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Transcript of © 2010 Morrison & Foerster LLP | All Rights Reserved | mofo.com The Volcker Rule: The Agencies’...
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mThe Volcker Rule: The Agencies’ Proposed Rules
Charles M. HornOliver Ireland
November 21, 2011
DC-648839
This is MoFo. 2
The Volcker Rule: The Agencies’ Proposed Rules
Basics and Some History Compliance and Reporting Requirements Proprietary Trading Private Equity Funds and Hedge Funds Restrictions and Limitations on Permitted Activities Impact Issues
This is MoFo. 3
Basics and Some History
This is MoFo. 4
Basics
The statutory Volcker Rule (Dodd-Frank Act section 619) contains two broad prohibitions for banking entities
No proprietary trading No ownership interest in or sponsorship of a private equity or
hedge fund
The statutory Volcker Rule contains other requirements Transactions prohibited that would result in material conflicts of
interest, material exposure to high-risk assets or activities, threaten the safety or soundness of the banking entity, or pose a threat to U.S. financial stability
Certain financial relationships with covered funds are prohibited Nonbank financial firms may be subject to activities
restrictions/capital charges Agencies must issue rules covering internal controls and
recordkeeping to insure compliance with statute
This is MoFo. 5
Basics
For nonbanking entities: Statutory prohibitions on proprietary trading and private equity
fund/hedge fund ownership or sponsorship do not apply A nonbanking financial company that is systemically important will
be subject to additional capital requirements and quantitative limits on proprietary trading and ownership in or sponsorship of a private equity or hedge fund
Prohibited proprietary trading and private fund activities contain several important conditional exceptions
Proprietary trading exceptions for trading in exempted instruments, underwriting and market-making activities, hedging/risk-mitigation activities, and customer activities
Private fund prohibition exceptions for owned/offered funds
This is MoFo. 6
History
Volcker Rule “embraces the spirit of the Glass-Steagall Act’s separation of ‘commercial’ from ‘investment’ banking by restoring a protective barrier around our critical financial infrastructure.”
Cong. Merkley (D-MA)
This is MoFo. 7
History
Rule is intended to “prohibit or restrict certain types of financial activity … that are high-risk or which create significant conflicts of interest”
Intent of prohibition is to: Limit threats to safety and soundness Limit threats to financial stability Eliminate any economic subsidy to high-risk activities that is
provided by access to lower-cost capital because of participation in the regulatory safety net
Senate Banking Committee (April 2010)
This is MoFo. 8
Chronology–History
January 2009: Group of 30 Report Proprietary trading a major reason for the financial crisis Recommends prohibition on proprietary trading by systemically important
institutions
June 2009: Administration proposals; no Volcker-type provisions December 2009: H.R. 4173 passed; no Volcker-type provisions January 2010: Obama Administration announces support for Rule April 2010: Merkley-Levin Amendment May 2010: S. 3217, passed, with amendment July 2010: Conference committee adds “de minimis” exception to
private equity/hedge fund prohibition July 21, 2010: Dodd-Frank Act signed into law
This is MoFo. 9
Chronology–Post-Enactment
November 2010: FRB proposes rule on conformance periods Jan. 2011: FSOC publishes required study Feb. 2011: FRB releases final rule on conformance periods October 2011: Proposed interagency regulations for
implementation of Volcker Rule (excluding CFTC)
Still to come: 1st or 2nd Quarter 2012: Final regulations on Volcker Rule. July 21, 2012: Volcker Rule to take effect—with 2-year
conformance period. July 21, 2014: Across-the-board conformance period ends, but
extensions are available
This is MoFo. 10
Summary of the Proposed Rules
76 Fed. Reg. 68846 (Nov. 7, 2011)
This is MoFo. 11
Summary of the Proposed Rules
Issuing Agencies
Compliance and Reporting Requirements Required compliance program that is “reasonably designed” to
