83_FR_23676 83 FR 23577 - Foreign Futures and Options Transactions

83 FR 23577 - Foreign Futures and Options Transactions

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 99 (May 22, 2018)

Page Range23577-23579
FR Document2018-10902

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is granting an exemption to certain member firms designated by the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) from the application of certain of the Commission's foreign futures and option regulations based upon substituted compliance with certain comparable regulatory and self-regulatory requirements of a foreign regulatory authority consistent with conditions specified by the Commission, as set forth herein. This Order is issued pursuant to Commission Regulation 30.10, which permit persons to file a petition with the Commission for exemption from the application of certain of the Regulations set forth in part 30 and authorizes the Commission to grant such an exemption if such action would not be otherwise contrary to the public interest or to the purposes of the provision from which exemption is sought. The Commission notes that this Order does not pertain to any transaction in swaps, as defined in Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act (Act).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23577-23579]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10902]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 30


Foreign Futures and Options Transactions

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Order.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) 
is granting an exemption to certain member firms designated by the 
National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) from the application of 
certain of the Commission's foreign futures and option regulations 
based upon substituted compliance with certain comparable regulatory 
and self-regulatory requirements of a foreign regulatory authority 
consistent with conditions specified by the Commission, as set forth 
herein. This Order is issued pursuant to Commission Regulation 30.10, 
which permit persons to file a petition with the Commission for 
exemption from the application of certain of the Regulations set forth 
in part 30 and authorizes the Commission to grant such an exemption if 
such action would not be otherwise contrary to the public interest or 
to the purposes of the provision from which exemption is sought. The 
Commission notes that this Order does not pertain to any transaction in 
swaps, as defined in Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act 
(Act).

DATES: Effective May 22, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew V. Chapin, Associate Chief 
Counsel, (202) 418-5465, [email protected], or Scott W. Lee, Special 
Counsel, (202) 418-5090, [email protected], Division of Swap Dealer and 
Intermediary Oversight, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 1155 21st 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has issued the following 
Order:

Order Under CFTC Regulation 30.10 Exempting Firms Designated by the 
National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) From the Application of 
Certain of the Foreign Futures and Option Regulations the Later of the 
Date of Publication of the Order Herein in the Federal Register or 
After Filing of Consents by Such Firms and NSE, as Appropriate, to the 
Terms and Conditions of the Order Herein.

    Commission Regulations governing the offer and sale of commodity 
futures and option contracts traded on or subject to the regulations of 
a foreign board of trade to customers located in the U.S. are contained 
in part 30 of the Commission's regulations.\1\ These regulations 
include requirements for intermediaries with respect to registration, 
disclosure, capital adequacy, protection of customer funds, 
recordkeeping and reporting, and sales practice and compliance 
procedures that are generally comparable to those applicable to 
transactions on U.S. markets.
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    \1\ Commission regulations referred to herein are found at 17 
CFR Chapter I.
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    In formulating a regulatory program to govern the offer and sale of 
foreign futures and option products to customers located in the U.S., 
the Commission, among other things, considered the desirability of 
ameliorating the potential impact of such a program. Based upon these 
considerations, the Commission determined to permit persons located 
outside the U.S. and subject to a comparable regulatory structure in 
the jurisdiction in which they were located to seek an exemption from 
certain of the requirements under part 30 of the Commission's 
regulations based upon substituted compliance with the regulatory 
requirements of the foreign jurisdiction.\2\
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    \2\ ``Foreign Futures and Foreign Options Transactions,'' 52 FR 
28290 (Aug. 5, 1987).
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    Appendix A to part 30, ``Interpretative Statement With Respect to 
the Commission's Exemptive Authority Under Sec.  30.10 of Its Rules'' 
(Appendix A), generally sets forth the elements the Commission will 
evaluate in determining whether a particular regulatory program may be 
found to be comparable for purposes of exemptive relief pursuant to 
Regulation 30.10.\3\ These elements include: (1) registration, 
authorization or other form of licensing, fitness review or 
qualification of persons that solicit and accept customer orders; (2) 
minimum financial requirements for those persons who accept customer 
funds; (3) protection of customer funds from misapplication; (4) 
recordkeeping and reporting requirements; (5) sales practice standards; 
(6) procedures to audit for compliance with, and to take action against 
those persons who violate, the requirements of the program; and (7) 
information sharing arrangements between the Commission and the 
appropriate governmental and/or self-regulatory organization to ensure 
Commission access on an ``as needed'' basis to information essential to 
maintaining standards of customer and market protection within the U.S.
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    \3\ 52 FR 28990, 29001.
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    Moreover, the Commission specifically stated in adopting Regulation 
30.10 that no exemption of a general nature would be granted unless the 
persons to whom the exemption is to be applied: (1) submit to 
jurisdiction in the U.S. by designating an agent for service of process 
in the U.S. with

