81_FR_50753 81 FR 50605 - Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities

81 FR 50605 - Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 148 (August 2, 2016)

Page Range50605-50613
FR Document2016-18193

The OCC, Board, FDIC, FCA, and FHFA (each an ``Agency'' and, collectively, the ``Agencies'') are adopting exemptions from the initial and variation margin requirements published by the Agencies in November 2015 pursuant to sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the ``Dodd-Frank Act'' or the ``Act''). Pursuant to Title III of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (``TRIPRA''), this final rule exempts certain non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps with certain financial and non-financial end users that qualify for an exception or exemption from clearing.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 148 (Tuesday, August 2, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 2, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50605-50613]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18193]



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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 50605]]



DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Part 45

[Docket No. OCC-2015-0023]
RIN 1557-AD00

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 237

[Docket No. R-1415]
RIN 7100-AD74

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 349

RIN 3064-AE21

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 624

RIN 3052-AC69

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

12 CFR Part 1221

RIN 2590-AA45


Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury (``OCC''); 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (``Board''); Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (``FDIC''); Farm Credit Administration 
(``FCA''); and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (``FHFA'').

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The OCC, Board, FDIC, FCA, and FHFA (each an ``Agency'' and, 
collectively, the ``Agencies'') are adopting exemptions from the 
initial and variation margin requirements published by the Agencies in 
November 2015 pursuant to sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the ``Dodd-Frank Act'' or 
the ``Act''). Pursuant to Title III of the Terrorism Risk Insurance 
Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (``TRIPRA''), this final rule 
exempts certain non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps 
with certain financial and non-financial end users that qualify for an 
exception or exemption from clearing.

DATES: This final rule is effective October 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    OCC: Ang Middleton, Risk Specialist, Financial Markets Group, (202) 
649-7138, or Carl Kaminski, Special Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory 
Activities Division, (202) 649-5490, for persons who are deaf or hard 
of hearing, TTY (202) 649-5597, Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.
    Board: Sean D. Campbell, Associate Director, (202) 452-3760, Anna 
M. Harrington, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst, (202) 452-6406, or 
Lesley Chao, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst, (202) 974-7063, 
Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation; Victoria M. Szybillo, 
Counsel, (202) 475-6325, or Adam Cohen, Counsel, (202) 912-4658, Legal 
Division, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C 
Streets NW., Washington, DC 20551.
    FDIC: Karl R. Reitz, Corporate Expert, Capital Markets, 
[email protected]; Michael E. Spencer, Chief, Capital Markets Strategy 
Section, [email protected], Division of Risk Management Supervision, 
(202) 898-6888; Thomas F. Hearn, Counsel, [email protected], (202) 898-
6967, or Catherine Topping, Counsel, [email protected], (202) 898-3975, 
Legal Division, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20429.
    FCA: J.C. Floyd, Associate Director, Finance & Capital Markets 
Team, Timothy T. Nerdahl, Senior Policy Analyst--Capital Markets, 
Jeremy R. Edelstein, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Regulatory 
Policy, (703) 883-4414, TTY (703) 883-4056, or Richard A. Katz, Senior 
Counsel, Office of General Counsel, (703) 883-4020, TTY (703) 883-4056, 
Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-
5090.
    FHFA: George Sacco, Senior Financial Analyst, Division of Housing 
Mission and Goals, (202) 649-3276, [email protected], or Peggy K. 
Balsawer, Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, (202) 
649-3060, [email protected], Federal Housing Finance Agency, 
Constitution Center, 400 7th St. SW., Washington, DC 20219. The 
telephone number for the Telecommunications Device for the Hearing 
Impaired is (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Dodd-Frank Act was enacted on July 21, 2010.\1\ Title VII of 
the Dodd-Frank Act established a comprehensive new regulatory framework 
for derivatives, which the Act generally characterizes as ``swaps'' and 
``security-based swaps.'' \2\ As part of this new regulatory framework, 
sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act added, respectively, a new 
section 4s to the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (the ``Commodity 
Exchange Act''), and a new section 15F to the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (the ``Securities Exchange Act''), which require registration 
with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ``CFTC'') of 
swap dealers and major swap participants and with the U.S. Securities 
and Exchange Commission (the ``SEC'') of security-based swap dealers 
and major security-based swap participants.\3\ These

[[Page 50606]]

registrants are collectively referred to in this preamble as ``swap 
entities.''
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    \1\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
    \2\ ``Swaps'' are defined in section 721 of the Dodd-Frank Act 
to include interest rate swaps, commodity-based swaps, equity swaps 
and credit default swaps. ``Security-based swaps'' are defined in 
section 761 of the Dodd-Frank Act to include a swap based on a 
single security or loan or on a narrow-based security index. See 7 
U.S.C. 1a(47); 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(68).
    \3\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s; 15 U.S.C. 78o-10. Section 731 of the Dodd-
Frank Act requires swap dealers and major swap participants to 
register with the CFTC, which is vested with primary responsibility 
for the oversight of the swaps market under Title VII of the Dodd-
Frank Act. Section 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act requires security-based 
swap dealers and major security-based swap participants to register 
with the SEC, which is vested with primary responsibility for the 
oversight of the security-based swaps market under Title VII of the 
Dodd-Frank Act. Section 712(d)(1) of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the 
CFTC and SEC to issue joint rules further defining the terms swap, 
security-based swap, swap dealer, major swap participant, security-
based swap dealer, and major security-based swap participant. The 
CFTC and SEC issued final joint rulemakings with respect to these 
definitions in May 2012 and August 2012, respectively. See 77 FR 
30596 (May 23, 2012); 77 FR 39626 (July 5, 2012) (correction of 
footnote in the Supplementary Information accompanying the rule); 
and 77 FR 48207 (August 13, 2012). 17 CFR part 1; 17 CFR parts 230, 
240 and 241.
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    Sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act require the Agencies to 
adopt joint rules that apply to all swap entities for which any one of 
the Agencies is the prudential regulator,\4\ imposing capital 
requirements and initial and variation margin requirements on all swaps 
and security-based swaps not cleared by a registered derivatives 
clearing organization or clearing agency.\5\ After a rulemaking process 
that began in 2011, the Agencies published a joint final rule to 
implement these Dodd-Frank Act requirements on November 30, 2015 (the 
``joint final rule'').\6\
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    \4\ Section 1a(39) of the Commodity Exchange Act defines the 
term ``prudential regulator'' for purposes of the capital and margin 
requirements applicable to swap dealers, major swap participants, 
security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap 
participants. 7 U.S.C. 1a(39).
    \5\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s(e)(2)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(e)(2)(A).
    \6\ 80 FR 74840 (November 30, 2015).
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    The capital and margin requirements under sections 731 and 764 of 
the Dodd-Frank Act apply to non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps and complement other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that 
require the CFTC and SEC to make determinations as to whether certain 
swaps or security-based swaps, or a group, category, or class of such 
transactions, should be required to be cleared.\7\ If the CFTC or SEC 
has made such a determination, it is generally unlawful for any person 
to engage in such a swap or security-based swap unless the transaction 
is submitted to a derivatives clearing organization or clearing agency, 
as applicable, for clearing.
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    \7\ 7 U.S.C. 2(h); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3. The Commodity Exchange Act 
and the Securities Exchange Act set out standards that the CFTC and 
the SEC, respectively, are required to apply when making 
determinations about clearing, which generally address whether a 
swap or security-based swap is sufficiently standardized to be 
cleared. 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(2)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(b)(4).
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    The clearing requirements, however, do not apply to an entity that 
is not a financial entity, is using a swap or security-based swap to 
hedge or mitigate commercial risk, and notifies the CFTC or the SEC, in 
a manner set forth by the appropriate Commission, how it generally 
meets its financial obligations.\8\ Thus, a particular swap or 
security-based swap might not be cleared either because it is not 
subject to the mandatory clearing requirement or because one of the 
parties to the swap is eligible for, and elects to use, an exception or 
exemption from the mandatory clearing requirement. Such a swap or 
security-based swap is ``non-cleared'' for purposes of the capital and 
margin requirements established under sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-
Frank Act.
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    \8\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g). Further, the CFTC 
has authority to exempt swaps from the clearing requirement. 7 
U.S.C. 6(c)(1). Pursuant to this authority, the CFTC has provided an 
exemption from clearing to certain cooperatives that are financial 
entities. See 17 CFR 50.51. The SEC has similar exemptive authority 
under section 36(c) of the Securities Exchange Act. 15 U.S.C. 
78mm(c).
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    Sections 731 and 764 direct the Agencies to impose initial and 
variation margin requirements on all non-cleared swaps and non-cleared 
security-based swaps. The joint final rule takes into account the risk 
posed by a covered swap entity's counterparties in establishing the 
minimum amount of initial and variation margin that the covered swap 
entity must exchange with its counterparties.\9\ In implementing this 
risk-based approach, the joint final rule distinguishes among four 
separate types of swap counterparties: (1) Counterparties that are 
themselves swap entities; (2) counterparties that are financial end 
users with a material swaps exposure; (3) counterparties that are 
financial end users without a material swaps exposure, and (4) other 
counterparties, including non-financial end users, sovereigns, and 
multilateral development banks.\10\ The joint final rule makes a 
covered swap entity's collection of margin from these ``other 
counterparties,'' including commercial end users, subject to the 
judgment of the covered swap entity. In particular, a covered swap 
entity is not required to collect initial and variation margin from 
these ``other counterparties'' as a matter of course; a covered swap 
entity should collect initial or variation margin at such times and in 
such forms and amounts (if any) as the covered swap entity determines 
appropriate in its overall credit risk management of the covered swap 
entity's exposure to the customer.\11\
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    \9\ Each Agency has codified its rule within its respective 
title of the Code of Federal Regulations. Specifically, the Agencies 
codified the rules as follows: 12 CFR part 45 (OCC); 12 CFR part 237 
(the Board); 12 CFR part 349 (FDIC); 12 CFR part 624 (FCA); and 12 
CFR part 1221 (FHFA).
    \10\ See Sec.  _.2 of the joint final rule for the various 
definitions that identify these four types of swaps counterparties. 
The terms ``non-financial end user'' and ``commercial end user'' are 
used interchangeably throughout this preamble. Although the term 
``commercial end user'' is not defined in the Dodd-Frank Act, it is 
used in this preamble to mean a company that is eligible for the 
exception to the mandatory clearing requirement for swaps under 
section 2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act and section 
3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act, respectively. This 
exception is generally available to a person that (1) is not a 
financial entity, (2) is using the swap to hedge or mitigate 
commercial risk, and (3) has notified the CFTC or SEC how it 
generally meets its financial obligations with respect to non-
cleared swaps or security-based swaps, respectively. See 7 U.S.C. 
2(h)(7)(A) and 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(1); see also 80 FR 74848 note 70.
    \11\ See Sec. Sec.  _.3(d) and _.4(c) of the joint final rule.
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    On January 12, 2015, President Obama signed TRIPRA into law.\12\ 
Title III of TRIPRA, the ``Business Risk Mitigation and Price 
Stabilization Act of 2015,'' amends the statutory provisions added by 
the Dodd-Frank Act relating to margin requirements for non-cleared 
swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps. Specifically, section 302 
of TRIPRA amends sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act to provide 
that the initial and variation margin requirements do not apply to 
certain transactions of specified counterparties that would qualify for 
an exception or exemption from clearing, as explained more fully below. 
Qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of 
entities covered by section 302 of TRIPRA are not subject to the 
Agencies' joint final rule.
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    \12\ Public Law 114-1, 129 Stat. 3 (2015).
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    Section 303 of TRIPRA requires the Agencies to implement the 
provisions of section 302 by promulgating an interim final rule 
pursuant to which public comment is sought before a final rule is 
issued. On November 30, 2015, the Agencies published and sought comment 
on an interim final rule, which added Sec.  _.1(d) to the joint final 
rule.\13\ The Agencies are adopting as a final rule without change the 
interim final rule that went into effect on April 1, 2016.
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    \13\ 80 FR 74916 (November 30, 2015) (the ``interim final 
rule'').
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II. Summary of Public Comments on Matters Raised in the Interim Final 
Rule

    Three banking organizations, two individuals, two trade 
associations, and one nonprofit finance cooperative submitted comments 
in response to the interim final rule.\14\ Four of the commenters 
expressed strong support for the approach taken in the interim final 
rule.
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    \14\ The Agencies carefully considered all comments received on 
the interim final rule. In addition, representatives of the FDIC and 
FCA had a telephone call with one commenter after the comment period 
closed. Comments received on the interim final rule, as well as a 
summary of the call with this commenter, are available on the 
applicable Agencies' respective public Web sites.
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    Comments were received from two public sector entities organized 
under foreign laws whose obligations are guaranteed by foreign 
governments (``foreign public sector entities''). These

[[Page 50607]]

commenters argued that, even though they are not included among the 
type of entities expressly covered by section 302 of TRIPRA, foreign 
public sector entities should still not be subject to the joint final 
rule because the CFTC has determined that these types of entities are 
not subject to the mandate to clear swaps that are otherwise required 
to be cleared.
    The Agencies are not providing the relief requested by these 
commenters since the purpose of this final rule is to incorporate the 
terms of section 302 of TRIPRA, and the treatment of foreign public 
sector entities is not specified by section 302. Even though the CFTC 
has interpreted the Commodity Exchange Act to exclude certain foreign 
public sector entities from the clearing mandate that the Dodd-Frank 
Act added to the Commodity Exchange Act, such entities are not 
addressed in section 302 of TRIPRA.\15\
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    \15\ Alternatively, each of these two foreign public sector 
entities sought clarification that it meets the definition of 
``sovereign entity'' or ``multilateral development bank'' under the 
joint final rule. The joint final rule expressly excludes from the 
definition of ``financial end user'' an entity that meets the 
definition of ``sovereign entity'' or ``multilateral development 
bank.'' Whether an entity meets the definition of ``sovereign 
entity'' or ``multilateral development bank'' depends on facts and 
circumstances that may vary from entity to entity and is outside the 
scope of this rulemaking. The Agencies note that they considered 
similar comments received on the joint final rule and determined not 
to exclude entities guaranteed by a foreign sovereign from the 
definition of financial end user. See 80 FR 74,840, 74,856 (The 
Agencies explained: ``[a]n entity guaranteed by a sovereign entity 
is not explicitly excluded from the definition of financial end user 
in the final rule, unless that entity qualifies as a central 
government agency, department, or central bank. The existence of a 
government guarantee does not in and of itself exclude the entity 
from the definition of financial end user.'')
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    One commenter asked for clarification that swap transaction 
documentation that contains ``flip clauses'' or ``rating agency 
condition'' (``RAC'') provisions cannot qualify for an exemption from 
the Agencies' joint final rule or this final rule.\16\ Specifically, 
the commenter stated that Title III of TRIPRA does not exempt a swap 
with a flip clause or RAC provision from the margin requirements of the 
joint final rule. The commenter further requested that an entity 
covered by section 302 of TRIPRA be required to file with the CFTC a 
signed affidavit stating that all swaps that are exempt from the joint 
final rule's margin requirements because of section 302 of TRIPRA do 
not have a flip clause or any other clause that can be reasonably 
classified as a walk-away provision or RAC provision. Finally, the 
commenter recommended that the prudential regulators should obligate a 
covered swap entity to post initial margin and variation margin to its 
guarantor or hedging affiliate against a swap that contains a ``flip 
clause'' or any other clause that can be reasonably classified as a 
walk-away provision. The Agencies are declining to make the requested 
changes, since the purpose of the final rule is to incorporate the 
terms of section 302 of TRIPRA, and the treatment of flip clauses or 
RAC provisions is not specified by section 302.
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    \16\ The commenter has previously referred to a description of a 
``flip clause'' as a contractual provision in a swap to which a 
special purpose vehicle (``SPV'') is a party and under which the 
payments owed by the SPV to a swap provider are at least pari passu 
with interest of the senior most class of debt issued by the 
structured finance vehicle. In the description that the commenter 
referred to, a ``flip clause'' was described as a provision that 
provides that should the swap provider be the defaulting party to a 
swap, such default causes the swap provider to ``flip'' to a more 
junior position in the priority of payments.
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    The Agencies received one request for clarification with respect to 
paragraph (1)(xi) of the definition of ``financial end user'' set forth 
in the joint final rule. Specifically, the commenter asked the Agencies 
to clarify and consider the use of certain terms and phrases (i.e., 
``investing or trading,'' ``other assets,'' and ``primarily'') in this 
prong of the financial end user definition. While Sec.  _.1(d), as 
adopted in this final rule, works in conjunction with the joint final 
rule, the Agencies find this comment does not relate to Sec.  _.1(d) 
and thus is outside of the scope of the interim final rule, which 
implements section 302 of TRIPRA.
    The Agencies also received four comments in support of the 
treatment of certain cooperative entities under the interim final rule. 
One comment was received from an individual expressing his support for 
the approach taken in the interim final rule.

