Security-Based Swap Data Repositories; ICE Trade Vault, LLC; Notice of Filing of Application for Registration as a Security-Based Swap Data Repository, 25475-25483 [2016-09931]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices 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, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 13 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.14 A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) under the Act 15 normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) 16 permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange states that the proposed rule change is designed to protect Participants in the event a Participant is suffering from a systems issue or from the occurrence of unusual or unexpected market activity.17 To the extent that the Exchange’s proposal provides member firms with greater control over their quotes and orders, and allows firms to remove quotes and cancel orders in an appropriate manner, then the proposal may encourage firms to provide liquidity on the Exchange and thus contribute to fair and orderly markets in a manner that protects the public interest, protects investors, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination. The Commission notes that the proposal is similar to the rules of other exchanges 18 and therefore does not raise any new, unique or substantive issues. Based on the foregoing, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.19 The Commission hereby grants the Exchange’s request and designates the proposal operative upon filing. 13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). addition, Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange’s intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement. 15 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 16 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). 17 See supra Section II.A.2. 18 See supra note 10. 19 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 14 In VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved. 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 rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– BOX–2016–16 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–BOX–2016–16. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25475 submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–BOX– 2016–16, and should be submitted on or before May 19, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.20 Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–09900 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–77699; File No. SBSDR– 2016–01] Security-Based Swap Data Repositories; ICE Trade Vault, LLC; Notice of Filing of Application for Registration as a Security-Based Swap Data Repository April 22, 2016. I. Introduction On March 29, 2016, and as amended on April 18, 2016, ICE Trade Vault, LLC (‘‘ICE Trade Vault’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) a Form SDR seeking registration as a security-based swap data repository (‘‘SDR’’) under Section 13(n) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and the Commission’s rules promulgated thereunder.2 ICE Trade Vault proposes to operate as a registered SDR for security-based swap (‘‘SBS’’) transactions in the credit derivatives asset class. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments from interested persons regarding ICE Trade Vault’s Form SDR,3 and the Commission will consider any comments it receives in making its 20 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78m(n)(3). 2 17 CFR 240.13n–1 through 240.13n–12. 3 ICE Trade Vault filed its Form SDR, including the exhibits thereto, electronically with the Commission. The descriptions set forth in this notice regarding the structure and operations of ICE Trade Vault have been derived, excerpted, and/or summarized from information in ICE Trade Vault’s Form SDR application, and principally from ICE Trade Vault’s Guidebook (Exhibit GG.2), which outlines the applicant’s policies and procedures designed to address its statutory and regulatory obligations as an SDR registered with the Commission. ICE Trade Vault’s Form SDR application and non-confidential exhibits thereto are available in EDGAR at https://www.sec.gov/cgibin/browse-edgar?CIK=0001658496&owner= exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search. In addition, the public may access copies of these materials on the Commission’s Web site at: https:// www.sec.gov/rules/other/2016/ice-trade-vault-formsdr-htm. 1 15 E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 25476 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices determination whether to grant ICE Trade Vault registration as an SDR.4 II. Background A. SDR Registration, Duties and Core Principles, and Regulation SBSR Section 763(i) of the Dodd-Frank Act added Section 13(n) to the Exchange Act, which requires an SDR to register with the Commission and provides that, to be registered and maintain registration as an SDR, an SDR must comply with certain requirements and ‘‘core principles’’ described in Section 13(n) and any requirement that the Commission may impose by rule or regulation.5 The Commission adopted Exchange Act Rules 13n–1 through 13n–12 (‘‘SDR rules’’), which require an SDR to register with the Commission and comply with certain ‘‘duties and core principles.’’ 6 Among other requirements, the SDR rules require an SDR to collect and maintain accurate SBS data and make such data available to the Commission and other authorities so that relevant authorities will be better able to monitor the buildup and concentration of risk exposure in the SBS market.7 Concurrent with the Commission’s adoption of the SDR rules, the Commission adopted Regulation SBSR,8 which, among other things, provides for the reporting of SBS information to registered SDRs, and the public dissemination of SBS transaction, volume, and pricing information by registered SDRs. In addition, Regulation SBSR requires each registered SDR to register with the Commission as a securities information processor.9 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES B. Standard for Granting SDR Registration To be registered with the Commission as an SDR and maintain such registration, an SDR is required (absent an exemption) to comply with the requirements and core principles described in Exchange Act Section 13(n), as well as with any requirements that the Commission adopts by rule or regulation.10 Exchange Act Rule 13n– 4 ICE Trade Vault’s Form SDR application also constitutes an application for registration as a securities information processor (‘‘SIP’’). See Exchange Act Release No. 74246 (Feb. 11, 2015), 80 FR 14438, 14458 (Mar. 19, 2015) (‘‘SDR Adopting Release’’). 5 15 U.S.C. 78m(n). 6 See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14438. 7 See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14450. 8 See Exchange Act Release No. 74244 (Feb. 11, 2015), 80 FR 14563 (Mar. 19, 2015) (‘‘Regulation SBSR Adopting Release’’). 9 See Regulation SBSR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14567. 10 See Exchange Act Section 13(n)(3), 15 U.S.C. 78m(n)(3). VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 1(c)(3) provides that the Commission shall grant the registration of an SDR if it finds that the SDR is so organized, and has the capacity, to be able to (i) assure the prompt, accurate, and reliable performance of its functions as an SDR; (ii) comply with any applicable provisions of the securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder; and (iii) carry out its functions in a manner consistent with the purposes of Section 13(n) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.11 The Commission must deny registration of an SDR if it does not make such a finding.12 In determining whether an applicant meets the criteria set forth in Rule 13n– 1(c), the Commission will consider the information reflected by the applicant on its Form SDR, as well as any additional information obtained from the applicant. For example, Form SDR requires an applicant to provide, among other things, contact information, a list of the asset class(es) for which the applicant is collecting and maintaining data or for which it proposes to collect and maintain data, a description of the functions that it performs or proposes to perform, and general information regarding its business organization.13 This, and other information reflected on the Form SDR, will assist the Commission in understanding the basis for registration as well as the SDR applicant’s overall business structure, financial condition, track record in providing access to its services and data, technological reliability, and policies and procedures to comply with its statutory and regulatory obligations.14 Furthermore, the information requested in Form SDR will enable the Commission to assess whether the SDR applicant would be able to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and ultimately whether to grant or deny an application for registration.15 III. ICE Trade Vault Application for Registration ICE Trade Vault currently operates as a trade repository under the regulatory framework of other authorities. Specifically, ICE Trade Vault is a swap data repository regulated and provisionally registered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘‘CFTC’’).16 In that 11 See 17 CFR 240.13n-1(c)(3). id. 13 See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14458. 14 See id. 15 See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14458–59. 16 See Order of Provisional Registration, In the Matter of the Request of ICE Trade Vault, LLC for Provisional Registration as a Swap Data Repository 12 See PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 capacity, ICE Trade Vault has been accepting derivatives data for the commodity and credit asset classes in the United States since October 2012. Additionally, in 2014, ICE Trade Vault was approved by the Ontario Securities ´ ´ Commission,17 the Autorite des marches financiers,18 and the Manitoba Securities Commission 19 as a Canadian Trade Repository to serve the commodity, credit, and foreign exchange asset classes. A. Corporate Structure and Governance Arrangements ICE Trade Vault is a Delaware limited liability company, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (‘‘ICE’’), a publicly traded company.20 ICE Trade Vault is managed by a Board of Directors responsible for overseeing its operations.21 The Board of Directors has the ability to: (i) Designate and authorize specific appointed officers to act on behalf of the Board of Directors; (ii) fix, determine and levy all fees, when necessary; (iii) prepare and amend ICE Trade Vault’s Guidebook; 22 (iv) act in emergencies; and (v) delegate any such power to the appropriate party.23 The Board of Directors would oversee ICE Trade Vault’s SDR functions as it currently oversees the other regulated services that ICE Trade Vault provides.24 Pursuant to Section 21 of the Commodity Exchange Act and Part 49 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Regulations (June 27, 2012), available at https://www.cftc.gov/stellent/groups/public/@ otherif/documents/ifdocs/icetradevault registration.pdf. 17 See Ontario Securities Commission, Order (Section 21.2.2 of the Securities Act), in the Matter of the Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter S.5, as amended, and in the Matter of ICE Trade Vault, LLC (Sept. 19, 2014), available at https:// www.osc.gov.on.ca/documents/en/Securities/ord_ 20140923_215-ice-trade-vault-llc.pdf. 18 See Autorite des marches financiers, Decision ´ ´ 2014–PDG–0111, Bulletin 2014–09–25, Vol. 11, n°38 (Sept. 23, 2014), available at https:// www.lautorite.qc.ca/files/pdf/bourses-oarchambres/referentiels-centraux/2014_pdg_0111_ ice_tv.pdf. 19 See Manitoba Securities Commission, Order No. 7014 (Oct. 23, 2014), available at https:// docs.mbsecurities.ca/msc/oe/en/item/105126/ index.do. 20 See Exhibit V.2 (Disclosure Document). ICE is a global operator of exchanges, clearing houses, and data services for financial and commodity markets. ICE operates global marketplaces for trading and clearing a broad array of securities and derivatives contracts across major asset classes, including energy and agricultural commodities, interest rates, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, bonds, and currencies. 21 See id. 22 See Exhibit GG.2 (Guidebook). 23 See id. 24 See id. E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES According to ICE Trade Vault, the Board of Directors is required to have at least three Directors, all appointed by ICE.25 ICE Trade Vault represents that ICE considers several factors in determining the composition of the Board of Directors, including whether directors, both individually and collectively, possess the required integrity, experience, judgment, commitment, skills and expertise to exercise their obligations of oversight and guidance over an SDR.26 Additionally, ICE Trade Vault represents that its participants are afforded the opportunity to participate in the process for nominating the ICE Trade Vault Independent Director and with the right to petition for alternative candidates.27 According to ICE Trade Vault, at least one Director will at all times be ‘‘independent’’ in accordance with applicable provision(s) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.28 ICE Trade Vault represents that two officers of ICE Trade Vault’s parent, ICE, currently serve as the NonIndependent Directors.29 ICE Trade Vault’s Chief Compliance Officer (‘‘CCO’’) is appointed by the Board of Directors and reports directly to the President of ICE Trade Vault.30 The Board of Directors approves the compensation of the CCO and meets with the CCO at least annually.31 According to ICE Trade Vault, the CCO also works directly with the Board of Directors in certain instances, for example, when resolving conflicts of interest.32 ICE Trade Vault represents that the CCO’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: (i) Preparing and signing a compliance report with a financial report to be provided to the Commission annually; (ii) reviewing the compliance of ICE Trace Vault with respect to regulatory requirements and core principles; and (iii) establishing and administering written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Exchange Act.33 ICE Trade Vault directors, officers and employees must comply with the ICE Global Code of Business Conduct, which describes policies for, among other things, handling conflicts of interest, prohibiting insider trading, complying with the law and document management and retention id. 26 See id. 27 See id. 28 See id. 29 See id. 30 See Exhibit V.2. 31 See id. 32 See id. 33 See id. 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 B. Description of ICE Trade Vault’s SDR Service ICE Trade Vault has applied to become a registered SDR with the Commission to accept data in respect of all SBS trades in the credit derivatives asset class.38 ICE Trade Vault states that it intends to provide an SDR service that facilitates the collection, storage and regulatory reporting of a comprehensive range of trade data in respect of credit derivatives trades.39 ICE Trade Vault also states that it intends to offer certain ancillary services (i.e., services offered by ICE Trade Vault that are not core SDR functions), which include: (i) Confirmation of the accuracy of the data submitted to ICE Trade Vault; and (ii) resolution of trade record errors and disputes.40 C. Access ICE Trade Vault represents that it would provide access to its SDR service on a fair, open and not unreasonably discriminatory basis.41 According to ICE Trade Vault, access to and usage of its SDR service is available to all market participants that engage in SBS transactions, and do not require the use of any other ancillary service offered by ICE Trade Vault, except for any ancillary service(s) that ICE Trade Vault 34 See Exhibit D.4 (Global Code of Business Conduct). 