Restrictions on Sale of Assets by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 63580-63585 [2014-25337]

Agencies

• FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63580-63585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25337]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 206 / Friday, October 24, 2014 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 63580]]



FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 340

RIN 3064-AE26


Restrictions on Sale of Assets by the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation

AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is proposing 
to amend our regulations. Part 340 implements section 11(p) of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Under section 11(p), individuals or 
entities whose acts or omissions have, or may have, contributed to the 
failure of an insured depository institution cannot buy the assets of 
that failed insured depository institution from the FDIC. The proposed 
revisions to part 340 will help to clarify its purpose, scope and 
applicability, and will make it more consistent in our regulations, the 
parallel provision in the FDIC's Orderly Liquidation Authority 
regulations that implements section 210(r) of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act by placing restrictions on 
sales of assets of a covered financial company by the FDIC. Sections of 
part 340 became effective on July 1, 2014.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the FDIC not later than 
December 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Agency Web site: https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/. Follow instructions for submitting comments on the Agency Web 
site.
     E-Mail: Comments@FDIC.gov. Include ``RIN 3064-AE26'' in 
the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attention: 
Comments, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20429.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Guard station at the rear of the 
550 17th Street Building (located on F Street) on business days between 
7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EDT).
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Public Inspection: All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/ 
including any personal information provided. Paper copies of public 
comments may be ordered from the Public Information Center by telephone 
at 703-562-2200 or 1-877-275-3342.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James D. Sigler, Resolutions & 
Receiverships Specialist, 202-898-3871; Craig Rice, Senior Capital 
Markets Specialist, Division of Resolutions and Receiverships, 202-898-
3501; Elizabeth Falloon, Supervisory Counsel, Legal Division, 703-562-
6148; Shane Kiernan, Counsel, Legal Division, 703-562-2632; Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20429.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The FDIC promulgated part 340 in 2000 to implement section 11(p) of 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1821(p) (section 11(p)). 
Under section 11(p), individuals or entities whose acts or omissions 
have, or may have, contributed to the failure of an insured depository 
institution (failed institution) cannot buy the assets of that failed 
institution from the FDIC. The FDIC expanded the purchaser eligibility 
restriction as permitted by statute when it promulgated part 340 by 
precluding such individuals or entities from purchasing the assets of 
any failed institution, not only the particular institution affected by 
the actions of those individuals or entities. As provided in section 
11(p), part 340 also prohibits the sale of assets involving FDIC 
financing to certain persons who have defaulted on obligations of $1 
million or more, in aggregate, owed to a failed insured depository 
institution or the FDIC and who have made fraudulent misrepresentations 
in connection with any of those obligations. Compliance with part 340 
is established through a self-certification process by which a 
prospective purchaser certifies that it is eligible to purchase an 
asset from the FDIC and that the FDIC's sale of an asset to that 
prospective purchaser would not be restricted under section 11(p) or 
part 340.
    In March of this year the FDIC promulgated section 380.13 to 
implement section 210(r) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act, 12 U.S.C. 5390(r) (section 210(r)). Section 
210(r) prohibits certain sales of assets held by the FDIC in the course 
of liquidating a covered financial company. Because section 210(r) and 
section 11(p) share substantially similar statutory language, part 340 
served as a model for the development of section 380.13. While many 
aspects of part 340 were included in section 380.13, FDIC staff 
identified new or different concepts to include in section 380.13 that 
were not already in part 340. Several of these concepts, if 
incorporated into part 340, would improve part 340 and make it more 
consistent with section 380.13.

