trade transparency, the proposal provides for the possibility of deferred publication in 

certain cases, depending on the size or type of transactions. The scope of and requirements for these 

exceptions would be established by implementing rules. MiFIR Article 8.

274 MiFIR Article 13. A systematic internalizer is an investment firm that, on an organized, frequent, and 

systematic basis, “deals on own account” by executing client orders outside a regulated market or an MTF 

or an OTF. MiFIR Article 2.1(3).
73

The organizational and market surveillance requirements applicable to the three venues 

are nearly identical. Regulated markets and MTFs would execute transactions on a nondiscretionary basis, but the operator of an OTF would have a degree of discretion over how a 

transaction is executed.275 Consequently, the OTF operator would be subject to investor 

protection, business conduct, and best execution requirements, and prohibited from trading 

against its own proprietary capital.

C. Asia

1. Japan

The Japanese legislature passed the Amendment to the Financial Instruments and 

Exchange Act (“FIEA”) in May 2010.276 This amendment gave the Japanese financial regulator, 

the JFSA, the authority to regulate OTC derivatives.277 The JFSA expects the implementing 

cabinet ordinance (“Cabinet Ordinance”) and other measures to be finalized by November 

2012.278

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The FIEA covers financial products such as equity swaps, interest rate swaps (“IRS”), 

CDS, and FX, but not commodity derivatives. Under the domestic legislative framework, there 

are no provisions prohibiting a particular class of financial derivatives. Japan has separate 

definitions for “exchange traded derivatives”, “OTC derivatives”, and “foreign exchange-traded

 

275 Non-discretionary execution indicates that transactions will be executed according to predetermined rules. 

By contrast, discretionary execution of a trade indicates that the market has some degree of flexibility in 

choosing the methodology used to execute the trade.

276 See Outline of the Bill for Amendment of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, available on the 

JFSA website at http://www.fsa.go.jp/en/refer/diet/174/01.pdf.

277 In addition, industrial commodity derivatives are regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Economy, 

Trade and Industry, and agricultural commodity derivatives are regulated and supervised by the Ministry of 

Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries. JFSA Submission (September 27, 2011) at p. 4.

278 JFSA Presentation at p.8; FSB October 2011 Report, Table 1 and Table 6.
74

derivatives.”279 A derivatives transaction where one counterparty is a financial instruments 

business operator (“FIBO”) or a registered financial institution (“RFI”) under FIEA is subject to 

the Japanese domestic regulatory framework.280

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

There is no separate licensing requirement for derivatives dealers. The FIEA requires 

that entities that market transactions in derivatives or act as intermediaries or brokers register as 

FIBOs.281 Financial institutions such as commercial banks may engage in certain derivatives 

business by registering as RFIs.

282

 Foreign corporate FIBOs and foreign securities traders may 

obtain the approval of the Prime Minister to trade derivatives at a Japanese financial instruments 

exchange.283

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

Japan has implemented Basel II for banks, including banks registered as RFIs. Japan will 

apply Basel 2.5’s enhanced measurements of risks related to securitization and trading book 

exposures by December 31, 2011.284 Japan intends to release a public consultation on Basel III 

in early 2012 with publication of final rule text by the end of March 2012. These rules will be 

implemented by the end of March 2013.285 Type I Japanese FIBOs, which often are called 

securities companies, are required to keep their capital-to-risk ratio at no less than 120%. This 

 

279 JFSA Submission at p. 1.

280 Id. at p. 3.

281 FIEA Article 28.

282 FIEA Article 33-2; see also JFSA Submission at p. 2.

283 Id. at p. 8 (citing FIEA Article 60(I)).

284 BCBS Progress Report on Basel III Implementation (October 2011), pp. 10-12, available at 

http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs203.pdf.

285 Id.
75

ratio is defined as the ratio of capital after the deduction of total fixed assets relative to the total 

amount of risk, including market risk, counterparty risk, and operational risk.286 In terms of 

liquidity and risk management, FIBOs that engage in OTC derivatives transactions are required 

to manage their liquidity risks according to JFSA supervisory guidelines.287 FIBOs and RFIs

that enter into FX derivatives or securities-related OTC derivatives with retail customers are 

required to have customers post margin for those transactions.288 The FIEA requires that FIBOs 

and RFIs segregate customer assets from their own assets.289

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

All FIBOs are required to comply with the business conduct rules under FIEA.

290

 

Business conduct requirements applicable to FIBOs generally include basic operating 

requirements placed on financial institutions, such as proper disclosure, reporting to regulators, 

appropriate internal control systems to avoid conflicts of interest, and adherence to fiduciary duty

obligations.

291

c. Clearing Requirements

i. Clearing Mandate

Under the FIEA, clearing through a CCP will be mandatory for specific OTC derivatives 

transactions where the reduction of settlement risk through central clearing would be deemed 

necessary for the stability of the Japanese market.292 The exact products included within the 

 

286 JFSA Submission at p. 6.

287 Id. at p. 6; see also Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments and Business 

Operators, etc. (June 2010), available at http://www.fsa.go.jp/en/refer/guide/instruments.pdf.

288 JFSA Submission at p. 6 (citing FIEA Article 38, item 7, and Cabinet Ordinance Article 117, ¶ 1, item 27).

289 Id. at p. 7 (citing FIEA Articles 43-2 and 43-3).

290 Id. at p. 2.

291 Id. at p. 8.

292 JFSA Presentation at p.3; see also FSB October 2011 Report, p. 7, Table 2 and Table 6; and Progress since 

the Washington Summit in the Implementation of the G20 Recommendations for Strengthening Financial 
76

central clearing requirement will be specified by Cabinet Ordinance. Mandatory clearing is 

required for trades “that are significant in volume and would reduce settlement risks in the 

domestic market”.293

The FIEA requires central clearing for high-volume OTC derivatives.294 Clearing must 

occur on a Japanese CCP for those OTC derivatives where clearing criteria relates closely to 

corporate bankruptcy criteria under Japanese law

295 such as the iTraxx Japan CDX index.296

 For 

all other products, the JFSA would allow entities that it regulates to clear on domesticallylicensed CCPs, foreign-licensed CCPs, or foreign CCPs that have an interoperability 

arrangement with a domestically-authorized CCP.297

ii. Registration Requirements for CCPs

CCPs are required to have a license when they offer central clearing services to domestic 

FIBOs or RFIs.

298

 CCPs must have capital in excess of 1 billion yen and JFSA-authorized

internal operating rules, expertise in clearing transactions in financial instruments within their 

human resources, and adequate infrastructure to ensure timely collateral calls for the settlement 

of liability.299 Additionally, authorization is required for shareholders that intend to hold more 

than 20% of the voting rights of a domestic CCP.300

 

Stability: Report of the Financial Stability Board to G20 Leaders (November 8, 2010) (“FSB November 

2010 Report”) at p. 14, available at http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_101111b.pdf.

293 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2.

294 See OTC Derivatives Regulation in Japan: Improving the Stability and Transparency of OTC Derivatives 

Markets (October 17, 2011) (“JFSA Presentation”), available at 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=49926&SearchText=.

295 JFSA Presentation; FSB October 2011 Report, Table 7.

296 JFSA Submission at p. 3; see also FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2 and Table 7.

297 JFSA Presentation; see also JFSA Submission at pp.15-16.

298 JFSA Submission at p. 12 (citing FIEA Article 156-2).

299 Id. at pp. 12- 14.

300 JFSA Presentation.
77

The requirements of the authorization regime that are applied to CCPs organized under 

Japanese law also are largely applied to CCPs organized under foreign laws. Certain 

requirements, however, such as minimum capital requirements and major shareholder 

requirements, will not be applied to foreign CCPs.301 Foreign CCPs that are clearing transactions 

executed by domestic FIBOs must obtain a CCP license from JFSA.

302

 However, where the 

impact of assuming clearing liabilities is deemed insignificant to the domestic market, the 

Commissioner of JFSA may publish a notification that a specific foreign CCP may not be 

required to obtain a license to conduct certain clearing activities.303

iii. Regulatory Requirements for CCPs

CCPs must prepare and keep documents relating to their operations and submit them to 

the JFSA.304

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

The FIEA establishes a mandatory OTC derivatives reporting requirement for financial 

institutions, under which FIBOs and RFIs are required to store and report OTC derivatives trade 

information to JFSA, unless they provide such trade information to a TR. Trade data will be 

reported to a designated TR, and trade data that the TR does not accept will be reported to the 

JFSA.305 The JFSA currently is considering whether all trade information should be subject to 

the trade reporting obligation.306

 

301 Id.

302 JFSA Submission at p. 15 (citing FIEA Article 156-2).

303 Id. at p.15 (citing FIEA 2XX VIII, Order for Enforcement of FIEA 1-18-2, Article 1-19(2)).

304 Id. at pp. 14-15 (citing FIEA Article 156-3).

305 FSB October 2011 Report, p. 11 and Table 5.

306 JFSA Submission at p. 3.
78

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

TRs must be designated for a regulatory purpose by the Prime Minister, before domestic 

FIBOs can report their trades to them.

307

 In order for a TR to be designated, it must have 

adequate financial resources to maintain operations and knowledgeable staff with the skills to 

undertake operations adequately, and must not have directors that are deemed inappropriate for 

such a role.

308

Foreign TRs whose regulator has an international cooperative oversight framework with 

JFSA and has an adequate regime for reporting to JFSA are expected to be designated for 

regulatory purposes by the Prime Minister.

309

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Repositories

The JFSA currently is in the process of determining the details relating to recordkeeping 

and reporting of trade information. It is expected to publish a draft Cabinet Ordinance in Spring 

2012 for public consultation, in order to allow for time to implement trade reporting before the 

G-20 end-of-2012 deadline.310

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

The FIEA does not include an obligation for OTC derivatives to be exchange traded. The 

JFSA recently published a draft regulatory framework to require certain OTC derivatives to be 

executed on electronic trading platforms.

311

 

307 Id. at p. 16 (citing FIEA Article 156-64).

308 Id. at pp. 16-17 (citing FIEA Article 165-67).

309 Id. at pp. 18-19 (citing FIEA Article 156-64).

310 Id. at p.18

311 Id. at p. 2; FSB October 2011 Report, Table 3. The JFSA undertook a review panel in late 2011 and 

published a draft regulatory framework in December 2011. It anticipates establishing the framework 

without delay. See Issues Discussed at the OTC Derivatives Regulation Review Panel (Executive 
79

ii. Registration Requirements for Markets

In order to obtain a license, a financial instruments exchange must meet minimum capital 

requirements of 1 billion yen and must be a juridical person with a board of directors and a board 

or committee of auditors.

312

 Only an authorized financial instrument firm association, authorized

by the Prime Minister, can establish a financial exchange without a separate license.313

iii. Regulatory Requirements for Markets

Financial instruments exchanges must prepare and keep documents relating to their 

operations and submit them to the Commissioner of JFSA.314 Financial instruments exchanges 

must conduct self-regulatory services or may, with authorization of the Prime Minister, 

outsource such services to a separate self-regulatory organization.315 Self-regulatory 

organizations are supervised by the JFSA.

2. China

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

China indicates that there is increased standardization of OTC derivatives products.316 It

has stated that it is reviewing whether all asset classes will be covered.

317

b. Types of Market Participants

In order to enter into OTC derivatives transactions in China, institutions use agreements 

developed by the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors

 

Summary) (“Japan Review Panel”), available at http://www.fsa.go.jp/en/news/2012/20120106-1.pdf.

312 Id. at p.9 (citing FIEA Article 83-2).

313 Id. at p.10 (citing FIEA Article 67).

314 See FIEA Article 188 and Cabinet Ordinance Concerning Financial Instruments Exchange Article 112.

315 Id. at p.11 (citing FIEA Article 85).

316 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 1.

317 Id. at Table 6.
80

(“NAFMII”).

318

 At this time, it is unclear what statutory or regulatory requirements may be 

imposed on participants in the OTC derivatives market.

c. Clearing Requirements

China is considering what type of legislation and clearing requirements would be suitable 

for its markets.319 The People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”), China’s central bank, is making 

efforts to have the Shanghai Clearing House (“SCH”)320 establish a framework for central 

clearing.321

d. Reporting Requirements

There will be regulation in force by the end of 2012 requiring all OTC derivatives 

transactions to be reported to TRs.322 Under current requirements, all OTC interest rate, FX, and 

certain credit risk mitigation tools (the Chinese term for CDS) can be traded on the China 

Foreign Exchange Trade System (“CFETS”) trading platform.

323

 Executing on the CFETS 

platform fulfills the trade reporting requirement. Interest rate trades executed outside of the 

CFETS platform must be reported to CFETS, and credit risk mitigation trades should be reported 

to the NAFMII.

324

 China currently is considering details of its requirements, including the 

frequency and contents of reporting and which institutions will play the role of TRs.325 

 

318 The NAFMII is a self-regulatory organization in China that has developed a documentation standard for 

OTC derivatives in China. See Promoting Market Innovation, National Association of Financial Market 

Institutional Investors, available at, http://www.nafmii.org.cn/Channel/349969

319 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2 and Table 6.

320 SCH is owned by a number of other infrastructures, CFETS, China Central Depository & Clearing Co., 

China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, and China Gold Coin Incorporation, and it is regulated 

by the PBOC.

321 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2.

322 Id. at Table 5.

323 FSB October 2011 Report, p. 11 and Table 5.

324 Id.

325 Id.
81

e. Execution Requirements

China is reviewing what trading requirements to impose on OTC derivatives.326 

However, Chinese regulators have said their eventual system will have multi-dealer functionality 

and will provide pre-trade price and volume transparency for all electronically traded OTC 

derivatives.327 Any interest rate transactions that take place off of an electronic trading platform 

will be reported to the CFETS platform.328

3. Hong Kong

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”) and Hong Kong Securities and Futures 

Commission (“SFC”, together with the HKMA, the “Hong Kong Authorities”) released a 

consultation paper on their proposed OTC regulatory regime in October 2011.329 The Hong 

Kong Authorities propose amending the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) to set out a 

general framework for the regulation of the OTC derivatives market, which includes providing 

relevant rulemaking powers to the HKMA and SFC. The Hong Kong Authorities will conduct a 

public consultation on proposed regulations in the first quarter of 2012.330 The amendments to 

the SFO and the proposed regulations must be approved by Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. 

Hong Kong is working to adopt these regulations by the end of 2012. In order to provide for 

flexibility given the evolving global developments related to derivatives regulation, the Hong 

Kong Authorities propose setting out the main regulatory obligations in the SFO, and including 

 

326 Id. at Table 3.

327 Id. at Table 4.

328 Id. at Table 3.

329 Consultation Paper on the Proposed Regulatory Regime for the Over-the-Counter Derivatives Market in 

Hong Kong (October 2011) (“Hong Kong Consultation”), available at 

https://www.sfc.hk/sfcConsultation/EN/sfcConsultFileServlet?name=otcreg&type=1&docno=1.

330 Id. at p.5.
82

the details (e.g., scope of mandatory obligations) in the regulations to be made under the SFO.

