Exemptions for Security-Based Swaps Issued by Certain Clearing Agencies

AGENCY:

Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION:

Proposed rules.

SUMMARY:

We are proposing exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for security-based swaps issued by certain clearing agencies satisfying certain conditions. The proposed rules would exempt transactions by clearing agencies in these security-based swaps from all provisions of the Securities Act, other than the Section 17(a) anti-fraud provisions, as well as exempt these security-based swaps from Exchange Act registration requirements and from the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, provided certain conditions are met.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed rules should be received on or before July 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed.shtml);
• Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number S7-22-11 on the subject line; or
• Use the Federal Rulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

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 S7-22-11. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help us process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. We will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed.shtml). Comments are also available for public inspection and copying 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. All comments received will be posted without change; we do not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tamara Brightwell, Senior Special Counsel to the Director, Michael J. Reedich, Special Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, or Andrew Schoeffler, Special Counsel, Office of Capital Market Trends, Division of Corporation Finance, at (202) 551-3500, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-4561.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

We are proposing new Rule 239 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”). We are also proposing new Rule 12a-10 and an amendment to Rule 12h-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 4d-11 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“Trust Indenture Act”).

I. Background

On July 21, 2010, the President signed the Dodd-Frank Act into law. The Dodd-Frank Act was enacted to, among other purposes, promote the financial stability of the United States by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act provides the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or the “Commission”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) with the authority to regulate over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives in light of the recent financial crisis.

The Dodd-Frank Act provides that the CFTC will regulate “swaps,” the SEC will regulate “security-based swaps,” and the CFTC and SEC will jointly regulate “mixed swaps.” The Dodd-Frank Act amends the Exchange Act to require, among other things, the following: (1) Transactions in security-based swaps must be submitted for clearing to a clearing agency if such security-based swap is one that the Commission has determined is required to be cleared, unless an exception from mandatory clearing applies; (2) transactions in security-based swaps must be reported to a registered security-based swap data repository (“SDR”) or the Commission; and (3) if a security-based swap is subject to mandatory clearing, transactions in security-based swaps must be executed on an exchange or a registered or exempt security-based swap execution facility (“security-based SEF”), unless no exchange or security-based SEF makes such security-based swap available for trading or the security-based swap transaction is subject to the clearing exception in Exchange Act Section 3C(g). In this release, we are proposing exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and from the qualification requirements of the Trust Indenture Act, to facilitate implementation of these new requirements.

We believe that the increased use of central clearing for security-based swaps should help to promote robust risk management, foster greater efficiencies, improve investor protection, and promote transparency in the market for security-based swaps. The Dodd-Frank Act seeks to ensure that, wherever possible and appropriate, security-based swaps are cleared. Paragraph (a)(1) of new Exchange Act Section 3C establishes a mandatory clearing requirement for certain security-based swaps. Exchange Act Section 3C(b) sets forth a process by which we would determine whether a security-based swap or any group, category, type or class of security-based swap that a clearing agency plans to accept for clearing is required to be cleared. If we make a determination that a security-based swap is required to be cleared, then parties may not engage in such a security-based swap without submitting it for clearing, unless an exception applies. If we make a determination that a security-based swap is not required to be cleared, such security-based swap may still be cleared on a non-mandatory basis by the clearing agency if it has rules that permit it to clear such security-based swap.

Clearing agencies are broadly defined under the Exchange Act and may undertake a variety of functions. One such function is to act as a central counterparty (“CCP”). For example, when a security-based swap between two counterparties that are members of a CCP is executed and submitted for clearing, the original contract is extinguished and is replaced by two new contracts where the CCP is the buyer to the seller and the seller to the buyer. At that point, the original counterparties are no longer counterparties to each other. As a result, the creditworthiness and liquidity of the CCP is substituted for the creditworthiness and liquidity of the original counterparties.

Under the rules we recently proposed regarding mandatory clearing, to meet the clearing requirement in Exchange Act Section 3C, the parties would be required to submit security-based swaps required to be cleared to a clearing agency that functions as a CCP for central clearing. The proposed rules also would establish procedures for a clearing agency to submit to us for a review each security-based swap, or group, category, type or class of security-based swap, that the clearing agency plans to accept for clearing. We would review the submission and make a determination about whether the security-based swap, or group, category, type or class of security-based swap, is required to be cleared. Under the statute and the proposed rules, the submission would be publicly available and a public comment period would be provided with respect to whether the clearing requirement will apply.

If we determine that a security-based swap, or group, category, type, or class of security-based swap is required to be cleared, counterparties would be required to submit such security-based swaps negotiated and entered into bilaterally to the clearing agency for novation. Thus, for security-based swaps submitted for novation, the CCP will be the issuer of new security-based swaps. Because the definition of “security” in the Securities Act was amended in the Dodd-Frank Act to include security-based swaps, the novation of a security-based swap by a clearing agency functioning as a central counterparty involves an offer and sale by the clearing agency of a security (the security-based swap) under the Securities Act.

The Securities Act requires that any offer and sale of a security must either be registered under the Securities Act or made pursuant to an exemption from registration. Certain provisions of the Exchange Act relating to the registration of classes of securities and the indenture qualification provisions of the Trust Indenture Act also potentially would apply to security-based swaps. The provisions of Section 12 of the Exchange Act could, without an exemption, require that security-based swaps be registered before a transaction could be effected on a national securities exchange. In addition, registration of a class of security-based swaps under Section 12(g) would be required if the security-based swap is considered an equity security and there are more than 500 record holders of a particular class of security-based swaps at the end of a fiscal year. Further, without an exemption, the Trust Indenture Act would require qualification of an indenture for security-based swaps considered to be debt.

The provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act do not contain an exemption from Securities Act or Exchange Act registration, or from Trust Indenture Act qualification, for security-based swaps, and we believe that compliance with the registration and qualification provisions of these Acts likely would be impracticable and frustrate the purposes of the Dodd-Frank Act. We have taken action in the past to facilitate clearing of certain credit default swaps by clearing agencies functioning as CCPs. For example, prior to enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, we permitted five clearing agencies to clear certain credit default swaps (“eligible CDS”) on a temporary conditional basis. To facilitate the operation of clearing agencies as CCPs for eligible CDS, we also adopted interim temporary exemptions from certain provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act, subject to certain conditions. In the adopting release, we noted that we believed that the existence of CCPs for CDS would be important in helping to reduce counterparty risks inherent in the CDS market. In addition to those actions with respect to eligible CDS, as discussed further below, the exemptions we are proposing today are similar to exemptions under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act for security futures products and certain standardized options.

