§ 23.501 - Swap confirmation.

§ 23.501 Swap confirmation.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 35001, May 1, 2024.

(a) Confirmation. Subject to the compliance schedule in paragraph (c) of this section:

(1) Each swap dealer and major swap participant entering into a swap transaction with a counterparty that is a swap dealer or major swap participant shall execute a confirmation for the swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by the end of first business day following the day of execution.

(2) Each swap dealer and major swap participant entering into a swap transaction with a counterparty that is not a swap dealer or a major swap participant shall send an acknowledgment of such swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by the end of the first business day following the day of execution.

(3)

(i) Each swap dealer and major swap participant shall establish, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it executes a confirmation for each swap transaction that it enters into with a counterparty that is a financial entity as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by the end of the first business day following the day of execution.

(ii) Each swap dealer and major swap participant shall establish, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it executes a confirmation for each swap transaction that it enters into with a counterparty that is not a swap dealer, major swap participant, or a financial entity not later than the end of the second business day following the day of execution.

(iii) Such procedures shall include a requirement that, upon a request by a prospective counterparty prior to execution of any such swap, the swap dealer or major swap participant furnish to the prospective counterparty prior to execution a draft acknowledgment specifying all terms of the swap transaction other than the applicable pricing and other relevant terms that are to be expressly agreed at execution.

(4) Swaps executed on a swap execution facility, designated contract market, or submitted for clearing by a derivatives clearing organization.

(i) Any swap transaction executed on or pursuant to the rules of a swap execution facility or designated contract market shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section, provided that the rules of the swap execution facility or designated contract market establish that confirmation of all terms of the transaction shall take place at the same time as as soon as technologically practicable after execution.

(ii) Any swap transaction submitted for clearing by a derivatives clearing organization shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section, provided that:

(A) The swap transaction is submitted for clearing as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event no later than the times established for confirmation under paragraphs (a)(1) or (3) of this section, and

(B) Confirmation of all terms of the transaction takes place at the same time as the swap transaction is accepted for clearing pursuant to the rules of the derivatives clearing organization.

(iii) If a swap dealer or major swap participant receives notice that a swap transaction has not been confirmed by a swap execution facility or a designated contract market, or accepted for clearing by a derivatives clearing organization, the swap dealer or major swap participant shall execute a confirmation for such swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event no later than the times established for confirmation under paragraphs (a)(1) or (3) of this section as if such swap transaction were executed at the time the swap dealer or major swap participant receives such notice.

(5) For purposes of this section:

(i) “Day of execution” means the calendar day of the party to the swap transaction that ends latest, provided that if a swap transaction is—

(A) Entered into after 4:00 p.m. in the place of a party; or

(B) Entered into on a day that is not a business day in the place of a party, then such swap transaction shall be deemed to have been entered into by that party on the immediately succeeding business day of that party, and the day of execution shall be determined with reference to such business day; and

(ii) “Business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

(b) Recordkeeping.

(1) Each swap dealer and major swap participant shall make and retain a record of:

(i) The date and time of transmission to, or receipt from, a counterparty of any acknowledgment; and

(ii) The date and time of transmission to, or receipt from, a counterparty of any confirmation.

(2) All records required to be maintained pursuant to this section shall be maintained in accordance with § 23.203 and shall be made available promptly upon request to any representative of the Commission or any applicable prudential regulator, or with regard to swaps defined in section 1a(47)(A)(v), to any representative of the Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any applicable prudential regulator.

(c) Compliance schedule. The requirements of paragraph (a) of this section are subject to the following compliance schedule:

(1) For purposes of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant entering into a swap transaction that is or involves a credit swap or interest rate swap with a counterparty that is a swap dealer or major swap participant shall execute a confirmation for the swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by:

(i) The end of the second business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to February 28, 2014; and

(ii) The end of the first business day following the day of execution from and after March 1, 2014.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant entering into a swap transaction that is or involves an equity swap, foreign exchange swap, or other commodity swap with a counterparty that is a swap dealer or major swap participant shall execute a confirmation for the swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by:

(i) The end of the third business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to August 31, 2013;

(ii) The end of the second business day following the day of execution for the period from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014; and

(iii) The end of the first business day following the day of execution from and after September 1, 2014.

