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Dokument:
Zitat:
Comptroller of the Currency
Administrator of National Banks
Washington, D.C.
September 25,2008
Kathryn V. McCulloch
Senior Vice President and
Associate General Counsel
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
277 Park Avenue, 1 9th FLOO~
New York, NY 10 172
Re: Applications for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Columbus, Ohio
("JPMCB"), to Acquire Assets and Liabilities from Washington Mutual Bank,
Henderson, Nevada ("WMB"), and to Merge Washington Mutual Bank FSB, Park City,
Utah ("WMBIFSB"), a subsidiary of WMB, into JPMCB; and for Chase USA, National
Association, Newark, Delaware, to Acquire from JPMCB Certain of the Assets and
Liabilities that JPMCB Acquired from WMB
Application Control Numbers: 2008-ML-02-00 1 1, 00 12, 00 13
Dear Ms. McCulloch:
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC"), for the reasons discussed below, hereby
approves the applications (1) of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Columbus, Ohio
("JPMCB"), to (a) acquire assets and liabilities from Washington Mutual Bank, Henderson,
Nevada ("WMB"), and (b) to acquire by merger Washington Mutual Bank FSB, Park City, Utah
("WMBIFSB"), a subsidiary of WMB; and (2) of Chase USA, National Association, Newark,
Delaware (CUSA), to acquire from JPMCB certain of the assets and liabilities related to the
credit card accounts acquired by JPMCB from WMB. This approval is granted following review
of the application, other materials you have supplied, and other information available to the
OCC, including commitments and representations made in the application and by representatives
of JPMCB and CUSA during the application process. As discussed below, the transactions may
be consummated immediately upon approval.
PROPOSAL
WMB, a federal savings bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC"), was closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision on september 25,2008,
and the FDIC was appointed as receiver. The FDIC sought bids from potential acquirers to
acquire WMB, including its subsidiary WMBIFSB. JPMCB was the winning bidder. WMB has
branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,
Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. WMBIFSB is a federal
savings bank with deposits insured by the FDIC and branches in Utah and Idaho. JPMCB is a
national bank with deposits insured by the FDIC. It has branches in several states, including
many of the states in which WMB and WMBIFSB also have branches. CUSA is a national bank
that is insured by the FDIC and has no branches.
JPMCB proposes to merge WMBIFSB into JPMCB immediately after consummation of
JPMCB's purchase and assumption of the assets, including the stock of WMBIFSB, and
liabilities of WMB. CUSA proposes to consummate its purchase of credit card accounts,
including associated assets and liabilities, from JPMCB immediately after consummation of the
merger between JPMCB and WMBIFSB.
ANALYSIS
Authority for the transactions and branch retention
National banks have long been authorized to purchase assets and assume liabilities of other
depository institutions as an activity incidental to banking under the authority of 12 U.S.C.
5 24(Seventh).' Consequently, JPMCB may acquire deposits and assets of WMB as proposed.2
The next transaction, the merger between JPMCB and WMBIFSB, is authorized under 12 U.S.C.
5 21 5c. Finally, the purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities from JPMCB by CUSA is
permissible under 12 U.S.C. 9 24(~eventh).~
Moreover, JPMCB is authorized to retain as branches the main office and branches of WMB and
WMBIFSB. The FDIC Board, in approving the acquisition of assets and liabilities of WMB by
JPMCB, has invoked its authority under 12 U.S.C. 5 1823(k) to override any state laws that, as
applied to national banks, would prohibit, restrict, limit, or lack authorization for JPMCB to
retain those offices as bran~hes.~o nse~uentltyhe, OCC concludes that JPMCB has authority
1 See, e.g., City National Bank of Huron v. Fuller, 52 F.2d 870, 872 (8th Cir. 193 1).
2 As will be discussed, the FDIC Board, upon making the relevant findings, relied on its authority under 12 U.S.C.
$ 1823(k) to authorize this transaction.
3 With respect to the possibility that WMB or WMBIFSB may hold assets or subsidiaries or engage in activities not
permitted for national banks, JPMCB has represented in its application that it will divest itself of any such
nonconforming or impermissible assets, subsidiaries, or activities acquired through the transactions addressed in this
approval within two years of the consummation date of these transactions or within any other period of time that the
OCC deems appropriate. CUSA also has represented that it will divest itself of any nonconforming or
impermissible activities or assets acquired through its purchase and assumption agreement with JPMCB within two
years, or such other time period as the OCC deems appropriate.
