[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 2, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50605-50613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18193]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 2, 2016 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 50605]]



DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Part 45

[Docket No. OCC-2015-0023]
RIN 1557-AD00

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 237

[Docket No. R-1415]
RIN 7100-AD74

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 349

RIN 3064-AE21

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 624

RIN 3052-AC69

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

12 CFR Part 1221

RIN 2590-AA45


Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury (``OCC''); 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (``Board''); Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (``FDIC''); Farm Credit Administration 
(``FCA''); and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (``FHFA'').

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The OCC, Board, FDIC, FCA, and FHFA (each an ``Agency'' and, 
collectively, the ``Agencies'') are adopting exemptions from the 
initial and variation margin requirements published by the Agencies in 
November 2015 pursuant to sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the ``Dodd-Frank Act'' or 
the ``Act''). Pursuant to Title III of the Terrorism Risk Insurance 
Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (``TRIPRA''), this final rule 
exempts certain non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps 
with certain financial and non-financial end users that qualify for an 
exception or exemption from clearing.

DATES: This final rule is effective October 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    OCC: Ang Middleton, Risk Specialist, Financial Markets Group, (202) 
649-7138, or Carl Kaminski, Special Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory 
Activities Division, (202) 649-5490, for persons who are deaf or hard 
of hearing, TTY (202) 649-5597, Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.
    Board: Sean D. Campbell, Associate Director, (202) 452-3760, Anna 
M. Harrington, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst, (202) 452-6406, or 
Lesley Chao, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst, (202) 974-7063, 
Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation; Victoria M. Szybillo, 
Counsel, (202) 475-6325, or Adam Cohen, Counsel, (202) 912-4658, Legal 
Division, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C 
Streets NW., Washington, DC 20551.
    FDIC: Karl R. Reitz, Corporate Expert, Capital Markets, 
[email protected]; Michael E. Spencer, Chief, Capital Markets Strategy 
Section, [email protected], Division of Risk Management Supervision, 
(202) 898-6888; Thomas F. Hearn, Counsel, [email protected], (202) 898-
6967, or Catherine Topping, Counsel, [email protected], (202) 898-3975, 
Legal Division, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20429.
    FCA: J.C. Floyd, Associate Director, Finance & Capital Markets 
Team, Timothy T. Nerdahl, Senior Policy Analyst--Capital Markets, 
Jeremy R. Edelstein, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Regulatory 
Policy, (703) 883-4414, TTY (703) 883-4056, or Richard A. Katz, Senior 
Counsel, Office of General Counsel, (703) 883-4020, TTY (703) 883-4056, 
Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-
5090.
    FHFA: George Sacco, Senior Financial Analyst, Division of Housing 
Mission and Goals, (202) 649-3276, [email protected], or Peggy K. 
Balsawer, Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, (202) 
649-3060, [email protected], Federal Housing Finance Agency, 
Constitution Center, 400 7th St. SW., Washington, DC 20219. The 
telephone number for the Telecommunications Device for the Hearing 
Impaired is (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Dodd-Frank Act was enacted on July 21, 2010.\1\ Title VII of 
the Dodd-Frank Act established a comprehensive new regulatory framework 
for derivatives, which the Act generally characterizes as ``swaps'' and 
``security-based swaps.'' \2\ As part of this new regulatory framework, 
sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act added, respectively, a new 
section 4s to the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (the ``Commodity 
Exchange Act''), and a new section 15F to the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (the ``Securities Exchange Act''), which require registration 
with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ``CFTC'') of 
swap dealers and major swap participants and with the U.S. Securities 
and Exchange Commission (the ``SEC'') of security-based swap dealers 
and major security-based swap participants.\3\ These

[[Page 50606]]