The rules proposed in this release are intended to further the goal of central clearing of security-based swaps by providing exemptions for the issuance of security-based swaps in connection with novation by a registered or exempt clearing agency functioning as a CCP from certain regulatory provisions that might otherwise interfere with such clearing activities. Without an exemption, a clearing agency functioning as a CCP would be required to register the security-based swap transaction, which could unnecessarily impede the central clearing of security-based swaps. In addition, the clearing agency would be subject to Exchange Act registration and reporting requirements, and to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act. We believe that the proposed exemptions from the Securities Act, Exchange Act, and Trust Indenture Act are necessary to facilitate the intent of the Dodd-Frank Act with respect to mandatory clearing of security-based swaps. As noted above, these proposed exemptions are similar to the exemptions we adopted for eligible CDS and standardized options, as well as the exemptions that are provided in the Securities Act and the Exchange Act for security futures products. In addition to our interest in facilitating clearing of security-based swaps, we believe that security-based swaps can be used for financial purposes similar to those served by standardized options and security futures products, and thus we believe that it is appropriate to establish comparable regulatory treatment for security-based swaps. By doing so, we believe that the proposed exemptions would allow for economically similar regulatory treatment under the Securities Act and Exchange Act.

II. Discussion of the Proposed Rules and Amendments

We are proposing rules and amendments to existing rules (collectively, “proposed rules”) to provide certain exemptions under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act for security-based swaps issued by clearing agencies functioning as CCPs.

A. Securities Act Rule 239

We are proposing Securities Act Rule 239 to exempt the offer and sale of security-based swaps that are or will be issued to eligible contract participants by, and in a transaction involving, a clearing agency that is registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act or exempt from such registration by rule, regulation or order of the Commission (“registered or exempt clearing agency”) in its function as a CCP, from all provisions of the Securities Act, except the anti-fraud provisions of Section 17(a), subject to certain conditions. Thus, proposed Securities Act Rule 239 will permit the offer and sale of security-based swaps to eligible contract participants that are or will be issued by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP without requiring compliance with Section 5 of the Securities Act.

For the reasons described below, under the proposed rule, the offer and sale of a security-based swap would be exempt from the provisions of the Securities Act, other than Section 17(a), if the following conditions are satisfied:

• The security-based swap is or will be issued by a clearing agency that is registered with us or exempt from such registration by rule, regulation or order of the Commission;
• The Commission has determined that the security-based swap is required to be cleared or the registered or exempt clearing agency is permitted to clear the security-based swap pursuant to its rules;
• The security-based swap is sold only to an eligible contract participant (as defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act) in a transaction involving the registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP with respect to the security-based swap; and

• For each security-based swap that would be offered or sold in reliance upon this exemption, the following information is included in an agreement covering the security-based swap the registered or exempt clearing agency provides to, or makes available to, its counterparty or is posted on a publicly available Web site maintained by the registered or exempt clearing agency:
• A statement identifying any security, issuer, loan, or narrow-based security index underlying the security-based swap;
• A statement indicating the security or loan to be delivered (or class of securities or loans), or if cash settled, the security, loan or narrow-based security index (or class of securities or loans) whose value is to be used to determine the amount of the settlement obligation under the security-based swap; and
• A statement of whether the issuer of any security or loan, each issuer of a security in a narrow-based security index, or each referenced issuer underlying the security-based swap is subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Section 13 or Section 15(d) and, if not subject to such reporting requirements, whether public information, including financial information, about any such issuer is available and where the information is available.

We believe that the proposed rule exempting offers and sales of such security-based swaps by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP will further the goal in the Dodd-Frank Act of central clearing of security-based swaps. Without exempting the offers and sales of such security-based swaps by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP from the Securities Act (other than Section 17(a)), we believe that a registered or exempt clearing agency may not be able to clear security-based swaps in the manner contemplated by the Dodd-Frank Act and our proposed rules implementing its provisions. Further, we believe that with the above conditions, an exemption from the Securities Act is necessary and appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors.

Request for Comment

1. Should we provide an exemption from the provisions of the Securities Act, other than the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a), for the offer and sale of security-based swaps that are or will be issued to eligible contract participants by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP? Why or why not?

2. If we provide an exemption, are the proposed conditions to the exemption appropriate? Why or why not? Are there additional or different conditions that we should impose? Should we require more specificity as to the terms of the security-based swaps?

1. Registered or Exempt Clearing Agency Issuing Security-Based Swaps in Its Function as a CCP

The proposed Securities Act exemption would apply only to offers and sales of security-based swaps that are or will be issued by, and in a transaction involving, a clearing agency in its function as a CCP that is either registered with us or exempt from such registration by rule, regulation or order of the Commission. Registered clearing agencies are regulated by us under the Exchange Act and must comply with the standards in Exchange Act Section 17A. The activities of such clearing agencies relating to the clearing or submission for clearing of security-based swaps are subject to regulation under the Exchange Act and applicable rules thereunder. The proposed rule also would be available for security-based swaps that are issued by a clearing agency that we have exempted from registration with us by rule, regulation, or order, subject to such terms and conditions contained in any exemption. We believe it is appropriate to make the proposed Securities Act exemption available to security-based swaps issued by exempt clearing agencies because in granting an exemption the Commission could impose conditions to the availability of the exemption that would provide protection to investors.

The proposed exemption would only apply to the extent the clearing agency will issue or is issuing the security-based swap in its function as a CCP and will apply to transactions involving such clearing agency. We note that a clearing agency's role as a CCP and an issuer of security-based swaps is similar to a clearing agency's role with respect to standardized options. We believe that a clearing agency's role as a CCP for security-based swaps, similar to a clearing agency's role with respect to standardized options, is fundamentally different from a conventional issuer that registers transactions in its securities under the Securities Act. For example, the purchaser of a security-based swap does not, except in the most formal sense, make an investment decision regarding the clearing agency. Rather, the security-based swap investment decision is based on the referenced security, loan, narrow-based security index, or issuer. In this circumstance, coupled with the other conditions to the proposed exemption, we do not believe that Securities Act registration of the offer and sale of security-based swaps by a clearing agency in its function as a CCP to eligible contract participants is necessary.

