[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 244 (Thursday, December 20, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72235-72239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24676]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Thrift Supervision

12 CFR Part 584

[Docket ID OTS-2007-0007]
RIN 1550-AC10


Permissible Activities of Savings and Loan Holding Companies

AGENCY: Office of Thrift Supervision, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) is revising its 
regulations, at 12 CFR 584.2 and 584.2-2, to expand the permissible 
activities of savings and loan holding companies (SLHCs) to the full 
extent permitted under the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA). In addition, 
OTS is amending 12 CFR 584.4 to conform the regulation to the statute 
that it is intended to implement, and to set forth standards that OTS 
will use to evaluate applications submitted pursuant to the statutory 
application requirement.

DATES: This rule is effective April, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald W. Dwyer, Director, 
Applications, Examination and Supervision--Operations, (202) 906-6414; 
or Kevin A. Corcoran, (202) 906-6962, Deputy Chief Counsel for Business 
Transactions, Office of Chief Counsel; Office of Thrift Supervision, 
1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    On March 27, 2007, OTS published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPR) that proposed certain changes to the OTS Holding Company 
Regulations.\1\ In the NPR, OTS proposed to expand the activities 
permissible for SLHCs. In addition, OTS proposed to revise its 
regulations at 12 CFR 584.4 to: (i) Conform to the statute it 
implements by providing that OTS may approve acquisitions by SLHCs of 
more than five percent of the voting shares of a savings association 
that is not a subsidiary of the acquiring SLHC, or more than five 
percent of the voting shares of a SLHC that is not a subsidiary of the 
acquiring SLHC; (ii) provide approval standards for applications 
submitted under the regulation; and (iii) reorganize the regulation.
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    \1\ 72 FR 14246 (Mar. 27, 2007).
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A. Holding Company Activities

    With respect to holding company activities, under section 10(c)(9) 
of the HOLA,\2\ SLHCs generally are permitted to engage only in 
activities that are permissible for financial holding companies under 
section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act (BHCA),\3\ or activities 
that are listed in section 10(c)(2) of the HOLA.\4\ Section 
10(c)(2)(F)(i) permits SLHCs to engage in activities:
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    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 1467a(c)(9).
    \3\ 12 U.S.C. 1843(k).
    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 1467a(c)(2). SLHCs that were SLHCs on May 4, 1999, 
and meet certain other requirements, are excepted from the 
activities limitations of section 10(c)(9) of the HOLA. See 12 
U.S.C. 1467a(c)(9)(C).

which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, by 
regulation, has determined to be permissible for bank holding 
companies under section 1843(c) of this title, unless the Director, 
by regulation, prohibits or limits any such activity for savings and 
loan holding companies. * * * \5\
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    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 1467a(c)(2)(F)(i).

    As authorized by the statute, OTS limited the activities permitted 
for SLHCs under section 10(c)(2)(F)(i) of the HOLA. OTS regulations 
implementing section 10(c)(2)(F)(i) have limited the activities that 
are permissible under this authority to activities that the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) has permitted for bank 
holding companies under regulations implementing section 4(c)(8) of the 
BHCA.\6\
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    \6\ 12 U.S.C. 1843(c)(8).
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    In the NPR, OTS observed that the regulatory scheme for SLHCs has 
changed significantly since the regulations were first promulgated in 
1987. In 1987, most SLHCs were excepted from activities restrictions. 
After the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act \7\ in 1999, all new 
SLHCs have been, with limited exceptions, subject to activities 
restrictions.
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    \7\ Pub. L. 106-102, 113 Stat. 338, section 401.
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    In addition, since 1987 many foreign entities have acquired, or 
have expressed interest in acquiring, a savings association. To the 
extent that sections 4(c)(9) and 4(c)(13) of the BHCA, and regulations 
that the FRB has promulgated thereunder, authorize bank holding 
companies with foreign operations to engage in certain activities, it 
would appear appropriate to provide the same authority to SLHCs.
    For many years, bank holding companies have been permitted to 
engage in the activities described in section 4(c) of the BHCA, 
consistent with the regulations of the FRB. OTS is not aware of any 
safety and soundness or other reason why SLHCs should not be permitted 
to engage in the same activities.
    Accordingly, OTS proposed to revise its regulations to enable SLHCs 
to engage in activities that the FRB has permitted under any regulation 
that the FRB has promulgated under section 4(c) of the BHCA.

