80_FR_72681 80 FR 72458 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Revise ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies and Procedures

80 FR 72458 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Revise ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies and Procedures

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 223 (November 19, 2015)

Page Range72458-72460
FR Document2015-29489

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 223 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 223 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72458-72460]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29489]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76437; File No. SR-ICC-2015-018]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Revise 
ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies and Procedures

November 13, 2015.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on November 5, 2015, ICE Clear Credit LLC (``ICC'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule 
change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have 
been prepared primarily by ICC. ICC filed the proposed rule change 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the

[[Page 72459]]

Act,\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(i) \4\ thereunder, so that the proposal 
was effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change 
from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(i).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The principal purpose of the proposed rule change is to revise the 
ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies and Procedures to accommodate 
industry changes regarding the reduction of the frequency for which 
Single Name (``SN'') credit default swap (``CDS'') contracts roll to 
the new on-the-run-contract. These revisions do not require any changes 
to the ICC Clearing Rules.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, ICC included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received regarding the proposed rule change. 
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. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    ICC proposes revising the ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies 
and Procedures to accommodate industry changes regarding the reduction 
of the frequency for which SN CDS contracts roll to the new on-the-run-
contract. The changes affect the labeling convention for cleared SN CDS 
contracts for price reporting purposes, but will not alter the terms of 
the contracts or the range of tenors of SN CDS contracts currently 
cleared by ICC.
    ICC believes such revisions will facilitate the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions and derivative 
agreements, contracts, and transactions cleared by ICC. The proposed 
revisions are described in detail as follows.
    As part of ICC's end-of-day price discovery process, ICC Clearing 
Participants (``CPs'') are required to submit end-of-day prices for 
specific instruments related to their open interest at ICC, in 
accordance with Rule 404(b) and ICC Procedures. These end-of-day price 
submissions are used by ICC in its calculation of settlement prices.
    ICC refers to a group of SN instruments with the same risk sub-
factor and coupon as a ``curve.'' Each point, or tenor, along the curve 
is labeled with a tenor name. Currently for SN instruments, the market 
convention is to describe tenors based on the period remaining until 
the scheduled termination date of the contract. Under this convention, 
the nearest-to-expiring contract is referred to as the 0M tenor, the 
next nearest to expiring is referred to as the three month (3M) tenor, 
and so on (with scheduled termination dates spaced at 3 month 
intervals), up to ten years (10Y). ICC supports the clearing of all 41 
SN tenors from 0M to 10Y. As such, ICC also calculates settlement 
prices for the 41 SN tenors on the curve. However, ICC defines a subset 
of the 41 tenors as ``benchmark-tenors'', which are tenors for which 
