[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45568-45575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18625]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-86753; File No. SR-ICEEU-2019-015]


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

August 23, 2019.
    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 August 21, 2019, ICE Clear Europe Limited (``ICE Clear Europe'' or 
the ``Clearing House'') 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 primarily 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)(6) 
thereunder,\4\ 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)(6).
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    ICE Clear Europe Limited proposes to amend its Clearing Rules (the 
``Rules'') \5\ and Procedures (including the Clearing Procedures, CDS 
Procedures and Finance Procedures) to update relevant references to, 
and facilitate compliance with, applicable European Union (``EU''), 
United Kingdom (``UK'') laws, including the European Market 
Infrastructure Regulation (``EMIR''), the revised Markets in Financial 
Instruments package (collectively, ``MiFID II'') as implemented in the 
UK and elsewhere in the European Union, and certain other laws and 
regulations as discussed below.
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    \5\ Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the 
meanings specified in the ICE Clear Europe Clearing Rules (the 
``Rules'').
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, ICE Clear Europe 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 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

(a) Purpose
    ICE Clear Europe proposes to amend its Rules and Procedures to 
update relevant references to, and facilitate ongoing compliance with, 
applicable EU and UK law, including the EMIR, MiFID II and certain 
other laws, statutes and regulations discussed below.
    Specifically, ICE Clear Europe proposes to make amendments to Parts 
1, 2, 5, 9, 11, 15 and 16 of the Rules and to the Clearing Procedures, 
Finance Procedures and CDS Procedures. The text of the proposed Rules 
and Procedures amendments is attached [sic] in Exhibit 5, with 
additions underlined and deletions in strikethrough text.\6\ The 
proposed Rules and Procedures amendments are described in detail, by 
subject matter, as follows:
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    \6\ The Commission notes that exhibits referenced herein are 
included in the filing submitted by ICE Clear Europe to the 
Commission, but are not included in this Notice.
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1. MiFID II Provisions
    The amendments include changes to the Rules and Procedures that 
would more clearly take into account certain provisions and 
requirements of MiFID II. The amendments include changes to the 
definitions to reflect national implementing laws, adjustments to the 
way in which particular accounts of Non-FCM/BD Clearing Members are 
described to ensure compliance with MiFID II rules on indirect clearing 
and amendments to address the final legislative texts concerning 
``straight-through-processing'' (``STP'') requirements under MiFID II 
in relation to the clearing of OTC derivatives.
    In Rule 101, changes are proposed to the defined term ``MiFID II'' 
so that the definition would expressly include ``national implementing 
measures in any member state.'' As an EU directive, Directive 2014/65/
EU must generally be implemented within a Member State's national law 
to have direct legal effect in that jurisdiction. In practice, it is 
these ``national implementing measures'' which contain the legal 
substance of the directive and which would impose legal obligations on 
ICE Clear Europe and its Clearing Members.
    Revisions to the definition of ``Segregated Gross Indirect 
Account'' are proposed to clarify that this type of indirect clearing 
account will, in accordance with MiFID II, distinguish the assets and 
positions of one indirect client recorded in the account from those of 
another indirect client recorded in the account (in addition to 
distinguishing assets and positions of indirect clients generally from 
those of the relevant direct client of the Clearing Member). The 
amendments are intended to reflect legal obligations on ICE Clear 
Europe under the regulatory technical standards made under MiFID II, 
which obliges it to offer accounts that facilitate clearing by indirect 
clients of a direct client of a Clearing Member.\7\ This

[[Page 45569]]

