Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on October 4, 2012, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (“CME”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared substantially by CME. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons and to approve the proposed rule change on an accelerated basis.
17 CFR 240.19b-4.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
CME proposes to make amendments to CME Rule 971 as part of an industry wide initiative that is designed to further safeguard customer funds held at the futures commission merchant (“FCM”) level.
II. Self-Regulatory Organizations Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, CME included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item III below. CME has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by CME.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
CME is registered as a derivatives clearing organization with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and operates a substantial business clearing futures and swaps contracts subject to the jurisdiction of the CFTC. CME proposes to make rule changes to CME Rule 971 in coordination with the implementation by the National Futures Association (“NFA”) of parallel revisions to NFA rules. The proposed rule changes are part of a continuing effort to enhance the protection of customer funds held at the FCM level.
Under revised CME 971.C, FCM clearing members would be required to provide the CME Audit Department with view-only full access of segregated, secured, and Cleared Swaps Customer accounts at a bank or trust company. Amended CME Rule 971.C would provide the CME Audit Department with enhanced capabilities to review FCM funds at a bank or trust company for verification on a real-time and surprise basis, without seeking further authorization from FCM clearing members.
The proposed effective date for these revisions is after November 5, 2012 and will be coordinated with implementation by the National Futures Association (“NFA”) of parallel revisions to NFA rules. The proposed changes to CME Rule 971 are attached as Exhibit 5 to the Form 19b-4 that was filed with the Commission in connection with this proposed rule change. CME also made a filing, CME Submission 12-282, with the CFTC, with respect to the proposed changes.
On November 5, 2012, in connection with implementation of the CFTC's Part 22 Regulations, references to “sequestered” accounts in CME Rule 971 will be changed to Cleared Swaps Customer accounts, and references to CME rules for sequestered accounts will be deleted. These changes were the subject of a separate CME filing with the Commission, SR-CME-2012-30. The text of the proposed changes associated with this filing contains the current “sequestered” terminology.
CME believes the proposed changes are consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act. First, CME, a derivatives clearing organization, is implementing the proposed changes in furtherance with applicable CFTC regulations and the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), which contains a number of provisions that are comparable to the policies underlying the Act, including, for example, promoting market transparency for derivatives markets, promoting the prompt and accurate clearance of transactions, and protecting investors and the public interest. Second, CME believes the proposed changes are specifically designed to protect investors and the public interest because the requirements help safeguard customer funds held at the FCM level.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CME does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
CME has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments regarding this proposed rule change. CME has not received any unsolicited written comments from interested parties.
III. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic Comments
- Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
- Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CME-2012-39 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2012-39. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of CME and on CME's Web site at http://www.cmegroup.com/market-regulation/rule-filings.html.
All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2012-39 and should be submitted on or before November 13, 2012.
IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change
Section 19(b) 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. The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act, in particular the requirements of Section 17A of the Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to CME. Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act, which requires, among other things, that the rules of a registered clearing agency be designed 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 to protect investors and the public interest.
15 U.S.C. 78q-1. In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
In its filing, CME requested that the Commission approve this proposed rule change on an accelerated basis for good cause shown because the proposed changes are part of an industry wide initiative that is specifically designed to protect investors and the public interest through adoption of requirements that help safeguard customer funds held at the FCM level.
The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, for approving the proposed rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of notice in the Federal Register because, as a registered derivatives clearing organization, CME must make the rule changes discussed above as part of an industry wide initiative that is specifically designed to protect investors and the public interest through adoption of requirements that help safeguard customer funds held at the FCM level.
V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-CME-2012-39) be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-25864 Filed 10-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P