35 See Exhibit D.3 (Governance Principles). 36 See Exhibit GG.2. 37 See id. 38 See ICE Trade Vault Form SDR, Item 6; see also Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 39 See Exhibit V.2. 40 See id. 41 See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 25 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 requirements.34 In addition, ICE Trade Vault prohibits any member of its Board or of any Board committee (that the Board may create from time to time as it deems necessary) 35 that has authority to take action for ICE Trade Vault from knowingly participating in deliberations or voting in any matter involving a named party in interest where such member: (i) Is a named party in interest; (ii) is an employer, employee, or guarantor of a named party in interest; (iii) has a family relationship with a named party in interest; or (iv) has any other significant ongoing relationship with a named party in interest or an affiliate of such party.36 Furthermore, the CCO of ICE Trade Vault shall determine whether any member of a deliberating body is subject to a prohibition under its conflicts of interest policies.37 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25477 is required to provide.42 ICE Trade Vault represents that for security reasons, access to the ICE Trade Vault system is strictly limited to market participants with valid permissions and security access who have executed a Participant Agreement with ICE Trade Vault and have completed and delivered to ICE Trade Vault the applicable ICE Trade Vault Enrollment Form (such market participants, ‘‘Participants’’).43 According to ICE Trade Vault, Participants will only have access to their own data and data that ICE Trade Vault is required to make publically available.44 ICE Trade Vault notes that passwords must meet technical and procedural processes for information security, must be from eight to fourteen characters in length, utilize three different character types, and must be reset at least annually.45 ICE Trade Vault represents that determinations to revoke access to its system, its SDR service or data maintained by ICE Trade Vault shall be made by the CCO.46 According to ICE Trade Vault, unless circumstances require immediate action, prior to implementing a limitation or revocation of access to its system, its SDR service or SDR information, ICE Trade Vault’s President and General Counsel shall review the basis for the limitation or revocation, with the CCO providing notice to the Participant of such limitation or revocation.47 ICE Trade Vault represents that if the President and General Counsel determine that revocation of access is the result of unreasonable discrimination, the President and General Counsel will take 42 See id.; see also SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14451–52 (Commission noting that confirmation and dispute resolution services or functions ‘‘are ancillary. . . . [and are] not ‘core’ SDR services, which would cause a person providing such core services to meet the definition of an SDR, and thus, require the person to register with the Commission as an SDR. However, SDRs are required to perform these two services or functions, and thus, they are required ancillary services[.] . . . An SDR may delegate some of these required ancillary services to third party service providers, who do not need to register as SDRs to provide such services. The SDR will remain legally responsible for the third party service providers’ activities relating to the required ancillary services and their compliance with applicable rules under the Exchange Act.’’). 43 See Exhibit V.2 (stating also that these documents are available upon request, and when enrolling with ICE Trade Vault, Participants must designate a master user (‘‘Administrator’’), who will, among other things, create and maintain all user IDs for its firm, which will ensure ICE Trade Vault access is granted by a trusted individual at the Participant’s firm who is closest to and has the most knowledge of those in the firm who require access). 44 See id. 45 See id. 46 See id. 47 See Exhibit GG.2. E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 25478 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices such actions as are necessary to restore access to such service or data.48 D. Use of Data ICE Trade Vault represents that access to information it maintains as an SDR would be limited to those with the direct responsibility for supporting the ICE Trade Vault system, its SDR service, Participants and regulators.49 ICE Trade Vault would prohibit its employees and others performing similar functions on behalf of ICE Trade Vault from using information it maintains as an SDR other than in the performance of their job responsibilities.50 E. Asset Class Accepted; Submission Requirements; Validation mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES ICE Trade Vault has represented that it would accept data in respect of all SBS trades in the credit derivatives asset class.51 ICE Trade Vault has represented that Participants would be required to submit trade information in the data format required by ICE Trade Vault.52 The ICE Trade Vault system would accept tab delimited file uploads via web access and Applicable Programming Interface submissions in FpML format.53 Exhibit N.5 to ICE Trade Vault’s application enumerates the required fields and acceptable values for the submission of trade information into the ICE Trade Vault system. According to ICE Trade Vault, the ICE Trade Vault system would perform certain validations to ensure that a submitted trade report adheres to the enumerated fields and values contained in Exhibit N.5.54 Under ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures, upon receipt of trade information for an SBS, the ICE Trade Vault system would validate that: 48 See id. Because persons applying to be SDRs are also applying to be SIPs with the Commission, the procedures for notifying the Commission of any prohibitions or limitations of access to services as provided in Section 11A(b)(5)(A) would apply. See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14482 (‘‘Rule 909 of Regulation SBSR, which the Commission is concurrently adopting in a separate release, requires each registered SDR to register as a SIP, and, as such, Exchange Act Section 11A(b)(5) governs denials of access to services by an SDR. This section provides that ‘[i]f any registered securities information processor prohibits or limits any person in respect of access to services offered, directly or indirectly, by such securities information processor, the registered securities information processor shall promptly file notice thereof with the Commission.’ Accordingly, an SDR must promptly notify the Commission if it prohibits or limits access to any of its services to any person.’’). 49 See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 50 See id. 51 See id. 52 See Exhibit GG.2. 53 See id. 54 See id. VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 a. The submission file is in a valid format for receipt and processing; b. All fields meet the required field format (e.g., number, date, date timestamp, free form text, or standard data value); c. All required and conditionally required fields are contained in the submission; d. All conditionally required fields meet the validation standards; and e. All standard data value fields are provided with an acceptable value.55 ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures provide that, if the submitted trade information fails any of the above validations, the ICE Trade Vault system would generate an error message and give such information an ‘‘invalid’’ status.56 For historical SBS reporting, ICE Trade Vault represents that the ICE Trade Vault system would require Participants to indicate a ‘‘Y’’ value for ‘‘Flag for Historical Security-Based Swap public dissemination exemption.’’ 57 In addition, the ICE Trade Vault system allows Participants to submit ‘‘Y’’ or ‘‘N’’ values for a field ‘‘Flag for Historical Security-Based Swap Life Cycle Event public dissemination’’ to update information in the ICE Trade Vault system associated with such SBS.58 ICE Trade Vault represents that it would support the reporting of highly customized and bespoke SBS (‘‘exotic SBS’’).59 ICE Trade Vault would require a Participant that wishes to submit a trade report for exotic SBS to upload a file to the ICE Trade Vault system that contains that trade information and the corresponding confirmed terms.60 F. Verification of Transaction Data To fulfill its obligations under Exchange Act Rule 13n–5(b)(1), ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures provide that it would require Participants to report complete and accurate trade information and to review and resolve all error messages generated by the ICE Trade Vault system.61 If any trade information is found to be incorrect or incomplete, ICE Trade Vault would require Participants to correct and resubmit such information to the ICE Trade Vault system.62 For SBS that are not executed on a platform, ICE Trade Vault would require the reporting side to provide the id. id. 57 See id. 58 See id. 59 See id. 60 See id. 61 See id.; see also Exhibit V.2. 62 See Exhibit GG.2. method used to confirm the trade information (e.g., electronic confirmation service or paper confirmation). ICE Trade Vault would further require Participants to warrant and represent that all trade information reported to ICE Trade Vault is complete and accurate.63 If the counterparties to an SBS use a paper confirmation to confirm the trade, ICE Trade Vault would require the reporting side to upload to the ICE Vault Trade system a copy of the confirmation that was agreed upon by the counterparties.64 According to ICE Trade Vault, clearing agencies would access ICE Trade Vault as Participants to report SBS that have been accepted for clearing. Platforms (such as an SBS execution facility) will access ICE Trade Vault as Participants to report the relevant data with respect to SBS that have been executed on their respective platforms or subject to the rules of their markets.65 ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures provide that Participants would be responsible for the timely resolution of trade record errors contained in trade information that has been submitted to ICE Trade Vault.66 ICE Trade Vault would provide Participants with electronic methods to extract information maintained by ICE Trade Vault for reconciliation.67 If the non-reporting side for an SBS transaction discovers an error contained in the trade information submitted to ICE Trade Vault on its behalf, ICE Trade Vault requires that counterparty to notify promptly the reporting side of such error.68 ICE Trade Vault represents that if the reporting side discovers an error contained in the trade information that it previously submitted to ICE Trade Vault or receives notification from a counterparty of an error, the reporting side is required to submit promptly to ICE Trade Vault amended trade information that remedies such error.69 ICE Trade Vault would disseminate a corrected transaction report in instances where the initial report included erroneous primary trade information.70 G. Disputed Trade Data Under ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures, Participants would be required to notify promptly ICE Trade Vault of trade information that is 55 See 63 See 56 See 64 See PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 id. id. 65 See id. 66 See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 67 See id. 68 See id. 69 See id. 70 See id. E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices disputed by the counterparties to the trade. ICE Trade Vault states that when a Participant ‘‘disputes’’ a trade stored in ICE Trade Vault’s system, the status of the trade would remain ‘‘Disputed’’ until the party that disputed the trade sends a message to ICE Trade Vault indicating that the dispute has been resolved.71 H. Application and Dissemination of Condition Flags ICE Trade Vault represents that it would apply submitted flags to trade information that is: (i) An error correction required to be disseminated by Rule 905(b)(2) of Regulation SBSR; or (ii) a life cycle event, or any adjustment due to a life cycle event, required to be disseminated by Rule 902(a) of Regulation SBSR.72 In addition, ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures require Participants of ICE Trade Vault to apply certain flags with respect to primary trade information (i.e., flags required under Rule 901(c)(1)(v) of Regulation SBSR),73 and ICE Trade Vault would publicly disseminate such flags if the SBS is eligible for public dissemination. ICE Trade Vault represents that certain flags address security-based swap characteristics that may contribute to creating a distorted market view.74 I. Calculation and Maintenance of Positions As provided in ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures, ICE Trade Vault states that it would calculate open positions for persons with open SBS for which ICE Trade Vault maintains records.75 ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures relating to its calculation of positions are provided in Exhibit GG.2. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES J. Assignment of Unique Identification Codes ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures include the methodology ICE Trade Vault would utilize in connection with its assignment of unique identification codes (‘‘UICs’’) in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation SBSR.76 In particular, ICE Trade Vault represents that it would assign UICs as follows: 1. Any SEC endorsed standard will be used, or in its absence; 2. Any CPMI–IOSCO endorsed standard will be used, or in its absence; 3. Any industry endorsed standard will be used, or in its absence; 4. ICE Trade Vault will generate an ID for the applicable UIC.77 K. Transaction ID Methodology ICE Trade Vault represents that it has ‘‘endorsed’’ a transaction ID methodology as follows: 1. If a transaction is executed on a platform, that platform would generate the transaction ID. 2. If a transaction is cleared, the clearing agency would generate the transaction IDs for resulting cleared SBS. 3. If the transaction is executed offplatform and is not cleared, the parties must mutually agree which side of the trade will generate the transaction ID. When the transaction ID generator is the reporting side, that party may request that ICE Trade Vault generate the transaction ID on its behalf. 4. For historical SBS that have been reported in another jurisdiction, the transaction ID assigned in that jurisdiction will be used for reporting. 5. For historical SBS that have not been reported in another jurisdiction, the methodology described in items 1– 3 above will apply. 