due diligence

FinCEN Issues Customer Due Diligence Rule (CDD) FAQs

On July 19, 2016, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued FAQs regarding the customer due diligence requirements (“CDD”) that it published on May 11, 2016, for certain financial institutions, including brokers, dealers, future commission merchants and introducing brokers in commodities.  The FAQs provide interpretive guidance with respect to these requirements, including, in particular, the new regulatory requirement to identify and verify the identity of the “beneficial owners” of virtually all legal entity customers, other than a sole proprietorship and an unincorporated association.  The CDD defines “beneficial owner” as:

  • each individual, if any, who, directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the equity interests of a legal entity customer; and
  • a single individual with significant responsibility to control, manage, or direct a legal entity customer, including an executive officer or senior manager. . .
  • or any other individual who regularly performs similar functions.”

The FAQs states:  “In short, covered financial institutions are now required to obtain, verify, and record the identities of the beneficial owners of legal entity customers.”

Summary Judgment Denied in Monoline Insurer Lawsuit Against J.P. Morgan

On June 6, 2016, Justice Alan D. Scheinkman of the New York Supreme Court for Westchester County denied J.P. Morgan’s motion for summary judgment on MBIA’s fraudulent concealment claim. The court had previously granted summary judgment in favor of J.P. Morgan on MBIA’s fraud claim, but permitted MBIA to amend its complaint to add a fraudulent concealment claim that J.P. Morgan failed to disclose complete and accurate third-party due diligence results regarding the collateral underlying the securitization. First, Scheinkman rejected J.P. Morgan’s argument that it did not owe MBIA an affirmative duty to disclose the results of the due diligence review. The Court held that the bid letter between J.P. Morgan and MBIA evinced a contractual relationship between the parties, and that even in the absence of such a relationship, J.P. Morgan was acting as an agent for the deal’s sponsor, who was obligated to share the due diligence results with MBIA.  Second, Scheinkman held that issues of fact precluded summary judgment on actual reliance, because withholding, disguising the significance, and delivering an altered version of due diligence results may have thwarted MBIA’s ability to protect itself.  Last, the Court held that whether MBIA justifiably relied on J.P. Morgan’s failure to disclose the due diligence results is a question for the jury.  Decision & Order.

U.S. Treasury Announces Customer Due Diligence Final Rule for Financial Institutions

On May 5, 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Final Rule that requires financial institutions to conduct certain diligence to verify personal information of beneficial owners of legal entity customers.  The final rule under the Bank Secrecy Act was published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2016 and becomes effective July 11, 2016.  Press ReleaseFinal Rule.

Treasury Announces Key Regulations and Legislation to Counter Money Laundering and Corruption, Combat Tax Evasion

On May 5, 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced several actions to strengthen financial transparency.  Treasury announced a Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Final Rule, proposed Beneficial Ownership legislation and proposed regulations related to foreign-owned, single-member limited liability companies (LLCs).

CDD Final Rule

The CDD Final Rule adds a new requirement that financial institutions – including banks, brokers or dealers in securities, mutual funds, futures commission merchants, and introducing brokers in commodities – collect and verify the personal information of the beneficial owners who own, control, and profit from companies when those companies open accounts.  The Final Rule also amends existing Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulations to clarify and strengthen obligations of these entities.

Specifically, the rule contains three core requirements: (1) identifying and verifying the identity of the beneficial owners of companies opening accounts; (2) understanding the nature and purpose of customer relationships to develop customer risk profiles; and (3) conducting ongoing monitoring to identify and report suspicious transactions and, on a risk basis, to maintain and update customer information.  With respect to the new requirement to obtain beneficial ownership information, financial institutions will have to identify and verify the identity of any individual who owns 25 percent or more of a legal entity, and an individual who controls the legal entity.  The final rule extends the proposed implementation period from one year to two years, expands the list of exemptions and makes use of a standardized beneficial ownership form optional as long as a financial institution collects the required information.

Beneficial Ownership Legislation

Treasury announced it is sending beneficial ownership legislation to Congress.  As part of the legislation, companies formed within the United States would be required to file beneficial ownership information with the Treasury Department, and face penalties for failure to comply.

Foreign-Owned Single-Member LLC Proposed Regulations

Treasury also announced proposed regulations to require foreign-owned “disregarded entities,” including foreign-owned single-member limited liability companies (LLCs), to obtain an employer identification number (EIN) with the IRS.

Rating Agency Developments

On June 30, Fitch updated its U.S. RMBS criteria for originator reviews, due diligence, and representations and warranties. Fitch Release.

On June 30, Fitch updated its criteria for rating U.S. timeshare loan ABS. Fitch Release.

On June 28, Fitch updated its criteria for global credit card ABS. Fitch Release.

On June 28, Moody’s published methodology for rating ABS backed by utility cost recovery charges. Moody’s Release.

On June 28, Moody’s released a report on its approach to analyzing performance disruption risk in securitizations. Moody’s Report.

On June 27, Moody’s issued a request for comment on changes to its ABCP operational risk guidelines. Comments are due by July 15. Moody’s Release.

On June 24, Fitch updated its future flow securitization rating criteria. Fitch Release.

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