83_FR_12686 83 FR 12630 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Europe Limited; Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the ICE Clear Europe Limited CDS Procedures, CDS Risk Policy, and CDS Risk Model Description

83 FR 12630 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Europe Limited; Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the ICE Clear Europe Limited CDS Procedures, CDS Risk Policy, and CDS Risk Model Description

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 56 (March 22, 2018)

Page Range12630-12633
FR Document2018-05793

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12630-12633]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05793]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82890; File No. SR-ICEEU-2018-002]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Europe Limited; Order 
Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the 
ICE Clear Europe Limited CDS Procedures, CDS Risk Policy, and CDS Risk 
Model Description

March 16, 2018.

I. Introduction

    On February 6, 2018 ICE Clear Europe Limited (``ICE Clear Europe'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change (SR-
ICEEU-2018-002) to revise: (i) Its CDS Procedures to support the 
clearing of a new transaction type; and (ii) its CDS Risk Policy, and 
CDS Risk Model Description document to incorporate certain 
modifications to its risk management methodology.\3\ The proposed rule 
change was published for comment in the Federal Register on February 
15, 2018.\4\ The Commission did not receive comments on the proposed 
rule change. For the reasons discussed below, the Commission is 
approving the proposed rule change on an accelerated basis.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ Capitalized terms used in this order, but not defined 
herein, have the same meaning as in the ICE Clear Europe Rules, CDS 
Procedures, CDS Risk Policy, or CDS Risk Model Description.
    \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-82678 (February 9, 
2018), 83 FR 6909 (February 15, 2018) (SR-ICEEU-2018-002) 
(``Notice'').
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II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change

    ICE Clear Europe proposed revisions to its CDS Procedures, CDS Risk 
Policy, and Risk Model Description document in order to provide for the 
clearing of a new transaction type, the Standard European Senior Non-
Preferred Financial Corporate, and to provide for revised risk 
management practices.

A. Changes to ICE Clear Europe CDS Procedures

    ICE Clear Europe proposed amending Paragraph 4.3(c)(ii) of its CDS 
Procedures, which sets forth the requirements for Trade Particulars for 
CDS that are submitted for Clearing, to reference the Standard European 
Senior Non-Preferred Financial Corporate transaction type.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Notice, 83 FR at 6909.
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    ICE Clear Europe also proposed amending Paragraph 11.3(i) to revise 
the definition of ``Non-STEC Single Name Contract'' to include the 
Standard European Senior Non-Preferred Financial Corporate transaction 
type in the list of Reference Entities eligible to be cleared by ICE 
Clear Europe, and also proposed amending Paragraph 11.3(j) to remove a 
requirement providing that the relevant obligation must be ``Senior 
Level'' and replace it with a requirement that the relevant obligation 
be of the ``applicable seniority level.'' \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Id. at 6909-10.
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B. Changes to ICE Clear Europe's Risk Model Description

    As currently constructed, ICE Clear Europe's risk management 
methodology takes into consideration the potential losses associated 
with idiosyncratic credit events, which ICE Clear Europe refers to as 
``Loss-Given Default'' or ``LGD.'' ICE Clear Europe deems each Single 
Name (``SN'') reference entity a Risk Factor, and each combination of 
definition, doc-clause, tier, and currency for a given SN Risk Factor 
as a SN Risk Sub-Factor. ICE Clear Europe currently measures losses 
associated with credit events through a stress-based approach 
incorporating three recovery rate scenarios: a minimum recovery rate, 
an expected recovery rate, and maximum recovery rate. ICE Clear Europe 
combines exposures for Outright and index-derived Risk Sub-Factors at 
each recovery rate scenario.\7\
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    \7\ Id. at 6910.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Clear Europe currently uses the results from the recovery rate 
scenarios as an input into the Profit/Loss-Given-Default (``P/LGD'') 
calculations at both the Risk Sub-Factor and Risk Factor levels. For 
each Risk Sub-Factor, ICE Clear Europe calculates the P/LGD as the 
worst credit event outcome, and for each Risk Factor, ICE Clear Europe 
calculates the P/LGD as the sum of the worst credit outcomes per Risk 
Sub-Factor. These final P/LGD results are used as part of the 
determination of risk requirements.\8\
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    \8\ Id.
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    ICE Clear Europe proposed changes to its LGD framework at the Risk 
Factor level with respect to the LGD calculation. Specifically, ICE 
Clear Europe proposed a change to its approach by incorporating more 
consistency in the calculation of the P/LGD by using the same recovery 
rate scenarios applied to the different Risk Sub-Factors which are part 
of the considered Risk Factor. For each Risk Factor, ICE Clear Europe 
would continue to calculate an ``extreme outcome'' as the sum of the 
worst Risk Sub-Factor P/LGDs across all scenarios and also would, for 
each Risk Factor, calculate an ``expected outcome'' as the worst sum of 
all the Risk Sub-Factors P/LGDs across all of the same scenarios. Under 
the proposed changes, ICE Clear Europe would then combine the results 
of the ``extreme outcome'' calculation and the ``expected outcome'' 
calculation to compute the total LGD for each Risk Factor.\9\ ICE Clear 
Europe proposed to apply a weight of 25% to the extreme outcome 
component in order to implement certain requirements of relevant 
regulatory technical standards arising under the European Market 
Infrastructure Regulation.\10\
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    \9\ Id.
    \10\ See Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 153/2013 
supplementing Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament 
and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards on 
requirements for central counterparties. ICE Clear Europe is 
authorized as a central counterparty under the European Market 
Infrastructure Regulation and is subject to the requirements 
thereof.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Clear Europe also proposed to expand its LGD analysis to 
incorporate a new ``Risk Factor Group'' level. Under the proposed 
changes, a set of related Risk Factors would form a Risk Factor Group 
based on either (1) having a common majority parental sovereign 
ownership (e.g. quasi-sovereigns and sovereigns), or (2) being a 
majority owned subsidiary of a common parent entity according to the 
Bloomberg Related Securities Analysis. ICE Clear Europe noted that a 
Risk Factor Group could consist of only one Risk Factor.\11\
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    \11\ Notice, 83 FR at 6910.
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    Under the proposed revisions, ICE Clear Europe would calculate the 
total quantity LGD on a Risk Factor Group level, and account for the 
exposure due to credit events associated with the reference entities 
within a given Risk Factor Group. Where a Risk Factor Group contains 
only one Risk Factor, ICE Clear Europe would compute the LGD as the 
risk exposure due to a credit event for a given underlying reference