6. A multi-jurisdictional transaction should never have multiple transaction IDs.78 L. Ultimate Parent and Affiliate Information ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures provide that Participants, except for those that are platforms or clearing agencies, would be required to provide ICE Trade Vault information (e.g., parent IDs and counterparty IDs) to identify their ultimate parent(s) and affiliates.79 In addition, ICE Trade Vault requires that Participants promptly notify ICE Trade Vault of any changes to such information.80 M. Branch and Trading Desk ID Under ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures, in order to receive a branch ID or trading desk ID from ICE Trade Vault, Participants must submit the branch and desk information to ICE Trade Vault before reporting an SBS.81 More information concerning branch ID and trading desk ID is contained in Exhibit GG.2. 77 See id. id. 79 See id. 80 See id.; see also Exhibit U.5 (ICE Trade Vault Ultimate Parent & Affiliate Information Notification). 81 See Exhibit GG.2. 71 See id. 72 See Exhibit GG.2. 73 See 17 CFR 240.901(c)(i)(v). 74 See Exhibit GG.2. 75 See id. 76 See id. VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 78 See Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25479 N. Product ID ICE Trade Vault states that it would issue product IDs and maintain reference data representation for SBS that will include schema definitions and will be made publicly available on a non-fee basis on ICE Trade Vault’s internet Web site (www.icetradevault.com).82 According to ICE Trade Vault, if the industry creates and adopts a product ID taxonomy and registry, ICE Trade Vault would comply with the published standard at such time.83 ICE Trade Vault has represented that it would create product IDs based on an industry accepted UPI taxonomy or, where not available, its own product taxonomy.84 ICE Trade Vault would require its Participants to notify ICE Trade Vault of any new SBS products they intend to report to ICE Trade Vault by submitting the relevant product information to: ICETradeVaultSupport@theice.com.85 A complete list of available product information would be made available via a link on ICE Trade Vault’s internet Web site.86 O. Missing UIC Information ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures provide that the reporting side to an SBS may report the nonreporting side’s UIC information (other than counterparty ID) but is not required to do so.87 ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures provide that, if the nonreporting side is not a Participant, the non-reporting side ‘‘should contact ICE Trade Vault’’ via electronic mail to register for access to ICE Trade Vault and its trade information. ICE Trade Vault represents that it would identify in its records any SBS reported to it for which it does not have required UIC information.88 According to ICE Trade Vault, once a day, ICE Trade Vault would send a report to each Participant that is a counterparty to an SBS(s) that lacks required UIC information.89 ICE Trade Vault represents in its policies and procedures that a Participant that receives a report must provide the missing information with respect to its side of each SBS referenced in the 82 See id. id. 84 See id. 85 See id. 86 See id. 87 See id.; see also Exhibit GG.2 (Guidebook, section 6.2 requirements relating to counterparty IDs, execution agent IDs and broker IDs). 88 See id. 89 See id. 83 See E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 25480 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices report to ICE Trade Vault within 24 hours.90 P. Public Dissemination ICE Trade Vault represents that it would publicly disseminate information required for public dissemination pursuant to Regulation SBSR, including SBS transaction reports, which contain all of the primary transaction information, and information regarding life cycle events or adjustments due to a life cycle event.91 In addition, ICE Trade Vault would provide the public, Participants and regulators with the ability to download historical data.92 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Q. Safeguarding Data, Operational Reliability, and Emergency Authority ICE Trade Vault represents that it has implemented systems and procedures to allow for timely resumption of key business processes and operations following unplanned interruptions, unavailability of staff, inaccessibility of facilities, and disruption or disastrous loss to one or more of ICE Trade Vault’s facilities or services.93 ICE Trade Vault represents that its SDR service data is saved to a redundant, local database and a remote disaster recovery database in near real-time and that its SDR service database is backed up to tape daily with tapes moved offsite weekly.94 ICE Trade Vault also states that Participants’ individual trade data records remain available to Participants and regulators at no charge for online access through its SDR service from the date of submission until five years after expiration of the trade (last day of delivery or settlement as defined for each product).95 According to ICE Trade Vault, after the initial five-year period, Participants’ trade data will be stored off-line and remain available to Participants and regulators, upon a three-day advance request to ICE Trade Vault, until ten years from the termination date.96 ICE Trade Vault also states that Participants will retain unimpaired access to its online and archived trade data.97 ICE Trade Vault represents that it maintains and will continue to maintain a robust emergency and businesscontinuity and disaster recovery plan (‘‘Business Continuity Plan’’) that allows for timely resumption of key business processes and operations following unplanned interruptions, 90 See id. id. 92 See id. 93 See id. 94 See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 95 See id. 96 See Exhibit V.2. 97 See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 91 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 unavailability of staff, inaccessibility of facilities, and disruption or disastrous loss to one or more of ICE Trade Vault’s facilities or services.98 ICE Trade Vault represents that its Business Continuity Plan requires that all production system hardware and software is replicated in near real-time at a geographical- and vendor-diverse disaster recovery site to avoid any loss of data.99 ICE Trade Vault represents that it is authorized to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an emergency exists with respect to, or otherwise threatens, its system or its SDR service (an ‘‘Emergency’’) and whether emergency action is warranted to mitigate such circumstances, but that it may also exercise emergency authority if ordered to do so by the Commission or other regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction.100 Circumstances requiring the invocation of emergency authority pursuant to ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures include: (i) Any occurrence or circumstance that ICE Trade Vault determines to constitute an Emergency; (ii) any ‘‘Physical Emergency’’ (such as a fire or other casualty, bomb threats, terrorist acts, substantial inclement weather, power failures, communications breakdowns, computer system breakdowns, or transportation breakdowns); (iii) any occurrence or circumstance that threatens or may threaten the proper functionality of ICE Trade Vault’s system or its SDR service; (iv) any occurrence or circumstance that may materially affect the performance of its system or its SDR service; (v) any action taken by any governmental body or any regulator that may have a direct impact on its system or its SDR service; and (vi) any other circumstance that may impact ICE Trade Vault, its system or its SDR service in a materially adverse manner.101 Under ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures, if the President of ICE Trade Vault, or any individual designated by the President or the Board of Directors, determines that an Emergency is likely to arise or has arisen, the President or such designee, as the case may be, may, consistent with ICE Trade Vault’s conflict of interest policies, declare an Emergency with respect to its system, its SDR service or the facilities of ICE Trade Vault and take or place into immediate effect a temporary emergency action or protocol.102 ICE Trade Vault represents that any such action or protocol may 98 See id. id. 100 See Exhibit GG.2. 101 See id. 102 See id. 99 See Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 remain in effect for up to 30 business days, after which time, and for each 30business day period thereafter, it must be reissued by the Board of Directors to remain in effect.103 Under ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures, the CCO would be consulted in the event any emergency action or protocol may raise potential conflicts of interest.104 ICE Trade Vault represents that any such action or protocol may provide for, or may authorize ICE Trade Vault, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof to undertake, actions deemed necessary or appropriate by the President or its designee to respond to the Emergency, including, but not limited to, the following: Modifying or suspending any relevant provision of the Guidebook; changing the operating hours of its SDR service; temporarily limiting or denying access to its system or its SDR service; or requiring resubmission of any data lost or otherwise affected due to such Emergency.105 Any such action placed into effect in accordance with the preceding paragraph may be reviewed by the Board of Directors at any time and may be revoked, suspended or modified by the Board of Directors.106 ICE Trade Vault represents that it will notify the SEC as soon as is reasonably practicable of ICE Trade Vault’s invocation of its emergency authority, any material business disruption, or any threat that actually or potentially jeopardizes automated system capacity, integrity, resiliency, availability or security,107 with the decision-making process with respect to, and the reasons for, any such action recorded in writing 108 and with ICE Trade Vault notifying Participants via email as soon as practicable of any action taken (time permitting), or proposed to be taken.109 R. Data Confidentiality; Sensitive Information and Security ICE Trade Vault represents that it ‘‘recognizes its responsibility to ensure data confidentiality and [that it] dedicates significant resources’’ to information security to prevent the misappropriation or misuse of confidential information, and that it does not, as a condition of accepting SBS data from Participants, require the waiver of any privacy rights by such Participants.110 ICE Trade Vault would use a multi-tiered firewall scheme to 103 See id. id. 105 See id. 106 See id. 107 See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 108 See Exhibit GG.2. 109 See id. 110 See id. 104 See E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES provide network segmentation and access control to its services.111 A second set of firewalls would further isolate ICE Trade Vault’s systems and provide added security to detect any threats.112 In addition, network sensors would analyze all internet and private line traffic for malicious patterns.113 ICE Trade Vault’s application states that certain controls would be regularly examined and tested by multiple tiers of internal and external test groups, auditors and independently contracted third-party security testing firms.114 In addition, ICE Trade Vault has represented that it would undertake an audit for adherence to its data security policies on at least an annual basis.115 IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning ICE Trade Vault’s Form SDR, including whether ICE Trade Vault has satisfied the requirements for registration as an SDR. To the extent possible, commenters are requested to provide empirical data and other factual support for their views. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on the following issues: 1. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s application for registration as an SDR demonstrates that ICE Trade Vault is so organized, and has the capacity, to be able to assure the prompt, accurate, and reliable performance of its functions as an SDR, comply with any applicable provisions of the securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and carry out its functions in a manner consistent with the purposes of Section 13(n) of the Exchange Act and Commission’s SDR rules. 2. Exchange Act Rule 13n–5(b)(1)(iii) requires every SDR to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to satisfy itself that the transaction data that has been submitted to the SDR is complete and accurate. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures concerning verification of trade data are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed to satisfy ICE Trade Vault that the transaction data that has been submitted to ICE Trade Vault is complete and accurate, as required by Rule 13n-5(b)(1)(iii). 3. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and 111 See id. Exhibits V.2 and GG.2. 113 See id. 114 See id. 115 See id. 112 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 procedures to address confirmation of data accuracy and completeness for bespoke, bilateral SBS transactions (i.e., requiring the reporting side of the transaction to identify the method used to confirm the trade information, either by use of an electronic confirmation service or by paper confirmation agreed upon by the counterparties) are appropriate and reasonably designed to meet its obligations under the Rule 13n– 5(b)(1)(iii). In this regard, the Commission is also interested in receiving comments as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s definition of ‘‘confirmed’’ as contained in its Guidebook (Exhibit GG.2) is appropriate. 4. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures relating to invalidly entered UICs being subject to an error message and an ‘‘invalid’’ status as noted in Exhibit GG.2 are sufficiently detailed to meet the objectives of Exchange Act Rule 13n–5(b)(1)(iii). 5. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed to ensure that the transaction data and positions that it maintains are complete and accurate, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n– 5(b)(3). 6. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed to ensure that it has the ability to protect the privacy of SBS transaction information that it receives, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n– 9. 7. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed to ensure that it has the ability to calculate positions, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n– 5(b)(2). 8. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed to provide a mechanism for Participants and their counterparties to effectively resolve disputes over the accuracy of SBS data that it maintains, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n–5(b)(6). Are ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures relating to dispute resolution adequate? Why or why not? Should the policies and procedures specify timeframes in the dispute resolution process to facilitate timely and conclusive resolution of disputes? Why or why not? 9. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed to ensure that its systems that support or are integrally PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25481 related to the performance of its activities provides adequate levels of capacity, integrity, resiliency, availability and security, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n–6. 