[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52962-52963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24660]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82041; File No. SR-ICEEU-2017-012]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Europe Limited; Notice 
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Amendments to the ICE Clear Europe Delivery Procedures

November 8, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on October 31, 2017, ICE Clear Europe Limited (``ICE Clear Europe'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule changes described in Items I, II, and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by ICE Clear Europe. ICE Clear Europe filed 
the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,\3\ 
and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii) \4\ thereunder, so that the proposal was 
immediately effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission 
is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule 
change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(ii).
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission, or Advance Notice

    The principal purpose of the proposed rule change is to implement 
certain amendments and updates to the ICE Clear Europe Delivery 
Procedures relating to European emissions and UK electricity contracts.

II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission or 
Advance Notice

    In its filing with the Commission, ICE Clear Europe included 
statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule 
change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places 
specified in Item IV below. ICE Clear Europe has prepared summaries, 
set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant 
aspects of such statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based Swap Submission or 
Advance Notice

(a) Purpose
    ICE Clear Europe proposes to implement certain amendments and 
updates to the ICE Clear Europe Delivery Procedures relating to 
European emissions and UK electricity contracts. The proposed 
amendments are designed (i) to update the Delivery Procedures relating 
to deliveries under European emissions and UK power contracts to be 
consistent with current practice and reflect the use of updated 
delivery forms and processes and (ii) to remove certain references to 
contracts no longer traded.
    In Part A of the Delivery Procedures (relating to European 
emissions contracts), ICE Clear Europe is modifying the timing for 
submission of delivery confirmation forms to be consistent with the 
timing of the expiration of the relevant contracts.
    In Part C of the Delivery Procedures (relating to UK electricity 
contracts), ICE Clear Europe is removing certain references (and 
related provisions) for contracts that are no longer traded. The 
amendments also remove references to a pre-delivery authorization 
process and certain reports that are no longer used, as well as extend 
the deadline for certain authorization requests, in light of updates to 
ICE Clear Europe systems. In addition, the amendments modify the timing 
for submission of certain delivery confirmation forms to be consistent 
with the timing of the expiration of the relevant contracts.
(b) Statutory Basis
    ICE Clear Europe believes that the proposed amendments are 
consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act \5\ and the 
regulations thereunder applicable to it, including the standards under 
Rule 17Ad-22.\6\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22.
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    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \7\ requires, 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, the safeguarding of securities and funds in the custody 
or control of the clearing agency or for which it is responsible, and 
the protection of investors and the public interest. Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(10) \8\ requires that each covered clearing agency shall 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to establish and maintain transparent 
written standards that state its obligations with respect to the 
delivery of physical instruments, and establish and maintain 
operational practices that identify, monitor, and manage the risks 
associated with such physical deliveries. The proposed amendments are 
being made to update and clarify the ICE Clear Europe delivery 
procedures to make operational and documentation improvements in the 
delivery confirmation and notification processes. As a result, in ICE 
Clear Europe's view, the amendments will facilitate the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of cleared transactions, more clearly 
state the obligations of parties with respect to deliveries and the 
management of the risks of such deliveries, within the meaning of the 
Act and Rule 17Ad-22(e).
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(10).
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    ICE Clear Europe does not believe the proposed changes to the rules 
would have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition not 
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. ICE 
Clear Europe is adopting the amendments the Delivery Procedures and 
Clearing Procedures in order to clarify certain aspects of the exercise 
and settlement of equity futures and options currently cleared by ICE 
Clear Europe. ICE Clear Europe does not believe the adoption of related 
Delivery Procedures and Clearing Procedures amendments would materially 
affect the cost of clearing these products, adversely affect access to 
clearing in these products for Clearing Members or their customers, or 
otherwise adversely affect competition in clearing services.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments relating to the proposed changes to the rules have 
not been solicited or received. ICE Clear Europe will notify the 
Commission of any written comments received by ICE Clear Europe.

[[Page 52963]]

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change, Security-Based 
Swap Submission and Advance Notice and Timing for Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant 
to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \9\ of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii) \10\ 
thereunder because it effects a change in an existing service of a 
registered clearing agency that primarily affects the clearing 
operations of the clearing agency with respect to products that are not 
securities, including futures that are not security futures, swaps that 
are not security-based swaps or mixed swaps, and forwards that are not 
security forwards, and does not significantly affect any securities 
clearing operations of the clearing agency or any rights or obligations 
of the clearing agency with respect to securities clearing or persons 
using such securities-clearing service. At any time within 60 days of 
the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may 
temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission 
that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, 
for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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IV. 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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-ICEEU-2017-012 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICEEU-2017-012. 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 filings will also be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of ICE Clear Europe 
and on ICE Clear Europe's Web site at https://www.theice.com/clear-europe/regulation#rule-filings.
    All comments received will be posted without change. Persons 
submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit 
personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICEEU-2017-012 and should be 
submitted on or before December 6, 2017.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant 
to delegated authority.\11\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-24660 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