4 CJ: Colorado State Banking Board v. Resolzction Trust Corporation, 926 F.2d 93 1 (loth Cir. 1991); Arkansas State
Banking Commissioner v. Resolution Trzrst Corporation, 91 1 F.2d 161 (8th Cir. 1990) (upholding authority of RTC
to override state law branching limitations under 12 U.S.C. $ 1823(k) including as applied to national banks).
to retain as branches the main offices and branches of WMB and WMBIFSB in each of the states
in which such offices are 10cated.~
Bank Merger Act
The OCC reviewed the proposed purchase and assumption transactions between JPMCB and
WMB and between JPMCB and CUSA, and the proposed merger between JPMCB and
WMBIFSB under the factors set forth in the Bank Merger Act ("BMA"),~ and applicable OCC
regulations and policies. The OCC considered these factors and found them consistent with
approval.
In addition, the OCC finds that it must act immediately under the standards set forth in the BMA
to approve the proposed acquisition by JPMCB of WMB.' At the time of entering its bid,
JPMCB advised the FDIC and the OCC by letter of its need to immediately after consummation
merge WMBIFSB into JPMCB and to have CUSA immediately assume the credit card business
acquired by JPMCB as a result of those transactions.
In light of the close interrelationship between the JPMCBIWMB purchase and assumption
transaction and the JPMCBIWMBIFSB merger and the JPMCBICUSA purchase and assumption
transaction, the OCC has determined that it must act immediately under the BMA to approve the
JPMCBIWN'IBIFSB merger and the JPMCBICUSA purchase and assumption transaction as well
as the JPMCBIWNIB purchase and assumption transaction.
Community Reinvestment Act
The Community Reinvestment Act ("CRY) requires the OCC to take into account the
applicants' record of helping to meet the credit needs of the community, including low-andmoderate-
income ("LN'II") neighborhoods, when evaluating certain applications, including
transactions that are subject to the BMA.~ The OCC considers the CRA performance evaluation
of each institution involved in the transaction. A review of the record of these applicants and
other information available to the OCC as a result of its regulatory responsibilities revealed no
evidence that the applicants' record of helping to meet the credit needs of their communities,
including LMI neighborhoods, is less than satisfactory.
5 Title 12 U.S.C. 5 36(e)(l) specifically authorizes national banks to acquire, establish or operate branches
authorized under 12 U.S.C. 5 1823(k). Moreover, we note that under 12 U.S.C. 5 36(c), JPMCB may also retain and
operate as branches the main offices and branches of WMB and WMBIFSB in the various states in which JPMCB
has branches, and in the various states where JPMCB may establish interstate de novo branches under 12 U.S.C.
5 36(g).
' 12 U.S.C. 5 1828(c)(3).
8 Consequently, certain procedural requirements of the BMA are inapplicable to any of the transactions. 12 U.S.C.
5 1828(~)(3)(,4 )(C), and (6).
9 12 U.S.C. 5 2903; 12 C.F.R. $5 5.33(e)(l)(iv), 25.29.
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Consummation guidance
This approval is granted based on our understanding that other applicable regulatory approvals,
non-objections or waivers with respect to the proposed transactions will have been received prior
to the consummation of the transaction. Within seven days of consummation of the transaction,
please provide the Large Bank Licensing Lead Expert with copies of: a Secretary's Certificate
for JPMCB, WMBIFSB, and CUSA certifying that a majority of the boards of directors of the
relevant institutions approved the transaction; and executed purchase and assumption and merger
agreements.
This approval and the activities and communications by OCC employees in connection with the
filing, do not constitute a contract, express or implied, or any other obligation binding upon the
OCC, the U.S., any agency or entity of the U.S., or any officer or employee of the U.S., and do
not affect the ability of the OCC to exercise its supervisory, regulatory and examination
authorities under applicable law and regulations. The foregoing may not be waived or modified
by any employee or agent of the OCC or the U.S.
If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact Stephen A. Lybarger at 202-874-5294
or at Stephen.Lybarger@OCC.treas.gov. Please reference the application control number in any
correspondence.
hie L. Williams
First Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel
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