10. Please provide your views as to whether the disclosures in ICE Trade Vault’s Disclosure Document to a Participant prior to accepting any SBS data from that Participant or upon the Participant’s request, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n–10, are adequate. Specifically, the Commission is interested in receiving comments as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s Disclosure Document contains adequate and sufficiently detailed information that would reasonably enable the Participant to identify and evaluate accurately the risks and costs associated with using ICE Trade Vault’s services. Such information includes ICE Trade Vault’s criteria for providing others with access to its services and data it maintains, its criteria for those seeking to connect to or link with it, its description of its policies and procedures regarding its noncommercial and/or commercial use of the SBS transaction information that it receives from a Participant, any registered entity, or any other person, its description of all the SBS data repository’s services, including any ancillary services, and its description of its governance arrangements. 11. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably designed for the CCO’s handling, management response, remediation, retesting, and closing of noncompliance issues, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n–11(c)(7). 12. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies or procedures could result in an unreasonable restraint of trade or impose any material anticompetitive burden on the trading, clearing, or reporting of transactions. 13. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s proposed dues, fees, or other charges, discounts or rebates and the process for setting dues, fees, or other charges, discounts or rebates are fair and reasonable and not unreasonably discriminatory. Please address whether such proposed dues, fees, other charges, discounts, or rebates are applied consistently across all similarly situated users of ICE Trade Vault’s services, including, but not limited to, Participants, market infrastructures (including central counterparties), venues from which data can be submitted to ICE Trade Vault (including exchanges, SBS execution facilities, electronic trading venues, and E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 25482 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices matching and confirmation platforms), and third party service providers. 14. Exchange Act Rule 13n– 4(c)(2)(ii)–(iii) provides that each SDR must establish governance arrangements that provide for fair representation of market participants, and must provide representatives of market participants, including end-users, with the opportunity to participate in the process for nominating directors and with the right to petition for alternative candidates. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s governance structure provides fair representation and an opportunity for participation by market participants pursuant to Rule 13n–4(c)(2)(ii)–(iii). 15. Rule 903(a) of Regulation SBSR provides, in relevant part, that if no system has been recognized by the Commission, or a recognized system has not assigned a UIC to a particular person, unit of a person, or product, the registered SDR shall assign a UIC to that person, unit of person, or product using its own methodology. Is the methodology that ICE Trade Vault proposes to use to assign UICs as described in its application materials appropriate in light of the requirements under Rule 903(a) of Regulation SBSR? Why or why not? 16. Rule 907(c) of Regulation SBSR requires a registered SDR to make its Regulation SBSR policies and procedures publicly available on its Web site. The Commission has stated that this public availability requirement will allow all interested parties to understand how the registered SDR is utilizing the flexibility it has in operating the transaction reporting and dissemination system, and will provide an opportunity for Participants to make suggestions to the registered SDR for altering and improving those policies and procedures, in light of the new products or circumstances, consistent with the principles set out in Regulation SBSR.116 ICE Trade Vault has proposed to satisfy its obligation under Rule 907(c) of Regulation SBSR by making the policies and procedures contained in Exhibit GG.2 and the other application exhibits referenced therein available on its public Web site. Is the information that is included in or referenced in Exhibit GG.2 appropriate in light of the requirements of Rule 907(c)? 17. For certain data fields, Exhibit N.5 indicates that the acceptable data format is the ‘‘standard data value’’ for the field, but Exhibit N.5 does not provide more specific information regarding 116 See Regulation SBSR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14648. VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 acceptable data formats for such fields. ICE Trade Vault has indicated to Commission staff that it plans to make available to its Participants detailed specifications for reporting SBS information, and Participants will be permitted to download detailed descriptions of the acceptable data format for each ‘‘standard data value’’ from the ICE Trade Vault system. However, ICE Trade Vault stated in its discussions with Commission staff that it will make such additional specifications available only to Participants who have executed a Participant Agreement. Is it anticipated to be problematic for persons seeking to report SBS information to an SDR to be required to execute a Participant Agreement as a condition to ICE Trade Vault providing access to the additional data format specifications? 18. Regulation SBSR imposes duties on various market Participants to report SBS transaction information to a registered SDR. Please provide your views as to whether the ICE Trade Vault application and the associated policies and procedures (including technical specifications for submission of data) provide sufficient information to potential Participants about how they would discharge these regulatory duties when reporting to ICE Trade Vault. In particular, please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s technical specifications for submission of data are sufficiently detailed, especially with regard to historical SBSs and bespoke SBS. Please describe in detail what additional information you believe is necessary to allow you to satisfy any reporting obligation you may incur under Regulation SBSR. 19. Rule 906(a) of Regulation SBSR provides, in relevant part, that a Participant of the registered SDR must provide the missing information with respect to its side of each SBS referenced in the report to the registered SDR within 24 hours. ICE Trade Vault has represented that a non-reportingside participant must be fully onboarded before it may submit information that it is required to provide to a registered SDR by Rule 906(a) of Regulation SBSR. Please provide your views as to whether this form of access afforded to the non-reporting-side is fair, open, and not unreasonably discriminatory. 20. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures relating to Rule 906(a) are sufficiently detailed, appropriate and reasonably designed to ensure data accuracy and completeness. 21. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault has provided PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 sufficient information to explain the SBS transaction information that it would publicly disseminate to discharge its duties under Rule 902 of Regulation SBSR. Please describe any additional information that you feel is necessary. Please offer any suggestions generally for how the publicly disseminated information could be made more useful. 22. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault has provided sufficient information to explain how Participants would be required to report life cycle events under Rule 901(e). Please describe any additional information that you feel is necessary. In particular, please indicate whether you believe ICE Trade Vault’s specifications are reasonably designed to identify the specific data element(s) that change and thus that trigger the report of the life cycle event. 23. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault has provided sufficient information about how an agent could report SBS transaction information to ICE Trade Vault on behalf of a principal (i.e., a person who has a duty under Regulation SBSR to report). Please describe any additional information that is necessary. In particular, please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault should differentiate between agents who are Participants of ICE Trade Vault because they themselves at times are principals (i.e., they are counterparties to one or more SBSs that are reported to ICE Trade Vault on a mandatory basis) and agents who are never principals (e.g., a vendor). 24. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault’s policies and procedures for developing condition flags for transactions having special characteristics under Rule 907(a)(4) of Regulation SBSR are consistent with the goal of preventing market participants without knowledge of these characteristics receiving a distorted view of the market. Are there additional condition flags that you believe ICE Trade Vault should utilize? If so, please describe them and why you believe they are appropriate. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/proposed.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SBSDR–2016–01 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities and E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SBSDR–2016–01. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method of submission. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/other.shtml). Copies of the Form SDR, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the Form SDR that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the Form SDR between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SBSDR–2016–01 and should be submitted on or before May 31, 2016. By the Commission. Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–09931 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 9537] mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Notice of Charter Renewal: The Department of State Has Renewed the Charter of the Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy (ACICIP) for a Period of Two Years The Committee serves the Department of State in a solely advisory capacity regarding current issues and concerns affecting international communications and information policy. ACICIP members are private sector communications and information technology policy specialists from U.S. telecommunications companies, trade associations, policy institutions, and academia. For further information, please call Joseph Burton, Executive Secretary, Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 Policy, Office of Communications and Information Policy, Economic and Business Affairs Bureau, U.S. Department of State at (202) 647–5231. Dated: April 21, 2016. Joseph Burton, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Department of State. [FR Doc. 2016–09976 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AE–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 9538] Fine Arts Committee Notice of Meeting The Fine Arts Committee of the Department of State will meet on June 10, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in the Henry Clay Room of the Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC. The meeting will last until approximately 12:00 p.m. and is open to the public. The agenda for the committee meeting will include a summary of the work of the Fine Arts Office since its last meeting on November 6, 2015 and the announcement of gifts and loans of furnishings as well as financial contributions from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Public access to the Department of State is strictly controlled and space is limited. Members of the public wishing to take part in the meeting should telephone the Fine Arts Office at (202) 647–1990 or send an email to SellmanCT@state.gov by May 27 to make arrangements to enter the building. The public may take part in the discussion as long as time permits and at the discretion of the chairman. Dated: April 22, 2016. Marcee Craighill, Fine Arts Committee, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2016–09974 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–24–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36021] Finger Lakes Railway Corp.—Sublease and Operation Exemption—Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency, Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, Ontario County Industrial Development Agency, Schuyler County Industrial Development Agency, and Yates County Industrial Development Agency Finger Lakes Railway Corp. (FGLK), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25483 1150.41 to sublease from Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency, Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, Ontario County Industrial Development Agency, Schuyler County Industrial Development Agency, and Yates County Industrial Development Agency (collectively, Agencies), and operate, approximately 86.45 miles of rail lines located in New York, as follows: (1) Watkins Glen Industrial Track, located between milepost 41.35 at or near Penn Yan and milepost 16.55 at or near Watkins Glen, in Schuyler and Yates Counties, a distance of 24.8 miles; (2) Canandaigua Secondary, located between milepost 76.00 at or near Canandaigua and milepost 51.30 at or near Geneva, in Ontario County, a distance of 24.70 miles; (3) Auburn Secondary, located between milepost 37.56 at the Seneca/Cayuga County line and milepost 3.61 at or near Solvay Yard, in Cayuga County, a distance of 33.95 miles; (4) Geneva Running Track, located between milepost 344.40 at or near Geneva and milepost 342.8 at the Ontario/Seneca County line, in Ontario County, a distance of 1.6 miles; (5) Lehigh & Northern Industrial Track, located between milepost 349.20 and milepost 348.70 at or near Auburn, in Cayuga County, a distance of 0.90 miles; and (6) Auburn & Ithaca Industrial Track, located between milepost 349.20 and milepost 348.70 at or near Auburn, in Cayuga County, a distance of 0.50 miles. The Agencies and FGLK state that the Agencies currently own the rail lines but FGLK is responsible for all railroad operations over the rail lines. According to FGLK, the sublease of the rail lines is part of a series of proposed transactions that will allow FGLK to continue to pay a negotiated ‘‘payment in lieu of taxes’’ (PILOT) while maintaining the benefit of being exempt from local and state taxes. FGLK states that it originally acquired the rail lines in 1995 and transferred title to the Agencies and then leased back the rail lines for purposes of the PILOT arrangement. FGLK states that to extend and restructure the PILOT arrangement, the Agencies will first transfer title to the rail lines to FGLK. Then the Agencies will lease the rail lines from FGLK.1 Lastly, FGLK will sublease the 1 FGLK and the Agencies jointly filed one notice for these two related transactions in Dockets No. FD 36011 and FD 36012. Notices of the exemptions were served and published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2016 (81 FR 18,681–83). The Agencies also filed a motion to dismiss the notice of exemption in Docket No. FD 36011 on the grounds that the transaction does not require authorization from the Board. That motion will be addressed in a separate decision. E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25475-25483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09931]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77699; File No. SBSDR-2016-01]


