Transition Period Under Section 716 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 1306-1307 [2013-00093]

Download as PDF 1306 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 5 / Tuesday, January 8, 2013 / Notices srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with lease. These requirements enable the OCC to ensure that a bank is not holding the property for speculative reasons and that the value of the property is recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Section 23.5 Under 12 CFR 23.5, leases are subject to the lending limits prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 84, as implemented by 12 CFR part 32, or, if the lessee is an affiliate of the bank, to the restrictions on transactions with affiliates prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 371c and 371c–1. See 12 CFR 23.6. Twelve U.S.C. 24 contains two separate provisions authorizing a national bank to acquire personal property for purposes of lease financing. Twelve U.S.C. 24(Seventh) authorizes leases of personal property (Section 24(Seventh) (Leases) if the lease serves as the functional equivalent of a loan. See 12 CFR 23.20. A national bank may also acquire personal property for purposes of lease financing under the authority of 12 U.S.C. 24(Tenth) (CEBA Leases). Section 23.5 requires that if a bank enters into both types of leases, its records must distinguish between the two types of leases. This information is required to prove that the national bank is complying with the limitations and requirements applicable to the two types of leases. National banks use the information to ensure their compliance with applicable Federal banking law and regulations and accounting principles. The OCC uses the information in conducting bank examinations and as an auditing tool to verify bank compliance with laws and regulations. In addition, the OCC uses national bank requests for permission to extend the holding period for off-lease property to ensure national bank compliance with relevant laws and regulations and to ensure bank safety and soundness. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Individuals; Businesses or other for-profit. Estimated Number of Respondents: 370. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 370. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 685. The OCC published this collection for 60 days of comment on October 5, 2012 (77 FR 61050). No comments were received. Comments continue to be invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:11 Jan 07, 2013 Jkt 229001 (b) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. Dated: January 2, 2013. Michele Meyer, Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division. [FR Doc. 2013–00091 Filed 1–7–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–33–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency [Docket ID OCC–2013–0001] Transition Period Under Section 716 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury. ACTION: Notice of guidance. AGENCY: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is notifying insured Federal depository institutions 1 that are or may become swap dealers that the OCC is prepared to consider favorably requests for a transition period pursuant to section 716(f) of the DoddFrank Act, provided that such requests conform to the procedures and conditions established in this notice. DATES: This guidance is effective immediately. Written requests for transition periods should be submitted to the OCC by January 31, 2013. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roman Goldstein, Senior Attorney, Ted Dowd, Assistant Director, or Ellen Broadman, Director, Securities and Corporate Practices Division, (202) 649– 5510, 400 7th St. SW., Washington, DC 20219. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: 1 Insured Federal depository institution means an entity that is a Federal depository institution and an insured depository institution under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. See 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2) and (4). National banks, Federal savings associations and insured Federal Branches are insured Federal depository institutions. PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 A. Background Section 716 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) prohibits providing Federal assistance to swaps entities, a term that includes Federal depository institutions 2 that are swap dealers.3 The prohibition does not apply to insured depository institutions that limit their swap activities to those activities specified in section 716(d) (conforming swap activities). The OCC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) jointly issued guidance that section 716’s effective date is July 16, 2013.4 Section 716(f) provides that the appropriate Federal banking agency shall permit a transition period, as appropriate, for insured depository institution swap entities to divest or cease nonconforming swap activities.5 The prohibition on Federal assistance does not apply during this transition period. The transition period, which begins on the effective date, initially may be up to 24 months, as determined by the insured depository institution’s appropriate Federal banking agency 6 in consultation with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The appropriate Federal banking agency, after consulting with the CFTC and SEC, may extend the transition period for up to one additional year. In establishing the length of a transition period for an insured depository institution, the appropriate Federal banking agency must take into account and make written findings regarding the potential impact of the divestiture or cessation of nonconforming swap activities on the institution’s (1) mortgage lending, (2) small business lending, (3) job creation, and (4) capital formation versus the potential negative impact on insured depositors and the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). The appropriate Federal banking agency may consider such other factors as it deems appropriate. 2 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(4). as otherwise specified, this notice refers to both swaps and security-based swaps as swaps, and both swap dealers and security-based swap dealers as swap dealers. 4 Guidance on the Effective Date of Section 716, 77 FR 27465 (May 10, 2012). 5 See Dodd-Frank Act section 716(f), 15 U.S.C. 8305(f). 6 The OCC is the appropriate Federal banking agency of Federal depository institutions. 12 U.S.C. 1813(q)(1). 