331

 

The legislation will include a power to allow specific transactions to be included in or excluded 

from the definition of “OTC derivatives”.332

Hong Kong intends to implement certain requirements for clearing of and reporting on 

certain types of IRS and non-deliverable forwards by the end of 2012.333 Transactions subject to 

mandatory reporting and clearing obligations are referred to as “reportable transactions” and 

“clearing eligible transactions” respectively.334 The Hong Kong Authorities selected these asset 

classes for regulation before other classes because they represent a much larger percentage of 

OTC derivatives trading in Hong Kong than equity swaps, CDS, and commodities.335 After 

market consultation, the Hong Kong Authorities will expand the clearing and reporting 

obligations, in phases, to cover other interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives, as well as 

other asset classes such as equity derivatives and, for mandatory clearing, will propose both a 

top-down and bottom-up approach.336 While OTC equity derivatives represent a small 

percentage of the derivatives market in Hong Kong, they propose to focus on this category next 

to assist in monitoring systemic risk in Hong Kong’s stock market.337

 

331 Id. at p. 2.

332 Id. at p. 11.

333 Id. at pp. 3 and 12.

334 Id. at p. 3.

335 Id. at p. 14 (citing a 2009 market study on the Hong Kong OTC derivatives market).

336 Id. at p. 3.

337 Id. at p. 15.
83

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

Hong Kong has proposed regulation of major participants in its OTC derivatives market, 

in particular authorized institutions (“AIs”),338 licensed corporations (“LCs”),339 and large 

participants whose positions may pose a systemic risk. AIs and LCs that already are registered 

would not need a separate registration. AIs represent most of the major participants in the Hong 

Kong derivatives market and would be regulated by the HKMA because, for many AIs, their 

OTC derivatives business forms a core part of their banking business, which is regulated by the 

HKMA.340 As for the other participants in the market, many of them are international 

investment houses that conduct OTC derivatives business in Hong Kong either through 

unregulated entities within the group or through entities that already are licensed by the SFC 

with respect to their securities and futures business.341 Currently unlicensed entities that carry on 

a business of dealing in or advising on OTC derivatives would be required to be licensed under 

the proposal.

342

 The SFC also would have a degree of regulatory oversight with respect to large 

participants in the OTC derivatives market that are not otherwise regulated by the SFC or 

HKMA as intermediaries, but that have positions that raise systemic risk concerns.343

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

The HKMA is beginning to incorporate the capital regime for banks and the revised 

counterparty credit risk framework under Basel III for implementation in accordance with the 

 

338 The AI category is the registration class for deposit-taking institutions and licensed banks.

339 The LC category is the registration class for entities that deal in securities, futures contracts, or leveraged 

foreign exchange trading; advise on securities or futures contracts; or act as asset managers.

340 Id. at p. 10

341 Id.

342 Id.

343 Id. at pp. 4-5.
84

2013 international timeline.344 The Hong Kong Authorities are considering imposing capital 

requirements for OTC derivatives transactions not cleared through a CCP that are based on 

international standards. The Hong Kong Authorities also are participating in international work 

by international standard setters on margin requirements for non-centrally cleared OTC 

derivatives transactions and will consider the appropriate regime for Hong Kong entities in light 

of the outcome of this international work.

345

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

The Hong Kong Authorities have not yet specified what business conduct rules they 

propose to adopt for OTC derivatives market participants. In developing their requirements, the 

Hong Kong Authorities will take into account the standards being developed by the IOSCO Task 

Force.

346

c. Clearing Requirements

i. Clearing Mandate

Mandatory clearing is expected to cover certain IRS and non-deliverable forwards 

initially, with subsequent consideration of extending the requirement to other types of 

products.347 The scope of mandatory clearing is under review, but Hong Kong currently plans to 

cover institutions holding positions that may pose systemic risk to the financial system.348 The 

Hong Kong Authorities propose that a mandatory clearing obligation apply if both counterparties 

(including AIs and LCs) exceed a specified threshold and if an AI, LC, or Hong Kong person is a 

 

344 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 1.

345 Hong Kong Consultation at p. 35.

346 Id. at pp. 36-38.

347 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 6.

348 Id.
85

counterparty to the transaction or an AI or LC has originated or executed the transaction.

349

 The 

clearing threshold would be set in absolute dollar terms, on a per product class basis and would 

be calculated using the average notional value of a person’s month-end positions for the 

preceding six months.350

In some cases, locally incorporated AIs would be required to centrally clear transactions 

at both an entity level and a group basis (e.g., clearing the transactions of its subsidiaries) to 

assist the HKMA’s consolidated supervision of the AIs’ activities.351 Clearing would be required 

on a group basis when positions of the AI and its subsidiaries, as specified by the HKMA, 

together have exceeded the clearing threshold. If an AI is required to centrally clear transactions 

on a group basis, then its obligation will be to procure the clearing of the transactions entered 

into by its subsidiaries, rather than clearing the transaction itself, because it is not the 

counterparty of those transactions.

The specified threshold calculation would include all transactions in a product class, not 

only clearing eligible transactions.352 When an entity first exceeds the clearing threshold, it 

would have a three-month grace period to set up a clearing relationship with a designated CCP or 

clearing agent and to establish the necessary infrastructure to clear. The Hong Kong Authorities 

have not set threshold amounts for the clearing obligation, but are in the process of collecting 

data on derivatives activities in the Hong Kong market to determine the threshold levels.353

 

349 Hong Kong Consultation at pp. 3-4. It is intended that the term “originated or executed” shall have the 

same meaning for mandatory reporting and clearing. See Hong Kong Consultation at pp. 25-27; see also

FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2 (“much also depends on the timing of global consensus on key issues 

and completing the legislative process in time”); Hong Kong Consultation at p. 26.

350 Id. at p.22 and 28.

351 Id. at p. 16.

352 Id. at p. 28.

353 Id. at p. 28.
86

Overseas persons (including overseas incorporated AIs with transactions not conducted 

through their Hong Kong branches) may be affected by the mandatory clearing requirement if 

they transact clearing-eligible transactions with an AI, LC, or Hong Kong person and both have 

exceeded the clearing threshold. The Hong Kong Authorities have proposed that there will be an 

exemption where both counterparties to the transaction are overseas persons and the transaction 

is either: (1) subject to mandatory clearing under the laws of an acceptable overseas jurisdiction; 

or (2) exempted from mandatory clearing under those laws.354 In addition, the Hong Kong 

Authorities have suggested that overseas entities should be allowed to become clearing members 

at local CCPs and have requested comment on this issue.

355

ii. Registration Requirements for CCPs

The Hong Kong Authorities have proposed that only a recognized clearing house356or an 

authorized automated trading services provider357 should be eligible to be designated as a CCP. 

They are considering whether to require clearing by local CCPs of certain products that are 

considered systemically important to the Hong Kong financial market.358

iii. Regulatory Requirements for CCPs

The SFC intends to adopt international standards consistent with CPSS-IOSCO for the 

regulation of CCPs before recognizing an entity as a recognized clearing house or authorized 

 

354 Id.

355 Id. at p. 34.

356 A recognized clearing house is a company recognized by the SFC that ensures orderly, fair and expeditious 

clearing and settlement arrangements for transactions cleared or settled through its facilities and that risks 

associated with its business and operations are managed prudently. See Securities and Futures Ordinance 

Chapter 571 Section 37-38.

357 Automated trading services providers are entities, other than recognized exchanges companies or 

recognized clearing houses, that provide automated trading services (as well as clearing and settlement) 

through electronic facilities whereby offers to sell or purchase securities or futures contracts are made. See

Guidelines for the Regulation of Automated Trading Services, Securities and Futures Commission 

(February 2002), available at 

http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileArchServlet?docno=H061; see also Securities 

and Futures Ordinance Chapter 571 Section 95.

358 Hong Kong Consultation at p. 33.
87

automated trading services provider for OTC derivatives.359 These international standards 

include standards relating to governance structures, financial resources, membership criteria, risk 

management policies and procedures, margining requirements, and default procedures.

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

The Hong Kong Authorities have proposed a mandatory reporting obligation where 

specified OTC derivatives transactions (i.e., reportable transactions) are required to be reported 

to a TR to be operated by the HKMA.360 However, the TR will meet international standards 

consistent with CPSS-IOSCO on reporting and data format, which will facilitate the aggregation 

of global data.361 LCs and locally incorporated AIs would be required to report all reportable 

OTC derivatives transactions that they are counterparty to, or that they have originated or 

executed,362 to the HKMA TR.363 If and as required by the HKMA, locally incorporated AIs 

also would be required to ensure that the positions of subsidiaries are reported to the TR.364

Overseas incorporated AIs would be required to report their reportable transactions to the 

HKMA TR if they originated or executed the transaction through, or became a counterparty via,

 

359 Id.

360 FSB October 2011 Report at p. 18.

361 Id. at pp. 18-19.

362 Id. at p. 17 (“By ‘originated and executed’ we mean that the AI or LC has negotiated, arranged, confirmed 

or committed to a transaction on behalf of itself or any counterparty to the transaction, and in the case of an 

overseas-incorporated AI, that this has been done through its Hong Kong branch. It would therefore 

include the functions of a relevant sales desk or trading desk involved in the transaction.”). The Hong 

Kong Authorities propose including transactions “originated or executed” because most OTC derivatives 

activity conducted by AIs and LCs in Hong Kong is not booked in Hong Kong, so the AIs and LCs in Hong 

Kong are not counterparties to the transaction. Therefore, the Hong Kong Authorities believe that, in order 

to be effective, the mandatory reporting obligation would include transactions “originated or executed” by 

LCs, locally incorporated AIs, and the Hong Kong branch of overseas incorporated AIs. Id.

363 Since the scope of Hong Kong regulation initially will be IRS and non-deliverable forwards, these are the 

“reportable” categories. Hong Kong Consultation at p. 16; see also FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5 

(implementation “depends on timing of global consensus on key issues and completing the legislative 

process in time; intention to take a phased approach, beginning with [IRS] and non-deliverable forwards”).

364 Hong Kong Consultation at p.16.
88

their Hong Kong branch or if a transaction where the overseas incorporated AI is a counterparty

has a Hong Kong nexus.365 A transaction with a Hong Kong nexus may have an impact on the 

monetary and financial stability of Hong Kong.366 Hong Kong persons367 are required to report 

reportable transactions to the HKMA TR if they are a counterparty to the transaction, they have 

exceeded the specified reporting threshold, and no AI or LC is also subject to a reporting 

obligation for that transaction.

368

 Overseas persons who are not AIs, LCs, or Hong Kong persons 

would not be subject to the mandatory reporting requirement.

In all cases where the mandatory reporting obligation applies, the Hong Kong Authorities 

have proposed that such reporting must be complied with by the end of the next business day.369

 

365 A Hong Kong nexus exists where the underlying entity or reference entity for an equity derivative or a 

credit derivative is established, incorporated, or listed in Hong Kong or under Hong Kong law, or where, 

for other derivatives, the underlying asset, currency, or rate is denominated in Hong Kong dollars. Hong 

Kong Consultation at pp. 16 and 18; see also FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5 (“Transactions that meet 

HK nexus condition to be reported to local TR to be developed by HKMA”).

366 Hong Kong Consultation at p.17.

367 Id. at p. 19 (“The reference to ‘Hong Kong persons’ is essentially intended to cover persons (other than AIs 

and LCs) who operate from Hong Kong, or who otherwise have a connection with Hong Kong. 

Accordingly, we propose that the term should refer to the following – (1) individuals who are Hong Kong 

residents, (2) the owners of any sole proprietorship or partnership that is based in, operated from, or 

registered in Hong Kong, (3) companies that are incorporated or registered in Hong Kong, (4) funds that 

are managed in or from Hong Kong (irrespective of whether they are established as a company or a trust), 

and (5) any other entity that is established or registered under Hong Kong law.”). The Hong Kong 

Authorities anticipate that the definition of Hong Kong persons will cover “non-AI and non-LC financial 

institutions, commercial entities and high net worth individuals based in Hong Kong, as well as funds 

managed from Hong Kong, and irrespective of whether they enter into OTC derivatives transactions to 

hedge their commercial activities or as part of an investment portfolio.” Id.

368 Id. at pp. 16 and 21. The Hong Kong Authorities propose setting the reporting threshold in absolute dollar 

terms and based on the average notional value of a person’s month-end positions from the preceding six 

months. The specific threshold for each product class has yet to be determined. Thresholds would be set 

on a per product class basis – they would apply separately and independently to different product classes,

and thresholds may be different for different product classes (each product class may include one or more 

product type). The HKMA and SFC are collecting data on OTC derivatives activities in Hong Kong’s 

market that will be used to determine the specified threshold levels. Reporting thresholds (like clearing 

thresholds) would be reviewed every three years and amended as appropriate to reflect market 

developments and changes. All transactions in a specified product class would be included for purposes of 

calculating the reporting threshold, including transactions that fall outside of the definition of reportable 

transactions as well as transactions that are exempt from the reporting obligation.

369 Id. at p. 16.
89

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

As explained above, the HKMA has proposed the creation of a government-operated TR 

that would act as the repository for all transactions required to be reported.

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

Legislative changes to give regulators power to impose trading requirements are

anticipated to be completed in early 2012, but the timing of implementation remains under 

consideration and will be guided by development of international standards.370 The Hong Kong 

Authorities will examine local market conditions after the introduction of mandatory reporting 

and clearing requirements and advise on how best to implement a mandatory trading 

obligation.371 While the Hong Kong Authorities propose not imposing a mandatory trading 

obligation at the outset, the SFO will be amended to permit a trading requirement in the future.372

4. Singapore

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) intends to issue a public consultation in 

early 2012 on a proposed framework for OTC derivatives, with relevant legislation to be 

introduced by the end of 2012.373

b. Clearing Requirements

In considering implementation of a clearing requirement for OTC derivatives, Singapore 

is taking into account systemic risk to the local market and the degree of standardization in the 

 

370 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5.

371 Hong Kong Consultation at p.32.

372 Id. at p. 4.

373 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 1.
90

local market.374 As explained above, Singapore intends to pass legislative amendments to 

require mandatory clearing of such derivatives by the end of 2012.375

c. Reporting Requirements

MAS intends to publish a public consultation on reporting to TRs in the near future, and 

to introduce legislation by the end of 2012.376

d. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

MAS intends to publish a public consultation on trading requirements for OTC 

derivatives in the near future, and legislation is to be introduced by the end of 2012.377

5. Australia

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The Australian Council of Financial Regulators (“ACFR”) issued a discussion paper in 

June 2011 on issues surrounding the central clearing of OTC derivatives.378 The Australia 

Discussion Paper examines the range of instruments in the Australian OTC derivatives markets, 

with FX and interest rate derivatives being the most actively traded by domestic market 

 

374 Id. at Table 6.

375 Id. at Table 1; see also November 2010 FSB October 2011 Report at p. 15. The MAS currently regulates 

the Singapore Exchange Derivatives Clearing Limited (“SGX-DC”), which uses its AsiaClear system to 

clear OTC derivatives. SGX-DC clears OTC commodity derivatives and recently has expanded to OTC 

financial derivatives. This clearing activity currently is voluntary.

376 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5.

377 Id. at Table 3.

378 Central Clearing of OTC Derivatives in Australia (Discussion Paper, June 2011) (“Australia Discussion 

Paper”), available at http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/consultations/201106-otc-derivatives/pdf/201106-

otc-derivatives.pdf. ACFR membership includes senior representatives of the Australian Prudential 

Regulation Authority (“APRA”), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (“ASIC”), Reserve 

Bank of Australia, and Treasury of Australia.
91

participants.

379

 The ACFR requested comment on a range of issues and has not set forth a 

detailed proposal.