[[Page 12631]]

entity. Moreover, under the proposed approach, ICE Clear Europe would 
sum the P/LGDs for each Risk Factor in a given Risk Factor Group, with 
limited offsets in the event the Risk Factors exhibit positive P/LGD. 
Using the results of the above calculation, ICE Clear Europe would 
obtain the Risk Factor Group level LGD. The proposed approach would 
also include a calculation which allows for the Risk Factor Group level 
LGD to be attributed to each Risk Factor within the considered Risk 
Factor Group.\12\
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    \12\ Id.
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    In addition to these changes, ICE Clear Europe also proposed 
changes to the ``Loss Given Default Risk Analysis'' section of its Risk 
Model Description document to incorporate the Risk Factor and Risk 
Factor Group LGD calculation changes described above, as well as to 
incorporate certain conforming changes to other sections of the Risk 
Model Description document to reflect the proposed Risk Factor Group 
analysis.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Id.
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    ICE Clear Europe also proposed further changes with respect to the 
``Idiosyncratic Jump-to-Default Requirements'' section of the Risk 
Model Description document. As currently constructed, the portfolio 
jump-to-default approach collateralizes the worst uncollateralized LGD 
(``ULGD'') exposure among all Risk Factors. Under the proposed changes, 
the portfolio jump-to-default (``JTD'') approach would collateralize, 
through the portfolio JTD initial margin requirement that accounts for 
the Risk Factor Group-specific LGD collateralization, the worst ULGD 
exposure among all Risk Factor Groups. The ULGD exposure for a given 
Risk Factor Group would be calculated as a sum of the associated Risk 
Factor ULGDs.\14\
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    \14\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Clear Europe also proposed certain minor edits to the Specific 
Wrong-Way Risk and General Wrong Way Risk sections of the Risk Model 
Description document to update language and calculation descriptions to 
accommodate the introduction of the Risk Factor Group to the 
``Idiosyncratic Jump-to-Default Requirements'' section.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Id.
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    In addition, ICE Clear Europe proposed changes to the ``Guaranty 
Fund Methodology'' section of the Risk Model Description document. ICE 
Clear Europe's current guaranty fund methodology includes, among other 
things, the assumption that up to three credit events, different from 
the ones associated with Clearing Members, occur during the considered 
risk horizon. ICE Clear Europe proposed expanding this approach to the 
Risk Factor Group level by assuming that credit events associated with 
up to three Risk Factor Groups, different from the ones associated with 
the Clearing Members and the Risk Factors that are in the Risk Factor 
Groups as the Clearing Participants, occur during the considered risk 
horizon.\16\
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    \16\ Id.
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    Additional amendments to ICE Clear Europe's Risk Model Description 
document include minor typographical and technical corrections and 
clarifications.\17\
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    \17\ Id. at 6911.
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C. Changes to ICE Clear Europe's CDS Risk Policy

    ICE Clear Europe proposed conforming edits to its CDS Risk Policy 
in order to incorporate the changes described above. Specifically, ICE 
Clear Europe proposed to amend the definition of Risk Sub-Factor, as 
set forth in the CDS Risk Policy, so that it is defined as a particular 
combination of single-name reference, tier, currency, and documentation 
clause.\18\ In addition, ICE Clear Europe proposed to amend the CDS 
Risk Policy to provide that the worst LGD associated with a Risk Factor 
Group will be used to determine the JTD requirement, instead of the 
worst single-name LGD, and also proposed amendments that would clarify 
that a Risk Factor Group would consist of a set of Risk Factors related 
by a common parental ownership.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Id.
    \19\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act directs the Commission to approve a 
proposed rule change of a self-regulatory organization if it finds that 
such proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the 
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to such 
organization.\20\ For the reasons given below, the Commission finds 
that the proposal is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act, 
and Rules 17Ad-22(b)(2), (b)(3), (e)(4)(ii), and (e)(6)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).
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A. Consistency With Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act

    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, among other things, that 
the rules of a registered clearing agency be designed to promote the 
prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions 
and, to the extent applicable, derivative agreements, contracts, and 
transactions, to assure the safeguarding of securities and funds which 
are in the custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is 
responsible and, in general, to protect investors and the public 
interest.\21\ The proposed rule change will provide for the clearance 
and settlement of the Standard European Senior Non-Preferred Financial 
Corporate, a new type of transaction that is similar to contracts 
already cleared by ICE Clear Europe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Separately, as described above, the proposed rule change would also 
provide for certain revisions to ICE Clear Europe's risk management 
methodology with respect to its LGD methodology. These changes entail 
(i) incorporating a more consistent approach with respect to ICE Clear 
Europe's recovery rate scenarios through the application of the same 
recovery rate scenarios to risk factors that form part of the same Risk 
Factor Group, (ii) combining the results of the ``expected'' and 
``extreme'' P/LGD outcomes in order to calculate the total LGD for each 
Risk Factor, (iii) expanding ICE Clear Europe's LGD analysis to a new 
Risk Factor Group level, (iv) revising the calculation of the 
Uncollateralized Loss Given Default to incorporate the Risk Factor 
Group level LGD approach, and (v) modifying ICE Clear Europe's Guaranty 
Fund Methodology to expand the credit event analysis to include the 
Risk Factor Group approach.
    Based on a review of the Notice, the Commission believes that the 
Standard European Senior Non-Preferred Financial Corporate transaction 
type is substantially similar to other contracts cleared by ICE Clear 
Europe. As such, the Commission believes that ICE Clear Europe's 
existing clearing arrangements, and related financial safeguards 
(including as further modified by the proposed rule change), 
protections and risk management procedures will apply to this new 
product on a substantially similar basis to the other contracts 
currently cleared by ICE Clear Europe.
    Moreover, the Commission believes that the proposed changes to ICE 
Clear Europe's risk management framework described above will enhance 
the manner by which ICE Clear Europe considers and manages the risks 
particular to the range of contracts it clears, including the new 
Standard European Senior Non-Preferred Financial Corporate contract, 
because such changes will enable ICE Clear