registrants are collectively referred to in this preamble as ``swap 
entities.''
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    \1\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
    \2\ ``Swaps'' are defined in section 721 of the Dodd-Frank Act 
to include interest rate swaps, commodity-based swaps, equity swaps 
and credit default swaps. ``Security-based swaps'' are defined in 
section 761 of the Dodd-Frank Act to include a swap based on a 
single security or loan or on a narrow-based security index. See 7 
U.S.C. 1a(47); 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(68).
    \3\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s; 15 U.S.C. 78o-10. Section 731 of the Dodd-
Frank Act requires swap dealers and major swap participants to 
register with the CFTC, which is vested with primary responsibility 
for the oversight of the swaps market under Title VII of the Dodd-
Frank Act. Section 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act requires security-based 
swap dealers and major security-based swap participants to register 
with the SEC, which is vested with primary responsibility for the 
oversight of the security-based swaps market under Title VII of the 
Dodd-Frank Act. Section 712(d)(1) of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the 
CFTC and SEC to issue joint rules further defining the terms swap, 
security-based swap, swap dealer, major swap participant, security-
based swap dealer, and major security-based swap participant. The 
CFTC and SEC issued final joint rulemakings with respect to these 
definitions in May 2012 and August 2012, respectively. See 77 FR 
30596 (May 23, 2012); 77 FR 39626 (July 5, 2012) (correction of 
footnote in the Supplementary Information accompanying the rule); 
and 77 FR 48207 (August 13, 2012). 17 CFR part 1; 17 CFR parts 230, 
240 and 241.
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    Sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act require the Agencies to 
adopt joint rules that apply to all swap entities for which any one of 
the Agencies is the prudential regulator,\4\ imposing capital 
requirements and initial and variation margin requirements on all swaps 
and security-based swaps not cleared by a registered derivatives 
clearing organization or clearing agency.\5\ After a rulemaking process 
that began in 2011, the Agencies published a joint final rule to 
implement these Dodd-Frank Act requirements on November 30, 2015 (the 
``joint final rule'').\6\
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    \4\ Section 1a(39) of the Commodity Exchange Act defines the 
term ``prudential regulator'' for purposes of the capital and margin 
requirements applicable to swap dealers, major swap participants, 
security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap 
participants. 7 U.S.C. 1a(39).
    \5\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s(e)(2)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(e)(2)(A).
    \6\ 80 FR 74840 (November 30, 2015).
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    The capital and margin requirements under sections 731 and 764 of 
the Dodd-Frank Act apply to non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps and complement other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that 
require the CFTC and SEC to make determinations as to whether certain 
swaps or security-based swaps, or a group, category, or class of such 
transactions, should be required to be cleared.\7\ If the CFTC or SEC 
has made such a determination, it is generally unlawful for any person 
to engage in such a swap or security-based swap unless the transaction 
is submitted to a derivatives clearing organization or clearing agency, 
as applicable, for clearing.
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    \7\ 7 U.S.C. 2(h); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3. The Commodity Exchange Act 
and the Securities Exchange Act set out standards that the CFTC and 
the SEC, respectively, are required to apply when making 
determinations about clearing, which generally address whether a 
swap or security-based swap is sufficiently standardized to be 
cleared. 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(2)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(b)(4).
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    The clearing requirements, however, do not apply to an entity that 
is not a financial entity, is using a swap or security-based swap to 
hedge or mitigate commercial risk, and notifies the CFTC or the SEC, in 
a manner set forth by the appropriate Commission, how it generally 
meets its financial obligations.\8\ Thus, a particular swap or 
security-based swap might not be cleared either because it is not 
subject to the mandatory clearing requirement or because one of the 
parties to the swap is eligible for, and elects to use, an exception or 
exemption from the mandatory clearing requirement. Such a swap or 
security-based swap is ``non-cleared'' for purposes of the capital and 
margin requirements established under sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-
Frank Act.
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    \8\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g). Further, the CFTC 
has authority to exempt swaps from the clearing requirement. 7 
U.S.C. 6(c)(1). Pursuant to this authority, the CFTC has provided an 
exemption from clearing to certain cooperatives that are financial 
entities. See 17 CFR 50.51. The SEC has similar exemptive authority 
under section 36(c) of the Securities Exchange Act. 15 U.S.C. 
78mm(c).
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    Sections 731 and 764 direct the Agencies to impose initial and 
variation margin requirements on all non-cleared swaps and non-cleared 
security-based swaps. The joint final rule takes into account the risk 
posed by a covered swap entity's counterparties in establishing the 
minimum amount of initial and variation margin that the covered swap 
entity must exchange with its counterparties.\9\ In implementing this 
risk-based approach, the joint final rule distinguishes among four 
separate types of swap counterparties: (1) Counterparties that are 
themselves swap entities; (2) counterparties that are financial end 
users with a material swaps exposure; (3) counterparties that are 
financial end users without a material swaps exposure, and (4) other 
counterparties, including non-financial end users, sovereigns, and 
multilateral development banks.\10\ The joint final rule makes a 
covered swap entity's collection of margin from these ``other 
counterparties,'' including commercial end users, subject to the 
judgment of the covered swap entity. In particular, a covered swap 
entity is not required to collect initial and variation margin from 
these ``other counterparties'' as a matter of course; a covered swap 
entity should collect initial or variation margin at such times and in 
such forms and amounts (if any) as the covered swap entity determines 
appropriate in its overall credit risk management of the covered swap 
entity's exposure to the customer.\11\
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    \9\ Each Agency has codified its rule within its respective 
title of the Code of Federal Regulations. Specifically, the Agencies 
codified the rules as follows: 12 CFR part 45 (OCC); 12 CFR part 237 
(the Board); 12 CFR part 349 (FDIC); 12 CFR part 624 (FCA); and 12 
CFR part 1221 (FHFA).
    \10\ See Sec.  _.2 of the joint final rule for the various 
definitions that identify these four types of swaps counterparties. 
The terms ``non-financial end user'' and ``commercial end user'' are 
used interchangeably throughout this preamble. Although the term 
``commercial end user'' is not defined in the Dodd-Frank Act, it is 
used in this preamble to mean a company that is eligible for the 
exception to the mandatory clearing requirement for swaps under 
section 2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act and section 
3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act, respectively. This 
exception is generally available to a person that (1) is not a 
financial entity, (2) is using the swap to hedge or mitigate 
commercial risk, and (3) has notified the CFTC or SEC how it 
generally meets its financial obligations with respect to non-
cleared swaps or security-based swaps, respectively. See 7 U.S.C. 
2(h)(7)(A) and 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(1); see also 80 FR 74848 note 70.
    \11\ See Sec. Sec.  _.3(d) and _.4(c) of the joint final rule.
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    On January 12, 2015, President Obama signed TRIPRA into law.\12\ 
Title III of TRIPRA, the ``Business Risk Mitigation and Price 
Stabilization Act of 2015,'' amends the statutory provisions added by 
the Dodd-Frank Act relating to margin requirements for non-cleared 
swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps. Specifically, section 302 
of TRIPRA amends sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act to provide 
that the initial and variation margin requirements do not apply to 
certain transactions of specified counterparties that would qualify for 
an exception or exemption from clearing, as explained more fully below. 
Qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of 
entities covered by section 302 of TRIPRA are not subject to the 
Agencies' joint final rule.
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    \12\ Public Law 114-1, 129 Stat. 3 (2015).
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    Section 303 of TRIPRA requires the Agencies to implement the 
provisions of section 302 by promulgating an interim final rule 
pursuant to which public comment is sought before a final rule is 
issued. On November 30, 2015, the Agencies published and sought comment 
on an interim final rule, which added Sec.  _.1(d) to the joint final 
rule.\13\ The Agencies are adopting as a final rule without change the 
interim final rule that went into effect on April 1, 2016.
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    \13\ 80 FR 74916 (November 30, 2015) (the ``interim final 
rule'').
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II. Summary of Public Comments on Matters Raised in the Interim Final 
Rule

    Three banking organizations, two individuals, two trade 
associations, and one nonprofit finance cooperative submitted comments 
in response to the interim final rule.\14\ Four of the commenters 
expressed strong support for the approach taken in the interim final 
rule.
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    \14\ The Agencies carefully considered all comments received on 
the interim final rule. In addition, representatives of the FDIC and 
FCA had a telephone call with one commenter after the comment period 
closed. Comments received on the interim final rule, as well as a 
summary of the call with this commenter, are available on the 
applicable Agencies' respective public Web sites.
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    Comments were received from two public sector entities organized 
under foreign laws whose obligations are guaranteed by foreign 
governments (``foreign public sector entities''). These