II. Proposal

    The FDIC proposes to amend part 340 in a number of ways. Some of 
the amendments are significant, substantive changes and others are non-
substantive, technical or conforming changes. This discussion in this 
supplemental information section addresses the substantive changes 
suggested by the FDIC in this proposed rulemaking.
    Paragraph 340.1(b) sets forth the purpose of part 340. The FDIC 
proposes to amend the purpose because it believes part 340 should 
extend the restrictions on sales of assets of a failed institution to 
individuals or entities who are also precluded from purchasing assets 
of a covered financial company from the FDIC under section 210(r) and 
section 380.13. This would ensure consistency among part 340 and 
section 380.13. Under section 380.13, individuals or entities 
prohibited from purchasing assets of a failed institution under part 
340 are also prohibited from purchasing assets of a covered financial 
company under section 380.13. Likewise, individuals or entities 
prohibited from purchasing assets of a covered financial company under 
section 380.13 should be prohibited from purchasing assets of a failed 
institution under part 340.
    The FDIC is proposing three changes to clarify part 340's scope of 
coverage, which is set forth in paragraph 340.1(c). First, the FDIC 
proposes to clarify the applicability of part 340 to sales of

[[Page 63581]]

assets by a subsidiary of a failed institution or by a bridge 
depository institution. Sales of assets of a failed institution's 
subsidiary or a bridge depository institution are not expressly subject 
to section 11(p) because such assets are not ``assets of a failed 
institution'' that are being sold ``by the Corporation,'' and thus 
would fall outside the scope of the statutory restrictions on asset 
sales. The FDIC believes, however, that if it has the right to control 
the terms of a sale of assets of a failed institution's subsidiary or a 
bridge depository institution, or has the ability to control selection 
of the purchaser of those assets under an agency agreement or as 
shareholder, the restrictions set forth in section 11(p) and part 340 
should apply. The FDIC has discretionary authority to expand the scope 
of coverage because section 11(p) sets the minimum requirements for 
restrictions on sales of assets, and the FDIC may prescribe further 
restrictions on its own accord. Under the FDIC's proposed revision of 
part 340, the restrictions on asset sales would apply to sales of 
assets of a failed institution's subsidiary or a bridge depository 
institution if the FDIC controls the terms of the sale by agreement or 
as shareholder.
    Second, the FDIC proposes amending section 340.1 to explicitly 
state that part 340 does not apply to certain types of transactions 
involving marketable securities and other financial instruments. Under 
proposed paragraph (e), a sale of a security or a group or index of 
securities, a commodity, or any qualified financial contract that 
customarily is traded through a financial intermediary and where the 
seller cannot control selection of the purchaser and the sale is 
consummated through that customary practice would not be covered by 
part 340. For example, if the FDIC were to sell publicly-traded stocks 
or bonds that the failed institution held, it might engage a broker or 
custodian to conduct or facilitate the sale. The broker or custodian 
would then tender the securities to the market and accept prevailing 
market terms offered by another broker, a specialist, a central 
counterparty or a similar financial intermediary who would then sell 
the security to another purchaser. In this scenario, it is not possible 
for the FDIC to control selection of the end purchaser at the time of 
sale. Therefore, the transaction cannot be a sale covered by section 
11(p) because the FDIC has no way to select the prospective purchaser 
or determine whether that purchaser would or would not be prohibited 
from purchasing the asset. Moreover, a prospective purchaser of such 
assets will not be able to select the FDIC as the seller and therefore 
could not determine whether section 11(p) and part 340 apply to the 
transaction. The FDIC is proposing to define the term ``financial 
intermediary,'' for the purposes of part 340, in section 340.2 as 
discussed below. The FDIC anticipates that this express limitation on 
the scope of part 340's coverage will provide greater certainty to 
market participants and FDIC staff who conduct asset sales regarding 
the applicability of section 11(p) and part 340.
    Third, the FDIC proposes to clarify in section 340.1 that part 340 