[[Page 23578]]

respect to transactions subject to part 30 and filing a copy of the 
agency agreement with the National Futures Association (NFA); (2) agree 
to provide access to their books and records in the U.S. to the 
Commission and Department of Justice representatives; and (3) notify 
NFA of the commencement of business in the U.S.\4\
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    \4\ 52 FR 28980, 28981 and 29002.
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    On August 2, 2007, NSE petitioned the Commission on behalf of its 
member firms, located and conducting a financial investment business in 
the Republic of India, for an exemption from the application of the 
Commission's part 30 Regulations to those firms. NSE amended its 
petition on various occasions with additional information. In support 
of its petition, NSE stated that granting such an exemption with 
respect to such firms that it has authorized to conduct foreign futures 
and option transactions on behalf of customers located in the U.S. 
would not be contrary to the public interest or to the purposes of the 
provisions from which the exemption is sought because such firms are 
subject to a regulatory framework comparable to that imposed by the Act 
and the regulations thereunder.
    Based upon a review of the petition, supplementary materials filed 
by NSE, the Commission has concluded that the standards for relief set 
forth in Regulation 30.10 and, in particular, Appendix A thereof, have 
been met and that compliance with applicable Indian law and NSE rules 
may be substituted for compliance with those sections of the Act and 
regulations thereunder more particularly set forth herein.
    By this Order, the Commission hereby exempts, subject to specified 
conditions, those firms identified to the Commission by NSE as eligible 
for the relief granted herein from:
     Registration with the Commission for firms and for firm 
representatives;
     The requirement in Commission Regulation 30.6(a) and (d), 
17 CFR 30.6(a) and (d), that firms provide customers located in the 
U.S. with the risk disclosure statements in Commission Regulation 
1.55(b), 17 CFR 1.55(b), and Commission Regulation 33.7, 17 CFR 33.7, 
or as otherwise approved under Commission Regulation 1.55(c), 17 CFR 
1.55(c);
     The separate account requirement contained in Commission 
Regulation 30.7, 17 CFR 30.7;
     Those sections of part 1 of the Commission's financial 
regulations that apply to foreign futures and options sold in the U.S. 
as set forth in part 30; and
     Those sections of part 1 of the Commission's regulations 
relating to books and records which apply to transactions subject to 
part 30,

based upon substituted compliance by such persons with the applicable 
statutes and regulations in effect in India.
    This determination to permit substituted compliance is based on, 
among other things, the Commission's finding that the regulatory 
framework governing persons in India who would be exempted hereunder 
provides:
    (1) A system of qualification or authorization of firms who deal in 
transactions subject to regulation under part 30 that includes, for 
example, criteria and procedures for granting, monitoring, suspending 
and revoking licenses, and provisions for requiring and obtaining 
access to information about authorized firms and persons who act on 
behalf of such firms;
    (2) Financial requirements for firms including, without limitation, 
a requirement for a minimum level of working capital and daily mark-to-
market settlement and/or accounting procedures;
    (3) A system for the protection of customer assets that is designed 
to preclude the use of customer assets to satisfy house obligations and 
requires separate accounting for such assets;
    (4) Recordkeeping and reporting requirements pertaining to 
financial and trade information;
    (5) Sales practice standards for authorized firms and persons 
acting on their behalf that include, for example, required disclosures 
to prospective customers and prohibitions on improper trading advice;
    (6) Procedures to audit for compliance with, and to redress 
violations of, the customer protection and sales practice requirements 
referred to above, including, without limitation, an affirmative 
surveillance program designed to detect trading activities that take 
advantage of customers, and the existence of broad powers of 
investigation relating to sales practice abuses; and
    (7) Mechanisms for sharing of information between the Commission, 
NSE and the Indian regulatory authorities on an ``as needed'' basis 
including, without limitation, confirmation data, data necessary to 
trace funds related to trading futures products subject to regulation 
in India, position data, and data on firms' standing to do business and 
financial condition.
    Commission staff has concluded, upon review of the petition of NSE 
and accompanying exhibits, that NSE's regulation of financial futures 
and options intermediaries is comparable to that of the U.S. in the 
areas specified in Appendix A of part 30, as described above.
    This Order does not provide an exemption from any provision of the 
Act or regulations thereunder not specified herein, such as the 
antifraud provision in Regulation 30.9. Moreover, the relief granted is 
limited to brokerage activities undertaken on behalf of customers 
located in the U.S. with respect to transactions entered on or subject 
to the rules of NSE for products that customers located in the U.S. may 
trade.\5\ The relief does not extend to regulations relating to 
trading, directly or indirectly, on U.S. exchanges, and does not 
pertain to any transaction in swaps, as defined in Section 1a(47) of 
the Act. For example, a NSE member trading in U.S. markets for its own 
account would be subject to the Commission's large trader reporting 
requirements.\6\ Similarly, if such a firm were carrying positions on a 
U.S. exchange on behalf of foreign clients and submitted such 
transactions for clearing on an omnibus basis through a firm registered 
as a futures commission merchant under the Act, it would be subject to 
the reporting requirements applicable to foreign brokers.\7\ The relief 
herein is inapplicable where the firm solicits or accepts orders from 
customers located in the U.S. for transactions on U.S. markets. In that 
case, the firm must comply with all applicable U.S. laws and 
regulations, including the requirement to register in the appropriate 
capacity.
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    \5\ See, e.g., Sections 2(a)(1)(C) and (D) of the Act.
    \6\ See, e.g., 17 CFR part 18.
    \7\ See, e.g., 17 CFR parts 17 and 21.
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    The eligibility of any firm to seek relief under this exemptive 
Order is subject to the following conditions:
    (1) The NSE, as the self-regulatory organization responsible for 
monitoring the compliance of such firms with the regulatory 
requirements described in the Regulation 30.10 petition, must represent 
in writing to the Commission that:
    (a) Each firm for which relief is sought is registered, licensed or 
authorized, as appropriate, and is otherwise in good standing under the 
standards in place in India; such firm is engaged in business with 
customers located in India as well as in the U.S.; and such firm and 
its principals and employees who engage in activities subject to part 
30 would not be statutorily disqualified from registration under 
Section 8a(2) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 12a(2);