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

Under the Corporations Act of 2011, firms or persons that carry out financial services in 

Australia are required to have an ASIC-issued Australian Financial Services License (“AFSL”) 

that authorizes the firm or person to deal in derivatives.380 If ASIC considers an overseas 

financial services provider to be subject to equivalent regulation in its home jurisdiction, that 

financial services provider is exempt from the requirement to hold an AFSL.381

In order to receive and maintain an AFSL, entities need to demonstrate that they satisfy 

certain business conduct, governance, risk control, and financial requirements.382 The specific 

requirements will depend on the scale of an entity’s business and the type of counterparties with 

whom it is dealing.

383

 Higher requirements typically will apply where an entity’s business is 

more complex or its counterparties are less sophisticated.384

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

The AFSL licensing regime requires that an AFSL holder entering into (both on- and offexchange) derivatives transactions as a principal must meet minimum financial requirements 

imposed by ASIC.385 Banks undertaking on- and off-exchange derivatives transactions in 

Australia are regulated by APRA, which intends to implement Basel III requirements related to 

 

379 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 1; Australia Discussion Paper at p. 1.

380 Id. at p. 42.

381 Id.

382 Id.

383 Id.

384 Id.

385 Id. at p. 43.
92

counterparty credit risk that would include higher capital charges for non-centrally cleared OTC 

derivatives.386

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

AFSL holders must conduct their business in such a way to ensure that markets remain 

“fair, orderly and transparent”.

387

 The AFSL holder also must have arrangements in place to 

handle conflicts between its commercial interests and the requirement to maintain a fair, orderly, 

and transparent market.388 It also must monitor and enforce compliance with the market’s 

operating rules and have sufficient resources (i.e., financial, technological, and human resources) 

to operate the market properly.389 In addition, the AFSL holder is prohibited from engaging in 

activity that is misleading or deceptive.390 Finally, it must provide the ASIC with an annual 

report detailing the extent to which it complied, over the previous year, with its obligations under 

Australian law.391

Client funds must be kept in client money accounts that cannot be used to meet other 

clients’ obligations.392 AFSL holders may make payment out of a client money account if the 

client has provided the AFSL holder with written authorization for the transaction.393 If the 

AFSL holder becomes insolvent, its clients are entitled to the funds in the client money accounts 

 

386 Australia Survey Response to FSB Implementation Monitoring Network (September 2011), available at 

http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_111104b.pdf.

387 Corporations Act, Article 792A (2001), available at

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca2001172/.

388 Id.

389 Id.

390 See Corporations Act, Section 1041H; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act, Section 

12DA (2001), available at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/asaica2001529/.

391 Corporations Act, Section 792F.

392 Handling and Use of Client Money in Relation to Over-the-Counter Derivatives Transactions (Discussion 

Paper, November 2011), p. 2, available at 

http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/2231/PDF/DP_Client_Monies_OTC.pdf.

393 Id. at p. 5.
93

in priority over other creditors.394 The Australian government is soliciting comments through a 

consultation paper to review whether current client money account provisions provide adequate 

protection for investors.395

c. Clearing Requirements

i. Clearing Mandate

Australia currently does not require OTC derivatives to be centrally cleared and has not 

yet proposed legislation mandating central clearing of OTC derivatives.396 Australia has 

indicated that it is likely to harmonize its clearing requirements with those of other major 

jurisdictions,

397 and is considering the requirement that Australian dollar-denominated interest 

rate derivatives be centrally cleared domestically.398

As discussed above, the Australia Discussion Paper addresses issues surrounding the 

central clearing of OTC derivatives. The ACFR anticipates that this paper will facilitate the 

development of a formal regulatory framework on the issue of central clearing.399 The Australia 

Discussion Paper raised the possibility that Australian dollar-denominated IRS be centrally 

cleared through an Australian-domiciled CCP. The ACFR currently is developing 

recommendations for consideration by the Australian government.

 

394 Id. at p. 8.

395 Id. at pp. 16-18.

396 Australia Discussion Paper at p. 2; see also FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2 (“TBD” whether legal 

requirements will be in force by the end of 2012 to require all standardized OTC derivatives to be cleared 

through CCPs).

397 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 6 (“e.g., exemption of some classes of FX derivatives likely”; “coverage 

of credit and equity classes under review”; “likely that smaller financial entities would be exempt”).

398 Australia Discussion Paper at p. 3.

399 Id. at p. 1.
94

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

Australia expects to consult with industry participants and to consider what types of 

reporting requirements to implement for OTC derivatives.400 Australia expects to have 

regulations in place to require mandatory reporting of OTC derivatives data to TRs by the end of 

2012.401

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

Review of a market licensing regime for electronic trading platforms and exchanges is 

under way.402 Currently Australia does not require OTC derivatives to be traded on an exchange 

or electronic trading platform.

6. Republic of Korea

The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (“FSCMA”) came into effect 

in February 2009 and includes OTC derivatives within its scope.403 As explained below, Korean 

regulators took an initial step by proposing an amendment to the FSCMA that would provide for 

the clearing of OTC derivatives.

a. Types of OTC Derivatives

The KFSS said the FSCMA defines the term “derivative” to include IRS and other swap 

contracts.404 The FSCMA defines the term “over-the-counter derivatives” to mean derivatives 

 

400 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5.

401 Id. (Australia will review at end-2011 whether it is still on track to meet this requirement).

402 Id. at Table 3.

403 KFSS Submission at p. 1.

404 Id. at p. 1 (quoting FSCMA Article 5-1-iii). Any type of counterparty may enter into a swap, but an 

ordinary investor may enter into a swap only for the purpose of hedging risk associated with the investor’s

assets or debt. The term “ordinary investor” includes those without a sophisticated knowledge of 

derivatives and means an investor other than a professional investor. Id. at pp. 1-2. When financial 
95

that are not exchange-traded derivatives.405 The Financial Services Commission (“KFSC”) and 

KFSS may determine the scope of regulated derivatives.406 In addition, when dealers sell a new 

“exotic” derivative, they must submit documents to the KFSS that explain the details of the new 

product.407

b. Types of Market Participants

i. Registration Requirements

Entities engaging in financial investment business must obtain authorization or 

registration from the regulators under the FSCMA.408 Such entities must satisfy several 

requirements, such as those related to capital, a feasible and sound business plan, human 

resources, information technology facilities, sound governance, and mechanisms to prevent 

conflicts of interest.409

The FSCMA applies to every OTC derivatives transaction that involves a domestic 

counterparty.410 Therefore, although certain exceptions may apply, a foreign financial 

investment business entity intending to enter into such a transaction with a domestic client

generally must register with Korea’s financial regulators.411

 

investment companies sell a new OTC derivative to ordinary investors, they must undergo prior review by 

the Korea Financial Investment Association (“KFIA”). Id. at p. 2 (quoting FSCMA Article 166(2)-1-i).

405 FSCMA Article 5(3), available at http://www.fsc.go.kr/downManager?bbsid=BBS0085&no=78267.

406 KFSS Submission at p. 2 (explaining that the KFSC formulates financial policies and supervises financial 

markets, and the KFSS primarily examines and supervises financial services firms).

407 Id. at p. 6.

408 FSCMA Article 12.

409 KFSS Submission at p. 4.

410 Id. at p. 3.

411 Id. at pp. 3-4 (quoting FSCMA Enforcement Decree Article 7 on the Exclusion of Financial Investment 

Business from Application, available at http://www.fsc.go.kr/downManager?bbsid=BBS0085&no=78276).
96

ii. Prudential and other Risk-Related Requirements

The Korean government adopted the Basel II capital framework in January 2008.412

iii. Business Conduct Requirements

Entities engaging in financial investment business must comply with the principle of 

suitability and must inform their customers of the details of a financial investment product and 

other relevant information pursuant to the FSCMA.413 After an OTC derivatives transaction is 

executed, the entity must inform the counterparty of the value of the contract on a monthly or 

quarterly basis.414 In addition, the entity is required to examine and assess the likelihood of 

conflicts of interest and, if unable to reduce the likelihood to a reasonable level, must not enter 

into the transaction.

415

c. Clearing Requirements

i. Clearing Mandate

Although Korea has no specific regulation on clearing swaps through a CCP, the KFSS 

noted that the Korean regulators proposed amendments to the FSCMA to create a legal basis for 

the creation of a CCP in Korea and then to determine which swaps will be required to be cleared 

through a CCP.

416

 The Korean government anticipates that, by the end of 2012, legislation will 

 

412 FSB Monitoring Progress – Korea (September 2011), available at 

http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_111104m.pdf.

413 KFSS Submission at pp. 4-5 (noting that the KFIA also has formulated its own business conduct rules and 

procedures, and quoting FSCMA Article 46 on the Principle of Suitability, etc., and Article 47 on the Duty 

to Explain).

414 Id. at p. 5.

415 Id.

416 Id. at p. 3; see also Revision Bill of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Market Act (KFSC Press 

Release, July 26, 2011) at pp. 2-4, available at 

http://www.fsc.go.kr/downManager?bbsid=BBS0085&no=78276. The press release states that OTC 

derivatives transactions that can significantly affect markets if defaulted will be mandatorily cleared 

through clearinghouses.
97

be in place mandating the centralized clearing of OTC derivatives.417 Following this, regulations 

would need to be passed, followed by the establishment and pilot-testing of a domestic CCP.418

ii. Registration Requirements for CCPs

As described above, Korea plans to establish a framework for authorizing a CCP to clear 

OTC derivatives.

419

d. Reporting Requirements

i. Reporting Mandate

Entities engaging in financial investment business are required to report OTC derivatives

transaction data to the KFSS on a monthly basis.

420

 This reporting requirement includes trading 

volumes and outstanding notional amounts by type of underlying asset, i.e., interest rate, 

currency, equity, credit, commodity, etc.421

ii. Registration Requirements for Repositories

Korea does not have authorization requirements for repositories and instead, as explained 

above, requires reporting directly to the KFSS.422

e. Execution Requirements

i. Execution Mandate

Korea does not have organized markets or electronic execution facilities for OTC 

derivatives, and does not require trading of OTC derivatives on organized markets or electronic 

 

417 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 2.

418 Id.

419 KFSS Submission at pp. 3, 6.

420 Id. at pp. 3 and 6; see also FSB October 2011 Report, Table 5 (plan to enhance some parts of the reporting 

system).

421 KFSS Submission at pp. 3, 6.

422 Id. at p. 6.
98

trading platforms.

423

 Currently a review of policy options is under way.

424

 The Korean 

government is exploring trading requirements and is considering multi-dealer functionality of 

markets.

425

III. Regulatory Comparison

Major OTC derivatives jurisdictions have coalesced around a unified set of goals with the 

G-20 Leaders’ committing to central clearing, trading on exchanges and electronic trading 

platforms, reporting to TRs, standardization, and capital requirements. However, differences in 

the details among regulatory frameworks and in the timing of regulatory initiatives have raised 

concerns. This Study found similarities and differences among jurisdictions with respect to 

regulation of market participants, clearing, reporting, and trading of OTC derivatives. However, 

among the jurisdictions with major OTC derivatives markets, only the United States and Japan 

have adopted recent legislation in this area, although the European Union is nearing adoption of 

such legislation.

426

 In addition, a few jurisdictions require some reporting of OTC derivatives 

transactions, and several jurisdictions have released consultations related to the regulation of 

OTC derivatives. This section of the Report sets forth potential issues for further monitoring,427

summarizes commenters’ views on harmonization among various regimes, and describes the 

Commissions’ efforts to fulfill the DFA’s mandate to work toward developing consistent 

international standards in the regulation of Swaps.

 

423 Id.

424 FSB October 2011 Report, Table 3.

425 Id. at Table 4.

426 See FSB October 2011 Report at p. 21 (“The European Union and United States, the jurisdictions with 

authority over the largest and most developed OTC derivatives markets, are well into the process of 

establishing legislative and regulatory frameworks. Many jurisdictions have indicated that final decisions 

on domestic legislative frameworks will look to the international baseline established once EU and US 

legislation and implementing regulations are in place and international standards are finalized.”).

427 For further information, see the tables in Appendix I below.
99

A. Open Issues

1. Market Participant Issues

Registration and Regulation. The DFA created four new categories of market 

participants and generally requires registration of market participants that fall within the 

definitions of the terms SD, SBSD, MSP, and MSBSP. The DFA also requires compliance with 

detailed regulatory requirements for these registrants. Pursuant to the DFA, the CFTC and SEC 

have released proposed or final regulations that further define these terms, set forth registration

requirements, and establish compliance requirements. No other jurisdiction has yet proposed to 

similarly register and regulate entities as a result of the types of activities that require registration 

pursuant to the DFA. However, entities engaged in similar OTC derivatives activity may be 

otherwise regulated in their respective jurisdictions under existing law.

Prudential and other Risk Related Requirements. The DFA includes requirements related 

to capital, margin, risk management, segregation, and liquidity. Swaps Entities will be required 

to comply with minimum capital and minimum initial and variation margin requirements. The 

CFTC has proposed regulations in this area, and the SEC plans to propose regulations in 2012. 

Other jurisdictions are proposing their own regulations in this area, incorporating elements of 

Basel II or III. However, participants in the OTC derivatives markets will need to monitor the

minimum required capital requirements that are ultimately adopted by each jurisdiction, as well 

as the scope of entities that are captured by these requirements, in order to determine the amount 

of capital they are required to hold. Given the importance of margin requirements to the overall 

reform of the derivatives markets and the current lack of uniform treatment of margin across 

jurisdictions, authorities are working together to establish consistent standards for margin for 

non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives transactions, with a draft consultation paper expected by 

June 2012.
100

Banks and Their Branches. The DFA includes the Push-Out Rule, which substantially 

limits non-hedging use of Swaps by depository institutions, and the Volcker Rule, which 

significantly limits the ability of banking entities to engage in proprietary trading, other than for 

hedging and other specified exceptions. Foreign regulators, other than in the United Kingdom, 

have not proposed rules similar to the Push-Out and Volcker Rules.428

2. Clearing Issues

The United States, European Union, and Japan will require certain OTC derivatives to be 

cleared through a CCP.429 However, this Study has identified some differences with respect to 

requirements for mandatory clearing, segregation and portability, CCP ownership and 

governance, and CCP location.430

Clearing Requirement. The scope of transactions potentially subject to mandatory 

clearing may differ between the United States and the European Union. The U.S. Treasury has 

proposed an exemption from DFA clearing and trading requirements for FX swaps and forwards 

(although such transactions would remain subject to reporting and other requirements). The 

EMIR proposal does not provide an explicit exemption for FX, but instead proposes that ESMA 

would have the authority to exempt FX transactions from the clearing requirement. In addition, 

EMIR likely will include exemptions for intra-group trades and central bank transactions, and a 

 

428 The United Kingdom recently has suggested imposing limits on trading and OTC derivatives activities of 

ring-fenced retail banking entities, although not on members of the same corporate group as such entities.

Independent Commission on Banking, Final Report, Recommendations, p. 51, available at

http://bankingcommission.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ICB-Final-Report.pdf.

429 See FSB October 2011 Report at p. 1 (“Some jurisdictions have indicated that they are waiting for the US 

and EU regulatory frameworks to be finalised before acting. Consistency in implementation across 

jurisdictions is critical, and it is understandable that small markets want to see what frameworks the United 

States and European Union put in place when developing their own frameworks.”); see also id. at p. 8 (“the

pace at which various jurisdictions are implementing central clearing mandates and actual levels of central 

clearing currently seen do not support a conclusion that progress is on track to fully meet the G-20 

commitment, which calls for central clearing of all standardised OTC derivatives by end-2012”) and JFSA 

Presentation.