Request for Comment

3. Is the proposed exemption appropriately conditioned on the registered or exempt clearing agency issuing the security-based swap in its function as a CCP? Why or why not? Should there be a distinction between registered and exempt clearing agencies for this purpose?

2. Security-Based Swaps the Commission Determines Are Required To Be Cleared or That a Clearing Agency Is Permitted To Clear Pursuant to Its Rules

We recently proposed rules to implement the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act regarding mandatory and voluntary clearing of security-based swaps, or groups, categories, or types or classes of security-based swaps. Our proposed rules would establish procedures for a clearing agency to submit for a review the security-based swap, or group, category, type or class of security-based swap, that the clearing agency plans to accept for clearing. As proposed, we would review the submission and make a determination of whether the security-based swap, or group, category, type or class of security-based swap, is required to be cleared.

Consistent with the purposes of the Dodd-Frank Act, our proposed exemption is intended to facilitate clearing of security-based swaps that the Commission determines are subject to mandatory clearing, or that are permitted to be cleared pursuant to the clearing agency's rules. Consequently, under proposed Rule 239, a registered or exempt clearing agency would be entitled to rely on the exemption to issue, in its function as a CCP, security-based swaps that we determine are required to be cleared. In addition, the exemption would be available to a registered or exempt clearing agency issuing a security-based swap, in its function as a CCP, that is not subject to mandatory clearing but is permitted to be cleared pursuant to the clearing agency's rules. The proposed exemption would not be available for security-based swaps issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP that are not required to be cleared or permitted by its rules to be cleared.

The Dodd-Frank Act also provides that if a security-based swap is subject to the mandatory clearing requirement, it must be traded on an exchange or a registered or exempt security-based SEF, unless no security-based SEF makes such security-based swap available for trading. Thus, it is possible that a security-based swap could be subject to mandatory clearing without being traded on an exchange or security-based SEF. Proposed Rule 239 would be available for security-based swaps that are subject to the mandatory clearing requirement or are permitted to be cleared pursuant to the clearing agency's rules, regardless of whether such security-based swaps also are traded on a national securities exchange or through a security-based SEF. We believe that if the conditions to the proposed exemption are satisfied, then the protections provided for in the analogous exemption for security futures arising from the requirement for exchange trading, such as compliance with the statutory listing standards, are not needed here. Unlike security future products that may be purchased by any person, under the Dodd-Frank Act security-based swaps may only be offered and sold to eligible contract participants either pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in transactions not effected on a national securities exchange or in registered offerings effected on a national securities exchange. No offers or sales of security-based swaps may be made to non-eligible contract participants unless there is an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering transactions in such security-based swap and any security-based swap transaction with a non-eligible contract participant must be effected on a national securities exchange. As a result, security-based swaps issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP may only be offered and sold to eligible contract participants, unless there is an effective registration statement and the transaction is on a national securities exchange. Thus, because only eligible contract participants may enter into the security-based swaps not traded on a national securities exchange, we do not believe it is necessary to condition the exemption on whether the security-based swap is traded on a national securities exchange. In addition, including such a provision could frustrate the goals of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act because the Dodd-Frank Act did not restrict transactions with eligible contract participants to transactions on national securities exchanges. Consequently, the proposed exemption does not include such a requirement.

Request for Comment

4. Should we condition the availability of the exemption on the security-based swap being subject to the mandatory clearing requirement, or being permitted to be cleared pursuant to the clearing agency's rules, as proposed?

5. Should the exemption be limited to security-based swaps that are subject to the mandatory clearing requirement, and not include those that are permitted to be cleared?

6. Should the exemption be available to security-based swaps that are not traded on an exchange or a security-based SEF, as proposed?

3. Sales Only to Eligible Contract Participants

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, only an eligible contract participant may enter into security-based swaps other than on a national securities exchange. In addition, security-based swaps that are not registered pursuant to the Securities Act can only be sold to eligible contract participants. New Section 5(d) of the Securities Act specifically provides that it is unlawful to offer to buy, purchase, or sell a security-based swap to any person that is not an eligible contract participant, unless the transaction is registered under the Securities Act. Given that Congress determined it is appropriate to limit the availability of registration exemptions under the Securities Act to eligible contract participants, we believe it is appropriate to limit the proposed Securities Act exemption to security-based swaps entered into with eligible contract participants.

Request for Comment

7. Should we limit the Securities Act exemption to transactions with eligible contract participants, as proposed?

4. Disclosures Relating to the Security-Based Swaps

The proposed rule would require the registered or exempt clearing agency to disclose, either in its agreement regarding the security-based swap or on its publicly available Web site, certain information with respect to the security-based swap. This information would include the following:

• A statement identifying any security, issuer, loan, or narrow-based security index underlying the security-based swap;
• A statement indicating the security or loan to be delivered (or class of securities or loans), or if cash settled, the security, loan, or narrow-based security index (or class of securities or loans) whose value is to be used to determine the amount of the settlement obligation under the security-based swap; and
• A statement of whether the issuer of any security or loan, each issuer of a security in a narrow-based security index, or each referenced issuer underlying the security-based swap is subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Section 13 or Section 15(d) and, if not subject to such reporting requirements, whether public information, including financial information, about any such issuer is available, and, if so, the location where the information is available.

The purpose of the proposed requirement relating to the availability of information is to inform investors about whether there is publicly available information about the issuer of the referenced security or the referenced issuer. We are not proposing to condition the exemption on whether the issuer is subject to Exchange Act reporting or whether there is publicly available financial information about such issuer. As noted above, the proposed exemption for offers and sales of security-based swaps issued by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP would be limited to security-based swaps entered into with an eligible contract participant. The Dodd-Frank Act did not restrict eligible contract participants' ability to enter into security-based swaps based on whether or not there is publicly-available information about the issuer of the referenced security or loan or the referenced issuer. As a result, and in light of the nature of the other regulatory safeguards, we are not proposing to condition the proposed exemption on the actual availability or delivery of such information. While the Dodd-Frank Act does not condition clearing of security-based swaps on the availability of such information, we believe it is important for eligible contract participants to understand whether such information is publicly available. The availability (or absence) of public information is generally important to eligible contract participants and the registered or exempt clearing agency in evaluating and pricing the security-based swap. Therefore, our proposed rule would require disclosure about whether such information is available.