[[Page 23579]]

    (b) It will monitor firms to which relief is granted for compliance 
with the regulatory requirements for which substituted compliance is 
accepted and will promptly notify the Commission or NFA of any change 
in status of a firm that would affect its continued eligibility for the 
exemption granted hereunder, including the termination of its 
activities in the U.S.;
    (c) All transactions with respect to customers located in the U.S. 
will be made subject to the regulations of NSE;
    (d) It will provide the Commission with prompt notice of all 
material changes to the relevant laws in India, any rules promulgated 
thereunder, and NSE rules, including, but not limited to NSE's 
authorization, licensure or registration, as applicable;
    (e) Customers located in the U.S. will be provided no less 
stringent regulatory protection than India customers under all relevant 
provisions of Indian law; and
    (f) It will cooperate with the Commission with respect to any 
inquiries concerning any activity subject to regulation under the part 
30 Regulations, including sharing the information specified in Appendix 
A on an ``as needed'' basis and will use its best efforts to notify the 
Commission if it becomes aware of any information that in its judgment 
affects the financial or operational viability of a member firm doing 
business in the U.S. under the exemption granted by this Order.
    (2) Each firm seeking relief hereunder must represent in writing 
that it:
    (a) Is located outside the U.S., its territories and possessions 
and, where applicable, has subsidiaries or affiliates domiciled in the 
U.S. with a related business (e.g., banks and broker/dealer affiliates) 
along with a brief description of each subsidiary's or affiliate's 
identity and principal business in the U.S.;
    (b) Consents to jurisdiction in the U.S. under the Act by filing a 
valid and binding appointment of an agent in the U.S. for service of 
process in accordance with the requirements set forth in Regulation 
30.5;
    (c) Agrees to provide access to its books and records related to 
transactions under part 30 required to be maintained under the 
applicable statutes and regulations in effect in India upon the request 
of any representative of the Commission or U.S. Department of Justice 
at the place in the U.S. designated by such representative, within 72 
hours, or such lesser period of time as specified by that 
representative as may be reasonable under the circumstances after 
notice of the request;
    (d) Has no principal or employee who solicits or accepts orders 
from customers located in the U.S. who would be disqualified under 
Section 8a(2) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), from doing business in the 
U.S.;
    (e) Consents to participate in any NFA arbitration program that 
offers a procedure for resolving customer disputes on the papers where 
such disputes involve representations or activities with respect to 
transactions under part 30, and consents to notify customers located in 
the U.S. of the availability of such a program; provided, however, that 
the firm may require its customers located in the U.S. to execute a 
consent concerning the exhaustion of certain mediation or conciliation 
procedures made available by NSE prior to bringing an NFA arbitration 
proceeding; and
    (f) Undertakes to comply with the applicable provisions of Indian 
laws and NSE rules that form the basis upon which this exemption from 
certain provisions of the Act and regulations thereunder is granted.
    As set forth in the Commission's September 11, 1997 Order 
delegating to NFA certain responsibilities, the written representations 
set forth in paragraph (2) shall be filed with NFA.\8\ Each firm 
seeking relief hereunder has an ongoing obligation to notify NFA should 
there be a material change to any of the representations required in 
the firm's application for relief.
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    \8\ 62 FR 47792, 47793 (Sept. 11, 1997). Among other duties, the 
Commission authorized NFA to receive requests for confirmation of 
Regulation 30.10 relief on behalf of particular firms, to verify 
such firms' fitness and compliance with the conditions of the 
appropriate Regulation 30.10 Order and to grant exemptive relief 
from registration to qualifying firms.
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    This Order will become effective as to any designated NSE firm the 
later of the date of publication of the Order in the Federal Register 
or the filing of the consents set forth in paragraphs (2)(a)-(f). Upon 
filing of the notice required under paragraph (1)(b) as to any such 
firm, the relief granted by this Order may be suspended immediately as 
to that firm. That suspension will remain in effect pending further 
notice by the Commission, or the Commission's designee, to the firm and 
NSE.
    This Order is issued pursuant to Regulation 30.10 based on the 
representations made and supporting material provided to the Commission 
and the recommendation of the staff, and is made effective as to any 
firm granted relief hereunder based upon the filings and 
representations of such firms required hereunder. Any material changes 
or omissions in the facts and circumstances pursuant to which this 
Order is granted might require the Commission to reconsider its finding 
that the standards for relief set forth in Regulation 30.10 and, in 
particular, Appendix A, have been met. Further, if experience 
demonstrates that the continued effectiveness of this Order in general, 
or with respect to a particular firm, would be contrary to public 
policy or the public interest, or that the systems in place for the 
exchange of information or other circumstances do not warrant 
continuation of the exemptive relief granted herein, the Commission may 
condition, modify, suspend, terminate, withhold as to a specific firm, 
or otherwise restrict the exemptive relief granted in this Order, as 
appropriate, on its own motion.
    The Commission will continue to monitor the implementation of its 
program to exempt firms located in jurisdictions generally deemed to 
have a comparable regulatory program from the application of certain of 
the foreign futures and option regulations and will make necessary 
adjustments if appropriate.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2018, by the Commission.
Robert Sidman,
Deputy Secretary of the Commission.

