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Loss-sharing Arrangements Keep Failed Bank Assets in Private Sector

Posted by Wendell Brock on Fri, Jul 31, 2009

The FDIC first began using loss-sharing arrangements in 1991, as the agency managed its way through the S&L crisis. Community banks benefited from these arrangements. These arrangements are associated with purchase and assumption agreements that transfer a failed bank's assets from the FDIC to a healthy bank. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the loss-sharing arrangement has made a dramatic return to the forefront.

Under a simple loss-sharing deal, the FDIC might agree to absorb 80 percent of the losses associated with a specific pool of non-performing loans that the healthy bank acquires in the transaction. The healthy bank would absorb the first 20 percent of losses arising from that loan book. The FDIC's liability to share in these losses would last for a stated time period, such as three, five or seven years. There would be additional terms governing the deal-including maximum aggregate losses incurred by the healthy bank, FDIC reimbursement of net charge-offs of  shared loss assets, etc.

A proven strategy

Between September of 1991 and January of 1993, the FDIC made loss-sharing arrangements in connection with 24 bank failures. The aggregate value of assets covered by those arrangements was approximately $18.5 billion. After the fact, the FDIC compared the costs of purchase agreements made with and without loss-share arrangements. The agency concluded that loss-share transactions were less expensive than the conventional purchase and assumption agreements, for both large and small banks. http://www.fdic.gov/bank/historical/managing/history1-07.pdf

Besides reduced resolution costs, there are other advantages associated with loss sharing, including:

Greater incentive for the healthy bank to acquire more than just the failed bank's deposits

  • Fewer disruptions for loan customers
  • Fewer assets being absorbed and subsequently managed/liquidated by the FDIC 
  • Fewer assets being removed from the private sector

FDIC loss-share arrangements have been called a win/win, but they are not without risks. The problem assets may be a distraction to the new management team, even if the potential for financial losses is limited. Where there is no loss-share agreement, the healthy bank takes only the deposits, thus beginning operations with a clean slate.

Today's crisis

In the first seven months of 2009, the FDIC has used loss share in at least 36 out of 64 bank failures. The aggregate value of assets covered by these arrangements is roughly $20 billion. Among the largest 2009 transactions are:

BankUnited FSB, $10.7 billion covered by loss-sharing

  • Security Bank of Jones, $1.6 billion covered by loss-sharing
  • Vineyard Bank, $1.5 billion covered by loss-sharing
  • Temecula Valley Bank, $1.5 billion covered by loss-sharing

A complete list of 2009 bank failures, along with links to the associated Purchase and Assumption agreements is available here: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

Topics: FDIC, Bank Failure, Risk Management, Bank Sales, community banks, Loss

FDIC Proposed Policy Statement Regarding Failed Bank Acquisitions

Posted by Wendell Brock on Thu, Jul 16, 2009

Given the large number of bank failures over the last 18 months, the FDIC is seeing increased interest from would-be investors interested in purchasing depository assets of the failed institutions. Concern has risen at the regulatory level about whether these new bank owners and investors have the qualifications necessary to keep the acquired assets from returning to the failed assets pool. That concern has led the FDIC to issue a proposed policy statement that would, if adopted, establish a new set of qualifications for investment groups intending to purchase failed bank assets. 

The proposed standards address the following topics:

  • Ownership structure
  • Capital levels
  • Cross guarantees
  • Affiliate transactions
  • Continuity of ownership
  • Secrecy law jurisdictions
  • Limitations on the existing owners of the failed institution
  • Disclosure requirements

Key measures of the proposal

  1. Silo structures will not be deemed eligible for bidding.
  2. A Tier 1 leverage ratio of 15 percent is required and must be maintained for three years. After that, the institution must remain "well capitalized."
  3. The holding company must agree to sell stock or engage in capital qualifying borrowing to support the depository institution.
  4. Investors with interests in more than one FDIC-insured institution have to pledge to the FDIC their proportionate interests in each institution.
  5. Loans to investors or investors' affiliates would be prohibited.
  6. Investors would have to retain ownership in the institution for at least three years. The FDIC can approve exceptions.
  7. Ownership structures involving entities domiciled in bank secrecy jurisdictions will not be eligible bidders.
  8. Investors owning 10 percent or more of the failed institution will not be eligible bidders.
  9. Investors will have to disclose to the FDIC information pertaining to the size and composition of capital funds, the business plan, the management team, etc.

Bidders subject to proposed rules

Under the current proposal, these rules would only be applicable to certain types of bank acquirers, namely:

  • Private capital investors attempting to take ownership of deposit liabilities that are currently in receivership
  • De novo institutions applying for FDIC insurance in association with "the resolution of failed insurance depository institutions" 

Balancing capital needs with prudence

While the FDIC is conscious of the need to qualify bidders, regulators are also concerned about placing too many limitations on the inflow of new capital into the banking system. The banking system needs private investor capital. Are these proposed rules going to inhibit the flow of that new capital? Or will the new standards deliver the right amount of prudence? Feel free to sound off!

Read the full FDIC statement here: http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-07-09-E9-16077 The proposal policy statement is open for public comments until early-August.

Topics: FDIC, failed banks, Buy a bank, Bank Buyers, Bank Regulators, bank investors, Bank Sales

Looking for Deals in All the Wrong Places?

Posted by Wendell Brock on Wed, Oct 08, 2008

 

The U.S. banking industry is caught in one of the worst crises in history. The momentous failure of Washington Mutual underscores how bad things have gotten: the bank's $307 billion asset base sharply exceeds the formerly largest failure of $40 billion Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust in 1984.   

Pressure from the ongoing liquidity crisis has pushed bank multiples down considerably, to the point that bargain hunting investors are out on the prowl. Prior to the present crisis, community banks were selling for somewhere between 2 and 3.6 times book value. Now, multiples have dropped below 2, hovering at about 1.85 times. The dip has created a scratch-and-dent sale of sorts, as investors can swoop in and purchase flawed community banks at a low price.

In early September for example, Yadkin Valley Financial Corp. announced that it would purchase American Community Bancshares Inc. and its American Community Bank subsidiary. The price tag on the deal was $92 million, just 168 percent of American Community Bancshares' book value.

In volatility there is opportunity

Prospective bank investors are recognizing that the best bargains can be had during the worst of times. Of course, the sale-priced banks do not come without significant problems that need to be worked out-but those problems are reflected in the pricing. So a cool-headed investment team with a clear strategy does have the opportunity to create substantial value. 

Investors should be prepared to face stiff competition on the best deals. The low multiples have caught the attention of investor groups of all types, from local community organizers to international investors. Most of these groups, by and large, appear to be focused on buying up the damaged goods, rather than building up from scratch.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast

The old military quote, "slow is smooth and smooth is fast," articulates what's needed to take advantage of the opportunities in the marketplace today. The successful investor group will need to wade through competition from other investors, an increasingly stringent regulatory environment, the due diligence necessary to understand the bank's underlying problems and how much it will cost to fix them and, of course, the present liquidity crunch.

Preparing to purchase a bank under any condition is an effort that takes commitment and concentration. The added complexity created by today's environment is not to be taken lightly; in other words, this isn't the type of deal that can be phoned in. A team must be carefully assembled to provide sufficient levels of experience, talent and drive. The strategy must deliberate and focused. And, finally, the execution must be, above all, efficient.

Topics: Bank Opportunities, Buy a bank, Start a bank, Smarter Banks, Bank Mergers, Bank Sales

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