is not applicable to a judicial sale or a trustee's sale of property 
securing an obligation to the FDIC where the sale is not conducted or 
controlled by the FDIC. Although the FDIC could have a security 
interest in property serving as collateral and therefore the authority 
to initiate a foreclosure action, the selection of the purchaser and 
terms of the sale are not necessarily within the FDIC's control. 
Rather, a court or trustee would conduct the sale in accordance with 
applicable state law and would select the purchaser. In this situation, 
the sale is not a sale by the FDIC. While the plain language of part 
340 does not suggest that such a sale would fall within its scope, the 
FDIC is proposing this change for the sake of clarity. This exception 
does not affect sales of collateral by the FDIC where the FDIC is in 
possession of the property and conducts the sale itself, however. Where 
the FDIC has control over the manner and terms of the sale, it will 
require the prospective purchaser's certification that the prospective 
purchaser is not prohibited from purchasing the asset.
    Section 340.2 sets forth definitions for certain terms used in part 
340. The FDIC is proposing to revise the definition of ``associated 
person'' to include limited liability companies of which an individual 
is a member (or was a member at the time of the occurrence of any event 
that would result in a restriction on sale as set forth in section 
340.4) if the prospective purchaser of assets is an individual and, if 
the prospective purchaser is a limited liability company, to include 
the manager of the limited liability company. The FDIC is proposing to 
revise the definition of ``failed institution'' to remove reference to 
entities ``owned and controlled'' by the failed institution because the 
revision to paragraph 340.1(c), discussed above, explicitly states that 
sales of subsidiary assets are covered under part 340 if the FDIC 
controls the terms of the sale by agreement or in its role as 
shareholder. Additionally, references to the Resolution Trust 
Corporation and RTC are removed in favor of generically referencing the 
FDIC's predecessor agencies.
    The FDIC is also proposing to add a new term for use in part 340, 
``financial intermediary,'' and define that term to mean any broker, 
dealer, bank, underwriter, exchange, clearing agency registered with 
the SEC under section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
transfer agent (as defined in section 3(a)(25) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934), central counterparty or any other entity whose 
role is to facilitate a transaction by, as a riskless intermediary, 
purchasing a security or qualified financial contract from one 
counterparty and then selling it to another. This definition is used to 
identify transactions of marketable financial instruments set forth in 
section 340.1(c) that the FDIC believes should not be covered by 
section 11(p) or part 340.
    Section 340.4 sets forth the conditions under which a person 
(whether an individual or entity) is prohibited from acquiring assets 
of a failed institution from the FDIC. Those conditions are: (1) The 
person, or its associated person, participated as an officer or 
director of a failed institution or of an affiliate of a failed 
institution, ``in a material way in a transaction that caused a 
substantial loss to the failed institution'' (as defined in paragraph 
(b) of section 340.4); (2) the person, or its associated person, has 
been removed from a failed institution by order of a primary federal 
regulatory agency; (3) the person, or its associated person, has 
engaged in a ``pattern or practice of defalcation'' (as defined in 
paragraph (c) of section 340.4) with respect to obligations owed to a 
failed institution; or (4) the person, or its associated person, has 
committed a certain criminal offense against a financial institution 
and is in default on an obligation owed by that person or its 
associated person. The FDIC proposes adding a fifth restriction: If the 
person is prohibited from purchasing assets of a covered financial 
company from the FDIC. As explained above, the FDIC believes part 340 
should also restrict sales of assets of a failed institution to 
individuals or entities who are also prohibited from purchasing assets 
of a covered financial company from the FDIC under section 210(r) and 
section 380.13. This would ensure consistent treatment of prospective 
purchasers of assets from the FDIC, whether such assets are assets of a 
covered financial company or of a failed institution.