revised definition would be consistent with existing ICE Clear Europe 
practice, and is intended to more clearly state the obligations on ICE 
Clear Europe under the Rules.
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    \7\ In this regard, Article 3(1) of Commission Delegated 
Regulation (EU) 2017/2154 (the ``MiFIR Indirect Clearing RTS'') 
requires CCPs to open certain indirect clearing accounts at the 
request of clearing members (who are also subject to a related 
requirement to offer certain accounts if they provide indirect 
clearing services). The ``Segregated Gross Indirect Account'' is 
intended to be one such account, namely ``a segregated account for 
the exclusive purpose of holding the assets and positions of 
indirect clients of each client'' of a Clearing Member (Article 
4(4)(b) of the MiFIR Indirect Clearing RTS). This account must in 
turn allow the Clearing Member providing indirect clearing services 
to a client to comply with the MiFID II requirement to offer an 
account in which ``the positions of an indirect client do not offset 
the positions of another indirect client'' and ``the assets of an 
indirect client cannot be used to cover the positions of another 
indirect client'' (Article 4(2)(b) of the MiFIR Indirect Clearing 
RTS). For this to be the case, the account offered by the CCP must 
``distinguish the collateral and positions of different indirect 
clients'' (Recital 7 of the MiFIR Indirect Clearing RTS).
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    Rule 108(a) would be amended to add a reference to the record-
keeping requirements under MiFID II rules, in addition to the 
requirements under FCA and PRA rules that are referenced in the current 
rule. MiFID II sets out a number of record-keeping requirements such as 
the requirement to keep a record of all services, activities and 
transactions undertaken by a firm (including recordings of telephone 
conversations or electronic communications relating to transactions it 
concludes (either on a proprietary basis or on behalf of clients)), and 
these requirements will be applicable to EU Clearing Members which are 
not based in the UK. Compliance with these MiFID II requirements would 
be regarded as sufficient to satisfy the record-keeping obligation in 
Rule 108(a). The amendment thus reflects existing obligations on EU 
Clearing Members under MiFID II, and is not intended to change current 
practice for EU Clearing Members.
    In the CDS Procedures, at paragraph 4.3, additional language has 
been proposed to specify that CDS Trade Particulars submitted for 
clearing must ``be provided in an electronic format using the relevant 
interface designated for such purposes when presenting the trade to the 
Clearing House or the transaction submission system of the relevant CDS 
Trade Execution/Processing Platform (or such other format as is used by 
the Clearing House or a CDS Trade Execution/Processing Platform for 
such purposes from time to time as is notified to CDS Clearing 
Members)''. The insertion of this language has been proposed to ensure 
that ICE Clear Europe is compliant with the MiFID II rules on STP.\8\ 
This amendment is not expected to change current practice for 
submission of CDS Trade Particulars, but would reference the relevant 
MiFID II requirements more explicitly.
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    \8\ These requirements are principally contained in Commission 
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/582 (the ``MiFIR STP RTS''). Article 
1(2) of the MiFIR STP RTS provides: ``A CCP shall detail in its 
rules the information it needs from counterparties to a cleared 
derivative transaction and from trading venues in order to clear 
that transaction, and the format in which that information shall be 
provided.''
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    Proposed amendments to paragraph 4.4(a) of the CDS Procedures would 
also facilitate compliance with MiFID II STP requirements. Additional 
language would be added to confirm that, if it decides not to accept 
CDS Trade Particulars for clearing, ICE Clear Europe is required to 
``give notice the sooner of (i) on a real-time basis or (ii) as soon as 