If the issuer of the referenced security or loan or the referenced issuer is not subject to Exchange Act reporting, but there is publicly available information about the issuer, the clearing agency would be required under the proposal to disclose that fact and disclose where the information is available. This disclosure could include, for example, a statement that the issuer is listed on a particular foreign exchange and where information about issuers on such exchange can be found.

Under our proposal, the required information could be provided in the agreement covering the security-based swap the registered or exempt clearing agency provides or makes available to the counterparty or on a publicly available Web site maintained by the clearing agency. We understand that master agreements and related schedules for security-based swaps generally contain detailed information about the terms of the security-based swaps. In addition, each registered clearing agency is required to post and maintain a current and complete version of its rules on its Web site. Thus, we believe that parties engaging in security-based swaps transactions would be familiar with looking to the agreements or a clearing agency's Web site to obtain information. Given that clearing agencies generally provide information in agreements and maintain publicly available Web sites, we believe that providing the information we are proposing be required to be disclosed in the agreement for the security-based swap or on the clearing agency's publicly available Web site would not pose significant burdens for clearing agencies.

Request for Comment

8. Should we require a registered or exempt clearing agency to provide or make available information about the security-based swap it will issue, as proposed?

9. Is the proposed requirement that a registered or exempt clearing agency indicate whether there is public information available about the referenced issuer or security upon which the security-based swap is based appropriate? If not, why not?

10. Should we require a registered or exempt clearing agency to provide or make available any additional or different information? Are any of the proposed disclosures unnecessary?

11. Should the exemption be limited to circumstances where the security-based swap relates to an Exchange Act reporting issuer?

12. Should we require, as proposed, that if the issuer is not an Exchange Act reporting company but there is publicly available information, that the location of that information be disclosed?

13. Should we provide the alternatives of including the disclosure in the agreement covering the security-based swap or on the clearing agency's publicly available Web site, as proposed? Should we require that all agreements include the information, or, alternatively, require the information to be posted on the clearing agency's publicly available Web site in any case? As another alternative, should we require that the information be made available to clearing members and eligible contract participants rather than require that the information be publicly available? Will the registered or exempt clearing agency already provide some or all of the proposed disclosures on its Web site? If so, what information? Is the information proposed to be required to be provided publicly available from sources other than the registered or exempt clearing agency? If so, where?

B. Exchange Act Rule 12a-10 and Rule 12h-1(h)

Section 12(a) of the Exchange Act makes it unlawful for any broker or dealer to effect a transaction in a non-exempt security on a national securities exchange unless the security has been registered under Section 12(b) for trading on that exchange. Section 12(g)(1), as modified by rule, requires any issuer with more than $10,000,000 in total assets and a class of equity securities held by 500 or more persons to register such security with us.

Rule 12b-1 under the Exchange Act prescribes the procedures for registration under both Section 12(b) and Section 12(g). Absent an exemption, security-based swaps that will be traded on national securities exchanges would be required to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. A registered or exempt clearing agency issuing a security-based swap as a result of novation would be required, without an available exemption, to register the security-based swaps under Section 12(b) before such security-based swaps could be traded on a national securities exchange. In addition, if the security-based swaps were considered equity securities of the registered or exempt clearing agency, the registration provisions of Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act could apply.

As noted above, just as a registered or exempt clearing agency is different from a conventional issuer that registers transactions in its securities under the Securities Act, it is also different with respect to registering a class of its securities, in this case the security-based swap issued by the registered or exempt clearing agency, under the Exchange Act. Therefore, we are proposing two rules relating to Exchange Act registration of security-based swaps that are or have been issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP.

We are proposing new Exchange Act Rule 12a-10 to exempt security-based swaps that are or have been issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in reliance on the proposed exemption under the Securities Act from Section 12(a) of the Exchange Act under certain conditions. Specifically, proposed Exchange Act Rule 12a-10 would provide that Exchange Act Section 12(a) does not apply to any security-based swap that:

• Is or will be issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP with respect to the security-based swap;
• The Commission has determined is required to be cleared, or that the clearing agency is permitted to clear pursuant to its rules;
• Is sold to an eligible contract participant in reliance on Securities Act Rule 239; and
• Is traded on a national securities exchange registered pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act.

We also are proposing an amendment to Exchange Act Rule 12h-1 to exempt security-based swaps that are or have been issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency from the provisions of Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act under certain conditions. Proposed Exchange Act Rule 12h-1(h) would exempt from Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act security-based swaps that are issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP, whether or not such security-based swap is traded on a national securities exchange registered pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act or a registered or exempt security-based SEF. In addition, the security-based swaps being issued by the registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP must be required to be cleared, or be permitted to be cleared pursuant to the clearing agency's rules, and may only be sold to eligible contract participants.

As we noted in the discussion of the proposed Securities Act exemption, we believe the interest of investors in the security-based swap is primarily with respect to the referenced security or loan, referenced issuer or referenced narrow-based security index, and not with respect to the registered or exempt clearing agency functioning as the CCP. Therefore, we preliminarily believe that requiring clearing agencies to register security-based swaps under the Exchange Act would not provide additional useful information or meaningful protection to investors with respect to the security-based swap. In addition, the other consequences of Exchange Act registration, such as requirements for ongoing periodic reporting and application of the proxy rules to the clearing agency, would not be meaningful in the context of security-based swaps. At the same time, requiring such registration likely would impose burdens on clearing agencies issuing security-based swaps. Therefore, we believe that subjecting the registered or exempt clearing agency to the requirements of the Exchange Act arising from Section 12(a) or 12(g) is not necessary or appropriate in the public interest.

In addition, we note that similar Exchange Act exemptions exist for standardized options issued by a registered options clearing agency and security futures products issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency. We believe that it is appropriate to establish comparable regulatory treatment for security-based swaps issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency with respect to the applicability of Section 12 of the Exchange Act to security-based swaps issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency. Moreover, we believe it is important to further the goal of facilitating clearing of security-based swaps while maintaining appropriate investor protection.

Security-based swaps that will not be cleared by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP but are listed for trading on a national securities exchange or registered or exempt security-based SEF will not be able to rely on the proposed exemption from registration under Section 12(b) or Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.

Request for Comment

14. Should we provide an exemption, as proposed, from Section 12(a) and Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act for security-based swaps that are or have been issued to eligible contract participants by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP? Why or why not?