III. Description of the Final Rule

    The interim final rule adopted Sec.  _.1(d) to implement section 
302 of TRIPRA. The final rule makes no changes to Sec.  _.1(d).
    TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation margin requirements 
in sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act do not apply to 
qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of 
certain categories of counterparties. In particular, section 302(a) of 
TRIPRA amends section 731 of the Dodd-Frank Act so that initial and 
variation margin requirements will not apply to a swap in which a 
counterparty (to a covered swap entity) is:
    (1) A non-financial entity (including a small financial institution 
and a captive finance company) that qualifies for the clearing 
exception under section 2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act;
    (2) A cooperative entity that qualifies for an exemption from the 
clearing requirements issued under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity 
Exchange Act; or
    (3) A treasury affiliate that satisfies the criteria for an 
exception from clearing in section 2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity Exchange 
Act.
    Similarly, section 302(b) of TRIPRA amends section 764 of the Dodd-
Frank Act so that initial and variation margin requirements will not 
apply to a security-based swap in which a counterparty (to a covered 
swap entity) is:
    (1) A non-financial entity (including a small financial 
institution) that qualifies for the clearing exception under section 
3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act; or
    (2) A treasury affiliate that satisfies the criteria for an 
exception from clearing in section 3C(g)(4) of the Securities Exchange 
Act.
    Below is a discussion of each type of entity covered by section 302 
of TRIPRA as well as a discussion of how related reporting requirements 
can be satisfied.

A. Non-Financial Entities

    TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation margin requirements 
of the joint final rule shall not apply to a non-cleared swap in which 
a counterparty qualifies for an exception under section 2(h)(7)(A) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act or a non-cleared security-based swap in 
which a counterparty qualifies for an exception under section 3C(g)(1) 
of the Securities Exchange Act.\17\ Section 2(h)(7)(A) and section 
3C(g)(1) except from clearing swaps or security-based swaps where one 
of the counterparties: (1) Is not a financial entity; (2) is using the 
swap to hedge or mitigate commercial risk; and (3) notifies the CFTC or 
SEC how it generally meets its financial obligations associated with 
entering into non-cleared swaps or non-cleared security-based swaps. A 
number of different types of counterparties may qualify for an 
exception from clearing under section 2(h)(7)(A) and section 3C(g)(1), 
including non-financial end users and small banks, savings 
associations, Farm Credit System institutions, and credit unions. In 
addition, captive finance companies qualify for an exception from 
clearing swaps under section 2(h)(7)(A).\18\
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    \17\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(1).
    \18\ There is no corresponding exclusion from clearing security-
based swaps under section 3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act 
for captive finance companies. Similarly, with respect to financial 
cooperatives, TRIPRA exempts such entities from exchanging initial 
and variation margin under the joint final rule on all swaps that 
are subject to the exemption from clearing provided by the CFTC. See 
7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). There is no corresponding exclusion under the 
Securities Exchange Act.

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[[Page 50608]]

    Non-financial end users. A counterparty that is not a financial 
entity \19\ and that is using swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial 
risk generally would qualify for an exception from clearing under 
section 2(h)(7)(A) or section 3C(g)(1) and thus from the requirements 
of the joint final rule for non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps pursuant to Sec.  _.1(d).
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    \19\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(1); 17 CFR 
50.50. A ``financial entity'' is defined to mean (i) a swap dealer; 
(ii) a security-based swap dealer; (iii) a major swap participant; 
(iv) a major security-based swap participant; (v) a commodity pool; 
(vi) a private fund as defined in section 202(a) of the Investment 
Advisers Act of 1940; (vii) an employee benefit plan as defined in 
sections 3(3) and 3(32) of the Employment Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974; and (viii) a person predominantly engaged in activities 
that are in the business of banking, or in activities that are 
financial in nature, as defined in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding 
Company Act of 1956. See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(i); 15 U.S.C. 78c-
3(g)(3).
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    Small banks, savings associations, Farm Credit System institutions, 
and credit unions. Section 2(h)(7)(C)(ii) provides that the CFTC shall 
consider whether to exempt small banks, savings associations, Farm 
Credit System institutions, and credit unions with total assets of $10 
billion or less from the definition of financial entity. Pursuant to 
this authority, the CFTC has exempted small banks, savings 
associations, Farm Credit System institutions, and credit unions with 
total assets of $10 billion or less from the definition of ``financial 
entity,'' thereby permitting these institutions to avail themselves of 
the clearing exception when they are using swaps to hedge or mitigate 
risk.\20\ As a result, non-cleared swaps used by these small financial 
institutions to hedge or mitigate commercial risk would also qualify 
for an exemption from the initial and variation margin requirements of 
the joint final rule pursuant to Sec.  _.1(d).
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    \20\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(ii); 17 CFR 50.50; 77 FR 42560 
(July 19, 2012); as recodified by 77 FR 74284 (December 13, 2012).
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    Similarly, section 3C(g) provides that the SEC shall consider 
whether to exempt small banks, savings associations, Farm Credit System 
institutions, and credit unions with total assets of $10 billion or 
less from the definition of ``financial entity.'' \21\ If the SEC were 
to implement an exemption for such entities from clearing, non-cleared 
security-based swaps with those entities would be eligible for the 
exemption in the joint final rule pursuant to Sec.  _.1(d) as required 
under TRIPRA, provided they met the other requirements for the clearing 
exemption.\22\
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    \21\ See 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(3)(B).
    \22\ On December 21, 2010, the SEC proposed to exempt security-
based swaps used by small depository institutions, small Farm Credit 
System institutions, and small credit unions with total assets of 
$10 billion or less from clearing. See 75 FR 79992 (December 21, 
2010).
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    Captive finance companies. Section 2(h)(7)(C) also provides that 
the definition of ``financial entity'' does not include an entity whose 
primary business is providing financing and uses derivatives for the 
purposes of hedging underlying commercial risks relating to interest 
rate and foreign exchange exposures, 90 percent or more of which arise 
from financing that facilitates the purchase or lease of products, 90 
percent or more of which are manufactured by the parent company or 
another subsidiary of the parent company (``captive finance 
company'').\23\ These entities can qualify for a clearing exception 
when they are using swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial risk and thus 
non-cleared swaps of these entities would be eligible for the exemption 
in the joint final rule pursuant to Sec.  __.1(d).
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    \23\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(iii).
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B. Treasury Affiliates

    Section 302 of TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation 
margin requirements shall not apply to a non-cleared swap or non-
cleared security-based swap in which a counterparty satisfies the 
criteria in section 2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act or section 
3C(g)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act. At the time the interim final 
rule was published, these sections provided that, where a person 
qualifies for an exception from the clearing requirements, an affiliate 
of that person (including an affiliate predominantly engaged in 
providing financing for the purchase of the merchandise or manufactured 
goods of the person) would have qualified for the exception as well, 
but only if the affiliate is acting on behalf of the person and as an 
agent and uses the swap to hedge or mitigate the commercial risk of the 
person or other affiliate of the person that is not a financial entity 
(``treasury affiliate acting as agent'').\24\ Under the interim final 
rule, non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of a 
treasury affiliate acting as agent that met the requirements for a 
clearing exception would also be eligible for an exemption pursuant to 
Sec.  _.1(d) from the joint final rule.
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    \24\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(4). This 
exception does not apply to a person that is a swap dealer, 
security-based swap dealer, major swap participant, major security-
based swap participant, an issuer that would be an investment 
company as defined in section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3) but for section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of that 
Act, a commodity pool, or a bank holding company with over $50 
billion in consolidated assets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (``Appropriations Act of 
2016''), which was enacted on December 18, 2015, amended section 
2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act and section 3C(g)(4) of the 
Securities Exchange Act.\25\ Specifically, section 705 of the 
Appropriations Act of 2016 removed the requirement that treasury 
affiliates must act on behalf of a person and as an agent in order to 
avail themselves of the clearing exception. The Appropriations Act of 
2016 also included certain conditions on the application of the 
treasury affiliate exception \26\ and imposed certain limitations on 
the types of entities that can qualify for the exception.\27\
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    \25\ Pub. L. 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).
    \26\ Under section 705 of the Appropriations Act of 2016, a 
treasury affiliate may qualify for an exception from the clearing 
requirements only if the affiliate (i) enters into the swap to hedge 
or mitigate the commercial risk of the person or other affiliate of 
the person that is not a financial entity, and the commercial risk 
that the affiliate is hedging or mitigating has been transferred to 
the affiliate; (ii) is directly and wholly-owned by another 
affiliate qualified for the exception under section 2(h)(7)(D)(i) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act or an entity that is not a financial 
entity; (iii) is not indirectly majority-owned by a financial 
entity; (iv) is not ultimately owned by a parent company that is a 
financial entity; and (v) does not provide any services, financial 
or otherwise, to any affiliate that is a nonbank financial company 
supervised by the Board of Governors (as defined under section 102 
of the Financial Stability Act of 2010). With respect to the 
treasury affiliate exception, the affiliate may not enter into any 
swap other than for the purpose of hedging or mitigating commercial 
risk; and neither the affiliate nor any person affiliated with the 
affiliate that is not a financial entity may enter into a swap with 
or on behalf of any affiliate that is a financial entity or 
otherwise assume, net, combine, or consolidate the risk of swaps 
entered into by any such financial entity, except one that is an 
affiliate that qualifies for the exception. Further, any swap 
entered into by an affiliate that qualifies for the exception shall 
be subject to a centralized risk management program of the 
affiliate, which is reasonably designed both to monitor and manage 
the risks associated with the swap and to identify each of the 
affiliates on whose behalf a swap was entered into. See Pub. L. 114-
113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).
    \27\ For example, the treasury affiliate exception will not 
apply if the affiliate is a swap dealer, a security-based swap 
dealer, a major swap participant, a major security-based swap 
participant, a commodity pool, a bank holding company, a private 
fund (as defined in section 202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 
1940), an employee benefit plan or government plan (as defined in 
paragraphs (3) and (32) of section 3 of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974), an insured depository institution, a 
Farm Credit System institution, a credit union, a nonbank financial 
company supervised by the Board, or an entity engaged in the 
insurance business and subject to capital regulation by an insurance 
regulator. The Appropriations Act of 2016 further prohibited the 
treasury affiliate exception from applying to affiliates which are 
themselves affiliated with swap entities unless the CFTC or the SEC, 
as applicable, determines that doing so is in the public interest. 
See Pub. L. 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).

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[[Page 50609]]

    Since the exemption in Sec.  __.1(d) of the final rule incorporates 
the treasury affiliate exception by reference to section 2(h)(7)(D) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act and section 3C(g)(4) of the Securities 
Exchange Act, the exemption will by operation of law apply to 
qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of 
treasury affiliates, acting as either principal or agent. For this 
reason, no changes to the regulatory text were necessary to reflect 
these changes to the underlying statutes.\28\
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    \28\ Accordingly, the Agencies find it unnecessary to provide 
further notice or seek further public comment regarding the effect 
of the Appropriations Act of 2016 on this final rule.
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C. Certain Cooperative Entities

    Section 302 of TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation 
margin requirements shall not apply to a non-cleared swap in which a 
counterparty qualifies for an exemption issued under section 4(c)(1) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act from the clearing requirements of section 
2(h)(1)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act for cooperative entities as 
defined in such exemption.\29\ The CFTC, pursuant to its authority 
under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, adopted a 
regulation that allows cooperatives that are financial entities to 
elect an exemption from mandatory clearing of swaps that: (1) They 
enter into in connection with originating loans for their members; or 
(2) hedge or mitigate commercial risk related to loans or swaps with 
their members, or arising from certain swaps with members.\30\ The 
swaps of these cooperatives that would qualify for an exemption from 
clearing also would qualify pursuant to Sec.  __.1(d) for an exemption 
from the margin requirements of the joint final rule.
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    \29\ See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). The CFTC, pursuant to its authority 
under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, adopted 17 CFR 
50.51, which allows cooperative financial entities that meet certain 
qualifications to elect not to clear certain swaps that are 
otherwise required to be cleared pursuant to section 2(h)(1)(A) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act.
    \30\ See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1); 17 CFR 50.51.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Compliance With Eligibility Requirements