[[Page 12632]]

Europe to more accurately consider the particular risks of each type of 
product it clears, including security-based swap products. Therefore, 
the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is intended to 
promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
transactions and derivatives agreements, contracts, and transactions, 
as well as to assure the safeguarding of securities and funds which are 
in the custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is 
responsible and, in general, to protect investors and the public 
interest, and is therefore consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the 
Act.\22\
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    \22\ Id.
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B. Consistency With Rules 17Ad-22(b)(2) and (e)(6)(i)

    The Commission further finds that the proposed rule change is 
consistent with Rules 17Ad-22(b)(2) and (e)(6)(i). Rule 17Ad-22(b)(2) 
requires, in relevant part, a registered clearing agency that performs 
central counterparty services to establish, implement, maintain and 
enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to use 
margin requirements to limit the registered clearing agency's credit 
exposures to participants under normal market conditions and use risk-
based models and parameters to set margin requirements.\23\ Rule 17A-
d22(e)(6)(i) requires, in relevant part, that a covered clearing agency 
that provides central counterparty services establish, implement, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to cover its credit exposures to its participants by 
establishing a risk-based margin system that, at a minimum, considers, 
and produces margin levels commensurate with, the risks and particular 
attributes of each relevant product, portfolio, and market.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(2).
    \24\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(6)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described above, the proposed changes would (i) amend the manner 
in which ICE Clear Europe calculates its Risk Factor-level LGD, (ii) 
expand the LGD analysis to the Risk Factor Group level, and (iii) amend 
the approach to calculating the Uncollateralized LGD to incorporate the 
Risk Factor Group level approach. Specifically, ICE Clear Europe would 
calculate, for each Risk Factor, an extreme outcome as the sum of the 
worst Risk Sub-factor P/LGDs across all scenarios, and an expected 
outcome as the worst sum of all Risk Sub-factor P/LGDs using the same 
scenarios, and then add the two components to determine the total LGD 
for each Risk Factor.
    The LGD analysis would also be modified to group individual Risk 
Factors into Risk Factor Groups, and would result in the total LGD 
being the sum of the P/LGDs for each Risk Factor within the Risk Factor 
Group. The Commission believes that by making these changes, ICE Clear 
Europe will augment its ability to more accurately consider the risks 
associated with the products it clears, including the Standard European 
Senior Non-Preferred Financial Corporate transaction type.
    As a result, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change 
will facilitate the establishment of a risk-based margin system that 
considers, and produces margin levels commensurate with, the risks and 
particular attributes of the relevant product, portfolio, and market, 
and will also enable ICE Clear Europe to more accurately determine and 
collect the amount of resources necessary to limit its credit exposures 
under normal market conditions, including credit exposures resulting 
from clearing the new transaction type, through the use of risk-based 
models. Therefore the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is 
consistent with Rules 17Ad-22(b)(2) and (e)(6).\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(2) and (e)(6)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Consistency With Rules 17Ad-22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii)

    The Commission further finds that the proposed rule change is 
consistent with Rules 17Ad-22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii). Rule 17Ad-22(b)(3) 
requires, in relevant part, a registered clearing agency that performs 
central counterparty services to establish, implement, maintain and 
enforce written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to 
maintain sufficient financial resources to withstand, at a minimum, a 
default by the two participant families to which it has the largest 
exposures in extreme but plausible market conditions.\26\ Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(4)(ii) requires, in relevant part, that a covered clearing agency 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to effectively identify, measure, 
monitor, and manage its credit exposures to participants and those 
arising from its payment, clearing, and settlement processes, including 
by, for covered clearing agencies that are clearing agencies involved 
in activities with a more complex risk profile, maintaining additional 
financial resources at the minimum to enable it to cover a wide range 
of foreseeable stress scenarios that include, but are not limited to, 
the default of the two participant families that would potentially 
cause the largest aggregate credit exposure for the covered clearing 
agency in extreme but plausible market conditions.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(3).
    \27\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(4)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described above, the proposed rule change would amend certain 
assumptions in ICE Clear Europe's Guaranty Fund Methodology, and the 
calculation of the Specific Wrong Way Risk component of its guaranty 
fund, by incorporating the new Risk Factor Group level analysis. 
Specifically, ICE Clear Europe would expand its current approach to 
assume that credit events used in the guaranty fund analysis occur at 
the Risk Factor Group level, and would also base the specific wrong-way 
risk component of its Guaranty Fund Methodology on the Risk Factor 
Group approach.
    As with the changes to the LGD approach, the Commission believes 
that the proposed changes to ICE Clear Europe's Guaranty Fund 
Methodology will permit ICE Clear Europe to more accurately consider 
the particular risks associated with the products it clears, including 
the Standard European Senior Non-Preferred Financial Corporate 
transaction type, that will be cleared as a result of the proposed 
changes to ICE Clear Europe's CDS Procedures described above. As a 
result, the Commission believes that the proposed changes will enable 
ICE Clear Europe to more accurately measure the risks of associated 
with the products it clears and thereby improve ICE Clear Europe's 
ability to collect and maintain the level of financial resources 
necessary to cover a wide range of foreseeable stress scenarios that 
include, but are not limited to, the default of the two participant 
families that would potentially cause the largest aggregate credit 
exposure under extreme but plausible market conditions. Therefore, the 
Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Rules 
17Ad-22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii).\28\
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    \28\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 19(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the Act allows the Commission to 
approve a proposed rule change earlier than 30 days after the date of 
publication of the notice of the proposed rule change where the 
Commission finds good cause for so doing and publishes the reason for 
the finding.\29\ The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 
19(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the Act, for approving the proposed rule change on 
an accelerated basis prior to the 30th day

[[Page 12633]]

after the date of publication of the notice in the Federal Register in 
order to facilitate the clearing of the Standard European Senior Non-
Preferred Financial Corporate transaction type, which the Commission 
understands market participants will commence trading beginning on 
March 20, 2018 \30\ and which are tied to European capital and 
resolution regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C)(iii).
    \30\ See IHS Markit iTraxx Europe Rule Announcement, February 6, 
2018 (stating that for iTraxx Europe Series 29, for French bank 
OpCos that qualify for inclusion in the index, the senior non-
preferred reference obligations will be selected if available).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Conclusion