15. If we should provide an exemption, are the proposed conditions to the exemption appropriate? Why or why not? Are there additional conditions that we should impose?

16. Should we provide an exemption from Section 12(a) and Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act for security-based swaps traded on a national securities exchange but that are not cleared? Why or why not?

17. Should we provide an exemption from Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act for security-based swaps traded on a registered or exempt security-based SEF but that are not cleared? Why or why not?

C. Implications of Security-Based Swaps as Securities

Transactions involving the offer and sale of security-based swaps that are not issued by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP would not be able to rely on the proposed exemptions under the Securities Act and Exchange Act. Thus, the proposed exemptions would not be available for transactions involving security-based swaps that will not be cleared (“uncleared security-based swaps”) that may be entered into on organized markets, such as a security-based SEF or a national securities exchange. It is our understanding that transactions involving uncleared security-based swaps occur today on organized platforms that would likely register as security-based SEFs, and we expect this activity will continue after the effective date of the Dodd-Frank Act. As of the effective date of the Dodd-Frank Act, however, such security-based swaps will be included in the definition of security under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and subject to the full panoply of the Federal securities laws, including the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act and Section 12 of the Exchange Act. Because the proposed exemptions are limited to security-based swaps that are issued or will be issued by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP, counterparties engaging in an uncleared security-based swap would have to either rely on other available exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and, if applicable, the Trust Indenture Act or consider whether to register such transaction or class of security.

Request for Comment

18. How will the proposed exemptions affect, if at all, the manner in which security-based swaps are transacted today and are expected to be transacted once the provisions of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act become effective?

19. Will the counterparties to uncleared security-based swaps be able to rely on other available exemptions from registration under the Securities Act and Exchange Act? If not, why? Is further guidance or rules needed in this regard? If so, what type of guidance or rules would be helpful?

20. Are security-based swaps transacted today or expected to be transacted once the provisions of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act become effective in a manner that would not permit the parties to rely on existing exemptions under the Securities Act and Exchange Act? If so, please explain in detail why existing exemptions would not be available.

21. Should we consider additional exemptions under the Securities Act and Exchange Act for security-based swaps traded on a national securities exchange or security-based SEFs with eligible contract participants but that are not cleared? Should an exemption from Exchange Act registration be provided if all holders of the class of security-based swap are eligible contract participants? Why or why not? What conditions to any such exemption would be appropriate, if any?

22. Should we consider providing an exemption under the Securities Act that would allow a public offering of security-based swaps to eligible contract participants on a registered security-based SEF or national securities exchange? Why or why not? What conditions to any such exemption would be appropriate, if any?

D. Trust Indenture Act Rule 4d-11

We are proposing Rule 4d-11 under Section 304(d) of the Trust Indenture Act that would exempt any security-based swap offered and sold in reliance on Securities Act Rule 239 from having to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. We adopted a similar exemption on a temporary basis for eligible CDS.

The Trust Indenture Act is aimed at addressing problems that unregulated debt offerings posed for investors and the public, and provides a mechanism for debtholders to protect and enforce their rights with respect to the debt. We do not believe that the protections contained in the Trust Indenture Act are needed to protect eligible contract participants to whom a sale of a security-based swap is made in reliance on proposed Securities Act Rule 239. The identified problems that the Trust Indenture Act is intended to address generally do not occur in the offer and sale of security-based swaps. For example, security-based swaps are contracts between two parties and, as a result, do not raise the same problem regarding the ability of parties to enforce their rights under the instruments as would, for example, a debt offering to the public. Moreover, through novation, the clearing agency functionally becomes the counterparty to the buyer and the seller, and, in the case where buyer and seller are both members of the CCP, each would look directly to the clearing agency to satisfy the obligations under the security-based swap. As a consequence, enforcement of contractual rights and obligations under the security-based swap would occur directly between such parties, and the Trust Indenture Act provisions would not provide any additional meaningful substantive or procedural protections.

Accordingly, due to the nature of security-based swaps as contracts that will be or have been issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP, we do not believe the protections contained in the Trust Indenture Act are needed with respect to these instruments. Therefore, we believe the proposed exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the Trust Indenture Act.

Request for Comment

23. The proposed rules include an exemption from the application of the Trust Indenture Act for security-based swaps that are offered and sold in reliance on proposed Securities Act Rule 239. Is this exemption appropriate or are there contractual protections in the Trust Indenture Act that should be included as mandatory provisions of a security-based swap contract that is or will be issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency? If yes, please explain in detail.

E. Transition Matters

As we discuss above, we adopted temporary rules to exempt eligible credit default swaps from all provisions of the Securities Act (other than the Section 17(a) anti-fraud provisions), Exchange Act registration requirements, and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, provided certain conditions were met. We subsequently extended the expiration date of the temporary rules until July 16, 2011. The rules proposed in this release would create permanent exemptions that would supplant the temporary rules. However, the current termination date for the temporary rules may pass before the rules proposed in this release are adopted. We plan to provide an appropriate transition from the temporary rules to any permanent rules. In the event the permanent rules are not in place by July 16, 2011, we may consider extending the temporary rules in order to continue facilitating the clearing of certain credit default swaps by clearing agencies functioning as CCPs.

III. General Request for Comment

We request and encourage any interested person to submit comments regarding the proposed rules. In particular, we solicit comment on the following questions:

24. We are interested in understanding what type of security-based swaps would not be eligible for these proposed exemptions. We noted above that the proposed exemptions would not be available for transactions involving uncleared security-based swaps that may be entered into on organized markets, such as a security-based SEF or a national securities exchange. Are there other security-based swaps that would not be encompassed within the scope of the proposed exemptions? Should these other security-based swaps be covered by the proposed exemptions? If so, why?

25. What are the amounts and types of security-based swaps that may not satisfy the conditions for the proposed exemptions?

26. We have not proposed an amendment to Securities Act Rule 146 for security-based swaps transactions because the Dodd-Frank Act provides that states may not regulate these transactions (except under their general antifraud authority). Therefore, we do not believe it is necessary to propose that eligible contract participants that are sold security-based swaps in reliance on proposed Securities Act Rule 239 be defined as “qualified purchasers” under Section 18(b)(3) of the Securities Act. Were we to add such a definition, such security-based swaps that are or will be issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency would be included as “covered securities” under Section 18 of the Securities Act and exempt from state securities registration (“blue sky”) laws. Would defining eligible contract participants that are sold security-based swaps pursuant to Securities Act Rule 239 as “qualified purchasers” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Act (and thus making the security-based swaps that are or will be issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency “covered securities,”) provide any benefit or greater certainty than that provided by the language in Exchange Act Section 28(a)(4)?

