Statement of Support

Chairman Gary Gensler

July 10, 2012

Further Definition of the term “Swap”

I support the final rulemaking to implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) requirement to further define “swap” and other products that come under swaps market reform. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) worked closely with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in consultation with the Federal Reserve, on the final rules and interpretations to further define “swaps,” “security-based swaps,” “mixed swaps” and “security-based swap agreements.”

The statutory definition as laid out by Congress of swap is very detailed. These final rules and interpretations are consistent with that detailed definition and Congressional intent. For example, interest rate swaps, currency swaps, commodity swaps, including energy, metals and agricultural swaps, and broad-based index swaps, such as index credit default swaps, are all swaps. Consistent with Congress’s definition of swaps, the rule also defines options as swaps.

In preparing this final rulemaking, staff worked to address the more than 140 comments that were submitted by the public in response to the product further definition proposal. Many of the commenters asked the Commissions to specifically provide guidance on what is not a swap or security-based swap.

For example, under the Commodity Exchange Act, the CFTC does not regulate forward contracts. Over the decades, there have been a series of orders, interpretations and cases that market participants have come to rely upon regarding the exception from futures regulation for forwards and forwards with embedded options. Consistent with that history, the Dodd-Frank Act excluded from the definition of a swap “any sale of a nonfinancial commodity or security for deferred shipment or delivery, so long as the transaction is intended to be physically settled.” The Commission is interpreting that exclusion in a manner that is consistent with Commission precedent and, in response to commenters, is providing increased clarity on the forward exclusion from futures regulation. The final release provides guidance regarding forwards with embedded volumetric options, like those used within the electricity markets, and is requesting comment on this interpretation.

Further, consistent with the Dodd-Frank Act, insurance products will not be regulated as swaps. Similarly, this final rulemaking clarifies that certain consumer and commercial arrangements that historically have not been considered swaps, such as consumer mortgage rate locks, contracts to lock in the price of home heating oil and contracts relating to inventory or equipment, also will not be regulated as swaps.

The rule provides clarity on the dividing line between “swaps” and “security-based swaps” or both, i.e. mixed swaps. The rule also provides a process for requesting joint interpretations in circumstances where there are questions. These dividing lines and the process will benefit market participants, as they will provide greater clarity as to what regulatory requirements apply when they transact in the derivatives markets.

Lastly, the final release includes specific provisions that guard against transactions that are willfully structured to evade Dodd-Frank swaps market reforms.

I’d to express my appreciation for their dedication to completing this rule to Chairman Mary Schapiro and her fellow Commissioners at the SEC, as well as the staff, including Robert Cook, Brian Bussey, Amy Starr, Donna Chambers, Christie March, Andy Schoeffler, Wenchi Hu, John Guidroz and Sarah Otte.

I’d also like to thank the CFTC’s hardworking staff: Julian Hammar, Lee Ann Duffy, David Aron, Terry Arbit, Eric Juzenas and Stephen Kane.

Last Updated: July 11, 2012