[[Page 50607]]

commenters argued that, even though they are not included among the 
type of entities expressly covered by section 302 of TRIPRA, foreign 
public sector entities should still not be subject to the joint final 
rule because the CFTC has determined that these types of entities are 
not subject to the mandate to clear swaps that are otherwise required 
to be cleared.
    The Agencies are not providing the relief requested by these 
commenters since the purpose of this final rule is to incorporate the 
terms of section 302 of TRIPRA, and the treatment of foreign public 
sector entities is not specified by section 302. Even though the CFTC 
has interpreted the Commodity Exchange Act to exclude certain foreign 
public sector entities from the clearing mandate that the Dodd-Frank 
Act added to the Commodity Exchange Act, such entities are not 
addressed in section 302 of TRIPRA.\15\
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    \15\ Alternatively, each of these two foreign public sector 
entities sought clarification that it meets the definition of 
``sovereign entity'' or ``multilateral development bank'' under the 
joint final rule. The joint final rule expressly excludes from the 
definition of ``financial end user'' an entity that meets the 
definition of ``sovereign entity'' or ``multilateral development 
bank.'' Whether an entity meets the definition of ``sovereign 
entity'' or ``multilateral development bank'' depends on facts and 
circumstances that may vary from entity to entity and is outside the 
scope of this rulemaking. The Agencies note that they considered 
similar comments received on the joint final rule and determined not 
to exclude entities guaranteed by a foreign sovereign from the 
definition of financial end user. See 80 FR 74,840, 74,856 (The 
Agencies explained: ``[a]n entity guaranteed by a sovereign entity 
is not explicitly excluded from the definition of financial end user 
in the final rule, unless that entity qualifies as a central 
government agency, department, or central bank. The existence of a 
government guarantee does not in and of itself exclude the entity 
from the definition of financial end user.'')
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    One commenter asked for clarification that swap transaction 
documentation that contains ``flip clauses'' or ``rating agency 
condition'' (``RAC'') provisions cannot qualify for an exemption from 
the Agencies' joint final rule or this final rule.\16\ Specifically, 
the commenter stated that Title III of TRIPRA does not exempt a swap 
with a flip clause or RAC provision from the margin requirements of the 
joint final rule. The commenter further requested that an entity 
covered by section 302 of TRIPRA be required to file with the CFTC a 
signed affidavit stating that all swaps that are exempt from the joint 
final rule's margin requirements because of section 302 of TRIPRA do 
not have a flip clause or any other clause that can be reasonably 
classified as a walk-away provision or RAC provision. Finally, the 
commenter recommended that the prudential regulators should obligate a 
covered swap entity to post initial margin and variation margin to its 
guarantor or hedging affiliate against a swap that contains a ``flip 
clause'' or any other clause that can be reasonably classified as a 
walk-away provision. The Agencies are declining to make the requested 
changes, since the purpose of the final rule is to incorporate the 
terms of section 302 of TRIPRA, and the treatment of flip clauses or 
RAC provisions is not specified by section 302.
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    \16\ The commenter has previously referred to a description of a 
``flip clause'' as a contractual provision in a swap to which a 
special purpose vehicle (``SPV'') is a party and under which the 
payments owed by the SPV to a swap provider are at least pari passu 
with interest of the senior most class of debt issued by the 
structured finance vehicle. In the description that the commenter 
referred to, a ``flip clause'' was described as a provision that 
provides that should the swap provider be the defaulting party to a 
swap, such default causes the swap provider to ``flip'' to a more 
junior position in the priority of payments.
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    The Agencies received one request for clarification with respect to 
paragraph (1)(xi) of the definition of ``financial end user'' set forth 
in the joint final rule. Specifically, the commenter asked the Agencies 
to clarify and consider the use of certain terms and phrases (i.e., 
``investing or trading,'' ``other assets,'' and ``primarily'') in this 
prong of the financial end user definition. While Sec.  _.1(d), as 
adopted in this final rule, works in conjunction with the joint final 
rule, the Agencies find this comment does not relate to Sec.  _.1(d) 
and thus is outside of the scope of the interim final rule, which 
implements section 302 of TRIPRA.
    The Agencies also received four comments in support of the 
treatment of certain cooperative entities under the interim final rule. 
One comment was received from an individual expressing his support for 
the approach taken in the interim final rule.

III. Description of the Final Rule

    The interim final rule adopted Sec.  _.1(d) to implement section 
302 of TRIPRA. The final rule makes no changes to Sec.  _.1(d).
    TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation margin requirements 
in sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act do not apply to 
qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of 
certain categories of counterparties. In particular, section 302(a) of 
TRIPRA amends section 731 of the Dodd-Frank Act so that initial and 
variation margin requirements will not apply to a swap in which a 
counterparty (to a covered swap entity) is:
    (1) A non-financial entity (including a small financial institution 
and a captive finance company) that qualifies for the clearing 
exception under section 2(h)(7)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act;
    (2) A cooperative entity that qualifies for an exemption from the 
clearing requirements issued under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity 
Exchange Act; or
    (3) A treasury affiliate that satisfies the criteria for an 
exception from clearing in section 2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity Exchange 
Act.
    Similarly, section 302(b) of TRIPRA amends section 764 of the Dodd-
Frank Act so that initial and variation margin requirements will not 
apply to a security-based swap in which a counterparty (to a covered 
swap entity) is:
    (1) A non-financial entity (including a small financial 
institution) that qualifies for the clearing exception under section 
3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act; or
    (2) A treasury affiliate that satisfies the criteria for an 
exception from clearing in section 3C(g)(4) of the Securities Exchange 
Act.
    Below is a discussion of each type of entity covered by section 302 
of TRIPRA as well as a discussion of how related reporting requirements 
can be satisfied.

A. Non-Financial Entities

    TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation margin requirements 
of the joint final rule shall not apply to a non-cleared swap in which 
a counterparty qualifies for an exception under section 2(h)(7)(A) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act or a non-cleared security-based swap in 
which a counterparty qualifies for an exception under section 3C(g)(1) 
of the Securities Exchange Act.\17\ Section 2(h)(7)(A) and section 
3C(g)(1) except from clearing swaps or security-based swaps where one 
of the counterparties: (1) Is not a financial entity; (2) is using the 
swap to hedge or mitigate commercial risk; and (3) notifies the CFTC or 
SEC how it generally meets its financial obligations associated with 
entering into non-cleared swaps or non-cleared security-based swaps. A 
number of different types of counterparties may qualify for an 
exception from clearing under section 2(h)(7)(A) and section 3C(g)(1), 
including non-financial end users and small banks, savings 
associations, Farm Credit System institutions, and credit unions. In 
addition, captive finance companies qualify for an exception from 
clearing swaps under section 2(h)(7)(A).\18\
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    \17\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(1).
    \18\ There is no corresponding exclusion from clearing security-
based swaps under section 3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act 
for captive finance companies. Similarly, with respect to financial 
cooperatives, TRIPRA exempts such entities from exchanging initial 
and variation margin under the joint final rule on all swaps that 
are subject to the exemption from clearing provided by the CFTC. See 
7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). There is no corresponding exclusion under the 
Securities Exchange Act.