    On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and 
in particular with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act,\31\ and 
Rules 17Ad-22(b)(2), (b)((3), (e)(4)(ii), and (e)(6)(i) thereunder.\32\
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    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \32\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(2), (b)(3), (e)(4)(ii) and (e)(6)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It Is Therefore Ordered pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 
\33\ that the proposed rule change (SR-ICEEU-2018-002) be, and hereby 
is, approved on an accelerated basis.\34\
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    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \34\ In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission 
considered the proposal's impact on efficiency, competition, and 
capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \35\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\35\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-05793 Filed 3-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                               12630                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 56 / Thursday, March 22, 2018 / Notices

                                               proposed rule change (SR–BOX–2017–                      European Senior Non-Preferred                          used as part of the determination of risk
                                               36), as modified by Amendment No. 1,                    Financial Corporate, and to provide for                requirements.8
                                               be, and hereby is, approved on an                       revised risk management practices.                        ICE Clear Europe proposed changes to
                                               accelerated basis.                                                                                             its LGD framework at the Risk Factor
                                                                                                       A. Changes to ICE Clear Europe CDS                     level with respect to the LGD
                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of                Procedures
                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                                                                     calculation. Specifically, ICE Clear
                                               authority.43                                               ICE Clear Europe proposed amending                  Europe proposed a change to its
                                               Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      Paragraph 4.3(c)(ii) of its CDS                        approach by incorporating more
                                               Assistant Secretary.                                    Procedures, which sets forth the                       consistency in the calculation of the P/
                                                                                                       requirements for Trade Particulars for                 LGD by using the same recovery rate
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–05794 Filed 3–21–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                       CDS that are submitted for Clearing, to                scenarios applied to the different Risk
                                               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                       reference the Standard European Senior                 Sub-Factors which are part of the
                                                                                                       Non-Preferred Financial Corporate                      considered Risk Factor. For each Risk
                                                                                                       transaction type.5                                     Factor, ICE Clear Europe would
                                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                          ICE Clear Europe also proposed                      continue to calculate an ‘‘extreme
                                               COMMISSION
                                                                                                       amending Paragraph 11.3(i) to revise the               outcome’’ as the sum of the worst Risk
                                               [Release No. 34–82890; File No. SR–ICEEU–
                                                                                                       definition of ‘‘Non-STEC Single Name                   Sub-Factor P/LGDs across all scenarios
                                               2018–002]                                                                                                      and also would, for each Risk Factor,
                                                                                                       Contract’’ to include the Standard
                                                                                                       European Senior Non-Preferred                          calculate an ‘‘expected outcome’’ as the
                                               Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE                                                                             worst sum of all the Risk Sub-Factors P/
                                               Clear Europe Limited; Order Granting                    Financial Corporate transaction type in
                                                                                                       the list of Reference Entities eligible to             LGDs across all of the same scenarios.
                                               Accelerated Approval of Proposed                                                                               Under the proposed changes, ICE Clear
                                               Rule Change Relating to the ICE Clear                   be cleared by ICE Clear Europe, and also
                                                                                                       proposed amending Paragraph 11.3(j) to                 Europe would then combine the results
                                               Europe Limited CDS Procedures, CDS                                                                             of the ‘‘extreme outcome’’ calculation
                                               Risk Policy, and CDS Risk Model                         remove a requirement providing that the
                                                                                                                                                              and the ‘‘expected outcome’’ calculation
                                               Description                                             relevant obligation must be ‘‘Senior
                                                                                                                                                              to compute the total LGD for each Risk
                                                                                                       Level’’ and replace it with a requirement
                                               March 16, 2018.                                                                                                Factor.9 ICE Clear Europe proposed to
                                                                                                       that the relevant obligation be of the
                                                                                                                                                              apply a weight of 25% to the extreme
                                               I. Introduction                                         ‘‘applicable seniority level.’’ 6
                                                                                                                                                              outcome component in order to
                                                  On February 6, 2018 ICE Clear Europe                 B. Changes to ICE Clear Europe’s Risk                  implement certain requirements of
                                               Limited (‘‘ICE Clear Europe’’) filed with               Model Description                                      relevant regulatory technical standards
                                               the Securities and Exchange                                                                                    arising under the European Market