Security-Based Swap Data Repositories; ICE Trade Vault, LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Application for Registration as a Security-Based 
Swap Data Repository

April 22, 2016.

I. Introduction

    On March 29, 2016, and as amended on April 18, 2016, ICE Trade 
Vault, LLC (``ICE Trade Vault'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') a Form SDR seeking registration as a 
security-based swap data repository (``SDR'') under Section 13(n) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') \1\ and the 
Commission's rules promulgated thereunder.\2\ ICE Trade Vault proposes 
to operate as a registered SDR for security-based swap (``SBS'') 
transactions in the credit derivatives asset class. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments from interested persons 
regarding ICE Trade Vault's Form SDR,\3\ and the Commission will 
consider any comments it receives in making its

[[Page 25476]]

determination whether to grant ICE Trade Vault registration as an 
SDR.\4\
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78m(n)(3).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.13n-1 through 240.13n-12.
    \3\ ICE Trade Vault filed its Form SDR, including the exhibits 
thereto, electronically with the Commission. The descriptions set 
forth in this notice regarding the structure and operations of ICE 
Trade Vault have been derived, excerpted, and/or summarized from 
information in ICE Trade Vault's Form SDR application, and 
principally from ICE Trade Vault's Guidebook (Exhibit GG.2), which 
outlines the applicant's policies and procedures designed to address 
its statutory and regulatory obligations as an SDR registered with 
the Commission. ICE Trade Vault's Form SDR application and non-
confidential exhibits thereto are available in EDGAR at https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=0001658496&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search. In 
addition, the public may access copies of these materials on the 
Commission's Web site at: https://www.sec.gov/rules/other/2016/ice-trade-vault-form-sdr-htm.
    \4\ ICE Trade Vault's Form SDR application also constitutes an 
application for registration as a securities information processor 
(``SIP''). See Exchange Act Release No. 74246 (Feb. 11, 2015), 80 FR 
14438, 14458 (Mar. 19, 2015) (``SDR Adopting Release'').
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II. Background

A. SDR Registration, Duties and Core Principles, and Regulation SBSR

    Section 763(i) of the Dodd-Frank Act added Section 13(n) to the 
Exchange Act, which requires an SDR to register with the Commission and 
provides that, to be registered and maintain registration as an SDR, an 
SDR must comply with certain requirements and ``core principles'' 
described in Section 13(n) and any requirement that the Commission may 
impose by rule or regulation.\5\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78m(n).
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    The Commission adopted Exchange Act Rules 13n-1 through 13n-12 
(``SDR rules''), which require an SDR to register with the Commission 
and comply with certain ``duties and core principles.'' \6\ Among other 
requirements, the SDR rules require an SDR to collect and maintain 
accurate SBS data and make such data available to the Commission and 
other authorities so that relevant authorities will be better able to 
monitor the buildup and concentration of risk exposure in the SBS 
market.\7\
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    \6\ See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14438.
    \7\ See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14450.
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    Concurrent with the Commission's adoption of the SDR rules, the 
Commission adopted Regulation SBSR,\8\ which, among other things, 
provides for the reporting of SBS information to registered SDRs, and 
the public dissemination of SBS transaction, volume, and pricing 
information by registered SDRs. In addition, Regulation SBSR requires 
each registered SDR to register with the Commission as a securities 
information processor.\9\
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    \8\ See Exchange Act Release No. 74244 (Feb. 11, 2015), 80 FR 
14563 (Mar. 19, 2015) (``Regulation SBSR Adopting Release'').
    \9\ See Regulation SBSR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14567.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Standard for Granting SDR Registration

    To be registered with the Commission as an SDR and maintain such 
registration, an SDR is required (absent an exemption) to comply with 
the requirements and core principles described in Exchange Act Section 
13(n), as well as with any requirements that the Commission adopts by 
rule or regulation.\10\ Exchange Act Rule 13n-1(c)(3) provides that the 
Commission shall grant the registration of an SDR if it finds that the 
SDR is so organized, and has the capacity, to be able to (i) assure the 
prompt, accurate, and reliable performance of its functions as an SDR; 
(ii) comply with any applicable provisions of the securities laws and 
the rules and regulations thereunder; and (iii) carry out its functions 
in a manner consistent with the purposes of Section 13(n) of the 
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.\11\ The 
Commission must deny registration of an SDR if it does not make such a 
finding.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See Exchange Act Section 13(n)(3), 15 U.S.C. 78m(n)(3).
    \11\ See 17 CFR 240.13n-1(c)(3).
    \12\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In determining whether an applicant meets the criteria set forth in 
Rule 13n-1(c), the Commission will consider the information reflected 
by the applicant on its Form SDR, as well as any additional information 
obtained from the applicant. For example, Form SDR requires an 
applicant to provide, among other things, contact information, a list 
of the asset class(es) for which the applicant is collecting and 
maintaining data or for which it proposes to collect and maintain data, 
a description of the functions that it performs or proposes to perform, 
and general information regarding its business organization.\13\ This, 
and other information reflected on the Form SDR, will assist the 
Commission in understanding the basis for registration as well as the 
SDR applicant's overall business structure, financial condition, track 
record in providing access to its services and data, technological 
reliability, and policies and procedures to comply with its statutory 
and regulatory obligations.\14\ Furthermore, the information requested 
in Form SDR will enable the Commission to assess whether the SDR 
applicant would be able to comply with the federal securities laws and 
the rules and regulations thereunder, and ultimately whether to grant 
or deny an application for registration.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14458.
    \14\ See id.
    \15\ See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14458-59.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. ICE Trade Vault Application for Registration

    ICE Trade Vault currently operates as a trade repository under the 
regulatory framework of other authorities. Specifically, ICE Trade 
Vault is a swap data repository regulated and provisionally registered 
by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'').\16\ In that 
capacity, ICE Trade Vault has been accepting derivatives data for the 
commodity and credit asset classes in the United States since October 
2012. Additionally, in 2014, ICE Trade Vault was approved by the 
Ontario Securities Commission,\17\ the Autorit[eacute] des 
march[eacute]s financiers,\18\ and the Manitoba Securities Commission 
\19\ as a Canadian Trade Repository to serve the commodity, credit, and 
foreign exchange asset classes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Order of Provisional Registration, In the Matter of the 
Request of ICE Trade Vault, LLC for Provisional Registration as a 
Swap Data Repository Pursuant to Section 21 of the Commodity 
Exchange Act and Part 49 of the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission's Regulations (June 27, 2012), available at https://www.cftc.gov/stellent/groups/public/@otherif/documents/ifdocs/icetradevaultregistration.pdf.
    \17\ See Ontario Securities Commission, Order (Section 21.2.2 of 
the Securities Act), in the Matter of the Securities Act, R.S.O. 
1990, Chapter S.5, as amended, and in the Matter of ICE Trade Vault, 
LLC (Sept. 19, 2014), available at https://www.osc.gov.on.ca/documents/en/Securities/ord_20140923_215-ice-trade-vault-llc.pdf.
    \18\ See Autorit[eacute] des march[eacute]s financiers, Decision 
2014-PDG-0111, Bulletin 2014-09-25, Vol. 11, n[deg]38 (Sept. 23, 
2014), available at https://www.lautorite.qc.ca/files/pdf/bourses-oar-chambres/referentiels-centraux/2014_pdg_0111_ice_tv.pdf.
    \19\ See Manitoba Securities Commission, Order No. 7014 (Oct. 
23, 2014), available at https://docs.mbsecurities.ca/msc/oe/en/item/105126/index.do.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Corporate Structure and Governance Arrangements

    ICE Trade Vault is a Delaware limited liability company, and is a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., 
which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intercontinental 
Exchange, Inc. (``ICE''), a publicly traded company.\20\ ICE Trade 
Vault is managed by a Board of Directors responsible for overseeing its 
operations.\21\ The Board of Directors has the ability to: (i) 
Designate and authorize specific appointed officers to act on behalf of 
the Board of Directors; (ii) fix, determine and levy all fees, when 
necessary; (iii) prepare and amend ICE Trade Vault's Guidebook; \22\ 
(iv) act in emergencies; and (v) delegate any such power to the 
appropriate party.\23\ The Board of Directors would oversee ICE Trade 
Vault's SDR functions as it currently oversees the other regulated 
services that ICE Trade Vault provides.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ See Exhibit V.2 (Disclosure Document). ICE is a global 
operator of exchanges, clearing houses, and data services for 
financial and commodity markets. ICE operates global marketplaces 
for trading and clearing a broad array of securities and derivatives 
contracts across major asset classes, including energy and 
agricultural commodities, interest rates, equities, equity 
derivatives, credit derivatives, bonds, and currencies.
    \21\ See id.
    \22\ See Exhibit GG.2 (Guidebook).
    \23\ See id.
    \24\ See id.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 25477]]

    According to ICE Trade Vault, the Board of Directors is required to 
have at least three Directors, all appointed by ICE.\25\ ICE Trade 
Vault represents that ICE considers several factors in determining the 
composition of the Board of Directors, including whether directors, 
both individually and collectively, possess the required integrity, 
experience, judgment, commitment, skills and expertise to exercise 
their obligations of oversight and guidance over an SDR.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See id.
    \26\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, ICE Trade Vault represents that its participants are 
afforded the opportunity to participate in the process for nominating 
the ICE Trade Vault Independent Director and with the right to petition 
for alternative candidates.\27\ According to ICE Trade Vault, at least 
one Director will at all times be ``independent'' in accordance with 
applicable provision(s) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company 
Manual.\28\ ICE Trade Vault represents that two officers of ICE Trade 
Vault's parent, ICE, currently serve as the Non-Independent 
Directors.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See id.
    \28\ See id.
    \29\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault's Chief Compliance Officer (``CCO'') is appointed 
by the Board of Directors and reports directly to the President of ICE 
Trade Vault.\30\ The Board of Directors approves the compensation of 
the CCO and meets with the CCO at least annually.\31\ According to ICE 
Trade Vault, the CCO also works directly with the Board of Directors in 
certain instances, for example, when resolving conflicts of 
interest.\32\ ICE Trade Vault represents that the CCO's 
responsibilities include, but are not limited to: (i) Preparing and 
signing a compliance report with a financial report to be provided to 
the Commission annually; (ii) reviewing the compliance of ICE Trace 
Vault with respect to regulatory requirements and core principles; and 
(iii) establishing and administering written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Exchange Act.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See Exhibit V.2.
    \31\ See id.
    \32\ See id.
    \33\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault directors, officers and employees must comply with 
the ICE Global Code of Business Conduct, which describes policies for, 
among other things, handling conflicts of interest, prohibiting insider 
trading, complying with the law and document management and retention 
requirements.\34\ In addition, ICE Trade Vault prohibits any member of 
its Board or of any Board committee (that the Board may create from 
time to time as it deems necessary) \35\ that has authority to take 
action for ICE Trade Vault from knowingly participating in 
deliberations or voting in any matter involving a named party in 
interest where such member: (i) Is a named party in interest; (ii) is 
an employer, employee, or guarantor of a named party in interest; (iii) 
has a family relationship with a named party in interest; or (iv) has 
any other significant ongoing relationship with a named party in 
interest or an affiliate of such party.\36\ Furthermore, the CCO of ICE 
Trade Vault shall determine whether any member of a deliberating body 
is subject to a prohibition under its conflicts of interest 
policies.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ See Exhibit D.4 (Global Code of Business Conduct).
    \35\ See Exhibit D.3 (Governance Principles).
    \36\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \37\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Description of ICE Trade Vault's SDR Service