27. The conditions of the proposed Exchange Act and Trust Indenture Act exemptions are the same as the conditions to the proposed Securities Act exemption. Is this appropriate or should there be different conditions relating to the Exchange Act and Trust Indenture Act exemptions? If yes, please explain.

28. Are there transition issues we should consider relating to the temporary rules for eligible CDS and the proposed permanent rules?

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

A. Background

Certain provisions of proposed Securities Act Rule 239 would result in “collection of information requirements” within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“PRA”). The Commission is submitting proposed Rule 239 to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for review in accordance with the PRA. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The title for this collection of information is:

• “Rule 239” (a proposed new collection of information).

Rule 239 is a newly proposed collection of information under the Securities Act. This new collection of information relates to the proposed information requirements for clearing agencies seeking to rely on the proposed exemption. There is no mandatory retention period for the information disclosed, and the information disclosed would be made publicly available on the clearing agency's Web site or in an agreement the clearing agency provides or makes available to its counterparty to the security-based swap transaction. The collection of information would be mandatory and it would not be kept confidential.

B. Summary of Collection of Information

As discussed above, one condition to the availability of the exemption provided in proposed Securities Act Rule 239 for offers and sales of security-based swaps issued by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP is that such registered or exempt clearing agency has an agreement covering the security-based swap that is provided or made available to its counterparty or a publicly available Web site maintained by the registered or exempt clearing agency that contains the following:

• A statement identifying any security, issuer, loan, or narrow-based security index underlying the security-based swap;
• A statement indicating the security or loan to be delivered (or class of securities or loans), or if cash settled, the security, loan or narrow-based security index (or class of securities or loans) whose value is to be used to determine the amount of the settlement obligation under the security-based swap; and
• A statement of whether the issuer of any security or loan, each issuer of a security in a narrow-based security index, or each referenced issuer underlying the security-based swap is subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Section 13 or Section 15(d) and, if not subject to such reporting requirements, whether public information, including financial information, about any such issuer is available and where the information is available.

The other provisions of proposed Rule 239 and other rules we are proposing relate to exemptions and eligibility requirements for those exemptions; therefore, we do not expect that those other provisions would create any new filing, reporting, recordkeeping, or disclosure requirement for registered or exempt clearing agencies.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Estimates

For purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, we estimate that there will be an annual incremental increase in the paperwork burden for clearing agencies as issuers of security-based swaps to comply with our proposed collection of information requirements. The disclosure provisions of proposed Rule 239 would apply to registered or exempt clearing agencies relying on the proposed exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. The disclosure provisions of the proposed rule would make certain information about security-based swaps that may be cleared by the registered or exempt clearing agency available to eligible contract participants and other market participants.

Currently, four clearing agencies are authorized to clear credit default swaps, which include security-based swaps, pursuant to temporary conditional exemptions under Exchange Act Section 36. The obligation to centrally clear certain security-based swap transactions is a new requirement under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act, and we anticipate that clearing agencies operating under temporary conditional exemptions will register or will be deemed registered as clearing agencies eligible to clear security-based swaps. Based on the fact that there are currently four clearing agencies authorized to clear security-based swaps and that there could conceivably be a few more in the foreseeable future, we preliminarily estimate that four to six clearing agencies may plan to centrally clear security-based swaps and seek to rely on the proposed exemptions, and therefore, would be subject to the collection of information. For purposes of the PRA, we estimate six clearing agencies would seek to rely on the proposed exemptions.

We preliminarily believe that a registered or exempt clearing agency issuing security-based swaps in its function as a CCP could incur some costs associated with disclosing, or providing or making available, certain information in accordance with proposed Rule 239, either in its agreement regarding the security-based swap or on its publicly available Web site, with respect to the security-based swap. A clearing agency also could incur costs associated with updating the information on its Web site or in its agreements, if necessary. The purpose of the proposed requirement is to inform investors about whether there is publicly available information about the issuer of the referenced security or referenced issuer and we believe that a clearing agency likely already would be collecting and making public the type of information required by the proposed rule.

We preliminarily estimate that each registered or exempt clearing agency issuing security-based swaps in its function as a CCP will spend approximately 2 hours each time it provides or updates the information in its agreements relating to security-based swaps or on its Web site. We estimate that each registered or exempt clearing agency will provide or update the information 20 times per year. Therefore, we preliminarily estimate that the total annual reporting burden for clearing agencies to provide the information in their agreements relating to security-based swaps or on their Web site to comply with proposed Rule 239(c) will be 240 hours (20 × 2 hours × 6 respondents). We estimate that 75% of the burden of preparation is carried by the clearing agency internally and that 25% of the burden is carried by outside professionals retained by the clearing agency at an average cost of $400 per hour. We request comment on all of the above estimates.

D. Recordkeeping Requirements

There is no recordkeeping requirement associated with proposed Rule 239.

E. Request for Comment

Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2), we request comments in order to evaluate:

• Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information would have practical utility;
• The accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;
• Whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Whether there are ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Any member of the public may direct to us any comments concerning the accuracy of these burden estimates and any suggestions for reducing these burdens.

The Commission requests comment on all aspects of its burden estimates. In particular, we request comment on the following:

1. Is the proposed collection of information important for eligible contract participants and other market participants?

2. How many entities would incur collection of information burdens pursuant to Rule 239?

3. Should the estimates be different depending on whether a clearing agency chooses to include information required to rely on proposed Rule 239 in an agreement relating to a security-based swap or on its publicly available Web site?

4. Are there additional burdens that we have not addressed in our preliminary burden estimates?

Persons wishing to submit comments on the collection of information requirements should direct them to the following persons: (1) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; and (2) Elizabeth Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090 with reference to File No. S7-22-11. OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication, so a comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. The Commission has submitted the proposed collection of information to OMB for approval. Requests for the materials submitted to OMB by the Commission with regard to this collection of information should be in writing, refer to File No. S7-22-11, and be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Records Management, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-0213.

V. Cost-Benefit Analysis

As discussed above, we are proposing rules and amendments to existing rules to provide certain exemptions under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act for security-based swaps issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP.