430 See also FSB October 2011 Report at pp. 14-18.
101

temporary exemption for pension funds.431

End-Users. Both U.S. and EU legislation include a carve-out for end users that use OTC 

derivatives to hedge risk. The DFA provides non-financial entities that use Swaps to hedge their 

commercial risks with an exception from the clearing requirement, subject to certain conditions. 

In addition, the CFTC and SEC are required to consider whether certain small financial 

institutions (with assets of $10 billion or less) may be permitted to use the end-user exception. In 

the European Union, EMIR, as currently proposed, would establish a clearing threshold under 

which a non-financial entity would not be required to clear its OTC derivatives transactions. 

However, until ESMA sets this threshold, it is not possible to assess whether the scope of relief 

is consistent with the DFA.

Segregation of Client Collateral at CCPs. In the United States, the CFTC has adopted a 

segregation model that provides for legal segregation with operational commingling for 

collateral related to cleared swaps. Under this model, FCMs and DCOs would be permitted to 

operationally commingle collateral but to account for such collateral individually. The SEC has 

not published a proposal addressing segregation of client assets at CCPs. As currently proposed, 

the EU Council version of EMIR requires a CCP to offer customers of clearing members a 

choice between individual client segregation and omnibus client segregation for both listed and 

OTC swaps. However the EP version of EMIR requires full segregation of customer assets by 

the CCP unless the client requests its funds to be held in an omnibus account. Until EMIR is 

finalized and ESMA provides technical standards, an assessment on consistency cannot be 

provided.

CCP Location. Neither the DFA nor current versions of EMIR would require OTC 

derivatives to be cleared in CCPs located in any particular jurisdiction. However, Japanese law 

 

431 See id. at p. 16.
102

requires certain OTC derivatives on Japanese underlying assets to be cleared on a CCP located in 

Japan. This locational requirement will be further specified through Cabinet Ordinance.

CCP Recognition. The DFA provides that the CFTC and the SEC may grant a 

conditional or unconditional exemption from registration for a CCP that is subject to 

“comparable, comprehensive supervision and regulation” by appropriate government authorities 

in its home country. The CFTC has not yet determined whether or the extent to which it may use

this authority. Because foreign jurisdictions, such as the European Union, are still in the process 

of establishing their own legislative approaches to derivatives clearing and have not yet moved 

forward on regulations adopting such legislative approaches, and because the SEC has not yet 

completed its rulemaking process, the SEC would, for some time, not be in a position to perform

a comparability assessment regarding clearing agency regulation. In the European Union, 

ESMA and the EC will be responsible for recognizing third-country CCPs. The recognition will 

require that the EC ascertain the legal and supervisory framework of that third country as 

equivalent to the EU framework, that the CCP is authorized and subject to effective supervision 

in that third country, and that ESMA has established cooperation arrangements with the thirdcountry competent authorities. In Japan, the FIEA allows foreign CCPs to obtain a license, but a

foreign CCP may provide clearing services in Japan without obtaining a license if it has an 

approved interoperability arrangement with a Japanese CCP.

3. Reporting Issues432

Reporting Requirement. Reporting to TRs will be required for all Swaps transactions 

under the DFA and for all derivatives transactions under EMIR, as proposed. The United States 

and the European Union are prescribing data elements that need to be reported and timeframes 

 

432 See id. at p. 2 (“there are a number of implementation issues that need to be resolved around ensuring the 

suitability of the data collected in TRs for meeting different regulatory mandates (including financial 

stability) and authorities’ effective access to data stored in TRs relevant to their respective mandates”); see 

also id. at pp. 18-19.
103

within which data needs to be reported. These requirements should be monitored to evaluate 

potential differences in required reporting elements (extent and format) and in the timing of 

reporting, with DFA requiring real-time reporting, EMIR requiring reporting of uncleared and

OTC cleared trades to the TR no later than the working day after the transaction takes place, and 

MiFIR requiring reporting of trades taking place on exchanges as quickly as possible and no later 

than the close of the following business day. 

Regulatory Access to Data. The DFA requires that foreign authorities provide a written 

agreement to indemnify a Swaps data repository and the CFTC or SEC, as applicable, for any 

litigation expenses as a condition to obtaining Swaps data maintained by the Swaps data 

repository. This requirement has caused concern among foreign regulators, some of which have 

expressed unwillingness to register or recognize an SDR unless able to have direct access to 

necessary information. Some regulators also are considering the imposition of a similar 

requirement that would restrict the CFTC’s and SEC’s access to information at TRs abroad. The 

CFTC and SEC are working to develop solutions that provide access to foreign regulators in a 

manner consistent with the DFA and to ensure access to foreign-based information. Congress 

may determine that a legislative amendment to the indemnification provision is appropriate.

Public Dissemination. The United States requires, and the European Union has proposed, 

transparency and public disclosure of data. However, it is likely that there will be significant 

differences in the timing of the dissemination of data, as well as in the nature of the data 

released. The DFA and MiFIR require real-time public reporting of transactional data, with the 

possibility of exemptions for large notional transactions (block trades), whereas EMIR, as 

currently proposed, requires weekly publication of aggregate data.

4. Execution Issues

Execution Requirement. The DFA requires that any swap subject to the clearing 
104

requirement must be executed on a DCM or SEF and any security-based swap must be executed on 

a securities exchange or SBSEF, unless no such venue makes the swap or security-based swap 

available for trading. As noted above, EMIR does not include an execution requirement. The EC 

has proposed in MiFIR that ESMA assess and decide when an OTC derivatives contract that is 

eligible for clearing is sufficiently liquid to be traded exclusively on the various organized venues 

(a regulated market, MTF, or OTF). Under this model, there could be a class of clearing-eligible 

contracts in the European Union that will not be required to be traded on an organized venue. 

Additionally, given where MiFIR is in the adoption process, there also is likely to be a timing gap 

between DFA implementation and MiFIR implementation. Japan published a draft regulatory 

framework requiring certain OTC derivatives to be executed on electronic trading platforms.433

Issues Related to Trading Venues. The DFA defines SEFs and SBSEFs as entities that 

provide the ability for multiple participants to execute or trade Swaps by accepting bids and 

offers made by multiple participants in the facility or system. Therefore, the CFTC and SEC 

have proposed regulations that would not permit single-dealer platforms to be registered as SEFs 

or SBSEFs. As currently contemplated, OTFs are similar systems where multiple third-party 

buying and selling interests interact, and the execution of client orders against the proprietary 

capital of the OTF operator is not permitted. In addition, MiFIR would subject OTFs to pretrade and post-trade transparency requirements. OTFs, however, could exercise discretion in 

processing the trades (i.e., the OTFs do not need to execute the transactions according to 

predetermined rules). In contrast, U.S. requirements provide for execution pursuant to 

predetermined rules.

 

433 See Japan Review Panel at p. 1; but see FSB October 2011 Report at p. 1 (“The establishment of legislative 

and regulatory frameworks to implement the commitment to trading standardised derivatives on exchanges 

and electronic platforms, where appropriate, is markedly behind the progress made toward other 

commitments.”); see also id. at pp. 9-10, 18.
105

B. Harmonization Efforts

Many of the 33 commenters that filed public submissions took into account the 

differences and similarities in regulatory approaches for the OTC derivatives market and 

provided their views on various aspects of harmonization.

Consistency vs. Market-Specific Regulation. The Request for Comment asked, “[i]n 

viewing the existing laws, institutions, and enforcement mechanisms of each respective 

jurisdiction as a whole, are ... similarities and differences appropriate and desirable for 

regulatory purposes, or do certain aspects of a particular jurisdiction’s Swap market warrant a 

different regulatory approach?”434 Many of those commenting on this issue supported 

consistency in regulation.435 Some acknowledged that full harmonization would be difficult to 

achieve, if desirable at all, but said decisions on equivalency of similar regimes could resolve 

minor inconsistencies once sufficiently convergent frameworks were adopted.436

Some commenters pointed out that the use of OTC derivatives contracts, the methods of 

OTC trading, and the overall business structures of market participants are very similar among 

the G-20 countries and, therefore, there is little need for specific tailoring of requirements to 

specific aspects of the domestic regime.437 More specifically, the vast majority of cross-border 

business occurs among the United States, Europe, and Japan, each of which has broadly the same 

regulatory concerns.438

 

434 Request for Comment at p. 44511.

435 See, e.g., ISDA Submission at 12; AIMA Submission at 2.

436 See, e.g., AIMA Submission at p. 9.

437 Id. at 11.

438 Id.
106

On the other hand, some commenters supported variation among individual regimes in 

order to take into account market differences.439 Also, some commenters stated that there may 

be important differences in banking, custody, and insolvency law across jurisdictions, which 

require development of varied customer solutions at clearinghouses, such as requirements on 

customer asset protection, in order to provide the optimal level of protection.440 Some said 

regulators should be flexible when confronted with differences in non-domestic financial, legal, 

and regulatory infrastructures.441 Moreover, some degree of regulatory flexibility will encourage 

various trading venues and clearinghouses to develop superior solutions that are responsive to 

customer demand.442

Costs of Inconsistency and Benefits of Consistency. The Request for Comment inquired 

about “the potential costs and benefits (in terms of investor protection, market efficiency, 

competition, or other factors) that may arise from further consistency/harmonization of 

regulations across borders”.443 Some commenters stated that, because the regulation of OTC 

derivatives markets was in a state of flux, it would be difficult to assess the costs and benefits of 

new requirements or of harmonization with accuracy.444

Commenters provided input on both the costs of inconsistent requirements and the 

benefits of consistent requirements. Comments on the consequences of inconsistent 

requirements include:

 Increase in costs to market participants who seek to manage risks through OTC 

derivatives;

 

439 See, e.g., Eurex Submission at 7.

440 Id.

441 Id.

442 Id.

443 Request for Comment at p. 44511.

444 See, e.g., ISDA Submission at p. 12.
107

 Increased burdens for entities subject to supervision and inspection by multiple 

regulators, especially if regulators are imposing different requirements;

 Reduction of cross-border business, customer choice, and competition;

 Distortions in competition because market participants will select their 

counterparties on the basis of regulatory rather than economic factors; and

 New inefficiencies and risks to financial stability because firms will have more 

difficulty in integrating risk management and more fragmented markets will make 

regulatory oversight more difficult.445

Comments on the benefits of consistent requirements include:

 Creating a level playing field among jurisdictions and avoiding regulatory 

arbitrage and a “race to the bottom”;

 Reducing the burden on entities seeking to comply with different regimes and 

allowing for the implementation of common monitoring and compliance 

solutions;

 Coordinated monitoring and mitigation of systemic risks;

 Permitting benefits of enhanced efficiencies to be passed on to investors, 

including institutional investors such as pension funds; and

 Enabling regulators of one jurisdiction to recognize the regime of another 

jurisdiction as being equivalent.446

However, convergence also may bring with it additional costs or negative consequences where, 

in the interests of finding a convergent position, policymakers agree to a position which is 

suboptimal or even disruptive for the markets.447

Measurement of Consistency. The Request for Comment asked how consistency in 

regulation across jurisdictions should be measured and whether there are factors other than 

regulatory text that should be taken into consideration in assessing the degree to which crossborder regulatory harmonization has been implemented in practice.448

 One commenter stated 

that harmonization should not be measured simply in terms of similar texts.449 The commenter 

went on to state that regulatory harmonization also should be measured by compatibility, i.e., 

 

445 Id., at 12-13.

446 See, e.g., AIMA Submission at p. 6.

447 AIMA Submission at p. 10.

448 Request for Comment at p. 44511.

449 ISDA Submission at p. 13.
108

whether regulations allow cross-border transactions and international competition among dealers 

to continue in an economically meaningful way.450

In addition to textual similarity, the commenter stated that other factors that could 

enhance harmonization include:

 Recognition/Exemption of Entities Regulated by Other Jurisdictions: There 

should be mutual recognition between jurisdictions and/or exemptions granted to 

cross-border entities.451

 Consistency and Non-Duplicative Reporting: The same transactions should not 

have to be reported twice. Internationally compatible reporting systems should be 

used for cross-border trades.

 Similarity in Implementation and Regulatory Approach: Even if regulatory 

requirements are similar, they could have different outcomes because of 

differences in implementation and supervisory approach.452 This should be 

avoided.

 Avoiding Excessive Costs: There are additional costs and burdens for firms that 

are subject to supervision and inspection by multiple regulators. Also, if different 

technical standards are required in different jurisdictions, costs potentially will be 

significant.

 Minimizing the Impact of Timing Differences: Differences in the timing of 

regulatory implementation among jurisdictions could lead to regulatory arbitrage. 

If such timing gaps are significant, they could affect the balance of competition.453

Another commenter stated that reaching truly harmonized legislation is likely to be nearly 

impossible and, therefore, it would be difficult to measure exactly the extent to which two 

regulatory frameworks are consistent.454 The commenter proposed that consistency could be 

judged by examining the effect of the legislation and comparing the outcomes, or by determining 

 

450 Id.

451 For example, CCPs and execution facilities that are registered outside the United States should be 

recognized as eligible for clearing and executing transactions without requiring registration in the United 

States, and non-U.S. regulators also should recognize U.S.-registered entities. Similarly, U.S. regulators 

should recognize dealers that are registered outside the United States and that meet relevant prudential 

requirements without requiring U.S. registration, and non-U.S. regulators should recognize U.S.-registered 

dealers. Id.

452 For example, margin regulations that are similar could lead to different results if different standards are 

implemented for the models that calculate initial margin or if some supervisors take a principles-based 

approach while others are more specific in their requirements. Id.

453 Id.

454 AIMA Submission at p. 10.
109

whether the frameworks in question comply with international standards or principles. Another 

measure could be whether standardized industry documentation can be produced to cover the 

scope of the regimes’ requirements.455

Legislative Harmonization. The Request for Comment inquired what steps should or 

could be taken to better harmonize DFA statutory requirements with statutory requirements 

implemented in other jurisdictions.456 Commenters encouraged the CFTC and SEC to engage in 

constructive dialogue with policymakers and regulators at all levels in other key jurisdictions in 

order both to encourage them to align their requirements with those in the United States and to 

reach agreement over where U.S. regulations may be adapted to meet sensible positions adopted 

elsewhere.457

Regulatory Harmonization. The Request for Comment also asked “what steps could be 

taken to harmonize CFTC or SEC regulations with regulations promulgated by authorities in 

other jurisdictions”.458 One commenter responded that the Commissions should conduct a 

thorough “gap analysis” of U.S. and other regimes, which could serve as a basis for dialogues 

with other jurisdictions about their requirements.459 According to this commenter, such dialogue 

must include both senior-level discussions on key decisions (e.g., the timing of implementation) 

and technical-level discussions to reduce burdens on international firms and allow recognition of 

non-U.S. firms trading in the United States or with U.S. counterparties (or for U.S. investors).460

C. Recommendations

This Report provides a snapshot of current efforts to regulate OTC derivatives in the 

 

455 Id.

456 Request for Comment at p. 44511.

457 See, e.g., AIMA Submission at p. 13.

458 Request for Comment at p. 44511.

459 AIMA Submission at p. 11.

460 Id.
110

Americas, Europe, and Asia. It is a timely complement to ongoing efforts at the CFTC and the 

SEC to monitor similarities and, more importantly, differences among regulatory proposals. 