3 Except E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 5 / Tuesday, January 8, 2013 / Notices B. Transition Period srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with For the following reasons, the OCC has concluded that transition periods should be provided to insured Federal depository institutions to provide sufficient opportunity for institutions to conform their swaps activities in an orderly manner. First, section 716 assumes a regulatory framework that is not yet complete. Further development of the Title VII regulatory framework is necessary for insured Federal depository institutions to make well-informed determinations concerning business restructurings that may be necessary for section 716 conformance.7 Second, the provision of transition periods while the Title VII regulatory framework continues to develop will provide regulatory certainty for insured Federal depository institutions in the near term and will mitigate potential disruptions to client services.8 Third, transition periods will mitigate operational and credit risks for insured Federal depository institutions.9 Section 716 anticipates that transition periods will be provided to avoid unwanted adverse consequences from premature implementation of section 716. For the reasons discussed above, the OCC believes that implementation of section 716 without transition periods would cause unwanted adverse consequences and that transition periods therefore are appropriate. Accordingly, an insured Federal depository institution that is or will be a swaps entity and that seeks a transition period for its nonconforming swaps activities should formally request 7 Furthermore, mandatory clearing rules are not in place for many standardized credit default swaps (CDS) and the market has not moved to cleared CDS for a variety of products. Section 716(d)(3) provides that an insured depository institution may act as a swaps entity for CDS if they are cleared. 8 The Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently exempted certain swap dealers from certain requirements imposed by title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act in order to ensure an orderly transition to the new regulatory regime and to provide greater legal certainty to market participants. Final Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulation, at 58 (Dec. 21, 2012), available at https://www.cftc.gov/ ucm/groups/public/@newsroom/documents/file/ federalregister122112.pdf. 9 Transition periods will provide appropriate time for institutions to negotiate and document new master swap agreements individually with each of their clients, customers, and counterparties as necessary for section 716 conformance. Additionally, a transition period will provide more time for the transfer of non-conforming swaps activities to affiliates, including in some cases the establishment of new affiliates entailing requisite regulatory approvals from the SEC, CFTC, and state authorities, and in all cases the transfer of backoffice functions and the making of necessary arrangements for the custody of customer margin collateral. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:11 Jan 07, 2013 Jkt 229001 a transition period from the OCC.10 The OCC is prepared to consider such requests favorably, provided that the requests conform to the guidance provided below. Each request must be written and specify the transition period appropriate to the institution, up to a two-year transition period commencing from July 16, 2013. The request must also discuss: 1. The institution’s plan for conforming its swap activities; 2. How the requested transition period would mitigate adverse effects on mortgage lending, small business lending, job creation, and capital formation; 3. The extent to which the requested transition period could have a negative impact on the institution’s insured depositors and the DIF; 4. Operational risks and other safety and soundness concerns that a transition period would mitigate. 5. Other facts that the institution believes the OCC should consider. An insured Federal depository institution that is unsure if or when it will be or become a swaps entity may request a transition period. The request must contain the elements described above and additionally explain why the institution believes it might be or become a swaps entity under the CFTC’s definition of swap dealer or the SEC’s definition of security-based swap dealer.11 The OCC may require a requesting insured Federal depository institution to provide additional information before establishing a transition period. The OCC may impose such conditions on a transition period as it deems necessary and appropriate.12 Authority: 15 U.S.C. 8305. Dated: December 31, 2012. Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency. [FR Doc. 2013–00093 Filed 1–7–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY United States Mint Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records AGENCY: United States Mint, Treasury. 10 An insured depository institution whose swap activities are presently limited to conforming swap activities is not eligible for a transition period because it would not be subject to the prohibition on Federal assistance. See Dodd-Frank Act section 716(f), 15 U.S.C. 8305(f). 11 See Further Definition of Swap Dealer, 77 FR 30595 (May 23, 2012). 12 See Dodd-Frank Act section 716(f), 15 U.S.C. 8305(f). PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ACTION: 1307 Notice of systems of records. In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the United States Mint, Treasury, is publishing its inventory of Privacy Act systems of records. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Circular No. A–130, the United States Mint has completed a review of its Privacy Act systems of records notices to identify changes that will more accurately describe these records. The systems of records were last published in their entirety on July 22, 2008, at 73 FR 42662–42670. The changes throughout the document are editorial in nature and reflect non-substantive updates to the United States Mint’s management and retention of records. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Systems Covered by This Notice This notice covers all systems of records maintained by the United States Mint as of January 8, 2013. The system notices are reprinted in their entirety following the Table of Contents. Veronica Marco, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Privacy, Transparency, and Records. Table of Contents United States Mint UNITED STATES MINT .001—Cash Receivable Accounting Information System. UNITED STATES MINT .003—Employee and Former Employee Travel and Training Accounting Information System. UNITED STATES MINT .004—Occupational Safety and Health, Accident and Injury Records, and Claims for Injuries or Damage Compensation Records. UNITED STATES MINT .005—EmployeeSupervisor Performance Evaluation, Counseling, and Time and Attendance Records. UNITED STATES MINT .007—General Correspondence. UNITED STATES MINT .008—Employee Background Investigations Files. UNITED STATES MINT .009—Retail Sales System (RSS); Customer Mailing List; Order Processing Records for Coin Sets, Medals and Numismatic Items; Records of Undelivered Orders; and Product Descriptions, Availability and Inventory. UNITED STATES MINT .012—Union and Agency Negotiated Grievances; Adverse Personnel Actions; Discrimination Complaints; Complaints and Actions before Arbitrators, Administrative Tribunals and Courts (Third Parties). United States Mint E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1306-1307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00093]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