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[[Page 50608]]

    Non-financial end users. A counterparty that is not a financial 
entity \19\ and that is using swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial 
risk generally would qualify for an exception from clearing under 
section 2(h)(7)(A) or section 3C(g)(1) and thus from the requirements 
of the joint final rule for non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps pursuant to Sec.  _.1(d).
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    \19\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(1); 17 CFR 
50.50. A ``financial entity'' is defined to mean (i) a swap dealer; 
(ii) a security-based swap dealer; (iii) a major swap participant; 
(iv) a major security-based swap participant; (v) a commodity pool; 
(vi) a private fund as defined in section 202(a) of the Investment 
Advisers Act of 1940; (vii) an employee benefit plan as defined in 
sections 3(3) and 3(32) of the Employment Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974; and (viii) a person predominantly engaged in activities 
that are in the business of banking, or in activities that are 
financial in nature, as defined in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding 
Company Act of 1956. See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(i); 15 U.S.C. 78c-
3(g)(3).
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    Small banks, savings associations, Farm Credit System institutions, 
and credit unions. Section 2(h)(7)(C)(ii) provides that the CFTC shall 
consider whether to exempt small banks, savings associations, Farm 
Credit System institutions, and credit unions with total assets of $10 
billion or less from the definition of financial entity. Pursuant to 
this authority, the CFTC has exempted small banks, savings 
associations, Farm Credit System institutions, and credit unions with 
total assets of $10 billion or less from the definition of ``financial 
entity,'' thereby permitting these institutions to avail themselves of 
the clearing exception when they are using swaps to hedge or mitigate 
risk.\20\ As a result, non-cleared swaps used by these small financial 
institutions to hedge or mitigate commercial risk would also qualify 
for an exemption from the initial and variation margin requirements of 
the joint final rule pursuant to Sec.  _.1(d).
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    \20\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(ii); 17 CFR 50.50; 77 FR 42560 
(July 19, 2012); as recodified by 77 FR 74284 (December 13, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, section 3C(g) provides that the SEC shall consider 
whether to exempt small banks, savings associations, Farm Credit System 
institutions, and credit unions with total assets of $10 billion or 
less from the definition of ``financial entity.'' \21\ If the SEC were 
to implement an exemption for such entities from clearing, non-cleared 
security-based swaps with those entities would be eligible for the 
exemption in the joint final rule pursuant to Sec.  _.1(d) as required 
under TRIPRA, provided they met the other requirements for the clearing 
exemption.\22\
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    \21\ See 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(3)(B).
    \22\ On December 21, 2010, the SEC proposed to exempt security-
based swaps used by small depository institutions, small Farm Credit 
System institutions, and small credit unions with total assets of 
$10 billion or less from clearing. See 75 FR 79992 (December 21, 
2010).
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    Captive finance companies. Section 2(h)(7)(C) also provides that 
the definition of ``financial entity'' does not include an entity whose 
primary business is providing financing and uses derivatives for the 
purposes of hedging underlying commercial risks relating to interest 
rate and foreign exchange exposures, 90 percent or more of which arise 
from financing that facilitates the purchase or lease of products, 90 
percent or more of which are manufactured by the parent company or 
another subsidiary of the parent company (``captive finance 
company'').\23\ These entities can qualify for a clearing exception 
when they are using swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial risk and thus 
non-cleared swaps of these entities would be eligible for the exemption 
in the joint final rule pursuant to Sec.  __.1(d).
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    \23\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(C)(iii).
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B. Treasury Affiliates

    Section 302 of TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation 
margin requirements shall not apply to a non-cleared swap or non-
cleared security-based swap in which a counterparty satisfies the 
criteria in section 2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act or section 
3C(g)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act. At the time the interim final 
rule was published, these sections provided that, where a person 
qualifies for an exception from the clearing requirements, an affiliate 
of that person (including an affiliate predominantly engaged in 
providing financing for the purchase of the merchandise or manufactured 
goods of the person) would have qualified for the exception as well, 
but only if the affiliate is acting on behalf of the person and as an 
agent and uses the swap to hedge or mitigate the commercial risk of the 
person or other affiliate of the person that is not a financial entity 
(``treasury affiliate acting as agent'').\24\ Under the interim final 
rule, non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of a 
treasury affiliate acting as agent that met the requirements for a 
clearing exception would also be eligible for an exemption pursuant to 
Sec.  _.1(d) from the joint final rule.
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    \24\ See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(D); 15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(4). This 
exception does not apply to a person that is a swap dealer, 
security-based swap dealer, major swap participant, major security-
based swap participant, an issuer that would be an investment 
company as defined in section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3) but for section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of that 
Act, a commodity pool, or a bank holding company with over $50 
billion in consolidated assets.
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    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (``Appropriations Act of 
2016''), which was enacted on December 18, 2015, amended section 
2(h)(7)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act and section 3C(g)(4) of the 
Securities Exchange Act.\25\ Specifically, section 705 of the 
Appropriations Act of 2016 removed the requirement that treasury 
affiliates must act on behalf of a person and as an agent in order to 
avail themselves of the clearing exception. The Appropriations Act of 
2016 also included certain conditions on the application of the 
treasury affiliate exception \26\ and imposed certain limitations on 
the types of entities that can qualify for the exception.\27\
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    \25\ Pub. L. 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).
    \26\ Under section 705 of the Appropriations Act of 2016, a 
treasury affiliate may qualify for an exception from the clearing 
requirements only if the affiliate (i) enters into the swap to hedge 
or mitigate the commercial risk of the person or other affiliate of 
the person that is not a financial entity, and the commercial risk 
that the affiliate is hedging or mitigating has been transferred to 
the affiliate; (ii) is directly and wholly-owned by another 
affiliate qualified for the exception under section 2(h)(7)(D)(i) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act or an entity that is not a financial 
entity; (iii) is not indirectly majority-owned by a financial 
entity; (iv) is not ultimately owned by a parent company that is a 
financial entity; and (v) does not provide any services, financial 
or otherwise, to any affiliate that is a nonbank financial company 
supervised by the Board of Governors (as defined under section 102 
of the Financial Stability Act of 2010). With respect to the 
treasury affiliate exception, the affiliate may not enter into any 
swap other than for the purpose of hedging or mitigating commercial 
risk; and neither the affiliate nor any person affiliated with the 
affiliate that is not a financial entity may enter into a swap with 
or on behalf of any affiliate that is a financial entity or 
otherwise assume, net, combine, or consolidate the risk of swaps 
entered into by any such financial entity, except one that is an 
affiliate that qualifies for the exception. Further, any swap 
entered into by an affiliate that qualifies for the exception shall 
be subject to a centralized risk management program of the 
affiliate, which is reasonably designed both to monitor and manage 
the risks associated with the swap and to identify each of the 
affiliates on whose behalf a swap was entered into. See Pub. L. 114-
113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).
    \27\ For example, the treasury affiliate exception will not 
apply if the affiliate is a swap dealer, a security-based swap 
dealer, a major swap participant, a major security-based swap 
participant, a commodity pool, a bank holding company, a private 
fund (as defined in section 202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 
1940), an employee benefit plan or government plan (as defined in 
paragraphs (3) and (32) of section 3 of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974), an insured depository institution, a 
Farm Credit System institution, a credit union, a nonbank financial 
company supervised by the Board, or an entity engaged in the 
insurance business and subject to capital regulation by an insurance 
regulator. The Appropriations Act of 2016 further prohibited the 
treasury affiliate exception from applying to affiliates which are 
themselves affiliated with swap entities unless the CFTC or the SEC, 
as applicable, determines that doing so is in the public interest. 
See Pub. L. 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015).