However, regulatory developments will continue for the foreseeable future, and the 

Commissions will continue to address issues arising from regulatory divergence.

As discussed above, DFA Section 752(a) – entitled International Harmonization –

requires the CFTC and the SEC, as appropriate, to “consult and coordinate with foreign 

regulatory authorities on the establishment of consistent international standards” for regulating 

Swaps and Swaps Entities to “promote effective and consistent global regulation”. The 

Commissions have been, and will continue to be, actively involved in several international 

initiatives and in various international fora that are focused on the regulation of OTC derivatives.

Consistent with the DFA’s mandate, the Commissions have directed staff to participate in 

international workstreams that are developing standards for OTC derivatives regulation, as well 

as in fora for additional consultation and coordination. These projects include work through 

CPSS, IOSCO, and the IOSCO Task Force, and participation in the ODWG and ODRF. For 

more information about the activities of each of these workstreams, see Appendix III to this 

Report.

In addition, CFTC and SEC staff has been engaged in a regulatory dialogue with the EC 

and ESMA concerning differences between Title VII and EMIR and MiFID/MiFIR. Senior 

officials have met in Brussels and in Washington, DC, and have held numerous conference calls 

to understand and resolve differences. Similar dialogues are under way with regulators from 

Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada. Senior officials met on December 8, 2011, in Paris, 

to discuss cross-border regulation of OTC derivatives and continue to hold numerous conference 

calls to understand and resolve differences.

This Report provides the following recommendations for ongoing compliance with DFA 
111

Section 752(a):

 CFTC and SEC staff should continue to monitor developments at the national 

level across jurisdictions and should communicate with fellow regulators involved 

in efforts to regulate OTC derivatives.

 CFTC and SEC staff should continue to participate in international fora and 

actively contribute to initiatives that are designed to develop and establish global 

standards for OTC derivatives regulation.

 CFTC and SEC staff should continue to engage in bilateral dialogues with 

regulatory staff in the European Union, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and 

Canada and should consider dialogues with additional jurisdictions, as 

appropriate.

These recommendations provide a roadmap for successful consultation and coordination with 

non-U.S. authorities to promote effective and consistent international standards in the regulation 

of OTC derivatives.

IV. Conclusion

Regulation of OTC derivatives has just begun. These markets are in transition – and our 

efforts to regulate them are evolving. Consistent and comprehensive OTC derivatives regulatory 

reform is important to ensure global financial stability. The 2009 G-20 Leaders’ commitments 

that all standardized derivatives be cleared through CCPs and traded on exchanges or electronic 

trading platforms, where appropriate, by end-2012; that all OTC derivatives contracts be reported 

to TRs; and that non-centrally cleared trades be subject to higher capital requirements were the 

first global commitments regarding OTC derivatives regulatory reform. As described in this 

Report, progress varies across jurisdictions in meeting the 2009 G-20 Leaders’ commitments.

The G-20 leaders have agreed to the OTC derivatives commitments, but it is still too 

early to determine precisely where there is alignment internationally and where there may be 

gaps or inconsistencies. In the interim, the CFTC and SEC are working with other domestic and 

foreign regulators to analyze requirements and to coordinate regulatory proposals to the greatest 
112

extent possible. The Commissions will continue to monitor global reforms and are committed to 

working closely with their international counterparts in this effort.
113

Appendix I

Swap Market Information

The BIS gathers and reports information on the size and structure of derivatives markets 

in major jurisdictions. It has estimated that, as of June 2011, the total notional value of 

outstanding OTC derivatives was $708 trillion.461

A. Major Dealers

DFA Section 719(c)(2) provides that this Report should include: “(A) identification of 

the major exchanges and their regulator in each geographic area for the trading of swaps and 

security-based swaps including a listing of the major contracts and their trading volumes and 

notional values as well as identification of the major swap dealers participating in such 

markets”.462 However, as discussed above, no major jurisdiction in the Americas, Europe, or 

Asia to date has established and implemented a regime for identifying and regulating such 

dealers. Moreover, no major exchange in the Americas, Europe, or Asia currently provides for 

the trading of Swaps or other OTC derivatives by entities defined and regulated as dealers. 

Accordingly, this Report cannot identify “major swap dealers” participating in “major exchanges 

... in each geographic area for the trading of swaps and security-based swaps”.

The DFA is the only law in a major jurisdiction to bring entities that deal in, or make a 

market in, OTC derivatives within comprehensive regulation with respect to those activities. As 

explained above, enactment of the DFA established a registration and compliance regime for 

persons falling within the statutory definitions of “swap dealer” or “security-based swap dealer” 

 

461 OTC Derivatives Market Activity in the First Half of 2011, BIS Monetary and Economic Department 

(November 2011), available at http://www.bis.org/publ/otc_hy1111.pdf; see also Semiannual OTC 

Derivatives Statistics at End-June 2011 (explaining gathering of information from G-10 countries and 

Switzerland), available at http://www.bis.org/statistics/derstats.htm.

462 Emphasis added.
114

(as those definitions are further defined by the CFTC and the SEC).463 Such dealers are subject 

to specific enumerated requirements with respect to, e.g., capital and margin, reporting and 

recordkeeping, business conduct, documentation, and employment of a chief compliance officer. 

However, as of this writing, the CFTC and SEC have not promulgated final regulations on

further defining the dealer definitions. In addition, following adoption of final regulations 

regarding the dealer registration process, such process will be implemented over a period of time. 

Accordingly, it is not possible at this point to determine precisely which entities are “swap 

dealers” or “security-based swap dealers” under the DFA. Moreover, if CFTC or SEC staff 

attempted to identify certain entities as dealers, this Report could give the appearance of an 

official determination that such entities fell within the DFA’s statutory definitions.

Outside the United States, dealers may be subject to regulation covering financial market 

participants generally, and not specifically as dealers in Swaps or other OTC derivatives. 

Regulatory authority over entities dealing in these instruments may be vested in one or more 

authorities, e.g., a financial regulator, a central bank, an agency with multinational 

responsibilities, an agency regulating commercial industries, or a combination of these. In many 

instances, as jurisdictions are examining the appropriate scope for regulating OTC derivatives, 

lines of responsibility are yet to be determined.

Large financial entities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia that deal or make markets in 

OTC derivatives currently cannot be identified as “major swap dealers” – either pursuant to the 

DFA or otherwise. Until other regulators have the statutory authority to define and regulate such 

entities as dealers in OTC derivatives, CFTC and SEC staff cannot definitively identify “major 

 

463 As discussed above, the DFA requires the CFTC and the SEC to further define, in consultation with the 

Federal Reserve Board, the terms “swap dealer” and “security-based swap dealer.”
115

swap dealers” in each geographic area. For this reason, it would be premature to attempt to 

include a listing that purports to identify such dealers.

However, this Report notes that certain entities active within the U.S. OTC derivatives 

market have acknowledged that they are – generally – dealers.464 Moreover, observers of the 

market recognize that most of the total notional value is concentrated in and accounted for by a 

relatively small number of large firms. According to an ISDA survey, the fourteen most active 

international derivatives dealers (“G-14 Dealers”)465 reported a cumulative notional amount of 

$383.8 trillion at the end of June 2010 after adjusting for double counting of inter-dealer 

transactions. This amount represented 82 percent of the total amount reported by survey 

respondents.466 ISDA found that the global nature of the market is such that the G-14 Dealers 

are based in five different countries, and only six are based in the United States.467

 

464 Further information about the OTC derivatives market will be provided in the semiannual and annual 

reports for the CFTC and SEC under CEA Section 2(a)(14) and Exchange Act Section 13(m)(2) to make 

available to the public information relating to the trading and clearing in the major Swap categories and the 

market participants and developments in new products.

465 Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank 

AG, Goldman Sachs & Co., HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, 

Société Générale, UBS AG, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The term “G-14” relates back to the convening 

by the New York Fed in September 2005 of 14 major market participants and their domestic and 

international supervisors to form the ODSG. The composition of the group of participants has varied 

somewhat over time (e.g., original member Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. was merged with Bank of America; 

Lehman Brothers, Inc. entered bankruptcy). See ODSG Meeting on Credit Derivatives, List of Attendees, 

Industry Participants (September 15, 2005), available at 

http://newyorkfed.org/newsevents/news_archive/markets/2005/an050915.html; ISDA Research Notes: 

Concentration of OTC Derivatives Among Major Dealers (Issue 4, 2010) (released October 25, 2010) 

(“Mid-Year 2010 Market Survey”), available at 

http://www.isda.org/researchnotes/pdf/ConcentrationRN_4-10.pdf; and Cross-Asset Class Roadmap, 

Commitment Letter at p. 3 (March 31, 2011), available at

http://newyorkfed.org/newsevents/news/markets/2011/SCL0331.pdf.

466 See Mid-Year 2010 Market Survey; see also FSB October 2011 Report at p. 6 (“While G-14 dealers are 

understood to dominate trading in credit derivatives and interest rate derivatives for the four most-traded 

currencies, a broader group of market participants are understood to represent a greater proportion of 

trading volume in the commodity and foreign exchange derivatives asset classes, as well as interest rate 

derivatives in other currencies.”).

467 Mid-Year 2010 Market Survey at pp. 2, 5. ISDA does not identify the G-14 Dealers by jurisdiction.
116

B. Major Markets and Regulators

DFA Section 719(c)(2)(A) provides that this Report should include: “identification of the 

major exchanges and their regulator in each geographic area for the trading of swaps and 

security-based swaps including a listing of the major contracts and their trading volumes and 

notional values . . . ”.468

As discussed in the Report, the trading of Swaps or other OTC derivatives is not currently 

required to occur on organized markets or execution facilities. However, since the enactment of 

the DFA, various entities have expressed an expectation to seek licenses as organized markets or 

execution facilities in order to provide venues for the trading of Swaps.469

With respect to regulators of exchanges trading Swaps, in the United States, the DFA 

provided the CFTC and SEC with oversight authority for organized markets and execution 

facilities on which Swaps trading may occur. As explained above, the DFA imposed clearing 

and trade execution requirements for Swaps, created a new type of regulated marketplace for 

counterparties to satisfy their trade execution requirement obligations, and established a 

comprehensive regulatory framework for such marketplaces. In other jurisdictions, the scope 

and makeup of relevant regulatory authority is being examined.470

Regarding the reference in DFA Section 719(c)(2) to the listing of major contracts and 

related trading data for exchanges trading Swaps, no exchange currently provides for the trading 

of Swaps and submissions received in response to the Request for Comment generally did not 

 

468 Emphasis added.

469 The following entities publicly have expressed an expectation to establish and register as SEFs with the 

CFTC: BGC Partners, Inc.; Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”); FXall; GFI Group Inc.; ICAP North America 

Inc.; MarketAxess Corp.; Nodal Exchange, LLC; Phoenix Partners Group LP; Thomson Reuters; Tradeweb

Markets LLC (“Tradeweb”); Tradition (North America) Inc.; Tullett Prebon Ltd.; and State Street. Many 

have filed comment letters in connection with proposed CFTC regulations for SEFs, which are available at: 

http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=955. Other entities have expressed an 

expectation to establish and register as SEFs during meetings with CFTC staff.

470 As discussed in the section on Brazil, that jurisdiction already provides a legal framework for the 

authorization of platforms for transacting OTC derivatives.
117

include related data. Lack of sufficient data notwithstanding, public sources do provide some 

information regarding Swaps trading in the global OTC derivatives market and related data 

regarding exchange-traded derivatives. As of December 2010, approximately 90% of derivatives 

contracts were transacted OTC.471 While the number of OTC derivatives contracts that are 

executed on organized markets has grown since 2009, the bilateral portion of the market 

continues to dominate. These markets can be measured by notional turnover, notional 

outstanding, and number of contracts. When measured by either notional turnover or notional 

outstanding, interest rate derivatives are the largest category – representing approximately threequarters of total derivatives notional outstanding and traded.472

BIS has estimated that total OTC derivatives outstanding as of December 2010 was $601 

trillion, of which 77.4% was interest rate derivatives, 9.6% was FX derivatives, 5% was credit 

derivatives, 0.9% was equity derivatives, 0.5% was commodity derivatives, and 6.6% was other 

or unknown.473

C. Major Clearinghouses and Regulators

DFA Section 719(c)(2) provides that this Report should include information on major 

clearinghouses and their regulators; the clearinghouses’ major contracts, clearing volumes, 

notional values, and major clearing members; a description of methods of clearing swaps; and a 

description of various systems used for establishing margin. The clearinghouses described 

below serve as CCPs for credit default, interest rate, and energy swaps. Each of these 

clearinghouses intermediates swap contracts by becoming a buyer to every seller and vice versa. 

The clearinghouse establishes membership requirements for its direct members. These firms are 

 

471 BIS Quarterly Review September 2011 – Detailed Tables – Statistical Annex, A131-A136, available at 

http://www.bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt1109.htm.

472 Id. at A131.

473 Id. at A131.
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usually multinational financial institutions or subsidiaries thereof. A clearing member may 

submit a swap to the clearinghouse on behalf of its own account or on behalf of a customer. 

Using statistical risk models, the clearinghouse determines the amount of initial margin the 

clearing member must deposit with the clearinghouse so that there is sufficient collateral to 

support a swap position. A clearing member also may have to make daily payments as a result 

of any adverse marks-to-market of all open positions held by it. This is variously known as 

“variation margin” or “variation settlement.” In most clearinghouses, a clearing member also 

must contribute to a default fund that the clearinghouse can draw upon to remedy losses in the 

event of a clearing member default.
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Americas

United States

CME Clearing (“CME”)474

Regulators:

As a registered DCO, CME’s clearing activities related to IRS, commodity-based swaps, and broadbased CDS index products are overseen by the CFTC.

As a registered clearing agency (“CA”), CME’s clearing activities related to single-name CDS 

products475 and narrow-based CDS index products are overseen by the SEC.

Swap Product Classes:

 IRS476

 CDS index and single-name products477

 Commodity-based Swaps

Clearing Volume & Outstanding Notional Values478:

Clearing Volume As of September 30, 2011

 

474 Sources: CME Group submission (October 25, 2011); and CME website, available at: http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/interest-rates/cleared-otcinterest-rate-swaps-overview.html.

475 CME currently does not clear single-name CDS contracts but plans to begin clearing them in early FY 2012.

476 Source: Information from CME’s website, available at: http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/interest-rates/cleared-otc-interest-rate-swaps-overview.html.

477 Source: Information from CME’s website, available at: http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/cds/index.html.

478 Information on the volume of cleared agricultural commodity swaps is available on CME’s website at: 

http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/otc/productslate.html#sortKey=9&sortOrder=descending&SortType=number&FilterOn=//lcpcProductTO[cpcproduct/product_group%20+%20'Agricultural'%20and%

20cpcproduct/cleared_as%20+%20'Cleared%20Swaps']&PageStart=1&vertindex=0.
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IRS $38.7 billion

CDS Indices $7.0 billion

Corn Calendar Swaps 215,683 contracts (as of 

December 7, 2011)

Soybean Calendar Swaps 3,317 contracts (as of 

December 7, 2011)

Fertilizer Swaps 120 contracts (as of 

December 7, 2011)

Wheat Calendar Swaps 6,235 contracts (as of 

December 7, 2011)

Outstanding Notional As of September 30, 2011

IRS $34.2 billion

CDS Indices $5.9 billion

Corn Calendar, Soybean 

Calendar, Fertilizer, and 

Wheat Calendar Swaps

No information available.