reasonably practicable (in any report identified for this purpose) 
specifying that the Clearing House has not accepted such CDS Trade 
Particulars for Clearing''. In the following sentence, a conforming 
change would be made to provide that CDS Trade Particulars ``shall not 
be deemed to be formally submitted, received, accepted or rejected'' 
until completion of the pre-submission review. The amendment 
incorporates the requirement of Article 4(5) of the MiFIR STP RTS, 
which requires a central counterparty (``CCP'') that does not accept a 
derivative transaction concluded on a bilateral basis for clearing to 
``inform the clearing member of the non-acceptance on a real-time 
basis'', together with the existing ``as soon as reasonably 
practicable'' standards in the CDS Procedures, which implements other 
regulatory requirements. This amendment is not expected to materially 
change existing Clearing House practice, but will more clearly 
reference the relevant MiFID II requirements in the Procedures.
2. References to Authorized Central Counterparty Status
    The amendments would make certain changes, updates and 
clarifications to the Rules and Procedures that reflect ICE Clear 
Europe's authorized central counterparty status under EMIR and cater 
for changes in the application of the Companies Act 1989 and Financial 
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Recognition Requirements for Investment 
Exchanges, Clearing Houses and Central Securities Depositories) 
Regulations 2001 (the ``Recognition Requirements Regulations''). These 
changes are necessary due to the impact of the re-authorization of ICE 
Clear Europe in the UK under the EMIR regime (instead of its 
recognition under the pre-EMIR UK national regime). In addition, 
certain other amendments are introduced to more accurately reflect 
certain requirements of EMIR and the scope of its related instrument 
REMIT,\9\ which applies to spot contracts and applies a different 
regime, as regards the reporting of derivative trades by counterparties 
thereto to a trade repository. These amendments are designed to 
reflect, and more explicitly reference in the Rules and Procedures, 
relevant EU and UK legal requirements and ICE Clear Europe's regulatory 
status, but are not expected to change Clearing House operations or the 
rights or obligations of Clearing Members.
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    \9\ Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council of 25 October 2011 on wholesale energy market 
integrity and transparency
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    Changes to Rule 102(r)(i) have been proposed to refer to ICE Clear 
Europe being an ``authorized central counterparty under EMIR'' in 
addition to its status as a recognized clearing house under the 
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (``FSMA''). Various other 
provisions of the Rules would refer to the status of ICE Clear Europe 
as reflected in Rule 102(r)(i) as proposed to be amended. In this 
regard, changes have been proposed to Rule 109(b)(v) to refer to the 
multiple regulatory statuses held by ICE Clear Europe (by way of a 
cross-reference to Rule 102(r)) rather than just its status under the 
FSMA. As modified, Rule 109(b)(v) would permit ICE Clear Europe to make 
rule changes without following the normal public consultation process 
under UK laws where this is required to ensure compliance by ICE Clear 
Europe, Clearing Members or Customers with applicable laws or 
requirements imposed by regulators, or is necessary or desirable to 
maintain such regulatory status (and not merely where this is necessary 
to maintain its status under FSMA). This change is intended to 
facilitate compliance with applicable laws, and therefore is not 
expected to be a significant burden to competition for the Clearing 
House or its Clearing Members and/or adversely affect the protection of 
investors or the public interest.
    Similar changes are proposed to Rule 115(a), namely replacing an 
existing reference to ICE Clear Europe's recognition as a clearing 
house with a cross-reference to ``its statuses referred to in Rule 
102(r).'' Rule 115(a) provides for certain permitted interactions with 
regulators and other authorities for the