ensure and monitor” compliance, and that is appropriate for the “size, scope and complexities” of the banking entity’s activities and business structure
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
Key Definitions
This is MoFo. 12
Summary of the Proposed Rules
Proprietary Trading Prohibitions and Exceptions Definition of “proprietary trading” Implementation of major proprietary trading exceptions:
Underwriting Market-making Risk-mitigating hedging activities Trading “on behalf of” customers Trading in permitted instruments Trading by regulated insurance companies Trading outside of the United States
This is MoFo. 13
Summary of the Proposed Rules
Covered Fund Prohibitions and Exceptions Definition of “covered fund” Implementation of restrictions on owning/sponsoring covered
funds Implementation of major covered fund exceptions:
“Organizing and offering” a covered fund Investments in covered funds Permitted covered fund activities and investments
Limits on certain relationships with covered funds
Prudential Limits on Permitted Trading and Fund Activities
This is MoFo. 14
Summary of the Proposed Rules
Termination of Activities or Investments; Penalties
Conformance Period Provisions General carryover of existing conformance rules
Treatment of Nonbank Financial Institutions No specific rules proposed at this time
This is MoFo. 15
Issuing Agencies
This is MoFo. 16
Issuing Agencies
Banking agencies Federal Reserve Board Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Securities and Exchange Commission The SEC has joined with the banking agencies on the substantive
common rule proposals but separately is seeking comments on certain aspects of the proposed rules
Commodity Futures Trading Commission – Not yet The CFTC is one of the agencies that is directed to issue rules,
but it has not proposed rules as of now Speculation over reasons for CFTC inaction to date
This is MoFo. 17
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
This is MoFo. 18
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Structure of Required Compliance Program The proposed rules would create compliance and reporting
requirements to assure that (i) covered banking entities comply with the substantive requirements of the Volcker Rule and implementing regulations, and (ii) the financial regulatory agencies can monitor and supervise such compliance
These requirements broadly include: A compliance program that is reasonably designed to assure and
monitor compliance with proprietary trading and covered fund activities and investments
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements for covered trading and covered fund activities
This is MoFo. 19
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Structure of Required Compliance Program Certain banking entities that are actively and substantially
engaged in trading activities would be subject to more stringent and detailed compliance and reporting requirements that are imposed on a tiered basis, depending on the quantitative level of these activities
All of these requirements, by all accounts, will be costly and burdensome for many banking entities to implement
This is MoFo. 20
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Compliance Program – Required Minimum Elements for all Banking Entities (Section 20)
Internal written policies and procedures System of internal controls Management framework that clearly delineates responsibility and
accountability for Volcker Rule compliance Independent testing of compliance program effectiveness Training for trading personnel/managers and other appropriate
personnel Making/keeping records sufficient to demonstrate compliance,
which must be provided to a banking entity’s regulatory agency on request and maintain for a period of not less than 5 years
This is MoFo. 21
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Compliance Program – Enhanced Requirements for Certain Banking Entities (Section 20 and Appendix C)
Affected banking entities (“Appendix C banking entities”) are: Those that engage in proprietary trading and have total
worldwide trading assets and liabilities of either (i) equal or greater than $1 billion, or (ii) 10% or more of total assets, measured on a average gross sum basis as determined on the last day of each of the four prior calendar quarters.