[[Page 63582]]

    The FDIC is proposing to amend paragraph (a) of section 340.7, 
which sets forth the requirement that a prospective purchaser certify 
that none of the restrictions set forth in part 340 apply to the sale, 
by adding a sentence stating that the person must also certify that it 
is not using a straw purchaser or other subterfuge to allow it to 
purchase an asset of an insured depository institution from the FDIC or 
benefit from such transaction if such person would otherwise be 
ineligible to purchase assets from the FDIC under part 340. The FDIC's 
form certification (the ``Purchaser Eligibility Certification,'' FDIC 
Form 7300/06) already includes a statement under which a prospective 
purchaser certifies that neither the identity nor form of the 
prospective purchaser, nor any aspect of the contemplated transaction, 
has been created or altered with the intent, in whole or in part, to 
allow an individual or entity who otherwise would be ineligible to 
purchase assets of a failed institution from the FDIC to benefit 
directly or indirectly from the sale. The FDIC believes that part 340 
would be strengthened by explicitly stating this requirement in the 
regulatory text itself as well as in the Purchaser Eligibility 
Certification.
    The FDIC is proposing to amend paragraph (b) of section 340.7, 
which excepts certain types of entities that are federal agencies or 
instrumentalities and states or political subdivisions of states from 
the self-certification requirement, by including bridge depository 
institutions among the list of excepted entities. The FDIC believes it 
is reasonable to presume a bridge depository institution will be in 
compliance with part 340 because such entity is subject to control or 
oversight by the FDIC.
    Finally, the FDIC is proposing to amend section 340.8, which 
provides that part 340 does not apply if the sale resolves or settles a 
person's obligation to the FDIC, to also except a sale that resolves a 
claim that the FDIC has asserted against a person. This is not intended 
to be a substantive change but to more closely track section 11(p), 
which excepts sales that resolve or settle either claims or 
obligations. This proposed change would ensure that the regulation 
cites both bases for exception set forth in the statute. It would also 
ensure consistency with the equivalent provision in paragraph 
(a)(2)(vi) of section 380.13.
    The FDIC's proposed changes to part 340 will clarify the 
restrictions on sales of assets of failed institutions by the FDIC and 
will ensure consistency among part 340 and section 380.13, which will 
allow the FDIC to more efficiently administer the two rules and will 
help the public better understand the two rules. Because the proposed 
substantive amendments and technical and conforming changes are 
extensive, the FDIC proposes to revise and restate the text of part 340 
in full rather than prepare fragmentary amendments.

III. Request for Comments

    The FDIC requests comments on any of the changes that it is 
proposing to make. All comments must be received by the FDIC not later 
than December 23, 2014.

IV. Regulatory Analysis and Procedure

A. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) (PRA), the FDIC may not conduct or 
sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The FDIC has developed a 
purchaser eligibility certification form for use in establishing 
compliance with part 340 by a prospective purchaser of assets of a 
failed institution from the FDIC. The certification is an OMB-approved 
collection of information under the PRA, 3064-0135. The FDIC expects 
that the net PRA burden estimates of this collection will not be 
materially affected by this NPR. Any subsequent changes to the form 
will be submitted by the FDIC to OMB for review and approval.
    1. Information Collection
    Title of Information Collection: Purchaser Eligibility 
Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 3064-0135.
    Form Number: FDIC Form 7300/06.
    Affected Public: Prospective purchasers of failed insured 
depository institution assets.
    Frequency of Response: Event generated.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1500.
    Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 750 hours.
    2. Comments are invited on:
     Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the FDIC's functions, including whether the 
information has practical utility;
     The accuracy of the estimates of the burden of the 
information collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection 
on respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    All comments will become a matter of public record. Commenters may 
submit comments on the information collection and burden estimates at 
the addresses listed under the ADDRESSES heading above; please put note 
the OMB Control Number, 3064-0135, on the subject line. A copy of the 
comments may also be submitted to the attention of the OMB desk officer 
for the FDIC; by mail to U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW., #10235, Washington, DC 20503; by facsimile to 202-395-6974; 
or by email to: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires an 
agency that is issuing a proposed rulemaking to prepare and make 
available an initial regulatory flexibility analysis of a proposed 
regulation. The Regulatory Flexibility Act provides, however, that an 
agency is not required to prepare and publish a regulatory flexibility 
analysis if the agency certifies that the proposed rulemaking will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The FDIC hereby certifies pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that 
the proposed rulemaking would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    Under regulations issued by the Small Business Administration (13 
CFR 121.201), a ``small entity'' includes those firms in the ``Finance 
and Insurance'' sector whose size varies from $7.5 million or less in 
assets (mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers) to $550 million or less 
in assets (commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and 
others). This proposed rulemaking imposes no new burden on prospective 
purchasers of assets sold by the FDIC. The requirement that a 
prospective purchaser complete and submit the Purchaser Eligibility 
Certification described above is a precondition to sale that is already 
required. Completion of the Purchaser Eligibility Certification does 
not require the use of professional skills or the preparation of 
special reports or records and should continue to have minimal economic 
impact on those individuals and entities that seek to purchase assets 
from the FDIC. Thus, the FDIC believes that any impact on small 
entities will not be substantial.