                                                                                                          As currently constructed, ICE Clear                 Infrastructure Regulation.10
                                               Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                   Europe’s risk management methodology
                                               to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                                                                             ICE Clear Europe also proposed to
                                                                                                       takes into consideration the potential                 expand its LGD analysis to incorporate
                                               Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and                    losses associated with idiosyncratic
                                               Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                                                                        a new ‘‘Risk Factor Group’’ level. Under
                                                                                                       credit events, which ICE Clear Europe                  the proposed changes, a set of related
                                               change (SR–ICEEU–2018–002) to revise:                   refers to as ‘‘Loss-Given Default’’ or
                                               (i) Its CDS Procedures to support the                                                                          Risk Factors would form a Risk Factor
                                                                                                       ‘‘LGD.’’ ICE Clear Europe deems each                   Group based on either (1) having a
                                               clearing of a new transaction type; and                 Single Name (‘‘SN’’) reference entity a
                                               (ii) its CDS Risk Policy, and CDS Risk                                                                         common majority parental sovereign
                                                                                                       Risk Factor, and each combination of                   ownership (e.g. quasi-sovereigns and
                                               Model Description document to                           definition, doc-clause, tier, and
                                               incorporate certain modifications to its                                                                       sovereigns), or (2) being a majority
                                                                                                       currency for a given SN Risk Factor as                 owned subsidiary of a common parent
                                               risk management methodology.3 The                       a SN Risk Sub-Factor. ICE Clear Europe
                                               proposed rule change was published for                                                                         entity according to the Bloomberg
                                                                                                       currently measures losses associated                   Related Securities Analysis. ICE Clear
                                               comment in the Federal Register on                      with credit events through a stress-
                                               February 15, 2018.4 The Commission                                                                             Europe noted that a Risk Factor Group
                                                                                                       based approach incorporating three                     could consist of only one Risk Factor.11
                                               did not receive comments on the                         recovery rate scenarios: a minimum                        Under the proposed revisions, ICE
                                               proposed rule change. For the reasons                   recovery rate, an expected recovery rate,              Clear Europe would calculate the total
                                               discussed below, the Commission is                      and maximum recovery rate. ICE Clear                   quantity LGD on a Risk Factor Group
                                               approving the proposed rule change on                   Europe combines exposures for Outright                 level, and account for the exposure due
                                               an accelerated basis.                                   and index-derived Risk Sub-Factors at                  to credit events associated with the
                                               II. Description of the Proposed Rule                    each recovery rate scenario.7                          reference entities within a given Risk
                                               Change                                                     ICE Clear Europe currently uses the                 Factor Group. Where a Risk Factor
                                                  ICE Clear Europe proposed revisions                  results from the recovery rate scenarios               Group contains only one Risk Factor,
                                               to its CDS Procedures, CDS Risk Policy,                 as an input into the Profit/Loss-Given-                ICE Clear Europe would compute the
                                               and Risk Model Description document                     Default (‘‘P/LGD’’) calculations at both               LGD as the risk exposure due to a credit
                                               in order to provide for the clearing of a               the Risk Sub-Factor and Risk Factor                    event for a given underlying reference
                                               new transaction type, the Standard                      levels. For each Risk Sub-Factor, ICE
                                                                                                       Clear Europe calculates the P/LGD as                     8 Id.
                                                                                                                                                                9 Id.
                                                 43 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            the worst credit event outcome, and for
                                                                                                                                                                10 See Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No
                                                 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                each Risk Factor, ICE Clear Europe
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                              153/2013 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 648/
                                                 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   calculates the P/LGD as the sum of the                 2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
                                                 3 Capitalized terms used in this order, but not       worst credit outcomes per Risk Sub-                    with regard to regulatory technical standards on
                                               defined herein, have the same meaning as in the         Factor. These final P/LGD results are                  requirements for central counterparties. ICE Clear
                                               ICE Clear Europe Rules, CDS Procedures, CDS Risk                                                               Europe is authorized as a central counterparty
                                               Policy, or CDS Risk Model Description.                                                                         under the European Market Infrastructure
                                                                                                         5 Notice,  83 FR at 6909.
                                                 4 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–82678                                                               Regulation and is subject to the requirements
                                                                                                         6 Id. at 6909–10.                                    thereof.
                                               (February 9, 2018), 83 FR 6909 (February 15, 2018)
                                               (SR–ICEEU–2018–002) (‘‘Notice’’).                         7 Id. at 6910.                                         11 Notice, 83 FR at 6910.