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[[Page 50609]]

    Since the exemption in Sec.  __.1(d) of the final rule incorporates 
the treasury affiliate exception by reference to section 2(h)(7)(D) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act and section 3C(g)(4) of the Securities 
Exchange Act, the exemption will by operation of law apply to 
qualifying non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps of 
treasury affiliates, acting as either principal or agent. For this 
reason, no changes to the regulatory text were necessary to reflect 
these changes to the underlying statutes.\28\
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    \28\ Accordingly, the Agencies find it unnecessary to provide 
further notice or seek further public comment regarding the effect 
of the Appropriations Act of 2016 on this final rule.
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C. Certain Cooperative Entities

    Section 302 of TRIPRA provides that the initial and variation 
margin requirements shall not apply to a non-cleared swap in which a 
counterparty qualifies for an exemption issued under section 4(c)(1) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act from the clearing requirements of section 
2(h)(1)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act for cooperative entities as 
defined in such exemption.\29\ The CFTC, pursuant to its authority 
under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, adopted a 
regulation that allows cooperatives that are financial entities to 
elect an exemption from mandatory clearing of swaps that: (1) They 
enter into in connection with originating loans for their members; or 
(2) hedge or mitigate commercial risk related to loans or swaps with 
their members, or arising from certain swaps with members.\30\ The 
swaps of these cooperatives that would qualify for an exemption from 
clearing also would qualify pursuant to Sec.  __.1(d) for an exemption 
from the margin requirements of the joint final rule.
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    \29\ See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1). The CFTC, pursuant to its authority 
under section 4(c)(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, adopted 17 CFR 
50.51, which allows cooperative financial entities that meet certain 
qualifications to elect not to clear certain swaps that are 
otherwise required to be cleared pursuant to section 2(h)(1)(A) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act.
    \30\ See 7 U.S.C. 6(c)(1); 17 CFR 50.51.
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D. Compliance With Eligibility Requirements

    Section 302 of TRIPRA identifies the types of non-cleared swaps or 
non-cleared security-based swaps with counterparties that are excluded 
from the margin requirements of the joint final rule by referring to 
specific sections of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities 
Exchange Act. These provisions, in turn, set forth clearing exceptions 
and exemptions for these counterparties. To qualify for such exceptions 
and exemptions, the counterparty must, in addition to falling within 
the class or type of entity exempted or excepted by the respective 
statutory provisions, also be entering into the swap or security-based 
swap to hedge or mitigate commercial risk, and must report to the 
applicable Commission (in a manner set forth by the applicable 
Commission) how it generally meets its financial obligations associated 
with entering into non-cleared swaps or non-cleared security-based 
swaps.\31\
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    \31\ 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(A); 17 CFR 50.50(b); 15 U.S.C. 3C(g)(4). 
Other provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities 
Exchange Act separately impose additional governance requirements on 
an entity that elects a clearing exemption and that is an issuer of 
securities registered under section 12 of, or that is required to 
file reports under section 15(d) of, the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934. 7 U.S.C. 2(j); 15 U.S.C. 3C(i).
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Swaps and Security-Based Swaps Required to be Cleared
    For swaps that the CFTC has determined are required to be cleared, 
the CFTC has adopted regulations that establish requirements by which 
an eligible entity may elect its option not to clear that type of swap 
and comply with the related substantive hedging and reporting 
requirements.\32\ For such a swap, compliance with the CFTC regulatory 
requirements for a swap subject to clearing will provide the covered 
swap entity with sufficient information about the eligible entity and 
the swap to establish the swap is also exempt from the margin 
requirements of the joint final rule.\33\ The Agencies believe that 
whenever a covered swap entity transacts in a swap with an eligible 
entity that uses the clearing exemption for that swap in compliance 
with these CFTC requirements, the covered swap entity needs no 
additional information from the eligible entity to proceed with that 
swap pursuant to the final rule's exemption from the margin 
requirements of the joint final rule.
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    \32\ 17 CFR 50.50(b), 50.51(c), 50.51. In addition to providing 
reporting requirements, these CFTC rules further define the entities 
that are eligible for exceptions and exemptions from the clearing 
requirements and define when a swap is used to hedge or mitigate 
commercial risk.
    \33\ Whenever a qualifying non-clearing entity has elected its 
option to not clear a swap that the CFTC has determined should be 
cleared, the entity's eligibility as well as its compliance with the 
associated hedging and reporting requirements must be demonstrated 
either: (1) In an annual filing by the entity reporting to an 
appropriate Swap Data Repository (SDR) or, if no registered SDR is 
available to receive the information, to the CFTC, which will be 
applicable to all such swaps entered into by the entity for 365 days 
following the date of such filing; or (2) on a swap-by-swap basis 
through a report filed by the eligible entity or the covered swap 
entity with the applicable SDR or, if no registered SDR is available 
to receive the information, the CFTC. The rule requires that the 
reporting counterparty have a reasonable basis to believe that the 
electing counterparty is an eligible entity that meets the 
associated hedging and reporting requirements. See 17 CFR 
50.50(b)(2)-(3) and 50.51(c).
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    With respect to security-based swaps, the SEC has not yet made 
determinations requiring any security-based swap to be cleared, and has 
not yet adopted final rules related to how eligibility and compliance 
with the associated substantive requirements can be documented.\34\ For 
a security-based swap subject to clearing, compliance with the SEC 
regulatory requirements, once finalized, will provide the covered swap 
entity with sufficient information about the eligible entity and the 
security-based swap to establish that the security-based swap is also 
exempt from the margin requirements of the joint final rule. Until such 
time as determinations are finalized by the SEC, the Agencies expect 
that covered swap entities will take appropriate steps to establish a 
reasonable belief that the entity is of a type eligible for the 
exemption and is using the security-based swap to hedge or mitigate 
commercial risk, as described below for other non-cleared swaps and 
non-cleared security-based swaps.
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    \34\ In December 2010, the SEC proposed reporting requirements 
for a counterparty exercising an exception from clearing, which 
would require the entity to report to a security-based SDR that it 
is an eligible entity and: that the swap is being used to hedge or 
mitigate commercial risk; how it generally meets its financial 
obligations associated with entering into non-cleared security-based 
swaps, and, if a registered issuer of securities, whether a 
committee of the board has reviewed and approved the decision to 
enter into security-based swaps subject to the clearing exception. 
75 FR 79992 (December 21, 2010).
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Swaps and Security-Based Swaps Not Required To Be Cleared
    There are also cases where a covered swap entity may enter into a 
non-cleared swap or non-cleared security-based swap with an eligible 
entity that the CFTC or SEC, respectively, does not require to be 
cleared. For swaps that are not subject to a CFTC or SEC clearing 
requirement, the Agencies expect that covered swap entities will take 
appropriate steps to establish a reasonable belief that the 
counterparty is an entity eligible for the exemption and is using the 
swap to hedge or

