Posts by: Editorial Board

FHFA Extends COVID-19 Forbearance Period and Foreclosure and REO Eviction Moratoriums

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On February 25, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) are extending moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real-estate-owned (REO) evictions until June 30, 2021. Moratoriums on single-family foreclosures apply to Enterprise-backed, single-family mortgages only, while moratoriums on REO evictions apply to properties that have been acquired by an Enterprise through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure transactions. The FHFA also announced that borrowers with a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may be eligible for an additional forbearance extension for three additional months for up to 18 months. Further, COVID-19 Payment Deferral for borrowers with an Enterprise-backed mortgage can now cover up to 18 months of missed payments. Release.

OCC Issues Final Rule Regarding Regulatory Capital Treatment of Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity Investments

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On January 6, the OCC issued a final rule that applies to Category I and II banking organizations (advanced approaches banks), which include banking organizations and their subsidiary banks that have at least $700 billion in total consolidation assets, or $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets and $75 billion or more in cross-jurisdictional activities. The final rule requires deduction from advanced approaches banks’ regulatory capital for investments in certain unsecured debt instruments issued by bank holding companies subject to the Federal Reserve Board’s total loss-absorbing capacity and long-term debt requirements. Bulletin.

CFTC Further Extends Certain No-Action Relief to Market Participants in Response to COVID-19

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On September 11, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the Division of Swap Dealer Intermediary Oversight (DSIO) and the Division of Market Oversight (DMO) are further extending certain elements of the temporary no-action relief issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that are set to expire on September 30. The extended relief expires January 15. Such relief includes relief for affected firms from CFTC regulations related to voice trading and other telephonic communications, as well as time-stamping requirements when located in remote, socially-distanced locations. No-action relief will also be extended for SEFs and DCMs from certain CFTC regulations regarding audit trails, recording of oral communications, and related requirements as a result of the displacement of trading personnel from their normal business sites. Release.

SEC Updates and Expands Disclosures for Banking Registrants

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On September 11, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has adopted rules to update and expand the statistical disclosures that bank and savings and loan registrants provide to investors. The rules also eliminate certain disclosure items that are duplicative of other Commission rules and requirements of U.S. GAPP or IFRS. Release.

CFTC Approves Final Swap Dealer Capital Rule

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On July 22, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved a final rule regarding new capital and financial reporting requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants that are not subject to supervision by a banking regulator and imposing financial reporting requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants generally. The final rule provides swap dealers and major swap participants three alternative methods to establish and meet minimum capital requirements depending on the characteristics of their business. The final rule also includes: a comprehensive model approval process; accompanying financial reporting, recordkeeping, and notification requirements; and a substituted compliance determination process for those swap dealers that may already be required to maintain capital in accordance with a foreign regulator. Release.

Interim Final Rule and Interagency Statement for Real Estate-Related Financial Transactions Affected by the Coronavirus

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On April 14, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced an interim final rule that allows financial institutions to defer completion of appraisals and evaluations after the closing of certain residential and commercial real estate transactions. The deferrals provide flexibility for completing appraisals and evaluations to help financial institutions meet the immediate liquidity needs of borrowers during the coronavirus emergency. The interim final rule authorizes deferrals of appraisals and evaluations for all residential and commercial real estate transactions, except for transactions involving the acquisition, development, and construction of real estate, allows a bank up to 120 days from the closing of a transaction to obtain the appraisal or evaluation required under the appraisal regulations, and authorizes deferrals until December 31, 2020, when the interim final rule terminates. Bulletin.

Federal Bank Regulators Issue Interim Final Rule for Paycheck Protection Program Facility

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On April 9, the federal bank regulatory agencies today announced an interim final rule to encourage lending to small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The interim final rule modifies the agencies’ capital rules to neutralize the regulatory capital effects of participating in the Federal Reserve’s PPP facility because there is no credit or market risk in association with PPP loans pledged to the facility. Consistent with the agencies’ current capital rules and the CARES Act requirements, the interim final rule also clarifies that a zero percent risk weight applies to loans covered by the PPP for capital purposes. The rule is effective immediately. Release.

Treasury and Federal Reserve Board Announce Main Street Business Lending Program and a Municipal Liquidity Facility

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On April 9, the Treasury and Federal Reserve Board announced the establishment of the Main Street Business Lending Program and a Municipal Liquidity Facility. The Main Street Business Lending Program will enable up to $600 billion in new financing for businesses with up to 10,000 employees or $2.5 billion in 2019 annual revenues. The Municipal Liquidity Facility will provide up to $500 billion in direct financing to states, counties and cities. States, counties and cities will be able to sell new municipal notes directly to the Municipal Liquidity Facility to obtain the funds they need. Release.

SEC Proposes Amending the Definition of “Accredited Investor”

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On December 18, the Securities and Exchange Commission by a three to two vote, voted to propose amendments to the definition of “accredited investor,” one of the principal tests applied under the federal securities laws for determining who is eligible to participate in transactions that are not required to be registered with the SEC. Such transactions are commonly referred to as “private capital markets” transactions. In the words of the SEC, the proposal “seeks to update and improve the definition to more effectively identify institutional and individual investors that have the knowledge and expertise to participate in our private capital markets.”

In announcing the proposal, Jay Clayton, Chairman of the SEC, asserted that: “The current test for individual accredited investor status takes a binary approach to who does and does not qualify based only a person’s income or net worth. . . The proposal would add other means for natural persons to qualify to participate in our private capital markets based on established, clear measures of financial sophistication . . . .” For example, natural persons could qualify as accredited investors based on their professional knowledge and experience, as evidenced by them having obtained professional certifications. Another welcomed aspect of the proposal highlighted by the Chairman is that it “specifically recognizes that certain organizations, such as tribal governments, should not be restricted from participating in private capital markets” transactions if they meet certain investment thresholds. Proposed Rule.

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Securitization Regulation – Updates to the Questions and Answers by the European Securities and Markets Authority

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On November 15th, The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a new and updated version of its Questions and Answers in respect to the Securitization Regulation. 

The refreshed Questions and Answers provide direction on disclosure requirement in relation to ESMA’s draft technical standards, amongst other things. Questions and Answers.