Marex Spectron International Limited – s. 38 of the CFA

Application to the Commission pursuant to section 38 of the Commodity Futures Act (Ontario) (CFA) for a ruling that the Applicant be exempted from the dealer registration requirement in paragraph 22(1)(a) and the prohibition against trading on non-recognized exchanges in section 33 of the CFA for an interim period pending its registration with the Alberta Securities Commission. As an introducing broker, the Applicant will offer the ability to trade in commodity futures contracts and commodity futures options that trade on exchanges located outside of Canada and that are cleared through clearing corporations located outside of Canada, including block trades, to certain of its clients in Ontario who meet the definition of “permitted client” in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

Applicable Legislative Provisions

Commodity Futures Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.20, as am., ss. 22, 33, 38.
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as am.

May 22, 2018

IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMMODITY FUTURES ACT,
R.S.O. 1990, c. C.20, AS AMENDED
(the CFA)

AND

IN THE MATTER OF
MAREX SPECTRON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

RULING
(Section 38 of the CFA)

                UPON the application (the Application) of Marex Spectron International Limited (the Applicant) to the Ontario Securities Commission (the Commission) for:

(a)           a ruling of the Commission, pursuant to section 38 of the CFA, that the Applicant is not subject to the dealer registration requirement in the CFA (as defined below) or the trading restrictions in the CFA (as defined below) in connection with trades in Exchange-Traded Futures (as defined below) on Non-Canadian Exchanges (as defined below), including Block Trades (as defined below) on Non-Canadian Exchanges, where the Applicant is acting as agent in such trades to, from or on behalf of Permitted Clients (as defined below); and

(b)           a ruling of the Commission, pursuant to section 38 of the CFA, that a Permitted Client is not subject to the dealer registration requirement in the CFA or the trading restrictions in the CFA in connection with trades in Exchange-Traded Futures on Non-Canadian Exchanges, where the Applicant acts in respect of trades in Exchange-Traded Futures on behalf of the Permitted Client pursuant to the above ruling;

                AND WHEREAS for the purposes of this ruling (the Decision):

(i)            the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Block Trade” means a trade in a large quantity of Exchange-Traded Futures entered into between ECPs (as defined below) (in this case, via an introducing broker) pursuant to a privately negotiated transaction that, pursuant to the applicable rules of a Non-Canadian Exchange, are permitted to be executed on the Non-Canadian Exchange apart from the public auction market established by the Non-Canadian Exchange subject to meeting specified quantity thresholds (which are different large amounts depending on the particular Non-Canadian Exchange) and provided that the price of the trade is entered and reported on the Non-Canadian Exchange within a specified time period following the trade;

“CFTC” means the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

“dealer registration requirement in the CFA” means the provisions of section 22 of the CFA that prohibit a person or company from trading in Exchange-Traded Futures unless the person or company satisfies the applicable provisions of section 22 of the CFA;

“ECP” means eligible contract participant as that term is defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act;

“EEA” means the European Economic Area;

“EEA Member States” means Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.;

“Exchange-Traded Futures” means commodity futures contracts or commodity futures options that trade on one or more organized exchanges located outside of Canada and that are cleared through one or more clearing corporations located outside of Canada;

“FCA” means the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K.;

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in the U.S.;

“IDE” means the international dealer exemption in section 8.18 of NI 31-103;

“NI 31-103” means National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations;

“NFA” means the National Futures Association in the U.S.;

“Non-Canadian Exchange” means an exchange located outside Canada;

“OSA” means the Securities Act (Ontario);

“Permitted Client” means a client in Ontario that is a “permitted client” as that term is defined in section 1.1 of NI 31-103;

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;

“specified affiliate” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Form 33-109F6 to National Instrument 33-109 Registration Information;

“trading restrictions in the CFA” means the provisions of section 33 of the CFA that prohibit a person or company from trading in Exchange-Traded Futures unless the person or company satisfies the applicable provisions of section 33 of the CFA;