[[Page 63583]]

C. Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-102, 
113 Stat. 1338, 1471) requires the Federal banking agencies to use 
plain language in all proposed and final rules published after January 
1, 2000. The FDIC has sought to present the proposed rulemaking in a 
simple and straightforward manner. The FDIC invites comments on whether 
the proposed rulemaking is clearly stated and effectively organized, 
and how the FDIC might make the proposed rulemaking text easier to 
understand.

Text of the Proposed Rule

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

    12 CFR Chapter III

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 340

    Asset disposition, Banks, Banking.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Board of Directors of 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation proposes to amend part 340 of 
title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 340--RESTRICTIONS ON SALE OF ASSETS BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT 
INSURANCE CORPORATION

0
1. Revise the title to read PART 340--RESTRICTIONS ON SALE OF ASSETS OF 
A FAILED INSTITUTION BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

0
2. The authority citation for part 340 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1819 (Tenth), 1821(p).

0
3. Revise part 340 to read as follows:

Sec.
340.1 What is the statutory authority for the regulation, what are 
its purpose and scope, and can the FDIC have other policies on 
related topics?
340.2 Definitions.
340.3 What are the restrictions on the sale of assets by the FDIC if 
the buyer wants to finance the purchase with a loan from the FDIC?
340.4 What are the restrictions on the sale of assets by the FDIC 
regardless of the method of financing?
340.5 Can the FDIC deny a loan to a buyer who is not disqualified 
from purchasing assets using seller-financing under this regulation?
340.6 What is the effect of this part on transactions that were 
entered into before its effective date?
340.7 When is a certification required, and who does not have to 
provide a certification?
340.8 Does this part apply in the case of a workout, resolution, or 
settlement of obligations?


Sec.  340.1  What is the statutory authority for the regulation, what 
are its purpose and scope, and can the FDIC have other policies on 
related topics?

    (a) Authority. The statutory authority for adopting this part is 
section 11(p) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act), 12 U.S.C. 
1821(p). Section 11(p) was added to the FDI Act by section 20 of the 
Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act (Pub. L. 103-204, 107 Stat. 
2369 (1993)).
    (b) Purpose. The purpose of this part is to prohibit individuals or 
entities that improperly profited or engaged in wrongdoing at the 
expense of a failed institution or covered financial company, or 
seriously mismanaged a failed institution, from buying assets of a 
failed institution from the FDIC.
    (c) Scope.
    (1) The restrictions of this part generally apply to sales of 
assets of failed institutions owned or controlled by the FDIC in any 
capacity.
    (2) The restrictions in this section apply to the sale of assets of 
a subsidiary of a failed institution or a bridge depository institution 
if the FDIC controls the terms of the sale by agreement or in its role 
as shareholder.
    (3) Unless we determine otherwise, this part does not apply to the 
sale of securities in connection with the investment of corporate and 
receivership funds pursuant to the Investment Policy for Liquidation 
Funds managed by the FDIC as it is in effect from time to time.
    (4) In the case of a sale of securities backed by a pool of assets 
that may include assets of failed institutions by a trust or other 
entity, this part applies only to the sale of assets by the FDIC to an 
underwriter in an initial offering, and not to any other purchaser of 
the securities.
    (5) The restrictions of this part do not apply to a sale of a 
security or a group or index of securities, a commodity, or any 
qualified financial contract that customarily is traded through a 
financial intermediary, as defined in section 340.2, where the seller 
cannot control selection of the purchaser and the sale is consummated 
through that customary practice.
    (6) The restrictions of this part do not apply to a judicial sale 
or a trustee's sale of property that secures an obligation to the FDIC 
where the sale is not conducted or controlled by the FDIC.
    (d) The FDIC retains the authority to establish other policies 
restricting asset sales. Neither 12 U.S.C. 1821(p) nor this part in any 
way limits the authority of the FDIC to establish policies prohibiting 
the sale of assets to prospective purchasers who have injured any 
failed institution, or to other prospective purchasers, such as certain 
employees or contractors of the FDIC, or individuals who are not in 
compliance with the terms of any debt or duty owed to the FDIC. Any 
such policies may be independent of, in conjunction with, or in 
addition to the restrictions set forth in this part.