B. Approval Requirement for Certain Acquisitions by SLHCs

    Section 10(e)(1)(A)(iii) of HOLA prohibits SLHCs from directly or 
indirectly acquiring, without OTS approval, more than five percent of 
the voting shares of a savings association that is not a subsidiary of 
the acquiring SLHC, or more than five percent of the voting shares of a 
SLHC that is not a subsidiary of the acquiring SLHC.\8\
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    \8\ 12 U.S.C. 1467a(e)(1)(A)(iii). The statute establishes eight 
exceptions from the approval requirement. See 12 U.S.C. 
1467a(e)(1)(A)(iii)(I)-(VIII). In addition, section 10(e)(1)(A)(iii) 
prohibits multiple SLHCs from acquiring or retaining more than five 
percent of the voting shares of any company not a subsidiary that is 
engaged in any business activity other than the activities specified 
in section 10(c)(2) of HOLA.

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[[Page 72236]]

    The Holding Company Regulations, at 12 CFR 584.4, implement section 
10(e)(1)(A)(iii) of HOLA. The American Homeownership and Economic 
Opportunity Act of 2000 \9\ (AHEO Act) amended section 10(e)(1)(A)(iii) 
to replace the former absolute prohibition on SLHCs acquiring more than 
five percent of the voting shares of a savings association or SLHC not 
a subsidiary of the acquiring SLHC (subject to the exceptions noted 
above), with a regulatory approval requirement. In the NPR, OTS 
proposed to replace the absolute prohibition in the regulation with an 
approval requirement, to make the regulation consistent with the 
statute.
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    \9\ Pub. L. 106-569 (Dec. 27, 2000), at section 1202, 114 Stat. 
3032.
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    In addition, although the AHEO Act established a regulatory 
approval requirement for the acquisitions in question, the statute did 
not establish approval standards for applications submitted as a result 
of the approval requirement. OTS proposed to amend the regulation to 
set forth approval standards for applications submitted under section 
10(e)(1)(A)(iii) and Sec.  584.4.
    Finally, in light of the amendments to Sec.  584.4 proposed above, 
OTS proposed to reorganize Sec.  584.4.