Those that invest in or have relationships with covered funds where (i) aggregate investments in covered funds, or (ii) average total assets of covered funds sponsored or advised by the banking entity, are equal or greater than $1 billion, measured as of the last day of each of the four prior calendar quarters
This is MoFo. 22
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Enhanced Requirements for Appendix C Banking Entities Significantly more detailed requirements for covered trading
activities, covered fund activities or investments Program requirements Internal policies and procedures Internal controls Accountability requirements Independent testing Training Recordkeeping
These requirements are similar but not identical for proprietary trading and covered fund activities (and therefore are discussed separately below)
This is MoFo. 23
Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Compliance Program – Conditional Exclusion Conditional exclusion for banking entities “to the extent” not
engaged in “activities or investments prohibited or restricted” by the proprietary trading or covered fund rules
Existing compliance policies and procedures must be designed to prevent the banking entity from engaging in covered activities, and require a banking entity to develop the required compliance program before engaging in covered activities
Some questions regarding the practical impact and utility of this conditional exclusion
Trading in exempted instruments Investment portfolio purchases Impact of high risk activities/systemic risk requirements
This is MoFo. 24
Key Global Definitions
This is MoFo. 25
Key Global Definitions
“Banking Entity” Generally tracks statutory definition, including fiduciary exclusion Excludes “organized/offered funds” and entities they control
“Covered Banking Entity” Separately defined by each proposing agency generally to include
banking entities under each agency’s respective regulatory and supervisory jurisdiction
“Resident of the United States” Broadly tracks parallel definition in SEC Regulation S, but is not
altogether identical to Regulation S definition
This is MoFo. 26
Key Global Definitions
“Derivative” Includes swaps and security-based swaps as defined in
Commodity Exchange Act and Securities Exchange Act, respectively, as further defined by CFTC and SEC under Dodd-Frank Act section 712
“Loan” Loan Lease Extension of credit Secured/unsecured receivable
This is MoFo. 27
Proprietary Trading
This is MoFo. 28
Proprietary Trading–Statute
Statutory Definitions “Proprietary trading” is defined as
engaging as principal for the trading account of the banking entity or nonbank financial company (NBFC)
in any transaction to purchase or sell, or otherwise acquire or dispose of, any security, any derivative, any contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery, any option on any such security, derivative, or contract, or “any other security or financial instrument” that the appropriate federal agencies may determine
“Trading account” is defined as: any account used for acquiring or taking positions principally for
the purpose of selling in the near term (or otherwise with the intent to resell in order to profit from short-term price movements), or
any such other accounts specified by rule
This is MoFo. 29
Proprietary Trading–Implementation Rules
The agencies’ proprietary trading rules consist of several key elements
• Key definitions• Application and elaboration of statutory prohibition• Application and elaboration of statutory exceptions• Detailed and elaborate compliance management, governance and
reporting requirements for banking entities that engage in proprietary trading
This is MoFo. 30
Proprietary Trading Rules–Core Provisions
Key Rule Definitions• “Proprietary trading”: Engaging as principal for a trading account
in purchase/sale of covered financial positions• Agency activities and transactions for unaffiliated third parties
are excluded from the definition
• Covered financial position”: • Long, short, synthetic “or other” positions on: (i)
securities/options on securities; (ii) derivatives/options on derivatives; (iii) commodity futures
• Excludes: (i) loans, (ii) commodities, (iii) foreign exchange or currencies
This is MoFo. 31
Proprietary Trading Rules–Core Provisions
Key Rule Definitions• “Trading Account”: An account that acquires or takes a covered
financial position:• for (i) short-tem resale, (ii) price movement benefits, (iii)
arbitrage, or (iv) hedging of (i), (ii) or (iii).
• That is a market risk capital rule covered position, excluding positions in foreign exchange derivatives and commodity derivatives/futures, if the banking entity calculates such risk-based capital ratios
• For any purpose if account holder is a regulated securities/commodities firm
This is MoFo. 32
Proprietary Trading Rules–Core Provisions
Key Rule Definitions• Rebuttable trading account presumption: an account used to
acquire a covered financial position for 60 days or less, excluding covered positions acquired as market risk capital rule positions or acquired by regulated commodities/securities professionals (see below), is presumed to be a trading account, but that presumption is rebuttable based on the particular facts/circumstances
• Other trading account exceptions• Covered positions arising under qualified repo transactions• Covered positions arising under qualified securities lending and
borrowing transactions• Bona fide, documented liquidity management activities• Clearing activities of registered securities clearing firms or
derivatives clearing organizations
This is MoFo. 33
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Underwriting Activities and Requirements Required compliance and reporting program Limited to “securities” Must occur “solely” in connection with a “distribution” Limited to registered/exempt/qualified dealers Activities not to exceed customers’ “reasonable short term