[[Page 50610]]

mitigate commercial risk.\35\ The final rule does not prescribe any 
specific procedure or standard in this regard, and instead leaves 
covered swap entities the flexibility to collect information 
specifically on these points, take cognizance of information they 
already have about their counterparties and their non-cleared swap and 
non-cleared security-based swap transactions, or a combination of both. 
The Agencies believe it would be reasonable for a covered swap entity 
to rely in good faith on reasonable representations of its counterparty 
in making these assessments.\36\
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    \35\ As noted above, this category of non-cleared swaps includes 
all non-cleared security-based swaps during the interim until the 
SEC adopts final regulations requiring clearing of security-based 
swaps and associated exemptions from clearing.
    \36\ See the Agencies' joint final rule at 80 FR 74858 (November 
30, 2015), discussing covered swap entities' reliance in good faith 
on reasonable representations of a counterparty as to whether the 
counterparty is a financial end user with a material swaps exposure; 
see also 17 CFR 50.50(b)(2)-(3) and 50.51(c).
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    In addition to the entity type requirements and the hedging 
requirements specified in the statutory clearing exceptions and 
exemptions referenced under section 302 of TRIPRA, there are 
requirements for reporting to the relevant Commission, in the manner 
set forth by the Commission, when the clearing exceptions and 
exemptions are elected. The Agencies expect covered swap entities 
subject to the joint final rule to comply with any reporting 
requirements that the relevant Commission may impose on covered swap 
entities in order to permit the use of the margin exemptions pursuant 
to section 302 of TRIPRA.

IV. Effective Date

    The Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
1994 (the ``RCDRIA'') requires that the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC, 
in determining the effective date and administrative compliance 
requirements of new regulations that impose additional reporting, 
disclosure, or other requirements on insured depository institutions, 
consider, consistent with principles of safety and soundness and the 
public interest, any administrative burdens that such regulations would 
place on depository institutions, including small depository 
institutions, and customers of depository institutions, as well as the 
benefits of such regulations.\37\ In addition, new regulations by the 
OCC, the Board, or the FDIC that impose additional reporting, 
disclosures, or other new requirements on insured depository 
institutions generally must take effect on the first day of a calendar 
quarter that begins on or after the date on which the regulations are 
published in final form.\38\ Accordingly, this final rule, which adopts 
the interim final rule without change, will be effective on October 1, 
2016 as required under the RCDRIA.
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    \37\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(a).
    \38\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Administrative Law Matters

A. Solicitation of Comments on Use of Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Public Law 106-102, sec. 
722, 113 Stat. 1338, 1471 (Nov. 12, 1999), requires the OCC, Board and 
FDIC to use plain language in all proposed and final rules published 
after January 1, 2000. The OCC, Board and FDIC sought to present the 
final rule in a simple and straightforward manner and did not receive 
any comments on the use of plain language.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis

    Certain provisions of the final rule contain ``collection of 
information'' requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (``PRA'') of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). In accordance 
with the requirements of the PRA, the Agencies may not conduct or 
sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for 
the OCC is 1557-0335, the FDIC is 3064-0204, and the Board is 7100-
0364. The information collection requirements contained in this final 
rulemaking have been submitted to OMB for review and approval by the 
OCC and FDIC under section 3507(d) of the PRA and Sec.  1320.11 of 
OMB's implementing regulations (5 CFR part 1320). The Board reviewed 
the final rule under the authority delegated to the Board by OMB. The 
Agencies received no comments on the PRA.
    The final rule contains requirements subject to the PRA. The 
reporting requirements are found in Sec.  _.1(d). The final rule 
implements statutory language that requires certain swaps of certain 
counterparties to qualify for a statutory exemption or exception from 
clearing in order to not be subject to the initial and variation margin 
requirements of the joint final rule.

Proposed Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements Associated with Margin and Capital Requirements for 
Covered Swap Entities.
    Frequency of Response: Annual, daily, and event-generated.
    Affected Public: The affected public of the OCC, FDIC, and Board is 
assigned generally in accordance with the entities covered by the scope 
and authority section of their respective final rule. Businesses or 
other for-profit.
    Respondents:
    OCC: Any national bank or a subsidiary thereof, Federal savings 
association or a subsidiary thereof, or Federal branch or agency of a 
foreign bank that is registered as a swap dealer, major swap 
participant, security-based swap dealer, or major security-based swap 
participant.
    FDIC: Any FDIC-insured state-chartered bank that is not a member of 
the Federal Reserve System or FDIC-insured state-chartered savings 
association that is registered as a swap dealer, major swap 
participant, security-based swap dealer, or major security-based swap 
participant.
    Board: Any state member bank (as defined in 12 CFR 208.2(g)), bank 
holding company (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1841), savings and loan 
holding company (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1467a), foreign banking 
organization (as defined in 12 CFR 211.21(o)), foreign bank that does 
not operate an insured branch, state branch or state agency of a 
foreign bank (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 3101(b)(11) and (12)), or Edge or 
agreement corporation (as defined in 12 CFR 211.1(c)(2) and (3)) that 
is registered as a swap dealer, major swap participant, security-based 
swap dealer, or major security-based swap participant.
    Abstract: This final rule implements Title III of the Terrorism 
Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (``TRIPRA''), which 
exempts from the Agencies' swap margin rules non-cleared swaps and non-
cleared security-based swaps in which a counterparty qualifies for an 
exemption or exception from clearing under the Dodd-Frank Act. This 
final rule is a companion rule to the joint final rule adopted by the 
Agencies to implement section 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Reporting Requirements

