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Commodity Futures Trading Commission ♦ Office of Public Affairs ♦ 202-418-5080
Disclosures of Material Information. SDs/MSPs must disclose information concerning the swap in a manner
reasonably designed to allow the counterparty to assess the material risks and characteristics of the swap and the material
incentives and conflicts of interest that the SD/MSP may have in connection with the particular swap.
Scenario analysis. As part of the duty to disclose the material risks of a swap, prior to entering into a swap that is not
made available for trading on a DCM or SEF, an SD (but not MSPs) must notify its counterparty of its right to request
and consult on a scenario analysis for the swap.
Daily mark. For uncleared swaps, SDs/MSPs must provide counterparties with a daily mark that is the mid-market
mark of the swap.
Communications—fair dealing. SDs/MSPs must communicate with their counterparties in a fair and balanced
manner based on principles of fair dealing and good faith.
Recommendations to counterparties—institutional suitability. An SD who recommends a swap must conduct
reasonable diligence to understand the potential risks and rewards of the recommendation and have a reasonable basis to
believe that the recommendation is suitable for the counterparty. The final rule provides a safe harbor under which an
SD may fulfill its suitability obligation if (1) it reasonably determines that the counterparty is capable of independently
evaluating the recommendation, (2) the counterparty represents in writing that it is exercising independent judgment, (3)
the SD represents in writing that it is acting as a counterparty and not evaluating the suitability of the recommendation
for the counterparty, and (4) where the counterparty is a Special Entity and the recommendation would cause the SD to
“act as an advisor,” the SD complies with the requirements for SDs who “act as an advisor to a Special Entity” described
below.
Will swap dealers be acting as CTAs when they make recommendations to counterparties?
No. The Commission has determined to exercise its authority to add a new exclusion from the CTA definition for SDs
whose recommendations or advice are solely incidental to their business as SDs.
Are there any requirements for swap dealers under the final rules that do not apply to major
swap participants?
Yes, certain rules do not apply to MSPs. They include: know your counterparty, scenario analysis, “acting as an advisor
to a Special Entity,” suitability, and restrictions on certain political contributions.
Are there any situations in which the general obligations above would not apply?
Yes. For example, for swaps executed on a SEF or DCM and the SD/MSP does not know the identity of the
counterparty prior to execution, the SD/MSP does not have to verify the eligibility of the counterparty or make
disclosures of material information, other than the daily mark. In addition, the requirements to disclose material
information regarding a swap do not apply when the counterparty is another SD/MSP or a security-based swap dealer or
major security-based swap participant.
What is a Special Entity under the final rules?
A Special Entity under the final rules is defined as: 1) a Federal agency; 2) a State, State agency, city, county, municipality,
or other political subdivision of a State, or any instrumentality, department, or a corporation of or established by a State
or political subdivision of a State; 3) any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) (29 U.S.C. 1002); 4) any governmental plan, as defined in Section 3 of ERISA; 5) any
endowment, including an endowment that is an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986; or 6) any employee benefit plan defined in Section 3 of ERISA, not otherwise defined as a Special Entity, that