“U.K.” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and

“U.S.” means United States of America; and

(ii)           terms used in this Decision that are defined in the OSA, and not otherwise defined in this Decision or in the CFA, shall have the same meaning as in the OSA, unless the context otherwise requires;

                AND UPON considering the Application and the recommendation of staff of the Commission;

                AND UPON the Applicant having represented to the Commission as follows:

1.             The Applicant is a limited corporation formed under the laws of England and Wales. Its main office is located at 155 Bishopsgate, Level Five, London, England EC2M 3TQ. The Applicant also maintains branch offices at 360 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10017; 600 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut, 06901; 110-9 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0T1, Canada and Kronprinsesse Marthas, Plass 1, Oslo 0160, Norway.

2.             The Applicant is not registered in any capacity under the CFA or the OSA. The Applicant does not rely on any exemption from registration in Canada.

3.             The Applicant is authorized by the FCA under the U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, including those amendments introduced by the Financial Services Act 2012) (the FSMA), to carry on a range of regulated activities within the U.K. (FCA register no. 193027). The Applicant is currently licensed in the U.K. to deal with eligible counterparties and professional clients with respect to its permitted activities. The Applicant is currently authorized to carry on certain regulated activities in the U.K. in relation to certain specified investments, including the following: (a) advising on investments (except on pension transfers and pension opt outs) in relation to futures, options and over-the-counter derivatives; (b) advising on P2P agreements; (c) arranging (bringing about) deals in futures, options and over-the-counter derivatives; (d) dealing in options and over-the-counter derivatives as agent; (e) making arrangements with a view to transactions in futures, options and over-the-counter derivatives; and (f) operating an organised trading facility. As is the case with all firms authorized in the U.K., the Applicant’s current U.K. regulatory status remains subject to variation and the possible imposition of regulatory limitations or requirements and is described as at the date of the Application.

4.             The Applicant has “passported” its U.K. regulatory permissions into the other EEA Member States. In relation to the Applicant’s futures services, the Applicant utilizes its EEA passport to the extent that it may provide commodity futures services into other EEA member states. The Applicant also uses its two EEA branch offices which have been established under its EEA passport in this regard.

5.             The Applicant is an approved member of the NFA (NFA ID: 0445699) and is registered as an “overseas independent introducing broker” with the CFTC.

6.             The Applicant is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and does not conduct a securities business in the U.S.

7.             The Applicant is not a member of any exchange, but it is considered to be a “broker participant” by and has entered into a broker clearing agreement with each of the following U.S. exchanges: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), CME Group (which includes the CME and NYMEX exchanges), and the Nodal Exchange.

8.             Subject to the ruling requested and as set out in paragraph 9, the Applicant is not in default of securities legislation or commodity futures legislation in any jurisdiction in Canada.

9.             Staff of the Alberta Securities Commission has recently concluded that the registration exemption provided under section 6(b) of the Alberta Securities Commission Blanket Order 91-507 Over-the-Counter Trades in Derivatives does not apply to firms engaging in Block Trades. The Alberta Securities Commission is currently consulting with firms engaged in Block Trades, including the Applicant, with a view to implementing a registration category and terms for firms that engage in Block Trades.

10.          The Applicant is in compliance in all material respects with U.K. and U.S. securities and commodity futures laws.

11.          The principal business of the Applicant is providing:

a.             brokerage services for over-the-counter and futures transactions in energy and environmental commodities to various financial institutions and utilities; and

b.             in relation to customers who are deemed “US Persons”, as defined under applicable U.S. law, introducing services for ECPs.

