CFTC and NFA Regulatory Reminders and Annual Overview for Commodity Pool Operators and Commodity Trading Advisors

This memo summarizes certain Commodity Futures Trading Commission and National Futures Association annual regulatory requirements and common practice concerns impacting commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors. 

Annual CPO and CTA Affirmation Window Is Open

The CFTC requires each entity or person claiming an exemption from CPO registration under CFTC Rule 4.13(a)(1), 4.13(a)(2), 4.13(a)(3), 4.13(a)(5), an exclusion from CPO registration under CFTC Rule 4.5 or an exemption from CTA registration under CFTC Rule 4.14(a)(8) to affirm, on an annual basis, whether such exemption or exclusion is or remains applicable.  Affirmation filings are due within 60 days after the calendar year end.  The annual affirmation filings may be made at this time by accessing NFA’s Exemptions System, and must be made no later than March 1, 2023.

Relatedly, each CPO reaffirming an exemption under Rule 4.13(a)(1), 4.13(a)(2), 4.13(a)(3) and 4.13(a)(5) will be required to attest that neither the CPO nor any of its principals would be subject to any statutory disqualifications listed under section 8a(2) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Failure to affirm an active exemption or exclusion from CPO or CTA registration will result in its withdrawal on March 2, 2023.

NFA Self-Examination Questionnaire and NFA Bylaw 1101 Diligence

Each NFA Member is required to conduct an annual review of its business, including a review of the firm’s compliance with NFA Bylaw 1101.  Such NFA Member must review its operations in accordance with the most recent and relevant NFA Self-Examination Questionnaire.  In reviewing its business, each NFA Member should perform any necessary diligence to ensure compliance with NFA Bylaw 1101.  That bylaw prohibits an NFA Member from doing business with a person that should be registered with the CFTC, but is not.  Relatedly, each NFA Member should confirm that any CPO or CTA with which it is doing business has reaffirmed any of the applicable exemptions or exclusions described above.

NFA Survey of Common Deficiencies

Earlier this year, NFA released a survey of common deficiencies and highlighted the following requirements:

• Self-Examination Questionnaire—As described above, NFA Members are required to review their business on an annual basis, and in accordance with the most recent Self-Examination Questionnaire available on NFA’s website;
• Third-Party Service Providers—In accordance with NFA Interpretive Notice 9079, NFA Members must adopt and implement written policies and a supervisory framework designed to provide oversight with respect to any third-party service provider to which an NFA Member outsources a regulatory function. NFA Members are also required to maintain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this supervisory requirement, and are expected to conduct ongoing diligence, on a periodic basis, of such service providers;[1]
• Cybersecurity—NFA Members are required to establish and maintain a written information security program, or ISSP, governing a firm’s cybersecurity protocol. Additionally, NFA Members must notify NFA upon the occurrence of certain cyber-related incidents via NFA’s Cyber Notice Filing System. Cybersecurity training is required for employees both upon hiring and on an annual basis;
• Pool Financial Reporting; Notification Requirements—NFA highlighted a number of notice reporting requirements for NFA Members, including: (i) a CPO’s notice obligation with respect to a distress event in accordance with NFA Compliance Rule 2-50, (ii) changes in fiscal year end (for a year end other than the calendar year end), (iii) changes in the CPO’s independent CPA that has been engaged to audit pool financial statements, (iv) extension requests with respect to filing a pool’s financial statement, and (v) notices regarding a pool’s cessation of trading, including an update to the Annual Questionnaire and a final audit filing; and
• Calculation of Financial Ratios—NFA provided a reminder that CPOs and CTAs must use the accrual method of accounting and GAAP (or another internationally recognized accounting standard) when computing financial ratios.