Document ID: SEC-2019-1010-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: ICE Clear Credit, LLC
Posted Date: 2019-07-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34220-34225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15136]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-86358; File No. SR-ICC-2019-007]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Proposed 
Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission, or Advance Notice Relating 
to the ICC Rules, ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies and 
Procedures, and ICC Risk Management Framework

July 11, 2019.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on June 28, 2019, ICE Clear Credit LLC (``ICC'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission the proposed rule change, security-
based swap submission, or advance notice as described in Items I, II 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by ICC. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, 
security-based swap submission, or advance notice from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission, or Advance Notice

    The principal purpose of the proposed rule change is to make 
certain changes to ICC's Clearing Rules (the ``Rules'') \3\ and related 
procedures to provide for the clearing of credit default index 
swaptions.
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    \3\ Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the 
meanings specified in the Rules.
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission, or 
Advance Notice

    In its filing with the Commission, ICC included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change, 
security-based swap submission, or advance notice and discussed any 
comments it received on the proposed rule change, security-based swap 
submission, or advance notice. The text of these statements may be 
examined at the places specified in Item IV below. ICC has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most 
significant aspects of these statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission, or 
Advance Notice

(a) Purpose
    ICE Clear Credit proposes amendments to its Rules, End-of-Day Price 
Discovery Policies and Procedures (the ``EOD Policy'') and Risk 
Management Framework (the ``Risk Framework'') to provide for the 
clearing by ICC of credit default index swaptions (``Index 
Swaptions''). Pursuant to an Index Swaption, one party (the ``Swaption 
Buyer'') has the right (but not the obligation) to cause the other 
party (the ``Swaption Seller'') to enter into an index credit default 
swap transaction at a pre-determined strike price on a specified 
expiration date on specified terms. In the case of Index Swaptions that 
would be cleared by ICC, the underlying index credit default swap would 
be limited to certain CDX and iTraxx Europe index credit default swaps 
that are accepted for clearing by ICC, and which would be automatically 
cleared by ICC upon exercise of the Index Swaption by the Swaption 
Buyer in accordance with its terms.
    ICC is proposing to adopt a new Subchapter 26R of its Rules, which 
will set out the contract terms and specifications for cleared Index 
Swaptions. ICC is also proposing to adopt amendments to its EOD Policy 
which would establish an end-of-day (``EOD'') settlement price 
submission process for Index Swaptions. Proposed amendments to the Risk 
Framework would address the margining and risk management processes for 
Index Swaptions, among other matters. The text of the proposed 
amendments is attached [sic] in Exhibit 5.
    Prior to the commencement of clearing of Index Swaptions, ICC 
intends to adopt certain other policies and procedures, including a new 
set of Exercise Procedures, which will address in further detail the 
manner in which Index Swaptions may be exercised by Swaption Buyers and 
the manner in which ICC will assign such exercises to Swaption Sellers. 
ICC also expects to make certain changes to its Risk Management Model 
Description relating to the initial margin model for Index Swaptions. 
ICC will make subsequent filings pursuant to Rule 19b-4 with respect to 
such additional or amended policies or procedures as required. ICC does 
not intend to commence clearing of Index Swaptions until any such 
additional filings, as well as the current filing (``Index Swaptions 
Related Filings'') have been approved by the Commission or otherwise 
become effective. As such, ICC proposes to make the changes to the 
Rules, EOD Policy, and Risk Framework effective following the approval 
of all Index Swaptions Related Filings and the completion of the ICC 
governance process surrounding the Index Swaptions product expansion.
Rule Amendments
    In new Subchapter 26R, Rule 26R-102 will set out key definitions 
used for Index Swaptions, which are generally similar to those used in 
the subchapters for other index Contracts cleared by ICC. Key defined 
terms would include ``Eligible Untranched Swaption Index'', which would 
specify the applicable series and version of a CDX or iTraxx index or 
sub-index underlying an Index Swaption. As with other index Contracts, 
ICC would maintain a List of Eligible Untranched Swaption Indices, 
which will contain the Eligible Untranched Swaption Indices as well as 
the eligible expiration dates and strike prices, as well as other 
relevant terms, for Index Swaptions that will be accepted for clearing 
by ICC. The rule would define the ``Relevant Index Swaption Untranched 
Terms Supplement'', which is the market-standard published standard 
terms document for index swaptions of the relevant type that would be 
incorporated by reference into the contract terms in the Rules for a 
cleared Index Swaption. The rule also would define the ``Underlying 
Contract,'' which would be the index CDS Contract into which the Index 
Swaption may be exercised, and the ``Underlying New Trade,'' which 
would be a new single name CDS trade that would arise upon exercise of 
an Index Swaption where a relevant Restructuring Credit Event, if