Appendix to Foreign Futures and Options Transactions--Commission Voting 
Summary

    On this matter, Chairman Giancarlo and Commissioners Quintenz 
and Behnam voted in the affirmative. No Commissioner voted in the 
negative.

[FR Doc. 2018-10902 Filed 5-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6351-01-P



                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                                  23577

                                           December 15, 2016, correction dated January             ACTION:   Order.                                      adequacy, protection of customer funds,
                                           4, 2017, for related information. You may                                                                     recordkeeping and reporting, and sales
                                           examine the MCAI on the internet at: https://           SUMMARY:    The Commodity Futures                     practice and compliance procedures
                                           www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-                     Trading Commission (Commission or                     that are generally comparable to those
                                           2017-0158-0002.                                         CFTC) is granting an exemption to                     applicable to transactions on U.S.
                                           (i) Material Incorporated by Reference                  certain member firms designated by the                markets.
                                              (1) The Director of the Federal Register             National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.                    In formulating a regulatory program to
                                           approved the incorporation by reference                 (NSE) from the application of certain of              govern the offer and sale of foreign
                                           (IBR) of the service information listed in this         the Commission’s foreign futures and                  futures and option products to
                                           paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR               option regulations based upon                         customers located in the U.S., the
                                           part 51.                                                substituted compliance with certain                   Commission, among other things,
                                              (2) You must use this service information            comparable regulatory and self-
                                           as applicable to do the actions required by
                                                                                                                                                         considered the desirability of
                                                                                                   regulatory requirements of a foreign                  ameliorating the potential impact of
                                           this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.             regulatory authority consistent with
                                              (3) The following service information was                                                                  such a program. Based upon these
                                           approved for IBR on June 29, 2017 (82 FR                conditions specified by the                           considerations, the Commission
                                           24015; May 25, 2017).                                   Commission, as set forth herein. This                 determined to permit persons located
                                              (i) Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH Technische                Order is issued pursuant to Commission                outside the U.S. and subject to a
                                           Mitteilung (English translation: Service                Regulation 30.10, which permit persons                comparable regulatory structure in the
                                           Bulletin), Nr. 4600–6, Ausgabe 1 (English               to file a petition with the Commission                jurisdiction in which they were located
                                           translation: Issue 1), dated November 16,               for exemption from the application of
                                           2016.
                                                                                                                                                         to seek an exemption from certain of the
                                                                                                   certain of the Regulations set forth in               requirements under part 30 of the
                                              (ii) Reserved.                                       part 30 and authorizes the Commission
                                              Note 2 to paragraph (i)(3)(i) of this AD:
                                                                                                                                                         Commission’s regulations based upon
                                                                                                   to grant such an exemption if such                    substituted compliance with the
                                           This service information contains German to             action would not be otherwise contrary
                                           English translation. The EASA used the                                                                        regulatory requirements of the foreign
                                           English translation in referencing the                  to the public interest or to the purposes             jurisdiction.2
                                           document. For enforceability purposes, we               of the provision from which exemption                    Appendix A to part 30, ‘‘Interpretative
                                           will refer to the Solo Kleinmotoren service             is sought. The Commission notes that                  Statement With Respect to the
                                           information as it appears on the document.              this Order does not pertain to any                    Commission’s Exemptive Authority
                                              (4) For service information identified in            transaction in swaps, as defined in                   Under § 30.10 of Its Rules’’ (Appendix
                                           this AD, contact Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH,                Section 1a(47) of the Commodity                       A), generally sets forth the elements the
                                           Postfach 600152, 71050 Sindelfingen,                    Exchange Act (Act).                                   Commission will evaluate in
                                           Germany; telephone: +49 703 1301–0; fax:                DATES: Effective May 22, 2018.
                                           +49 703 1301–136; email: aircraft@solo-                                                                       determining whether a particular
                                           germany.com; internet: http://aircraft.solo-            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      regulatory program may be found to be
                                           online.com.                                             Andrew V. Chapin, Associate Chief                     comparable for purposes of exemptive
                                              (5) You may view this service information            Counsel, (202) 418–5465, achapin@                     relief pursuant to Regulation 30.10.3
                                           at FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901             cftc.gov, or Scott W. Lee, Special                    These elements include: (1) registration,