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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 56 / Thursday, March 22, 2018 / Notices                                                  12631

                                               entity. Moreover, under the proposed                    associated with Clearing Members,                          accurate clearance and settlement of
                                               approach, ICE Clear Europe would sum                    occur during the considered risk                           securities transactions and, to the extent
                                               the P/LGDs for each Risk Factor in a                    horizon. ICE Clear Europe proposed                         applicable, derivative agreements,
                                               given Risk Factor Group, with limited                   expanding this approach to the Risk                        contracts, and transactions, to assure the
                                               offsets in the event the Risk Factors                   Factor Group level by assuming that                        safeguarding of securities and funds
                                               exhibit positive P/LGD. Using the                       credit events associated with up to three                  which are in the custody or control of
                                               results of the above calculation, ICE                   Risk Factor Groups, different from the                     the clearing agency or for which it is
                                               Clear Europe would obtain the Risk                      ones associated with the Clearing                          responsible and, in general, to protect
                                               Factor Group level LGD. The proposed                    Members and the Risk Factors that are                      investors and the public interest.21 The
                                               approach would also include a                           in the Risk Factor Groups as the                           proposed rule change will provide for
                                               calculation which allows for the Risk                   Clearing Participants, occur during the                    the clearance and settlement of the
                                               Factor Group level LGD to be attributed                 considered risk horizon.16                                 Standard European Senior Non-
                                               to each Risk Factor within the                            Additional amendments to ICE Clear                       Preferred Financial Corporate, a new
                                               considered Risk Factor Group.12                         Europe’s Risk Model Description                            type of transaction that is similar to
                                                  In addition to these changes, ICE                    document include minor typographical                       contracts already cleared by ICE Clear
                                               Clear Europe also proposed changes to                   and technical corrections and                              Europe.
                                               the ‘‘Loss Given Default Risk Analysis’’                clarifications.17                                             Separately, as described above, the
                                               section of its Risk Model Description                                                                              proposed rule change would also
                                               document to incorporate the Risk Factor                 C. Changes to ICE Clear Europe’s CDS                       provide for certain revisions to ICE
                                               and Risk Factor Group LGD calculation                   Risk Policy                                                Clear Europe’s risk management
                                               changes described above, as well as to                     ICE Clear Europe proposed                               methodology with respect to its LGD
                                               incorporate certain conforming changes                  conforming edits to its CDS Risk Policy                    methodology. These changes entail (i)
                                               to other sections of the Risk Model                     in order to incorporate the changes                        incorporating a more consistent
                                               Description document to reflect the                     described above. Specifically, ICE Clear                   approach with respect to ICE Clear
                                               proposed Risk Factor Group analysis.13                  Europe proposed to amend the                               Europe’s recovery rate scenarios through
                                                  ICE Clear Europe also proposed                       definition of Risk Sub-Factor, as set                      the application of the same recovery rate
                                               further changes with respect to the                     forth in the CDS Risk Policy, so that it                   scenarios to risk factors that form part
                                               ‘‘Idiosyncratic Jump-to-Default                         is defined as a particular combination of                  of the same Risk Factor Group, (ii)
                                               Requirements’’ section of the Risk                      single-name reference, tier, currency,                     combining the results of the ‘‘expected’’
                                               Model Description document. As                          and documentation clause.18 In                             and ‘‘extreme’’ P/LGD outcomes in
                                               currently constructed, the portfolio                    addition, ICE Clear Europe proposed to                     order to calculate the total LGD for each
                                               jump-to-default approach collateralizes                 amend the CDS Risk Policy to provide                       Risk Factor, (iii) expanding ICE Clear
                                               the worst uncollateralized LGD                          that the worst LGD associated with a                       Europe’s LGD analysis to a new Risk
                                               (‘‘ULGD’’) exposure among all Risk                      Risk Factor Group will be used to                          Factor Group level, (iv) revising the
                                               Factors. Under the proposed changes,                    determine the JTD requirement, instead                     calculation of the Uncollateralized Loss
                                               the portfolio jump-to-default (‘‘JTD’’)                 of the worst single-name LGD, and also                     Given Default to incorporate the Risk
                                               approach would collateralize, through                   proposed amendments that would                             Factor Group level LGD approach, and
                                               the portfolio JTD initial margin                        clarify that a Risk Factor Group would                     (v) modifying ICE Clear Europe’s
                                               requirement that accounts for the Risk                  consist of a set of Risk Factors related                   Guaranty Fund Methodology to expand
                                               Factor Group-specific LGD                               by a common parental ownership.19                          the credit event analysis to include the
                                               collateralization, the worst ULGD                                                                                  Risk Factor Group approach.
                                               exposure among all Risk Factor Groups.                  III. Discussion and Commission                                Based on a review of the Notice, the
                                               The ULGD exposure for a given Risk                      Findings                                                   Commission believes that the Standard
                                               Factor Group would be calculated as a                      Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act directs                  European Senior Non-Preferred
                                               sum of the associated Risk Factor                       the Commission to approve a proposed                       Financial Corporate transaction type is
                                               ULGDs.14                                                rule change of a self-regulatory                           substantially similar to other contracts
                                                  ICE Clear Europe also proposed                       organization if it finds that such                         cleared by ICE Clear Europe. As such,
                                               certain minor edits to the Specific                     proposed rule change is consistent with                    the Commission believes that ICE Clear
                                               Wrong-Way Risk and General Wrong                        the requirements of the Act and the                        Europe’s existing clearing arrangements,
                                               Way Risk sections of the Risk Model                     rules and regulations thereunder                           and related financial safeguards
                                               Description document to update                          applicable to such organization.20 For                     (including as further modified by the
                                               language and calculation descriptions to                                                                           proposed rule change), protections and
                                                                                                       the reasons given below, the
                                               accommodate the introduction of the                                                                                risk management procedures will apply
                                                                                                       Commission finds that the proposal is
                                               Risk Factor Group to the ‘‘Idiosyncratic                                                                           to this new product on a substantially
                                                                                                       consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of
                                               Jump-to-Default Requirements’’                                                                                     similar basis to the other contracts
                                                                                                       the Act, and Rules 17Ad–22(b)(2), (b)(3),
                                               section.15                                                                                                         currently cleared by ICE Clear Europe.
                                                                                                       (e)(4)(ii), and (e)(6)(i).                                    Moreover, the Commission believes
                                                  In addition, ICE Clear Europe
                                               proposed changes to the ‘‘Guaranty                      A. Consistency With Section                                that the proposed changes to ICE Clear
                                               Fund Methodology’’ section of the Risk                  17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act                                    Europe’s risk management framework
                                               Model Description document. ICE Clear                                                                              described above will enhance the
                                                                                                         Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act
                                               Europe’s current guaranty fund                                                                                     manner by which ICE Clear Europe
                                                                                                       requires, among other things, that the
                                               methodology includes, among other                                                                                  considers and manages the risks
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                                                                                                       rules of a registered clearing agency be
                                               things, the assumption that up to three                                                                            particular to the range of contracts it
                                                                                                       designed to promote the prompt and
                                               credit events, different from the ones                                                                             clears, including the new Standard
                                                                                                         16 Id.                                                   European Senior Non-Preferred
                                                 12 Id.                                                  17 Id.   at 6911.                                        Financial Corporate contract, because
                                                 13 Id.                                                  18 Id.                                                   such changes will enable ICE Clear
                                                 14 Id.                                                  19 Id.
                                                 15 Id.                                                  20 15    U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).                              21 15   U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).



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                                               12632                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 56 / Thursday, March 22, 2018 / Notices