    Section 302 of TRIPRA identifies the types of non-cleared swaps or 
non-cleared security-based swaps with counterparties that are excluded 
from the margin requirements of the joint final rule by referring to 
specific sections of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities 
Exchange Act. These provisions, in turn, set forth clearing exceptions 
and exemptions for these counterparties. To qualify for such exceptions 
and exemptions, the counterparty must, in addition to falling within 
the class or type of entity exempted or excepted by the respective 
statutory provisions, also be entering into the swap or security-based 
swap to hedge or mitigate commercial risk, and must report to the 
applicable Commission (in a manner set forth by the applicable 
Commission) how it generally meets its financial obligations associated 
with entering into non-cleared swaps or non-cleared security-based 
swaps.\31\
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    \31\ 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 17 CFR 50.50(b); 15 U.S.C. 3C(g)(4). 
Other provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities 
Exchange Act separately impose additional governance requirements on 
an entity that elects a clearing exemption and that is an issuer of 
securities registered under section 12 of, or that is required to 
file reports under section 15(d) of, the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934. 7 U.S.C. 2(j); 15 U.S.C. 3C(i).
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Swaps and Security-Based Swaps Required to be Cleared
    For swaps that the CFTC has determined are required to be cleared, 
the CFTC has adopted regulations that establish requirements by which 
an eligible entity may elect its option not to clear that type of swap 
and comply with the related substantive hedging and reporting 
requirements.\32\ For such a swap, compliance with the CFTC regulatory 
requirements for a swap subject to clearing will provide the covered 
swap entity with sufficient information about the eligible entity and 
the swap to establish the swap is also exempt from the margin 
requirements of the joint final rule.\33\ The Agencies believe that 
whenever a covered swap entity transacts in a swap with an eligible 
entity that uses the clearing exemption for that swap in compliance 
with these CFTC requirements, the covered swap entity needs no 
additional information from the eligible entity to proceed with that 
swap pursuant to the final rule's exemption from the margin 
requirements of the joint final rule.
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    \32\ 17 CFR 50.50(b), 50.51(c), 50.51. In addition to providing 
reporting requirements, these CFTC rules further define the entities 
that are eligible for exceptions and exemptions from the clearing 
requirements and define when a swap is used to hedge or mitigate 
commercial risk.
    \33\ Whenever a qualifying non-clearing entity has elected its 
option to not clear a swap that the CFTC has determined should be 
cleared, the entity's eligibility as well as its compliance with the 
associated hedging and reporting requirements must be demonstrated 
either: (1) In an annual filing by the entity reporting to an 
appropriate Swap Data Repository (SDR) or, if no registered SDR is 
available to receive the information, to the CFTC, which will be 
applicable to all such swaps entered into by the entity for 365 days 
following the date of such filing; or (2) on a swap-by-swap basis 
through a report filed by the eligible entity or the covered swap 
entity with the applicable SDR or, if no registered SDR is available 
to receive the information, the CFTC. The rule requires that the 
reporting counterparty have a reasonable basis to believe that the 
electing counterparty is an eligible entity that meets the 
associated hedging and reporting requirements. See 17 CFR 
50.50(b)(2)-(3) and 50.51(c).
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    With respect to security-based swaps, the SEC has not yet made 
determinations requiring any security-based swap to be cleared, and has 
not yet adopted final rules related to how eligibility and compliance 
with the associated substantive requirements can be documented.\34\ For 
a security-based swap subject to clearing, compliance with the SEC 
regulatory requirements, once finalized, will provide the covered swap 
entity with sufficient information about the eligible entity and the 
security-based swap to establish that the security-based swap is also 
exempt from the margin requirements of the joint final rule. Until such 
time as determinations are finalized by the SEC, the Agencies expect 
that covered swap entities will take appropriate steps to establish a 
reasonable belief that the entity is of a type eligible for the 
exemption and is using the security-based swap to hedge or mitigate 
commercial risk, as described below for other non-cleared swaps and 
non-cleared security-based swaps.
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    \34\ In December 2010, the SEC proposed reporting requirements 
for a counterparty exercising an exception from clearing, which 
would require the entity to report to a security-based SDR that it 
is an eligible entity and: that the swap is being used to hedge or 
mitigate commercial risk; how it generally meets its financial 
obligations associated with entering into non-cleared security-based 
swaps, and, if a registered issuer of securities, whether a 
committee of the board has reviewed and approved the decision to 
enter into security-based swaps subject to the clearing exception. 
75 FR 79992 (December 21, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swaps and Security-Based Swaps Not Required To Be Cleared
    There are also cases where a covered swap entity may enter into a 
non-cleared swap or non-cleared security-based swap with an eligible 
entity that the CFTC or SEC, respectively, does not require to be 
cleared. For swaps that are not subject to a CFTC or SEC clearing 
requirement, the Agencies expect that covered swap entities will take 
appropriate steps to establish a reasonable belief that the 
counterparty is an entity eligible for the exemption and is using the 
swap to hedge or

[[Page 50610]]

mitigate commercial risk.\35\ The final rule does not prescribe any 
specific procedure or standard in this regard, and instead leaves 
covered swap entities the flexibility to collect information 
specifically on these points, take cognizance of information they 
already have about their counterparties and their non-cleared swap and 
non-cleared security-based swap transactions, or a combination of both. 
The Agencies believe it would be reasonable for a covered swap entity 
to rely in good faith on reasonable representations of its counterparty 
in making these assessments.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ As noted above, this category of non-cleared swaps includes 
all non-cleared security-based swaps during the interim until the 
SEC adopts final regulations requiring clearing of security-based 
swaps and associated exemptions from clearing.
    \36\ See the Agencies' joint final rule at 80 FR 74858 (November 
30, 2015), discussing covered swap entities' reliance in good faith 
on reasonable representations of a counterparty as to whether the 
counterparty is a financial end user with a material swaps exposure; 
see also 17 CFR 50.50(b)(2)-(3) and 50.51(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the entity type requirements and the hedging 
requirements specified in the statutory clearing exceptions and 
exemptions referenced under section 302 of TRIPRA, there are 
requirements for reporting to the relevant Commission, in the manner 
set forth by the Commission, when the clearing exceptions and 
exemptions are elected. The Agencies expect covered swap entities 
subject to the joint final rule to comply with any reporting 
requirements that the relevant Commission may impose on covered swap 
entities in order to permit the use of the margin exemptions pursuant 
to section 302 of TRIPRA.

IV. Effective Date

    The Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
1994 (the ``RCDRIA'') requires that the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC, 
in determining the effective date and administrative compliance 
requirements of new regulations that impose additional reporting, 
disclosure, or other requirements on insured depository institutions, 
consider, consistent with principles of safety and soundness and the 
public interest, any administrative burdens that such regulations would 
place on depository institutions, including small depository 
institutions, and customers of depository institutions, as well as the 
benefits of such regulations.\37\ In addition, new regulations by the 
OCC, the Board, or the FDIC that impose additional reporting, 
disclosures, or other new requirements on insured depository 
institutions generally must take effect on the first day of a calendar 
quarter that begins on or after the date on which the regulations are 
published in final form.\38\ Accordingly, this final rule, which adopts 
the interim final rule without change, will be effective on October 1, 
2016 as required under the RCDRIA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(a).
    \38\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Administrative Law Matters

A. Solicitation of Comments on Use of Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Public Law 106-102, sec. 
722, 113 Stat. 1338, 1471 (Nov. 12, 1999), requires the OCC, Board and 
FDIC to use plain language in all proposed and final rules published 
after January 1, 2000. The OCC, Board and FDIC sought to present the 
final rule in a simple and straightforward manner and did not receive 
any comments on the use of plain language.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis

    Certain provisions of the final rule contain ``collection of 
information'' requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (``PRA'') of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). In accordance 
with the requirements of the PRA, the Agencies may not conduct or 
sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for 
the OCC is 1557-0335, the FDIC is 3064-0204, and the Board is 7100-
0364. The information collection requirements contained in this final 
rulemaking have been submitted to OMB for review and approval by the 
OCC and FDIC under section 3507(d) of the PRA and Sec.  1320.11 of 
OMB's implementing regulations (5 CFR part 1320). The Board reviewed 
the final rule under the authority delegated to the Board by OMB. The 
Agencies received no comments on the PRA.
    The final rule contains requirements subject to the PRA. The 
reporting requirements are found in Sec.  _.1(d). The final rule 
implements statutory language that requires certain swaps of certain 
counterparties to qualify for a statutory exemption or exception from 
clearing in order to not be subject to the initial and variation margin 
requirements of the joint final rule.

Proposed Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements Associated with Margin and Capital Requirements for 
Covered Swap Entities.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, daily, and event-generated.
    Affected Public: The affected public of the OCC, FDIC, and Board is 
assigned generally in accordance with the entities covered by the scope 
and authority section of their respective final rule. Businesses or 
other for-profit.
    Respondents:
    OCC: Any national bank or a subsidiary thereof, Federal savings 
association or a subsidiary thereof, or Federal branch or agency of a 
foreign bank that is registered as a swap dealer, major swap 
participant, security-based swap dealer, or major security-based swap 
participant.
    FDIC: Any FDIC-insured state-chartered bank that is not a member of 
the Federal Reserve System or FDIC-insured state-chartered savings 
association that is registered as a swap dealer, major swap 
participant, security-based swap dealer, or major security-based swap 
participant.
    Board: Any state member bank (as defined in 12 CFR 208.2(g)), bank 
holding company (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1841), savings and loan 
holding company (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1467a), foreign banking 
organization (as defined in 12 CFR 211.21(o)), foreign bank that does 
not operate an insured branch, state branch or state agency of a 
foreign bank (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 3101(b)(11) and (12)), or Edge or 
agreement corporation (as defined in 12 CFR 211.1(c)(2) and (3)) that 
is registered as a swap dealer, major swap participant, security-based 
swap dealer, or major security-based swap participant.
    Abstract: This final rule implements Title III of the Terrorism 
Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (``TRIPRA''), which 
exempts from the Agencies' swap margin rules non-cleared swaps and non-
cleared security-based swaps in which a counterparty qualifies for an 
exemption or exception from clearing under the Dodd-Frank Act. This 
final rule is a companion rule to the joint final rule adopted by the 
Agencies to implement section 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Reporting Requirements

    The final rule implements statutory language that requires certain 
swaps and security-based swaps of certain counterparties to qualify for 
a statutory exemption or exception from clearing in order to not be 
subject to the initial and variation margin requirements of the joint 
final rule. The reporting requirements are found in Sec.  __.1(d) 
pursuant to cross-references to other

[[Page 50611]]

statutory provisions that set forth the conditions for an exemption 
from clearing. For example, TRIPRA provides that the initial and 
variation margin requirements of the joint final rule shall not apply 
to a non-cleared swap or non-cleared security-based swap in which a 
counterparty qualifies for an exception under section 2(h)(7)(A) of the 
Commodity Exchange Act or section 3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange 
Act, which includes certain reporting requirements established by the 
CFTC or the SEC.\39\ Certain other counterparties that are exempt from 
clearing pursuant to other provisions are also required to meet these 
reporting requirements to notify the CFTC or the SEC.\40\ Thus, in 
certain cases, the statutory exemption from clearing requires a 
notification to the CFTC or SEC. These counterparties may be required 
to meet the same notification requirements that are required for an 
exception or exemption from clearing in order to qualify for an 
exception or exemption pursuant to Sec.  __.1(d) from the initial and 
variation margin requirements established by the Agencies under 
sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Since this final rule 
serves to implement exemptions and exceptions by reference to existing 
statutory provisions, Sec.  __.1(d) imposes new reporting requirements 
that are required under the relevant statutory provisions.
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    \39\ See, e.g., 17 CFR 50.50(b).
    \40\ For example, certain exempt cooperatives must meet these 
reporting requirements to qualify for an exemption from clearing. 
See 17 CFR 50.51(c). Similarly, exempt treasury affiliates also must 
be an affiliate of a person that qualifies for an exception from 
clearing that notifies the CFTC or SEC how it generally meets its 
financial obligations associated with entering into non-cleared 
swaps or non-cleared security-based swaps. See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(D); 
15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Burden per Response: Sec.  _.1(d)--1 hour.
    Annual Frequency: 1,000.
OCC
    Number of respondents: 20.
    Total estimated annual burden: 20,000 hours.
FDIC \41\
    Number of respondents: 1.
    Total estimated annual burden: 1,000 hours.
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    \41\ The FDIC had initially estimated that three of its 
institutions might register as a swap dealer, major swap 
participant, security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant but no state non-member bank nor any state savings 
association has so registered, so FDIC is reducing its estimate to 
one as a placeholder for its information collection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Board
    Number of respondents: 50.
    Proposed revisions only estimated annual burden: 50,000 hours.
    Total estimated annual burden: 86,964 hours.
    FCA: The FCA has determined that the final rule does not involve a 
collection of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act for 
Farm Credit System institutions because Farm Credit System institutions 
are Federally chartered instrumentalities of the United States and 
instrumentalities of the United States are specifically excepted from 
the definition of ``collection of information'' contained in 44 U.S.C. 
3502(3).
    FHFA: With respect to any regulated entity as defined in section 
1303(20) of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 
Soundness Act of 1992, as amended (12 U.S.C. 4502(20)), the final rule 
does not contain any collection of information that requires the 
approval of the OMB under the PRA.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    Board: An initial regulatory flexibility analysis, in accordance 
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
(``RFA''),\42\ was included in the interim final rule. In the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, the Board requested comments on all 
aspects of the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and, in 
particular, comments on its conclusion that the interim final rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. The Board also requested comments on any significant 
alternatives to the interim final rule that would minimize the impact 
of the rule on small entities. The Board has since considered the 
potential impact of this final rule on small entities in accordance 
with section 604 of the RFA and has prepared the following final 
regulatory flexibility analysis. Based on the Board's analysis, and for 
the reasons stated below, the Board believes that the final rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Statement of the need for, and objectives of, the final rule. As 
explained in detail above, this final rule implements section 302 of 
TRIPRA, which provides that initial and variation margin requirements 
will not apply to specified non-cleared swaps or non-cleared security-
based swaps of certain counterparties (to a covered swap entity). The 
reasons and justification for the final rule are described above in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    2. Summary of the significant issues raised by public comment on 
the Board's initial analysis, the Board's assessment of such issues, 
and a statement of any changes made as a result of such comments. The 
Board did not receive comments specifically on the initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis contained in the interim final rule, but the 
Agencies did receive comments on other aspects of the rule. A full 
discussion of all comments received by the Agencies with respect to 
this rule is contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, above.
    3. Small entities affected by the final rule. This final rule may 
have an effect on the following types of small entities: (i) Covered 
swap entities that are subject to the joint final rule's capital and 
margin requirements; and (ii) certain counterparties (e.g., non-
financial end users and certain other small financial counterparties) 
that engage in swaps or security-based swaps with covered swap 
entities.\43\
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    \43\ The Board notes that the RFA does not require the Board to 
consider the impact of the final rule, including its indirect 
economic effects, on small entities that are not subject to the 
requirements of the final rule. See e.g., In Mid-Tex Electric 
Cooperative v. FERC, 773 F.2d 327 (D.C. Cir. 1985); United 
Distribution Cos. v. FERC, 88 F.3d 1105, 1170 (D.C. Cir. 1996); 
Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition v. EPA, 255 F.3d 855 (D.C. Cir. 
2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under Small Business Administration (the ``SBA'') regulations, the 
finance and insurance sector includes commercial banking, savings 
institutions, credit unions, other depository credit intermediation and 
credit card issuing entities (``financial institutions''), which 
generally are considered ``small'' if they have assets of $550 million 
or less.\44\ Covered swap entities would be considered financial 
institutions for purposes of the RFA in accordance with SBA 
regulations. The Board does not expect that any covered swap entity is 
likely to be a small financial institution, because a small financial 
institution is unlikely to engage in the level of swap activity that 
would require it to register as a swap dealer or major swap 
participant.\45\ None of the currently