II. Public Comments

    OTS received six comments regarding the NPR. Three were from trade 
associations in which savings associations are members, one was from a 
savings association, one was from an SLHC, and one was from a trade 
association in which credit unions are members.
    All of the comments except one expressed support for the proposed 
amendments. The comment that did not support the proposed amendments 
did not object to the expansion of permissible holding company 
activities or the revisions to section 584.4, but asserted that the 
proposed regulation would provide ``insufficient transparency'' because 
the provisions relating to permissible holding company activities did 
not provide for public comment in the event an application was 
required.\10\
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    \10\ The same commenter also asserted that OTS should undertake 
greater efforts to ensure that information regarding SLHC activities 
and acquisitions is widely disseminated on a national basis to those 
in the financial services industry who are interested in following 
these activities. OTS considers this comment to be beyond the scope 
of the NPR. In any event, information regarding acquisitions of 
depository institutions by SLHCs is publicly available, and 
information regarding the activities of SLHCs with securities 
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is publicly 
available.
    The commenter also asserted that the OTS Application Processing 
Regulations should be revised to require a meeting to occur where a 
commenter raises an objection to a transaction. This comment also is 
beyond the scope of the NPR. OTS recently amended 12 CFR 516.170 to 
eliminate the requirement that a meeting be held under such 
circumstances, and state, instead, that OTS will grant a meeting 
request if it ``finds that written submissions are insufficient to 
address facts or issues raised in an application, or otherwise 
determines that a meeting will benefit the decision-making 
process.'' See 69 FR 68239, at 68242 (Nov. 24, 2004). The amendment 
revised the meeting provisions to conform more closely to those of 
the other banking agencies.
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    OTS has considered the comment and has decided not to require 
public notice and comment for applications required under the holding 
company activities regulations. The application provisions of the 
holding company activities regulations have been in place since the 
1980s, and have not required publication. OTS is not aware of any 
negative consequences that have resulted from the lack of a publication 
requirement. Moreover, the relevant statute, section 10(c)(4) of HOLA, 
does not require publication. Also, no public comment is required for 
SLHCs to engage in financial holding company activities, which 
generally are broader than bank holding company activities. Finally, in 
the event that OTS concludes that public comment is appropriate in a 
particular case, OTS may require public notice and comment.
    Four of the remaining comments made specific suggestions regarding 
the proposed regulation.
    One commenter requested that OTS clarify that any SLHC that seeks 
to exercise powers that the FRB has provided to bank holding companies 
pursuant to sections 4(c)(9) or 4(c)(13) of the BHCA must comply with 
the terms and conditions that the FRB has applied to bank holding 
companies under FRB regulations, including the Qualifying Foreign 
Banking Organization (QFBO) test, and 12 CFR 211.602.
    It is OTS's position that SLHCs that exercise powers pursuant to 
section 4(c)(9) of the BHCA must comply with the QFBO test, and that 
SLHCs that exercise powers pursuant to section 4(c)(13) of the BHCA 
must comply with 12 CFR 211.602. OTS believes that the regulation, as 
proposed, and as promulgated today, makes clear that SLHCs that propose 
to engage in activities that are permissible for bank holding companies 
under section 4(c) of the BHCA generally must do so pursuant to the 
conditions set forth in the FRB's regulations. In this regard, the 
regulation provides that ``the services and activities permissible for 
bank holding companies pursuant to regulations that the [FRB] has 
promulgated pursuant to section 4(c) of the [BHCA] are permissible for 
[SLHCs and their non-savings association subsidiaries].''
    Another commenter asserted that, since 1999, the FRB has approved 
certain bank holding company activities that were not approved as of 
1999 on an informal basis through the issuance of interpretations. The 
commenter urges OTS to confirm that if the ``activity has been approved 
by an interpretation of Section 4(c)(8) for bank holding companies, * * 
* the activity be considered approved for savings and loan holding 
companies.''
    The HOLA and OTS regulations provide that if an activity has been 
permitted under the FRB's regulations, promulgated under section 4(c) 
of the BHCA, it is permissible for SLHCs. If the FRB has interpreted 
those regulations to permit certain activities, OTS would generally 
adhere to those interpretations. However, without knowing the facts and 
circumstances regarding a particular interpretation, OTS cannot confirm 
the commenter's position with respect to any particular interpretation.
    The same commenter has requested that OTS clarify that OTS's 
procedures and requirements for SLHC activities remain separate and 
distinct from those of the FRB for bank holding companies. The 
commenter asserts that imposition of additional regulatory procedures 
and requirements for SLHCs would require further public notice and 
comment.
    OTS regulations, at 12 CFR 584.2-2, set forth the procedures for 
filing with OTS for permission to engage in bank holding company 
activities.
    As noted in the preamble to the NPR, Section 10(c)(4) of the HOLA 
generally requires prior OTS approval with respect to the activities 
described in section 10(c)(2)(F)(i) of the HOLA. Certain of these 
activities are already permitted under other OTS regulations without 
prior OTS approval, or are permitted under FRB regulations without 
prior FRB approval. In the preamble to the NPR, OTS proposed, in order 
to avoid imposing additional restrictions on currently permissible 
activities, and to provide for parity between bank holding companies 
and SLHCs to the extent possible, to provide in the regulation that 
activities that are authorized under section 10(c)(2)(F)(i) of HOLA, 
but are also permissible under