demands” Activities must be designed to generate fee-based revenue not
based on price movements or hedging activities Compensation system cannot reward proprietary trading Key definitions: “underwriting” and “distribution”
This is MoFo. 34
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Market-Making Activities and Requirements Required compliance and reporting program Trading desk/unit must hold itself out as engaged in market-making
activities Exception is limited to registered/exempt/qualified/dealers Market-making activities are not to exceed customers’ “reasonable
short term demands” Activities must be designed to generate fee-based revenue not
based on price movements or hedging activities Compensation system cannot reward proprietary trading Hedging of permitted market-making positions is allowed See, Appendix B commentary on identification of permitted market-
making activities
This is MoFo. 35
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Market-Making Activities and Requirements Appendix B commentary on market-making activities Elements of permitted market-making activities
Primary purpose: financial intermediation Fee/commission spread revenues – not price movements Customer-facing and customer-related activity Absence of compensation incentives
Distinguishing permitted and prohibited activities Risk retention profile and management Revenue sources Revenues relative to risk Customer-facing activity Fees, commissions and spreads Compensation incentives
This is MoFo. 36
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Hedging Activities and Requirements Required compliance and reporting program Must hedge “specific risks” in connection with covered positions Must be reasonably correlated to underlying position risk based on
“facts and circumstances” Hedging position cannot create significant new financial exposures
not already present at outset of transaction Continuing review, monitoring and management of hedging
positions to assure (i) compliance with policies, (ii) maintenance of reasonable correlation and (iii) risk exposure mitigation
Compensation system cannot reward proprietary trading Hedging positions must be documented: purposes, risks hedged,
and level of organization establishing the hedge
This is MoFo. 37
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Customer Transactions and Requirements Banking entity must be acting as investment adviser, commodity
trading advisor, trustee or other fiduciary capacity Transactions must be for accounts of customers Customer(s) must have sole beneficial ownership of covered
positions Others types of transactions allowed:
Riskless principal transactions Separate account transactions by regulated insurance companies;
must relate to insurance policies issued and comply with applicable state insurance laws
General account transactions by regulated insurance companies; must comply with applicable state insurance laws
This is MoFo. 38
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Permitted Instruments and Requirements U.S. and agency obligations Ginnie, Fannie, Freddie, FHLB, Farmer Mac and Farm Credit Bank
obligations State and local government obligations General and limited obligations, including revenue bonds, are
permitted
This is MoFo. 39
Proprietary Trading Rules–Exceptions
Non-U.S. Transactions and Requirements Eligibility limited to banking entities that are FBOs as defined under
the IBA and Regulation K, and other qualified foreign banking entities
Transaction must be conducted pursuant to BHCA section 4(c)(9) or 4(c)(13)
For FBOs this means compliance with Regulation K, Subpart B Asset/revenue/net income tests for other foreign banking entities
Transaction must take place “solely” outside the U.S. Banking entity effecting transaction cannot be a U.S. entity No U.S. resident may be a party to the transaction No banking entity personnel “directly” involved in transaction may
be “physically located” in the U.S. Execution must occur “wholly outside” of the U.S.
This is MoFo. 40
Proprietary Trading–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Specific Requirements for Certain Banking Entities (“Appendix A Banking Entities”)
All banking entities that have consolidated worldwide trading assets and liabilities equal to or greater than $1 billion, measured on an average gross sum basis as determined on the last day of each of the four prior calendar quarters, will be subject to detailed and extensive reporting and recordkeeping requirements for those trading activities (Section 7 and Appendix A requirements), depending on the nature and level of trading activity
This is MoFo. 41
Proprietary Trading Rules–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Specific Requirements for Appendix A Banking Entities These reporting and recordkeeping requirements are tiered as
follows: Banking entities that have consolidated worldwide trading assets
and liabilities equal to or greater than $1 billion but less than $5 billion will be required to maintain records and report on their market-making related activities
Banking entities that have consolidated worldwide trading assets and liabilities equal to or greater than $5 billion, however, will be required to maintain records and report on all covered trading activity
This information is required for each “trading unit” of the reporting
banking entity
This is MoFo. 42
Proprietary Trading Rules–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Specific Requirements for Appendix A Banking Entities Scope of reporting
$1-$5 billion banking entities: 8 data points for market making activities
