[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17374-17376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06384]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-94485; File No. SR-ICEEU-2022-007]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Europe Limited; Notice 
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change, as 
Modified by Amendment No. 1, Relating to Amendments to the ICE Clear 
Europe Delivery Procedures

March 22, 2022.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on March 8, 2022, ICE Clear Europe Limited (``ICE Clear Europe'' or the 
``Clearing House'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule changes described in Items I, II and 
III below, which Items have been prepared primarily by ICE Clear 
Europe. ICE Clear Europe filed the proposed rule change pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4)(ii) 
thereunder,\4\ such that the proposed rule change was immediately 
effective upon filing with the Commission. On March 16, 2022, ICE Clear 
Europe filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change to make 
certain clarifications about the purpose of and statutory basis for the 
proposed rule changes.\5\ The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment 
No. 1 (hereafter the ``proposed rule change''), from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4)(ii).
    \5\ In Amendment No. 1, ICEEU expanded the description of the 
expected effect of the proposed changes as well as the basis for the 
proposed changes under the relevant law; however, the substance of 
the proposal is unchanged.
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The principal purpose of the proposed amendments is for ICE Clear 
Europe to amend its Delivery Procedures (``Delivery Procedures'' or 
``Procedures'') to amend Part CC thereof (``Part CC'') to revise 
certain timing-related delivery specifications applicable to Midland 
West Texas Intermediate American Gulf Coast Crude Oil Futures 
(``Midland WTI Contracts'').\6\
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    \6\ Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the 
meanings specified in the Delivery Procedures or, if not defined 
therein, the ICE Clear Europe Clearing Rules.

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[[Page 17375]]

II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, ICE Clear Europe included 
statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule 
change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule 
change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places 
specified in Item IV below. ICE Clear Europe has prepared summaries, 
set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant 
aspects of such statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

(a) Purpose
    ICE Clear Europe is proposing to amend Part CC of the Delivery 
Procedures to revise certain delivery specifications applicable to 
Midland WTI Contracts. Specifically, with respect to Exchange for 
Physicals (EFPs), the amendments would extend the deadline for EFPs to 
be reported to any time after the close of trading until 13:00 CT/19:00 
LPT on the next Business Day following the Last Trading Day instead of 
(09:00 CT/15:00 LPT). This change would expand the availability of the 
reporting deadline to all EFPs, and not just those that are executed on 
the Last Trading Day. The Clearing House has determined that this 
adjustment reflects the Clearing House's current practice. Conforming 
timing updates would also be made to the Delivery Timetable.
    The amendments would also adjust the deadline for Delivery 
Confirmation Forms to 14:00 CT/20:00 LPT on the Business Day following 
the Last Trading Day (rather than 10:00 CT/16:00 LPT).
(b) Statutory Basis
    ICE Clear Europe believes that the proposed amendments to the 
Delivery Procedures are consistent with the requirements of Section 17A 
of the Act \7\ and the regulations thereunder applicable to it. In 
particular, Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \8\ requires, among other 
things, that the rules of a clearing agency be designed to promote the 
prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions 
and, to the extent applicable, derivative agreements, contracts, and 
transactions, the safeguarding of securities and funds in the custody 
or control of the clearing agency or for which it is responsible, and 
the protection of investors and the public interest. The proposed 
changes to the Delivery Procedures are designed to amend certain 
deadlines under the delivery procedures, for Midland WTI Contracts, to 
give Clearing Members more time to facilitate settlement and thereby 
permit more up-to-date information to be available at the time of 
reporting EFPs. The amendments would not otherwise affect the manner in 
which Midland WTI Contracts are cleared and settled. As a result, in 
ICE Clear Europe's view, the amendments would be consistent with the 
prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of the contracts, and the 
protection of investors and the public interest consistent with the 
requirements of Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\9\ (In ICE Clear 
Europe's view, the amendments would not affect the safeguarding of 
funds or securities in the custody or control of the clearing agency or 
for which it is responsible, within the meaning of Section 
17A(b)(3)(F).\10\)
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    In addition, Rule 17Ad-22(e)(10) \11\ provides that ``[e]ach 
covered clearing agency shall establish, implement, maintain and 
enforce written policies and procedures reasonable designed to, as 
applicable [. . .] establish and maintain transparent written standards 
that state its obligations with respect to the delivery of physical 
instruments, and establish and maintain operational practices that 
identify, monitor and manage the risks associated with such physical 
deliveries.'' As discussed above, the amendments would amend certain 
deadlines under the Delivery Procedures applicable to the settlement of 
Midland WTI Contracts. Clearance of the Midland WTI Contracts would not 
otherwise be affected. The amendments thus appropriately clarify the 
role and responsibilities of the Clearing House and Clearing Members 
with respect to physical delivery. As a result, ICE Clear Europe 
believes the amendments are consistent with the requirements of Rule 
17Ad-22(e)(10).\12\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(10).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(e)(10).
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    ICE Clear Europe does not believe the proposed amendments would 
have any impact, or impose any burden, on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed 
amendments to the Delivery Procedures are intended to extend certain 
deadlines under the Delivery Procedures applicable to the delivery of 
Midland WTI Contracts. ICE Clear Europe does not believe the amendments 
would adversely affect competition among Clearing Members, materially 
affect the cost of clearing, adversely affect access to clearing in the 
new contracts for Clearing Members or their customers, or otherwise 
adversely affect competition in clearing services. Accordingly, ICE 
Clear Europe does not believe that the amendments would impose any 
impact or burden on competition that is not appropriate in furtherance 
of the purpose of the Act.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants or Others

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

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \13\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \14\ 
thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed 
rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml) or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-ICEEU-2022-007 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.


[[Page 17376]]


All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICEEU-2022-007. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of such filings will also be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of ICE Clear Europe and on ICE 
Clear Europe's website at https://www.theice.com/clear-europe/regulation.
    All comments received will be posted without change. Persons 
submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit 
personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-ICEEU-2022-007 and should be 
submitted on or before April 18, 2022.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-06384 Filed 3-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P