Clearing Method: Generally, CME’s clearing model includes financial safeguards, daily margining, and 

position nettings. CME’s cleared products can be negotiated, executed, and submitted through multiple 

venues or clearing platforms, including Bloomberg, MarkitSERV, ClearPort, TradeWeb, CME’s 

Migration Utility, and other third party platforms.

Margining System:

IRS:

Initial margin is calculated according to the Standard Portfolio Analysis of Risk (“SPAN”) system, using 

a historical Value at Risk (“VaR”) model. CME regularly tests its margin methodology to determine 

whether market data requires it to be adjusted.

The margin methodology is based on a 99% confidence level of a five-day move using five years of 

historical data and utilizes appropriate yield curve scenarios to capture potential losses based on filtered 

historical simulations. All positions in each currency are valued under a series of cross-portfolio yield 

curve scenarios to estimate the highest forecast loss. CME continuously reviews the scenarios in light of 
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market conditions. Variation margin is calculated daily based on zero-coupon yield curves.

CDS:

Initial margin is calculated in a manner designed to capture the risks inherent to a CDS portfolio rather 

than individual CDS positions. The margining methodology takes into account various factors, including 

systemic risk, curve risk, spread convergence/divergence risk, sector risk, idiosyncratic risk, liquidity 

risk, and other characteristics that may be relevant should CME need to liquidate or hedge a clearing 

member’s portfolio following a default. The margin requirements are determined using a series of 

scenarios. Margin requirements are designed to cover a five-day move with a 99% confidence level.479

For CDS clearing, CME requires members to post initial margin as collateral for any newly established 

positions, while all open positions are subject to minimum maintenance margin requirements. CME also 

computes a twice daily mark-to-market calculation in which members’ open positions are marked to 

current market prices and losses must be paid in cash. These intraday marks may result in additional 

margin collections (i.e., variation margin requirements).480

Agricultural Swaps:

Margin calculated according to the SPAN system.

Clearing Members: 14 IRS clearing firms,11 CDS clearing firms, and 64 agricultural swap clearing 

firms.481

ICE Clear Credit (“ICE”)482

Regulators: As a registered DCO, ICE’s clearing activities related to broad-based CDS index products 

are overseen by the CFTC.

As a registered CA, ICE’s clearing activities related to narrow-based CDS index products and single-

 

479 Source: CME Presentation on CMDX Clearing Trading Platform, available at: http://www.adsatis.com/docs/isdareview/cme_response.pdf.

480 Id.

481 Lists of CME’s IRS, CDS, and agricultural swap clearing firms are available on CME’s website at: http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/cds/files/cdsclearing-members.pdf; http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/interest-rates/files/Cleared-OTC-IRS-Clearing-Firm-Contacts.pdf; and 

http://www.cmegroup.com/tools-information/clearing-firms.html.

482 Sources: ICE submission (October 21, 2011); and ICE’s website, available at: https://www.theice.com/clear_credit.jhtml.
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name CDS products are overseen by the SEC.

Swap Product Classes:

 CDS index and single-name products483

Clearing Volume & Outstanding Notional Values:

Clearing Volume As of October 28, 2011

CDS Indices $429 billion

CDS Single-names $369 billion

Outstanding Notional As of October 28, 2011

CDS Indices $13.1 trillion

CDS Single-names $1.2 trillion

Clearing Method: ICE serves as a CCP for CDS, both single name and index contracts, by establishing a 

daily settlement price for each CDS instrument. Clearing members must submit prices to the 

clearinghouse daily, and the clearinghouse conducts a daily auction process resulting in periodic trade 

executions between clearing members. This process determines daily settlement prices, which are 

validated by ICE’s Chief Risk Officer and used for daily mark-to-market valuations.

Margining System: ICE’s CDS risk management systems were developed internally based on a 

proprietary risk assessment methodology designed specifically for the CDS market. ICE’s risk 

management framework uses its daily settlement pricing process to determine initial and variation margin 

requirements, guaranty fund requirements, and official daily settlement prices.484

A) Daily Settlement Pricing: ICE establishes a daily settlement price for all cleared CDS instruments 

using a pricing process where clearing members are required to submit prices on a daily basis. 

ICE then conducts a daily auction process resulting in periodic trade executions between clearing 

members to ensure the prices submitted are appropriate. ICE uses these daily settlement prices to 

 

483 A complete listing of CDS products is also available on ICE’s website at: https://www.theice.com/clear_credit.jhtml.

484 Source: ICE CDS Clearing: Leading Risk Management Services for Credit Derivatives, available at: 

https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/globalmarketfacts/docs/factsheets/ICE_CDS_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
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determine the initial margin, mark-to-market and variation margin calculations, and guaranty fund 

contributions.

B) Margin Requirements: ICE’s initial margin requirements are set to cover five days of adverse 

price/credit spread movements for cleared portfolios with a confidence level of 99%. ICE’s 

initial margin methodology is a scenario-based framework that incorporates concepts and 

techniques used in Monte Carlo simulations. ICE’s margin model is designed to capture risks 

unique to CDS products, such as systematic risk (i.e., spread dynamics), jump-to-default risk, 

liquidity risk, basis risk, and concentration risk. Using its dynamic margin model, ICE also may 

collect additional margin (i.e., variation margin requirements) for significant fluctuations in the 

end-of-day market prices.

C) Guaranty Fund Requirements: ICE also collects guaranty fund contributions for the mutualization 

of losses under extreme but plausible market scenarios. ICE’s total guaranty fund is sized to 

achieve protection against two clearing members entering a state of default and is designed to 

protect ICE from the extreme jump-to-default risk associated with large protection sellers. ICE’s 

guaranty fund model also is a scenario-based framework that incorporates concepts and 

techniques used in Monte Carlo simulations.

Clearing Members: 26 clearing firms.485

KCBT Clearing Corporation (“KCC”)486

Regulator: As a registered DCO, KCC’s clearing activities are overseen by the CFTC.

Swap Product Class: Wheat calendar swaps (“WCS”)

Clearing Method:

KCC performs daily mark-to-market valuations of swaps. The daily settlement price for a WCS contract 

month prior to the last month of trading for such contract is the daily settlement price of the 

corresponding futures contract (also cleared by KCC). The daily settlement price for a WCS contract 

month during the last month of trading for such contract is the cumulative average of the daily settlement 

prices of the corresponding KCC wheat futures month for each trading day during the last month of 

 

485 A list of ICE’s clearing members is available on ICE’s website at: https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/clear_credit/ICE_Clear_Credit_Participant_List.pdf.

486 Source: KCBT submission (September 26, 2011).
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trading. At the close of business on the last trading day of a particular WCS contract month, the 

cumulative average settlement price becomes the final settlement price used to cash settle any open WCS 

contracts in such contract month.

Margining System:

The initial margining system is the same as that used for KCC wheat futures: 95% comfort level (1.96 

standard deviations) in analyzing day-to-day price changes covering the most recent 30-day sample 

period. When the 95% comfort level is exceeded, the KCC Executive Committee discusses the most 

recent day-to-day changes to determine if the market move is the result of a one-off occurrence or a more 

sustained period of volatility and determines whether to adjust margins.

Clearing Volume As of September 26, 2011

WCS 1,861 contracts

Outstanding Notional As of September 26, 2011

WCS $0 because all WCS have 

been converted into futures

Clearing Members: 13 clearing members.487

Canada

Natural Gas Exchange Inc. (“NGX”)488

Regulators: As a registered DCO, NGX’s clearing activities are overseen by the CFTC.

As a recognized clearing agency, NGX’s clearing activities also are overseen by the ASC.

Swap Product Classes: NGX has not yet determined which of the natural gas and electricity contracts it 

clears are “swaps” as opposed to “futures”, “options”, or “forwards”.489 The following information about 

NGX’s clearing and margining methods applies to NGX, generally.

 

487 A list of clearing members is available on KCC’s website at: http://www.kcbt.com/membership_5.html.

488 Source: NGX website, available at: http://ngx.com/overview_cas.html.
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Clearing Method: Unlike the other clearinghouses described in this chart, each NGX trading participant 

must serve as its own clearing member. Moreover, whereas other clearinghouses “mutualize risk among 

clearing members” by requiring them to deposit funds into a common guarantee fund, NGX does not 

reserve the right to draw on funds deposited by one clearing member to remedy another clearing 

member’s default.

Margining System: Initial margin is calculated by taking into account different liquidation periods and 

historical price volatility. Initial margins are established to cover commodity price movements during a 

liquidation event and are currently calculated using 2.7 standard deviations (a 99.5% confidence interval) 

from the last mark-to-market price (calculated using historical volatility data) over a minimum of a twoday hold (liquidation) period. NGX periodically conducts stress tests to insure initial margins are 

adequate. Variation margin reflects the daily mark-to-market value of the relevant positions and is 

calculated using a real-time risk monitoring system.

Volume and Outstanding Notional: Information is available on NGX’s website.490 As explained above, 

NGX is not yet certain which of its contracts are “swaps”.

Clearing Members: There are over 150 clearing members. 

Brazil

BM&FBOVESPA (“BM&F”)491

Regulator: The Brazilian CVM regulates BM&F.

Swap Product Classes:

 IRS

 Currency swaps

 Equity index swaps

 

489 Conversation between CFTC and NGX staff (November 2011).

490 http://www.ngx.com/yearlyvolgraph.html.

491 Sources: BM&F submission (September 26, 2011); and BM&F’s Swap Contracts Specifications, available on BM&F’s website at: 

http://www.bmf.com.br/bmfbovespa/pages/contratos2/pdf/SwapContracts.pdf.
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 Inflation swaps

Clearing Method: Clearing members submit swaps to BM&F and decide on the type of service they wish 

BM&F to provide, i.e., whether BM&F will “guarantee” the swap by serving as a CCP (the guarantee 

feature) or only provide services related to registration, “position control and value update”, and 

information concerning cash settlement values.

Margining System: BM&F’s Swap Margin Calculation Criteria applies only to those counterparties who 

have opted to clear pursuant to the clearinghouse’s guarantee feature, described above.

Pursuant to the Swap Margin Calculation Criteria, the margin of a swap portfolio must suffice to cover 

the future settlement values of all the positions in the portfolio. The methodology to calculate the margin 

for a swap portfolio is based on the calculation, under stress scenarios, of the portfolio’s cash flow at 

present value and the margin value derived from the scenario resulting in the greatest risk. The portfolio 

risk is then measured pursuant to the cash flow accumulated value.

If counterparties opt into BM&F’s guarantee system, then the clearinghouse may approve a variety of 

assets to be used as collateral, upon the request of the counterparties.

Clearing Volume As of August 31, 2011

IRS, currency, equity index, 

and inflation swaps

$62 billion

Outstanding Notional As of August 31, 2011

IRS, currency, equity index, 

and inflation swaps

$80 billion (almost 90% 

of this is attributable to 

IRS)

Clearing Members: More than 70 clearing members.492

Europe

 

492 A list of clearing members is available on BM&F’s website, at: http://www.bmfbovespa.com.br/shared/iframe.aspx?altura=1100&idioma=enus&url=www2.bmf.com.br/pages/portal/bmfbovespa/associados2/associadosPesquisa2.asp.
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United Kingdom

CME Clearing Europe Ltd. (“CME Europe”)493

Regulators: As a registered DCO, CME Europe’s clearing activities are overseen by the CFTC.

As a recognized clearinghouse, CME Europe’s clearing activities are also overseen by the UK FSA.

Swap Product Classes:

 Energy swaps

 Agricultural swaps

 Freight swaps494

Clearing Method: Transactions may be submitted to the CME Europe clearing system from other broker 

or trade negotiation platforms (such as an unaffiliated DCM or SEF) or directly from clearing members.

Margining System: Initial margin is calculated according to the SPAN model. SPAN simulates the 

effects of changing market conditions and uses tailored options pricing models to determine a portfolio’s 

overall risk. SPAN constructs scenarios of price and volatility changes to estimate the potential loss 

arising if an entire portfolio must be closed out over a one-day time horizon. The resulting margin 

requirement is designed to cover this potential loss at a 99% confidence level.

CME Europe performs mark-to-market calculations at least twice daily.

A customer of a clearing member can choose whether a clearing member holds its margin money in an 

omnibus account, i.e., together with other customers, or in an individual account. With respect to a 

clearing member’s omnibus account, CME Europe calculates the clearing member’s margin requirement 

on a net basis, such that long and short positions of customers will offset one another.

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

 

493 Source: CME Europe’s DCO application, available on the CFTC’s website at: http://sirt.cftc.gov/sirt/sirt.aspx?Topic=ClearingOrganizations; and CME 

Europe’s website, available at: http://www.cmeclearingeurope.com/.

494 Details of the swap contracts cleared by CME Europe are available on CME Europe’s website at: http://www.cmeclearingeurope.com/products-and-marketdata/index.html.
128

Clearing Volume YTD

Energy, agricultural, and 

freight swaps

Not public.495

Outstanding Notional As of August 31, 2011

Energy, agricultural, and 

freight swaps

Not public.496

Clearing Members: 15 clearing members.497

ICE Clear Europe Ltd. (“ICE Europe”)498

Regulators:

As a registered DCO, ICE Europe’s clearing activities related to broad-based CDS index products and 

energy swaps are overseen by the CFTC.

As a registered CA, ICE Europe’s clearing activities related to narrow-based CDS products and singlename CDS products are overseen by the SEC.

As a recognized clearinghouse, ICE Europe’s clearing activities also are overseen by the UK FSA.

Swap Product Classes:

 CDS Index products

 Single-name CDS products

 Energy swaps

 

495 E-mail from CME Europe staff to CFTC staff (November 8, 2011).

496 E-mail from CME Europe to CFTC staff (November 8, 2011).

497 A list of clearing members is available on CME Europe’s website at: http://www.cmeclearingeurope.com/membership/index.html.

498 Sources: ICE submission (October 21, 2011); ICE Europe’s website, available at: https://www.theice.com/clear_europe.jhtml and 

https://www.theice.com/clear_credit.jhtml; and ICE Europe’s DCO application, available on the CFTC’s website at 

http://sirt.cftc.gov/sirt/sirt.aspx?Topic=ClearingOrganizations.
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 Freight swaps

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume YTD

Energy and freight swaps Over 593 million lots499 of 

gas, natural gas liquids, 

electricity, oil, physical 

environmental, and wet 

freight swaps (as of 

September 2011)

CDS index products 175 billion Euro (open

interest as of October 28, 

2011)

CDS single-name products 393 billion Euro (open 

interest as of October 28, 

2011)

Outstanding Notional YTD

Energy and freight swaps Over 283 million cleared 

lots of gas, natural gas 

liquids, electricity, oil, 

physical environmental, and 

wet freight swaps (as of 

September 2011)

CDS index products 6.4 trillion Euro (as of 

October 28, 2011)

CDS single-name products 1.1 trillion Euro (as of 

October 28, 2011)

Clearing Method: ICE Europe’s clearing method for CDS is similar to ICE Clear Credit’s method (see 

description of ICE Clear Credit, above). Open positions are marked to market daily using prices taken 

 

499 The term “lot” refers to one standardized contract. Not all lots are equivalent. For example, Henry Hub [natural gas] trades in 2,500 million British thermal 

units per lot, power trades at 800 megawatts (peak) per lot, and oil trades in 1,000 barrels per lot.
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from relevant markets and are validated by ICE Europe.