$5+ banking entities: 17 data points for market-making activities, 5 data points for other permitted trading
Frequency of calculation and reporting Calculation: every trading day Reporting: monthly -- reports due 30 days after calendar month’s
end or as other requested by supervisory agency
This is MoFo. 43
Proprietary Trading Rules–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Specific Requirements for Appendix A Banking Entities Quantitative reporting and recordkeeping requirements
Risk management measurements Source-of-revenue measurements Revenue-relative-to-risk measurements Customer-facing activity measurements Payment of fees, commissions and spreads measurements
Further, all Appendix A banking entities are Appendix C banking entities (although not necessarily vice-versa), and therefore are subject to compliance management requirements specifically impacting their trading activities
This is MoFo. 44
Proprietary Trading–Compliance and Reporting RequirementsAppendix C Trading Compliance Program Requirements Internal policies and procedures
Identification of trading accounts Identification of trading units and organizational structure Description of missions and strategies Trader mandates Description of risks and risk management processes Hedging policies and procedures Explanation of compliance Remediation of violations
Written internal controls Assure consistency with mission, strategy and risk mitigation Must address, at a minimum, (i) authorized risks, instruments
and products, (ii) risk limits, (iii) robust analysis and quantitative measurements, and (iv) surveillance of program effectiveness
This is MoFo. 45
Proprietary Trading–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Appendix C Trading Compliance Program Requirements Responsibility/accountability
Corporate governance Trader mandates Management procedures Business line managers Senior management responsibilities Board of directors/CEO responsibilities
Independent testing Not less than annually Evaluation of program adequacy/effectiveness, written policies
and procedures, internal controls and management procedures Training Recordkeeping
This is MoFo. 46
Private Equity Funds and Hedge Funds
(Covered Funds)
This is MoFo. 47
Covered Funds–Statute
Volcker Rule prohibits acquisitions of ownership interests in, and sponsorship of, private/hedge funds
“Private equity funds” and “hedge funds” are those funds exempt from the Investment Company Act of 1940 under ICA sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7)
Regulatory agencies have authority to extend the private/hedge fund limitations to other types of funds
Permissible fund-related activities: Organizing/offering covered funds as part of a bona fide trust or
advisory business, and related de minimis investments Prime brokerage services Investments in SBICs and similar funds
The statutory limitations on high-risk positions and activities for proprietary trading also apply to permissible private/hedge fund activities
This is MoFo. 48
Covered Fund Rules–Core Provisions
Rules state that a banking entity may not, as principal, directly or indirectly acquire or retain any ownership interest or sponsor a covered fund
Key Definitions “Covered fund”
Funds exempt under ICA section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) Commodity pool as defined in CEA section 1a(10) A non-US issuer that would be a covered fund were it organized
or offered under U.S. or state law or offered to U.S. residents “Any similar fund” as agencies may determine by rule
“Ownership interest” Any equity, partnership or similar interest in a covered fund Excludes qualifying carried interests
This is MoFo. 49
Covered Fund Rules–Core Provisions
Key Definitions “Prime brokerage”
One or more products or services provided by a banking entity to a fund such as: custody; clearance; securities borrowing or lending; trade execution; or financing, data, operational or portfolio management support
“Sponsor” Serve as GP, managing member/trustee/CPO of covered fund Ability to select/control directors/similar officials of covered fund Share a name/name variation with a covered fund
“Trustee” Excludes nondiscretionary trustees and directed trustees as
defined in ERISA Includes persons with investment discretion controlling a
nondiscretionary/directed trustee
This is MoFo. 50
Covered Funds–Exceptions
Bona Fide Fiduciary Services – Organize/Offer A banking entity that provides bona fide trust, fiduciary, or
investment advisory services may organize and offer a covered fund, if the banking entity: Offers interests in covered fund only in connection with providing bona fide trust
or related services to customers Retains only a de minimis investment in fund Observes “super 23A” and section 23B restrictions on transactions with fund Does not, directly or indirectly, support fund obligations or performance Does not share a name (or derivation) with fund, and fund does not use the
word “bank” in its name Does not permit any director or employee of the banking entity to have an
economic interest in fund, except persons “directly engaged” in providing investment advisory services to fund
Discloses to investors that fund losses are not borne by the banking entity
This is MoFo. 51
Covered Funds–Exceptions
Organize/Offer Exception – De Minimis Investments A banking entity that “organizes and offers” a covered fund as part
its trust, fiduciary, or investment advisory services, may invest in the fund under three broad conditions:
The banking entity seeks unaffiliated investors The start-up investment in a fund is unrestricted but within one year
of the start date, the banking entity’s investments shall not exceed more than 3% of the total ownership interests in the fund
The aggregate of investments in all such funds does not exceed 3% of the banking entity’s Tier 1 capital