    ICE Trade Vault has applied to become a registered SDR with the 
Commission to accept data in respect of all SBS trades in the credit 
derivatives asset class.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ See ICE Trade Vault Form SDR, Item 6; see also Exhibits V.2 
and GG.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault states that it intends to provide an SDR service 
that facilitates the collection, storage and regulatory reporting of a 
comprehensive range of trade data in respect of credit derivatives 
trades.\39\ ICE Trade Vault also states that it intends to offer 
certain ancillary services (i.e., services offered by ICE Trade Vault 
that are not core SDR functions), which include: (i) Confirmation of 
the accuracy of the data submitted to ICE Trade Vault; and (ii) 
resolution of trade record errors and disputes.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ See Exhibit V.2.
    \40\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Access

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it would provide access to its SDR 
service on a fair, open and not unreasonably discriminatory basis.\41\ 
According to ICE Trade Vault, access to and usage of its SDR service is 
available to all market participants that engage in SBS transactions, 
and do not require the use of any other ancillary service offered by 
ICE Trade Vault, except for any ancillary service(s) that ICE Trade 
Vault is required to provide.\42\ ICE Trade Vault represents that for 
security reasons, access to the ICE Trade Vault system is strictly 
limited to market participants with valid permissions and security 
access who have executed a Participant Agreement with ICE Trade Vault 
and have completed and delivered to ICE Trade Vault the applicable ICE 
Trade Vault Enrollment Form (such market participants, 
``Participants'').\43\ According to ICE Trade Vault, Participants will 
only have access to their own data and data that ICE Trade Vault is 
required to make publically available.\44\ ICE Trade Vault notes that 
passwords must meet technical and procedural processes for information 
security, must be from eight to fourteen characters in length, utilize 
three different character types, and must be reset at least 
annually.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
    \42\ See id.; see also SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14451-52 
(Commission noting that confirmation and dispute resolution services 
or functions ``are ancillary. . . . [and are] not `core' SDR 
services, which would cause a person providing such core services to 
meet the definition of an SDR, and thus, require the person to 
register with the Commission as an SDR. However, SDRs are required 
to perform these two services or functions, and thus, they are 
required ancillary services[.] . . . An SDR may delegate some of 
these required ancillary services to third party service providers, 
who do not need to register as SDRs to provide such services. The 
SDR will remain legally responsible for the third party service 
providers' activities relating to the required ancillary services 
and their compliance with applicable rules under the Exchange 
Act.'').
    \43\ See Exhibit V.2 (stating also that these documents are 
available upon request, and when enrolling with ICE Trade Vault, 
Participants must designate a master user (``Administrator''), who 
will, among other things, create and maintain all user IDs for its 
firm, which will ensure ICE Trade Vault access is granted by a 
trusted individual at the Participant's firm who is closest to and 
has the most knowledge of those in the firm who require access).
    \44\ See id.
    \45\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault represents that determinations to revoke access to 
its system, its SDR service or data maintained by ICE Trade Vault shall 
be made by the CCO.\46\ According to ICE Trade Vault, unless 
circumstances require immediate action, prior to implementing a 
limitation or revocation of access to its system, its SDR service or 
SDR information, ICE Trade Vault's President and General Counsel shall 
review the basis for the limitation or revocation, with the CCO 
providing notice to the Participant of such limitation or 
revocation.\47\ ICE Trade Vault represents that if the President and 
General Counsel determine that revocation of access is the result of 
unreasonable discrimination, the President and General Counsel will 
take

[[Page 25478]]

such actions as are necessary to restore access to such service or 
data.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ See id.
    \47\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \48\ See id. Because persons applying to be SDRs are also 
applying to be SIPs with the Commission, the procedures for 
notifying the Commission of any prohibitions or limitations of 
access to services as provided in Section 11A(b)(5)(A) would apply. 
See SDR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14482 (``Rule 909 of Regulation 
SBSR, which the Commission is concurrently adopting in a separate 
release, requires each registered SDR to register as a SIP, and, as 
such, Exchange Act Section 11A(b)(5) governs denials of access to 
services by an SDR. This section provides that `[i]f any registered 
securities information processor prohibits or limits any person in 
respect of access to services offered, directly or indirectly, by 
such securities information processor, the registered securities 
information processor shall promptly file notice thereof with the 
Commission.' Accordingly, an SDR must promptly notify the Commission 
if it prohibits or limits access to any of its services to any 
person.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Use of Data

    ICE Trade Vault represents that access to information it maintains 
as an SDR would be limited to those with the direct responsibility for 
supporting the ICE Trade Vault system, its SDR service, Participants 
and regulators.\49\ ICE Trade Vault would prohibit its employees and 
others performing similar functions on behalf of ICE Trade Vault from 
using information it maintains as an SDR other than in the performance 
of their job responsibilities.\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
    \50\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Asset Class Accepted; Submission Requirements; Validation

    ICE Trade Vault has represented that it would accept data in 
respect of all SBS trades in the credit derivatives asset class.\51\ 
ICE Trade Vault has represented that Participants would be required to 
submit trade information in the data format required by ICE Trade 
Vault.\52\ The ICE Trade Vault system would accept tab delimited file 
uploads via web access and Applicable Programming Interface submissions 
in FpML format.\53\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ See id.
    \52\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \53\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Exhibit N.5 to ICE Trade Vault's application enumerates the 
required fields and acceptable values for the submission of trade 
information into the ICE Trade Vault system. According to ICE Trade 
Vault, the ICE Trade Vault system would perform certain validations to 
ensure that a submitted trade report adheres to the enumerated fields 
and values contained in Exhibit N.5.\54\ Under ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures, upon receipt of trade information for an SBS, 
the ICE Trade Vault system would validate that:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    a. The submission file is in a valid format for receipt and 
processing;
    b. All fields meet the required field format (e.g., number, date, 
date timestamp, free form text, or standard data value);
    c. All required and conditionally required fields are contained in 
the submission;
    d. All conditionally required fields meet the validation standards; 
and
    e. All standard data value fields are provided with an acceptable 
value.\55\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures provide that, if the 
submitted trade information fails any of the above validations, the ICE 
Trade Vault system would generate an error message and give such 
information an ``invalid'' status.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For historical SBS reporting, ICE Trade Vault represents that the 
ICE Trade Vault system would require Participants to indicate a ``Y'' 
value for ``Flag for Historical Security-Based Swap public 
dissemination exemption.'' \57\ In addition, the ICE Trade Vault system 
allows Participants to submit ``Y'' or ``N'' values for a field ``Flag 
for Historical Security-Based Swap Life Cycle Event public 
dissemination'' to update information in the ICE Trade Vault system 
associated with such SBS.\58\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ See id.
    \58\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it would support the reporting of 
highly customized and bespoke SBS (``exotic SBS'').\59\ ICE Trade Vault 
would require a Participant that wishes to submit a trade report for 
exotic SBS to upload a file to the ICE Trade Vault system that contains 
that trade information and the corresponding confirmed terms.\60\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ See id.
    \60\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. Verification of Transaction Data

    To fulfill its obligations under Exchange Act Rule 13n-5(b)(1), ICE 
Trade Vault's policies and procedures provide that it would require 
Participants to report complete and accurate trade information and to 
review and resolve all error messages generated by the ICE Trade Vault 
system.\61\ If any trade information is found to be incorrect or 
incomplete, ICE Trade Vault would require Participants to correct and 
resubmit such information to the ICE Trade Vault system.\62\ For SBS 
that are not executed on a platform, ICE Trade Vault would require the 
reporting side to provide the method used to confirm the trade 
information (e.g., electronic confirmation service or paper 
confirmation). ICE Trade Vault would further require Participants to 
warrant and represent that all trade information reported to ICE Trade 
Vault is complete and accurate.\63\ If the counterparties to an SBS use 
a paper confirmation to confirm the trade, ICE Trade Vault would 
require the reporting side to upload to the ICE Vault Trade system a 
copy of the confirmation that was agreed upon by the 
counterparties.\64\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ See id.; see also Exhibit V.2.
    \62\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \63\ See id.
    \64\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to ICE Trade Vault, clearing agencies would access ICE 
Trade Vault as Participants to report SBS that have been accepted for 
clearing. Platforms (such as an SBS execution facility) will access ICE 
Trade Vault as Participants to report the relevant data with respect to 
SBS that have been executed on their respective platforms or subject to 
the rules of their markets.\65\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures provide that Participants 
would be responsible for the timely resolution of trade record errors 
contained in trade information that has been submitted to ICE Trade 
Vault.\66\ ICE Trade Vault would provide Participants with electronic 
methods to extract information maintained by ICE Trade Vault for 
reconciliation.\67\ If the non-reporting side for an SBS transaction 
discovers an error contained in the trade information submitted to ICE 
Trade Vault on its behalf, ICE Trade Vault requires that counterparty 
to notify promptly the reporting side of such error.\68\ ICE Trade 
Vault represents that if the reporting side discovers an error 
contained in the trade information that it previously submitted to ICE 
Trade Vault or receives notification from a counterparty of an error, 
the reporting side is required to submit promptly to ICE Trade Vault 
amended trade information that remedies such error.\69\ ICE Trade Vault 
would disseminate a corrected transaction report in instances where the 
initial report included erroneous primary trade information.\70\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
    \67\ See id.
    \68\ See id.
    \69\ See id.
    \70\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

G. Disputed Trade Data

    Under ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures, Participants would 
be required to notify promptly ICE Trade Vault of trade information 
that is

[[Page 25479]]

disputed by the counterparties to the trade. ICE Trade Vault states 
that when a Participant ``disputes'' a trade stored in ICE Trade 
Vault's system, the status of the trade would remain ``Disputed'' until 
the party that disputed the trade sends a message to ICE Trade Vault 
indicating that the dispute has been resolved.\71\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

H. Application and Dissemination of Condition Flags

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it would apply submitted flags to 
trade information that is: (i) An error correction required to be 
disseminated by Rule 905(b)(2) of Regulation SBSR; or (ii) a life cycle 
event, or any adjustment due to a life cycle event, required to be 
disseminated by Rule 902(a) of Regulation SBSR.\72\ In addition, ICE 
Trade Vault's policies and procedures require Participants of ICE Trade 
Vault to apply certain flags with respect to primary trade information 
(i.e., flags required under Rule 901(c)(1)(v) of Regulation SBSR),\73\ 
and ICE Trade Vault would publicly disseminate such flags if the SBS is 
eligible for public dissemination. ICE Trade Vault represents that 
certain flags address security-based swap characteristics that may 
contribute to creating a distorted market view.\74\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \73\ See 17 CFR 240.901(c)(i)(v).
    \74\ See Exhibit GG.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Calculation and Maintenance of Positions