CPs provide submissions in the end-of-day price discovery process. The 
nine benchmark tenors are 0M, 6M, 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, 4Y, 5Y, 7Y, and 10Y, 
which correspond to so-called ``on-the-run'' contracts.
    Currently, as a matter of CDS market practice, the ``on-the-run'' 
contract for a particular tenor is the contract expiring on the next 
following quarterly International Money Market (``IMM'') dates (i.e., 
March 20, June 20, September 20 and December 20) for the relevant year. 
For example, the SN CDS contract expiring December 20, 2020 will be 
considered the five-year ``on-the-run'' contract until December 20, 
2015, from which time the contract expiring March 20, 2021 will be 
viewed as the 5Y ``on-the-run'' contract, until the next quarterly roll 
date, etc. Accordingly, market participants seeking to maintain 
exposure at a particular CDS tenor will typically ``roll'' SN CDS 
contracts into the new ``on-the-run'' contract (i.e., terminate 
positions in the old on-the-run contract and establish positions in the 
new on-the-run contract) on a quarterly basis on the IMM dates. To 
account for this practice, at each quarterly roll date, ICC re-labeled 
the 41 SN tenors to reflect the rolling and expiration of contracts.
    The CDS industry has proposed reducing the frequency at which SN 
CDS contracts roll to the new on-the-run contract. Specifically, the 
CDS industry has proposed moving from quarterly roll dates to semi-
annual roll dates for SN CDS contracts. Under the revised approach, 
market participants are expected to roll SN CDS contracts only on the 
March 20 and September 20 IMM dates, and the ``on-the-run'' contracts 
will be determined based on the next following June 20 and December 20 
expiration dates. As a result, a particular contract tenor will 
generally remain the on-the-run contract for six months, rather than 
three.
    ICC proposes changes to its End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies and 
Procedures to accommodate the change in roll frequency for on-the-run 
contracts. Under the revised policy, ICC will re-label scheduled 
termination dates with benchmark tenor names every six months, on the 
March 20 and September 20 IMM dates for CDS contracts (i.e., the on-
the-run roll dates). The re-labeling is based on the remaining time to 
maturity that will apply to a given scheduled termination date on the 
next quarterly IMM date (i.e. the next December 20 or June 20 standard 
maturity date). Upon the semi-annual re-labeling, the nearest to 
maturity contract is referred to as the 0M tenor, and the tenor label 
for each longer-date contract is based on that contract's time to 
maturity relative to the scheduled termination date labeled as the 0M 
tenor.
    The new nine benchmark tenors will be the 0/3M, 6M, 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, 4Y, 
5Y, 7Y and 10Y, which correspond to the on-the-run contracts for those 
tenors. Eight of the nine benchmark tenors remain constant and refer to 
individual scheduled termination dates that are fixed for the six-month 
periods between semi-annual re-labeling, specifically the 6M, 1Y, 2Y, 
3Y, 4Y, 5Y, 7Y, and 10Y. However, the 0M tenor matures three months 
after a semi-annual labeling, and ICC defines the first (shortest-
dated) benchmark tenor as the 0M tenor from a semi-annual re-labeling 
until the maturity of that tenor, and defines the first benchmark tenor 
as the 3M tenor from the maturity of the 0M tenor through the next 
semi-annual re-labeling. The label 0/3M tenor refers to this re-mapping 
of the first benchmark tenor to different IMM dates on a quarterly 
basis. Throughout the policy, references to the 0M SN tenor has been 
updated to 0/3M to reflect this change.
    Consistent with the approach being taken throughout the CDS market, 
the changes to accommodate the change in SN roll frequency will take 
effect with the December 20, 2015 roll.
2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \5\ requires, among other things, 
that the

