Source: https://www.capmktsreg.org/2011/08/26/business-conduct-standards-for-security-based-swap-dealers-and-major-security-based-swap-participants/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 09:32:18+00:00

Document:
The Committee on Capital Markets Regulation (Committee) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding business conduct standards under § 764 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act).
This letter addresses the situation in which an independent representative, such as an asset manager, is engaged by a Special Entity, such as a pension plan, to negotiate and enter into security-based swaps on behalf of the Special Entity. Our comments are focused on the provisions in the Proposed Rules regarding the evaluation of a Special Entity’s independent representative.
Section 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act requires that “[a]ny security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant that offers to or enters into a security-based swap with a special entity[] shall comply with any duty established by the [SEC] for a security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant…that requires the security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant to have a reasonable basis to believe that the counterparty that is a special entity has an independent representative” that meets several criteria. Section 731, which falls under the jurisdiction of the CFTC, is nearly identical.
(2) The representations include information sufficiently detailed for the swap dealer reasonably to conclude that the representative satisfies the criteria.
In addition, the CFTC outlines seven considerations for swap dealers to use in determining whether the representative satisfies the criteria.
Once the Special Entity has evaluated and selected its own independent representative, its swap dealer counterparty should be able to rely upon the Special Entity’s written representation that the representative meets the statutory and regulatory criteria. The dealer should be required to probe beyond that representation only if it has reason to believe that the Special Entity’s representations with respect to its independent representative are inaccurate.
We preliminarily believe that, except as specifically noted below, an SBS Entity could rely on written representations regarding the various qualifications of the independent representative to form a reasonable basis to believe that the independent representative is “qualified”. Upon receiving such representations, the SBS Entity would be entitled to rely on them without further inquiry, absent special circumstances described below.
The SEC’s proposal then explains two alternatives. Under one alternative, an SBS Entity would be able to rely on written representations unless it has actual knowledge that the representation is inaccurate; under the other alternative, it could rely unless it has information that would cause a reasonable person to question the accuracy of the representation.
Either of these alternatives is preferable to the CFTC approach. As we explained in our comment letter to the CFTC, “The Dodd-Frank Act requires a dealer to have only a ‘reasonable basis to believe’ that the representative meets the criteria.[] In the absence of any facts suggesting otherwise, the Special Entity’s representation should presumptively satisfy that statutory requirement. There is no need for the rules to go any further.” We encourage the SEC to maintain the approach set forth in its proposal, and also reiterate our position that the CFTC should adopt this approach.
 Business Conduct Standards for Security-Based Swap Dealers and Major Security-Based Swap Participants, 75 Fed. Reg. 42,396 (proposed July 18, 2011) (hereinafter SEC Proposed Rules).
 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 111-203, § 764 (hereinafter Dodd-Frank Act).
 Special entity means: “(1) A Federal agency; (2) A State, State agency, city, county, municipality, or other political subdivision of a State; (3) Any employee benefit plan, as defined in section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002); (4) Any governmental plan, as defined in section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(32)); or (5) Any endowment, including an endowment that is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.” SEC Proposed Rules, § 240.15Fh-2(e), 76 Fed. Reg. at 42,454 (paragraph breaks omitted).
 Dodd-Frank Act § 764 (paragraph breaks omitted). Specifically, it must have an independent representative that: “(1) has sufficient knowledge to evaluate the transaction and risks; (2) is not subject to a statutory disqualification; (3) is independent of the security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant; (4) undertakes a duty to act in the best interests of the counterparty it represents; (5) makes appropriate disclosures; (6) will provide written representations to the special entity regarding fair pricing and the appropriateness of the transaction; and (7) in the case of employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security act of 1974, is a fiduciary as defined in section 3 of that Act (29 U.S.C. 1002).” Id. (paragraph breaks omitted and renumbered).
 Business Conduct Standards for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants With Counterparties § 23.450(d), 75 Fed. Reg. 80,600 at 80,638 (proposed Dec. 22, 2010) (hereinafter CFTC Proposed Rules).
 CFTC Proposed Rules § 23.450(d)(2)(i)-(vii), 76 Fed. Reg. at 80,660-61.
 Letter from the Comm. on Capital Mkts. Reg. to David A. Stawick, Secretary of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (May 3, 2011), http://www.capmktsreg.org/pdfs/2011.05.03_Busines_Conduct_Comment_Letter.pdf.
 SEC Proposed Rules, 76 Fed. Reg. at 42,428 (footnote omitted).
 Dodd Frank Act § 731; accord id. § 764.
 Letter from the Comm. on Capital Mkts. Reg. to David A. Stawick, Secretary of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 3, supra note 8.

References: § 764
 § 764
 § 240
 § 764
 § 23
 § 23
 § 731
 § 764