This is MoFo. 52
Covered Funds–Exceptions
Organize/Offer Exception – De Minimis Investments Attribution rules
Controlled investments – full attribution Non-controlled investments – pro rata attribution
Calculation of capital/investment ceilings: Single fund rule -- greater of % equity value of investment or %
ownership interest Certain parallel investments must be included Calculations must be consistent with methodology of each investment
fund Aggregate investments -- sum of values of each investment
Rules require deductions of qualifying investments from the banking entity’s primary (Tier 1) capital
This is MoFo. 53
Funds–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Specific covered fund requirements apply to banking entities that are subject to enhanced compliance program requirements (Appendix C requirements)
Internal policies and procedures Identification of covered funds Identification of asset management units/organization Description of sponsorship activities Description of investment activities Remediation of violations
Written internal controls Investment monitoring Relationship monitoring Surveillance of program effectiveness
This is MoFo. 54
Funds–Compliance and Reporting Requirements
Appendix C compliance program requirements Responsibility/accountability
Corporate governance Management procedures Business line managers Senior management responsibilities Board of directors/CEO responsibilities
Independent testing Not less than annually Evaluation of program adequacy/effectiveness, written policies
and procedures, internal controls and management procedures Training Recordkeeping
This is MoFo. 55
Funds–Other Permissible Activities
Investments in SBICs and related investments Related investments include funds designed primarily to promote
public welfare, or qualified IRC section 47/state historic tax credit investments
Risk-mitigating hedging activities Investments made in connection with obligations/liabilities of the
banking entity (i) taken when acting for a customer to facilitate customer exposure to profits/losses of covered fund, or (ii) directly connected to compensation of employee directly provided advisory services to a covered fund
Such investments are designed to reduce specific risks to the banking entity related to such obligations/liabilities
This is MoFo. 56
Funds–Other Permissible Activities
Foreign investments/sponsorship Investment in or sponsorship of a covered fund by a banking entity
solely outside of the United States if: • Banking entity not directly/indirectly controlled by U.S. banking
entity• Activity is conducted pursuant to BHCA Section 4(c)(9) or 4(c)(13) • Interests in the fund are not offered or sold to a U.S. resident• Activity occurs solely outside of the U.S.
• BHCA Section 4(c)(9) or 4(c)(13) activity Same criteria as those used for permitted non-U.S. proprietary
trading
Solely outside the U.S. No U.S. entity, U.S. legal/physical presence, or offer/sale to U.S.
resident
This is MoFo. 57
Funds–Other Permissible Activities
Loan Securitizations Allows owner/sponsorship of covered fund that is an issuer of
asset-backed securities, assets of which are solely comprised of: Loans Directly related contractual rights or assets Interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives that materially relate
to terms of underlying loans/contractual rights or assets and are used for hedging purposes with respect to issuer
Bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) separate accounts
This is MoFo. 58
Funds–Other Permissible Activities
Other Permitted Covered Funds/Activities Joint ventures/operating company investments Acquisition vehicles “Securitizer” and “originator” credit risk retentions of asset-backed
securities issuers under Securities Exchange Act section 15G Liquidity management subsidiaries Qualified ABS issuers Covered fund ownership interests acquired DPC, subject to
compliance with agency disposition periods Covered fund ownership interests acquired/held in compliance with
Federal Reserve Board’s Volcker Rule conformance periods
This is MoFo. 59
Covered Funds–Limits on Banking Entity Relationships
Absolute prohibition on banking entity Section 23A covered transactions with covered funds
“Super 23A” prohibition applies to any covered fund to which a banking entity acts as investment manager, investment adviser, or sponsor
Super 23A does not prohibit otherwise-permitted acquisitions or retentions of covered fund ownership interests under the organize/offer or other covered fund exceptions
Prime brokerage transactions with covered funds are conditionally exempted
But, limited to covered funds in which a covered fund managed, sponsored or advised by the banking entity has taken an ownership interest
This is MoFo. 60
Covered Funds–Limits on Banking Entity Relationships
Application of Federal Reserve Act Section 23B to banking entity relationships with covered funds
Applies to any covered fund to which a banking entity acts as investment manager, investment adviser, or sponsor
Banking entity and its affiliates are treated as a “member bank” for Section 23B purposes
Permitted prime brokerage transactions are subject to Section 23B limitations
This is MoFo. 61
Covered Activities – Prudential Limitations
This is MoFo. 62
Covered Activities–Prudential Limitations
Otherwise permissible proprietary trading or fund ownership/sponsorship activity is forbidden if it would:
Result in a material conflict of interest between the banking entity and its clients
Result, directly or indirectly, in a material exposure for the banking entity to high-risk assets or high-risk trading strategies
Pose a threat to the safety and soundness of the banking entity
Pose a threat to the financial stability of the U.S.