Margining System:

CDS: ICE Europe’s margining system for CDS is similar to ICE Clear Credit’s system (see description 

of ICE Clear Credit, above).

Energy and freight swaps: Initial margin is calculated according to the SPAN model. ICE Europe sets 

SPAN parameters (e.g., the price scan range and the volatility scan range) as follows:

-statistical analysis used to determine an appropriate modeled range for the SPAN parameter being 

set;

-results of statistical analysis reviewed to determine whether the standard modeled outcome is 

appropriate; and

-parametric VaR employed to calculate the scanning range and inter-month spread charges.

In general, parameters are set to cover a confidence interval of 99% over a one- or two-day holding 

period, the worst case of the two being taken as the basis for the margin parameter. The model observes, 

as available, 60-, 250-, and 1,000-day price histories. Typically, emphasis is given to the 60-day price 

history in setting margin parameters. However, longer price history or relevant price periods may be 

used, e.g., for seasonal products.

Variation margin is collected and paid based on the difference between the settlement price on such day 

of each traded contract in the account and the price at which each such contract was bought or sold or, in 

the case of open positions, the price at which the position is recorded on the clearinghouse’s books. The 

clearinghouse also may require that a clearing member reduce or increase positions or post additional 

initial margin if it determines that market integrity requires it.

In addition to ordinary initial and variation margin requirements, the clearinghouse may, at its discretion, 

make settlements-to-market on a routine or ad hoc basis. Generally, the clearinghouse considers making 

discretionary calls if a contract price exceeds 66% of its scanning range.

Clearing Members:

CDS: 16 clearing members.

Energy/freight swaps: 40 clearing members.500

 

500 A list of clearing members for both CDS and energy/freight is available on ICE Europe’s website at: 

https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/clear_europe/ICE_Clear_Europe_Clearing_Member_List.pdf.
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LCH.Clearnet Ltd. (“LCH Ltd.”)501

Regulators: As a DCO, LCH Ltd.’s clearing activities are overseen by the CFTC.

As a recognized clearinghouse, LCH Ltd.’s clearing activities also are overseen by the UK FSA.

Swap Product Class: IRS (various contracts in 17 currencies)

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume As of September 30, 2011

IRS $25 trillion cleared during 

September 2011

Outstanding Notional As of September 30, 2011

IRS $300 trillion

Clearing Method: To submit a trade for clearing, a customer and its executing broker will affirm the 

trade. The trade subsequently will be “given up” by both sides to the client’s chosen SwapClear clearing 

member who will clear the trade through LCH Ltd.

Margining System: Customers deliver collateral to the SwapClear clearing member under modified 

ISDA documentation. The customer and the clearing member will agree on the amount of collateral to 

be delivered to the clearing member.

Customers are offered options as to how their initial margin is held and posted by their SwapClear

clearing member at LCH Ltd., depending on each individual customer’s priorities (such as position or 

margin portability). This initial margin can be held either on a gross or net basis:

-gross margining: initial margin will be held in an individual segregated client account; and

-net margining: initial margin will be held in an omnibus net segregated client account.

Initial margin is calculated according to the historical VaR method with implicit currency and maturity 

correlation offsets, as follows:

 

501 Sources: LCH submission (October 3, 2011); LCH website, available at: http://www.lchclearnet.com/swaps/swapclear_for_clearing_members/; IRS 

Clearing at LCH.Clearnet: An Overview, by Daniel Maguire, Head of LCH.Clearnet OTC Derivatives, Risk, and Operations, Futures Industry magazine 

(November 2011), pp. 36-38; follow-up e-mails of October and November 2011 between CFTC and LCH staff.
132

-backtesting including the worst case losses (100% confidence interval) based on historical scenarios 

from the past five years; and

-a seven- day holding period for calculating margin for customers of clearing members and a five-day 

holding period for (the period required for the hedging/transfer/closeout of a clearing member’s 

portfolio should that clearing member default; by contrast, for futures, the typical holding period is 

two days).

Clearing Members: 60 clearing members.502

France

LCH.Clearnet SA (“LCH SA”)503

Regulators: LCH SA is regulated by the French Autorité des marchés financiers, Autorité de contrôle 

prudentiel, and Banque de France.

Swap Product Class: CDS Index and Single-Name Products. 

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume

Between March 29, 

2010 and December 

2011

CDS (both indices and 

single-names)

4,639,818,140 Euro 

(open interest)

Outstanding Notional

Between March 29,

2010 and December 

2011

CDS (both indices and 

single-names)

49,369,965,955 Euro

Clearing Method: There is a default fund dedicated to CDS. No further information is available at this 

 

502 A list of clearing members is available on LCH Ltd.’s website, at: http://www.lchclearnet.com/membership/ltd/current_membership.asp.

503 Source: LCH SA’s website, available at: http://www.lchclearnet.com/cds.
133

time. 

Margining System: Margin requirements are calculated daily. No further information is available at this 

time.

Clearing Members: No information available at this time. 

Germany

Eurex Clearing AG (“Eurex”)504

Regulators: Eurex is overseen by the German Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht and 

Deutsche Bundesbank. As of November 2011, it has a DCO application pending with the CFTC, which 

would supervise its clearing of index CDS.

Swap Classes:

 Index CDS

 Single-name CDS (only one such contract)

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume As of September 2011

Index CDS 0

Single-name CDS 0

Outstanding Notional As of September 2011

Index CDS 85 million Euro

Single-name CDS 10 million Euro

Clearing Method: Eurex uses a risk model specific to CDS. A clearing member must obtain a special 

license from Eurex to clear CDS. Eurex also has established a default fund dedicated to CDS. Both a 

protection seller and a protection buyer must comply with various margin requirements: mark-to-market, 

 

504 Source: Eurex submission (September 26, 2011).
134

next day, and liquidity. In addition, a protection seller has a credit event margin requirement, and a 

protection buyer has an accrued premium margin requirement.

Eurex currently is developing systems to clear swaps other than CDS, which it plans to launch in early 

2012.

Margining System:

-mark-to-market margin defined as the difference between present values, based on pre-agreed, and 

the most recently observed, market spreads;

-next-day margin defined as VaR based on historical simulation with expected shortfall; 

-liquidity margin defined as covering an extended liquidation period for less liquid contracts;

-credit event margin (protection seller only) defined as the net exposure to the n reference entities 

bearing the greatest risk in a clearing member’s portfolio; and

-accrued premium margin (protection buyer only), requested daily, for each CDS cleared.

Clearing Members: Two firms are licensed to clear CDS through Eurex.

Spain

Mercado Español de Futuros Financieros (“MEFF”)505

Regulator: The Spanish Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores oversees MEFF.

Swap Class: Energy swaps

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume

YTD (as of November 

28, 2011)506

Electricity swaps 3,204,062 megawatts per 

hour consisting of 10,331 

contracts, and having an 

aggregate value of 

approximately 

 

505 Source: CNMV submission (November 10, 2011) and MEFF website, available at: http://www.meff.es.

506 Source: Volume information is available on MEFF’s website. These figures, as well as those for Outstanding Notional, were compiled by CNMV staff.
135

160,203,100 Euro

Outstanding Notional

YTD (November 28, 

2011)

Electricity swaps 1,312,523 megawatts per 

hour in open interest, 

consisting of 689 

contracts, and having an 

aggregate value of 

approximately 

65,626,150 Euro

Clearing Method: Clearing members contribute to a default fund, which is separated between electricity 

swaps and financial derivatives that are not classified as swaps.

Margining System: Various methods are used to calculate initial margin based on length of contracts and 

time remaining until expiration. MEFF offsets certain contracts in order to calculate a clearing member’s 

initial margin. Clearing members also are subject to variation margin requirements.

Clearing Members: 17 clearing members.

Asia

Japan

Japan Securities Clearing Corporation (“JSCC”)507

Regulator: The JFSA regulates the JSCC.

Swap Class: Index CDS

Plans to clear IRS by late 2012.

 

507 Source: JSCC submission (September 26, 2011); and JSCC website, available at: http://www.jscc.co.jp/en/data/documents/cds/cds_statistics_201109.pdf 

and http://www.jscc.co.jp/en/news/2011/3/Outline%20of%20Credit%20Default%20Swaps%20Clearing_Revised%20Edition_.pdf.
136

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume As of September 2011

Index CDS 101.7 billion Yen 

Outstanding Notional As of September 2011

Index CDS 72.7 billion Yen

Clearing System: Clearing members are subject to initial and variation margin requirements. Clearing 

members must contribute to a default fund.

Margining System: Initial margin is the estimated loss that could occur due to price fluctuations while a 

defaulting clearing member’s portfolio is managed. Variation margin is calculated according to daily 

settlement prices, which are determined by quotes that clearing members submit to the clearinghouse. 

Parameters used for the variation margin calculation: 750-day price history, five-day holding period, and 

99% confidence level.

Clearing Members: Five clearing members clearing CDS.

China

Shanghai Clearing House (“SCH”)508

Regulators: The Chinese Ministry of Finance, PBOC, and China Securities Regulatory Commission 

oversee the SCH.

Swap Class: SCH clears “credit risk mitigation warrants” (“CRMW”). In China, CRMWs differ from 

CDS in several ways: protection seller requires approval from NAFMII prior to selling CRMW; 

NAFMII controls the number of CRMWs that can be sold; CRMW can only be based on the debt of one 

company; CRMW is structured around a one-time payment; CRMW can be traded on the secondary 

market; a CRMW’s credit event is defined more narrowly; and CRMW is not settled with an auction.

 

508 Source: SCH submission (December 7, 2011) (unofficial English translation by CFTC staff) and SCH website, available at: 

http://www.shclearing.com/English/ShowClass.asp?ClassID=62.
137

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value: No information is available at this time.

Clearing and Margining System: No information is available at this time.

Clearing Members: 32 clearing members clear CRMW.509

Hong Kong

Hong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEx”)510

Regulators: The SFC and HKMA oversee the HKEx.

Swap Class: HKEx proposes to clear IRS by the end of 2012.

Singapore

Singapore Exchange Derivatives Clearing Limited (“SGX-DC”)511

Regulator: The Singapore MAS regulates SGX-DC.

Swap Classes:

 IRS

 Energy swaps

 Forward freight agreement swaps

 Bulk commodity swaps

Clearing Volume and Outstanding Notional Value:

Clearing Volume As of August 31, 2011

 

509 A list of clearing members is available on SCH’s website at: http://www.shclearing.com/insider/showinfo.asp?InfoID=652 (in Chinese only).

510 Sources: HKEx website pages, available at: http://www.hkex.com.hk/eng/newsconsul/hkexnews/2010/1012103news.htm and 

http://www.hkex.com.hk/eng/newsconsul/hkexnews/2010/documents/203_otc%20clearing_e.pdf.

511 Source: SGX-DC Submission.
138

IRS (Singapore dollar only) 160 billion Singapore 

dollars

Energy swaps 8,470 lots

Forward freight agreement 

swaps

61,620 lots

Bulk commodity swaps 45,370 lots

Outstanding Notional As of August 31, 2011

IRS (Singapore dollar only) 139 billion Singapore 

dollars

Energy swaps 620 lots512

Forward freight agreement 

swaps

17,820 lots

Bulk commodity swaps 8,670 lots

Clearing Method: Clearing members deposit initial margin with SGX-DC and also are subject to 

variation margin requirements, determined by mark-to-market valuations.

Each clearing member chooses a settlement bank to execute the settlement of margin obligations. 

Settlement payments are subject to the terms of a contract pursuant to which SGX-DC has the authority 

to instruct a settlement bank to transfer a payment from the clearing member’s bank account to SGX-DC.

Margining System: The following methods are used:

IRS:

Initial margin for IRS is calculated according to the Historical Simulation VaR methodology. Margin for 

each clearing member’s positions is calculated on a portfolio basis, at the 99th percentile confidence 

level, based on rolling five years of daily historical price data, and assuming a five-day holding period. 

The five-day holding period is deemed necessary to account for the period of time from the point of 

 

512 The term “lot” refers to one standardized contract. Not all lots are equivalent because each type of contract, e.g., bulk commodity or energy, might refer to 

different units of energy.
139

default to the neutralization of risks in the portfolio, including hedging.

Energy/forward freight/bulk commodity swaps:

Margin for energy swaps, forward freight agreements, and bulk commodity swaps is calculated according 

to the SPAN loss-estimation methodology. This evaluates overall portfolio risk through a scenario 

approach, with a loss/gain attached to each scenario, corresponding to a particular combination of price 

change, volatility change, and decrease in time to expiration. The margin requirement represents the 

worst loss of all the scenarios. Confidence intervals are within 95% to 99% to apply across all contracts 

and products clearing, based on historical price volatility studies of different time periods up to a 

maximum of 12 months. The holding period would cover the expected time to liquidate the product in 

the event of default.

Mark-to-market valuations are calculated three times a day for IRS and four times a day for energy 

swaps.

Semiannually, SGX-DC reviews the appropriateness of its margin methodologies and stress testing. 

Reports are sent to the MAS for approval.

Clearing Members:

IRS: 11 clearing members.

Commodity swaps (energy, forward freight, bulk commodity): 23 clearing members.513

 

513 A list of clearing members of SGX-DC is available on SGX-DC’s website, but the list does not distinguish among those firms clearing IRS and those 

clearing commodity swaps: http://www.sgx.com/wps/wcm/connect/sgx_en/Misc/regulations/directory+of+members/.
140

Appendix II

Tables Summarizing Regulatory Approaches

in Studied Jurisdictions514

Table 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework for Regulation of OTC Derivatives

Table 2: Application of Central Clearing Requirements

Table 3: Transparency and Trading Requirements

 

514 The information in these tables has been extracted from the FSB October 2011 Report, Appendix VIII, and 

updated to reflect the latest information regarding release of proposals or the expected date of such release.
142

Table 1

Legal and Regulatory Framework for Regulation of OTC Derivatives

Jurisdiction Laws and 

Regulations that 

Affect 

Standardization

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Central Clearing

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Trading

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Reporting

Australia No Legislation not yet proposed; 

ACFR discussion paper published 

June 2011; ACFR consultation 

period open until August 5, 2011, 

after which ACFR to develop 

recommendation for Australian 

government consideration 

Legislation not yet proposed; 

review of market licensing regime 

for electronic trading platforms 

and exchanges under way

Expected by end-2012 (timing to 

be reviewed at end-2011)

Expect to consult with industry 

participants; to be reviewed later 

in 2011

Brazil No Pre-existing legislation in place 

requires all exchange-traded 

derivatives to be centrally cleared; 

non-exchange traded derivatives 

may be bilaterally risk managed or 

centrally cleared at the option of 

counterparties

Mandatory clearing requirement 

applies only to exchange-traded 

derivatives

Capital incentives for use of 

exchange-traded derivatives

Pre-exiting rules enacted by the 

Central Bank and CVM require all 

OTC derivatives trades to be 

reported to a TR

Canada New capital 

standards; regulatory 

steps with regard to 

TRs

Under review; provincial 

legislation expected by end-2012 

with rulemaking contingent on 

international harmonization efforts

Legislation in place in provinces 

where the majority of OTC 

derivatives trades are booked but 

further work required to 

harmonize across all provinces 

Upcoming consultation on 

clearing will inform rulemaking; 

Under review; consultation paper 

to be published late 2011

Contingent on legislative changes 

and rules being put in place across 

multiple jurisdictions and 

international reporting standards

CSA published a consultation 

paper on TRs; most jurisdictions 

are assessing what legislative 

changes may be required; Ontario 

has amended its Securities Act to 

support reporting to TRs and 

regulatory access to data
143

Jurisdiction Laws and 

Regulations that 

Affect 

Standardization

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Central Clearing

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Trading

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Reporting

potential legislative changes that 

may be needed to support clearing 

are under review 

Decision to be made to require 

reporting to a domestic TR or rely 

on reporting to a global TR.