[[Page 34221]]

applicable, has occurred with respect to a reference entity in the 
relevant index.
    New Rule 26R-103 would clarify the application of certain aspects 
of the Rules to Index Swaptions. For most purposes of the Rules, 
including Chapters 20 (regarding default management), 20A (regarding 
transfers of positions), 21 (regarding determination of credit events) 
and 26E (regarding restructuring credit events), Index Swaptions would 
be treated as CDS Contracts. Although Index Swaptions are ``physically 
settled,'' as that term is understood in the market for swaptions 
(meaning that the swaption, upon exercise, will result in the parties 
entering into an index credit default swap position on the specified 
terms), the physical settlement terms for CDS Contracts in Chapter 22 
of the Rules would not apply to settlement of the Index Swaption 
itself. Once an Index Swaption has been exercised, the resulting 
Underlying Contract and Underlying New Trade, if any, would themselves 
be treated as CDS Contracts for all purposes of the Rules.
    In Rule 26R-309, CDS Participants agree to use reasonable efforts 
not to submit for clearing an Index Swaption at a time when the 
Underlying Contract could not be submitted for clearing under the Rules 
or at a time when the CDS Participant would be under an obligation to 
use reasonable efforts not to submit such Underlying Contract. (The 
Rules related to CDS Contracts cleared by ICC impose limitations on 
submission of trades for clearing at certain times.) \4\ As with other 
CDS Contracts under the Rules, a CDS Participant would also be required 
to notify ICC if it has submitted an Index Swaption that was not a 
Conforming Trade under the Rules.
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    \4\ See, e.g., ICC Rule 26A-309.
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    Rule 26R-315 would establish certain basic terms for Index 
Swaptions. The Rule would provide that the Index Swaption is governed 
by the Relevant Index Swaption Untranched Terms Supplement (which 
contains the market standard terms for uncleared Index Swaptions of the 
relevant type), subject to the relevant provisions of Subchapter 26R of 
the Rules (which would govern in the case of any inconsistency). The 
approach is consistent with the treatment of other cleared index CDS 
Contracts under the Rules, which rely on and incorporate their own 
forms of standard terms supplements.
    Rule 26R-316 would address the situation where a new Index Swaption 
Untranched Terms Supplement is published. Consistent with ICC's 
practice for other index CDS Contracts, the ICC Board or its designee 
would determine whether Index Swaptions referencing the existing 
standard terms supplement would be fungible with Index Swaptions 
referencing the new standard terms supplement, and if so, ICC would 
update existing Index Swaptions to reference the new standard terms 
supplement.
    Rule 26R-317 specifies other key terms for Index Swaptions. 
Subsection (a) addresses certain modifications to the Relevant Index 
Swaption Standard Terms Supplement and the 2014 Definitions 
incorporated therein, in the context of an Index Swaption referencing a 
CDX.NA index. These generally reflect changes necessary to accommodate 
the clearing of the Index Swaption transactions, including to 
incorporate the clearing house's procedures for determination of a 
Credit Event and for application of physical settlement, and are 
consistent with similar modifications used for the Underlying Contract 
itself under the applicable subchapter of Chapter 26 of the Rules. 
Subsection (b) makes similar modifications in the case of an Index 
Swaption referencing an iTraxx Europe index. Rule 26R-317(c) states 
explicitly that Index Swaptions will be physically settled in 
accordance with Subchapter 26R (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, 
the physical settlement rules in Chapter 22 (which may apply to the 