[[Page 50612]]

registered covered swap entities are small entities. The final rule 
would have an indirect effect on certain counterparties to non-cleared 
swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps. Many of these 
counterparties would be considered ``small'' under the SBA's 
regulations.\46\ However, the effect of TRIPRA and the final rule will 
be to exempt many of the non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps of these counterparties from the margin requirements of the 
Agencies' joint final rule.
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    \44\ See 13 CFR 121.201 (effective December 2, 2014); see also 
13 CFR 121.103(a)(6) (noting factors that the SBA considers in 
determining whether an entity qualifies as a small business, 
including receipts, employees, and other measures of its domestic 
and foreign affiliates).
    \45\ The CFTC has published a list of provisionally registered 
swap dealers (as of February 9, 2016) and provisionally registered 
major swap participants (as of March 1, 2013) that does not include 
any small financial institutions. See http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/registerswapdealer and http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/registermajorswappart. The 
SEC has not provided a similar list since it only recently adopted 
rules to provide for the registration of security-based swap dealers 
and major security-based swap participants. See 80 FR 48963 (August 
14, 2015); 17 CFR parts 240 and 249.
    \46\ See 13 CFR 121.201. In addition to small financial 
institutions with assets of $550 million or less, swap 
counterparties could also include other small entities defined in 
regulations issued by the SBA, including firms within the 
``Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments 
and Related Activities'' sector with assets of $38.5 million or less 
and ``Funds, Trusts and Other Financial Vehicles'' with assets of 
$32.5 million or less.
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    4. Projected reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance 
requirements of the final rule. As described above, this final rule 
implements statutory language that requires certain swaps of certain 
counterparties to qualify for a statutory exemption or exception from 
the applicable clearing requirements in order to not be subject to the 
initial and variation margin requirements of the joint final rule. The 
reporting requirements are found in Sec.  _.1(d) of this final rule 
pursuant to cross-references to other statutory provisions that set 
forth the conditions for an exemption or exception from clearing. In 
certain cases, the statutory exemption from clearing and related 
regulations may require a counterparty to report information, such as 
how it meets its swaps obligations, to the CFTC or SEC. These 
counterparties may be required to meet the same notification 
requirements that are required for an exception or exemption from the 
relevant CFTC and SEC regulations. Other than this potential overlap of 
reporting obligations of this final rule and the relevant CFTC and SEC 
regulations, the Board is not aware of any other Federal rules that 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this final rule. In light of the 
exemptions provided for the non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps of many small entities, the Board does not believe that the 
final rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entity counterparties.
    5. Significant alternatives to the final rule. Since the final rule 
was required by TRIPRA, the Board does not believe that there are any 
significant alternatives to the rule which would accomplish the stated 
objectives of the applicable statute.
    In light of the foregoing, the Board does not believe that this 
final rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    FDIC: The RFA requires an agency, in connection with a notice of 
final rulemaking, to prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Act 
analysis describing the impact of the rule on small entities (defined 
by the SBA for purposes of the RFA to include banking entities with 
total assets of $550 million or less) or to certify that the final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    Using SBA's size standards, as of June 30, 2015, the FDIC 
supervised 3,357 small entities. The FDIC does not expect any small 
entity that it supervises is likely to be a covered swap entity because 
such entities are unlikely to engage in the level of swap activity that 
would require them to register as a swap entity. Because TRIPRA 
excludes non-cleared swaps entered into for hedging purposes by a 
financial institution with total assets of $10 billion or less from the 
requirement of the final rule, the FDIC expects that when a covered 
swap entity transactions non-cleared swaps with a small entity 
supervised by the FDIC, and such swaps are used to hedge the small 
entity's commercial risk, those swaps will not be subject to the final 
rule. The FDIC does not expect any small entity that it supervises will 
engage in non-cleared swaps for purposes other than hedging. Therefore, 
the FDIC does not believe that the interim final rule results in a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under its supervisory jurisdiction.
    The FDIC certifies that the interim final rule does not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small FDIC-
supervised institutions.
    OCC: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) \47\ generally requires 
an agency that is issuing a proposed rule to prepare and make available 
for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the impact of the proposed rule on small entities. The RFA 
does not apply to a rulemaking where a general notice of proposed 
rulemaking is not required.\48\ For the reasons described above in the 
Supplementary Information, the OCC has previously determined that it 
was unnecessary to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for this 
final rule. Accordingly, the RFA's requirements relating to an initial 
and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \48\ See 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FCA: Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
the FCA hereby certifies that the final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Each of the banks in the Farm Credit System, considered together with 
its affiliated associations, has assets and annual income in excess of 
the amounts that would qualify them as small entities. Nor does the 
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation meet the definition of a 
``small entity.'' Therefore, Farm Credit System institutions are not 
``small entities'' as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    FHFA: FHFA certifies that the final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
since none of FHFA's regulated entities comes within the meaning of a 
``small entity'' as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (see 5 
U.S.C. 601(6)), and the final rule will not substantially affect any 
business that its regulated entities might conduct with any such small 
entity.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 45

    Administrative practice and procedure, Capital, Margin 
requirements, National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Risk.

12 CFR Part 237

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks and banking, Capital, 
Foreign banking, Holding companies, Margin requirements, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Risk.

12 CFR Part 349

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Holding companies, 
Capital, Margin requirements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Savings associations Risk.

12 CFR Part 624

    Accounting, Agriculture, Banks, Banking, Capital, Cooperatives, 
Credit, Margin requirements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Risk, Rural areas, Swaps.

12 CFR Part 1221

    Government-sponsored enterprises, Mortgages, Securities.

[[Page 50613]]

Department of the Treasury

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Chapter I

PART 45--MARGIN AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED SWAP ENTITIES

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 45, which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

12 CFR Chapter II

PART 237--SWAPS MARGIN AND SWAPS PUSH-OUT

Subpart A--Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap 
Entities

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 237, subpart A 
which was published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as 
a final rule without change.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 CFR Chapter III

PART 349--DERIVATIVES

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 349 which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Farm Credit Administration

12 CFR Chapter VI

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 624 which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Federal Housing Finance Agency

Chapter XII--Federal Housing Finance Agency

Subchapter B--Entity Regulations

PART 1221--MARGIN AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED SWAP 
ENTITIES

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 1221 which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

    Dated: June 21, 2016.
Thomas J. Curry,
Comptroller of the Currency.

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, July 26, 2016.

Robert deV. Frierson,
Secretary of the Board.
    Dated at Washington, DC, this 21 of June 2016.

    By order of the Board of Directors.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
    Dated: June 22, 2016.
Dale L. Aultman,
 Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
    Dated: June 27, 2016.
Melvin L. Watt,
Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-18193 Filed 8-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P; 8070-01-P; 6705-01-P; 6714-01-P; 6210-01-P; 
4810-33-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                    50605

                                           Rules and Regulations                                                                                         Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                         Vol. 81, No. 148

                                                                                                                                                         Tuesday, August 2, 2016



                                           This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    adopting exemptions from the initial                  1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA
                                           contains regulatory documents having general            and variation margin requirements                     22102–5090.
                                           applicability and legal effect, most of which           published by the Agencies in November                   FHFA: George Sacco, Senior Financial
                                           are keyed to and codified in the Code of                2015 pursuant to sections 731 and 764                 Analyst, Division of Housing Mission
                                           Federal Regulations, which is published under           of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform                  and Goals, (202) 649–3276,
                                           50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
                                                                                                   and Consumer Protection Act (the                      George.Sacco@fhfa.gov, or Peggy K.
                                           The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by              ‘‘Dodd-Frank Act’’ or the ‘‘Act’’).                   Balsawer, Associate General Counsel,
                                           the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of              Pursuant to Title III of the Terrorism                Office of General Counsel, (202) 649–
                                           new books are listed in the first FEDERAL               Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization                3060, Peggy.Balsawer@fhfa.gov, Federal
                                           REGISTER issue of each week.                            Act of 2015 (‘‘TRIPRA’’), this final rule             Housing Finance Agency, Constitution
                                                                                                   exempts certain non-cleared swaps and                 Center, 400 7th St. SW., Washington, DC
                                                                                                   non-cleared security-based swaps with                 20219. The telephone number for the
                                           DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              certain financial and non-financial end               Telecommunications Device for the
                                                                                                   users that qualify for an exception or                Hearing Impaired is (800) 877–8339.
                                           Office of the Comptroller of the                        exemption from clearing.                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                           Currency
                                                                                                   DATES: This final rule is effective
                                                                                                   October 1, 2016.                                      I. Background
                                           12 CFR Part 45
                                                                                                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         The Dodd-Frank Act was enacted on
                                           [Docket No. OCC–2015–0023]                                 OCC: Ang Middleton, Risk Specialist,               July 21, 2010.1 Title VII of the Dodd-
                                                                                                   Financial Markets Group, (202) 649–                   Frank Act established a comprehensive
                                           RIN 1557–AD00
                                                                                                   7138, or Carl Kaminski, Special                       new regulatory framework for
                                           FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM                                  Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory                   derivatives, which the Act generally
                                                                                                   Activities Division, (202) 649–5490, for              characterizes as ‘‘swaps’’ and ‘‘security-
                                           12 CFR Part 237                                         persons who are deaf or hard of hearing,              based swaps.’’ 2 As part of this new
                                                                                                   TTY (202) 649–5597, Office of the                     regulatory framework, sections 731 and
                                           [Docket No. R–1415]                                     Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th                  764 of the Dodd-Frank Act added,
                                                                                                   Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.                     respectively, a new section 4s to the
                                           RIN 7100–AD74
                                                                                                      Board: Sean D. Campbell, Associate                 Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (the
                                           FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE                               Director, (202) 452–3760, Anna M.                     ‘‘Commodity Exchange Act’’), and a new
                                           CORPORATION                                             Harrington, Senior Supervisory                        section 15F to the Securities Exchange
                                                                                                   Financial Analyst, (202) 452–6406, or                 Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Securities Exchange
                                           12 CFR Part 349                                         Lesley Chao, Senior Supervisory                       Act’’), which require registration with
                                                                                                   Financial Analyst, (202) 974–7063,                    the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading
                                           RIN 3064–AE21                                           Division of Banking Supervision and                   Commission (the ‘‘CFTC’’) of swap
                                                                                                   Regulation; Victoria M. Szybillo,                     dealers and major swap participants and
                                           FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION                              Counsel, (202) 475–6325, or Adam                      with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                   Cohen, Counsel, (202) 912–4658, Legal                 Commission (the ‘‘SEC’’) of security-
                                           12 CFR Part 624                                         Division, Board of Governors of the                   based swap dealers and major security-
                                           RIN 3052–AC69                                           Federal Reserve System, 20th and C                    based swap participants.3 These
                                                                                                   Streets NW., Washington, DC 20551.
                                           FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE                                    FDIC: Karl R. Reitz, Corporate Expert,               1 Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
                                                                                                                                                           2 ‘‘Swaps’’ are defined in section 721 of the Dodd-
                                           AGENCY                                                  Capital Markets, kreitz@fdic.gov;
                                                                                                                                                         Frank Act to include interest rate swaps,
                                                                                                   Michael E. Spencer, Chief, Capital                    commodity-based swaps, equity swaps and credit
                                           12 CFR Part 1221                                        Markets Strategy Section, michspencer@                default swaps. ‘‘Security-based swaps’’ are defined
                                                                                                   fdic.gov, Division of Risk Management                 in section 761 of the Dodd-Frank Act to include a
                                           RIN 2590–AA45                                           Supervision, (202) 898–6888; Thomas F.                swap based on a single security or loan or on a
                                                                                                                                                         narrow-based security index. See 7 U.S.C. 1a(47); 15
                                           Margin and Capital Requirements for                     Hearn, Counsel, thohearn@fdic.gov,                    U.S.C. 78c(a)(68).
                                           Covered Swap Entities                                   (202) 898–6967, or Catherine Topping,                   3 See 7 U.S.C. 6s; 15 U.S.C. 78o–10. Section 731
                                                                                                   Counsel, ctopping@fdic.gov, (202) 898–                of the Dodd-Frank Act requires swap dealers and
                                           AGENCY:  Office of the Comptroller of the               3975, Legal Division, Federal Deposit                 major swap participants to register with the CFTC,
                                           Currency, Treasury (‘‘OCC’’); Board of                  Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street                which is vested with primary responsibility for the
                                                                                                                                                         oversight of the swaps market under Title VII of the
                                           Governors of the Federal Reserve                        NW., Washington, DC 20429.                            Dodd-Frank Act. Section 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act
                                           System (‘‘Board’’); Federal Deposit                        FCA: J.C. Floyd, Associate Director,               requires security-based swap dealers and major
                                           Insurance Corporation (‘‘FDIC’’); Farm                  Finance & Capital Markets Team,                       security-based swap participants to register with the
                                           Credit Administration (‘‘FCA’’); and the                Timothy T. Nerdahl, Senior Policy                     SEC, which is vested with primary responsibility
                                                                                                                                                         for the oversight of the security-based swaps market
                                           Federal Housing Finance Agency                          Analyst—Capital Markets, Jeremy R.
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                                                                                                                                                         under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act. Section
                                           (‘‘FHFA’’).                                             Edelstein, Senior Policy Analyst, Office              712(d)(1) of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFTC
                                           ACTION: Final rule.                                     of Regulatory Policy, (703) 883–4414,                 and SEC to issue joint rules further defining the
                                                                                                   TTY (703) 883–4056, or Richard A.                     terms swap, security-based swap, swap dealer,
                                                                                                                                                         major swap participant, security-based swap dealer,
                                           SUMMARY:   The OCC, Board, FDIC, FCA,                   Katz, Senior Counsel, Office of General               and major security-based swap participant. The
                                           and FHFA (each an ‘‘Agency’’ and,                       Counsel, (703) 883–4020, TTY (703)                    CFTC and SEC issued final joint rulemakings with
                                           collectively, the ‘‘Agencies’’) are                     883–4056, Farm Credit Administration,                                                            Continued