                                               Europe to more accurately consider the                  determine the total LGD for each Risk                 stress scenarios that include, but are not
                                               particular risks of each type of product                Factor.                                               limited to, the default of the two
                                               it clears, including security-based swap                   The LGD analysis would also be                     participant families that would
                                               products. Therefore, the Commission                     modified to group individual Risk                     potentially cause the largest aggregate
                                               finds that the proposed rule change is                  Factors into Risk Factor Groups, and                  credit exposure for the covered clearing
                                               intended to promote the prompt and                      would result in the total LGD being the               agency in extreme but plausible market
                                               accurate clearance and settlement of                    sum of the P/LGDs for each Risk Factor                conditions.27
                                               securities transactions and derivatives                 within the Risk Factor Group. The                        As described above, the proposed rule
                                               agreements, contracts, and transactions,                Commission believes that by making                    change would amend certain
                                               as well as to assure the safeguarding of                these changes, ICE Clear Europe will                  assumptions in ICE Clear Europe’s
                                               securities and funds which are in the                   augment its ability to more accurately                Guaranty Fund Methodology, and the
                                               custody or control of the clearing agency               consider the risks associated with the                calculation of the Specific Wrong Way
                                               or for which it is responsible and, in                  products it clears, including the                     Risk component of its guaranty fund, by
                                               general, to protect investors and the                   Standard European Senior Non-                         incorporating the new Risk Factor
                                               public interest, and is therefore                       Preferred Financial Corporate                         Group level analysis. Specifically, ICE
                                               consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of                 transaction type.                                     Clear Europe would expand its current
                                               the Act.22                                                 As a result, the Commission believes               approach to assume that credit events
                                                                                                       that the proposed rule change will                    used in the guaranty fund analysis occur
                                               B. Consistency With Rules 17Ad–                         facilitate the establishment of a risk-               at the Risk Factor Group level, and
                                               22(b)(2) and (e)(6)(i)                                  based margin system that considers, and               would also base the specific wrong-way
                                                  The Commission further finds that the                produces margin levels commensurate                   risk component of its Guaranty Fund
                                                                                                       with, the risks and particular attributes             Methodology on the Risk Factor Group
                                               proposed rule change is consistent with
                                                                                                       of the relevant product, portfolio, and               approach.
                                               Rules 17Ad–22(b)(2) and (e)(6)(i). Rule
                                                                                                       market, and will also enable ICE Clear                   As with the changes to the LGD
                                               17Ad–22(b)(2) requires, in relevant part,
                                                                                                       Europe to more accurately determine                   approach, the Commission believes that
                                               a registered clearing agency that
                                                                                                       and collect the amount of resources                   the proposed changes to ICE Clear
                                               performs central counterparty services
                                                                                                       necessary to limit its credit exposures               Europe’s Guaranty Fund Methodology
                                               to establish, implement, maintain and
                                                                                                       under normal market conditions,                       will permit ICE Clear Europe to more
                                               enforce written policies and procedures
                                                                                                       including credit exposures resulting                  accurately consider the particular risks
                                               reasonably designed to use margin
                                                                                                       from clearing the new transaction type,               associated with the products it clears,
                                               requirements to limit the registered
                                                                                                       through the use of risk-based models.                 including the Standard European Senior
                                               clearing agency’s credit exposures to                   Therefore the Commission finds that the               Non-Preferred Financial Corporate
                                               participants under normal market                        proposed rule change is consistent with               transaction type, that will be cleared as
                                               conditions and use risk-based models                    Rules 17Ad–22(b)(2) and (e)(6).25                     a result of the proposed changes to ICE
                                               and parameters to set margin                                                                                  Clear Europe’s CDS Procedures
                                               requirements.23 Rule 17A–d22(e)(6)(i)                   C. Consistency With Rules 17Ad–
                                                                                                                                                             described above. As a result, the
                                               requires, in relevant part, that a covered              22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii)
                                                                                                                                                             Commission believes that the proposed
                                               clearing agency that provides central                      The Commission further finds that the              changes will enable ICE Clear Europe to
                                               counterparty services establish,                        proposed rule change is consistent with               more accurately measure the risks of
                                               implement, maintain and enforce                         Rules 17Ad–22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii). Rule              associated with the products it clears
                                               written policies and procedures                         17Ad–22(b)(3) requires, in relevant part,             and thereby improve ICE Clear Europe’s
                                               reasonably designed to cover its credit                 a registered clearing agency that                     ability to collect and maintain the level
                                               exposures to its participants by                        performs central counterparty services                of financial resources necessary to cover
                                               establishing a risk-based margin system                 to establish, implement, maintain and                 a wide range of foreseeable stress
                                               that, at a minimum, considers, and                      enforce written policies and procedures               scenarios that include, but are not
                                               produces margin levels commensurate                     that are reasonably designed to maintain              limited to, the default of the two
                                               with, the risks and particular attributes               sufficient financial resources to                     participant families that would
                                               of each relevant product, portfolio, and                withstand, at a minimum, a default by                 potentially cause the largest aggregate
                                               market.24                                               the two participant families to which it              credit exposure under extreme but
                                                  As described above, the proposed                     has the largest exposures in extreme but              plausible market conditions. Therefore,
                                               changes would (i) amend the manner in                   plausible market conditions.26 Rule                   the Commission finds that the proposed
                                               which ICE Clear Europe calculates its                   17Ad–22(e)(4)(ii) requires, in relevant               rule change is consistent with Rules
                                               Risk Factor-level LGD, (ii) expand the                  part, that a covered clearing agency                  17Ad–22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii).28
                                               LGD analysis to the Risk Factor Group                   establish, implement, maintain and                       Section 19(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the Act
                                               level, and (iii) amend the approach to                  enforce written policies and procedures               allows the Commission to approve a
                                               calculating the Uncollateralized LGD to                 reasonably designed to effectively                    proposed rule change earlier than 30
                                               incorporate the Risk Factor Group level                 identify, measure, monitor, and manage                days after the date of publication of the
                                               approach. Specifically, ICE Clear Europe                its credit exposures to participants and              notice of the proposed rule change
                                               would calculate, for each Risk Factor, an               those arising from its payment, clearing,             where the Commission finds good cause
                                               extreme outcome as the sum of the                       and settlement processes, including by,               for so doing and publishes the reason
                                               worst Risk Sub-factor P/LGDs across all                 for covered clearing agencies that are                for the finding.29 The Commission finds
                                               scenarios, and an expected outcome as                   clearing agencies involved in activities              good cause, pursuant to Section
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                                               the worst sum of all Risk Sub-factor P/                 with a more complex risk profile,                     19(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the Act, for approving
                                               LGDs using the same scenarios, and                      maintaining additional financial                      the proposed rule change on an
                                               then add the two components to                          resources at the minimum to enable it                 accelerated basis prior to the 30th day
                                                                                                       to cover a wide range of foreseeable
                                                 22 Id.                                                                                                        27 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(4)(ii).
                                                 23 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(2).                            25 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(2) and (e)(6)(i).            28 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(3) and (e)(4)(ii).
                                                 24 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(6)(i).                         26 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(3).                          29 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C)(iii).




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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 56 / Thursday, March 22, 2018 / Notices                                                  12633