settlement of the Underlying Contract, if applicable, but not to the 
settlement of the Index Swaption)).
    Rule 26-317(d) sets out certain terms and elections under the 
Relevant Index Swaption Untranched Terms Supplement that will apply to 
all Index Swaptions of a particular type and underlying index. 
Significantly, ICC will only accept Index Swaptions that are European 
style, such that the option may only be exercised on the expiration 
date. ICC is defined as the Calculation Agent, except as provided in 
the CDS Committee Rules in Chapter 21. The rule would also set out 
certain elections regarding the Underlying Contract.
    Rule 26-317(e) would set out the terms for an Index Swaption that 
must be included in the submission of a transaction for clearing, 
including identifying the underlying index, swaption trade date, 
expiration date, Swaption Buyer, Swaption Seller, strike price and 
swaption premium. The submission would also specify whether the Index 
Swaption is a ``payer'' or ``call'' option, in which case the Swaption 
Buyer, upon exercise, would be the fixed rate payer under the 
Underlying Contract, or a ``receiver'' or ``put'' option, in which case 
the Swaption Seller, upon exercise, would be the fixed rate payer under 
the Underlying Contract. The submission would also specify the 
scheduled termination date of the Underlying Contract and original 
notional amount of the Underlying Contract.
    Procedures for exercise and assignment of Index Swaptions would be 
addressed in new Rule 26R-318. Specifically, an Open Position in an 
Index Swaption may be exercised on its expiration date by the relevant 
Participant (or, in the case of a client position, the relevant Non-
Participant Party) that is the Swaption Buyer delivering an exercise 
notice to ICC.\5\ When ICC receives exercise notices in respect of a 
particular type of Index Swaption on its expiration date, ICC will 
assign the exercise notices to Open Positions of Participants that are 
Swaption Sellers (across both the house and customer origin accounts) 
in accordance with the Exercise Procedures. Such an assignment will 
constitute exercise by ICC of its Index Swaption position against such 
Swaption Sellers (and the exercise of the position between the 
exercising Swaption Buyer and ICC and an offsetting position between 
ICC and the assigned Swaption Seller will be deemed to occur 
simultaneously). The assignment of an exercise notice does not create a 
direct relationship between the exercising Swaption Buyer and the 
assigned Swaption Seller; both such parties continue to face ICC as 
clearing organization. Index Swaptions that are not validly exercised 
on the expiration date will expire without further obligation of any 
party.
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    \5\ ICC contemplates that it will adopt a set of Exercise 
Procedures that will provide further detail as to the manner in 
which Index Swaptions may be exercised by Swaption Buyers and in 
which notices of exercise will be assigned to Swaption Sellers. The 
Exercise Procedures may also detail any circumstances under which 
Index Swaptions would be automatically exercised at expiration. ICC 
expects that it will separately file such procedures for approval 
under Rule 19b-4 as required.
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    New Rule 26R-319 would address procedures for settlement of an 
exercised Index Swaption. Upon exercise, a cleared Contract in the form 
of the Underlying Contract will automatically come into effect as 
between the exercising Swaption Buyer and ICC and an offsetting cleared 
Contract will automatically come into effect as between ICC and the 
assigned Swaption Seller. A settlement payment in connection with the 
exercise (representing a strike adjustment amount based on the strike 
price of the Index Swaption and an accrual amount (reflecting the 
accrued fixed payment for the Underlying Contract through expiration)) 
will be paid by one party to