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                                           50606               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           registrants are collectively referred to in               security-based swap might not be                          collect initial or variation margin at
                                           this preamble as ‘‘swap entities.’’                       cleared either because it is not subject                  such times and in such forms and
                                              Sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-                      to the mandatory clearing requirement                     amounts (if any) as the covered swap
                                           Frank Act require the Agencies to adopt                   or because one of the parties to the swap                 entity determines appropriate in its
                                           joint rules that apply to all swap entities               is eligible for, and elects to use, an                    overall credit risk management of the
                                           for which any one of the Agencies is the                  exception or exemption from the                           covered swap entity’s exposure to the
                                           prudential regulator,4 imposing capital                   mandatory clearing requirement. Such a                    customer.11
                                           requirements and initial and variation                    swap or security-based swap is ‘‘non-                        On January 12, 2015, President
                                           margin requirements on all swaps and                      cleared’’ for purposes of the capital and                 Obama signed TRIPRA into law.12 Title
                                           security-based swaps not cleared by a                     margin requirements established under                     III of TRIPRA, the ‘‘Business Risk
                                           registered derivatives clearing                           sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank                    Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of
                                           organization or clearing agency.5 After a                 Act.                                                      2015,’’ amends the statutory provisions
                                           rulemaking process that began in 2011,                       Sections 731 and 764 direct the                        added by the Dodd-Frank Act relating to
                                           the Agencies published a joint final rule                 Agencies to impose initial and variation                  margin requirements for non-cleared
                                           to implement these Dodd-Frank Act                         margin requirements on all non-cleared                    swaps and non-cleared security-based
                                           requirements on November 30, 2015                         swaps and non-cleared security-based                      swaps. Specifically, section 302 of
                                           (the ‘‘joint final rule’’).6                              swaps. The joint final rule takes into                    TRIPRA amends sections 731 and 764 of
                                              The capital and margin requirements                    account the risk posed by a covered                       the Dodd-Frank Act to provide that the
                                           under sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-                   swap entity’s counterparties in                           initial and variation margin
                                           Frank Act apply to non-cleared swaps                      establishing the minimum amount of                        requirements do not apply to certain
                                           and non-cleared security-based swaps                      initial and variation margin that the                     transactions of specified counterparties
                                           and complement other provisions of the                    covered swap entity must exchange                         that would qualify for an exception or
                                           Dodd-Frank Act that require the CFTC                      with its counterparties.9 In                              exemption from clearing, as explained
                                           and SEC to make determinations as to                      implementing this risk-based approach,                    more fully below. Qualifying non-
                                           whether certain swaps or security-based                   the joint final rule distinguishes among                  cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
                                           swaps, or a group, category, or class of                  four separate types of swap                               based swaps of entities covered by
                                           such transactions, should be required to                  counterparties: (1) Counterparties that                   section 302 of TRIPRA are not subject to
                                           be cleared.7 If the CFTC or SEC has                       are themselves swap entities; (2)                         the Agencies’ joint final rule.
                                           made such a determination, it is                          counterparties that are financial end                        Section 303 of TRIPRA requires the
                                           generally unlawful for any person to                      users with a material swaps exposure;                     Agencies to implement the provisions of
                                           engage in such a swap or security-based                   (3) counterparties that are financial end                 section 302 by promulgating an interim
                                           swap unless the transaction is submitted                  users without a material swaps                            final rule pursuant to which public
                                           to a derivatives clearing organization or                 exposure, and (4) other counterparties,                   comment is sought before a final rule is
                                           clearing agency, as applicable, for                       including non-financial end users,                        issued. On November 30, 2015, the
                                           clearing.                                                 sovereigns, and multilateral                              Agencies published and sought
                                              The clearing requirements, however,                    development banks.10 The joint final                      comment on an interim final rule,
                                           do not apply to an entity that is not a                   rule makes a covered swap entity’s                        which added § l.1(d) to the joint final
                                           financial entity, is using a swap or                      collection of margin from these ‘‘other                   rule.13 The Agencies are adopting as a
                                           security-based swap to hedge or mitigate                  counterparties,’’ including commercial                    final rule without change the interim
                                           commercial risk, and notifies the CFTC                    end users, subject to the judgment of the                 final rule that went into effect on April
                                           or the SEC, in a manner set forth by the                  covered swap entity. In particular, a                     1, 2016.
                                           appropriate Commission, how it                            covered swap entity is not required to                    II. Summary of Public Comments on
                                           generally meets its financial                             collect initial and variation margin from                 Matters Raised in the Interim Final
                                           obligations.8 Thus, a particular swap or                  these ‘‘other counterparties’’ as a matter                Rule
                                                                                                     of course; a covered swap entity should
                                           respect to these definitions in May 2012 and August                                                                    Three banking organizations, two
                                           2012, respectively. See 77 FR 30596 (May 23, 2012);       similar exemptive authority under section 36(c) of        individuals, two trade associations, and
                                           77 FR 39626 (July 5, 2012) (correction of footnote        the Securities Exchange Act. 15 U.S.C. 78mm(c).           one nonprofit finance cooperative
                                           in the Supplementary Information accompanying
                                           the rule); and 77 FR 48207 (August 13, 2012). 17
                                                                                                        9 Each Agency has codified its rule within its
                                                                                                                                                               submitted comments in response to the
                                                                                                     respective title of the Code of Federal Regulations.      interim final rule.14 Four of the
                                           CFR part 1; 17 CFR parts 230, 240 and 241.
                                                                                                     Specifically, the Agencies codified the rules as
                                              4 Section 1a(39) of the Commodity Exchange Act
                                                                                                     follows: 12 CFR part 45 (OCC); 12 CFR part 237 (the       commenters expressed strong support
                                           defines the term ‘‘prudential regulator’’ for             Board); 12 CFR part 349 (FDIC); 12 CFR part 624           for the approach taken in the interim
                                           purposes of the capital and margin requirements
                                           applicable to swap dealers, major swap
                                                                                                     (FCA); and 12 CFR part 1221 (FHFA).                       final rule.
                                                                                                        10 See § l.2 of the joint final rule for the various
                                           participants, security-based swap dealers and major                                                                    Comments were received from two
                                                                                                     definitions that identify these four types of swaps
                                           security-based swap participants. 7 U.S.C. 1a(39).
                                                                                                     counterparties. The terms ‘‘non-financial end user’’
                                                                                                                                                               public sector entities organized under
                                              5 See 7 U.S.C. 6s(e)(2)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78o–
                                                                                                     and ‘‘commercial end user’’ are used                      foreign laws whose obligations are
                                           10(e)(2)(A).                                              interchangeably throughout this preamble.                 guaranteed by foreign governments
                                              6 80 FR 74840 (November 30, 2015).
                                                                                                     Although the term ‘‘commercial end user’’ is not          (‘‘foreign public sector entities’’). These
                                              7 7 U.S.C. 2(h); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3. The Commodity
                                                                                                     defined in the Dodd-Frank Act, it is used in this
                                           Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act set          preamble to mean a company that is eligible for the
                                           out standards that the CFTC and the SEC,                  exception to the mandatory clearing requirement for
                                                                                                                                                                 11 See  §§ l.3(d) and l.4(c) of the joint final rule.
                                                                                                                                                                 12 Public   Law 114–1, 129 Stat. 3 (2015).
                                           respectively, are required to apply when making           swaps under section 2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity
                                           determinations about clearing, which generally            Exchange Act and section 3C(g)(1) of the Securities          13 80 FR 74916 (November 30, 2015) (the ‘‘interim

                                           address whether a swap or security-based swap is          Exchange Act, respectively. This exception is             final rule’’).
                                           sufficiently standardized to be cleared. 7 U.S.C.
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                                                                                                     generally available to a person that (1) is not a            14 The Agencies carefully considered all
                                           2(h)(2)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(b)(4).                        financial entity, (2) is using the swap to hedge or       comments received on the interim final rule. In
                                              8 See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g). Further,   mitigate commercial risk, and (3) has notified the        addition, representatives of the FDIC and FCA had
                                           the CFTC has authority to exempt swaps from the           CFTC or SEC how it generally meets its financial          a telephone call with one commenter after the
                                           clearing requirement. 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). Pursuant to       obligations with respect to non-cleared swaps or          comment period closed. Comments received on the
                                           this authority, the CFTC has provided an exemption        security-based swaps, respectively. See 7 U.S.C.          interim final rule, as well as a summary of the call
                                           from clearing to certain cooperatives that are            2(h)(7)(A) and 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(1); see also 80 FR      with this commenter, are available on the
                                           financial entities. See 17 CFR 50.51. The SEC has         74848 note 70.                                            applicable Agencies’ respective public Web sites.



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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                  50607

                                           commenters argued that, even though                      file with the CFTC a signed affidavit                2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity Exchange
                                           they are not included among the type of                  stating that all swaps that are exempt               Act;
                                           entities expressly covered by section                    from the joint final rule’s margin                      (2) A cooperative entity that qualifies
                                           302 of TRIPRA, foreign public sector                     requirements because of section 302 of               for an exemption from the clearing
                                           entities should still not be subject to the              TRIPRA do not have a flip clause or any              requirements issued under section
                                           joint final rule because the CFTC has                    other clause that can be reasonably                  4(c)(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act;
                                           determined that these types of entities                  classified as a walk-away provision or               or
                                           are not subject to the mandate to clear                  RAC provision. Finally, the commenter                   (3) A treasury affiliate that satisfies
                                           swaps that are otherwise required to be                  recommended that the prudential                      the criteria for an exception from
                                           cleared.                                                 regulators should obligate a covered                 clearing in section 2(h)(7)(D) of the
                                             The Agencies are not providing the                     swap entity to post initial margin and               Commodity Exchange Act.
                                           relief requested by these commenters                     variation margin to its guarantor or                    Similarly, section 302(b) of TRIPRA
                                           since the purpose of this final rule is to               hedging affiliate against a swap that                amends section 764 of the Dodd-Frank
                                           incorporate the terms of section 302 of                  contains a ‘‘flip clause’’ or any other              Act so that initial and variation margin
                                           TRIPRA, and the treatment of foreign                     clause that can be reasonably classified             requirements will not apply to a
                                           public sector entities is not specified by               as a walk-away provision. The Agencies               security-based swap in which a
                                           section 302. Even though the CFTC has                    are declining to make the requested                  counterparty (to a covered swap entity)
                                           interpreted the Commodity Exchange                       changes, since the purpose of the final              is:
                                           Act to exclude certain foreign public                    rule is to incorporate the terms of                     (1) A non-financial entity (including a
                                           sector entities from the clearing                        section 302 of TRIPRA, and the                       small financial institution) that qualifies
                                           mandate that the Dodd-Frank Act added                    treatment of flip clauses or RAC                     for the clearing exception under section
                                           to the Commodity Exchange Act, such                      provisions is not specified by section               3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act;
                                           entities are not addressed in section 302                302.                                                 or
                                           of TRIPRA.15                                                The Agencies received one request for                (2) A treasury affiliate that satisfies
                                             One commenter asked for clarification                  clarification with respect to paragraph              the criteria for an exception from
                                           that swap transaction documentation                      (1)(xi) of the definition of ‘‘financial end         clearing in section 3C(g)(4) of the
                                           that contains ‘‘flip clauses’’ or ‘‘rating               user’’ set forth in the joint final rule.            Securities Exchange Act.
                                           agency condition’’ (‘‘RAC’’) provisions                  Specifically, the commenter asked the                   Below is a discussion of each type of
                                           cannot qualify for an exemption from                     Agencies to clarify and consider the use             entity covered by section 302 of TRIPRA
                                           the Agencies’ joint final rule or this final             of certain terms and phrases (i.e.,                  as well as a discussion of how related
                                           rule.16 Specifically, the commenter                      ‘‘investing or trading,’’ ‘‘other assets,’’          reporting requirements can be satisfied.
                                           stated that Title III of TRIPRA does not                 and ‘‘primarily’’) in this prong of the
                                           exempt a swap with a flip clause or RAC                  financial end user definition. While § l             A. Non-Financial Entities
                                           provision from the margin requirements                   .1(d), as adopted in this final rule, works            TRIPRA provides that the initial and
                                           of the joint final rule. The commenter                   in conjunction with the joint final rule,            variation margin requirements of the
                                           further requested that an entity covered                 the Agencies find this comment does                  joint final rule shall not apply to a non-
                                           by section 302 of TRIPRA be required to                  not relate to § l.1(d) and thus is outside           cleared swap in which a counterparty
                                                                                                    of the scope of the interim final rule,              qualifies for an exception under section
                                              15 Alternatively, each of these two foreign public
                                                                                                    which implements section 302 of                      2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity Exchange
                                           sector entities sought clarification that it meets the   TRIPRA.
                                           definition of ‘‘sovereign entity’’ or ‘‘multilateral                                                          Act or a non-cleared security-based
                                           development bank’’ under the joint final rule. The          The Agencies also received four                   swap in which a counterparty qualifies
                                           joint final rule expressly excludes from the             comments in support of the treatment of              for an exception under section 3C(g)(1)
                                           definition of ‘‘financial end user’’ an entity that      certain cooperative entities under the               of the Securities Exchange Act.17
                                           meets the definition of ‘‘sovereign entity’’ or          interim final rule. One comment was
                                           ‘‘multilateral development bank.’’ Whether an                                                                 Section 2(h)(7)(A) and section 3C(g)(1)
                                           entity meets the definition of ‘‘sovereign entity’’ or   received from an individual expressing               except from clearing swaps or security-
                                           ‘‘multilateral development bank’’ depends on facts       his support for the approach taken in                based swaps where one of the
                                           and circumstances that may vary from entity to           the interim final rule.                              counterparties: (1) Is not a financial
                                           entity and is outside the scope of this rulemaking.
                                           The Agencies note that they considered similar           III. Description of the Final Rule                   entity; (2) is using the swap to hedge or
                                           comments received on the joint final rule and                                                                 mitigate commercial risk; and (3)
                                           determined not to exclude entities guaranteed by a          The interim final rule adopted § l                notifies the CFTC or SEC how it
                                           foreign sovereign from the definition of financial       .1(d) to implement section 302 of                    generally meets its financial obligations
                                           end user. See 80 FR 74,840, 74,856 (The Agencies         TRIPRA. The final rule makes no                      associated with entering into non-
                                           explained: ‘‘[a]n entity guaranteed by a sovereign       changes to § l.1(d).                                 cleared swaps or non-cleared security-
                                           entity is not explicitly excluded from the definition
                                                                                                       TRIPRA provides that the initial and
                                           of financial end user in the final rule, unless that                                                          based swaps. A number of different
                                           entity qualifies as a central government agency,         variation margin requirements in
                                                                                                                                                         types of counterparties may qualify for
                                           department, or central bank. The existence of a          sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank
                                           government guarantee does not in and of itself                                                                an exception from clearing under
                                                                                                    Act do not apply to qualifying non-
                                           exclude the entity from the definition of financial                                                           section 2(h)(7)(A) and section 3C(g)(1),
                                                                                                    cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
                                           end user.’’)                                                                                                  including non-financial end users and
                                              16 The commenter has previously referred to a         based swaps of certain categories of
                                                                                                                                                         small banks, savings associations, Farm
                                           description of a ‘‘flip clause’’ as a contractual        counterparties. In particular, section
                                                                                                                                                         Credit System institutions, and credit
                                           provision in a swap to which a special purpose           302(a) of TRIPRA amends section 731 of
                                           vehicle (‘‘SPV’’) is a party and under which the                                                              unions. In addition, captive finance
                                                                                                    the Dodd-Frank Act so that initial and
                                           payments owed by the SPV to a swap provider are                                                               companies qualify for an exception from
                                                                                                    variation margin requirements will not
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                                           at least pari passu with interest of the senior most                                                          clearing swaps under section
                                           class of debt issued by the structured finance           apply to a swap in which a counterparty
                                                                                                                                                         2(h)(7)(A).18
                                           vehicle. In the description that the commenter           (to a covered swap entity) is:
                                           referred to, a ‘‘flip clause’’ was described as a           (1) A non-financial entity (including a             17 See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(1).
                                           provision that provides that should the swap
                                           provider be the defaulting party to a swap, such
                                                                                                    small financial institution and a captive              18 There is no corresponding exclusion from
                                           default causes the swap provider to ‘‘flip’’ to a more   finance company) that qualifies for the              clearing security-based swaps under section
                                           junior position in the priority of payments.             clearing exception under section                                                                  Continued