A. Benefits

The proposed rules are intended to further the goal of central clearing of security-based swaps by providing exemptions for the issuance of security-based swaps by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP from certain regulatory provisions that might otherwise interfere with such clearing activities. Without an exemption, (1) a clearing agency issuing a security-based swap in its function as a CCP would be required to register the security-based swap transaction; (2) the security-based swaps that are or have been issued or cleared by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP would have to be registered as a class of securities under the Exchange Act; and (3) the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act would apply. We believe that requiring compliance with these provisions likely would unnecessarily impede central clearing of security-based swaps and that the proposed exemptions are necessary to facilitate the intent of the Dodd-Frank Act with respect to mandatory clearing of security-based swaps. Absent these proposed exemptions, we believe that registered or exempt clearing agencies would incur additional costs due to compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act solely because of their clearing functions.

The proposed exemptions would treat security-based swaps issued or cleared by a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP in the same manner as similar types of securities, such as security futures products and standardized options. The proposed exemptions are similar to those provided for CDS under our temporary rules. A registered or exempt clearing agency issuing security-based swaps in its function as a CCP would benefit from the proposed exemptions because it would not have to file registration statements covering the offer and sale of the security-based swaps. If a registered or exempt clearing agency is not required to register the offer and sale of security-based swaps, it would not have to incur the costs of such registration, including legal and accounting costs. Some of these costs, such as the costs of obtaining audited financial statements, may still be incurred by the clearing agency as a result of other regulatory requirements for clearing agencies.

Proposed Exchange Act Rule 12a-10 would provide that the Exchange Act Section 12(a) does not apply to any security-based swap that is issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in reliance on proposed Securities Act Rule 239 and traded on a national securities exchange. In addition, proposed Exchange Act Rule 12h-1(h) would exempt from Section 12(g) security-based swaps that are issued by a registered or exempt clearing agency in reliance on proposed Securities Act Rule 239, whether or not such security-based swap is traded on a national securities exchange or a registered or exempt security-based SEF. Thus, the clearing agency would not incur the costs of registration or the costs associated with Exchange Act periodic reporting. The availability of exemptions under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act would mean that registered or exempt clearing agencies would not incur the costs associated with registering transactions or classes of securities, such as costs associated with preparing documents describing security-based swaps, preparing indentures, or arranging for the services of a trustee.

B. Costs

The proposed rules exempting offers and sales of security-based swaps that are or will be issued by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP should facilitate the use by eligible contract participants at minimal cost to the CCP or eligible contract participants. Because reliance on the proposed exemptions will not require any filing with or submission to us, other than costs incurred to comply with the information condition of proposed Rule 239, the costs of being able to rely on such exemptions, we believe, are minimal.

We recognize that a consequence of the proposed exemptions would be the unavailability of certain remedies under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and certain protections under the Trust Indenture Act. Absent an exemption, a clearing agency may have to file a registration statement covering the offer and sale of the security-based swaps, may have to register the class of eligible security-based swaps that it has issued or cleared under the Exchange Act, and may have to satisfy the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, which would provide investors with civil remedies in addition to antifraud remedies. A registration statement covering the offer and sale of security-based swaps may provide certain information about the clearing agency, security-based swap contract terms, and the identification of the particular reference securities, issuers, loans underlying the security-based swap. However, it would not necessarily provide the type of information necessary to assess the risk of the reference issuer, security, narrow-based security index, or loan. Further, while a registration statement would provide information to eligible contract participants, as well as to the market as a whole, registered clearing agencies already are required to make their audited financial statements and other information about themselves publicly available. While an investor would be able to pursue an antifraud action in connection with the purchase and sale of security-based swaps under Exchange Act Section 10(b), it would not be able to pursue civil remedies under Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act. We could still pursue an antifraud action in the offer and sale of security-based swaps issued by a clearing agency.

As previously discussed in the PRA, proposed Rule 239(c) would require a clearing agency availing itself of the Securities Act exemption to include in an agreement covering the security-based swap the clearing agency provides or makes available to its counterparty or include on a publicly available Web site maintained by the clearing agency:

• A statement identifying any security, issuer, loan, or narrow-based security index underlying the security-based swap;
• A statement indicating the securities or loans to be delivered (or class of securities or loans), or if cash settled, the securities, loans or narrow-based security index (or class of securities or loans) whose value will determine the settlement obligation under the security-based swap; and
• A statement of whether the issuer of any security or loan, each issuer of a security in a narrow-based security index, or each referenced issuer underlying the security-based swap is subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Section 13 or Section 15(d) and, if not subject to such reporting requirements, whether public information, including financial information, about any such issuer is available and where the information is available.

We preliminarily believe some of the information the clearing agency would make available would be the same information the clearing agency would be required to provide us under proposed Rule 19b-4 in connection with the mandatory clearing requirement, and the same information is collected and analyzed in making its business decision to plan to accept the security-based swap, or any group, category, type, or class of security-based swaps, for clearing. A clearing agency may incur costs in providing or making available this information in order to rely on the proposed exemption. We believe that the information requirements of proposed Rule 239 would be less burdensome to the clearing agency to the extent that it is already required to provide the information pursuant to Rule 19b-4 if adopted as proposed.

C. Request for Comment

We request that commentators provide views and supporting information regarding the costs and benefits associated with the proposed rules. We seek estimates of these costs and benefits, as well as any costs and benefits not already identified herein. We also request comment on whether other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act for which Commission rulemaking is required are likely to have an effect on the costs and benefits of the proposed rules.

VI. Consideration of Burden on Competition and Promotion of Efficiency, Competition and Capital Formation

Section 23(a)(2) of the Exchange Act requires us, when adopting rules under the Exchange Act, to consider the impact that any new rule would have on competition. Section 23(a)(2) prohibits us from adopting any rule that would impose a burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. In addition, Section 2(b) of the Securities Act and Section 3(f) of the Exchange Act require us, when engaging in rulemaking where we are required to consider or determine whether an action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, to also consider whether the action will promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation.