    As provided in ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures, ICE Trade 
Vault states that it would calculate open positions for persons with 
open SBS for which ICE Trade Vault maintains records.\75\ ICE Trade 
Vault's policies and procedures relating to its calculation of 
positions are provided in Exhibit GG.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

J. Assignment of Unique Identification Codes

    ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures include the methodology 
ICE Trade Vault would utilize in connection with its assignment of 
unique identification codes (``UICs'') in accordance with Rule 903 of 
Regulation SBSR.\76\ In particular, ICE Trade Vault represents that it 
would assign UICs as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Any SEC endorsed standard will be used, or in its absence;
    2. Any CPMI-IOSCO endorsed standard will be used, or in its 
absence;
    3. Any industry endorsed standard will be used, or in its absence;
    4. ICE Trade Vault will generate an ID for the applicable UIC.\77\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

K. Transaction ID Methodology

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it has ``endorsed'' a transaction 
ID methodology as follows:
    1. If a transaction is executed on a platform, that platform would 
generate the transaction ID.
    2. If a transaction is cleared, the clearing agency would generate 
the transaction IDs for resulting cleared SBS.
    3. If the transaction is executed off-platform and is not cleared, 
the parties must mutually agree which side of the trade will generate 
the transaction ID. When the transaction ID generator is the reporting 
side, that party may request that ICE Trade Vault generate the 
transaction ID on its behalf.
    4. For historical SBS that have been reported in another 
jurisdiction, the transaction ID assigned in that jurisdiction will be 
used for reporting.
    5. For historical SBS that have not been reported in another 
jurisdiction, the methodology described in items 1-3 above will apply.
    6. A multi-jurisdictional transaction should never have multiple 
transaction IDs.\78\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

L. Ultimate Parent and Affiliate Information

    ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures provide that 
Participants, except for those that are platforms or clearing agencies, 
would be required to provide ICE Trade Vault information (e.g., parent 
IDs and counterparty IDs) to identify their ultimate parent(s) and 
affiliates.\79\ In addition, ICE Trade Vault requires that Participants 
promptly notify ICE Trade Vault of any changes to such information.\80\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ See id.
    \80\ See id.; see also Exhibit U.5 (ICE Trade Vault Ultimate 
Parent & Affiliate Information Notification).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

M. Branch and Trading Desk ID

    Under ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures, in order to 
receive a branch ID or trading desk ID from ICE Trade Vault, 
Participants must submit the branch and desk information to ICE Trade 
Vault before reporting an SBS.\81\ More information concerning branch 
ID and trading desk ID is contained in Exhibit GG.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ See Exhibit GG.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

N. Product ID

    ICE Trade Vault states that it would issue product IDs and maintain 
reference data representation for SBS that will include schema 
definitions and will be made publicly available on a non-fee basis on 
ICE Trade Vault's internet Web site (www.icetradevault.com).\82\ 
According to ICE Trade Vault, if the industry creates and adopts a 
product ID taxonomy and registry, ICE Trade Vault would comply with the 
published standard at such time.\83\ ICE Trade Vault has represented 
that it would create product IDs based on an industry accepted UPI 
taxonomy or, where not available, its own product taxonomy.\84\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ See id.
    \83\ See id.
    \84\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault would require its Participants to notify ICE Trade 
Vault of any new SBS products they intend to report to ICE Trade Vault 
by submitting the relevant product information to: 
ICETradeVaultSupport@theice.com.\85\ A complete list of available 
product information would be made available via a link on ICE Trade 
Vault's internet Web site.\86\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ See id.
    \86\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

O. Missing UIC Information

    ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures provide that the 
reporting side to an SBS may report the non-reporting side's UIC 
information (other than counterparty ID) but is not required to do 
so.\87\ ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures provide that, if the 
non-reporting side is not a Participant, the non-reporting side 
``should contact ICE Trade Vault'' via electronic mail to register for 
access to ICE Trade Vault and its trade information. ICE Trade Vault 
represents that it would identify in its records any SBS reported to it 
for which it does not have required UIC information.\88\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ See id.; see also Exhibit GG.2 (Guidebook, section 6.2 
requirements relating to counterparty IDs, execution agent IDs and 
broker IDs).
    \88\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to ICE Trade Vault, once a day, ICE Trade Vault would 
send a report to each Participant that is a counterparty to an SBS(s) 
that lacks required UIC information.\89\ ICE Trade Vault represents in 
its policies and procedures that a Participant that receives a report 
must provide the missing information with respect to its side of each 
SBS referenced in the

[[Page 25480]]

report to ICE Trade Vault within 24 hours.\90\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \89\ See id.
    \90\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

P. Public Dissemination

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it would publicly disseminate 
information required for public dissemination pursuant to Regulation 
SBSR, including SBS transaction reports, which contain all of the 
primary transaction information, and information regarding life cycle 
events or adjustments due to a life cycle event.\91\ In addition, ICE 
Trade Vault would provide the public, Participants and regulators with 
the ability to download historical data.\92\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \91\ See id.
    \92\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. Safeguarding Data, Operational Reliability, and Emergency Authority

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it has implemented systems and 
procedures to allow for timely resumption of key business processes and 
operations following unplanned interruptions, unavailability of staff, 
inaccessibility of facilities, and disruption or disastrous loss to one 
or more of ICE Trade Vault's facilities or services.\93\ ICE Trade 
Vault represents that its SDR service data is saved to a redundant, 
local database and a remote disaster recovery database in near real-
time and that its SDR service database is backed up to tape daily with 
tapes moved offsite weekly.\94\ ICE Trade Vault also states that 
Participants' individual trade data records remain available to 
Participants and regulators at no charge for online access through its 
SDR service from the date of submission until five years after 
expiration of the trade (last day of delivery or settlement as defined 
for each product).\95\ According to ICE Trade Vault, after the initial 
five-year period, Participants' trade data will be stored off-line and 
remain available to Participants and regulators, upon a three-day 
advance request to ICE Trade Vault, until ten years from the 
termination date.\96\ ICE Trade Vault also states that Participants 
will retain unimpaired access to its online and archived trade 
data.\97\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \93\ See id.
    \94\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
    \95\ See id.
    \96\ See Exhibit V.2.
    \97\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it maintains and will continue to 
maintain a robust emergency and business-continuity and disaster 
recovery plan (``Business Continuity Plan'') that allows for timely 
resumption of key business processes and operations following unplanned 
interruptions, unavailability of staff, inaccessibility of facilities, 
and disruption or disastrous loss to one or more of ICE Trade Vault's 
facilities or services.\98\ ICE Trade Vault represents that its 
Business Continuity Plan requires that all production system hardware 
and software is replicated in near real-time at a geographical- and 
vendor-diverse disaster recovery site to avoid any loss of data.\99\
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    \98\ See id.
    \99\ See id.
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    ICE Trade Vault represents that it is authorized to determine, in 
its sole discretion, whether an emergency exists with respect to, or 
otherwise threatens, its system or its SDR service (an ``Emergency'') 
and whether emergency action is warranted to mitigate such 
circumstances, but that it may also exercise emergency authority if 
ordered to do so by the Commission or other regulatory agency of 
competent jurisdiction.\100\ Circumstances requiring the invocation of 
emergency authority pursuant to ICE Trade Vault's policies and 
procedures include: (i) Any occurrence or circumstance that ICE Trade 
Vault determines to constitute an Emergency; (ii) any ``Physical 
Emergency'' (such as a fire or other casualty, bomb threats, terrorist 
acts, substantial inclement weather, power failures, communications 
breakdowns, computer system breakdowns, or transportation breakdowns); 
(iii) any occurrence or circumstance that threatens or may threaten the 
proper functionality of ICE Trade Vault's system or its SDR service; 
(iv) any occurrence or circumstance that may materially affect the 
performance of its system or its SDR service; (v) any action taken by 
any governmental body or any regulator that may have a direct impact on 
its system or its SDR service; and (vi) any other circumstance that may 
impact ICE Trade Vault, its system or its SDR service in a materially 
adverse manner.\101\
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    \100\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \101\ See id.
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    Under ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures, if the President 
of ICE Trade Vault, or any individual designated by the President or 
the Board of Directors, determines that an Emergency is likely to arise 
or has arisen, the President or such designee, as the case may be, may, 
consistent with ICE Trade Vault's conflict of interest policies, 
declare an Emergency with respect to its system, its SDR service or the 
facilities of ICE Trade Vault and take or place into immediate effect a 
temporary emergency action or protocol.\102\ ICE Trade Vault represents 
that any such action or protocol may remain in effect for up to 30 
business days, after which time, and for each 30-business day period 
thereafter, it must be reissued by the Board of Directors to remain in 
effect.\103\ Under ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures, the CCO 
would be consulted in the event any emergency action or protocol may 
raise potential conflicts of interest.\104\
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    \102\ See id.
    \103\ See id.
    \104\ See id.
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    ICE Trade Vault represents that any such action or protocol may 
provide for, or may authorize ICE Trade Vault, the Board of Directors 
or any committee thereof to undertake, actions deemed necessary or 
appropriate by the President or its designee to respond to the 
Emergency, including, but not limited to, the following: Modifying or 
suspending any relevant provision of the Guidebook; changing the 
operating hours of its SDR service; temporarily limiting or denying 
access to its system or its SDR service; or requiring re-submission of 
any data lost or otherwise affected due to such Emergency.\105\ Any 
such action placed into effect in accordance with the preceding 
paragraph may be reviewed by the Board of Directors at any time and may 
be revoked, suspended or modified by the Board of Directors.\106\ ICE 
Trade Vault represents that it will notify the SEC as soon as is 
reasonably practicable of ICE Trade Vault's invocation of its emergency 
authority, any material business disruption, or any threat that 
actually or potentially jeopardizes automated system capacity, 
integrity, resiliency, availability or security,\107\ with the 
decision-making process with respect to, and the reasons for, any such 
action recorded in writing \108\ and with ICE Trade Vault notifying 
Participants via email as soon as practicable of any action taken (time 
permitting), or proposed to be taken.\109\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \105\ See id.
    \106\ See id.
    \107\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
    \108\ See Exhibit GG.2.
    \109\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

R. Data Confidentiality; Sensitive Information and Security

    ICE Trade Vault represents that it ``recognizes its responsibility 
to ensure data confidentiality and [that it] dedicates significant 
resources'' to information security to prevent the misappropriation or 
misuse of confidential information, and that it does not, as a 
condition of accepting SBS data from Participants, require the waiver 
of any privacy rights by such Participants.\110\ ICE Trade Vault would 
use a multi-tiered firewall scheme to