[[Page 72237]]

other provisions of section 10(c) of the HOLA or under FRB regulations 
without prior FRB approval are preapproved.
    OTS, in preparing this final regulation, has carefully considered 
the provisions of section 10(c)(4) of the HOLA, and of OTS regulations. 
Section 10(c)(4) of HOLA requires that OTS, in reviewing an application 
by an SLHC to engage in a bank holding company activity under authority 
of section 10(c)(2)(F)(i) of the HOLA, consider whether the performance 
of the activity in question can reasonably be expected to produce 
benefits to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects of such 
activity, the managerial resources of the companies involved, and the 
adequacy of the financial resources, including capital, of the 
companies involved. \11\
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    \11\ 12 U.S.C. 1467a(c)(4)(B).
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    Because the standard requires OTS to consider factors relating to 
the specific company and activity, OTS believes that preapproval of 
such activities is not appropriate for all SLHCs. \12\ However, OTS 
conducts comprehensive consolidated supervision of SLHCs, including 
assessing financial and managerial resources at each holding company 
examination, and on a routine basis through ongoing offsite monitoring. 
OTS, therefore, believes that an SLHC that received a rating of 
satisfactory or above prior to January 1, 2008, or a composite rating 
of ``1'' or ``2'' thereafter, on its most recent examination, and is 
not deemed to be in a troubled condition \13\ meets the statutory 
criteria pertaining to managerial and financial resources. In addition, 
OTS believes that, where an SLHC that has the requisite managerial and 
financial resources proposes to commence an activity de novo, the 
activity would not lead to undue concentration of resources, decreased 
or unfair competition, conflicts of interest, or unsound financial 
practices. \14\ Accordingly, OTS is amending the Holding Company 
Regulation to provide that where any SLHC that proposes to engage in an 
activity on a de novo basis is rated satisfactory or above and is not 
in a troubled condition, the activity is preapproved. \15\
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    \12\ The final regulation provides that if the activity is 
permissible for an SLHC under authority other than section 
10(c)(2)(F)(i) of the HOLA, the application requirements of Sec.  
584.2-2 are inapplicable.
    \13\ ``Troubled condition'' is defined at 12 CFR 563.555. An 
SLHC is deemed to be in a troubled condition if it has an 
unsatisfactory rating under OTS's holding company rating system, or 
has been informed in writing by OTS that it has an adverse effect on 
its subsidiary savings association; is subject to a capital 
directive, a cease-and-desist order, a consent order, a formal 
written agreement, or a prompt corrective action directive relating 
to the safety and soundness or financial viability of the savings 
association; or is informed in writing by OTS that it is in troubled 
condition.
    \14\ OTS believes that the de novo activity would, by its 
nature, add a competitor to any relevant market, and also reduce the 
concentration of resources; also, where the SLHC meets the 
managerial and financial resources standards, it will have the means 
to avoid harmful conflicts, and unsound financial practices.
    \15\ This treatment of activities is consistent with section 
10(c)(4)(C) of HOLA, which provides that: In prescribing any 
regulation or considering any application under this paragraph, the 
Director may differentiate between activities commenced de novo and 
activities commenced by the acquisition, in whole, or in part, of a 
going concern.
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    Finally, one commenter, a savings association subsidiary of a 
mutual holding company (MHC), requested that OTS clarify one of the 
effects of the proposal on permissible activities for MHCs.
    Under 12 CFR 575.11(a), an MHC may engage in any business activity 
specified in section 10(c)(2) or section 10(c)(9) of the HOLA. Because 