[[Page 34222]]

the other in accordance with the terms of the relevant Index Swaption 
(based on the Relevant Index Swaption Untranched Terms Supplement).
    Consistent with the terms of the Index Swaption, additional 
settlements may be required under Rule 26R-319(b) if one or more Credit 
Events has occurred with respect to the underlying index at or prior to 
the expiration date of the Index Swaption. In general, such settlements 
are designed so that the party in the position of the protection buyer 
under the Index Swaption would receive settlement for all such Credit 
Events as if it had held the Underlying Contract at the time of the 
Credit Event. These settlement amounts may include auction cash 
settlement amounts, fixed rate payments, and accruals with respect to 
such credit events. The proposed rule would also provide for an 
additional accrual amount, owed by the party that is in the position of 
fixed rate payer or floating rate payer, as applicable, to ensure 
consistency in economic result where the swaption expiration occurs 
after the relevant auction date for a Credit Event as compared to cases 
where expiration occurs before the auction date. Rule 26R-319(b) also 
addresses cases where the relevant Underlying Contract is itself 
subject to physical settlement under Chapter 22 of the Rules, and 
provides for matching of Swaption Buyers and Swaption Sellers for that 
purpose. Rule 26R-319(c) would apply in the case of a relevant M(M)R 
Restructuring Credit Event, and provide for delivery of MP Notices 
(both Restructuring Credit Event Notices and Notices to Exercise 
Movement Option) by Swaption Buyer and Swaption Sellers prior to 
expiration of the Index Swaption, which will have effect with respect 
to the Underlying New Trade established if the Index Swaption is 
exercised. Subsection (c) also addresses settlement with respect to the 
Underlying New Trade.
    Rule 26R-502 would clarify that certain actions do not constitute 
Specified Actions subject to Risk Committee consultation, including 
adding new eligible strike prices and expiration dates for Index 
Swaptions and adding new series and tenors for the Underlying Contracts 
for Index Swaptions. Consistent with similar provisions for other 
product subchapters, Rule 26R-616 would provide that actions to give 
effect to certain determinations of the Credit Derivatives 
Determinations Committee or Regional CDS Committee, such as succession 
events and the like, would not constitute a Contract Modification for 
purposes of the Rules.
EOD Policy Amendments
    ICC also proposes to amend its EOD Policy to incorporate Index 
Swaptions. The EOD Policy sets out ICC's EOD price discovery process 
used to determine the daily settlement prices for all cleared 
Contracts, based on submissions made by Participants. The amended EOD 
Policy would specify the characteristics that define a unique Index 
Swaption instrument for purposes of price submissions, including 
exercise style, underlying index, option type (put or call), expiration 
date, strike price and convention (price or spread) and transaction 
type (reflecting the applicable legal documentation). The policy would 
further define a ``put/call surface pair,'' as the group of Index 
Swaptions with the same combination of underlying index, strike 
convention and transaction type, but differ with respect to option 
type, expiration date and strike price, and a ``surface,'' as the group 
of Index Swaptions from a given put/call surface pair with the same 
option type (such that for every put/call surface pair there is a put 
surface and a call surface). Under the policy, a ``strip'' would be 
referred to as the group of Index Swaptions on a given surface with the 
same expiration date (but with different strike prices).