                                               after the date of publication of the                     Time’’) pursuant to Rule 161 of the                   and Exchange Commission
                                               notice in the Federal Register in order                  Commission’s Rules of Practice 1 to                   (‘‘Commission’’) pursuant to Section
                                               to facilitate the clearing of the Standard               extend to April 12, 2018, the time                    11A of the of the Securities Exchange
                                               European Senior Non-Preferred                            previously provided for the in the                    Act of 1934 1 (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’) and
                                               Financial Corporate transaction type,                    Commission’s March 1, 2018, Order                     Rule 608 thereunder,2 Amendment No.
                                               which the Commission understands                         Granting Petitions for Review and                     4 to the CAT NMS Plan to add a fee
                                               market participants will commence                        Scheduling Filing of Statements.2 On                  schedule to the CAT NMS Plan that
                                               trading beginning on March 20, 2018 30                   March 15, 2018, Cboe BZX Exchange,                    would set forth fees to be paid by the
                                               and which are tied to European capital                   Inc. filed a response stating that it does            Participants to fund the Consolidated
                                               and resolution regulations.                              not object to the Motion for an                       Audit Trail.3 A Notice of Filing and
                                                                                                        Extension of Time.                                    Immediate Effectiveness of Amendment
                                               IV. Conclusion                                             Extensions of time are disfavored                   No. 4 was published for comment in the
                                                  On the basis of the foregoing, the                    absent a showing of good cause. It                    Federal Register on January 11, 2018.4
                                               Commission finds that the proposed                       appears appropriate to grant the                         The Commission is publishing this
                                               rule change is consistent with the                       requested extension. Therefore,                       notice to reflect that on January 11,
                                               requirements of the Act and in                             It is Ordered, that the Motion for an               2018, prior to the end of the 60-day
                                               particular with the requirements of                      Extension of Time is hereby Granted.                  period provided for in Exchange Act
                                               Section 17A of the Act,31 and Rules                      The time for any party or other person                Rule 608(b)(iii), the Participants
                                               17Ad–22(b)(2), (b)((3), (e)(4)(ii), and                  to file a statement in support of or in               withdrew the Amendment.5
                                               (e)(6)(i) thereunder.32                                  opposition to the action made pursuant
                                                                                                                                                                By the Commission.
                                                  It Is Therefore Ordered pursuant to                   to delegated authority is extended from
                                               Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 33 that the                  March 22, 2018 to April 12, 2018.                     Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               proposed rule change (SR–ICEEU–2018–                                                                           Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                          For the Commission, by its Secretary,
                                               002) be, and hereby is, approved on an                   pursuant to delegated authority.3                     [FR Doc. 2018–05790 Filed 3–21–18; 8:45 am]
                                               accelerated basis.34                                     Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P

                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of                 Assistant Secretary.
                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated               [FR Doc. 2018–05791 Filed 3–21–18; 8:45 am]
                                               authority.35                                                                                                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                COMMISSION
                                               Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                              [Release No. 34–82895; File No. SR-
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–05793 Filed 3–21–18; 8:45 am]              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               CboeBZX–2018–020]
                                               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                   COMMISSION
                                                                                                        [Release No. 34–82892; File No. 4–698]                Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
                                                                                                                                                              BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing
                                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                  Joint Industry Plan; Notice of                        and Immediate Effectiveness of a
                                               COMMISSION                                               Withdrawal of Amendment No. 4 to the                  Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its
                                               [Release No. 82896]                                      National Market System Plan                           Listing Rules Under Rule
                                                                                                        Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail                14.11(d)(2)(K)(i) Related to Equity
                                               Order Granting Motion for Extension of                                                                         Index-Linked Securities
                                               Time                                                     March 16, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                              March 16, 2018.
                                                                                                        I. Introduction
                                               March 16, 2018.                                                                                                   Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                 In the Matter of the Cboe BZX Exchange,                   On December 11, 2017, the Operating                Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                               Inc. for an Order Granting the Approval of               Committee for CAT NMS, LLC (the                       (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                               Proposed Rule Change to Introduce Cboe                   ‘‘Company’’), on behalf of the parties to             notice is hereby given that on March 8,
                                               Market Close, a Closing Match Process for                the National Market System Plan                       2018, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
                                               Non-BZX Listed Securities under New                      Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail                (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with the
                                               Exchange Rule 11.28 (File No. SR–BatsBZX–                (the ‘‘CAT NMS Plan’’): BOX Options
                                               2017–34); Securities Exchange Act Of 1934.
                                                                                                                                                              Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                                                                        Exchange LLC, Cboe BYX Exchange,                      (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                 On March 9, 2018, The Nasdaq Stock                     Inc., Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., Cboe                   change as described in Items I and II
                                               Market LLC and NYSE Group, Inc. filed                    EDGA Exchange, Inc., Cboe EDGX                        below, which Items have been prepared
                                               a Motion for an Extension of Time to                     Exchange, Inc., Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc.,               by the Exchange. The Exchange has
                                               File Statements in Opposition to the                     Cboe Exchange, Inc., Chicago Stock                    designated this proposal as a ‘‘non-
                                               Action Made Pursuant to Delegated                        Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry                    controversial’’ proposed rule change
                                               Authority (‘‘Motion for an Extension of                  Regulatory Authority, Inc., Investors’                pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the
                                                                                                        Exchange LLC, Miami International                     Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii)
                                                  30 See IHS Markit iTraxx Europe Rule
                                                                                                        Securities Exchange, LLC, MIAX
                                               Announcement, February 6, 2018 (stating that for
                                               iTraxx Europe Series 29, for French bank OpCos
                                                                                                        PEARL, LLC, Nasdaq BX, Inc., Nasdaq                     1 15 U.S.C. 78k–1.
                                               that qualify for inclusion in the index, the senior      GEMX, LLC, Nasdaq ISE, LLC, Nasdaq                      2 17 CFR 242.608.
                                               non-preferred reference obligations will be selected     MRX, LLC, Nasdaq PHLX LLC, The                          3 See Letter from Michael Simon, Chair, CAT

                                               if available).                                           Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, New York                     NMS Plan Operating Committee, to Brent J. Fields,
                                                  31 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.                                                                                         Secretary, Commission, dated December 11, 2017.
                                                                                                        Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE American,
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                                                  32 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(2), (b)(3), (e)(4)(ii) and                                                           4 See Exchange Act Release No. 82451 (January 5,

                                               (e)(6)(i).
                                                                                                        LLC and NYSE Arca, Inc., (the                         2018), 83 FR 1399 (January 11, 2018).
                                                  33 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).                               ‘‘Participants’’) filed with the Securities             5 See Letter from Michael Simon, Chair, CAT

                                                  34 In approving the proposed rule change, the                                                               NMS Plan Operating Committee, to Brent J. Fields,
                                               Commission considered the proposal’s impact on             1 17   CFR 201.161.                                 Secretary, Commission, dated January 10, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                                1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                               efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15         2 Exchange   Act Release No. 82794 (March 1,
                                               U.S.C. 78c(f).                                           2018).                                                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                  35 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                              3 17 CFR 200.30–7(a)(4).                              3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).




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Document Created: 2018-03-22 01:24:50
Document Modified: 2018-03-22 01:24:50
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 12630 

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