Anticipated that a very small 

number of trades may not be 

accepted by TRs that could be 

reported to securities regulators

China Improved Master 

Agreement and 

Definition Document; 

developed electronic 

trading platform 

Legislation not yet proposed; 

PBOC efforts to encourage SCH

to establish detailed schemes for 

central clearing of OTC 

derivatives

Legislation not yet proposed; 

interest rate transactions executed 

outside of the organized platform 

need to be reported to the CFETS 

platform 

Under current rules, all OTC 

interest rate, FX, and credit risk 

mitigation tools (other than credit 

risk mitigation agreements) can be 

traded on the CFETS electronic 

platform; interest rate trades 

executed outside the CFETS 

platform should be reported to 

CFETS; credit risk mitigation 

trades should be reported to 

NAFMII

Additional steps include 

consideration of details including 

frequency and contents of 

reporting and which institutions 

will play the role of TRs

European 

Union

EMIR, CRD IV, 

MiFID, MiFIR,

technical standards 

implementing EMIR

EMIR; Legislation not yet 

adopted; to be adopted in early 

2012; technical rules to be drafted 

by ESMA, EBA, and EIOPA

MiFIR, proposed in October 2011, 

requires trading of all OTC 

derivatives subject to an 

obligation of central clearing 

(pursuant to EMIR) and which are 

sufficiently liquid, as determined 

by ESMA, to take place on one of 

three regulated venues: regulated 

Legislation (EMIR) has not yet 

been adopted; EMIR has been 

proposed and is expected to be 

adopted in early 2012; ESMA to 

develop technical standards

Reporting will be to ESMA where 

a TR is not able to record the 

details of an OTC derivative
144

Jurisdiction Laws and 

Regulations that 

Affect 

Standardization

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Central Clearing

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Trading

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Reporting

markets, MTFs, and the future 

OTFs; final rules subject to 

agreement by the European 

Parliament and Council expected 

in 2012

Hong Kong HKMA to begin 

legislative process for 

incorporating Basel 

III framework in its 

capital regime for 

banks for 

implementation in 

2013

Much also depends on the timing 

of global consensus on key issues 

and completing the legislative 

process in time

Legislation not yet proposed; 

regulators have commenced work 

on required amendments to 

legislation for regulatory regime 

for OTC derivatives

Legislation must be adopted; 

regulators released consultation in 

Q4 2011

Legislative changes to give 

regulators the power to impose a 

trading requirement is targeted to 

be completed in 2012, although 

the timing of implementation is 

under consideration and will be 

guided by the development of 

international standards

Legislation not yet proposed; 

regulators have commenced work 

on required amendments to 

legislation to build the regulatory 

regime for OTC derivatives

Regulators released a consultation

in Q4 2011

Legislation depends on timing of 

global consensus on key issues 

and completing the legislative 

process in time; intention to take a 

phased approach, beginning with 

IRS and non-deliverable forwards

Regulators have commenced work 

on required amendments to 

legislation to build the regulatory 

regime for OTC derivatives

Regulators released a consultation

on the proposed regime in Q4 

2011

Transactions that meet HK nexus 

condition to be reported to local 

TR to be developed by HKMA 

Japan FIEA; JFSA expects 

Cabinet Ordinance 

and other measures to 

be finalized by 

November 2012

Initially the requirements will 

apply only to Yen IRS and CDS 

(iTraxx Japan indices)

FIEA amended May 2010

Cabinet Ordinance to be amended 

to include requirement for CCP 

clearing of trades “that are 

significant in volume and would 

reduce settlement risks in the 

domestic market”

Legislation not yet proposed; TBD 

what legislative or regulatory 

steps will be taken (FIEA May 

2010 does not address trading); 

Awaiting conclusions of IOSCO 

and other countries’ work

Draft regulatory framework 

published

In general, trade data will be 

reported to a TR and trade data 

that the TR does not accept will be 

reported to JFSA

FIEA amended May 2010 to 

introduce the legislative 

framework for reporting of OTC 

derivatives transactions to TRs

Cabinet Ordinance to be 

completed November 2012
145

Jurisdiction Laws and 

Regulations that 

Affect 

Standardization

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Central Clearing

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Trading

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Reporting

Trade data reported to JFSA will 

be limited to information not 

accepted by a TR, such as exotic 

OTC derivatives trades

Republic of 

Korea

July 2011 preliminary 

announcement on the 

revision of FSCMA, 

including 

standardization of 

OTC derivatives

Revision of the 

FSCMA to be 

submitted to the 

National Assembly by 

the end of 2011; 

detailed provisions of 

enforcement 

ordinances and 

supervisory 

regulations required 

after legislation is 

adopted 

Legislation not yet proposed; July 

2011 preliminary announcement 

on the revision of FSCMA to be 

submitted to the National 

Assembly by end-2011

FSCMA amendments to be 

adopted; detailed provisions of 

enforcement ordinances and 

supervisory regulations required 

after passage of legislation, as 

well as establishment and pilottesting of domestic CCP

Legislation not yet proposed; 

review of policy options under

way

FSCMA and the Foreign 

Exchange Transactions Act 

require reporting of all OTC 

derivatives transactions to 

authorities

Necessary to improve some parts 

of the reporting system to meet 

international standards

Singapore Legislation to be 

introduced by end2012; public 

consultation by end2011

Legislation not yet proposed

Public consultation to be issued by 

end-2011; legislation to be 

introduced by end-2012

Legislation to be introduced by 

end-2012

Public consultation on proposed 

policies for implementation in 

legislation by end-2011

Legislation to be introduced by

end-2012

Public consultation by end-2011

United States DFA enacted July 

2010; CFTC and SEC 

proposed 

implementing 

DFA enacted July 2010

CFTC regulations finalized; SEC 

implementing regulations to be 

finalized

DFA requires any swap or 

security-based swap that is subject 

to a clearing requirement to be 

traded on a registered trading 

DFA enacted July 2010; CFTC 

and SEC have proposed 

implementing regulations; CFTC 

and SEC final regulations must be 
146

Jurisdiction Laws and 

Regulations that 

Affect 

Standardization

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Central Clearing

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Trading

Laws and Regulations to 

Require Reporting

regulations that 

should promote 

standardization; 

CFTC and SEC final 

regulations beginning 

to be promulgated

platform, i.e., a contract market 

designated by the CFTC or SEF

registered with the CFTC or an 

exchange or SBSEF registered 

with the SEC, if such swap or 

security-based swap is made 

“available to trade” on a trading 

platform. The CFTC and SEC 

have proposed regulations 

pertaining to the registration and 

operation of trading platforms

CFTC and SEC must promulgate 

final implementing regulations

promulgated

Reporting to the CFTC or SEC if 

there is no TR available; should be 

limited in scope
147

Table 2

Application of Central Clearing Requirements

Jurisdiction Coverage of All Asset Classes Coverage of All Types

of Financial Entities

Intra-group 

Transactions

CCP Location 

Requirement

Australia No; likely to harmonize with 

requirements in major jurisdictions 

(e.g., exemption of some classes of 

FX derivatives likely); coverage of 

credit and equity classes under 

review

No (likely that smaller financial 

entities would be exempt)

Under review Under review

Brazil No; central clearing requirement 

pertains only to exchange-traded 

derivatives (not OTC)

No No No

Canada Under review; FX swaps and 

forwards may be exempted with a 

view to harmonizing rules with other 

jurisdictions; other asset classes TBD

Under review; consideration being 

given to systemic risk concerns and 

harmonization with other 

jurisdictions

Under review TBD (appropriate 

measures to encourage 

onshore clearing of 

Canadian-dollar 

denominated interest 

rate derivatives under 

consideration)

China Under review Yes NA Yes (SCH)

European 

Union

Yes (EMIR) Yes (EMIR, however, exemption of 

certain pension arrangements for a 

limited period under consideration 

by Council and Parliament) 

No (both Council and 

Parliament have 

proposed an exemption 

for intra-group trades in 

EMIR)

No

Hong Kong Yes; mandatory clearing expected to 

cover standardized IRS and nondeliverable forwards initially, 

extending this to other types of 

products will be considered after the 

initial roll out

Yes; scope of coverage of mandatory 

clearing under review; “HK’s current 

plan is to cover institutions holding 

positions that may pose systemic risk 

to the financial system”

No; “HK will however 

keep in view global 

developments in this 

regard”

No

Japan TBD (Cabinet Ordinance expected Yes (applicable to all “financial TBD (Cabinet Yes (domestic CCP 
148

Jurisdiction Coverage of All Asset Classes Coverage of All Types

of Financial Entities

Intra-group 

Transactions

CCP Location 

Requirement

November 2012) intermediaries”) Ordinance expected 

November 2012)

clearing to be mandated 

for those derivatives 

required “to be aligned 

with the domestic 

bankruptcy regime”; 

iTraxx Japan series of 

CDS index trades 

anticipated to be 

included)

Republic of 

Korea

Yes Yes No

Singapore Yes (taking into account systemic 

risk to the local market and degree of 

standardization in the local market)

Under review Under review No (however, this is 

under review)

United States Yes (although US Treasury has 

proposed exempting FX swaps and 

forwards from mandatory clearing 

requirements)

Yes TBD (under 

consideration by CFTC 

and SEC)

No
149

Table 3

Transparency and Trading Requirements

Jurisdictions Multi-dealer Functionality Required to 

Fulfill Trading Requirement or Singledealer Functionality Permitted

Pre-trade Price and Volume 

Transparency Required for All 

Exchange- or Electronic PlatformTraded and OTC Derivatives

Post-trade Price and Volume 

Transparency Required for All 

Exchange- or Electronic PlatformTraded and OTC Derivatives

Australia TBD (under the current market licensing 

regime – which is under review – a 

single-dealer platform is not required to 

be regulated as a market)

TBD (under review) TBD (under review)

Brazil Multi-dealer functionality required No (pre-trade price and volume 

transparency required for the 90% of the 

derivatives market that is exchangetraded; no pre-trade requirements for the 

10% of the market that is OTC)

Yes (all derivatives, including OTC, must 

be reported to a TR)

Canada TBD (will seek to harmonize with 

international community)

TBD TBD (supportive of improved price 

transparency, although this needs to be 

carefully defined, and further work needs 

to be undertaken to weigh potential costs 

and benefits)

China Multi-dealer functionality required Yes Yes

European 

Union

Multi-dealer functionality (proposed in 

MiFIR)

Yes (proposed in MiFIR) Yes (proposed in MiFIR)

Hong Kong Under consideration (with global 

developments in view)

Under consideration (with global 

developments in view)

Under consideration (with global 

developments in view)

Japan Single-dealer functionality permitted TBD TBD

Republic of 

Korea

Multi-dealer functionality required Yes Yes

Singapore NA (note that US and EU have proposed 

different rules; useful for IOSCO to 

provide guidance on the use of singledealer platforms)

To be consulted on (taking into 

consideration IOSCO report on trading)

To be consulted on (taking into 

consideration IOSCO report on trading)
150

Jurisdictions Multi-dealer Functionality Required to 

Fulfill Trading Requirement or Singledealer Functionality Permitted

Pre-trade Price and Volume 

Transparency Required for All 

Exchange- or Electronic PlatformTraded and OTC Derivatives

Post-trade Price and Volume 

Transparency Required for All 

Exchange- or Electronic PlatformTraded and OTC Derivatives

United States Multi-dealer functionality required TBD (DFA requires that market 

participants have the ability to execute or 

trade swaps or security-based swaps 

subject to clearing and trading mandates 

by accepting bids and offers made by 

multiple participants on a DCM or SEF 

(for swaps) and on an exchange of SBSEF 

(for security-based swaps)

CFTC and SEC have proposed 

regulations to implement this requirement

Yes
151

Appendix III

International Initiatives Involved in Developing Policy for OTC Derivatives Regulation515

Commitment(s) Action Group Status

Central clearing Report on the macro-financial implications of 

alternative configurations for access to CCP 

in OTC derivatives markets 

CGFS516 Consultative report published November 2011

Central clearing Revision of the BCBS supervisory guidance 

for managing settlement risk in foreign 

exchange transactions (2000) 

BCBS and CPSS Consultative report in 2012

Central clearing Report on international standards to address 

coordination of central clearing requirements 

with respect to products and participants (and 

any exemptions from clearing requirements) 

IOSCO (working 

with other 

authorities as 

appropriate) 

Report to be published in February 2012

Central clearing, 

Reporting to trade 

repositories

Principles for financial market infrastructures 

(“FMIs”), including derivatives CCPs and 

TRs

Results of follow-up work being conducted 

during the consultation period may be 

incorporated into the final report on principles 

for FMIs. Follow-up work to cover: (1) 

access and links; (2) resolution; and (3) 

development of standards/principles for 

effective cooperation and coordination on 

oversight arrangements and information 

sharing among the relevant authorities for 

FMIs (including TRs and CCPs)

CPSS and IOSCO

(working with other 

authorities as 

appropriate) 

Consultative report published March 2011

Final report by early 2012

 

515 The information in these tables has been extracted from the FSB October 2011 Report, Appendix I.

516 The CGFS monitors developments in global financial markets for central bank governors. Information on the CGFS is available on the BIS website at 

http://www.bis.org/cgfs/index.htm.
152

Commitment(s) Action Group Status

Central clearing International standards on margining for noncentrally cleared derivatives BCBS, IOSCO, 

Working Group

Consultative report by June 2012

Exchange and 

electronic platform 

trading

Report on trading of OTC derivatives IOSCO Final report published February 2011

Exchange and 

electronic platform 

trading

Stock-taking on use of multi-dealer and singledealer trading platforms for OTC derivatives

IOSCO January 2012

Reporting to trade 

repositories

Report on OTC derivatives data reporting and 

aggregation requirements 

CPSS and IOSCO Final report published January 2012

Reporting to trade 

repositories, central 

clearing

Development and implementation of 

frameworks for effective cooperation and 

coordination on oversight arrangements and 

information sharing among the relevant 

authorities for individual TRs and systemically 

important OTC derivatives CCPs 

ODRF and CPSSIOSCONo timetable set (ongoing)

Capital requirements Regulatory capital adequacy rules for 

capitalization of both trade and default fund 

exposures to CCPs

BCBS Consultative report published November 2011

Standardization, 

Central clearing

Roadmap of industry initiatives and 

commitments along four thematic objectives: 

(1) increasing standardisation, (2) expanding 

central clearing, (3) enhancing bilateral risk 

management, and (4) increasing transparency

ODSG Strategic roadmap published March 2011

Specific milestones starting from April 30, 

2011, through early 2012

Commodity derivatives Report on principles for the regulation and 

supervision of commodity derivatives markets

IOSCO Final report published September 2011