    The revised EOD Policy would establish a methodology for 
determining EOD bid-offer widths (``BOWs'') for clearing-eligible Index 
Swaptions, which are used for establishing EOD settlement prices. Under 
the methodology, ICC uses the EOD BOW of the Underlying Contract in 
price terms for each put/call surface pair. For each strip, ICC would 
determine an around-at-the money BOW using the underlying index EOD BOW 
and scaling factors that take into account time to expiry and the 
magnitude of an at-the-money swaption's BOW as related of the BOW of 
the underlying. ICC then determines a systematic BOW for each Index 
Swaption on a strip by applying an in-the-moneyness scaling factor 
based on strike prices. The final BOW for an Index Swaption would be 
determined as the greater of the systematic BOW and a dynamic BOW 
determined on the range of a series of unique price submissions made by 
Participants for the particular Index Swaption (excluding certain of 
the largest and smallest elements), in a manner similar to that 
currently used for calculating dynamic BOWs for single name 
instruments.
    The EOD Policy also would set out price submission requirements for 
Participants. If a Participant has a gross notional position in any 
Index Swaption in any strip of puts or calls, the Participant must 
provide submissions for all clearing-eligible instruments in that strip 
of puts or calls and the corresponding strip of calls or puts. In 
addition, if an insufficient number of Participants are required to 
submit under this standard, ICC may require all Participants to provide 
relevant submissions. Under the amendments, ICC would establish a 
separate price submission window for Index Swaptions that differs from 
the current submission window for CDS Contracts. The policy would 
specify the required format of submissions, and permit either midpoint 
or bid-offer pair submissions. ICC will convert submissions into 
standardized bid-offer pairs using the calculated EOD BOW as discussed 
above. ICC would also determine implied forward prices for all 
underlying index instruments for which EOD Index Swaption prices are 
determined, for maturities corresponding to each Index Swaption 
expiration date.
    ICC would apply its firm trade requirements, under which a subset 
of trades generated by ICC's cross-and lock algorithm are required to 
be entered into by Participants, to Index Swaptions. As with other 
cleared products, there would be a notional limit for firm Index Option 
trades for Participants affiliate groups. The amended policy would set 
out procedures for determining the relevant firm trade days for Index 
Swaptions and the strips of puts and calls that are firm-trade 
eligible. Firm trades in Index Swaptions may be eligible for reversing 
transactions, in a similar manner to other firm trades.
    The amendments would address distribution of Index Swaption prices, 
both to Participants and publicly. The amendments also amend the 
governance provisions of the EOD Policy to incorporate the relevant 
functions of the ICC Risk Management Department regarding Index 
Swaptions. The table in the appendix setting out the timing for various 
aspects of the price submission process would also be updated to 
incorporate Index Swaptions.
    The amendments would make certain other clarifications to the EOD 
Policy, including references to additional alternative price sources 
that ICC may use in establishing settlement prices. Certain 
clarifications would be made to the existing process for index and 
single name CDS Contracts to distinguish it from the additional 
submission process for Index Swaptions. Certain updates to defined 
terms and typographical and similar corrections would also be made.