OTS previously limited the bank holding company activities that SLHCs 
may engage in under section 10(c)(2)(F)(i) to the section 4(c)(8) 
activities, activities described in other subsections of section 4(c) 
generally have not been permissible for MHCs.
    Section 4(c)(6) of the BHCA permits bank holding companies to hold 
less than five percent of the outstanding shares of any company. 
Today's amendment to the holding company activities regulations results 
in Sec.  575.11(a) authorizing mutual holding companies to engage in 
the activity of holding less than five percent of the stock of any 
entity.
    The comment notes that a separate section of the MHC regulations, 
12 CFR 575.10(a)(6), includes language that appears to contradict this 
result. Section 575.10(a)(6) provides that an MHC may make controlling 
or non-controlling investments in the stock of entities other than 
savings associations or SLHCs only under certain circumstances. One of 
the requirements is that the company in which the investment is made be 
engaged exclusively in activities that are permissible for MHCs 
pursuant to section 575.11(a), or that the stock may be purchased by a 
federal savings association under the OTS subordinate organization 
regulations or by a state savings association under the law of the 
relevant state.
    The commenter's concern is that while Sec.  10(c)(2) and Sec.  
575.11(a), by their terms, permit MHCs to hold up to five percent of 
the voting stock of any entity, Sec.  575.10(a)(6) appears to indicate 
that even where the investment in a company's stock is less than five 
percent, the company's activities must be permissible under Sec.  
575.11.
    Assume, for example, that an MHC proposes to acquire 3.9 percent of 
the stock of a retail store. The acquisition of the shares would be 
permissible under Sec.  575.11(a), because section 10(c)(2) of HOLA 
(through the reference to section 4(c) of the BHCA, under section 
10(c)(2)(F)(i)) allows an MHC to hold less than five percent of the 
voting stock of any company. The activity raises an issue under Sec.  
575.10(a)(6), because, while the MHC itself may be engaged in a 
permissible activity under Sec.  575.11, certain language in Sec.  
575.10(a)(6) appears to require the company in which the investment is 
made to be engaged only in permissible activities. Since the company is 
engaged in retail activities, there is an issue as to whether the 
investment is outside the scope of Sec.  575.10(a)(6).
    OTS concludes that it is appropriate to interpret Sec.  
575.10(a)(6) as not prohibiting an MHC from making non-controlling 
investments in another entity where that investment includes less than 
five percent of the entity's voting stock, regardless of the specific 
activities in which the entity engages. Otherwise, the ability of MHCs 
to engage in activities within the scope of section 4(c)(6) of the BHCA 
would be meaningless for MHCs. In addition, Sec.  575.10(a) implements 
section 10(o)(5) of HOLA, which, by its terms, allows MHCs to engage 
in, among other things, the activities described in section 10(c)(2) of 
the HOLA. Furthermore, section 10(o)(7) of HOLA provides that, unless 
the context otherwise requires, an MHC is subject to the requirements 
of section 10 regarding SLHCs.
    The commenter also requested that OTS confirm that no prior notice 
or application to OTS is required under the MHC regulations for an MHC 
to engage in activities that are authorized for bank holding companies 
under section 4(c) of the BHCA, including investments in less than five 
percent of the stock of another entity.
    Section 10(o)(7) of the HOLA provides that, unless the context 
otherwise requires, MHCs are subject to the other requirements of 
section 10 of the HOLA regarding regulation of SLHCs. Accordingly, MHCs 
are subject to the filing requirements under section 10(c)(4) of the 
HOLA discussed above, regarding activities that are permissible under 
section 4(c) of the BHCA, which are set forth in section 584.2-2(a). 
Moreover, under section 575.11(a), MHCs are required to file with OTS 
to engage in any activity, and would be required to file under section 
575.11(a) to engage in an activity, even when the