[[Page 72460]]

rules of a clearing agency be designed to promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions, and to 
the extent applicable, derivative agreements, contracts and 
transactions and to comply with the provisions of the Act and the rules 
and regulations thereunder. ICC believes that the proposed rule changes 
are consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to ICC, in particular, to Section 
17(A)(b)(3)(F).\6\ The proposed rule changes will facilitate the prompt 
and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions and 
derivatives agreements, contracts, and transactions, as the proposed 
revisions accommodate industry changes regarding the reduction of the 
frequency for which SN CDS contracts roll to the new on-the-run 
contract. The proposed amendments to the End-of-Day Price Discovery 
Policies and Procedures will thus enable ICC to appropriately complete 
its end of day price discovery process in light of such industry 
changes. The completion of ICC's end of day price discovery process 
allows ICC to provide reliable, market-driven prices for its CDS 
instruments. As such, the proposed changes are designed to promote the 
prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
transactions, derivatives agreements, contracts, and transactions 
within the meaning of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) \7\ of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \6\ Id.
    \7\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    ICC does not believe the proposed rule changes would have any 
impact, or impose any burden, on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed 
changes are designed to accommodate industry changes regarding the 
reduction of the frequency for which SN CDS contracts roll to the new 
on-the-run-contract, and will apply uniformly across all market 
participants. ICC is not changing the products or tenors of SN CDS 
offered, and does not believe that the amendments will adversely affect 
access to clearing or the cost of clearing for CPs or other market 
participants. Therefore, ICC does not believe the proposed rule changes 
impose any burden on competition that is inappropriate in furtherance 
of the purposes of the Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change 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 and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant 
to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \8\ of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(i) 
thereunder, as the amendments effect a change in an existing service of 
a registered clearing agency that does not adversely affect the 
safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of the 
clearing agency or for which it is responsible and does not 
significantly affect the respective rights or obligations of the 
clearing agency or persons using the service, within the meaning of 
Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(i). At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 
proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 
such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of 
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change 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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-ICC-2015-018 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICC-2015-018. 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 Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change 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 Web site 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 Web site at https://www.theice.com/clear-credit/regulation.
    All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission 
does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You 
should submit only information that you wish to make available 
publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICC-2015-018 
and should be submitted on or before December 10, 2015.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-29489 Filed 11-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                  72458                      Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 223 / Thursday, November 19, 2015 / Notices