[[Page 34223]]

Risk Framework Amendments
    ICC would make conforming changes to its Risk Framework to 
incorporate the clearing of Index Swaptions. The amendments would, 
among other matters, define Index Swaptions and identify key terms of 
Index Swaptions, consistent with the Rules and EOD Policy. For risk 
management purposes, the Risk Framework would define an instrument as a 
specific combination of underlying index, expiration date, strike 
price, option type, exercise type, currency and transaction type. The 
amendments would address the application of the ICC initial margin 
model to Index Swaptions, including the integrated spread response 
component of the margin model, based on implied forward looking Index 
Swaption prices. Index Swaptions would not be eligible for index-single 
name decomposition benefits for purposes of determining the integrated 
spread response and accordingly would not be subject to basis risk 
requirements based on decomposed index positions. Certain price-based 
scenarios and jump to default requirements in the margin model would, 
in the case of Index Swaptions, be applied to delta equivalent notional 
amounts of the underlying index swap position. The framework would also 
apply concentration charges to Index Swaption positions, based on delta 
equivalent notional amounts of the underlying index.
    Amendments to the Risk Framework would also remove certain outdated 
references and clarify certain risk management data and systems used in 
the margin models. Risk management review procedures contained in an 
appendix to the document would also be updated to incorporate Index 
Swaptions.
(b) Statutory Basis
    ICC believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent with the 
requirements of Section 17A of the Act \6\ and the regulations 
thereunder applicable to it, including the applicable standards under 
Rule 17Ad-22.\7\ In particular, Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 
requires that that the rule change be consistent with the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions and 
derivative agreements, contracts and transactions cleared by ICC, the 
safeguarding of securities and funds in the custody or control of ICC 
or for which it is responsible, and the protection of investors and the 
public interest.\8\
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22.
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    The amendments would provide for clearing of an additional type of 
contract, Index Swaptions. When exercised, Index Swaptions would result 
in the creation of an underlying index CDS Contract cleared by ICC. 
Index Swaptions would only relate to underlying index CDS Contracts 
that are accepted for clearing by ICC. The Rule amendments would 
provide for the creation of a new Subchapter 26R of the Rules governing 
the terms and conditions of Index Swaptions. In general, the Rules 
would incorporate market-standard documentation for Index Swaptions 
(much as ICC does for other categories of cleared contract), with 
applicable changes to reflect the clearing process at ICC. The Rule 
amendments would also provide for the exercise of Index Swaptions by 
Swaption Buyers, and the assignment of exercised positions to Swaption 
Sellers, and the settlement of Index Swaptions following exercise. The 
revised EOD Policy would provide a means for daily pricing of Index 
Swaptions for settlement and margining purposes, in a manner similar to 
that for other cleared Contracts. In addition, the Risk Framework would 
be updated, principally to incorporate Index Swaptions into the ICC's 
initial margin model, among other risk management matters. In ICC's 
view, clearing of Index Swaptions on these terms and arrangements would 
extend the benefits of clearing to market participants that use these 
products, enhancing the functioning of the derivatives markets and 
providing increased ability for market participants to manage risk 
through the cleared environment. With the proposed amendments to the 
EOD Policy and Risk Framework, ICC believes the Index Swaptions can be 
effectively cleared within ICC's existing clearing arrangements and 
related financial safeguards, protections and risk management 
procedures. Margin provided in connection with the clearing of Index 
Swaptions would be held by ICC in the same manner, and with the same 
protections, as margin provided in respect of other cleared Contracts. 
Accordingly, in ICC's view, the amendments are consistent with the 
prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of derivatives 
transactions cleared by ICC, the safeguarding of securities and funds 
in the custody or control of ICC or for which it is responsible, and 
the protection of investors and the public interest, within the meaning 
of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.
    The amendments will also satisfy relevant requirements of Rule 
17Ad-22,\9\ as set forth in the following discussion.
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    \9\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22.
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    Financial Resources. Rule 17Ad-22(b)(2)-(3) \10\ requires, in 
relevant part, a clearing agency for security-based swaps to establish, 
implement, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to ``use margin requirements to limit its credit 
exposures to participants under normal market conditions and use risk-
based models and parameters to set margin requirements'' and maintain 
financial resources ``sufficient to withstand, at a minimum, a default 
by the two participant families to which it has the largest exposure in 
extreme but plausible market conditions.'' As discussed above, ICC is 
modifying the Risk Framework, and in particular the initial margin 
model, to apply to Index Swaptions. With these modifications, ICC 
believes that its initial margin and guaranty fund resources will be 
sufficient to meet ICC's financial obligations to Participants with 
respect to cleared Index Swaptions as well as other cleared Contracts 
notwithstanding a default by the two Participant families creating the 
largest combined loss, in extreme but plausible market conditions, 
consistent with these regulatory requirements. ICC does not propose to 
otherwise reduce or change its financial resources.
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    \10\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(2)-(3).
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    Operational Resources. Rule 17Ad-22(d)(4) requires a clearing 
agency to establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies 
and procedures reasonably designed to ``identify sources of operational 
risk and minimize them through the development of appropriate systems, 
controls and procedures.'' \11\ ICC proposes to modify its EOD Policy 
and Risk Framework to facilitate pricing and risk management of Index 
Swaptions, within ICC's existing systems and procedures. ICC believes 
that with these modifications, its operational and managerial resources 
will be sufficient to support clearing of Index Swaptions, consistent 
with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(d)(4).\12\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(4).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(4).
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    Settlement Procedures. Rule 17Ad-22(d)(12) \13\ requires a clearing 
agency to establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies 
and procedures reasonably designed to ``ensure that final settlement 
occurs no