[Docket ID OCC-2013-0001]

Transition Period Under Section 716 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the
Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of guidance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is
notifying insured Federal depository institutions \1\ that are or may
become swap dealers that the OCC is prepared to consider favorably
requests for a transition period pursuant to section 716(f) of the
Dodd-Frank Act, provided that such requests conform to the procedures
and conditions established in this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ Insured Federal depository institution means an entity that
is a Federal depository institution and an insured depository
institution under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. See 12 U.S.C.
1813(c)(2) and (4). National banks, Federal savings associations and
insured Federal Branches are insured Federal depository
institutions.

DATES: This guidance is effective immediately. Written requests for
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
transition periods should be submitted to the OCC by January 31, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roman Goldstein, Senior Attorney, Ted
Dowd, Assistant Director, or Ellen Broadman, Director, Securities and
Corporate Practices Division, (202) 649-5510, 400 7th St. SW.,
Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

Section 716 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) prohibits providing Federal assistance
to swaps entities, a term that includes Federal depository institutions
\2\ that are swap dealers.\3\ The prohibition does not apply to insured
depository institutions that limit their swap activities to those
activities specified in section 716(d) (conforming swap activities).
The OCC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) jointly issued guidance
that section 716's effective date is July 16, 2013.\4\
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\2\ 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(4).
\3\ Except as otherwise specified, this notice refers to both
swaps and security-based swaps as swaps, and both swap dealers and
security-based swap dealers as swap dealers.
\4\ Guidance on the Effective Date of Section 716, 77 FR 27465
(May 10, 2012).
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Section 716(f) provides that the appropriate Federal banking agency
shall permit a transition period, as appropriate, for insured
depository institution swap entities to divest or cease nonconforming
swap activities.\5\ The prohibition on Federal assistance does not
apply during this transition period. The transition period, which
begins on the effective date, initially may be up to 24 months, as
determined by the insured depository institution's appropriate Federal
banking agency \6\ in consultation with the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The
appropriate Federal banking agency, after consulting with the CFTC and
SEC, may extend the transition period for up to one additional year.
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\5\ See Dodd-Frank Act section 716(f), 15 U.S.C. 8305(f).
\6\ The OCC is the appropriate Federal banking agency of Federal
depository institutions. 12 U.S.C. 1813(q)(1).
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In establishing the length of a transition period for an insured
depository institution, the appropriate Federal banking agency must
take into account and make written findings regarding the potential
impact of the divestiture or cessation of nonconforming swap activities
on the institution's (1) mortgage lending, (2) small business lending,
(3) job creation, and (4) capital formation versus the potential
negative impact on insured depositors and the FDIC's Deposit Insurance
Fund (DIF). The appropriate Federal banking agency may consider such
other factors as it deems appropriate.