Sec.  340.2  Definitions.

    Many of the terms used in this part are defined in the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1811, et seq. Additionally, for the 
purposes of this part, the following terms are defined:
    (a) Associated person of an individual or entity means:
    (1) With respect to an individual:
    (i) The individual's spouse or dependent child or any member of his 
or her immediate household;
    (ii) A partnership of which the individual is or was a general or 
limited partner;
    (iii) A limited liability company of which the individual is or was 
a member; or
    (iv) A corporation of which the individual is or was an officer or 
director.
    (2) With respect to a partnership, a managing or general partner of 
the partnership or with respect to a limited liability company, a 
manager; or
    (3) With respect to any entity, an individual or entity who, acting 
individually or in concert with one or more individuals or entities, 
owns or controls 25 percent or more of the entity.
    (b) Default means any failure to comply with the terms of an 
obligation to such an extent that:
    (1) A judgment has been rendered in favor of the FDIC or a failed 
institution; or
    (2) In the case of a secured obligation, the property securing such 
obligation is foreclosed on.
    (c) FDIC means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
    (d) Failed institution means any insured depository institution (as 
defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)) that has been under the conservatorship 
or receivership of the FDIC or any of its predecessors.
    (e) Financial intermediary means any broker, dealer, bank, 
underwriter, exchange, clearing agency registered with the SEC under 
section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, transfer agent (as 
defined in section 3(a)(25) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), 
central counterparty or any other entity whose role is to facilitate a 
transaction by, as a riskless intermediary, purchasing a security or

[[Page 63584]]

qualified financial contract from one counterparty and then selling it 
to another.
    (f) Obligation means any debt or duty to pay money owed to the FDIC 
or a failed institution, including any guarantee of any such debt or 
duty.
    (g) Person means an individual, or an entity with a legally 
independent existence, including: A trustee; the beneficiary of at 
least a 25 percent share of the proceeds of a trust; a partnership; a 
corporation; an association; or other organization or society.
    (h) Substantial loss means:
    (1) An obligation that is delinquent for ninety (90) or more days 
and on which there remains an outstanding balance of more than $50,000;
    (2) An unpaid final judgment in excess of $50,000 regardless of 
whether it becomes forgiven in whole or in part in a bankruptcy 
proceeding;
    (3) A deficiency balance following a foreclosure of collateral in 
excess of $50,000, regardless of whether it becomes discharged in whole 
or in part in a bankruptcy proceeding;
    (4) Any loss in excess of $50,000 evidenced by an IRS Form 1099-C 
(Information Reporting for Cancellation of Debt).


Sec.  340.3  What are the restrictions on the sale of assets by the 
FDIC if the buyer wants to finance the purchase with a loan from the 
FDIC?

    A person may not borrow money or accept credit from the FDIC in 
connection with the purchase of any assets of a failed institution from 
the FDIC if:
    (a) There has been a default with respect to one or more 
obligations totaling in excess of $1,000,000 owed by that person or its 
associated person; and
    (b) The person or its associated person made any fraudulent 
misrepresentations in connection with any such obligation(s).


Sec.  340.4  What are the restrictions on the sale of assets by the 
FDIC regardless of the method of financing?