[[Page 45570]]

purposes of maintaining ICE Clear Europe's status as a recognized 
clearing house. The proposed amendment ensures that ICE Clear Europe is 
also able to make arrangements with such authorities with a view to 
maintaining its other regulatory statuses, rather than merely its 
status under FSMA. Similarly, these changes are intended to facilitate 
compliance with applicable laws, and therefore are not expected to be a 
significant burden to competition for the Clearing House or its 
Clearing Members and/or adversely affect the protection of investors or 
the public interest.
    Rule 201(a)(vii) would be amended to reflect the fact that 
reporting to a trade repository is not required for all Contracts. This 
provision currently provides that a Clearing Member, as a criterion for 
attaining and maintaining membership, must ``be a user of or otherwise 
have access to at least one Repository (if any) for the Contracts it 
proposes to clear.'' Reporting to a trade repository is required for 
derivative contracts falling within scope of EMIR but potentially not 
for other contracts falling under REMIT (such as spot contracts). As 
such, additional language is to be added to clarify that this 
membership criterion only applies ``where such Contract is required to 
be reported to a repository under Applicable Law.'' The change is 
intended to remove an unnecessary burden on certain Clearing Members 
under the existing Rules, while more precisely taking account of the 
requirements under applicable law and furthering the public interest 
embodied in such requirements.
    Changes in Rule 207(d) would state explicitly that set-off is not 
permitted under the Rules in circumstances which would breach section 
182A of the Companies Act 1989. This was a new provision introduced 
into this UK primary legislation as part of the UK's implementation of 
EMIR and replaced other provisions concerning the set off of accounts 
at UK recognized clearing houses, for authorized central counterparties 
under EMIR. The relevant Rules changes reflect the wording of this 
provision and result in each Clearing Member that clears client 
positions agreeing with ICE Clear Europe that there would be no setting 
off of positions and assets recorded in any of the Clearing Member's 
accounts against positions and assets recorded in other accounts where 
this would be in contravention of section 182A of the Companies Act 
1989. Section 182A of the Companies Act 1989 provides protection to 
authorized central counterparties from normal insolvency law set-off 
processes that might otherwise apply to result in a combination across 
different accounts for assets recorded in the separate customer 
accounts or proprietary accounts of authorized central counterparties 
(such as ICE Clear Europe). The amendments also replace references to 
Section 187 of the Companies Act 1989, which previously addressed such 
set off issues and is no longer applicable to ICE Clear Europe as a 
result of it now being an authorized CCP under EMIR. Related changes 
are proposed to Rule 906(b). A new paragraph is proposed to be added, 
which would require Clearing Members to confirm via a representation 
that the determination of net sums under Rule 906 would not involve the 
setting off of positions and assets in a manner that would contravene 
section 182A of the Companies Act 1989. This proposed change reflects 
the fact that Clearing Members are ultimately responsible for recording 
assets and contracts in the correct accounts and is intended to reduce 
the risk for ICE Clear Europe that when it determines a post-default 
``net sum'' for a particular customer account or proprietary account 
that it might inadvertently breach section 182A's restrictions on the 
setting off of positions and assets in Customer Accounts against those 
in Proprietary Accounts or those in other Customer Accounts, for 
example as a result of an error caused by the Clearing Member. While 
these changes involve new representation and agreements by Clearing 
Members, in ICE Clear Europe's view, the changes are in fact consistent 
with existing practice and expectations of Clearing Members (who would 
be expected not to setoff across different accounts in violation of 
applicable law). To the extent the amendments may affect the rights or 
obligations of Clearing Members, they would only do so to the extent 
required under applicable laws. The amendments are therefore not 
expected to be a significant burden to competition and/or significantly 
affect the protection of investors or the public interest.
    Changes have been proposed to the requirement in Rule 406(b) and 
(c) for ICE Clear Europe and Clearing Members to reflect aggregation 
and netting of positions in the records of a trade repository 
designated by ICE Clear Europe. These changes reflect the fact that ICE 
Clear Europe and Clearing Members may use different trade repositories 
for the purposes of complying with reporting obligations under 
applicable law (in particular EMIR), and the fact that the repository 
will not necessarily be designated by ICE Clear Europe if the Clearing 
Member chooses otherwise. This amendment is consistent with existing 
practice. It is not expected to be a significant burden on Clearing 
Members or otherwise affect competition, and it is not expected to 
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest.
    Changes to the recital to part 9 of the Rules have been proposed to 
update references to relevant legislation and terminology applicable to 
ICE Clear Europe as an authorized central counterparty. This includes 
replacing the term ``default proceedings'' with the term ``default 
procedures'', which is the term used in Article 48 of EMIR. Additional 
language is proposed to be added to clarify that the provisions of part 
9 are further intended to constitute ``default arrangements'' for the 
purposes of the Financial Markets and Insolvency (Settlement Finality) 
Regulations 1999 (the ``Settlement Finality Regulations''). The 
Settlement Finality Regulations implement Directive 98/26/EC (the 
``Settlement Finality Directive'') and provide settlement finality and 
insolvency law protections for instructions to transfer cash or 
securities (referred to in the legislation as ``transfer orders'') that 
take place within the ``designated system'' operated by ICE Clear 
Europe, as well as for ``the default arrangements of a designated 
system.'' Clarifying that the rules contained in part 9 are intended to 
constitute ``default arrangements'' provides greater clarity and 
certainty that the operation of these rules would be enforceable in a 
default scenario, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable national 
insolvency law. It does not, however, change the substantive rights or 
obligations of the Clearing House or Clearing Members under the Rules. 
In addition, amendments would update references to the Financial 
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Recognition Requirements for Investment 
Exchanges, Clearing Houses and Central Securities Depositories) 
Regulations 2001, to reflect a change in the name of this legislation. 
A change is also proposed to refer to compliance with the provisions of 
the Recognition Requirements Regulations more generally, rather than 
just those provisions ``relevant to default rules.'' This is to reflect 
paragraph 29 of the Schedule to the Recognition Requirements 
Regulations, which requires compliance with EMIR generally (including 
its requirements with respect to ``default procedures''). The 
overarching intention of the amendments to the recital is to confirm 
and give notice that the provisions of