    The final rule implements statutory language that requires certain 
swaps and security-based swaps of certain counterparties to qualify for 
a statutory exemption or exception from clearing in order to not be 
subject to the initial and variation margin requirements of the joint 
final rule. The reporting requirements are found in Sec.  __.1(d) 
pursuant to cross-references to other

[[Page 50611]]

statutory provisions that set forth the conditions for an exemption 
from clearing. For example, TRIPRA provides that the initial and 
variation margin requirements of the joint final rule shall not apply 
to a non-cleared swap or non-cleared security-based swap in which a 
counterparty qualifies for an exception under section 2(h)(7)(A) of the 
Commodity Exchange Act or section 3C(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange 
Act, which includes certain reporting requirements established by the 
CFTC or the SEC.\39\ Certain other counterparties that are exempt from 
clearing pursuant to other provisions are also required to meet these 
reporting requirements to notify the CFTC or the SEC.\40\ Thus, in 
certain cases, the statutory exemption from clearing requires a 
notification to the CFTC or SEC. These counterparties may be required 
to meet the same notification requirements that are required for an 
exception or exemption from clearing in order to qualify for an 
exception or exemption pursuant to Sec.  __.1(d) from the initial and 
variation margin requirements established by the Agencies under 
sections 731 and 764 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Since this final rule 
serves to implement exemptions and exceptions by reference to existing 
statutory provisions, Sec.  __.1(d) imposes new reporting requirements 
that are required under the relevant statutory provisions.
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    \39\ See, e.g., 17 CFR 50.50(b).
    \40\ For example, certain exempt cooperatives must meet these 
reporting requirements to qualify for an exemption from clearing. 
See 17 CFR 50.51(c). Similarly, exempt treasury affiliates also must 
be an affiliate of a person that qualifies for an exception from 
clearing that notifies the CFTC or SEC how it generally meets its 
financial obligations associated with entering into non-cleared 
swaps or non-cleared security-based swaps. See 7 U.S.C. 2(h)(7)(D); 
15 U.S.C. 78c-3(g)(4).
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    Estimated Burden per Response: Sec.  _.1(d)--1 hour.
    Annual Frequency: 1,000.
OCC
    Number of respondents: 20.
    Total estimated annual burden: 20,000 hours.
FDIC \41\
    Number of respondents: 1.
    Total estimated annual burden: 1,000 hours.
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    \41\ The FDIC had initially estimated that three of its 
institutions might register as a swap dealer, major swap 
participant, security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant but no state non-member bank nor any state savings 
association has so registered, so FDIC is reducing its estimate to 
one as a placeholder for its information collection.
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Board
    Number of respondents: 50.
    Proposed revisions only estimated annual burden: 50,000 hours.
    Total estimated annual burden: 86,964 hours.
    FCA: The FCA has determined that the final rule does not involve a 
collection of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act for 
Farm Credit System institutions because Farm Credit System institutions 
are Federally chartered instrumentalities of the United States and 
instrumentalities of the United States are specifically excepted from 
the definition of ``collection of information'' contained in 44 U.S.C. 
3502(3).
    FHFA: With respect to any regulated entity as defined in section 
1303(20) of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 
Soundness Act of 1992, as amended (12 U.S.C. 4502(20)), the final rule 
does not contain any collection of information that requires the 
approval of the OMB under the PRA.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    Board: An initial regulatory flexibility analysis, in accordance 
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
(``RFA''),\42\ was included in the interim final rule. In the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, the Board requested comments on all 
aspects of the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and, in 
particular, comments on its conclusion that the interim final rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. The Board also requested comments on any significant 
alternatives to the interim final rule that would minimize the impact 
of the rule on small entities. The Board has since considered the 
potential impact of this final rule on small entities in accordance 
with section 604 of the RFA and has prepared the following final 
regulatory flexibility analysis. Based on the Board's analysis, and for 
the reasons stated below, the Board believes that the final rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Statement of the need for, and objectives of, the final rule. As 
explained in detail above, this final rule implements section 302 of 
TRIPRA, which provides that initial and variation margin requirements 
will not apply to specified non-cleared swaps or non-cleared security-
based swaps of certain counterparties (to a covered swap entity). The 
reasons and justification for the final rule are described above in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    2. Summary of the significant issues raised by public comment on 
the Board's initial analysis, the Board's assessment of such issues, 
and a statement of any changes made as a result of such comments. The 
Board did not receive comments specifically on the initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis contained in the interim final rule, but the 
Agencies did receive comments on other aspects of the rule. A full 
discussion of all comments received by the Agencies with respect to 
this rule is contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, above.
    3. Small entities affected by the final rule. This final rule may 
have an effect on the following types of small entities: (i) Covered 
swap entities that are subject to the joint final rule's capital and 
margin requirements; and (ii) certain counterparties (e.g., non-
financial end users and certain other small financial counterparties) 
that engage in swaps or security-based swaps with covered swap 
entities.\43\
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    \43\ The Board notes that the RFA does not require the Board to 
consider the impact of the final rule, including its indirect 
economic effects, on small entities that are not subject to the 
requirements of the final rule. See e.g., In Mid-Tex Electric 
Cooperative v. FERC, 773 F.2d 327 (D.C. Cir. 1985); United 
Distribution Cos. v. FERC, 88 F.3d 1105, 1170 (D.C. Cir. 1996); 
Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition v. EPA, 255 F.3d 855 (D.C. Cir. 
2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under Small Business Administration (the ``SBA'') regulations, the 
finance and insurance sector includes commercial banking, savings 
institutions, credit unions, other depository credit intermediation and 
credit card issuing entities (``financial institutions''), which 
generally are considered ``small'' if they have assets of $550 million 
or less.\44\ Covered swap entities would be considered financial 
institutions for purposes of the RFA in accordance with SBA 
regulations. The Board does not expect that any covered swap entity is 
likely to be a small financial institution, because a small financial 
institution is unlikely to engage in the level of swap activity that 
would require it to register as a swap dealer or major swap 
participant.\45\ None of the currently