[[Page 34224]]

later than the end of the settlement day, and require that intraday or 
real-time finality be provided where necessary to reduce risks.'' ICC 
proposes to amend its EOD Policy to accommodate Index Swaptions. The 
revised policy will provide a robust basis for calculation of EOD 
settlement prices for cleared Index Swaptions, which in turn will serve 
as the basis for Mark-to-Market Margin settlement for Index Swaptions. 
As such, ICC believes its arrangements for settlement of Index 
Swaptions will be consistent with the requirements of the Rule as to 
the finality and accuracy of its daily settlement process.
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    \13\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(12).
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    In addition, Rule 17Ad-22(d)(15) requires the clearing agency to 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to ``state to its participants the 
clearing agency's obligations with respect to physical deliveries and 
identify and manage the risks from these obligations.'' \14\ The 
amended Rules clearly set out the procedures for settlement of Index 
Swaptions on exercise, which result in the creation of a cleared 
underlying index CDS Contract (and in some cases in the event of a 
Restructuring Credit Event, an Underlying New Trade). The Rules also 
provide for settlements of credit events that occur prior to exercise 
of an Index Swaption, consistent with the documentation for such 
contracts. In ICC's view, the Rules, as well as the amended Risk 
Framework and its existing risk management procedures, enable ICC to 
identify and manage the risks of settlement of Index Swaptions on 
exercise. As such, the amendments would satisfy the requirements of the 
Rule.
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    \14\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(15).
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    Default Procedures. Rule 17Ad-22(d)(11) \15\ requires the clearing 
agency to establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies 
and procedures reasonably designed to ``establish default procedures 
that ensure that the clearing agency can take timely action to contain 
losses and liquidity pressures and to continue meeting its obligations 
in the event of a participant default.'' ICC will apply its existing 
default management Rules and procedures to the management of any 
default involving Index Swaptions. ICC believes these arrangements 
allow it to take timely action to contain losses and liquidity 
pressures, and to continue meeting its obligations, in the case of such 
a default involving Index Swaptions, and are therefore consistent with 
the Rule.
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    \15\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(d)(11).
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    ICE Clear Credit does not believe the proposed amendments would 
have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The amendments 
will authorize the clearing of Index Swaptions as an additional type of 
Contract. Index Swaptions will be available to all ICC Participants for 
clearing. ICC does not believe acceptance of Index Swaptions for 
clearing would adversely affect the trading markets for such contracts, 
and in fact acceptance of such contracts by ICC would provide market 
participants with the additional flexibility to have their Index 
Swaptions cleared. Acceptance of the Index Swaptions for clearing will 
not, in ICC's view, adversely affect clearing of any other currently 
cleared product. As a result, ICC does not believe the amendments would 
adversely affect the ability of Participants, their customers or other 
market participants to continue to clear contracts, including CDS 
Contracts. ICC also does not believe the enhancements would adversely 
affect the cost of clearing or otherwise limit market Participants' 
choices for selecting clearing services in Index Swaptions, credit 
default swaps or other products. Accordingly, ICC does not believe the 
amendments would impose any burden on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule 
Change, Security-Based Swap Submission, or Advance Notice Received From 
Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments relating to the proposed rule change have not been 
solicited or received. ICC will notify the Commission of any written 
comments received by ICC.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based 
Swap Submission, or Advance Notice and Timing for Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change, security-based swap submission, or advance notice is consistent 
with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following 
methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-ICC-2019-007 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

    Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICC-2019-007. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change, security-based 
swap submission, or advance notice that are filed with the Commission, 
and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change, 
security-based swap submission, or advance notice between the 
Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from 
the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be 
available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official 
business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of 
such filings will also be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of ICE Clear Credit and on ICE Clear Credit's website 
at https://www.theice.com/clear-credit/regulation.
    All comments received will be posted without change. Persons 
submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit 
personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available

[[Page 34225]]

publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICC-2019-007 
and should be submitted on or before August 7, 2019.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-15136 Filed 7-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P