The rules we are proposing would exempt offers and sales of security-based swaps that are or will be issued to eligible contract participants by, and in a transaction involving, a registered or exempt clearing agency in its function as a CCP from all provisions of the Securities Act, other than the Section 17(a) antifraud provision, as well as from the registration requirements under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. Because these exemptions are available to any registered or exempt clearing agency offering and selling security-based swaps to an eligible contract participant, in its function as a CCP, we do not believe that the proposed exemptions impose a burden on competition. In contrast, we believe the proposed exemption would facilitate moving security-based swaps into centralized clearing, furthering the goal of the Dodd-Frank Act to reduce systemic risk while improving market access to hedging instruments that can contribute to lower costs of raising capital. In addition, we believe the proposal would promote efficiency by treating security-based swaps issued by clearing agencies in a manner similar to standardized options and security futures issued by clearing agencies. Harmonizing the regulatory treatment of these securities under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act should reduce the potential for regulatory arbitrage between such products.

We also believe that the ability to novate security-based swaps with registered or exempt clearing agencies functioning as CCPs would improve the transparency of the security-based swap market and provide greater assurance to participants as to the capacity of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the security-based swap. We preliminarily believe that clearing agencies providing the information as would be required by proposed Rule 239(c) may promote competition and transparency among clearing agencies because it will make it easier for clearing agencies and eligible contract participants to determine what security-based swaps are being cleared. We preliminarily believe that increased transparency in the security-based swap market could help to limit market turmoil and thereby facilitate the capital formation process.

We generally request comment on the competitive or anticompetitive effects of the proposed exemptions on any market participants if adopted as proposed. We also request comment on what impact the exemptions, if adopted, would have on efficiency and capital formation. We request that commentators provide analysis and empirical data, if available, to support their views regarding any such effects. We also request comment regarding the competitive effects of pursuing alternative regulatory approaches that are consistent with the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition, we request comment on how the other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act for which Commission rulemaking is required, will interact with and influence the competitive effects of the proposed exemptions.

VII. Consideration of Impact on the Economy

Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, a rule is considered “major” where, if adopted, it results or is likely to result in: (i) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more (either in the form of an increase or a decrease); (ii) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers or individual industries; or (iii) significant adverse effect on competition, investment or innovation. We request comment on the potential impact of the proposed exemptions on the economy on an annual basis, any potential increase in costs or prices for consumers or individual industries, and any potential effect on competition, investment or innovation. Commentators are requested to provide empirical data and other factual support for their view to the extent possible.

VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Certification

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (“RFA”) requires the Commission, in promulgating rules, to consider the impact of those rules on small entities. Section 603(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act, as amended by the RFA, generally requires the Commission to undertake a regulatory flexibility analysis of all proposed rules to determine the impact of such rulemaking on “small entities.” Section 605(b) of the RFA states that this requirement shall not apply to any proposed rule which, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

The exemptions would apply to all registered or exempt clearing agencies that issue or will issue security-based swaps in its function as a CCP. As noted above, four entities are currently exempt from registration as a clearing agency under Exchange Act Section 17A to provide central clearing services for CDS, a class of security-based swaps. Based on our understanding of the market, we preliminarily believe that between four and six clearing agencies will clear security-based swaps and would seek to avail themselves of the proposed exemptions.

For the purposes of our rulemaking in connection with the RFA, a small entity includes, when used with reference to a clearing agency, a clearing agency that: (i) compared, cleared and settled less than $500 million in securities transactions during the preceding fiscal year; (ii) had less than $200 million of funds and securities in its custody or control at all times during the preceding fiscal year (or at any time that it has been in business, if shorter); and (iii) is not affiliated with any person (other than a natural person) that is not a small business or small organization. Under the standards adopted by the Small Business Administration, small entities in the finance industry include the following: (i) For entities engaged in investment banking, securities dealing and securities brokerage activities, entities with $6.5 million or less in annual receipts; (ii) for entities engaged in trust, fiduciary and custody activities, entities with $6.5 million or less in annual receipts; and (iii) funds, trusts and other financial vehicles with $6.5 million or less in annual receipts.

Based on our existing information about the entities likely to register to clear security-based swaps, the Commission preliminarily believes that such entities will not be small entities, but rather part of large business entities that exceed the thresholds defining “small entities” set out above. Additionally, while other clearing agencies may become eligible to operate as central counterparties for security-based swaps, we preliminarily do not believe that any such entities would be “small entities” as defined in Exchange Act Rule 0-10. Furthermore, we believe it is unlikely that clearing agencies functioning as CCPs for security-based swaps would have annual receipts of less than $6.5 million. Accordingly, we believe that any clearing agencies issuing security-based swaps in their function as CCPs in such transactions will exceed the thresholds for “small entities” set forth in Exchange Act Rule 0-12. We encourage written comments regarding this certification.

IX. Statutory Authority and Text of the Rules and Amendments

The rules and amendments described in this release are being proposed under the authority set forth in Sections 19 and 28 of the Securities Act; Sections 3C, 12(h), 23(a) and 36 of the Exchange Act; and Section 304(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

List of Subjects in 17 CFR Parts 230, 240 and 260

• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

Text of the Rules and Amendments

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Commission is proposing to amend Title 17, Chapter II, of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 230—GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

1. The authority citation for Part 230 continues to read, in part, as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77b, 77c, 77d, 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77r, 77s, 77z-3, 77sss, 78c, 78d, 78j, 78 l, 78m, 78n, 78o, 78t, 78w, 78ll(d), 78mm, 80a-8, 80a-24, 80a-28, 80a-29, 80a-30, and 80a-37, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 230.239 is added to read as follows:

PART 240—GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

3. The authority citation for Part 240 continues to read, in part, as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77c, 77d, 77g, 77j, 77s, 77z-2, 77z-3, 77eee, 77ggg, 77nnn, 77sss, 77ttt, 78c, 78d, 78e, 78f, 78g, 78i, 78j, 78j-1, 78k, 78k-1, 78l, 78m, 78n, 78n-1, 78o, 78o-4, 78p, 78q, 78s, 78u-5, 78w, 78x, 78ll, 78mm, 80a-20, 80a-23, 80a-29, 80a-37, 80b-3, 80b-4, 80b-11, and 7201 et seq., 18 U.S.C. 1350, and 12 U.S.C. 5221(e)(3), unless otherwise noted.

4. Section 240.12a-10 is added to read as follows:

PART 260—GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

6. The authority citation for Part 260 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77eee, 77ggg, 77nnn, 77sss, 78ll(d), 80b-3, 80b-4, and 80b-11.

7. Section 260.4d-11 is added to read as follows: