[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1148-1152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-173]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 1

RIN 3038--AC27


Limitations on Withdrawals of Equity Capital

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'') is 
amending its regulations to provide that the Commission may, by written 
order, temporarily prohibit a futures commission merchant (``FCM'') 
from carrying out equity withdrawal transactions that would reduce 
excess adjusted net capital by 30 percent or more. The proposed orders 
would be based on the Commission's determination that such withdrawal

[[Page 1149]]

transactions could be detrimental to the financial integrity of FCMs or 
could adversely affect their ability to meet customer obligations. The 
proposed amendments also would provide that an FCM may file with the 
Commission a petition for rescission of an order temporarily 
prohibiting equity withdrawals from the FCM.

DATES: Effective March 12, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Smith, Deputy Director and 
Chief Accountant, at (202) 418-5430, or Thelma Diaz, Special Counsel, 
at (202) 418-5137, Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight, 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581. Electronic mail: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The Commission issued a release with proposed amendments to Part 1 
of the Commission's regulations in September of 2006, as published for 
notice and comment in the Federal Register (the ``Proposing 
Release'').\1\ The Commission received comment letters from the Joint 
Audit Committee (``JAC'') \2\ and two designated contracts markets, the 
Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc. and the Minneapolis Grain 
Exchange.\3\ All of the commenters endorsed the proposed amendments to 
Regulation 1.17(g), which would provide for Commission orders that 
temporarily restrict equity capital withdrawals from FCMs if the 
Commission finds that such withdrawals may be detrimental to the 
financial integrity of the FCM or may unduly jeopardize its ability to 
meet customer obligations or other liabilities that may cause a 
significant impact on the markets. The Proposing Release also included 
other proposed amendments to Regulations 1.12 and 1.17, which would 
update these regulations by adding references to ``limited liability 
companies'' and ``limited liability company members.'' \4\ For the 
reasons discussed below, the Commission is adopting each of these 
amendments as proposed in the Proposing Release.
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    \1\ See 71 FR 57451 (September 29, 2006).
    \2\ The JAC is a committee formed by U.S. commodity futures and 
options exchanges and the National Futures Association to coordinate 
audit and financial surveillance activities of FCMs.
    \3\ The comment letters are available for inspection and copying 
at the Commission's Washington office in its public reading room, 
Room 4072, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20581. The telephone number for the public reading 
room is (202) 418-5025. The comment letters are also available on 
the Commission's public Web site, at http://www.cftc.gov/foia/comment06/foi06-007_1.htm.
    \4\ The Commission has revised other regulations to reflect the 
development of limited liability companies (``LLCs''). See, e.g. 69 
FR 49784, 49793-4 (August 12, 2004). The amendments adopted in 2004 
related to the management of LLCs, in order to determine persons 
with appropriate signature authority to file financial reports for 
the FCM or IB.
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II. Background

    Commission Regulation 1.17(e) prohibits all equity withdrawal 
transactions that would reduce the adjusted net capital of FCMs or 
introducing brokers (``IBs'') beyond the amounts permitted by the 
regulation.\5\ The transactions affected by the regulation include any 
withdrawals made by the action of a stockholder or partner or by 
redemption or repurchase of shares of stock by ``consolidated 
entities'',\6\ dividend payments or similar distributions, or through 
unsecured advances or loans made to stockholders, partners, sole 
proprietors, or employees. When determining the effect of the proposed 
equity withdrawal transaction on the firm's capital, the firm also must 
take into account other pending equity withdrawal transactions and 
scheduled liability payments that will reduce its capital within six 
months after the subject equity withdrawal transaction.\7\ The proposed 
equity withdrawal transaction is prohibited if, when added together 
with such other planned capital reductions, it would result in capital 
levels that are less than required by Regulation 1.17(e).
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    \5\ Commission regulations cited in this release may be found at 
17 CFR Ch. I (2006). Generally speaking, Regulation 1.17(e) 
prohibits equity withdrawal transactions if such withdrawals would 
reduce the firm's adjusted net capital to less than 120 percent of 
its minimum adjusted net capital requirement under Regulation 
1.17(a)(1). Such transactions also are prohibited if they would 
result in less than the minimum amount of equity required under 
Regulation 1.17(d), which provides that FCMs and IBs must maintain a 
debt-equity ratio of at least 30 percent equity.
    \6\ Commission Regulation 1.17(f) requires, and in other 
circumstances permits, FCMs and IBs to consolidate the assets and 
liabilities of their subsidiaries and/or affiliates in a single 
computation of adjusted net capital for the FCM or IB and its 
consolidated entities.
    \7\ Regulation 1.17(e) specifically requires the firm to combine 
the amount of the subject equity withdrawal transaction with any of 
the following that are scheduled to occur within six months after 
the subject withdrawal: any other proposed equity withdrawal; any 
payments under satisfactory subordination agreements under 
Regulation 1.17(h); and any payments of the liabilities identified 
in Regulation 1.17(c)(4)(vi).
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    The purpose of these equity withdrawal restrictions is to help 
preserve and enhance the required compliance by FCMs and IBs with the 
minimum financial requirements set forth in the Commission's 
regulations.\8\ As the Commission has explained elsewhere, the 
Commission's minimum financial requirements protect customers and other 
market participants by requiring FCMs and IBs to maintain minimum 
levels of liquid assets in excess of their liabilities to finance their 
business activities.\9\ Moreover, pursuant to Section 4d of the 
Act,\10\ FCMs are required to segregate from their own assets all 
money, securities, and other property held for customers as margin for 
their commodity futures and option contracts, as well as any gains 
accruing to customers from their open futures and option positions. 
Part 30 of the Commission's regulations also calls for FCMs to set 
aside funds, called the ``foreign futures and foreign options secured 
amount'', to help protect the funds of U.S. customers trading on non-
U.S. futures markets.\11\ In the event of a shortfall in the Section 4d 
segregated funds or the Part 30 secured funds that an FCM must hold, 
the Commission's minimum net capital requirements provide protection to 
customers by requiring each FCM to maintain a minimum level of assets 
that are readily available to be contributed in the event of a 
shortfall in the customer funds. The minimum capital requirements also 
protect customers and market participants by ensuring that an FCM 
remains solvent while waiting for margin calls to be met.
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    \8\ Section 4f(b) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``Act'') 
authorizes the Commission, by regulation, to impose minimum 
financial and related reporting requirements on FCMs and IBs. The 
Act is codified at 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq. (2000), and Section 4f(b) of 
the Act is codified at 7 U.S.C. 6f(b).
    \9\ 68 FR 40835, 40836 (July 9, 2003) (Minimum Financial and 
Related Reporting Requirements for Futures Commission Merchants and 
Introducing Brokers).
    \10\ Section 4d of the Act is codified at 7 U.S.C. 6d (2000).
    \11\ The term ``foreign futures and foreign options secured 
amount'' is defined in Regulation 1.3(rr).
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    As an additional measure to ensure capital compliance by FCMs, 
Commission Regulation 1.12(g)(2) requires each FCM to provide notice to 
the Commission of certain equity withdrawal transactions.\12\ In 
particular, Regulation 1.12(g)(2) requires each FCM to provide notice 
at least two business days prior to an action to withdraw equity from 
the FCM, or a subsidiary or affiliate consolidated pursuant to 
Regulation 1.17(f), if the equity withdrawal transaction would cause, 
on a net basis, a reduction in the FCM's excess adjusted net capital of 
30 percent or more. In response to the receipt of such a notice, 
Regulation 1.12(g)(3) provides that the Director of the Commission's 
Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight (``Division''), or the 
Director's designee, may require that the FCM provide, within three 
business

[[Page 1150]]

days from the date of the request or such shorter period as the 
Director or designee may specify, such other information as the 
Director or designee determines to be necessary based upon market 
conditions, reports provided by the FCM, or other available 
information.\13\
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    \12\ Regulation 1.12(g) applies only to FCMs and not IBs.
    \13\ Regulation 1.12(g)(2) also provides that the Commission may 
require the FCM to cause a Material Affiliated Person, as that term 
is defined in Commission Regulation 1.14(a)(2), to respond to 
requests for information from the Division Director.
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    When first proposing the notification provision eventually adopted 
as Regulation 1.12(g)(2), the Commission noted that it could serve as 
``early warning'' of impending financial difficulties at an FCM or at 
its holding company.\14\ The only consequence that the regulation 
expressly contemplates as a result of the warning is that the 
Commission may require additional information from the FCM, with the 
response to be provided in a period of three days or less, as directed 
by the Commission. At the time that Regulation 1.2(g)(2) was adopted, 
the Commission determined that it was not necessary to adopt additional 
limitations within the Commission's regulations on equity withdrawal 
transactions.\15\
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    \14\ The provisions of this regulation originally were included 
among several proposals made by the Commission in 1994 in response 
to the financial difficulties experienced by certain FCMs operating 
within holding company structures. These proposals were intended to 
provide the Commission with access to information concerning the 
activities of FCM affiliates whose activities were reasonably likely 
to have a material impact on the financial or operational condition 
of the FCM. The Commission subsequently determined, in response to 
the recommendations of several commenters, that the notice 
requirements in Regulation 1.12(g) should be applied broadly to all 
FCMs, and not just to those subject to reporting requirements with 
respect to their material affiliates. See, generally, 59 FR 9689, 
9690-9691 (March 1, 1994) (Risk Assessment for Holding Company 
Systems).
    \15\ 61 FR 19177, 19180 (May 1, 1996).
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    However, the recent precipitous decline of a large FCM holding 
company has confirmed that expedited action may be necessary to protect 
FCM capital in the face of increasing financial pressures experienced 
by its parent and/or affiliated entities. In this recent example, the 
FCM registrant was part of a complex organizational group consisting of 
several layers of holding companies and their subsidiaries. In October 
of 2005, the parent company for the group announced that its chief 
executive officer had been placed on leave, and that its financial 
statements for the years 2002 through 2005 should not be relied upon. 
The next day, federal authorities charged the chief executive officer 
with securities fraud, and on the following day the holding company 
declared that certain liquidity difficulties were causing it to impose 
a 15-day moratorium for the activities of a nonregulated subsidiary. 
According to prior financial filings of the holding company, this 
nonregulated subsidiary had been responsible for a material portion of 
the holding company's business.
    In response to these foregoing events, the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``SEC'') issued an order to temporarily restrict 
withdrawals of capital from two other subsidiaries of the holding 
company, which were registered as securities broker-dealers.\16\ In 
issuing the order, the SEC cited to its regulation, 17 CFR 240.15c3-
1(e)(3)(i), which provides that the SEC may by order restrict, for a 
period up to twenty business days, any withdrawal by the broker or 
dealer of equity capital or unsecured loan or advance to a stockholder, 
partner, sole proprietor, employee or affiliate, if (1) such 
withdrawal, advance or loan when aggregated with all other withdrawals, 
advances or loans on a net basis during a 30 calendar day period, 
exceeds 30 percent of the broker or dealer's excess net capital; and 
(2) the SEC, based on the facts and information available, concludes 
that the withdrawal, advance or loan may be detrimental to the 
financial integrity of the broker or dealer, or may unduly jeopardize 
the broker or dealer's ability to repay its customer claims or other 
liabilities that may cause a significant impact on the markets or 
expose the customers or creditors of the broker or dealer to loss 
without taking into account the application of the Securities Investor 
Protection Act.\17\ As described by the SEC, Sec.  240.15c3-1(e)(3)(i) 
enables the SEC and its staff to examine further the financial 
condition of the broker-dealer, so as to determine whether, and under 
what circumstances, to permit the withdrawal, entirely or partially, or 
to prohibit the withdrawal for additional periods by issuing subsequent 
orders, with terms that are no longer than twenty business days.\18\
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    \16\ A copy of the SEC order, dated October 13, 2005, may be 
accessed electronically at http://www.sec.gov/rules/other/34-52606.pdf.
    \17\ This SEC regulation also provides that an order temporarily 
prohibiting the withdrawal of capital shall be rescinded if, 
sometime after a hearing that is to be held within two business days 
from the date of the request in writing by the broker or dealer, the 
SEC determines that the restriction on capital withdrawal should not 
remain in effect. See 17 CFR 240.15c3-1(e)(3)(ii).
    \18\ 55 FR 34027, 34030 (August 15, 1990) (proposing amendments 
to SEC Regulation 15c3-1 regarding withdrawals of equity capital).
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III. Amendments to Regulations 1.12 and 1.17

    As proposed in the Proposing Release, the Commission is adding a 
new paragraph (g) to Regulation 1.17, which will enhance the 
Commission's ability, in the face of fast-developing events, to impose 
temporary restrictions on the flow of capital from an FCM to its 
holding company and other affiliated entities, as appropriate.\19\ It 
is imperative that the Commission have the option to consider requiring 
such temporary delays of equity withdrawals whenever urgent 
circumstances so require. Under the amended regulation, the Commission 
may issue a written order to impose temporary restrictions on equity 
withdrawals for a period of up to twenty business days, and the 
Commission may continue to make the restrictions effective against the 
FCM by issuing subsequent orders, each with a term of no more than 
twenty business days. The order would restrict any withdrawal by the 
FCM of equity capital, or any unsecured advance or loan to a 
stockholder, partner, limited liability company member, sole 
proprietor, employee or affiliate, if:
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    \19\ Paragraph (g) of Regulation 1.17 currently is reserved.
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    (i) Such withdrawal, advance or loan, when aggregated with all 
other withdrawals, advances or loans during a 30 calendar day period 
from the FCM, or from a subsidiary or affiliate of the FCM consolidated 
pursuant to Sec.  1.17(f), would cause a net reduction in the FCM's 
excess adjusted net capital of 30 percent or more; and
    (ii) The Commission has concluded, in light of available facts and 
circumstances, that such withdrawal, advance or loan may be detrimental 
to the financial integrity of the FCM, or may unduly jeopardize its 
ability to meet customer obligations or other liabilities that may 
cause a significant impact on the markets.
    During the periods that such orders are effective, Commission staff 
may evaluate the effect of the proposed withdrawals on the continuing 
adequacy of customer safeguards at the firm, including the continuing 
adequacy of the firm's liquid assets, in light of the most current 
information available from the FCM concerning its operations and those 
of its holding company and affiliates. These amendments to Regulation 
1.17 may therefore serve to further enhance the security of customer 
funds and the overall financial integrity of the futures markets.\20\
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    \20\ In the years since the Commission last adopted rule 
amendments addressing equity withdrawal transactions, the amount of 
funds that FCMs are required to hold as segregated funds has more 
than doubled. As of August 31, 1995, FCMs were required to hold 
approximately $25 billion as segregated funds, and $6 billion as 
secured funds. As of December 31, 2005, the amount that FCMs were 
required to hold as segregated funds had increased to over $95 
billion, and the amount required to be held as secured funds had 
grown to almost $25 billion.

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[[Page 1151]]

    The Commission also is amending Regulation 1.17(g)(2) to provide 
that an FCM may file a written petition with the Commission to request 
rescission of an order temporarily restricting equity withdrawals from 
the FCM. The Commission will notify the FCM in writing that its 
petition for rescission had been denied, or, if the Commission 
determined that the order should not remain in effect, the order would 
be rescinded. The petition filed by the FCM must specify the facts and 
circumstances supporting its request for rescission.
    Finally, the Commission is also amending Commission Regulations 
1.12(g)(2), 1.17(d)(1), and 1.17(e), as proposed in the Proposing 
Release. These regulations include references to FCMs and IBs that are 
organized as corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships, but 
currently lack a specific reference to firms organized as limited 
liability companies. By including applicable references for limited 
liability companies and their members, the amended regulations 
modernize the provisions of Regulations 1.12 and 1.17.

IV. Related Matters

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA''), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
requires that agencies, when amending their rules, consider the impact 
of those amendments on small businesses. The Commission included in the 
Proposing Release a certification from the Chairman that these rules 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.\21\ The Commission received no comments on the 
certification.
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    \21\ 71 FR at 57452.
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B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA'') \22\ imposes certain 
requirements on federal agencies (including the Commission) in 
connection with their conducting or sponsoring any collection of 
information as defined by the PRA. As noted in the Proposing 
Release,\23\ these amended regulations do not require a new collection 
of information on the part of the entities that are subject to the 
amended regulations.
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    \22\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
    \23\ 71 FR at 57453.
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C. Cost-Benefit Analysis

    Section 15(a) of the Act requires the Commission to consider the 
costs and benefits of its action before issuing a new regulation under 
the Act. By its terms, Section 15(a) as amended does not require the 
Commission to quantify the costs and benefits of a new regulation or to 
determine whether the benefits of the regulation outweigh its costs. 
Rather, Section 15(a) simply requires the Commission to ``consider the 
costs and benefits'' of its action.
    Section 15(a) of the Act further specifies that costs and benefits 
shall be evaluated in light of five broad areas of market and public 
concern: Protection of market participants and the public; efficiency, 
competitiveness, and financial integrity of futures markets; price 
discovery; sound risk management practices; and other public interest 
considerations. Accordingly, the Commission could in its discretion 
give greater weight to any one of the five enumerated areas and could 
in its discretion determine that, notwithstanding its costs, a 
particular regulation was necessary or appropriate to protect the 
public interest or to effectuate any of the provisions or to accomplish 
any of the purposes of the Act. The amended Regulation 1.17(g) enables 
the Commission to issue orders temporarily restricting certain equity 
withdrawal transactions in circumstances that pose significant concerns 
for the financial condition of FCMs. The Commission has considered the 
costs and benefits of the amended regulation in light of the specific 
provisions of Section 15(a) of the Act, as follows:
    1. Protection of market participants and the public. Under the 
amended Regulation 1.17(g), the Commission would be able, in 
exceptional circumstances, to temporarily delay certain withdrawals of 
FCM equity by their owners and other insiders, which would contribute 
to the benefit of ensuring that eligible FCMs can meet their financial 
obligations to customers and other market participants.
    2. Efficiency and competition. The amended regulations should have 
no effect, from the standpoint of imposing costs or creating benefits, 
on the efficiency and competition of the futures markets.
    3. Financial integrity of futures markets and price discovery. 
Amended Regulation 1.17(g) contributes to the financial integrity of 
futures markets by helping to confirm and preserve the capital of FCM 
registrants. The amended regulations should have no effect, from the 
standpoint of imposing costs or creating benefits, on the price 
discovery function of such markets.
    4. Sound risk management practices. In order to avoid application 
of amended Regulation 1.17(g), FCMs may enhance existing risk 
management practices relating to the risks that practices of FCM 
affiliates may pose to the ability of FCMs to meet their obligations to 
customers and other participants in the futures markets.
    5. Other public interest considerations. The amendments to 
Regulations 1.12(g), 1.17(d)(1) and 1.17(e), which add references to 
limited liability company members and their capital contributions, help 
modernize the Commission's regulations by taking into consideration new 
forms of business organizations used by FCMs and IBs.
    The Commission invited, but did not receive, public comment on its 
application of the cost-benefit provision.\24\ After considering these 
factors, the Commission has determined to issue this final rule.
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    \24\ 71 FR at 5745.
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List of Subjects in 17 CFR Part 1

    Brokers, Commodity futures, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.


0
Accordingly, 17 CFR Chapter I is hereby amended as follows:

PART 1--GENERAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT

0
1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1a, 2, 5, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 
6i, 6j, 6k, 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, 6p, 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 9, 12, 12a, 12c, 13a, 
13a-1, 16, 16a, 19, 21, 23, and 24, as amended by the Commodity 
Futures Modernization Act of 2000, Appendix E of Pub. L. No. 106-
554, 114 Stat. 2763 (2000).


0
2. Section 1.12 is amended by revising paragraph (g)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1.12  Maintenance of minimum financial requirements by futures 
commission merchants and introducing brokers.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (2) If equity capital of the futures commission merchant or a 
subsidiary or affiliate of the futures commission merchant consolidated 
pursuant to Sec.  1.17(f) (or 17 CFR 240.15c3-1e) would be withdrawn by 
action of a stockholder or a partner or a limited liability company 
member or by redemption or repurchase of shares of stock by any of

[[Page 1152]]

the consolidated entities or through the payment of dividends or any 
similar distribution, or an unsecured advance or loan would be made to 
a stockholder, partner, sole proprietor, limited liability company 
member, employee or affiliate, such that the withdrawal, advance or 
loan would cause, on a net basis, a reduction in excess adjusted net 
capital (or, if the futures commission merchant is qualified to use the 
filing option available under Sec.  1.10(h), excess net capital as 
defined in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission) of 30 
percent or more, notice must be provided at least two business days 
prior to the withdrawal, advance or loan that would cause the 
reduction: Provided, however, That the provisions of paragraphs (g)(1) 
and (g)(2) of this section do not apply to any futures or securities 
transaction in the ordinary course of business between a futures 
commission merchant and any affiliate where the futures commission 
merchant makes payment to or on behalf of such affiliate for such 
transaction and then receives payment from such affiliate for such 
transaction within two business days from the date of the transaction.
* * * * *

0
3. Section 1.17 is amended by revising paragraph (d)(1) introductory 
text; adding paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D); revising paragraph (e) 
introductory text; and adding paragraph (g), to read as follows:


Sec.  1.17  Minimum financial requirements for futures commission 
merchants and introducing brokers.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) Equity capital means a satisfactory subordination agreement 
entered into by a partner or stockholder or limited liability company 
member which has an initial term of at least 3 years and has a 
remaining term of not less than 12 months if:
* * * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (D) In the case of a limited liability company, the sum of its 
capital accounts of limited liability company members, and unrealized 
profit and loss.
* * * * *
    (e) No equity capital of the applicant or registrant or a 
subsidiary's or affiliate's equity capital consolidated pursuant to 
paragraph (f) of this section, whether in the form of capital 
contributions by partners (including amounts in the commodities, 
options and securities trading accounts of partners which are treated 
as equity capital but excluding amounts in such trading accounts which 
are not equity capital and excluding balances in limited partners' 
capital accounts in excess of their stated capital contributions), par 
or stated value of capital stock, paid-in capital in excess of par or 
stated value, retained earnings or other capital accounts, may be 
withdrawn by action of a stockholder or partner or limited liability 
company member or by redemption or repurchase of shares of stock by any 
of the consolidated entities or through the payment of dividends or any 
similar distribution, nor may any unsecured advance or loan be made to 
a stockholder, partner, sole proprietor, limited liability company 
member, or employee if, after giving effect thereto and to any other 
such withdrawals, advances, or loans and any payments of payment 
obligations (as defined in paragraph (h) of this section) under 
satisfactory subordination agreements and any payments of liabilities 
excluded pursuant to paragraph (c)(4)(vi) of this section which are 
scheduled to occur within six months following such withdrawal, advance 
or loan:
* * * * *
    (g)(1) The Commission may by order restrict, for a period up to 
twenty business days, any withdrawal by a futures commission merchant 
of equity capital, or any unsecured advance or loan to a stockholder, 
partner, limited liability company member, sole proprietor, employee or 
affiliate, if:
    (i) Such withdrawal, advance or loan would cause, when aggregated 
with all other withdrawals, advances or loans during a 30 calendar day 
period from the futures commission merchant or a subsidiary or 
affiliate of the futures commission merchant consolidated pursuant to 
Sec.  1.17(f) (or 17 CFR 240.15c3-1e), a net reduction in excess 
adjusted net capital (or, if the futures commission merchant is 
qualified to use the filing option available under Sec.  1.10(h), 
excess net capital as defined in the rules of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission) of 30 percent or more, and
    (ii) The Commission, based on the facts and information available, 
concludes that any such withdrawal, advance or loan may be detrimental 
to the financial integrity of the futures commission merchant, or may 
unduly jeopardize its ability to meet customer obligations or other 
liabilities that may cause a significant impact on the markets.
    (2) The futures commission merchant may file with the Secretary of 
the Commission a written petition to request rescission of the order 
issued under paragraph (g)(1) of this section. The petition filed by 
the futures commission merchant must specify the facts and 
circumstances supporting its request for rescission. The Commission 
shall respond in writing to deny the futures commission merchant's 
petition for rescission, or, if the Commission determines that the 
order issued under paragraph (g)(1) of this section should not remain 
in effect, the order shall be rescinded.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 5, 2007 by the Commission.
Eileen Donovan,
Acting Secretary of the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E7-173 Filed 1-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-P