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                                           50608              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             Non-financial end users. A                             cleared security-based swaps with those                 final rule, non-cleared swaps and non-
                                           counterparty that is not a financial                     entities would be eligible for the                      cleared security-based swaps of a
                                           entity 19 and that is using swaps to                     exemption in the joint final rule                       treasury affiliate acting as agent that met
                                           hedge or mitigate commercial risk                        pursuant to § l.1(d) as required under                  the requirements for a clearing
                                           generally would qualify for an exception                 TRIPRA, provided they met the other                     exception would also be eligible for an
                                           from clearing under section 2(h)(7)(A) or                requirements for the clearing                           exemption pursuant to § l.1(d) from
                                           section 3C(g)(1) and thus from the                       exemption.22                                            the joint final rule.
                                           requirements of the joint final rule for                   Captive finance companies. Section                       The Consolidated Appropriations Act,
                                           non-cleared swaps and non-cleared                        2(h)(7)(C) also provides that the                       2016 (‘‘Appropriations Act of 2016’’),
                                           security-based swaps pursuant to § l                     definition of ‘‘financial entity’’ does not             which was enacted on December 18,
                                           .1(d).                                                   include an entity whose primary                         2015, amended section 2(h)(7)(D) of the
                                              Small banks, savings associations,                    business is providing financing and uses                Commodity Exchange Act and section
                                           Farm Credit System institutions, and                     derivatives for the purposes of hedging                 3C(g)(4) of the Securities Exchange
                                           credit unions. Section 2(h)(7)(C)(ii)                    underlying commercial risks relating to                 Act.25 Specifically, section 705 of the
                                           provides that the CFTC shall consider                    interest rate and foreign exchange                      Appropriations Act of 2016 removed the
                                           whether to exempt small banks, savings                   exposures, 90 percent or more of which                  requirement that treasury affiliates must
                                           associations, Farm Credit System                         arise from financing that facilitates the               act on behalf of a person and as an agent
                                           institutions, and credit unions with total               purchase or lease of products, 90                       in order to avail themselves of the
                                           assets of $10 billion or less from the                   percent or more of which are                            clearing exception. The Appropriations
                                           definition of financial entity. Pursuant                 manufactured by the parent company or                   Act of 2016 also included certain
                                           to this authority, the CFTC has                          another subsidiary of the parent                        conditions on the application of the
                                           exempted small banks, savings                            company (‘‘captive finance                              treasury affiliate exception 26 and
                                           associations, Farm Credit System                         company’’).23 These entities can qualify                imposed certain limitations on the types
                                           institutions, and credit unions with total               for a clearing exception when they are                  of entities that can qualify for the
                                           assets of $10 billion or less from the                   using swaps to hedge or mitigate                        exception.27
                                           definition of ‘‘financial entity,’’ thereby              commercial risk and thus non-cleared
                                           permitting these institutions to avail                   swaps of these entities would be eligible               section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of that Act, a commodity
                                           themselves of the clearing exception                                                                             pool, or a bank holding company with over $50
                                                                                                    for the exemption in the joint final rule               billion in consolidated assets.
                                           when they are using swaps to hedge or                    pursuant to § __.1(d).                                     25 Pub. L. 114–113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).
                                           mitigate risk.20 As a result, non-cleared                                                                           26 Under section 705 of the Appropriations Act of
                                           swaps used by these small financial                      B. Treasury Affiliates                                  2016, a treasury affiliate may qualify for an
                                           institutions to hedge or mitigate                           Section 302 of TRIPRA provides that                  exception from the clearing requirements only if the
                                           commercial risk would also qualify for                   the initial and variation margin                        affiliate (i) enters into the swap to hedge or mitigate
                                                                                                                                                            the commercial risk of the person or other affiliate
                                           an exemption from the initial and                        requirements shall not apply to a non-                  of the person that is not a financial entity, and the
                                           variation margin requirements of the                     cleared swap or non-cleared security-                   commercial risk that the affiliate is hedging or
                                           joint final rule pursuant to § l.1(d).                   based swap in which a counterparty                      mitigating has been transferred to the affiliate; (ii)
                                             Similarly, section 3C(g) provides that                                                                         is directly and wholly-owned by another affiliate
                                                                                                    satisfies the criteria in section 2(h)(7)(D)            qualified for the exception under section
                                           the SEC shall consider whether to                        of the Commodity Exchange Act or                        2(h)(7)(D)(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act or an
                                           exempt small banks, savings                              section 3C(g)(4) of the Securities                      entity that is not a financial entity; (iii) is not
                                           associations, Farm Credit System                         Exchange Act. At the time the interim                   indirectly majority-owned by a financial entity; (iv)
                                           institutions, and credit unions with total                                                                       is not ultimately owned by a parent company that
                                                                                                    final rule was published, these sections                is a financial entity; and (v) does not provide any
                                           assets of $10 billion or less from the                   provided that, where a person qualifies                 services, financial or otherwise, to any affiliate that
                                           definition of ‘‘financial entity.’’ 21 If the            for an exception from the clearing                      is a nonbank financial company supervised by the
                                           SEC were to implement an exemption                       requirements, an affiliate of that person               Board of Governors (as defined under section 102
                                           for such entities from clearing, non-                                                                            of the Financial Stability Act of 2010). With respect
                                                                                                    (including an affiliate predominantly                   to the treasury affiliate exception, the affiliate may
                                                                                                    engaged in providing financing for the                  not enter into any swap other than for the purpose
                                           3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act for captive      purchase of the merchandise or                          of hedging or mitigating commercial risk; and
                                           finance companies. Similarly, with respect to                                                                    neither the affiliate nor any person affiliated with
                                           financial cooperatives, TRIPRA exempts such              manufactured goods of the person)
                                                                                                                                                            the affiliate that is not a financial entity may enter
                                           entities from exchanging initial and variation           would have qualified for the exception                  into a swap with or on behalf of any affiliate that
                                           margin under the joint final rule on all swaps that      as well, but only if the affiliate is acting            is a financial entity or otherwise assume, net,
                                           are subject to the exemption from clearing provided                                                              combine, or consolidate the risk of swaps entered
                                           by the CFTC. See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). There is no
                                                                                                    on behalf of the person and as an agent
                                                                                                                                                            into by any such financial entity, except one that
                                           corresponding exclusion under the Securities             and uses the swap to hedge or mitigate                  is an affiliate that qualifies for the exception.
                                           Exchange Act.                                            the commercial risk of the person or                    Further, any swap entered into by an affiliate that
                                              19 See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(1);
                                                                                                    other affiliate of the person that is not               qualifies for the exception shall be subject to a
                                           17 CFR 50.50. A ‘‘financial entity’’ is defined to       a financial entity (‘‘treasury affiliate                centralized risk management program of the
                                           mean (i) a swap dealer; (ii) a security-based swap                                                               affiliate, which is reasonably designed both to
                                           dealer; (iii) a major swap participant; (iv) a major     acting as agent’’).24 Under the interim                 monitor and manage the risks associated with the
                                           security-based swap participant; (v) a commodity                                                                 swap and to identify each of the affiliates on whose
                                           pool; (vi) a private fund as defined in section 202(a)      22 On December 21, 2010, the SEC proposed to
                                                                                                                                                            behalf a swap was entered into. See Pub. L. 114–
                                           of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; (vii) an         exempt security-based swaps used by small               113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).
                                           employee benefit plan as defined in sections 3(3)        depository institutions, small Farm Credit System          27 For example, the treasury affiliate exception
                                           and 3(32) of the Employment Retirement Income            institutions, and small credit unions with total        will not apply if the affiliate is a swap dealer, a
                                           Security Act of 1974; and (viii) a person                assets of $10 billion or less from clearing. See 75     security-based swap dealer, a major swap
                                           predominantly engaged in activities that are in the      FR 79992 (December 21, 2010).                           participant, a major security-based swap
                                           business of banking, or in activities that are              23 See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(iii).
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                                                                                                                                                            participant, a commodity pool, a bank holding
                                           financial in nature, as defined in section 4(k) of the      24 See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(4).   company, a private fund (as defined in section
                                           Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. See 7 U.S.C.           This exception does not apply to a person that is       202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940), an
                                           2(h)(7)(C)(i); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(3).                    a swap dealer, security-based swap dealer, major        employee benefit plan or government plan (as
                                              20 See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(ii); 17 CFR 50.50; 77 FR
                                                                                                    swap participant, major security-based swap             defined in paragraphs (3) and (32) of section 3 of
                                           42560 (July 19, 2012); as recodified by 77 FR 74284      participant, an issuer that would be an investment      the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
                                           (December 13, 2012).                                     company as defined in section 3 of the Investment       1974), an insured depository institution, a Farm
                                              21 See 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(3)(B).                      Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3) but for           Credit System institution, a credit union, a nonbank



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                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                      50609

                                              Since the exemption in § __.1(d) of the                counterparties that are excluded from                    believe that whenever a covered swap
                                           final rule incorporates the treasury                      the margin requirements of the joint                     entity transacts in a swap with an
                                           affiliate exception by reference to                       final rule by referring to specific                      eligible entity that uses the clearing
                                           section 2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity                       sections of the Commodity Exchange                       exemption for that swap in compliance
                                           Exchange Act and section 3C(g)(4) of the                  Act and the Securities Exchange Act.                     with these CFTC requirements, the
                                           Securities Exchange Act, the exemption                    These provisions, in turn, set forth                     covered swap entity needs no additional
                                           will by operation of law apply to                         clearing exceptions and exemptions for                   information from the eligible entity to
                                           qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-                     these counterparties. To qualify for such                proceed with that swap pursuant to the
                                           cleared security-based swaps of treasury                  exceptions and exemptions, the                           final rule’s exemption from the margin
                                           affiliates, acting as either principal or                 counterparty must, in addition to falling                requirements of the joint final rule.
                                           agent. For this reason, no changes to the                 within the class or type of entity
                                                                                                                                                                 With respect to security-based swaps,
                                           regulatory text were necessary to reflect                 exempted or excepted by the respective
                                                                                                                                                              the SEC has not yet made
                                           these changes to the underlying                           statutory provisions, also be entering
                                           statutes.28                                               into the swap or security-based swap to                  determinations requiring any security-
                                                                                                     hedge or mitigate commercial risk, and                   based swap to be cleared, and has not
                                           C. Certain Cooperative Entities                                                                                    yet adopted final rules related to how
                                                                                                     must report to the applicable
                                              Section 302 of TRIPRA provides that                    Commission (in a manner set forth by                     eligibility and compliance with the
                                           the initial and variation margin                          the applicable Commission) how it                        associated substantive requirements can
                                           requirements shall not apply to a non-                    generally meets its financial obligations                be documented.34 For a security-based
                                           cleared swap in which a counterparty                      associated with entering into non-                       swap subject to clearing, compliance
                                           qualifies for an exemption issued under                   cleared swaps or non-cleared security-                   with the SEC regulatory requirements,
                                           section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity                          based swaps.31                                           once finalized, will provide the covered
                                           Exchange Act from the clearing                                                                                     swap entity with sufficient information
                                           requirements of section 2(h)(1)(A) of the                 Swaps and Security-Based Swaps                           about the eligible entity and the
                                           Commodity Exchange Act for                                Required to be Cleared                                   security-based swap to establish that the
                                           cooperative entities as defined in such                      For swaps that the CFTC has                           security-based swap is also exempt from
                                           exemption.29 The CFTC, pursuant to its                    determined are required to be cleared,                   the margin requirements of the joint
                                           authority under section 4(c)(1) of the                    the CFTC has adopted regulations that                    final rule. Until such time as
                                           Commodity Exchange Act, adopted a                         establish requirements by which an                       determinations are finalized by the SEC,
                                           regulation that allows cooperatives that                  eligible entity may elect its option not                 the Agencies expect that covered swap
                                           are financial entities to elect an                        to clear that type of swap and comply                    entities will take appropriate steps to
                                           exemption from mandatory clearing of                      with the related substantive hedging                     establish a reasonable belief that the
                                           swaps that: (1) They enter into in                        and reporting requirements.32 For such                   entity is of a type eligible for the
                                           connection with originating loans for                     a swap, compliance with the CFTC                         exemption and is using the security-
                                           their members; or (2) hedge or mitigate                   regulatory requirements for a swap                       based swap to hedge or mitigate
                                           commercial risk related to loans or                       subject to clearing will provide the                     commercial risk, as described below for
                                           swaps with their members, or arising                      covered swap entity with sufficient                      other non-cleared swaps and non-
                                           from certain swaps with members.30                        information about the eligible entity and                cleared security-based swaps.
                                           The swaps of these cooperatives that                      the swap to establish the swap is also
                                           would qualify for an exemption from                       exempt from the margin requirements of                   Swaps and Security-Based Swaps Not
                                           clearing also would qualify pursuant to                   the joint final rule.33 The Agencies                     Required To Be Cleared
                                           § __.1(d) for an exemption from the
                                           margin requirements of the joint final                       31 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 17 CFR 50.50(b); 15 U.S.C.
                                                                                                                                                                 There are also cases where a covered
                                           rule.                                                     3C(g)(4). Other provisions of the Commodity              swap entity may enter into a non-
                                                                                                     Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act             cleared swap or non-cleared security-
                                           D. Compliance With Eligibility                            separately impose additional governance                  based swap with an eligible entity that
                                           Requirements                                              requirements on an entity that elects a clearing
                                                                                                     exemption and that is an issuer of securities
                                                                                                                                                              the CFTC or SEC, respectively, does not
                                             Section 302 of TRIPRA identifies the                    registered under section 12 of, or that is required      require to be cleared. For swaps that are
                                           types of non-cleared swaps or non-                        to file reports under section 15(d) of, the Securities   not subject to a CFTC or SEC clearing
                                                                                                     Exchange Act of 1934. 7 U.S.C. 2(j); 15 U.S.C. 3C(i).    requirement, the Agencies expect that
                                           cleared security-based swaps with                            32 17 CFR 50.50(b), 50.51(c), 50.51. In addition to
                                                                                                                                                              covered swap entities will take
                                                                                                     providing reporting requirements, these CFTC rules
                                           financial company supervised by the Board, or an          further define the entities that are eligible for        appropriate steps to establish a
                                           entity engaged in the insurance business and              exceptions and exemptions from the clearing              reasonable belief that the counterparty
                                           subject to capital regulation by an insurance             requirements and define when a swap is used to           is an entity eligible for the exemption
                                           regulator. The Appropriations Act of 2016 further         hedge or mitigate commercial risk.
                                           prohibited the treasury affiliate exception from             33 Whenever a qualifying non-clearing entity has
                                                                                                                                                              and is using the swap to hedge or
                                           applying to affiliates which are themselves               elected its option to not clear a swap that the CFTC
                                           affiliated with swap entities unless the CFTC or the      has determined should be cleared, the entity’s           entity that meets the associated hedging and
                                           SEC, as applicable, determines that doing so is in        eligibility as well as its compliance with the           reporting requirements. See 17 CFR 50.50(b)(2)–(3)
                                           the public interest. See Pub. L. 114–113, 129 Stat.       associated hedging and reporting requirements            and 50.51(c).
                                           2242 (2015).                                              must be demonstrated either: (1) In an annual filing        34 In December 2010, the SEC proposed reporting
                                              28 Accordingly, the Agencies find it unnecessary
                                                                                                     by the entity reporting to an appropriate Swap Data      requirements for a counterparty exercising an
                                           to provide further notice or seek further public          Repository (SDR) or, if no registered SDR is             exception from clearing, which would require the
                                           comment regarding the effect of the Appropriations        available to receive the information, to the CFTC,       entity to report to a security-based SDR that it is an
                                           Act of 2016 on this final rule.                           which will be applicable to all such swaps entered       eligible entity and: that the swap is being used to
                                              29 See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). The CFTC, pursuant to its
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                                                                                                     into by the entity for 365 days following the date       hedge or mitigate commercial risk; how it generally
                                           authority under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity          of such filing; or (2) on a swap-by-swap basis           meets its financial obligations associated with
                                           Exchange Act, adopted 17 CFR 50.51, which allows          through a report filed by the eligible entity or the     entering into non-cleared security-based swaps,
                                           cooperative financial entities that meet certain          covered swap entity with the applicable SDR or, if       and, if a registered issuer of securities, whether a
                                           qualifications to elect not to clear certain swaps that   no registered SDR is available to receive the            committee of the board has reviewed and approved
                                           are otherwise required to be cleared pursuant to          information, the CFTC. The rule requires that the        the decision to enter into security-based swaps
                                           section 2(h)(1)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act.         reporting counterparty have a reasonable basis to        subject to the clearing exception. 75 FR 79992
                                              30 See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1); 17 CFR 50.51.                 believe that the electing counterparty is an eligible    (December 21, 2010).