[[Page 1307]]

B. Transition Period

For the following reasons, the OCC has concluded that transition
periods should be provided to insured Federal depository institutions
to provide sufficient opportunity for institutions to conform their
swaps activities in an orderly manner. First, section 716 assumes a
regulatory framework that is not yet complete. Further development of
the Title VII regulatory framework is necessary for insured Federal
depository institutions to make well-informed determinations concerning
business restructurings that may be necessary for section 716
conformance.\7\ Second, the provision of transition periods while the
Title VII regulatory framework continues to develop will provide
regulatory certainty for insured Federal depository institutions in the
near term and will mitigate potential disruptions to client
services.\8\ Third, transition periods will mitigate operational and
credit risks for insured Federal depository institutions.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\7\ Furthermore, mandatory clearing rules are not in place for
many standardized credit default swaps (CDS) and the market has not
moved to cleared CDS for a variety of products. Section 716(d)(3)
provides that an insured depository institution may act as a swaps
entity for CDS if they are cleared.
\8\ The Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently exempted
certain swap dealers from certain requirements imposed by title VII
of the Dodd-Frank Act in order to ensure an orderly transition to
the new regulatory regime and to provide greater legal certainty to
market participants. Final Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with
Certain Swap Regulation, at 58 (Dec. 21, 2012), available at https://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@newsroom/documents/file/federalregister122112.pdf.
\9\ Transition periods will provide appropriate time for
institutions to negotiate and document new master swap agreements
individually with each of their clients, customers, and
counterparties as necessary for section 716 conformance.
Additionally, a transition period will provide more time for the
transfer of non-conforming swaps activities to affiliates, including
in some cases the establishment of new affiliates entailing
requisite regulatory approvals from the SEC, CFTC, and state
authorities, and in all cases the transfer of back-office functions
and the making of necessary arrangements for the custody of customer
margin collateral.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 716 anticipates that transition periods will be provided to
avoid unwanted adverse consequences from premature implementation of
section 716. For the reasons discussed above, the OCC believes that
implementation of section 716 without transition periods would cause
unwanted adverse consequences and that transition periods therefore are
appropriate. Accordingly, an insured Federal depository institution
that is or will be a swaps entity and that seeks a transition period
for its nonconforming swaps activities should formally request a
transition period from the OCC.\10\ The OCC is prepared to consider
such requests favorably, provided that the requests conform to the
guidance provided below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\10\ An insured depository institution whose swap activities are
presently limited to conforming swap activities is not eligible for
a transition period because it would not be subject to the
prohibition on Federal assistance. See Dodd-Frank Act section
716(f), 15 U.S.C. 8305(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Each request must be written and specify the transition period
appropriate to the institution, up to a two-year transition period
commencing from July 16, 2013. The request must also discuss:
1. The institution's plan for conforming its swap activities;
2. How the requested transition period would mitigate adverse
effects on mortgage lending, small business lending, job creation, and
capital formation;
3. The extent to which the requested transition period could have a
negative impact on the institution's insured depositors and the DIF;
4. Operational risks and other safety and soundness concerns that a
transition period would mitigate.
5. Other facts that the institution believes the OCC should
consider.

An insured Federal depository institution that is unsure if or when it
will be or become a swaps entity may request a transition period. The
request must contain the elements described above and additionally
explain why the institution believes it might be or become a swaps
entity under the CFTC's definition of swap dealer or the SEC's
definition of security-based swap dealer.\11\ The OCC may require a
requesting insured Federal depository institution to provide additional
information before establishing a transition period. The OCC may impose
such conditions on a transition period as it deems necessary and
appropriate.\12\
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\11\ See Further Definition of Swap Dealer, 77 FR 30595 (May 23,
2012).
\12\ See Dodd-Frank Act section 716(f), 15 U.S.C. 8305(f).(

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Authority: 15 U.S.C. 8305.

Dated: December 31, 2012.
Thomas J. Curry,
Comptroller of the Currency.
[FR Doc. 2013-00093 Filed 1-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

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