                                                  other charges among its members,                         C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     Commission’s Internet Web site (http://
                                                  issuers and other persons using its                      Statement on Comments on the                          www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of
                                                  facilities and does not unfairly                         Proposed Rule Change Received From                    the submission, all subsequent
                                                  discriminate between customers,                          Members, Participants, or Others                      amendments, all written statements
                                                  issuers, brokers or dealers.                               No written comments were solicited                  with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                           or received with respect to the proposed              change that are filed with the
                                                     The Exchange believes that the
                                                                                                           rule change.                                          Commission, and all written
                                                  proposed Take Fees for Non-Customers                                                                           communications relating to the
                                                  reasonable, equitable and not unfairly                   III. Date of Effectiveness of the                     proposed rule change between the
                                                  discriminatory because they are                          Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                   Commission and any person, other than
                                                  competitive with fees charged by other                   Commission Action                                     those that may be withheld from the
                                                  exchanges and are designed to attract                       The foregoing rule change is effective             public in accordance with the
                                                  (and compete for) order flow to the                      upon filing pursuant to Section                       provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                  Exchange, which provides a greater                       19(b)(3)(A) 10 of the Act and                         available for Web site viewing and
                                                  opportunity for trading by all market                    subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 11                  printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                  participants.8 Moreover, the Exchange                    thereunder, because it establishes a due,             Reference Section, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                  believes the proposed change does not                    fee, or other charge imposed by the                   Washington, DC 20549–1090. Copies of
                                                  unfairly discriminate because it applies                 Exchange.                                             the filing will also be available for
                                                  equally to all Non-Customers who are                        At any time within 60 days of the                  inspection and copying at the NYSE’s
                                                  removing liquidity.                                      filing of such proposed rule change, the              principal office and on its Internet Web
                                                                                                           Commission summarily may                              site at www.nyse.com. All comments
                                                     For these reasons, the Exchange
                                                                                                           temporarily suspend such rule change if               received will be posted without change;
                                                  believes that the proposal is consistent                                                                       the Commission does not edit personal
                                                  with the Act.                                            it appears to the Commission that such
                                                                                                           action is necessary or appropriate in the             identifying information from
                                                  B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        public interest, for the protection of                submissions. You should submit only
                                                  Statement on Burden on Competition                       investors, or otherwise in furtherance of             information that you wish to make
                                                                                                           the purposes of the Act. If the                       available publicly. All submissions
                                                     In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of                 Commission takes such action, the                     should refer to File Number SR–
                                                  the Act,9 the Exchange does not believe                  Commission shall institute proceedings                NYSEARCA–2015–112 and should be
                                                  that the proposed rule change will                       under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 12 of the Act to            submitted on or before December 10,
                                                  impose any burden on competition that                    determine whether the proposed rule                   2015.
                                                  is not necessary or appropriate in                       change should be approved or                            For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                  disapproved.                                          Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                                                                                 authority.13
                                                     Instead, the Exchange believes that                   IV. Solicitation of Comments                          Brent J. Fields,
                                                  the proposed change would continue to
                                                                                                             Interested persons are invited to                   Secretary.
                                                  encourage competition and make the
                                                                                                           submit written data, views, and                       [FR Doc. 2015–29491 Filed 11–18–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  Exchange a more competitive venue for,                   arguments concerning the foregoing,                   BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  among other things, order execution and                  including whether the proposed rule
                                                  price discovery. In addition, the                        change is consistent with the Act.
                                                  proposed change would impact all                         Comments may be submitted by any of                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                  affected order types (i.e., Professional                 the following methods:                                COMMISSION
                                                  Customers, Firm, Broker Dealers) in
                                                  issues at the same rate. The Exchange                    Electronic Comments                                   [Release No. 34–76437; File No. SR–ICC–
                                                                                                                                                                 2015–018]
                                                  does not believe that the proposed                          • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                  change will impair the ability of any                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE
                                                  market participants or competing order                   rules/sro.shtml); or                                  Clear Credit LLC; Notice of Filing and
                                                  execution venues to maintain their                          • Send an email to rule-comments@                  Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
                                                  competitive standing in the financial                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–               Rule Change To Revise ICC End-of-
                                                  markets.                                                 NYSEARCA–2015–112 on the subject                      Day Price Discovery Policies and
                                                                                                           line.                                                 Procedures
                                                     The Exchange notes that it operates in
                                                  a highly competitive market in which                     Paper Comments
                                                                                                                                                                 November 13, 2015.
                                                  market participants can readily favor                      • Send paper comments in triplicate                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                  competing venues. In such an                             to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities             Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                  environment, the Exchange must                           and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                  continually review, and consider                         NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                       notice is hereby given that on November
                                                  adjusting, its fees and credits to remain                All submissions should refer to File                  5, 2015, ICE Clear Credit LLC (‘‘ICC’’)
                                                  competitive with other exchanges. For                    Number SR–NYSEARCA–2015–112.                          filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                                  the reasons described above, the                         This file number should be included on                Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                  Exchange believes that the proposed                      the subject line if email is used. To help            proposed rule change as described in
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  rule change reflects this competitive                    the Commission process and review                     Items I, II, and III below, which Items
                                                  environment.                                             your comments more efficiently, please                have been prepared primarily by ICC.
                                                                                                           use only one method. The Commission                   ICC filed the proposed rule change
                                                                                                           will post all comments on the                         pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the
                                                                                                             10 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                    8 See supra n. 5.                                        11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                            1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).                                   12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).                            2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:00 Nov 18, 2015   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00049   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM    19NON1


