Clearing Exemption for Swaps Between Certain Affiliated Entities
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
01/28/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2022
200
310
200
310
0
0
Section 2(h)(1)(A) of the Commodity Exchange Act requires certain counterparties to submit for clearing certain swaps if they are required to be cleared by the Commission. Commission regulation 50.52 permits certain affiliated entities to elect not to clear certain inter-affiliate swaps that otherwise would be required to be cleared, provided that they meet certain conditions. The rule further requires the reporting of certain information if the inter-affiliate exemption is elected. This collection pertains to information the Commission needs to monitor use of the exemption and assess market risk in connection therewith.
Commission staff observed a decrease in the number of counterparties submitting an annual reporting form required by the inter-affiliate exemption under Commission regulation 50.52. The number of counterparties filing the inter-affiliate exemption form has fluctuated each year as the number of entities electing the exemption and filing the annual form has changed. In calendar years 2014 and 2015, the average number of filers was approximately 75. The average number of filers increased to approximately 310 during calendar years 2016, 2017, and 2018. The number of entities filing an election form in 2020 and 2021 (approximately 180 and 183, respectively) is not vastly different from the average number of counterparties that filed over the three years from 2016-2018 (310). Although the Commission staff noticed a decrease in the number of filers from the average of 310 filers to a more modest 180 filers in recent years, the Commission notes that data for the full 2021 calendar year is not yet available and has increased the estimated number of respondents by approximately 10% to account for potential missing data ((180 x .10 = 18) and (180+18 = 198)). The number of burden hours per respondent has not changed (1 burden hour per respondent); however, the total estimated burden hours for this collection of information decreased slightly because the estimated number of filers decreased from 310 to 200.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.