(3) For purposes of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant entering into a swap transaction that is or involves a credit swap or interest rate swap with a counterparty that is not a swap dealer or a major swap participant shall send an acknowledgment of such swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by:

(i) The end of the second business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to February 28, 2014; and

(ii) The end of the first business day following the day of execution from and after March 1, 2014.

(4) For purposes of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant entering into a swap transaction that is or involves an equity swap, foreign exchange swap, or other commodity swap with a counterparty that is not a swap dealer or a major swap participant shall send an acknowledgment of such swap transaction as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by:

(i) The end of the third business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to August 31, 2013;

(ii) The end of the second business day following the day of execution for the period from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014; and

(iii) The end of the first business day following the day of execution from and after September 1, 2014.

(5) For purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant shall establish, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it executes a confirmation for each swap transaction that is or involves a credit swap or interest rate swap that it enters into with a counterparty that is a financial entity as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by:

(i) The end of the second business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to February 28, 2014; and

(ii) The end of the first business day following the day of execution from and after March 1, 2014.

(6) For purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant shall establish, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it executes a confirmation for each swap transaction that is or involves an equity swap, foreign exchange swap, or other commodity swap that it enters into with a counterparty that is a financial entity as soon as technologically practicable, but in any event by:

(i) The end of the third business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to August 31, 2013;

(ii) The end of the second business day following the day of execution for the period from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014; and

(iii) The end of the first business day following the day of execution from and after September 1, 2014.

(7) For purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant shall establish, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it executes a confirmation for each swap transaction that is or involves a credit swap or interest rate swap that it enters into with a counterparty that is not a swap dealer, major swap participant, or a financial entity not later than:

(i) The end of the fifth business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to August 31, 2013;

(ii) The end of the third business day following the day of execution for the period from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014; and

(iii) The end of the second business day following the day of execution from and after September 1, 2014.

(8) For purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section, each swap dealer and major swap participant shall establish, maintain, and follow written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it executes a confirmation for each swap transaction that is or involves an equity swap, foreign exchange swap, or other commodity swap that it enters into with a counterparty that is not a swap dealer, major swap participant, or a financial entity not later than:

(i) The end of the seventh business day following the day of execution for the period from the effective date of this section to August 31, 2013;

(ii) The end of the fourth business day following the day of execution for the period from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014; and

(iii) The end of the second business following the day of execution from and after September 1, 2014.

(9) For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section:

(i) “Credit swap” means any swap that is primarily based on instruments of indebtedness, including, without limitation: Any swap primarily based on one or more broad-based indices related to instruments of indebtedness; and any swap that is an index credit swap or total return swap on one or more indices of debt instruments;

(ii) “Equity swap” means any swap that is primarily based on equity securities, including, without limitation: Any swap primarily based on one or more broad-based indices of equity securities; and any total return swap on one or more equity indices;

(iii) “Foreign exchange swap” has the meaning set forth in section 1a(25) of the CEA. It does not include swaps primarily based on rates of exchange between different currencies, changes in such rates, or other aspects of such rates (sometimes known as “cross-currency swaps”);

(iv) “Interest rate swap” means any swap which is primarily based on one or more interest rates, such as swaps of payments determined by fixed and floating interest rates; or any swap which is primarily based on rates of exchange between different currencies, changes in such rates, or other aspects of such rates (sometimes known as “cross-currency swaps”); and

(v) “Other commodity swap” means any swap not included in the credit, equity, foreign exchange, or interest rate asset classes, including, without limitation, any swap for which the primary underlying item is a physical commodity or the price or any other aspect of a physical commodity.

[77 FR 55960, Sept. 11, 2012, as amended at 89 FR 35001, May 1, 2024]