                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 223 / Thursday, November 19, 2015 / Notices                                             72459

                                                  Act,3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(4)(i) 4                           submit end-of-day prices for specific                 expected to roll SN CDS contracts only
                                                  thereunder, so that the proposal was                      instruments related to their open                     on the March 20 and September 20 IMM
                                                  effective upon filing with the                            interest at ICC, in accordance with Rule              dates, and the ‘‘on-the-run’’ contracts
                                                  Commission. The Commission is                             404(b) and ICC Procedures. These end-                 will be determined based on the next
                                                  publishing this notice to solicit                         of-day price submissions are used by                  following June 20 and December 20
                                                  comments on the proposed rule change                      ICC in its calculation of settlement                  expiration dates. As a result, a particular
                                                  from interested persons.                                  prices.                                               contract tenor will generally remain the
                                                                                                               ICC refers to a group of SN                        on-the-run contract for six months,
                                                  I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                         instruments with the same risk sub-
                                                  Statement of the Terms of Substance of                                                                          rather than three.
                                                                                                            factor and coupon as a ‘‘curve.’’ Each                   ICC proposes changes to its End-of-
                                                  the Proposed Rule Change                                  point, or tenor, along the curve is                   Day Price Discovery Policies and
                                                     The principal purpose of the                           labeled with a tenor name. Currently for              Procedures to accommodate the change
                                                  proposed rule change is to revise the                     SN instruments, the market convention                 in roll frequency for on-the-run
                                                  ICC End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies                   is to describe tenors based on the period             contracts. Under the revised policy, ICC
                                                  and Procedures to accommodate                             remaining until the scheduled                         will re-label scheduled termination
                                                  industry changes regarding the                            termination date of the contract. Under               dates with benchmark tenor names
                                                  reduction of the frequency for which                      this convention, the nearest-to-expiring              every six months, on the March 20 and
                                                  Single Name (‘‘SN’’) credit default swap                  contract is referred to as the 0M tenor,              September 20 IMM dates for CDS
                                                  (‘‘CDS’’) contracts roll to the new on-                   the next nearest to expiring is referred              contracts (i.e., the on-the-run roll dates).
                                                  the-run-contract. These revisions do not                  to as the three month (3M) tenor, and so              The re-labeling is based on the
                                                  require any changes to the ICC Clearing                   on (with scheduled termination dates                  remaining time to maturity that will
                                                  Rules.                                                    spaced at 3 month intervals), up to ten               apply to a given scheduled termination
                                                  II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        years (10Y). ICC supports the clearing of             date on the next quarterly IMM date (i.e.
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                          all 41 SN tenors from 0M to 10Y. As                   the next December 20 or June 20
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                    such, ICC also calculates settlement                  standard maturity date). Upon the semi-
                                                  Change                                                    prices for the 41 SN tenors on the curve.             annual re-labeling, the nearest to
                                                                                                            However, ICC defines a subset of the 41               maturity contract is referred to as the
                                                     In its filing with the Commission, ICC                 tenors as ‘‘benchmark-tenors’’, which
                                                  included statements concerning the                                                                              0M tenor, and the tenor label for each
                                                                                                            are tenors for which CPs provide                      longer-date contract is based on that
                                                  purpose of and basis for the proposed                     submissions in the end-of-day price
                                                  rule change and discussed any                                                                                   contract’s time to maturity relative to
                                                                                                            discovery process. The nine benchmark                 the scheduled termination date labeled
                                                  comments it received regarding the                        tenors are 0M, 6M, 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, 4Y, 5Y,
                                                  proposed rule change. The text of these                                                                         as the 0M tenor.
                                                                                                            7Y, and 10Y, which correspond to so-
                                                  statements may be examined at the                                                                                  The new nine benchmark tenors will