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                                           50610             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           mitigate commercial risk.35 The final                   institutions generally must take effect                and Capital Requirements for Covered
                                           rule does not prescribe any specific                    on the first day of a calendar quarter                 Swap Entities.
                                           procedure or standard in this regard,                   that begins on or after the date on which                 Frequency of Response: Annual,
                                           and instead leaves covered swap entities                the regulations are published in final                 daily, and event-generated.
                                           the flexibility to collect information                  form.38 Accordingly, this final rule,                     Affected Public: The affected public of
                                           specifically on these points, take                      which adopts the interim final rule                    the OCC, FDIC, and Board is assigned
                                           cognizance of information they already                  without change, will be effective on                   generally in accordance with the entities
                                           have about their counterparties and                     October 1, 2016 as required under the                  covered by the scope and authority
                                           their non-cleared swap and non-cleared                  RCDRIA.                                                section of their respective final rule.
                                           security-based swap transactions, or a                                                                         Businesses or other for-profit.
                                                                                                   V. Administrative Law Matters                             Respondents:
                                           combination of both. The Agencies
                                           believe it would be reasonable for a                    A. Solicitation of Comments on Use of                     OCC: Any national bank or a
                                           covered swap entity to rely in good faith               Plain Language                                         subsidiary thereof, Federal savings
                                           on reasonable representations of its                                                                           association or a subsidiary thereof, or
                                                                                                      Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-                     Federal branch or agency of a foreign
                                           counterparty in making these                            Bliley Act, Public Law 106–102, sec.
                                           assessments.36                                                                                                 bank that is registered as a swap dealer,
                                                                                                   722, 113 Stat. 1338, 1471 (Nov. 12,
                                             In addition to the entity type                                                                               major swap participant, security-based
                                                                                                   1999), requires the OCC, Board and
                                           requirements and the hedging                                                                                   swap dealer, or major security-based
                                                                                                   FDIC to use plain language in all
                                           requirements specified in the statutory                                                                        swap participant.
                                                                                                   proposed and final rules published after                  FDIC: Any FDIC-insured state-
                                           clearing exceptions and exemptions                      January 1, 2000. The OCC, Board and
                                           referenced under section 302 of                                                                                chartered bank that is not a member of
                                                                                                   FDIC sought to present the final rule in               the Federal Reserve System or FDIC-
                                           TRIPRA, there are requirements for                      a simple and straightforward manner
                                           reporting to the relevant Commission, in                                                                       insured state-chartered savings
                                                                                                   and did not receive any comments on
                                           the manner set forth by the Commission,                                                                        association that is registered as a swap
                                                                                                   the use of plain language.
                                           when the clearing exceptions and                                                                               dealer, major swap participant, security-
                                           exemptions are elected. The Agencies                    B. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis                    based swap dealer, or major security-
                                           expect covered swap entities subject to                    Certain provisions of the final rule                based swap participant.
                                           the joint final rule to comply with any                 contain ‘‘collection of information’’                     Board: Any state member bank (as
                                           reporting requirements that the relevant                requirements within the meaning of the                 defined in 12 CFR 208.2(g)), bank
                                           Commission may impose on covered                        Paperwork Reduction Act (‘‘PRA’’) of                   holding company (as defined in 12
                                           swap entities in order to permit the use                1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3521). In                         U.S.C. 1841), savings and loan holding
                                           of the margin exemptions pursuant to                    accordance with the requirements of the                company (as defined in 12 U.S.C.
                                           section 302 of TRIPRA.                                  PRA, the Agencies may not conduct or                   1467a), foreign banking organization (as
                                                                                                   sponsor, and the respondent is not                     defined in 12 CFR 211.21(o)), foreign
                                           IV. Effective Date                                                                                             bank that does not operate an insured
                                                                                                   required to respond to, an information
                                             The Riegle Community Development                      collection unless it displays a currently              branch, state branch or state agency of
                                           and Regulatory Improvement Act of                       valid Office of Management and Budget                  a foreign bank (as defined in 12 U.S.C.
                                           1994 (the ‘‘RCDRIA’’) requires that the                 (OMB) control number. The OMB                          3101(b)(11) and (12)), or Edge or
                                           OCC, the Board, and the FDIC, in                        control number for the OCC is 1557–                    agreement corporation (as defined in 12
                                           determining the effective date and                      0335, the FDIC is 3064–0204, and the                   CFR 211.1(c)(2) and (3)) that is
                                           administrative compliance requirements                  Board is 7100–0364. The information                    registered as a swap dealer, major swap
                                           of new regulations that impose                          collection requirements contained in                   participant, security-based swap dealer,
                                           additional reporting, disclosure, or other              this final rulemaking have been                        or major security-based swap
                                           requirements on insured depository                      submitted to OMB for review and                        participant.
                                           institutions, consider, consistent with                 approval by the OCC and FDIC under                        Abstract: This final rule implements
                                           principles of safety and soundness and                  section 3507(d) of the PRA and                         Title III of the Terrorism Risk Insurance
                                           the public interest, any administrative                 § 1320.11 of OMB’s implementing                        Program Reauthorization Act of 2015
                                           burdens that such regulations would                     regulations (5 CFR part 1320). The                     (‘‘TRIPRA’’), which exempts from the
                                           place on depository institutions,                       Board reviewed the final rule under the                Agencies’ swap margin rules non-
                                           including small depository institutions,                authority delegated to the Board by                    cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
                                           and customers of depository                             OMB. The Agencies received no                          based swaps in which a counterparty
                                           institutions, as well as the benefits of                comments on the PRA.                                   qualifies for an exemption or exception
                                           such regulations.37 In addition, new                       The final rule contains requirements                from clearing under the Dodd-Frank
                                           regulations by the OCC, the Board, or                   subject to the PRA. The reporting                      Act. This final rule is a companion rule
                                           the FDIC that impose additional                         requirements are found in § _.1(d). The                to the joint final rule adopted by the
                                           reporting, disclosures, or other new                    final rule implements statutory language               Agencies to implement section 731 and
                                           requirements on insured depository                      that requires certain swaps of certain                 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
                                                                                                   counterparties to qualify for a statutory              Reporting Requirements
                                             35 As noted above, this category of non-cleared       exemption or exception from clearing in
                                           swaps includes all non-cleared security-based           order to not be subject to the initial and               The final rule implements statutory
                                           swaps during the interim until the SEC adopts final                                                            language that requires certain swaps and
                                           regulations requiring clearing of security-based        variation margin requirements of the
                                           swaps and associated exemptions from clearing.          joint final rule.                                      security-based swaps of certain
                                             36 See the Agencies’ joint final rule at 80 FR                                                               counterparties to qualify for a statutory
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                                           74858 (November 30, 2015), discussing covered           Proposed Information Collection                        exemption or exception from clearing in
                                           swap entities’ reliance in good faith on reasonable       Title of Information Collection:                     order to not be subject to the initial and
                                           representations of a counterparty as to whether the                                                            variation margin requirements of the
                                           counterparty is a financial end user with a material
                                                                                                   Reporting and Recordkeeping
                                           swaps exposure; see also 17 CFR 50.50(b)(2)–(3) and     Requirements Associated with Margin                    joint final rule. The reporting
                                           50.51(c).                                                                                                      requirements are found in § __.1(d)
                                             37 12 U.S.C. 4802(a).                                   38 12   U.S.C. 4802(b).                              pursuant to cross-references to other


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                     50611

                                           statutory provisions that set forth the                    Proposed revisions only estimated                       Board’s initial analysis, the Board’s
                                           conditions for an exemption from                        annual burden: 50,000 hours.                               assessment of such issues, and a
                                           clearing. For example, TRIPRA provides                     Total estimated annual burden:                          statement of any changes made as a
                                           that the initial and variation margin                   86,964 hours.                                              result of such comments. The Board did
                                           requirements of the joint final rule shall                 FCA: The FCA has determined that                        not receive comments specifically on
                                           not apply to a non-cleared swap or non-                 the final rule does not involve a                          the initial regulatory flexibility analysis
                                           cleared security-based swap in which a                  collection of information pursuant to                      contained in the interim final rule, but
                                           counterparty qualifies for an exception                 the Paperwork Reduction Act for Farm                       the Agencies did receive comments on
                                           under section 2(h)(7)(A) of the                         Credit System institutions because Farm                    other aspects of the rule. A full
                                           Commodity Exchange Act or section                       Credit System institutions are Federally                   discussion of all comments received by
                                           3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act,                chartered instrumentalities of the                         the Agencies with respect to this rule is
                                           which includes certain reporting                        United States and instrumentalities of                     contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY
                                           requirements established by the CFTC                    the United States are specifically                         INFORMATION, above.
                                           or the SEC.39 Certain other                             excepted from the definition of                               3. Small entities affected by the final
                                           counterparties that are exempt from                     ‘‘collection of information’’ contained in                 rule. This final rule may have an effect
                                           clearing pursuant to other provisions are               44 U.S.C. 3502(3).                                         on the following types of small entities:
                                           also required to meet these reporting                      FHFA: With respect to any regulated
                                                                                                                                                              (i) Covered swap entities that are subject
                                           requirements to notify the CFTC or the                  entity as defined in section 1303(20) of
                                                                                                                                                              to the joint final rule’s capital and
                                           SEC.40 Thus, in certain cases, the                      the Federal Housing Enterprises
                                                                                                                                                              margin requirements; and (ii) certain
                                           statutory exemption from clearing                       Financial Safety and Soundness Act of
                                                                                                                                                              counterparties (e.g., non-financial end
                                           requires a notification to the CFTC or                  1992, as amended (12 U.S.C. 4502(20)),
                                                                                                                                                              users and certain other small financial
                                           SEC. These counterparties may be                        the final rule does not contain any
                                                                                                                                                              counterparties) that engage in swaps or
                                           required to meet the same notification                  collection of information that requires
                                                                                                                                                              security-based swaps with covered swap
                                           requirements that are required for an                   the approval of the OMB under the PRA.
                                                                                                                                                              entities.43
                                           exception or exemption from clearing in                 C. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
                                           order to qualify for an exception or                                                                                  Under Small Business Administration
                                           exemption pursuant to § __.1(d) from                       Board: An initial regulatory flexibility                (the ‘‘SBA’’) regulations, the finance and
                                           the initial and variation margin                        analysis, in accordance with the                           insurance sector includes commercial
                                           requirements established by the                         Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601                   banking, savings institutions, credit
                                           Agencies under sections 731 and 764 of                  et seq.) (‘‘RFA’’),42 was included in the                  unions, other depository credit
                                           the Dodd-Frank Act. Since this final                    interim final rule. In the initial                         intermediation and credit card issuing
                                           rule serves to implement exemptions                     regulatory flexibility analysis, the Board                 entities (‘‘financial institutions’’), which
                                           and exceptions by reference to existing                 requested comments on all aspects of                       generally are considered ‘‘small’’ if they
                                           statutory provisions, § __.1(d) imposes                 the initial regulatory flexibility analysis,               have assets of $550 million or less.44
                                           new reporting requirements that are                     and, in particular, comments on its                        Covered swap entities would be
                                           required under the relevant statutory                   conclusion that the interim final rule                     considered financial institutions for
                                           provisions.                                             would not have a significant economic                      purposes of the RFA in accordance with
                                              Estimated Burden per Response:                       impact on a substantial number of small                    SBA regulations. The Board does not
                                           § _.1(d)—1 hour.                                        entities. The Board also requested                         expect that any covered swap entity is
                                              Annual Frequency: 1,000.                             comments on any significant                                likely to be a small financial institution,
                                                                                                   alternatives to the interim final rule that                because a small financial institution is
                                           OCC                                                                                                                unlikely to engage in the level of swap
                                                                                                   would minimize the impact of the rule
                                             Number of respondents: 20.                            on small entities. The Board has since                     activity that would require it to register
                                             Total estimated annual burden:                        considered the potential impact of this                    as a swap dealer or major swap
                                           20,000 hours.                                           final rule on small entities in                            participant.45 None of the currently
                                           FDIC 41                                                 accordance with section 604 of the RFA
                                                                                                   and has prepared the following final                          43 The Board notes that the RFA does not require
                                             Number of respondents: 1.                             regulatory flexibility analysis. Based on                  the Board to consider the impact of the final rule,
                                             Total estimated annual burden: 1,000                                                                             including its indirect economic effects, on small
                                                                                                   the Board’s analysis, and for the reasons
                                           hours.                                                                                                             entities that are not subject to the requirements of
                                                                                                   stated below, the Board believes that the                  the final rule. See e.g., In Mid-Tex Electric
                                           Board                                                   final rule will not have a significant                     Cooperative v. FERC, 773 F.2d 327 (D.C. Cir. 1985);
                                                                                                   economic impact on a substantial                           United Distribution Cos. v. FERC, 88 F.3d 1105,
                                             Number of respondents: 50.                                                                                       1170 (D.C. Cir. 1996); Cement Kiln Recycling
                                                                                                   number of small entities.                                  Coalition v. EPA, 255 F.3d 855 (D.C. Cir. 2001).
                                             39 See,  e.g., 17 CFR 50.50(b).                          1. Statement of the need for, and                          44 See 13 CFR 121.201 (effective December 2,
                                             40 For  example, certain exempt cooperatives must     objectives of, the final rule. As                          2014); see also 13 CFR 121.103(a)(6) (noting factors
                                           meet these reporting requirements to qualify for an     explained in detail above, this final rule                 that the SBA considers in determining whether an
                                           exemption from clearing. See 17 CFR 50.51(c).           implements section 302 of TRIPRA,                          entity qualifies as a small business, including
                                           Similarly, exempt treasury affiliates also must be an                                                              receipts, employees, and other measures of its
                                           affiliate of a person that qualifies for an exception
                                                                                                   which provides that initial and variation                  domestic and foreign affiliates).
                                           from clearing that notifies the CFTC or SEC how it      margin requirements will not apply to                         45 The CFTC has published a list of provisionally
                                           generally meets its financial obligations associated    specified non-cleared swaps or non-                        registered swap dealers (as of February 9, 2016) and
                                           with entering into non-cleared swaps or non-            cleared security-based swaps of certain                    provisionally registered major swap participants (as
                                           cleared security-based swaps. See 7 U.S.C.                                                                         of March 1, 2013) that does not include any small
                                           2(h)(7)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c–3(g)(4).
                                                                                                   counterparties (to a covered swap
                                                                                                                                                              financial institutions. See http://www.cftc.gov/
                                                                                                   entity). The reasons and justification for
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                                              41 The FDIC had initially estimated that three of                                                               LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/registerswapdealer
                                           its institutions might register as a swap dealer,       the final rule are described above in the                  and http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/
                                           major swap participant, security-based swap dealer      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.                                 DoddFrankAct/registermajorswappart. The SEC has
                                           or major security-based swap participant but no            2. Summary of the significant issues                    not provided a similar list since it only recently
                                           state non-member bank nor any state savings                                                                        adopted rules to provide for the registration of
                                           association has so registered, so FDIC is reducing      raised by public comment on the                            security-based swap dealers and major security-
                                           its estimate to one as a placeholder for its                                                                       based swap participants. See 80 FR 48963 (August
                                           information collection.                                   42 See   5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.                            14, 2015); 17 CFR parts 240 and 249.