12.          Pursuant to its registrations and memberships, the Applicant may (inter alia) broker Exchange-Traded Futures in the U.K. and in all EEA Member States, and is authorized to act as an introducing broker in the U.S. to handle customer orders, to effect Block Trades and, if applicable, to introduce customers to an executing broker registered as a futures commission merchant. The rules of the FCA, CFTC and NFA require the Applicant to maintain adequate capital levels, make and keep specified types of records relating to customer accounts and transactions, including confirmations and statements, and comply with other forms of customer protection rules, including rules respecting: know-your-customer obligations, client identification, account-opening requirements, suitability requirements, anti-money laundering checks, dealing and handling customer order obligations, including managing conflicts of interest and best execution. These rules require the Applicant to treat Permitted Clients consistently with the Applicant’s U.K, EEA, and U.S. customers with respect to transactions made on exchanges in the U.K., EEA, and U.S. In respect of Exchange-Traded Futures, the Applicant does not provide direct execution, except to effect Block Trades, or clearing services and is not authorized to receive or hold client money in any jurisdiction.

13.          The Applicant offers certain of its Permitted Clients in Ontario the ability to trade in Exchange-Traded Futures, primarily through Block Trades, and in connection with such trades, the Applicant would act as an introducing broker and effect trades in Exchange-Traded Futures, including Block Trades, on Non-Canadian Exchanges.

14.          The Applicant will handle the negotiation of the Exchange-Traded Futures, match buyers and sellers at the best possible price, execute trades in Exchange-Traded Futures on behalf of Permitted Clients in Ontario in the same manner that it would carry out these activities on behalf of its U.K., EEA, and U.S. clients, all of which are ECPs. The Applicant will follow the same know-your-customer, suitability, and order handling procedures that it follows in respect of its U.K., EEA, and U.S. clients. Permitted Clients in Ontario will be afforded the benefits of compliance by the Applicant with the statutory and other requirements of the regulators, self-regulatory organizations and exchanges located in the U.K., EEA, and U.S. In Ontario, Permitted Clients will have the same contractual rights against the Applicant as U.K. clients of the Applicant.

15.          The Applicant is required under FCA rules to categorise its clients using three categories (who are afforded a descending level of regulatory protection): (1) retail clients; (2) professional clients; and (3) eligible counterparties. Permitted Clients would generally fall into the categories of “professional clients” and “eligible counterparties”. The levels of regulatory protection afforded to these categories of clients are substantially similar to those afforded to Permitted Clients under the CFA.

16.          In transacting Block Trades for its customers, the Applicant, as the introducing broker, will match a buyer and a seller (both ECPs) in a privately negotiated trade for a large quantity of Exchange-Traded Futures. Pursuant to the rules of the applicable Non-Canadian Exchange, the trade is permitted to be executed apart from the public auction market established by the Non-Canadian Exchange. Once the terms of the trade are agreed upon between the buyer and the seller, the trade is submitted by the Applicant to the exchange to be publicly reported within the required time period for Block Trades. Once submitted to the Non-Canadian Exchange, the clearing and settlement process by and through the customer’s futures commission merchant will commence independent of the Applicant’s involvement in the transaction.

17.          The Applicant will not maintain an office, sales force or physical place of business in Ontario.

18.          The Applicant will introduce trades in Exchange-Traded Futures in Ontario only to and from persons and companies who qualify as Permitted Clients.

19.          The Applicant will only offer Permitted Clients in Ontario the ability to effect trades in Exchange-Traded Futures on Non-Canadian Exchanges.

20.          The Exchange-Traded Futures to be traded by Permitted Clients in Ontario will be limited to Exchange-Traded Futures for energy and environmental products.

21.          Permitted Clients of the Applicant will be able to execute trades in Exchange-Traded Futures through the Applicant by contacting the Applicant’s client order handling desk.