    (a) A person may not acquire any assets of a failed institution 
from the FDIC if the person or its associated person:
    (1) Has participated, as an officer or director of a failed 
institution or of an affiliate of a failed institution, in a material 
way in one or more transaction(s) that caused a substantial loss to 
that failed institution;
    (2) Has been removed from, or prohibited from participating in the 
affairs of, a failed institution pursuant to any final enforcement 
action by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC, or any of their 
predecessors or successors;
    (3) Has demonstrated a pattern or practice of defalcation regarding 
obligations to any failed institution;
    (4) Has been convicted of committing or conspiring to commit any 
offense under 18 U.S.C. 215, 656, 657, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1014, 
1032, 1341, 1343 or 1344 affecting any failed institution and there has 
been a default with respect to one or more obligations owed by that 
person or its associated person; or
    (5) Would be prohibited from purchasing the assets of a covered 
financial company from the FDIC under 12 U.S.C. 5390(r) or its 
implementing regulation at 12 CFR part 380.13.
    (b) For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, a person has 
participated ``in a material way in a transaction that caused a 
substantial loss to a failed institution'' if, in connection with a 
substantial loss to a failed institution, the person has been found in 
a final determination by a court or administrative tribunal, or is 
alleged in a judicial or administrative action brought by the FDIC or 
by any component of the government of the United States or of any 
state:
    (1) To have violated any law, regulation, or order issued by a 
federal or state banking agency, or breached or defaulted on a written 
agreement with a federal or state banking agency, or breached a written 
agreement with a failed institution;
    (2) To have engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting 
the affairs of a failed institution; or
    (3) To have breached a fiduciary duty owed to a failed institution.
    (c) For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, a person or its 
associated person has demonstrated a ``pattern or practice of 
defalcation'' regarding obligations to a failed institution if the 
person or associated person has:
    (1) Engaged in more than one transaction that created an obligation 
on the part of such person or its associated person with intent to 
cause a loss to any insured depository institution or with reckless 
disregard for whether such transactions would cause a loss to any such 
insured depository institution; and
    (2) The transactions, in the aggregate, caused a substantial loss 
to one or more failed institution(s).


Sec.  340.5  Can the FDIC deny a loan to a buyer who is not 
disqualified from purchasing assets using seller-financing under this 
regulation?

    The FDIC still has the right to make an independent determination, 
based upon all relevant facts of a person's financial condition and 
history, of that person's eligibility to receive any loan or extension 
of credit from the FDIC, even if the person is not in any way 
disqualified from purchasing assets from the FDIC under the 
restrictions set forth in this part.


Sec.  340.6  What is the effect of this part on transactions that were 
entered into before its effective date?

    This part does not affect the enforceability of a contract of sale 
and/or agreement for seller financing in effect prior to July 1, 2000.


Sec.  340.7  When is a certification required, and who does not have to 
provide a certification?

    (a) Before any person may purchase any asset from the FDIC that 
person must certify, under penalty of perjury, that none of the 
restrictions contained in this part applies to the purchase. The person 
must also certify that neither the identity nor form of the person, nor 
any aspect of the contemplated transaction, has been created or altered 
with the intent, in whole or in part, to allow an individual or entity 
who otherwise would be ineligible to purchase assets from the FDIC to 
benefit directly or indirectly from the proposed transaction. The FDIC 
may establish the form of the certification and may change the form 
from time to time.
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, and unless the 
Director of the FDIC's Division of Resolutions and Receiverships, or 
designee, in his or her discretion so requires, a certification need 
not be provided by:
    (1) A state or political subdivision of a state;
    (2) A federal agency or instrumentality such as the Government 
National Mortgage Association;
    (3) A federally-regulated, government-sponsored enterprise such as 
the Federal National Mortgage Association or Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
Corporation; or
    (4) A bridge depository institution.


Sec.  340.8  Does this part apply in the case of a workout, resolution, 
or settlement of obligations?

    The restrictions of Sec. Sec.  340.3 and 340.4 do not apply if the 
sale or transfer of an asset resolves or settles, or is part of the 
resolution or settlement of, one or more obligations or claims that 
have been, or could have been, asserted by the FDIC against the person 
with whom the FDIC is settling, regardless of the amount of such 
obligations or claims.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 21st day of October, 2014.


[[Page 63585]]


    By Order of the Board of Directors, Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-25337 Filed 10-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714-01-P