Assessment of ASX Clearing and Settlement Facilities Appendix C1. Financial Stability Standards for Central Counterparties

Standard 10: Physical deliveries

A central counterparty should clearly state its obligations with respect to the delivery of physical instruments or commodities and should identify, monitor and manage the risks associated with such physical deliveries.

ASX Clear did not clear any contracts with physical delivery obligations during the assessment period. The Bank has concluded that CCP Standard 10 does not apply to ASX Clear.

10.1 A central counterparty's rules should clearly state its obligations with respect to the delivery of physical instruments or commodities.

In some cases, the settlement of derivatives contracts cleared by ASX Clear (Futures) involves the transfer of a security or physical asset. Examples of contracts that require delivery of physical instruments or commodities are wheat and other grain futures, and renewable energy certificates. ASX Clear (Futures)' Operating Rules and Procedures clearly state its obligations with respect to physical delivery.

10.2 A central counterparty should identify, monitor and manage the risks and costs associated with the storage and delivery of physical instruments or commodities.

ASX Clear (Futures)' Operating Rules and Procedures define detailed mandatory arrangements for delivery of physical assets. Deliveries of commodities must follow a maturity calendar, approved warehouses and locations, guides for buyers and sellers, and rules for delivery documentation (including appropriate certification).

ASX Clear (Futures) mitigates the risks associated with physical delivery by minimising its involvement in the storage and delivery process. Participants that have delivery obligations are matched with those due to receive the commodities or documents, and any legal recourse of the receiving participant in respect of the delivered goods is to the delivering participant. Participants may cash settle contracts in the event of a default by the delivering party.

ASX Clear (Futures) nevertheless monitors and enforces compliance with delivery procedures. In particular, there is regular monitoring of deliveries by Post Trade Operations in the lead up to expiry, including a daily review and reconciliation of contracts versus holdings via a physical position reconciliation report. Overnight reporting to participants occurs on current commodity holdings. ASX Clear (Futures) communicates directly with participants to confirm their intentions on delivery and lodgement of physical assets. In addition, compliance reviews are undertaken on targeted topics, as well as ad hoc compliance investigations arising from referrals from ASX's operations areas. These compliance checks aim to ensure that participants have the necessary systems and resources to be able to fulfil their physical delivery obligations.