[[Page 25481]]

provide network segmentation and access control to its services.\111\ A 
second set of firewalls would further isolate ICE Trade Vault's systems 
and provide added security to detect any threats.\112\ In addition, 
network sensors would analyze all internet and private line traffic for 
malicious patterns.\113\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \110\ See id.
    \111\ See id.
    \112\ See Exhibits V.2 and GG.2.
    \113\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ICE Trade Vault's application states that certain controls would be 
regularly examined and tested by multiple tiers of internal and 
external test groups, auditors and independently contracted third-party 
security testing firms.\114\ In addition, ICE Trade Vault has 
represented that it would undertake an audit for adherence to its data 
security policies on at least an annual basis.\115\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \114\ See id.
    \115\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning ICE Trade Vault's Form SDR, including whether ICE 
Trade Vault has satisfied the requirements for registration as an SDR. 
To the extent possible, commenters are requested to provide empirical 
data and other factual support for their views. In addition, the 
Commission seeks comment on the following issues:
    1. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
application for registration as an SDR demonstrates that ICE Trade 
Vault is so organized, and has the capacity, to be able to assure the 
prompt, accurate, and reliable performance of its functions as an SDR, 
comply with any applicable provisions of the securities laws and the 
rules and regulations thereunder, and carry out its functions in a 
manner consistent with the purposes of Section 13(n) of the Exchange 
Act and Commission's SDR rules.
    2. Exchange Act Rule 13n-5(b)(1)(iii) requires every SDR to 
establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to satisfy itself that the transaction data that 
has been submitted to the SDR is complete and accurate. Please provide 
your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures 
concerning verification of trade data are sufficiently detailed and 
reasonably designed to satisfy ICE Trade Vault that the transaction 
data that has been submitted to ICE Trade Vault is complete and 
accurate, as required by Rule 13n-5(b)(1)(iii).
    3. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures to address confirmation of data accuracy and 
completeness for bespoke, bilateral SBS transactions (i.e., requiring 
the reporting side of the transaction to identify the method used to 
confirm the trade information, either by use of an electronic 
confirmation service or by paper confirmation agreed upon by the 
counterparties) are appropriate and reasonably designed to meet its 
obligations under the Rule 13n-5(b)(1)(iii). In this regard, the 
Commission is also interested in receiving comments as to whether ICE 
Trade Vault's definition of ``confirmed'' as contained in its Guidebook 
(Exhibit GG.2) is appropriate.
    4. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures relating to invalidly entered UICs being 
subject to an error message and an ``invalid'' status as noted in 
Exhibit GG.2 are sufficiently detailed to meet the objectives of 
Exchange Act Rule 13n-5(b)(1)(iii).
    5. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably 
designed to ensure that the transaction data and positions that it 
maintains are complete and accurate, as required by Exchange Act Rule 
13n-5(b)(3).
    6. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably 
designed to ensure that it has the ability to protect the privacy of 
SBS transaction information that it receives, as required by Exchange 
Act Rule 13n-9.
    7. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably 
designed to ensure that it has the ability to calculate positions, as 
required by Exchange Act Rule 13n-5(b)(2).
    8. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably 
designed to provide a mechanism for Participants and their 
counterparties to effectively resolve disputes over the accuracy of SBS 
data that it maintains, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n-5(b)(6). 
Are ICE Trade Vault's policies and procedures relating to dispute 
resolution adequate? Why or why not? Should the policies and procedures 
specify timeframes in the dispute resolution process to facilitate 
timely and conclusive resolution of disputes? Why or why not?
    9. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably 
designed to ensure that its systems that support or are integrally 
related to the performance of its activities provides adequate levels 
of capacity, integrity, resiliency, availability and security, as 
required by Exchange Act Rule 13n-6.
    10. Please provide your views as to whether the disclosures in ICE 
Trade Vault's Disclosure Document to a Participant prior to accepting 
any SBS data from that Participant or upon the Participant's request, 
as required by Exchange Act Rule 13n-10, are adequate. Specifically, 
the Commission is interested in receiving comments as to whether ICE 
Trade Vault's Disclosure Document contains adequate and sufficiently 
detailed information that would reasonably enable the Participant to 
identify and evaluate accurately the risks and costs associated with 
using ICE Trade Vault's services. Such information includes ICE Trade 
Vault's criteria for providing others with access to its services and 
data it maintains, its criteria for those seeking to connect to or link 
with it, its description of its policies and procedures regarding its 
noncommercial and/or commercial use of the SBS transaction information 
that it receives from a Participant, any registered entity, or any 
other person, its description of all the SBS data repository's 
services, including any ancillary services, and its description of its 
governance arrangements.
    11. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures are sufficiently detailed and reasonably 
designed for the CCO's handling, management response, remediation, 
retesting, and closing of noncompliance issues, as required by Exchange 
Act Rule 13n-11(c)(7).
    12. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies or procedures could result in an unreasonable restraint of 
trade or impose any material anticompetitive burden on the trading, 
clearing, or reporting of transactions.
    13. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
proposed dues, fees, or other charges, discounts or rebates and the 
process for setting dues, fees, or other charges, discounts or rebates 
are fair and reasonable and not unreasonably discriminatory. Please 
address whether such proposed dues, fees, other charges, discounts, or 
rebates are applied consistently across all similarly situated users of 
ICE Trade Vault's services, including, but not limited to, 
Participants, market infrastructures (including central 
counterparties), venues from which data can be submitted to ICE Trade 
Vault (including exchanges, SBS execution facilities, electronic 
trading venues, and

[[Page 25482]]

matching and confirmation platforms), and third party service 
providers.
    14. Exchange Act Rule 13n-4(c)(2)(ii)-(iii) provides that each SDR 
must establish governance arrangements that provide for fair 
representation of market participants, and must provide representatives 
of market participants, including end-users, with the opportunity to 
participate in the process for nominating directors and with the right 
to petition for alternative candidates. Please provide your views as to 
whether ICE Trade Vault's governance structure provides fair 
representation and an opportunity for participation by market 
participants pursuant to Rule 13n-4(c)(2)(ii)-(iii).
    15. Rule 903(a) of Regulation SBSR provides, in relevant part, that 
if no system has been recognized by the Commission, or a recognized 
system has not assigned a UIC to a particular person, unit of a person, 
or product, the registered SDR shall assign a UIC to that person, unit 
of person, or product using its own methodology. Is the methodology 
that ICE Trade Vault proposes to use to assign UICs as described in its 
application materials appropriate in light of the requirements under 
Rule 903(a) of Regulation SBSR? Why or why not?
    16. Rule 907(c) of Regulation SBSR requires a registered SDR to 
make its Regulation SBSR policies and procedures publicly available on 
its Web site. The Commission has stated that this public availability 
requirement will allow all interested parties to understand how the 
registered SDR is utilizing the flexibility it has in operating the 
transaction reporting and dissemination system, and will provide an 
opportunity for Participants to make suggestions to the registered SDR 
for altering and improving those policies and procedures, in light of 
the new products or circumstances, consistent with the principles set 
out in Regulation SBSR.\116\ ICE Trade Vault has proposed to satisfy 
its obligation under Rule 907(c) of Regulation SBSR by making the 
policies and procedures contained in Exhibit GG.2 and the other 
application exhibits referenced therein available on its public Web 
site. Is the information that is included in or referenced in Exhibit 
GG.2 appropriate in light of the requirements of Rule 907(c)?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \116\ See Regulation SBSR Adopting Release, 80 FR at 14648.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    17. For certain data fields, Exhibit N.5 indicates that the 
acceptable data format is the ``standard data value'' for the field, 
but Exhibit N.5 does not provide more specific information regarding 
acceptable data formats for such fields. ICE Trade Vault has indicated 
to Commission staff that it plans to make available to its Participants 
detailed specifications for reporting SBS information, and Participants 
will be permitted to download detailed descriptions of the acceptable 
data format for each ``standard data value'' from the ICE Trade Vault 
system. However, ICE Trade Vault stated in its discussions with 
Commission staff that it will make such additional specifications 
available only to Participants who have executed a Participant 
Agreement. Is it anticipated to be problematic for persons seeking to 
report SBS information to an SDR to be required to execute a 
Participant Agreement as a condition to ICE Trade Vault providing 
access to the additional data format specifications?
    18. Regulation SBSR imposes duties on various market Participants 
to report SBS transaction information to a registered SDR. Please 
provide your views as to whether the ICE Trade Vault application and 
the associated policies and procedures (including technical 
specifications for submission of data) provide sufficient information 
to potential Participants about how they would discharge these 
regulatory duties when reporting to ICE Trade Vault. In particular, 
please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's technical 
specifications for submission of data are sufficiently detailed, 
especially with regard to historical SBSs and bespoke SBS. Please 
describe in detail what additional information you believe is necessary 
to allow you to satisfy any reporting obligation you may incur under 
Regulation SBSR.
    19. Rule 906(a) of Regulation SBSR provides, in relevant part, that 
a Participant of the registered SDR must provide the missing 
information with respect to its side of each SBS referenced in the 
report to the registered SDR within 24 hours. ICE Trade Vault has 
represented that a non-reporting-side participant must be fully 
onboarded before it may submit information that it is required to 
provide to a registered SDR by Rule 906(a) of Regulation SBSR. Please 
provide your views as to whether this form of access afforded to the 
non-reporting-side is fair, open, and not unreasonably discriminatory.
    20. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures relating to Rule 906(a) are sufficiently 
detailed, appropriate and reasonably designed to ensure data accuracy 
and completeness.
    21. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault has 
provided sufficient information to explain the SBS transaction 
information that it would publicly disseminate to discharge its duties 
under Rule 902 of Regulation SBSR. Please describe any additional 
information that you feel is necessary. Please offer any suggestions 
generally for how the publicly disseminated information could be made 
more useful.
    22. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault has 
provided sufficient information to explain how Participants would be 
required to report life cycle events under Rule 901(e). Please describe 
any additional information that you feel is necessary. In particular, 
please indicate whether you believe ICE Trade Vault's specifications 
are reasonably designed to identify the specific data element(s) that 
change and thus that trigger the report of the life cycle event.
    23. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault has 
provided sufficient information about how an agent could report SBS 
transaction information to ICE Trade Vault on behalf of a principal 
(i.e., a person who has a duty under Regulation SBSR to report). Please 
describe any additional information that is necessary. In particular, 
please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault should 
differentiate between agents who are Participants of ICE Trade Vault 
because they themselves at times are principals (i.e., they are 
counterparties to one or more SBSs that are reported to ICE Trade Vault 
on a mandatory basis) and agents who are never principals (e.g., a 
vendor).
    24. Please provide your views as to whether ICE Trade Vault's 
policies and procedures for developing condition flags for transactions 
having special characteristics under Rule 907(a)(4) of Regulation SBSR 
are consistent with the goal of preventing market participants without 
knowledge of these characteristics receiving a distorted view of the 
market. Are there additional condition flags that you believe ICE Trade 
Vault should utilize? If so, please describe them and why you believe 
they are appropriate.
    Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SBSDR-2016-01 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, 
Securities and

[[Page 25483]]

Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SBSDR-2016-01.
    To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use only one method of submission. The Commission 
will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/rules/other.shtml).
    Copies of the Form SDR, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the Form SDR that are filed with the 
Commission, and all written communications relating to the Form SDR 
between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be 
withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 
552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the 
Commission's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 
20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m.
    All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission 
does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You 
should submit only information that you wish to make available 
publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SBSDR-2016-01 and 
should be submitted on or before May 31, 2016.

    By the Commission.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-09931 Filed 4-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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