                                           Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For                Counsel, (202) 418–5090, slee@cftc.gov,               authorization or other form of licensing,
                                           information on the availability of this                 Division of Swap Dealer and                           fitness review or qualification of
                                           material at the FAA, call 816–329–4148. In              Intermediary Oversight, Commodity
                                           addition, you can access this service
                                                                                                                                                         persons that solicit and accept customer
                                           information on the internet at http://
                                                                                                   Futures Trading Commission, 1155 21st                 orders; (2) minimum financial
                                           www.regulations.gov by searching for and                Street NW, Washington, DC 20581.                      requirements for those persons who
                                           locating Docket No. FAA–2018–0093.                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                        accept customer funds; (3) protection of
                                              (6) You may view this service information            Commission has issued the following                   customer funds from misapplication; (4)
                                           that is incorporated by reference at the                Order:                                                recordkeeping and reporting
                                           National Archives and Records                                                                                 requirements; (5) sales practice
                                           Administration (NARA). For information on               Order Under CFTC Regulation 30.10
                                                                                                                                                         standards; (6) procedures to audit for
                                           the availability of this material at NARA, call         Exempting Firms Designated by the
                                           202–741–6030, or go to: http://                                                                               compliance with, and to take action
                                                                                                   National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.
                                           www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-                                                                    against those persons who violate, the
                                                                                                   (NSE) From the Application of Certain
                                           locations.html                                                                                                requirements of the program; and (7)
                                                                                                   of the Foreign Futures and Option
                                             Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May                                                                     information sharing arrangements
                                                                                                   Regulations the Later of the Date of
                                           11, 2018.                                                                                                     between the Commission and the
                                                                                                   Publication of the Order Herein in the
                                           Melvin J. Johnson,                                                                                            appropriate governmental and/or self-
                                                                                                   Federal Register or After Filing of
                                                                                                                                                         regulatory organization to ensure
                                           Aircraft Certification Service, Deputy                  Consents by Such Firms and NSE, as
                                           Director, Policy and Innovation Division,                                                                     Commission access on an ‘‘as needed’’
                                                                                                   Appropriate, to the Terms and
                                           AIR–601.                                                                                                      basis to information essential to
                                                                                                   Conditions of the Order Herein.
                                           [FR Doc. 2018–10583 Filed 5–21–18; 8:45 am]                                                                   maintaining standards of customer and
                                                                                                     Commission Regulations governing                    market protection within the U.S.
                                           BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
                                                                                                   the offer and sale of commodity futures                  Moreover, the Commission
                                                                                                   and option contracts traded on or                     specifically stated in adopting
                                                                                                   subject to the regulations of a foreign               Regulation 30.10 that no exemption of a
                                           COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING                               board of trade to customers located in                general nature would be granted unless
                                           COMMISSION                                              the U.S. are contained in part 30 of the              the persons to whom the exemption is
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES




                                           17 CFR Part 30                                          Commission’s regulations.1 These                      to be applied: (1) submit to jurisdiction
                                                                                                   regulations include requirements for                  in the U.S. by designating an agent for
                                           Foreign Futures and Options                             intermediaries with respect to                        service of process in the U.S. with
                                           Transactions                                            registration, disclosure, capital
                                                                                                                                                           2 ‘‘Foreign Futures and Foreign Options
                                           AGENCY:Commodity Futures Trading                          1 Commission  regulations referred to herein are    Transactions,’’ 52 FR 28290 (Aug. 5, 1987).
                                           Commission.                                             found at 17 CFR Chapter I.                              3 52 FR 28990, 29001.