This is MoFo. 63
Covered Activities–Prudential Limitations
Material Conflicts of Interest: Activities or transactions that would involve or result in the banking
entity’s interests being “materially adverse” to client, customer or counterparty interests, unless:
Banking entity makes “clear, timely and effective disclosure” of conflict and
Disclosure is made “explicitly and effectively” in a manner that allows client/customer/counterparty to “negate or substantially negate” any materially adverse effect
or Banking entity has information barriers that are reduced to writing in
specified written policies and procedures. Compliant information barriers, however, do not permit transactions creating conflicts that have materially adverse effect on client/customer/counterparty
This is MoFo. 64
Covered Activities–Prudential Limitations
High-Risk Asset: Asset or group of related assets that if held by banking entity would significantly increase the likelihood that the banking entity would incur a substantial financial loss or would fail
High-Risk Trading Strategy: Trading strategy that if conducted by banking entity would significantly increase the likelihood that the banking entity would incur a substantial financial loss or would fail
Threat to the safety and soundness of the banking entity
Threat to the financial stability of the U.S.
This is MoFo. 65
Covered Activities–Prudential Limitations
Financial agencies may require banking entities that violate or seek to evade requirements of Volcker Rule or implementing regulations to restrict, limit or terminate activity or dispose of investment
Such action may be taken upon finding of “reasonable cause” upon notice and opportunity for a hearing
Enforcement powers and remedies of FDI Act section 8 (12 USC 1818) presumably are available to the banking agencies
Ditto for SEC under the Securities Exchange Act?
This is MoFo. 66
Effective Dates and Conformance Periods
This is MoFo. 67
Effective Dates and Conformance Periods
Volcker Rule regulations will take effect not later than July 21, 2012
FRB’s prior rule on conformance deadlines would be relocated without material changes into the general regulations; changes to harmonize conformance rule definitions with general regulations will be made
Banking entities will have until July 21, 2014, to bring existing activities into compliance
Three one-year extensions are available if FRB determines that extension is consistent with purposes of the Volcker Rule and would not be detrimental to the public interest.
FRB may grant single five-year extension for illiquid funds owned as of May 1, 2010.
This is MoFo. 68
Impact Issues
This is MoFo. 69
Impact Issues
Asset-liability management activities Investment portfolio management Hedging activities: identification and correlation issues
Investment banking activities Public distributions Private placements Corporate finance and advisory activities Market-making and dealing activities
Private fund activities Fund-of-fund activities Non-U.S. funds Provision of fund services and financial support
This is MoFo. 70
Impact Issues
Foreign banking entities Differentiating U.S. and non-U.S. activities
Derivatives activities
Compliance infrastructure requirements and demands Senior management and board responsibilities Accountability Level of detail IT/systems requirements Integration with existing compliance systems Human resources needed to implement
Non-bank financial institutions
This is MoFo. 71
Contact Information
Charles M. Horn Oliver I. Ireland
(202) 887-1555 (202) 877-1614
[email protected] [email protected]
Dwight C. Smith Barbara R. Mendelson
(202) 887-1562 (212) 468-8118
[email protected] [email protected]
David H. Kaufman Anna T. Pinedo
(212) 468-8237 (212) 468-8179