[[Page 50612]]

registered covered swap entities are small entities. The final rule 
would have an indirect effect on certain counterparties to non-cleared 
swaps and non-cleared security-based swaps. Many of these 
counterparties would be considered ``small'' under the SBA's 
regulations.\46\ However, the effect of TRIPRA and the final rule will 
be to exempt many of the non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps of these counterparties from the margin requirements of the 
Agencies' joint final rule.
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    \44\ See 13 CFR 121.201 (effective December 2, 2014); see also 
13 CFR 121.103(a)(6) (noting factors that the SBA considers in 
determining whether an entity qualifies as a small business, 
including receipts, employees, and other measures of its domestic 
and foreign affiliates).
    \45\ The CFTC has published a list of provisionally registered 
swap dealers (as of February 9, 2016) and provisionally registered 
major swap participants (as of March 1, 2013) that does not include 
any small financial institutions. See http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/registerswapdealer and http://www.cftc.gov/LawRegulation/DoddFrankAct/registermajorswappart. The 
SEC has not provided a similar list since it only recently adopted 
rules to provide for the registration of security-based swap dealers 
and major security-based swap participants. See 80 FR 48963 (August 
14, 2015); 17 CFR parts 240 and 249.
    \46\ See 13 CFR 121.201. In addition to small financial 
institutions with assets of $550 million or less, swap 
counterparties could also include other small entities defined in 
regulations issued by the SBA, including firms within the 
``Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments 
and Related Activities'' sector with assets of $38.5 million or less 
and ``Funds, Trusts and Other Financial Vehicles'' with assets of 
$32.5 million or less.
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    4. Projected reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance 
requirements of the final rule. As described above, this final rule 
implements statutory language that requires certain swaps of certain 
counterparties to qualify for a statutory exemption or exception from 
the applicable clearing requirements in order to not be subject to the 
initial and variation margin requirements of the joint final rule. The 
reporting requirements are found in Sec.  _.1(d) of this final rule 
pursuant to cross-references to other statutory provisions that set 
forth the conditions for an exemption or exception from clearing. In 
certain cases, the statutory exemption from clearing and related 
regulations may require a counterparty to report information, such as 
how it meets its swaps obligations, to the CFTC or SEC. These 
counterparties may be required to meet the same notification 
requirements that are required for an exception or exemption from the 
relevant CFTC and SEC regulations. Other than this potential overlap of 
reporting obligations of this final rule and the relevant CFTC and SEC 
regulations, the Board is not aware of any other Federal rules that 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this final rule. In light of the 
exemptions provided for the non-cleared swaps and non-cleared security-
based swaps of many small entities, the Board does not believe that the 
final rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entity counterparties.
    5. Significant alternatives to the final rule. Since the final rule 
was required by TRIPRA, the Board does not believe that there are any 
significant alternatives to the rule which would accomplish the stated 
objectives of the applicable statute.
    In light of the foregoing, the Board does not believe that this 
final rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    FDIC: The RFA requires an agency, in connection with a notice of 
final rulemaking, to prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Act 
analysis describing the impact of the rule on small entities (defined 
by the SBA for purposes of the RFA to include banking entities with 
total assets of $550 million or less) or to certify that the final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    Using SBA's size standards, as of June 30, 2015, the FDIC 
supervised 3,357 small entities. The FDIC does not expect any small 
entity that it supervises is likely to be a covered swap entity because 
such entities are unlikely to engage in the level of swap activity that 
would require them to register as a swap entity. Because TRIPRA 
excludes non-cleared swaps entered into for hedging purposes by a 
financial institution with total assets of $10 billion or less from the 
requirement of the final rule, the FDIC expects that when a covered 
swap entity transactions non-cleared swaps with a small entity 
supervised by the FDIC, and such swaps are used to hedge the small 
entity's commercial risk, those swaps will not be subject to the final 
rule. The FDIC does not expect any small entity that it supervises will 
engage in non-cleared swaps for purposes other than hedging. Therefore, 
the FDIC does not believe that the interim final rule results in a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under its supervisory jurisdiction.
    The FDIC certifies that the interim final rule does not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small FDIC-
supervised institutions.
    OCC: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) \47\ generally requires 
an agency that is issuing a proposed rule to prepare and make available 
for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the impact of the proposed rule on small entities. The RFA 
does not apply to a rulemaking where a general notice of proposed 
rulemaking is not required.\48\ For the reasons described above in the 
Supplementary Information, the OCC has previously determined that it 
was unnecessary to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for this 
final rule. Accordingly, the RFA's requirements relating to an initial 
and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not apply.
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    \47\ See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \48\ See 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.
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    FCA: Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
the FCA hereby certifies that the final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Each of the banks in the Farm Credit System, considered together with 
its affiliated associations, has assets and annual income in excess of 
the amounts that would qualify them as small entities. Nor does the 
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation meet the definition of a 
``small entity.'' Therefore, Farm Credit System institutions are not 
``small entities'' as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    FHFA: FHFA certifies that the final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
since none of FHFA's regulated entities comes within the meaning of a 
``small entity'' as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (see 5 
U.S.C. 601(6)), and the final rule will not substantially affect any 
business that its regulated entities might conduct with any such small 
entity.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 45

    Administrative practice and procedure, Capital, Margin 
requirements, National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Risk.

12 CFR Part 237

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks and banking, Capital, 
Foreign banking, Holding companies, Margin requirements, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Risk.

12 CFR Part 349

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Holding companies, 
Capital, Margin requirements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Savings associations Risk.

12 CFR Part 624

    Accounting, Agriculture, Banks, Banking, Capital, Cooperatives, 
Credit, Margin requirements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Risk, Rural areas, Swaps.

12 CFR Part 1221

    Government-sponsored enterprises, Mortgages, Securities.

[[Page 50613]]

Department of the Treasury

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Chapter I

PART 45--MARGIN AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED SWAP ENTITIES

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 45, which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

12 CFR Chapter II

PART 237--SWAPS MARGIN AND SWAPS PUSH-OUT

Subpart A--Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap 
Entities

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 237, subpart A 
which was published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as 
a final rule without change.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 CFR Chapter III

PART 349--DERIVATIVES

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 349 which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Farm Credit Administration

12 CFR Chapter VI

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 624 which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Federal Housing Finance Agency

Chapter XII--Federal Housing Finance Agency

Subchapter B--Entity Regulations

PART 1221--MARGIN AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED SWAP 
ENTITIES

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 12 CFR part 1221 which was 
published at 80 FR 74916 on November 30, 2015, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

    Dated: June 21, 2016.
Thomas J. Curry,
Comptroller of the Currency.

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, July 26, 2016.

Robert deV. Frierson,
Secretary of the Board.
    Dated at Washington, DC, this 21 of June 2016.

    By order of the Board of Directors.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
    Dated: June 22, 2016.
Dale L. Aultman,
 Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
    Dated: June 27, 2016.
Melvin L. Watt,
Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-18193 Filed 8-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P; 8070-01-P; 6705-01-P; 6714-01-P; 6210-01-P; 
4810-33-P