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                                           23578                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                           respect to transactions subject to part 30                  • Those sections of part 1 of the                  accompanying exhibits, that NSE’s
                                           and filing a copy of the agency                          Commission’s regulations relating to                  regulation of financial futures and
                                           agreement with the National Futures                      books and records which apply to                      options intermediaries is comparable to
                                           Association (NFA); (2) agree to provide                  transactions subject to part 30,                      that of the U.S. in the areas specified in
                                           access to their books and records in the                 based upon substituted compliance by                  Appendix A of part 30, as described
                                           U.S. to the Commission and Department                    such persons with the applicable                      above.
                                           of Justice representatives; and (3) notify               statutes and regulations in effect in                    This Order does not provide an
                                           NFA of the commencement of business                      India.                                                exemption from any provision of the
                                           in the U.S.4                                                This determination to permit                       Act or regulations thereunder not
                                              On August 2, 2007, NSE petitioned                     substituted compliance is based on,                   specified herein, such as the antifraud
                                           the Commission on behalf of its member                   among other things, the Commission’s                  provision in Regulation 30.9. Moreover,
                                           firms, located and conducting a                          finding that the regulatory framework                 the relief granted is limited to brokerage
                                           financial investment business in the                     governing persons in India who would                  activities undertaken on behalf of
                                           Republic of India, for an exemption                      be exempted hereunder provides:                       customers located in the U.S. with
                                           from the application of the                                 (1) A system of qualification or                   respect to transactions entered on or
                                           Commission’s part 30 Regulations to                      authorization of firms who deal in                    subject to the rules of NSE for products
                                           those firms. NSE amended its petition                    transactions subject to regulation under              that customers located in the U.S. may
                                           on various occasions with additional                     part 30 that includes, for example,                   trade.5 The relief does not extend to
                                           information. In support of its petition,                 criteria and procedures for granting,                 regulations relating to trading, directly
                                           NSE stated that granting such an                                                                               or indirectly, on U.S. exchanges, and
                                                                                                    monitoring, suspending and revoking
                                           exemption with respect to such firms                                                                           does not pertain to any transaction in
                                                                                                    licenses, and provisions for requiring
                                           that it has authorized to conduct foreign                                                                      swaps, as defined in Section 1a(47) of
                                                                                                    and obtaining access to information
                                           futures and option transactions on                                                                             the Act. For example, a NSE member
                                                                                                    about authorized firms and persons who
                                           behalf of customers located in the U.S.                                                                        trading in U.S. markets for its own
                                                                                                    act on behalf of such firms;
                                           would not be contrary to the public                                                                            account would be subject to the
                                                                                                       (2) Financial requirements for firms
                                           interest or to the purposes of the                                                                             Commission’s large trader reporting
                                                                                                    including, without limitation, a
                                           provisions from which the exemption is                                                                         requirements.6 Similarly, if such a firm
                                                                                                    requirement for a minimum level of
                                           sought because such firms are subject to                                                                       were carrying positions on a U.S.
                                                                                                    working capital and daily mark-to-
                                           a regulatory framework comparable to                                                                           exchange on behalf of foreign clients
                                                                                                    market settlement and/or accounting
                                           that imposed by the Act and the                                                                                and submitted such transactions for
                                                                                                    procedures;
                                           regulations thereunder.                                                                                        clearing on an omnibus basis through a
                                                                                                       (3) A system for the protection of
                                              Based upon a review of the petition,                                                                        firm registered as a futures commission
                                                                                                    customer assets that is designed to
                                           supplementary materials filed by NSE,                                                                          merchant under the Act, it would be
                                                                                                    preclude the use of customer assets to
                                           the Commission has concluded that the                                                                          subject to the reporting requirements
                                                                                                    satisfy house obligations and requires
                                           standards for relief set forth in                                                                              applicable to foreign brokers.7 The relief
                                                                                                    separate accounting for such assets;
                                           Regulation 30.10 and, in particular,                                                                           herein is inapplicable where the firm
                                                                                                       (4) Recordkeeping and reporting
                                           Appendix A thereof, have been met and                                                                          solicits or accepts orders from
                                                                                                    requirements pertaining to financial and
                                           that compliance with applicable Indian                                                                         customers located in the U.S. for
                                                                                                    trade information;
                                           law and NSE rules may be substituted                                                                           transactions on U.S. markets. In that
                                                                                                       (5) Sales practice standards for
                                           for compliance with those sections of                                                                          case, the firm must comply with all
                                                                                                    authorized firms and persons acting on
                                           the Act and regulations thereunder more                                                                        applicable U.S. laws and regulations,
                                                                                                    their behalf that include, for example,
                                           particularly set forth herein.                                                                                 including the requirement to register in
                                              By this Order, the Commission hereby                  required disclosures to prospective
                                                                                                                                                          the appropriate capacity.
                                           exempts, subject to specified conditions,                customers and prohibitions on improper                   The eligibility of any firm to seek
                                           those firms identified to the                            trading advice;                                       relief under this exemptive Order is
                                           Commission by NSE as eligible for the                       (6) Procedures to audit for compliance             subject to the following conditions:
                                           relief granted herein from:                              with, and to redress violations of, the                  (1) The NSE, as the self-regulatory
                                              • Registration with the Commission                    customer protection and sales practice                organization responsible for monitoring
                                           for firms and for firm representatives;                  requirements referred to above,                       the compliance of such firms with the
                                              • The requirement in Commission                       including, without limitation, an                     regulatory requirements described in the
                                           Regulation 30.6(a) and (d), 17 CFR                       affirmative surveillance program                      Regulation 30.10 petition, must
                                           30.6(a) and (d), that firms provide                      designed to detect trading activities that            represent in writing to the Commission
                                           customers located in the U.S. with the                   take advantage of customers, and the                  that:
                                           risk disclosure statements in                            existence of broad powers of                             (a) Each firm for which relief is sought
                                           Commission Regulation 1.55(b), 17 CFR                    investigation relating to sales practice              is registered, licensed or authorized, as
                                           1.55(b), and Commission Regulation                       abuses; and                                           appropriate, and is otherwise in good
                                           33.7, 17 CFR 33.7, or as otherwise                          (7) Mechanisms for sharing of                      standing under the standards in place in
                                           approved under Commission Regulation                     information between the Commission,                   India; such firm is engaged in business
                                           1.55(c), 17 CFR 1.55(c);                                 NSE and the Indian regulatory                         with customers located in India as well
                                              • The separate account requirement                    authorities on an ‘‘as needed’’ basis                 as in the U.S.; and such firm and its
                                           contained in Commission Regulation                       including, without limitation,                        principals and employees who engage
                                           30.7, 17 CFR 30.7;                                       confirmation data, data necessary to                  in activities subject to part 30 would not
                                              • Those sections of part 1 of the                     trace funds related to trading futures
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                                                                                                                                                          be statutorily disqualified from
                                           Commission’s financial regulations that                  products subject to regulation in India,              registration under Section 8a(2) of the
                                           apply to foreign futures and options                     position data, and data on firms’                     Act, 7 U.S.C. 12a(2);
                                           sold in the U.S. as set forth in part 30;                standing to do business and financial
                                           and                                                      condition.                                              5 See, e.g., Sections 2(a)(1)(C) and (D) of the Act.
                                                                                                       Commission staff has concluded,                      6 See, e.g., 17 CFR part 18.
                                             4 52   FR 28980, 28981 and 29002.                      upon review of the petition of NSE and                  7 See, e.g., 17 CFR parts 17 and 21.