[[Page 45571]]

part 9 are intended to be ``default rules'' (or the equivalent concepts 
under relevant applicable laws) under the package of legislation now 
applicable to ICE Clear Europe and so to give notice that such rules 
are intended to benefit from the special insolvency law protections 
which are afforded to clearing houses and their default rules under 
such legislation. A related change is proposed at Rule 907(j). This 
involves adding references to ``similar concepts'' to a ``default 
rule'' and adds a reference to ``any of the Applicable Laws referred to 
in the opening paragraph of this part 9'' in addition to merely those 
under the Companies Act 1989. These amendments would thus provide 
additional clarity to all Clearing Members, Sponsored Principals and 
Customers as to the background legal framework, without changing rights 
or remedies.
    It is proposed that Rule 906(a) be amended to update references to 
the relevant applicable legislation. New language would be added to 
link the net sum calculation in Rule 906(a) to various requirements 
applying to the default rules of CCPs under applicable law, such as the 
Recognition Requirements Regulations and EMIR. Changes are also 
proposed to clause (i) of the definition of ``L'', an element of the 
net sum calculation in Rule 906, to refer to termination, liquidation 
or close out generally, instead of using the prescribed wording that 
was previously (but is no longer) applicable to ICE Clear Europe under 
the Schedule to the Recognition Requirements Regulations. The Schedule 
to the Recognition Requirements Regulations has been partially repealed 
and replaced for EMIR-authorized CCPs, following the coming into force 
of EMIR. In addition, a reference to part 12 of the Rules has been 
added to reflect the fact that this Part contains the rules determining 
when a Transfer Order arises and becomes irrevocable within ICE Clear 
Europe's designated system for settlement finality purposes. These 
amendments would not materially change the rights or obligations of the 
Clearing House or its Clearing Members, Sponsored Principals or 
Customers, but would more clearly reference the relevant background 
legal provisions.
    Proposed changes to Rule 907(m) aim to provide further legal 
support for actions taken by ICE Clear Europe following a default of a 
Customer of a Clearing Member being regarded as actions falling under 
the protections of part VII of the Companies Act 1989. The amendments 
are intended to clarify that where a Clearing Member requests ICE Clear 
Europe to transfer positions and collateral of a defaulting Customer 
held in a Customer Account to a Proprietary Account of that Clearing 
Member (or a different Customer Account of the same Clearing Member in 
which the Customer is interested) in connection with the management of 
the default; ICE Clear Europe is allowed, as a result of such request, 
to assume that the Customer is, or is likely to be, in default in 
respect of its positions (referred to as ``market contracts'' under the 
Companies Act 1989) and act upon the Clearing Member's request (if 
permitted under applicable laws and following confirmation of the 
default by the relevant Clearing Member). Similar provisions have also 
been proposed to deal with the default of an indirect client (i.e., a 
client of a Customer of a Clearing Member). The changes proposed are 
aimed to promote ICE Clear Europe's default management actions being 
considered within scope of relevant statutory protections under the 
Companies Act 1989. The new provisions would ``apply equally to a 
request by a Sponsor following an Event of Default (whether or not 
declared) in respect of a Sponsored Principal'' to ensure that all 
customer clearing models are covered by these new provisions. Finally, 
new proposed language at the end of Rule 907(m) would confirm that 
nothing in the Rule would limit the right of ICE Clear Europe to 
declare a Sponsored Principal to be a Defaulter or to exercise any of 
its other rights under part 9. The amendments generally would provide 
greater clarity as to the Clearing House's rights and obligations, as 
well as those of Clearing Members and Sponsored Principals. ICE Clear 
Europe does not expect that they would significantly change existing 
default management practices. Accordingly, the amendments are not 
expected to be a significant burden to competition and/or significantly 
affect the protection of investors or the public interest.
    A new recital is proposed to be added to part 12 of the Rules, 
which addresses settlement finality, to fulfill a similar purpose to 
the changes to the recital to part 9 as discussed above. The new 
recital to part 12 would clarify that this section of the Rules is 
intended to constitute part of the default rules of ICE Clear Europe. 
As with the recital to part 9, this helps to identify the sections of 
ICE Clear Europe's rulebook which should have the benefit of special 
protections that are available for the default rules of a CCP under 
applicable carve-outs from insolvency laws. The new recital would 
clarify that the provisions of part 12 are intended to constitute 
``default rules'' for the purposes of the Companies Act 1989, ``default 
procedures'' for the purposes of Article 48 of EMIR, ``default rules 
and procedures'' for the purposes of section 5b(c)(2)(G) of the 
Commodity Exchange Act, ``rules on the moment of entry and 
irrevocability'' of a system for the purposes of the Settlement 
Finality Directive, ``default arrangements'' for the purposes of the 
Settlement Finality Regulations and ``default procedures'' for the 
purposes of Commission Rule 17Ad-22. Given that Part 12 sets out rules 
specifically designed to comply with the Settlement Finality 
Regulations, a confirmation to this effect is also contained in the 
proposed changes. Moreover, language is proposed at the end of the new 
recital to provide and give notice that ICE Clear Europe also relies on 
legal rights under applicable laws (including those referenced above) 
in addition to its rights under the Rules. These amendments would 
provide greater clarity as to the application of the settlement 
finality framework, without changing any substantive rights or 
obligations of to the Clearing House, Clearing Members, Sponsored 
Principals and Customers under the Rules.
    Changes are proposed to paragraph 7.2 of the Finance Procedures to 
reflect that non-cash assets provided as Permitted Cover must be held 
at certain prescribed institutions in accordance with requirements 
under EMIR and regulatory technical standards under EMIR. The changes 
would confirm that ``Non-cash Permitted Cover would be held in accounts 
of the Clearing House at a Custodian, central securities depository 
(``CSD'') or international central securities depository (``ICSD''), 
which accounts are in the name of the Clearing House, as permitted 
under regulatory technical standards under EMIR.'' This reflects the 
provisions of EMIR and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 153/
2013, which require CCPs to deposit financial instruments posted as 
margin ``with the operator of a securities settlement system that 
ensures the full protection of those instruments''. This effectively 
requires such instruments to be deposited in a CSD. Where this is not 
possible, financial instruments may be deposited with certain other 
institutions provided that this is on an insolvency-remote basis. The 
proposed changes would be consistent with ICE Clear Europe's long-
standing practice for holding such Permitted Cover, in light of the 
requirements of EMIR. A related change has been proposed in the Finance 
Procedures at paragraph