                                                                                                            called ‘‘on-the-run’’ contracts.
                                                  places specified in Item IV below. ICC                       Currently, as a matter of CDS market               be the 0/3M, 6M, 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, 4Y, 5Y,
                                                  has prepared summaries, set forth in                      practice, the ‘‘on-the-run’’ contract for a           7Y and 10Y, which correspond to the
                                                  sections A, B, and C below, of the most                   particular tenor is the contract expiring             on-the-run contracts for those tenors.
                                                  significant aspects of these statements.                  on the next following quarterly                       Eight of the nine benchmark tenors
                                                                                                            International Money Market (‘‘IMM’’)                  remain constant and refer to individual
                                                  A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                               scheduled termination dates that are
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                          dates (i.e., March 20, June 20,
                                                                                                            September 20 and December 20) for the                 fixed for the six-month periods between
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                                                                          semi-annual re-labeling, specifically the
                                                  Change                                                    relevant year. For example, the SN CDS
                                                                                                            contract expiring December 20, 2020                   6M, 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, 4Y, 5Y, 7Y, and 10Y.
                                                  1. Purpose                                                will be considered the five-year ‘‘on-the-            However, the 0M tenor matures three
                                                     ICC proposes revising the ICC End-of-                  run’’ contract until December 20, 2015,               months after a semi-annual labeling,
                                                  Day Price Discovery Policies and                          from which time the contract expiring                 and ICC defines the first (shortest-dated)
                                                  Procedures to accommodate industry                        March 20, 2021 will be viewed as the 5Y               benchmark tenor as the 0M tenor from
                                                  changes regarding the reduction of the                    ‘‘on-the-run’’ contract, until the next               a semi-annual re-labeling until the
                                                  frequency for which SN CDS contracts                      quarterly roll date, etc. Accordingly,                maturity of that tenor, and defines the
                                                  roll to the new on-the-run-contract. The                  market participants seeking to maintain               first benchmark tenor as the 3M tenor
                                                  changes affect the labeling convention                    exposure at a particular CDS tenor will               from the maturity of the 0M tenor
                                                  for cleared SN CDS contracts for price                    typically ‘‘roll’’ SN CDS contracts into              through the next semi-annual re-
                                                  reporting purposes, but will not alter the                the new ‘‘on-the-run’’ contract (i.e.,                labeling. The label 0/3M tenor refers to
                                                  terms of the contracts or the range of                    terminate positions in the old on-the-                this re-mapping of the first benchmark
                                                  tenors of SN CDS contracts currently                      run contract and establish positions in               tenor to different IMM dates on a
                                                  cleared by ICC.                                           the new on-the-run contract) on a                     quarterly basis. Throughout the policy,
                                                     ICC believes such revisions will                       quarterly basis on the IMM dates. To                  references to the 0M SN tenor has been
                                                  facilitate the prompt and accurate                        account for this practice, at each                    updated to 0/3M to reflect this change.
                                                  clearance and settlement of securities                    quarterly roll date, ICC re-labeled the 41               Consistent with the approach being
                                                  transactions and derivative agreements,                   SN tenors to reflect the rolling and                  taken throughout the CDS market, the
                                                  contracts, and transactions cleared by                    expiration of contracts.                              changes to accommodate the change in
                                                                                                                                                                  SN roll frequency will take effect with
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  ICC. The proposed revisions are                              The CDS industry has proposed
                                                  described in detail as follows.                           reducing the frequency at which SN                    the December 20, 2015 roll.
                                                     As part of ICC’s end-of-day price                      CDS contracts roll to the new on-the-run              2. Statutory Basis
                                                  discovery process, ICC Clearing                           contract. Specifically, the CDS industry
                                                  Participants (‘‘CPs’’) are required to                    has proposed moving from quarterly roll                 Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 5
                                                                                                            dates to semi-annual roll dates for SN                requires, among other things, that the
                                                    3 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                             CDS contracts. Under the revised
                                                    4 17   CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4)(i).                          approach, market participants are                       5 15   U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).