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                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                                  23579

                                              (b) It will monitor firms to which                      (d) Has no principal or employee who                 circumstances pursuant to which this
                                           relief is granted for compliance with the               solicits or accepts orders from                         Order is granted might require the
                                           regulatory requirements for which                       customers located in the U.S. who                       Commission to reconsider its finding
                                           substituted compliance is accepted and                  would be disqualified under Section                     that the standards for relief set forth in
                                           will promptly notify the Commission or                  8a(2) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), from                 Regulation 30.10 and, in particular,
                                           NFA of any change in status of a firm                   doing business in the U.S.;                             Appendix A, have been met. Further, if
                                           that would affect its continued                            (e) Consents to participate in any NFA               experience demonstrates that the
                                           eligibility for the exemption granted                   arbitration program that offers a                       continued effectiveness of this Order in
                                           hereunder, including the termination of                 procedure for resolving customer                        general, or with respect to a particular
                                           its activities in the U.S.;                             disputes on the papers where such                       firm, would be contrary to public policy
                                              (c) All transactions with respect to                 disputes involve representations or                     or the public interest, or that the
                                           customers located in the U.S. will be                   activities with respect to transactions                 systems in place for the exchange of
                                           made subject to the regulations of NSE;                 under part 30, and consents to notify                   information or other circumstances do
                                              (d) It will provide the Commission                   customers located in the U.S. of the                    not warrant continuation of the
                                           with prompt notice of all material                      availability of such a program; provided,               exemptive relief granted herein, the
                                           changes to the relevant laws in India,                  however, that the firm may require its                  Commission may condition, modify,
                                           any rules promulgated thereunder, and                   customers located in the U.S. to execute                suspend, terminate, withhold as to a
                                           NSE rules, including, but not limited to                a consent concerning the exhaustion of                  specific firm, or otherwise restrict the
                                           NSE’s authorization, licensure or                       certain mediation or conciliation                       exemptive relief granted in this Order,
                                           registration, as applicable;                            procedures made available by NSE prior                  as appropriate, on its own motion.
                                              (e) Customers located in the U.S. will               to bringing an NFA arbitration                             The Commission will continue to
                                           be provided no less stringent regulatory                proceeding; and                                         monitor the implementation of its
                                           protection than India customers under                      (f) Undertakes to comply with the                    program to exempt firms located in
                                           all relevant provisions of Indian law;                  applicable provisions of Indian laws                    jurisdictions generally deemed to have a
                                           and                                                     and NSE rules that form the basis upon                  comparable regulatory program from the
                                              (f) It will cooperate with the                       which this exemption from certain                       application of certain of the foreign
                                           Commission with respect to any                          provisions of the Act and regulations                   futures and option regulations and will
                                           inquiries concerning any activity subject               thereunder is granted.                                  make necessary adjustments if
                                           to regulation under the part 30                            As set forth in the Commission’s                     appropriate.
                                           Regulations, including sharing the                      September 11, 1997 Order delegating to
                                                                                                                                                             Issued in Washington, DC, on May 17,
                                           information specified in Appendix A on                  NFA certain responsibilities, the written               2018, by the Commission.
                                           an ‘‘as needed’’ basis and will use its                 representations set forth in paragraph
                                                                                                                                                           Robert Sidman,
                                           best efforts to notify the Commission if                (2) shall be filed with NFA.8 Each firm
                                                                                                                                                           Deputy Secretary of the Commission.
                                           it becomes aware of any information                     seeking relief hereunder has an ongoing
                                           that in its judgment affects the financial              obligation to notify NFA should there be                Appendix to Foreign Futures and
                                           or operational viability of a member                    a material change to any of the                         Options Transactions—Commission
                                           firm doing business in the U.S. under                   representations required in the firm’s                  Voting Summary
                                           the exemption granted by this Order.                    application for relief.
                                                                                                                                                             On this matter, Chairman Giancarlo and