[[Page 45572]]

6.1(i)(v) to reflect the fact that income on non-cash assets posted by 
Clearing Members may be received by a custodian of ICE Clear Europe 
rather than directly by ICE Clear Europe itself, as a result of the 
holding of such assets at CSDs. This change also reflects current 
practice, and is intended to clarify the operation of the Rules in 
light of existing practices.
    Proposed changes at paragraph 7.3(a)(vii)-(viii) of the Clearing 
Procedures remove references (in parentheses) to complaints processes 
having been established pursuant to the Schedule to the Financial 
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Recognition Requirements for Investment 
Exchanges, Clearing Houses and Central Securities Depositories) 
Regulations 2001 and Part 10 of the Rules, since these provisions are 
no longer in force for EMIR-authorized CCPs. These amendments are not 
intended to result in changes in any existing practices.
3. Other Amendments
    Various other changes throughout the Rules and Procedures have been 
proposed to update references to applicable law and otherwise reflect 
or promote compliance with applicable law. In Rule 101, a change in the 
definition of ``Applicable Law'' has been proposed to include any 
memoranda of understanding between ICE Clear Europe and regulators. 
Memoranda of understanding between ICE Clear Europe and regulators or 
between regulators may have implications on the relationship between 
ICE Clear Europe and its Clearing Members, especially if disclosures 
are required under such documents. Disclosures pursuant to such 
memoranda of understanding may not currently be in scope of 
confidentiality carve-outs under the Rules without such an amendment. 
Including a reference to memoranda of understanding (or equivalent) 
between ICE Clear Europe and ``one or more Governmental Authorities or 
between Governmental Authorities'' facilitates disclosure of 
confidential information to regulators as necessary in accordance with 
such documents under the provisions of Rule 106. These amendments are 
consistent with existing Clearing House practice in dealing with 
regulatory authorities, in compliance with applicable law, and are 
intended to refer to such arrangements more explicitly in the Rules and 
Procedures.
    Proposed changes to the defined term ``Regulatory Authority'' 
reflect additional regulatory and self-regulatory authorities which may 
be of relevance to ICE Clear Europe and its Clearing Members, namely 
the European Central Bank and the Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority (FINRA). This defined term is currently used throughout the 
Rules in the context of obligations imposed by a regulator or 
governmental authority on ICE Clear Europe, Clearing Members or 
Customers.
    The definition of ``Resolution Step'' (which is relevant to ICE 
Clear Europe's ability to exercise default remedies under the Rules in 
the event of a resolution proceeding involving a Clearing Member) is 
proposed to be amended to expressly cover similar EEA measures to 
resolution powers and resolution tools under the EU Bank Recovery and 
Resolution Directive (Directive 2014/59/EU, ``BRRD''), but which do not 
derive from the BRRD. The need to refer to similar EEA measures to the 
BRRD resolution powers and resolution tools within the ``Resolution 
Step'' definition reflects the fact that in some EEA jurisdictions (for 
example, in Germany) non-BRRD national law measures exist that often 
predate BRRD and which can also be applied to failing banks, but which 
would not be captured by the current defined term. Specific references 
to (non-EEA) Swiss and Australian resolution laws have also been added 
because ICE Clear Europe has Swiss and Australian Clearing Members who 
may be affected by such measures. This amendment would clarify the 
impact of relevant resolution regimes on default remedies under the 
Rules, and to the extent they would change any rights or obligations of 
the Clearing House or particular Clearing Members or Sponsored 
Principals, would reflect the requirements of those regimes and further 
the public interest embodied in those regimes.
    A new ``Settlement Finality Directive'' defined term in Rule 101 
would be added because this term is currently used in the recital to 
Part 9 and in the proposed new recital to Part 12 mentioned above.
    The clearing membership criterion at Rule 201(a)(xxii) is proposed 
to be deleted because the EU Savings Directive (Council Directive 2003/
48/EC on the taxation of savings income in the form of interest 
payments) is no longer in force.
    Changes to Rule 205(b) are proposed to clarify that ICE Clear 
Europe would only be able to obtain copies of financial filings, 
returns and reports in relation to a Clearing Member directly from such 
Clearing Member's regulator (FCA or PRA) with the consent of the 
relevant Regulatory Authority. The amendment reflects the fact that a 
regulator's consent may be required before ICE Clear Europe may obtain 
a Clearing Member's financial reports from a particular regulator and 
the fact that these and other regulators may not in practice be willing 
or able to share such reports with ICE Clear Europe. This amendment 
would appropriately reflect regulatory limitations on ICE Clear 
Europe's ability to obtain certain reports, and accordingly should not 
burden Clearing Members.
    It is proposed that Rule 501(a) be amended to remove an erroneous 
reference to Approved Financial Institutions being permitted to issue 
and confirm letters of credit for Clearing Members. ICE Clear Europe no 
longer accepts uncollateralized letters of credit as collateral, due to 
restrictions under EMIR and technical standards thereunder.\10\ 
Although the Finance Procedures and ICE Clear Europe's permitted cover 
circulars were updated to remove references to letters of credit as 
collateral some time ago, there remains a legacy reference to such 
instruments in this Rules provision which requires deletion.
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    \10\ See Exchange Act Release No. 34-73344, SR-ICEEU-2014-016 
(October 14, 2014), 79 FR 62694 (Oct. 20, 2014).
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    A new Rule 1203(m) has been proposed to clarify that the time at 
which Transfer Orders become irrevocable (and binding) under the terms 
of the ``system'' operated by ICE Clear Europe in accordance with the 
Rules (i.e., the clearing and settlement procedures operated by ICE 
Clear Europe for cleared contracts) is governed by part 12 thereof. As 
noted above, special protections are provided by the Settlement 
Finality Directive (as implemented in UK law by the Settlement Finality 
Regulations) for transfer orders of money or securities in a 
``designated system'' (such as the settlement system operated by ICE 
Clear Europe), but only from the point that such transfer orders become 
irrevocable under the rules of the relevant system. Moreover, paragraph 
5 of the Schedule to the Settlement Finality Regulations requires the 
rules of a designated system to ``specify the point after which a 
transfer order may not be revoked by a participant or any other 
party''. Part 12 sets out when different Transfer Orders prescribed 
under the Rules are deemed to become irrevocable under the ICE Clear 
Europe designated system. This amendment would add clarity to the 
Rules, but is not expected to substantively change the rights or 
obligations of the Clearing House, Clearing Members or others under the 
Rules.

