View all text of Part 49 [§ 49.1 - § 49.31]

§ 49.22 - Chief compliance officer.

(a) Definition of board of directors. For purposes of this part 49, the term “board of directors” means the board of directors of a swap data repository, or for those swap data repositories whose organizational structure does not include a board of directors, a body performing a function similar to that of a board of directors.

(b) Designation and qualifications of chief compliance officer—(1) Chief compliance officer required. Each swap data repository shall establish the position of chief compliance officer, and designate an individual to serve in that capacity.

(i) The position of chief compliance officer shall carry with it the authority and resources to develop and enforce policies and procedures necessary to fulfill the duties set forth for chief compliance officers in the Act and Commission regulations.

(ii) The chief compliance officer shall have supervisory authority over all staff acting at the direction of the chief compliance officer.

(2) Qualifications of chief compliance officer. The individual designated to serve as chief compliance officer shall have the background and skills appropriate for fulfilling the responsibilities of the position and shall be subject to the following requirements:

(i) No individual disqualified from registration pursuant to section 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Act may serve as a chief compliance officer.

(ii) The chief compliance officer may not be a member of the swap data repository's legal department or serve as its general counsel.

(c) Appointment, supervision, and removal of chief compliance officer—(1) Appointment and compensation of chief compliance officer determined by board of directors. A swap data repository's chief compliance officer shall be appointed by its board of directors. The board of directors shall also approve the compensation of the chief compliance officer and shall meet with the chief compliance officer at least annually. The appointment of the chief compliance officer and approval of the chief compliance officer's compensation shall require the approval of the board of directors. The senior officer of the swap data repository may fulfill these responsibilities. A swap data repository shall notify the Commission of the appointment of a new chief compliance officer within two business days of such appointment.

(2) Supervision of chief compliance officer. A swap data repository's chief compliance officer shall report directly to the board of directors or to the senior officer of the swap data repository, at the swap data repository's discretion.

(3) Removal of chief compliance officer by board of directors. (i) Removal of a swap data repository's chief compliance officer shall require the approval of the swap data repository's board of directors. If the swap data repository does not have a board of directors, then the chief compliance officer may be removed by the senior officer of the swap data repository;

(ii) The swap data repository shall notify the Commission of such removal within two business days; and

(iii) The swap data repository shall notify the Commission within two business days of appointing any new chief compliance officer, whether interim or permanent.

(d) Duties of chief compliance officer. The chief compliance officer's duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Overseeing and reviewing the swap data repository's compliance with section 21 of the Act and any related rules adopted by the Commission;

(2) In consultation with the board of directors, a body performing a function similar to the board, or the senior officer of the swap data repository, resolving any conflicts of interest that may arise including:

(i) Conflicts between business considerations and compliance requirements;

(ii) Conflicts between business considerations and the requirement that the swap data repository provide fair and open access as set forth in § 49.27 of this part; and

(iii) Conflicts between a swap data repository's management and members of the board of directors;

(3) Establishing and administering written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Act and any rules adopted by the Commission;

(4) Taking reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the Act and Commission regulations relating to agreements, contracts, or transactions, and with Commission regulations under section 21 of the Act, including confidentiality arrangements received by the chief compliance officer's registered swap depository pursuant to § 49.18(a);

(5) Establishing procedures for the remediation of noncompliance issues identified by the chief compliance officer through a compliance office review, look-back, internal or external audit finding, self-reported error, or validated complaint;

(6) Establishing and following appropriate procedures for the handling, management response, remediation, retesting, and closing of noncompliance issues; and

(7) Establishing and administering a written code of ethics designed to prevent ethical violations and to promote honesty and ethical conduct.

(e) Annual compliance report prepared by chief compliance officer. The chief compliance officer shall, not less than annually, prepare and sign an annual compliance report, that at a minimum, contains the following information covering the time period since the date on which the swap data repository became registered with the Commission or since the end of the period covered by a previously filed annual compliance report, as applicable:

(1) A description of the swap data repository's written policies and procedures, including the code of ethics and conflict of interest policies;

(2) A review of applicable Commission regulations and each subsection and core principle of section 21 of the Act, that, with respect to each:

(i) Identifies the policies and procedures that are designed to ensure compliance with each subsection and core principle, including each duty specified in section 21(c);

(ii) Provides a self-assessment as to the effectiveness of these policies and procedures; and

(iii) Discusses areas for improvement, and recommends potential or prospective changes or improvements to its compliance program and resources;

(3) A list of any material changes to compliance policies and procedures since the last annual compliance report;

(4) A description of the financial, managerial, and operational resources set aside for compliance with respect to the Act and Commission regulations;

(5) A description of any material compliance matters, including noncompliance issues identified through a compliance office review, look-back, internal or external audit finding, self-reported error, or validated complaint, and explains how they were resolved; and

(6) A certification by the chief compliance officer that, to the best of his or her knowledge and reasonable belief, and under penalty of law, the annual compliance report is accurate and complete.

(f) Submission of annual compliance report to the Commission. (1) Prior to submission of the annual compliance report to the Commission, the chief compliance officer shall provide the annual compliance report to the board of the swap data repository for its review. If the swap data repository does not have a board, then the annual compliance report shall be provided to the senior officer for their review. Members of the board and the senior officer may not require the chief compliance officer to make any changes to the report. Submission of the report to the board or senior officer, and any subsequent discussion of the report, shall be recorded in board minutes or similar written record, as evidence of compliance with this requirement.

(2) The annual compliance report shall be provided electronically to the Commission not more than 60 days after the end of the swap data repository's fiscal year.

(3) Promptly upon discovery of any material error or omission made in a previously filed compliance report, the chief compliance officer shall file an amendment with the Commission to correct any material error or omission. An amendment shall contain the oath or certification required under paragraph (e)(6) of this section.

(4) A swap data repository may request the Commission for an extension of time to file its compliance report based on substantial, undue hardship. Extensions for the filing deadline may be granted at the discretion of the Commission.

(g) Recordkeeping. (1) The swap data repository shall maintain:

(i) A copy of the written policies and procedures, including the code of ethics and conflicts of interest policies adopted in furtherance of compliance with the Act and Commission regulations;

(ii) Copies of all materials, including written reports provided to the board of directors or senior officer in connection with the review of the annual compliance report under paragraph (f)(1) of this section and the board minutes or similar written record of such review, that record the submission of the annual compliance report to the board of directors or senior officer; and

(iii) Any records relevant to the swap data repository's annual compliance report, including, but not limited to, work papers and other documents that form the basis of the report, and memoranda, correspondence, other documents, and records that are:

(A) Created, sent, or received in connection with the annual compliance report; and

(B) Contain conclusions, opinions, analyses, or financial data related to the annual compliance report.

(2) The swap data repository shall maintain records in accordance with § 1.31 of this chapter.

[76 FR 54575, Sept. 1, 2011, as amended at 83 FR 27439, June 12, 2018; 85 FR 75661, Nov. 25, 2020]