                                              (2) Each firm seeking relief hereunder                  This Order will become effective as to               Commissioners Quintenz and Behnam voted
                                           must represent in writing that it:                      any designated NSE firm the later of the                in the affirmative. No Commissioner voted in
                                              (a) Is located outside the U.S., its                 date of publication of the Order in the                 the negative.
                                           territories and possessions and, where                  Federal Register or the filing of the                   [FR Doc. 2018–10902 Filed 5–21–18; 8:45 am]
                                           applicable, has subsidiaries or affiliates              consents set forth in paragraphs (2)(a)–
                                                                                                                                                           BILLING CODE 6351–01–P
                                           domiciled in the U.S. with a related                    (f). Upon filing of the notice required
                                           business (e.g., banks and broker/dealer                 under paragraph (1)(b) as to any such
                                           affiliates) along with a brief description              firm, the relief granted by this Order
                                                                                                   may be suspended immediately as to                      SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
                                           of each subsidiary’s or affiliate’s identity
                                           and principal business in the U.S.;                     that firm. That suspension will remain                  20 CFR Part 404
                                                                                                   in effect pending further notice by the
                                              (b) Consents to jurisdiction in the U.S.                                                                     [Docket No. SSA–2018–0016]
                                                                                                   Commission, or the Commission’s
                                           under the Act by filing a valid and
                                                                                                   designee, to the firm and NSE.                          RIN 0960–AI28
                                           binding appointment of an agent in the
                                                                                                      This Order is issued pursuant to
                                           U.S. for service of process in accordance
                                                                                                   Regulation 30.10 based on the                           Extension of Expiration Date for
                                           with the requirements set forth in
                                                                                                   representations made and supporting                     Endocrine Disorders Body System
                                           Regulation 30.5;
                                                                                                   material provided to the Commission                     Listings
                                              (c) Agrees to provide access to its
                                                                                                   and the recommendation of the staff,
                                           books and records related to                                                                                    AGENCY:    Social Security Administration.
                                                                                                   and is made effective as to any firm
                                           transactions under part 30 required to                                                                          ACTION:   Final rule.
                                                                                                   granted relief hereunder based upon the
                                           be maintained under the applicable
                                                                                                   filings and representations of such firms
                                           statutes and regulations in effect in                                                                           SUMMARY:   We are extending the
                                                                                                   required hereunder. Any material
                                           India upon the request of any                                                                                   expiration date of Endocrine Disorders
                                                                                                   changes or omissions in the facts and
                                           representative of the Commission or                                                                             body system in the Listing of
                                           U.S. Department of Justice at the place                                                                         Impairments (listings) in our
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                                                                                                     8 62 FR 47792, 47793 (Sept. 11, 1997). Among
                                           in the U.S. designated by such                          other duties, the Commission authorized NFA to          regulations. We are making no other
                                           representative, within 72 hours, or such                receive requests for confirmation of Regulation         revisions to the body system in this final
                                           lesser period of time as specified by that              30.10 relief on behalf of particular firms, to verify   rule. This extension ensures that we
                                                                                                   such firms’ fitness and compliance with the
                                           representative as may be reasonable                     conditions of the appropriate Regulation 30.10
                                                                                                                                                           will continue to have the criteria we
                                           under the circumstances after notice of                 Order and to grant exemptive relief from                need to evaluate impairments in the
                                           the request;                                            registration to qualifying firms.                       affected body system at step three of the


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Document Created: 2018-11-02 11:09:24
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 11:09:24
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
ActionOrder.
DatesEffective May 22, 2018.
ContactAndrew V. Chapin, Associate Chief Counsel, (202) 418-5465, [email protected], or Scott W. Lee, Special Counsel, (202) 418-5090, [email protected], Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20581.
FR Citation83 FR 23577 

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