Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Clearance of Additional Credit Default Swap Contracts

I. Introduction

On June 13, 2017, ICE Clear Credit LLC (“ICC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, a proposed rule change to revise the ICC Rulebook (the “Rules”) in order to provide for the clearance of Standard Asia Corporate Single Name CDS contracts (collectively, “STASC Contracts”), Standard Asia Financial Corporate Single Name CDS contracts (collectively, “STASFC Contracts”), and Standard Emerging Market Corporate Single Name CDS contracts (collectively, “STEMC Contracts”). The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on July 3, 2017. The Commission did not receive comments on the proposed rule change. On August 17, 2017, the Commission designated a longer period for Commission action on the proposed rule change. For the reasons discussed below, the Commission is approving the proposed rule change.

II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change

The purpose of this proposed rule change is to provide the basis for ICC to clear additional credit default swap contracts. Specifically, ICC has proposed amending Chapter 26 of the ICC Rules to add Subchapters 26O (providing for the clearance of STASC Contracts), 26P (providing for the clearance of STASFC Contracts), and 26Q (providing for the clearance of STEMC Contracts). ICC has represented that proposed Subchapters 26O and 26Q have terms similar to those Subchapters governing clearance of other corporate single name CDS contracts, and that proposed Subchapter 26P has terms similar to those Subchapters governing clearance of other financial corporate single name CDS contracts. Therefore, ICC states that the rules found in the new Subchapters 26O, 26P, and 26Q “largely mirror” the ICC Rules for currently cleared contracts, “with certain modifications that reflect differences in terms and market conventions.” Each contract will be denominated in United States Dollars. ICC has also represented that clearing of the additional STASC, STASFC, and STEMC Contracts will not require any changes to ICC's Risk Management Framework or other policies and procedures constituting rules within the meaning of the Act.

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 the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to such self-regulatory organization. Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires that, among other things, that the rules of a clearing agency be designed to promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions and, to the extent applicable, derivative agreements, contracts, and transactions, 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.

The Commission finds that the rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to ICC. The Commission has reviewed the terms and conditions of these contracts and has determined that they are substantially similar to those that ICC currently clears, the key difference being the underlying reference obligations. Moreover, the Commission has reviewed the Notice and ICC's Rules, policies and procedures, which provide that the STASC, STASFC and STEMC Contracts will be cleared pursuant to ICC's existing clearing arrangements and related financial safeguards, protections and risk management procedures. In addition, the Commission has evaluated information submitted by ICC, including data on volume, open interest, and the number of ICC clearing participants (“CPs”) that currently trade in the STASC, STASFC and STEMC Contracts as well as certain model parameters for the additional STASC, STASFC and STEMC Contracts. Based on this review, the Commission finds that ICC's rules, policies, and procedures are reasonably designed to price and measure the potential risk presented by these products; collect financial resources in proportion to such risk; and liquidate these products in the event of a CP default. Thus, the Commission finds that acceptance of the additional STASC, STASFC and STEMC Contracts, on the terms and conditions set out in ICC's Rules, is consistent with the prompt and accurate clearance of and settlement of securities transactions and derivative agreements, contracts and transactions cleared by ICC, the safeguarding of securities and funds in the custody or control of ICC, and the protection of investors and the public interest, within the meaning of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.

IV. Conclusion

On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Act and in particular with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-ICC-2017-009) be, and hereby is, approved.