Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the
following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Acquirer credit union--The credit union
that will continue in operation after the merger/consolidation.
(2) Acquiree credit union--The credit union
that will cease to exist as an operating credit union at the time of the
merger/consolidation.
(3) Merger
inducement--A promise by a credit union to pay to the members of another credit
union a sum of money or other material benefit upon the successful completion
of a merger of the two credit unions.
(4) Substantial--An amount that is large in
size, value, or importance. For purposes of this section, an amount is
substantial if it exceeds $1,000.00 in total.
(b) Two or more credit unions organized under
the laws of this state, another state, or the United States, may
merge/consolidate, in whole or in part, with each other, or into a newly
incorporated credit union to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to
the requirements of this rule. A credit union may not offer a merger inducement
to another credit union's members as a means of promoting a merger of the two
credit unions.
(c) Notice of Intent
to Merge/Consolidate. The credit unions shall notify the commissioner in
writing of their intent to merge/consolidate within ten days after the credit
unions' boards of directors formally agree in principle to
merge/consolidate.
(d) Plan for
Merger/Consolidation. Upon approval of a proposition for merger/consolidation
by the boards of directors, the credit unions must prepare a plan for the
proposed merger/consolidation. The plan shall include:
(1) The terms and conditions of the merger n
/consolidation including a detailed description of any substantial
remuneration, such as bonuses, deferred compensation, early payout of
retirement benefits, severance packages, retainers, services agreements, or
other substantial financial rewards or benefits that any board member or senior
management employee of the acquiree credit union may receive in connection with
the merger/consolidation;
(2) the
current financial reports of each credit union;
(3) the combined financial reports of the two
or more credit unions;
(4) an
analysis of the adequacy of the combined Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
account;
(5) an explanation of any
proposed adjustments to the members' shares, or provisions for reserves,
dividends, or undivided profits;
(6) a summary of the products and services
proposed to be available to the members of the acquirer credit union, with an
explanation of any changes from the current products and services provided to
the members;
(7) a summary of the
advantages and disadvantages of the merger/consolidation;
(8) the projected location of the main office
and any branch location(s) after the merger/consolidation and whether any
existing office locations will be permanently closed; and
(9) any other items deemed critical to the
merger/consolidation agreement by the boards of directors.
(e) Submission of an Application to
Merge/Consolidate to Department.
(1) An
application for approval of the merger/consolidation will be complete when the
following information is submitted to the commissioner:
(A) the merger/consolidation plan, as
described in this rule;
(B) a copy
of the corporate resolution of each board of directors approving the
merger/consolidation plan;
(C) the
proposed Notice of Special Meeting of the members;
(D) a copy of the ballot form to be sent to
the members;
(E) the current
delinquent loan summaries for each credit union;
(F) a statement as to whether the transaction
is subject to the Hart-Scott Rodino Act premerger notification filing
requirements; and
(G) a request for
a waiver of the requirement that the plan be approved by the members of any of
the affected credit unions, in the event the board(s) seek such a waiver,
together with a statement of the reason(s) for the waiver(s).
(2) If the acquirer credit union
is organized under the laws of another state or of the United States, the
commissioner may accept an application to merge or consolidate that is
prescribed by the state or federal supervisory authority of the acquirer credit
union, provided that the commissioner may require additional information to
determine whether to deny or approve the merger/consolidation. The application
will be deemed complete upon receipt of all information requested by the
commissioner.
(3) Notice of the
proposed merger must be published in the Texas Register and
Department Newsletter as prescribed in §91.104 (relating to Public Notice
and Comment on Certain Applications).
(f) Commissioner Action on the Application.
(1) The commissioner may grant preliminary
approval of an application for merger/consolidation conditioned upon specific
requirements being met, but final approval shall not be granted unless such
conditions have been met within the time specified in the preliminary
approval.
(2) The commissioner
shall deny an application for merger/consolidation if the commissioner finds
any of the following:
(A) the financial
condition of the acquirer credit union before the merger/consolidation is such
that it will likely jeopardize the financial stability of the merging credit
union or prejudice the financial interests of the members, beneficiaries or
creditors of either credit union;
(B) the plan includes a change in the
products or services available to members of the acquiree credit union that
substantially harms the financial interests of the members, beneficiaries or
creditors of the acquiree credit union;
(C) the merger/consolidation would probably
substantially lessen the ability of the acquirer credit union to meet the
reasonable needs and convenience of members to be served;
(D) the credit unions do not furnish to the
commissioner all information requested by the commissioner which is material to
the application;
(E) the credit
unions fail to obtain any approval required from a federal or state supervisory
authority; or
(F) the
merger/consolidation would be contrary to law.
(3) For applications to merge/consolidate in
which the products and services of the acquirer credit union after
merger/consolidation are proposed to be substantially the same as those of the
acquiree and acquirer credit unions, the commissioner will presume that the
merger/consolidation will not significantly change or affect the availability
and adequacy of financial services in the local community.
(g) Procedures for Approval of
Merger/Consolidation Plan by the Members of Each Credit Union.
(1) The credit unions have the option of
allowing their members to vote on the plan in person at a meeting of the
members, by mail ballot, or both. With prior approval of the commissioner, a
credit union may accept member votes by an alternative method that is
reasonably calculated to ensure each member has an opportunity to
vote.
(2) Members shall be given
advance notice of the meeting in accordance with the credit union's bylaws. The
notice of the meeting shall:
(A) specify the
purpose of the meeting and state the date, time, and place of the special
meeting;
(B) state the reasons for
the proposed merger/consolidation;
(C) contain a summary of the merger plan and
state that any interested person may obtain more detailed information about the
merger from the credit union at its principal place of business, or by any
method approved in advance by the commissioner;
(D) provide the name and location of the
acquirer credit union;
(E) specify
the methods permitted for casting votes; and
(F) if applicable, be accompanied by a mail
ballot.
(h)
Completion of Merger/Consolidation.
(1) Upon
approval of the merger/consolidation plan by the membership, if applicable, the
Certificate of Merger/Consolidation shall be completed, signed and submitted to
the commissioner for final authority to combine the records. Necessary
amendments to the acquirer credit union's articles of incorporation or bylaws
shall also be submitted at this time.
(2) Upon receipt of the commissioner's
written authorization, the records of the credit unions shall be combined as of
the effective date of the merger/consolidation. The board of the directors of
the acquirer credit union shall certify the completion of the
merger/consolidation to the commissioner within 30 days after the effective
date of the merger/consolidation.
(3) Upon receipt by the commissioner of the
completion of the merger/consolidation certification, any article of
incorporation or bylaw amendments will be approved and the charter of the
acquiree credit union will be canceled.