[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41171-41173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13348]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-97746; File No. SR-ICEEU-2023-015]


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

June 16, 2023.
    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 June 6, 2023, ICE Clear Europe Limited 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 Limited. ICE Clear Europe Limited filed 
the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ 
and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) thereunder,\4\ such that the proposed rule change 
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)(4).
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    ICE Clear Europe Limited (``ICE Clear Europe'' or the ``Clearing 
House'') proposes to amend Part HH of its Delivery Procedures 
(``Delivery Procedures'' or ``Procedures'') \5\ to make certain 
corrections and clarifications with respect to the ICE Endex French PEG 
Natural Gas Contracts to be consistent with relevant exchange contract 
specifications.
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    \5\ Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the 
meanings specified in the Delivery Procedures or, if not defined 
therein, the ICE Clear Europe Clearing 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)

[[Page 41172]]

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 is proposing to amend Part HH of the Delivery 
Procedures which applies to ICE Endex French PEG Natural Gas Contracts 
to make certain corrections and clarifications to be consistent with 
exchange contract specifications. In paragraph 3.2, the amendments 
would clarify that the contract trades in megawatt hours (MWh) per day 
and would correctly reflect that the contract is delivered in kilowatt 
hours (kWh) rather than MWh. The delivery documentation summary in 
paragraph 9.1 would also be amended to reflect the correction from MWh 
to kWh for deliveries under the contract. In paragraph 9.2, a 
correction would be made for invoice report and account sale report 
requirements to reflect that ICE Endex French PEG Daily Futures are 
priced in Euros per MWh (rather than pence per Therm). The amendments 
do not otherwise change the terms and conditions of deliveries under 
the relevant contract.
(b) Statutory Basis
    ICE Clear Europe believes that the proposed amendments to the 
Delivery Procedures are consistent with the requirements of Section 17A 
of the Act \6\ and the regulations thereunder applicable to it. In 
particular, 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. The proposed 
changes to the Delivery Procedures are designed to make certain 
clarifications and corrections in Part HH relating to settlement for 
ICE Endex French PEG Natural Gas Contracts, for consistency with 
relevant exchange contract specifications. The amendments do not 
otherwise change the manner in which the contracts are cleared or 
settled. Accordingly, ICE Clear Europe believes that the Delivery 
Procedures, as amended, would be consistent with the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of the contracts, and the protection 
of investors and the public interest consistent with the requirements 
of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\8\ (In ICE Clear Europe's view, the 
amendments would not affect the safeguarding of funds or securities in 
the custody or control of the clearing agency or for which it is 
responsible, within the meaning of Section 17A(b)(3)(F).\9\)
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    In addition, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(10) \10\ provides that ``[e]ach 
covered clearing agency shall establish, implement, maintain and 
enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to, as 
applicable [. . .] 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.'' As discussed above, the amendments would make certain 
corrections and clarifications relating to settlement under ICE Endex 
French PEG Natural Gas Contracts, including with respect to deliveries 
being made in kWh. The amendments thus appropriately clarify the role 
and responsibilities of the Clearing House and Clearing Members with 
respect to the contracts. As a result, ICE Clear Europe believes the 
amendments are consistent with the requirements of Rule 17Ad-
22(e)(10).\11\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(10).
    \11\ 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 amendments would 
have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed 
amendments to the Delivery Procedures are intended to make certain 
corrections and clarifications relating to ICE Endex French PEG Natural 
Gas Contracts. The amendments would not change the obligations of 
market participants under those contracts. ICE Clear Europe does not 
believe the amendments would adversely affect competition among 
Clearing Members, materially affect the cost of clearing, adversely 
affect access to clearing in the new contracts for Clearing Members or 
their customers, or otherwise adversely affect competition in clearing 
services. Accordingly, ICE Clear Europe does not believe that the 
amendments would impose any impact or burden on competition that is not 
appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change

    Written comments relating to the proposed amendment has not been 
solicited or received by ICE Clear Europe. ICE Clear Europe will notify 
the Commission of any comments received with respect to the proposed 
rule change.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \12\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \13\ 
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.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \13\ 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 (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml) or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
file number SR-ICEEU-2023-015 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-2023-015. 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 website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule

[[Page 41173]]

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 a.m. and 3 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 https://www.theice.com/clear-europe/regulation.
    Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; 
you should submit only information that you wish to make available 
publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication 
submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. 
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICEEU-2023-015 and 
should be submitted on or before July 14, 2023.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-13348 Filed 6-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