[[Page 45573]]

    In Rule 1501(a), the definition of ``2010 PD Amending Directive'' 
is proposed to be updated to include a reference to national laws 
implementing Directive 2010/73/EU, which amends the EU Prospectus 
Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC). This change has been made to clarify 
that the reference to Directive 2010/73/EU in the Rules also includes 
national Member State laws implementing the directive. This amendment 
would clarify the reference in the Rules, but is not expected to change 
substantively the rights or obligations of the Clearing House or 
Clearing Members.
    Rule 1603(i) currently clarifies that nothing in the Rules prevents 
an FCM/BD Clearing Member from providing FCM/BD Customer-provided 
collateral to ICE Clear Europe in respect of which the FCM/BD Clearing 
Member benefits from a security interest (to secure the FCM/BD 
Customer's obligations), subject to the rights of the Clearing House. A 
change is proposed to also clarify that nothing in the Rules prevents 
an FCM/BD Clearing Member from having a security interest in the FCM/BD 
Customer's rights in respect of any contracts cleared through the FCM/
BD Clearing Member, subject to the rights of the Clearing House. This 
change has been proposed in response to feedback from Clearing Members 
that such a security interest is provided as a matter of typical 
practice, and that this should be expressly permitted under the Rules. 
This amendment would update the Rules to reflect existing (and 
expected) market practice by FCM/BD Clearing Members. It is not 
expected to be a significant burden to competition and/or significantly 
affect the protection of investors or the public interest.
(b) Statutory Basis
    ICE Clear Europe believes that the proposed amendments are 
consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act \11\ and the 
regulations thereunder applicable to it, including the standards under 
Rule 17Ad-22.\12\ In particular, Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \13\ 
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.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22.
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    The proposed amendments are intended principally to update and 
clarify certain references in the ICE Clear Europe Rules and Procedures 
to relevant UK and EU legislation, including MiFID II, EMIR, REMIT and 
the Settlement Finality Directive, and thereby enhance the 
enforceability of relevant provisions of the Rules and Procedures and 
facilitate compliance by ICE Clear Europe and its Clearing Members and 
their Customers with such laws. The amendments would in particular 
clarify the application of certain indirect clearing accounts, 
providing greater certainty for indirect clients as to the segregation 
as to their positions and assets. The amendments would also provide 
greater certainty and clarity as to the treatment of certain ICE Clear 
Europe default rules and procedures in light of relevant insolvency 
protections under applicable law, which in turn would enhance the 
functioning of the clearing system in the case of default. The 
amendments would clarify and enhance certain procedures relating to 
trade submission and STP, in light of the final texts of relevant 
requirements under MiFID II. In ICE Clear Europe's view, these changes 
will generally promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement 
of cleared transactions. Certain of the amendments will also ensure 
that the Rules and Procedures are aligned with operational procedures 
and legal requirements concerning the holding of securities, enhancing 
the safeguarding of securities and funds in the custody or control of 
the Clearing House or which it is responsible. Such amendments include 
those related to indirect clearing, as discussed above, as well as the 
general enhancements to default rules, which will reduce the risk of 
situations that may interfere with the ability of the Clearing House to 
access such securities and funds in the event of a default. Similarly, 
the amendments more accurately describe the manner in which non-cash 
assets provided by Clearing Members must generally be held with CSDs, 
which will eliminate differences between legal documentation and 
operational processes and thus enhance the safeguarding of such assets. 
Overall, in ICE Clear Europe's view, the amendments are for the 
foregoing reasons also consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest.
    The proposed Rule changes are also consistent with the relevant 
requirements of Rule 17Ad-22. In particular, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(1) \14\ 
requires that each covered clearing agency establish, implement, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to provide for a well-founded, clear, transparent, and 
enforceable legal basis for each aspect of its activities in all 
relevant jurisdictions. As discussed herein, the amendments are 
designed to accurately reflect, and facilitate continued compliance 
with, applicable EU and UK law, including EMIR, REMIT, the Companies 
Act 1989, the Settlement Finality Directive and MiFID II. In this 
regard, the amendments would make various changes to the definitions 
and terminology used throughout the Rules and Procedures to ensure 
consistency with applicable UK and EU laws (including, as applicable, 
national implementing legislation in the EU). In particular, various 
amendments to the Rules and Procedures would more accurately reflect 
ICE Clear Europe's authorized CCP status under EMIR, as well as other 
regulated statuses of the Clearing House. The amendments would also 
clarify application of set-off restrictions that are now applicable to 
it under the UK Companies Act 1989. Other changes more clearly reflect 
the requirements of MiFID II, including as to indirect clearing and 
STP. Taken together, these amendments will enhance the enforceability 
and clarity of the legal framework provided by the Rules and Procedures 
under which the Clearing House operates, and are therefore consistent 
with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(1).\15\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(1).
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(1).
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    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(13) \16\ requires a clearing agency to ensure that 
it ``has the authority and operational capacity to take timely action 
to contain losses and liquidity demands'' in the case of default. The 
amendments would make a range of clarifications and updates designed to 
enhance the Clearing House's default Rules and Procedures. As discussed 
herein, the proposed amendments to update terminology in Part 9 of the 
Rules, and to clarify that the provisions of Part 9 are intended to 
constitute ``default arrangements'' under the Settlement Finality 
Directive, would provide greater certainty that the Part 9 Rules would 
be enforceable in a default scenario notwithstanding otherwise 
applicable national insolvency law in the EU. Other amendments will 
similarly clarify that the provisions of Part 9 and Part 12 are 
intended to be ``default rules'' or the equivalent concepts under 
relevant applicable laws