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                                           50612              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           registered covered swap entities are                       In light of the foregoing, the Board               relating to an initial and final regulatory
                                           small entities. The final rule would have               does not believe that this final rule                 flexibility analysis do not apply.
                                           an indirect effect on certain                           would have a significant economic                        FCA: Pursuant to section 605(b) of the
                                           counterparties to non-cleared swaps and                 impact on a substantial number of small               Regulatory Flexibility Act, the FCA
                                           non-cleared security-based swaps. Many                  entities.
                                                                                                      FDIC: The RFA requires an agency, in               hereby certifies that the final rule will
                                           of these counterparties would be
                                                                                                   connection with a notice of final                     not have a significant economic impact
                                           considered ‘‘small’’ under the SBA’s
                                           regulations.46 However, the effect of                   rulemaking, to prepare a Final                        on a substantial number of small
                                           TRIPRA and the final rule will be to                    Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis                   entities. Each of the banks in the Farm
                                           exempt many of the non-cleared swaps                    describing the impact of the rule on                  Credit System, considered together with
                                           and non-cleared security-based swaps of                 small entities (defined by the SBA for                its affiliated associations, has assets and
                                           these counterparties from the margin                    purposes of the RFA to include banking                annual income in excess of the amounts
                                           requirements of the Agencies’ joint final               entities with total assets of $550 million            that would qualify them as small
                                           rule.                                                   or less) or to certify that the final rule            entities. Nor does the Federal
                                              4. Projected reporting, recordkeeping                will not have a significant economic                  Agricultural Mortgage Corporation meet
                                           and other compliance requirements of                    impact on a substantial number of small               the definition of a ‘‘small entity.’’
                                           the final rule. As described above, this                entities.                                             Therefore, Farm Credit System
                                           final rule implements statutory language                   Using SBA’s size standards, as of June             institutions are not ‘‘small entities’’ as
                                           that requires certain swaps of certain                  30, 2015, the FDIC supervised 3,357                   defined in the Regulatory Flexibility
                                           counterparties to qualify for a statutory               small entities. The FDIC does not expect              Act.
                                           exemption or exception from the                         any small entity that it supervises is
                                           applicable clearing requirements in                     likely to be a covered swap entity                       FHFA: FHFA certifies that the final
                                           order to not be subject to the initial and              because such entities are unlikely to                 rule will not have a significant
                                           variation margin requirements of the                    engage in the level of swap activity that             economic impact on a substantial
                                           joint final rule. The reporting                         would require them to register as a swap              number of small entities, since none of
                                           requirements are found in § _.1(d) of                   entity. Because TRIPRA excludes non-                  FHFA’s regulated entities comes within
                                           this final rule pursuant to cross-                      cleared swaps entered into for hedging                the meaning of a ‘‘small entity’’ as
                                           references to other statutory provisions                purposes by a financial institution with              defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                           that set forth the conditions for an                    total assets of $10 billion or less from              (see 5 U.S.C. 601(6)), and the final rule
                                           exemption or exception from clearing.                   the requirement of the final rule, the                will not substantially affect any
                                           In certain cases, the statutory exemption               FDIC expects that when a covered swap                 business that its regulated entities might
                                           from clearing and related regulations                   entity transactions non-cleared swaps                 conduct with any such small entity.
                                           may require a counterparty to report                    with a small entity supervised by the
                                           information, such as how it meets its                   FDIC, and such swaps are used to hedge                List of Subjects
                                           swaps obligations, to the CFTC or SEC.                  the small entity’s commercial risk, those             12 CFR Part 45
                                           These counterparties may be required to                 swaps will not be subject to the final
                                           meet the same notification requirements                 rule. The FDIC does not expect any                      Administrative practice and
                                           that are required for an exception or                   small entity that it supervises will                  procedure, Capital, Margin
                                           exemption from the relevant CFTC and                    engage in non-cleared swaps for                       requirements, National Banks, Federal
                                           SEC regulations. Other than this                        purposes other than hedging. Therefore,               Savings Associations, Reporting and
                                           potential overlap of reporting                          the FDIC does not believe that the                    recordkeeping requirements, Risk.
                                           obligations of this final rule and the                  interim final rule results in a significant
                                           relevant CFTC and SEC regulations, the                  economic impact on a substantial                      12 CFR Part 237
                                           Board is not aware of any other Federal                 number of small entities under its
                                           rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict              supervisory jurisdiction.                               Administrative practice and
                                           with this final rule. In light of the                      The FDIC certifies that the interim                procedure, Banks and banking, Capital,
                                           exemptions provided for the non-                        final rule does not have a significant                Foreign banking, Holding companies,
                                           cleared swaps and non-cleared security-                 economic impact on a substantial                      Margin requirements, Reporting and
                                           based swaps of many small entities, the                 number of small FDIC-supervised                       recordkeeping requirements, Risk.
                                           Board does not believe that the final                   institutions.                                         12 CFR Part 349
                                           rule would have a significant economic                     OCC: The Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                           impact on a substantial number of small                 (RFA) 47 generally requires an agency                   Administrative practice and
                                           entity counterparties.                                  that is issuing a proposed rule to                    procedure, Banks, Holding companies,
                                              5. Significant alternatives to the final             prepare and make available for public                 Capital, Margin requirements, Reporting
                                           rule. Since the final rule was required                 comment an initial regulatory flexibility             and recordkeeping requirements,
                                           by TRIPRA, the Board does not believe                   analysis that describes the impact of the             Savings associations Risk.
                                           that there are any significant                          proposed rule on small entities. The
                                           alternatives to the rule which would                    RFA does not apply to a rulemaking                    12 CFR Part 624
                                           accomplish the stated objectives of the                 where a general notice of proposed
                                           applicable statute.                                     rulemaking is not required.48 For the                   Accounting, Agriculture, Banks,
                                                                                                   reasons described above in the                        Banking, Capital, Cooperatives, Credit,
                                              46 See 13 CFR 121.201. In addition to small
                                                                                                   Supplementary Information, the OCC                    Margin requirements, Reporting and
                                           financial institutions with assets of $550 million or                                                         recordkeeping requirements, Risk, Rural
                                                                                                   has previously determined that it was
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                                           less, swap counterparties could also include other
                                           small entities defined in regulations issued by the     unnecessary to publish a notice of                    areas, Swaps.
                                           SBA, including firms within the ‘‘Securities,           proposed rulemaking for this final rule.              12 CFR Part 1221
                                           Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial                Accordingly, the RFA’s requirements
                                           Investments and Related Activities’’ sector with
                                           assets of $38.5 million or less and ‘‘Funds, Trusts                                                            Government-sponsored enterprises,
                                                                                                     47 See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
                                           and Other Financial Vehicles’’ with assets of $32.5                                                           Mortgages, Securities.
                                           million or less.                                          48 See 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.




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                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          50613

                                           Department of the Treasury                                Dated: June 21, 2016.                               FAA’s aeronautical database. O’Neal
                                                                                                   Thomas J. Curry,                                      Airport, Vincennes, IN, is removed from
                                           Office of the Comptroller of the
                                                                                                   Comptroller of the Currency.                          this rule as the Class E airspace area was
                                           Currency
                                                                                                     By order of the Board of Governors of the
                                                                                                                                                         removed in a rule published in the
                                           12 CFR Chapter I                                        Federal Reserve System, July 26, 2016.                Federal Register of October 23, 2015.
                                                                                                                                                         DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, November
                                           PART 45—MARGIN AND CAPITAL                              Robert deV. Frierson,
                                                                                                                                                         10, 2016. The Director of the Federal
                                           REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED                                Secretary of the Board.                               Register approves this incorporation by
                                           SWAP ENTITIES                                             Dated at Washington, DC, this 21 of June            reference action under Title 1, Code of
                                                                                                   2016.                                                 Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to
                                           ■ Accordingly, the interim final rule                     By order of the Board of Directors.                 the annual revision of FAA Order
                                           amending 12 CFR part 45, which was                      Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.                7400.9 and publication of conforming
                                           published at 80 FR 74916 on November                    Robert E. Feldman,                                    amendments.
                                           30, 2015, is adopted as a final rule                    Executive Secretary.                                  ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Z,
                                           without change.                                           Dated: June 22, 2016.                               Airspace Designations and Reporting
                                           Board of Governors of the Federal                       Dale L. Aultman,                                      Points, and subsequent amendments can
                                           Reserve System                                          Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.          be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/
                                                                                                     Dated: June 27, 2016.
                                                                                                                                                         air_traffic/publications/. For further
                                           12 CFR Chapter II                                                                                             information, you can contact the
                                                                                                   Melvin L. Watt,
                                                                                                                                                         Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation
                                           PART 237—SWAPS MARGIN AND                               Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.             Administration, 800 Independence
                                           SWAPS PUSH-OUT                                          [FR Doc. 2016–18193 Filed 8–1–16; 8:45 am]            Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591;
                                                                                                   BILLING CODE 4810–33–P; 8070–01–P; 6705–01–P;         telephone: 202–267–8783. The Order is
                                           Subpart A—Margin and Capital                            6714–01–P; 6210–01–P; 4810–33–P
                                                                                                                                                         also available for inspection at the
                                           Requirements for Covered Swap                                                                                 National Archives and Records
                                           Entities                                                                                                      Administration (NARA). For
                                                                                                   DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                                                                                                                                         information on the availability of FAA
                                           ■ Accordingly, the interim final rule                   Federal Aviation Administration                       Order 7400.9Z at NARA, call 202–741–
                                           amending 12 CFR part 237, subpart A                                                                           6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/
                                           which was published at 80 FR 74916 on                   14 CFR Part 71                                        federal_register/code_of_federal-
                                           November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final                                                                      regulations/ibr_locations.html.
                                           rule without change.                                    [Docket No. FAA–2016–4291; Airspace                      FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace
                                                                                                   Docket No. 16–AGL–7]                                  Designations and Reporting Points, is
                                           Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
                                                                                                                                                         published yearly and effective on
                                                                                                   Amendment of Class E Airspace for
                                           12 CFR Chapter III                                                                                            September 15.
                                                                                                   the following Indiana Towns; Goshen,
                                                                                                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                           PART 349—DERIVATIVES                                    IN; Greencastle, IN; Huntingburg, IN;
                                                                                                   North Vernon, IN; Rensselaer, IN; Tell                Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation
                                                                                                   City, IN; and Washington, IN                          Administration, Operations Support
                                           ■ Accordingly, the interim final rule                                                                         Group, Central Service Center, 10101
                                           amending 12 CFR part 349 which was                      AGENCY:  Federal Aviation                             Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX
                                           published at 80 FR 74916 on November                    Administration (FAA), DOT.                            76177; telephone (817) 222–5711.
                                           30, 2015, is adopted as a final rule                    ACTION: Final rule.                                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                           without change.
                                                                                                   SUMMARY:    This action modifies Class E              Authority for This Rulemaking
                                           Farm Credit Administration
                                                                                                   airspace extending upward from 700                      The FAA’s authority to issue rules
                                           12 CFR Chapter VI                                       feet above the surface at Virgil I.                   regarding aviation safety is found in
                                                                                                   Grissom Municipal Airport, Bedford, IN;               Title 49 of the United States Code.
                                           ■ Accordingly, the interim final rule                   Goshen Municipal Airport, Goshen, IN;                 Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the
                                           amending 12 CFR part 624 which was                      Putnam County Airport, Greencastle, IN;               authority of the FAA Administrator.
                                           published at 80 FR 74916 on November                    Huntingburg Airport, Huntingburg, IN;                 Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
                                           30, 2015, is adopted as a final rule                    North Vernon Airport, North Vernon,                   describes in more detail the scope of the
                                           without change.                                         IN; Jasper County Airport, Rensselaer,                agency’s authority. This rulemaking is
                                                                                                   IN; Perry County Municipal Airport,                   promulgated under the authority
                                           Federal Housing Finance Agency                          Tell City, IN; and Daviess County                     described in Subtitle VII, Part A,
                                           Chapter XII—Federal Housing Finance                     Airport, Washington, IN.                              Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that
                                           Agency                                                  Decommissioning of non-directional                    section, the FAA is charged with
                                                                                                   radio beacons (NDBs), cancellation of                 prescribing regulations to assign the use
                                           Subchapter B—Entity Regulations                         NDB approaches, and implementation                    of airspace necessary to ensure the
                                                                                                   of area navigation (RNAV) procedures                  safety of aircraft and the efficient use of
                                           PART 1221—MARGIN AND CAPITAL                            have made this action necessary for the               airspace. This regulation is within the
                                           REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED                                safety and management of Instrument                   scope of that authority as it amends
                                           SWAP ENTITIES                                           Flight Rules (IFR) operations at these                Class E airspace at Virgil I. Grissom
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                                                                                                   airports. This action also updates the                Municipal Airport, Bedford, IN; Goshen
                                           ■ Accordingly, the interim final rule                   geographic coordinates of Goshen                      Municipal Airport, Goshen, IN; Putnam
                                           amending 12 CFR part 1221 which was                     Municipal Airport, Putnam County                      County Airport, Greencastle, IN;
                                           published at 80 FR 74916 on November                    Airport, North Vernon Airport, Jasper                 Huntingburg Airport, Huntingburg, IN;
                                           30, 2015, is adopted as a final rule                    County Airport, and Perry County                      North Vernon Airport, North Vernon,
                                           without change.                                         Municipal Airport to coincide with the                IN; Jasper County Airport, Rensselaer,


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Document Created: 2016-08-02 01:47:29
Document Modified: 2016-08-02 01:47:29
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis final rule is effective October 1, 2016.
ContactOCC: Ang Middleton, Risk Specialist, Financial Markets Group, (202) 649-7138, or Carl Kaminski, Special Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 649-5490, for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, TTY (202) 649-5597, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.
FR Citation81 FR 50605 
RIN Number1557-AD00, 7100-AD74, 3064-AE21, 3052-AC69 and 2590-AA45
CFR Citation12 CFR 1221
12 CFR 237
12 CFR 349
12 CFR 45
12 CFR 624
CFR AssociatedGovernment-Sponsored Enterprises; Mortgages; Securities; Banks and Banking; Foreign Banking; Holding Companies; Banks; Savings Associations Risk; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Capital; Margin Requirements; National Banks; Federal Savings Associations; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Risk; Accounting; Agriculture; Banking; Cooperatives; Credit; Rural Areas and Swaps

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