22.          In the case of a trade in Exchange-Traded Futures that is a Block Trade involving a Permitted Client as a buyer or a seller, the Applicant, as the introducing broker, will match the Permitted Client in a privately negotiated trade, which will be executed apart from the public auction market established by the applicable Non-Canadian Exchange and submitted for public reporting to the Non-Canadian Exchange within the required time period applicable for Block Trades. Once submitted to the Non-Canadian Exchange, the clearing and settlement process by and through the Permitted Client’s futures commission merchant in accordance with the rules and customary practices of the exchange will commence independent of the Applicant’s involvement in the transaction. In no case will the Applicant enter into a give-up agreement with any executing broker registered as a futures commission merchant or clearing broker unless such firm is registered with the applicable regulatory bodies in the jurisdiction in which it executes the trades in Exchange-Traded Futures and is registered or has obtained an exemption from the dealer registration requirement from the Commission, and with any executing broker registered as a futures commission merchant or clearing broker located in the U.S., unless such firm is registered with the SEC and/or CFTC, as applicable, and is registered or has obtained an exemption from the dealer registration requirement from the Commission.

23.          In the case of a trade in Exchange-Traded Futures that is not a Block Trade involving a Permitted Client, the Applicant will perform introducing functions, as the introducing broker, and will arrange to have the Permitted Client’s order executed on the relevant Non-Canadian Exchange by an executing broker registered as a futures commission merchant in accordance with the rules and customary practices of the exchange. The executing broker will act to “give-up” the transacted trades to the Permitted Client’s clearing broker. In such circumstances, the Permitted Client would be a client of both the Applicant and the executing broker. The Applicant will not enter into a give-up agreement with any executing broker registered as a futures commission merchant or clearing broker unless such firm is registered with the applicable regulatory bodies in the jurisdiction in which it executes the trades in Exchange-Traded Futures and is registered or has obtained an exemption from the dealer registration requirement from the Commission, and with any executing broker registered as a futures commission merchant or clearing broker located in the U.S., unless such firm is registered with the SEC and/or CFTC, as applicable, and is registered or has obtained an exemption from the dealer registration requirement from the Commission. Where the Applicant is listed as the executing broker in the relevant give-up agreement, the Applicant would remain responsible for all executions on the relevant Non-Canadian Exchange.

24.          Clearing brokers and executing brokers will be subject to the rules of the exchanges of which each is a member and any relevant regulatory requirements, including requirements under the CFA, as applicable. Under an industry-standard give-up agreement, an executing broker and the Permitted Client’s clearing broker will represent that it will perform its obligations in accordance with applicable laws, governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory, exchange and clearing house rules and the customs and usages of the exchange or clearing house on which the relevant Permitted Client’s trades in Exchange-Traded Futures will be executed and cleared. The Permitted Client will enter into such give-up agreement. The Applicant will not enter into a give-up agreement with any clearing broker located in (i) the U.S. unless such clearing broker is registered with the CFTC and/or the SEC, as applicable, and is registered or has obtained an exemption from the dealer registration requirement from the Commission, or (ii) the U.K. unless such clearing broker is authorised by the FCA and is registered or has obtained an exemption from the dealer registration requirement from the Commission.

25.          As is customary for all trades in Exchange-Traded Futures, a clearing corporation appointed by the exchange or clearing division of the exchange is substituted as a universal counterparty on all trades in Exchange-Traded Futures for Permitted Client orders that are submitted to the exchange in the name of the recognized exchange member and clearing broker. A Permitted Client of the Applicant is responsible to its clearing broker for payment of daily mark-to-market variation margin and/or proper margin to carry open positions and the Permitted Client’s clearing broker is in turn responsible to the clearing corporation/division for payment.

26.          Permitted Clients will pay commissions for trades to the Applicant for its role as introducing broker and Permitted Clients will be responsible to pay any commissions to the executing brokers or clearing brokers directly, if applicable.

27.          Absent this Decision, the trading restrictions in the CFA apply with respect to the Applicant’s trades in Exchange-Traded Futures unless, among other things, an Exchange-Traded Future is traded on a recognized or registered commodity futures exchange and the form of the contract is approved by the Director. To date, no Non-Canadian Exchanges have been recognized or registered under the CFA.