[[Page 45574]]

and therefore should benefit from any special protections applicable to 
a CCP's default rules from applicable insolvency regimes. Additional 
amendments to Part 12 would clarify the irrevocability and finality of 
Transfer Orders under the terms of the ``system'' operated by ICE Clear 
Europe in accordance with the Rules, which would better ensure that 
these Rules receive protections under the Settlement Finality 
Directive. The amendments will also facilitate the ability of Clearing 
Members to transfer positions and collateral of a defaulting Customer 
held in a Customer Account to a Proprietary Account of that Clearing 
Member (or a different Customer Account) to facilitate management of 
the Customer default. Taken together, these amendments strengthen the 
enforceability of ICE Clear Europe's default rules and procedures and 
better enable it to take timely actions to contain losses, in a manner 
consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(13).
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    \16\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(13).
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    Rule 17Ad-22(e)(14) \17\ requires that a registered clearing agency 
establish, implement, maintain and enforce written policies and 
procedures reasonably designed to enable the segregation and 
portability of positions of a participant's customers and the 
collateral provided to the covered clearing agency with respect to 
those positions and effectively protect such positions and related 
collateral from the default or insolvency of that participant. The 
amendments will, as discussed above, adjust the account descriptions 
for the Segregated Gross Indirect Account to clarify that such account 
will separately account for the positions and assets of each indirect 
client carried through the account. The amendments will also clarify 
the rights of the Clearing House and Clearing Members in the case of a 
default or a customer or indirect customer, which will facilitate 
management of such a default and may enhance protection of positions 
and collateral of non-defaulting customers and indirect customers. As a 
result, the amendments are consistent with Rule 17Ad-22(e)(14).\18\ The 
changes related to set-off and the Companies Act 1989 also promote 
porting by ensuring that relevant accounts do not require combination 
after a default, an outcome which would potentially conflict with the 
porting process.
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    \17\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(14).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(14).
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    IICE Clear Europe does not believe the proposed rule changes would 
have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The amendments 
are principally being adopted to update various references to relevant 
EU and UK legislation, and generally to facilitate ongoing compliance 
with such laws. ICE Clear Europe does not believe such amendments will 
result in material changes in its current operations or practices (and 
any changes that arise will reflect the requirements of relevant EU and 
UK legislation). Such amendments will apply to all Clearing Members. 
ICE Clear Europe does not believe such amendments would in themselves 
materially affect the cost of, or access to, clearing as they are 
generally consistent with EU and UK requirements with which entities 
based in the UK and EU must already comply. As a result, ICE Clear 
Europe does not believe such amendments would adversely affect 
competition among Clearing Members or the market for clearing services 
generally.

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

    ICE Clear Europe has conducted a public consultation on amendments 
to its Rules that included the proposed Rule changes set forth herein. 
It should be noted that this consultation included the changes 
discussed herein, but also a number of other changes which ICE Clear 
Europe intends to address in future filings. ICE Clear Europe received 
three detailed and written responses to the overall consultation. It 
has discussed aspects of the proposed Rule changes, as were presented 
in such consultation, with those interested Clearing Members who 
responded. Based on feedback received by ICE Clear Europe, those 
Clearing Members who responded supported all the changes proposed 
herein. Clearing Members' comments were generally concentrated on other 
matters arising in the consultation which will be addressed in future 
rule filings (it being important to stress that all Clearing Member 
comments on the set as a whole have been addressed to consultation 
respondents' satisfaction). Among other matters and addressed in the 
amendments that are subject to this filing, one Clearing Member in each 
case asked certain questions concerning the rationale and basis for, 
and contain suggestions as to the drafting of, proposed amendments to 
the definition of ``Resolution Step'', Rule 907(m) and Rule 1203, the 
rationale for each of which is presented above. This was clarified in a 
call with the relevant Clearing Member. Certain minor drafting 
clarifications were made in response to other comments that were 
received prior to the annexed rules and procedures set being finalized. 
ICE Clear Europe determined that the questions and suggestions were 
adequately addressed by oral explanations and discussions with Clearing 
Members, together with minor drafting changes to some of the proposed 
Rule changes, and that no material changes to the proposed Rules were 
required. ICE Clear Europe will notify the Commission of any further 
written comments with respect to the proposed rules received by ICE 
Clear Europe.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not:
    (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest;
    (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and
    (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was 
filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has 
become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 
19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.
    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.

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-ICEEU-2019-015 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-2019-015. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the

[[Page 45575]]

Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please 
use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the 
Commission's internet website (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 website 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 website at: //www.theice.com/notices/Notices.shtml?regulatoryFilings.
    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-2019-015 and should be 
submitted on or before September 19, 2019.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
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    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-18625 Filed 8-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