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                                                  72460                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 223 / Thursday, November 19, 2015 / Notices

                                                  rules of a clearing agency be designed to               C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                  promote the prompt and accurate                         Statement on Comments on the                             rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                  clearance and settlement of securities                  Proposed Rule Change Received From                       submission, all subsequent
                                                  transactions, and to the extent                         Members, Participants or Others                          amendments, all written statements
                                                  applicable, derivative agreements,                        Written comments relating to the                       with respect to the proposed rule
                                                  contracts and transactions and to                       proposed rule change have not been                       change that are filed with the
                                                  comply with the provisions of the Act                   solicited or received. ICC will notify the               Commission, and all written
                                                  and the rules and regulations                           Commission of any written comments                       communications relating to the
                                                  thereunder. ICC believes that the                       received by ICC.                                         proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                                                                                   Commission and any person, other than
                                                  proposed rule changes are consistent                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                        those that may be withheld from the
                                                  with the requirements of the Act and the                Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                      public in accordance with the
                                                  rules and regulations thereunder                        Commission Action                                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                  applicable to ICC, in particular, to                                                                             available for Web site viewing and
                                                                                                             The foregoing rule change has become
                                                  Section 17(A)(b)(3)(F).6 The proposed                                                                            printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                          effective upon filing pursuant to Section
                                                  rule changes will facilitate the prompt                                                                          Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                                                                          19(b)(3)(A) 8 of the Act and Rule 19b–
                                                  and accurate clearance and settlement of                4(f)(4)(i) thereunder, as the amendments                 Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                  securities transactions and derivatives                 effect a change in an existing service of                business days between the hours of
                                                  agreements, contracts, and transactions,                a registered clearing agency that does                   10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                                  as the proposed revisions accommodate                   not adversely affect the safeguarding of                 filings will also be available for
                                                  industry changes regarding the                          securities or funds in the custody or                    inspection and copying at the principal
                                                  reduction of the frequency for which SN                 control of the clearing agency or for                    office of ICE Clear Credit and on ICE
                                                  CDS contracts roll to the new on-the-run                which it is responsible and does not                     Clear Credit’s Web site at https://www.
                                                  contract. The proposed amendments to                    significantly affect the respective rights               theice.com/clear-credit/regulation.
                                                  the End-of-Day Price Discovery Policies                 or obligations of the clearing agency or                    All comments received will be posted
                                                  and Procedures will thus enable ICC to                  persons using the service, within the                    without change; the Commission does
                                                  appropriately complete its end of day                   meaning of Rule 19b–4(f)(4)(i). At any                   not edit personal identifying
                                                  price discovery process in light of such                time within 60 days of the filing of the                 information from submissions. You
                                                  industry changes. The completion of                     proposed rule change, the Commission                     should submit only information that
                                                                                                          summarily may temporarily suspend                        you wish to make available publicly. All
                                                  ICC’s end of day price discovery process
                                                                                                          such rule change if it appears to the                    submissions should refer to File
                                                  allows ICC to provide reliable, market-
                                                                                                          Commission that such action is                           Number SR–ICC–2015–018 and should
                                                  driven prices for its CDS instruments.                                                                           be submitted on or before December 10,
                                                  As such, the proposed changes are                       necessary or appropriate in the public
                                                                                                          interest, for the protection of investors,               2015.
                                                  designed to promote the prompt and
                                                                                                          or otherwise in furtherance of the                         For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  accurate clearance and settlement of
                                                                                                          purposes of the Act.                                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                  securities transactions, derivatives                                                                             authority.9
                                                  agreements, contracts, and transactions                 IV. Solicitation of Comments                             Brent J. Fields,
                                                  within the meaning of Section                             Interested persons are invited to                      Secretary.
                                                  17A(b)(3)(F) 7 of the Act.                              submit written data, views, and                          [FR Doc. 2015–29489 Filed 11–18–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                  B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                          including whether the proposed rule
                                                  Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                                                                          change is consistent with the Act.
                                                     ICC does not believe the proposed                    Comments may be submitted by any of                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                  rule changes would have any impact, or                  the following methods:                                   COMMISSION
                                                  impose any burden, on competition not                   Electronic Comments                                      [Release No. 34–76436; File No. SR–NYSE–
                                                  necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                                                                            • Use the Commission’s Internet                        2015–35]
                                                  of the purposes of the Act. The                         comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                  proposed changes are designed to                                                                                 Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
                                                                                                          rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                  accommodate industry changes                                                                                     York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of
                                                                                                            • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                  regarding the reduction of the frequency                                                                         Filing of Amendment Nos. 3 and 5 and
                                                                                                          sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                  for which SN CDS contracts roll to the                                                                           Order Granting Accelerated Approval
                                                                                                          ICC–2015–018 on the subject line.
                                                  new on-the-run-contract, and will apply                                                                          of a Proposed Rule Change, as
                                                  uniformly across all market participants.               Paper Comments                                           Modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 3 and
                                                  ICC is not changing the products or                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                    5, Amending Exchange Disciplinary
                                                  tenors of SN CDS offered, and does not                  to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                    Rules To Facilitate the Reintegration of
                                                                                                          Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                            Certain Regulatory Functions From
                                                  believe that the amendments will
                                                                                                          Washington, DC 20549–1090.                               Financial Industry Regulatory
                                                  adversely affect access to clearing or the
                                                                                                          All submissions should refer to File                     Authority, Inc.
                                                  cost of clearing for CPs or other market
                                                  participants. Therefore, ICC does not                   Number SR–ICC–2015–018. This file                        November 13, 2015.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  believe the proposed rule changes                       number should be included on the
                                                                                                          subject line if email is used. To help the               I. Introduction
                                                  impose any burden on competition that
                                                  is inappropriate in furtherance of the                  Commission process and review your                          On August 5, 2015, New York Stock
                                                  purposes of the Act.                                    comments more efficiently, please use                    Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)
                                                                                                          only one method. The Commission will                     filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                          post all comments on the Commission’s                    Commission (‘‘Commission’’) pursuant
                                                    6 Id.

                                                    7 Id.                                                   8 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                              9 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:56:31
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:56:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation80 FR 72458 

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