28.          If the Applicant were registered under the CFA as a “futures commission merchant”, it could rely upon certain exemptions from the trading restrictions in the CFA to effect trades in Exchange-Traded Futures to be entered into on certain Non-Canadian Exchanges.

                AND UPON the Commission being satisfied that it would not be prejudicial to the public interest to grant the ruling requested;

                IT IS RULED, pursuant to section 38 of the CFA, trades in Exchange-Traded Futures effected by the Applicant are not subject to the dealer registration requirement in the CFA or the trading restrictions in the CFA, where the Applicant is acting as agent in such trades to, from or on behalf of Permitted Clients provided that:

a.             the Applicant only acts as agent in trades in Exchange-Traded Futures to, from or on behalf of clients in Ontario who are Permitted Clients;

b.             the executing broker and clearing broker have each represented to the Applicant, and the Applicant has taken reasonable steps to verify, that the broker is appropriately registered under the CFA, or has been granted exemptive relief from the registration requirements in the CFA, in connection with the Permitted Client effecting trades in Exchange-Traded Futures; provided that these requirements will not apply in the context of a Block Trade if the Applicant does not know and cannot reasonably determine the identity of the clearing broker at the time of the trade and would not have an opportunity to obtain such representations or take such steps;

c.             the Applicant only introduces and enters trades in Exchange-Traded Futures for Permitted Clients in Ontario on Non-Canadian Exchanges;

d.             at the time trading activity is engaged in, the Applicant:

i.              has its head office or principal place of business in the U.K. and with registered regulated branch offices in the U.S.;

ii.             is authorized and regulated by the FCA;

iii.            is registered in the category of introducing broker with the CFTC;

iv.            is a member of the NFA; and

v.             engages in the business of an introducing broker in Exchange-Traded Futures in the U.K. and U.S.;

e.             the Applicant has provided to the Permitted Client in Ontario the following disclosure in writing:

i.              a statement that the Applicant is not registered in Ontario to trade in Exchange-Traded Futures as principal or agent;

ii.             a statement specifying the location of the Applicant’s head office or principal place of business;

iii.            a statement that all or substantially all of the Applicant’s assets may be situated outside of Canada;

iv.            a statement that there may be difficulty enforcing legal rights against the Applicant because of the above; and

v.             the name and address of the Applicant’s agent for service of process in Ontario;

f.              the Applicant has submitted to the Commission a completed Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Agent for Service in the form attached as Appendix “A” hereto;

g.             the Applicant notifies the Commission of any regulatory action initiated after the date of this ruling in respect of the Applicant, or, to the best of the Applicant’s knowledge and after reasonable inquiry, any predecessors or specified affiliates of the Applicant, by completing and filing with the Commission Appendix “B” hereto within ten days of the commencement of such action;

h.             if the Applicant is not subject to the requirement to pay a participation fee in Ontario because it is not registered under the CFA and does not rely on the IDE, by December 31st of each year, the Applicant pays a participation fee based on its specified Ontario revenues for its previous financial year in compliance with the requirements of Part 3 and section 6.4 of Ontario Securities Commission Rule 13-502 Fees as if the Applicant relied on the IDE;

i.              by December 1st of each year, the Applicant notifies the Commission of its continued reliance on the exemption from the dealer registration requirement in the CFA granted pursuant to this ruling by filing Form 13-502F4 Capital Markets Participation Fee Calculation; and

j.              this Decision will terminate on the earliest of:

i.              six months after the date of registration of the Applicant under the Securities Act (Alberta);

ii.             the expiry of any such transition period as may be provided by law, after the effective date of the repeal of the CFA;

iii.            six months, or such other transition period as may be provided by law, after the coming into force of any amendment to Ontario commodity futures law (as defined in the CFA) or Ontario securities law (as defined in the OSA) that affects the dealer registration requirement in the CFA or the trading restrictions in the CFA; and

iv.            five years after the date of this Decision.

“D. Grant Vingoe”
Vice Chair
Ontario Securities Commission

“Tim Moseley”
Vice Chair
Ontario Securities Commission

APPENDIX A

SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION AND APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR SERVICE

INTERNATIONAL DEALER OR INTERNATIONAL ADVISER EXEMPTED
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE COMMODITY FUTURES ACT, ONTARIO

1.             Name of person or company ("International Firm"):

2.             If the International Firm was previously assigned an NRD number as a registered firm or an unregistered exempt international firm, provide the NRD number of the firm:

3.             Jurisdiction of incorporation of the International Firm:

4.             Head office address of the International Firm:

5.             The name, e-mail address, phone number and fax number of the International Firm's individual(s) responsible for the supervisory procedure of the International Firm, its chief compliance officer, or equivalent.

Name:
E-mail address:
Phone:
Fax:

6.             The International Firm is relying on an exemption order under section 38 or section 80 of the Commodity Futures Act (Ontario) that is similar to the following exemption in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations (the "Relief Order"):

 [] Section 8.18 [international dealer]

 [] Section 8.26 [international adviser]

 [] Other [specify]:

7.             Name of agent for service of process (the "Agent for Service"):

8.             Address for service of process on the Agent for Service:

9.             The International Firm designates and appoints the Agent for Service at the address stated above as its agent upon whom may be served a notice, pleading, subpoena, summons or other process in any action, investigation or administrative, criminal, quasi-criminal or other proceeding (a "Proceeding") arising out of or relating to or concerning the International Firm's activities in the local jurisdiction and irrevocably waives any right to raise as a defence in any such proceeding any alleged lack of jurisdiction to bring such Proceeding.

10.          The International Firm irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative tribunals of the local jurisdiction in any Proceeding arising out of or related to or concerning the International Firm's activities in the local jurisdiction.

11.          Until 6 years after the International Firm ceases to rely on the Relief Order, the International Firm must submit to the regulator

a.             a new Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Agent for Service in this form no later than the 30th day before the date this Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Agent for Service is terminated;

b.             an amended Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Agent for Service no later than the 30th day before any change in the name or above address of the Agent for Service;

c.             a notice detailing a change to any information submitted in this form, other than the name or above address of the Agent for Service, no later than the 30th day after the change.

12.          This Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Agent for Service is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the local jurisdiction.

Dated: _______________

________________________________________________
(Signature of the International Firm or authorized signatory)

________________________________________________
(Name of signatory)

________________________________________________
(Title of signatory)

Acceptance

The undersigned accepts the appointment as Agent for Service of _______________ [Insert name of International Firm] under the terms and conditions of the foregoing Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Agent for Service.

Dated: ____________________

________________________________________________
(Signature of the Agent for Service or authorized signatory)

________________________________________________
(Name of signatory)

________________________________________________
(Title of signatory)

This form, and notice of a change to any information submitted in this form, is to be submitted through the Ontario Securities Commission’s Electronic Filing Portal:

https://www.osc.gov.on.ca/filings

APPENDIX “B”

NOTICE OF REGULATORY ACTION

1.             Has the firm, or any predecessors or specified affiliates of the firm entered into a settlement agreement with any financial services regulator, securities or derivatives exchange, SRO or similar agreement with any financial services regulator, securities or derivatives exchange, SRO or similar organization?

Yes _____ No _____

If yes, provide the following information for each settlement agreement:

2.             Has any financial services regulator, securities or derivatives exchange, SRO or similar organization:

If yes, provide the following information for each action:

3.             Is the firm aware of any ongoing investigation of which the firm or any of its specified affiliates is the subject?

Yes _____ No _____

If yes, provide the following information for each investigation:

Witness

The witness must be a lawyer, notary public or commissioner of oaths.

This form is to be submitted through the Ontario Securities Commission’s Electronic Filing Portal:

https://www.osc.gov.on.ca/filings