[[Page 72238]]

activity is excepted from the holding company filing requirements under 
the proviso in section 584.2-2(a). OTS may reconsider this requirement 
in a subsequent rulemaking. Revisions to the MHC filing requirement, 
however, are beyond the scope of this rulemaking. Finally, OTS has 
informally taken the position that an application is not required under 
section 575.11(a) where an MHC proposes to hold less than five percent 
of the voting stock of another entity.

IV. Findings and Certifications

A. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, OTS may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not 
required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. 
The proposed collection of information was submitted to OMB for review 
and approval (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). None of the public comments suggested 
that the information collection should be modified. Any material 
modifications will be submitted to OMB for review and approval.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4.
    Estimated Burden Hours per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden: 8 hours.

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                                                                                      Average         Annual
                                                     Number of       Number of     annual burden   disclosure &
      Rule section                Subject           respondents    responses per     hours per     recordkeeping
                                                                    respondent       response         burden
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584.2-2.................  Application to engage                2               1               2               4
                           in certain activities.
584.4...................  Application by SLHC to               2               1               2               4
                           acquire non-
                           controlling interest
                           exceeding five
                           percent of non-
                           subsidiary savings
                           association or SLHC.
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B. Executive Order 12866

    The Director of OTS has determined that this final rule does not 
constitute a significant regulatory action for the purposes of 
Executive Order 12866.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In accordance with section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA), the Director of OTS has certified that this final rule will not 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities 
within the meaning of the RFA. 5 U.S.C. 603.

D. Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires an 
agency to prepare a budgetary impact statement before promulgating a 
rule that includes a Federal mandate that may result in expenditure by 
state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. 2 U.S.C. 1532. 
OTS has determined that this final rule would not have such an impact. 
Rather, the rule would provide that nonexempt SLHCs have broader 
authority to engage in activities than are specified under current 
regulations. Accordingly, OTS has not prepared a budgetary impact 
statement for this rule or specifically addressed the regulatory 
alternatives considered.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 584

    Administrative practice and procedure, Holding companies, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Savings associations, Securities.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Office of Thrift 
Supervision amends 12 CFR part 584 as follows:

PART 584--SAVINGS AND LOAN HOLDING COMPANIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 584 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462, 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1467a, 1468.


0
2. Revise the part heading for part 584 to read as shown above.

0
3. Revise Sec.  584.2(b)(6)(i) to read as follows:


Sec.  584.2  Prohibited activities.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (6) * * *
    (i) That the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has 
permitted for bank holding companies pursuant to regulations 
promulgated under section 4(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act; or
* * * * *

0
4. Revise Sec.  584.2-2(a) to read as follows:


Sec.  584.2-2  Permissible bank holding company activities of savings 
and loan holding companies.

    (a) General. For purposes of Sec.  584.2(b)(6)(i) of this part, the 
services and activities permissible for bank holding companies pursuant 
to regulations that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System has promulgated pursuant to section 4(c) of the Bank Holding 
Company Act are permissible for savings and loan holding companies, or 
subsidiaries thereof that are neither savings associations nor service 
corporation subsidiaries of subsidiary savings associations: Provided, 
That no savings and loan holding company shall commence any activity 
described in this paragraph (a) without the prior approval of this 
Office pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, unless--
    (1) The holding company received a rating of satisfactory or above 
prior to January 1, 2008, or a composite rating of ``1'' or ``2'' 
thereafter, in its most recent examination, and is not in a troubled 
condition as defined in Sec.  563.555, and the holding company does not 
propose to commence the activity by an acquisition (in whole or in 
part) of a going concern; or
    (2) The activity is permissible under authority other than section 
10(c)(2)(F)(i) of the HOLA without prior notice or approval. Where an 
activity is within the scope of both Sec.  584.2-1 of this part and 
this section, the procedures of Sec.  584.2-1 of this part shall 
govern.
* * * * *

0
5. Revise Sec.  584.4 to read as follows:


Sec.  584.4  Certain acquisitions by savings and loan holding 
companies.

    (a) Acquisitions by a savings and loan holding company of more than 
five percent of a non-subsidiary savings association or savings and 
loan holding company. No savings and loan holding company, directly or 
indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries or through one or more 
transactions, shall, without prior written OTS approval, acquire by 
purchase or otherwise, or retain, more than five percent of the voting 
stock or shares of a savings association not a subsidiary, or of a 
savings and loan holding company not

[[Page 72239]]

a subsidiary. A savings and loan holding company seeking approval of an 
acquisition under this section must file an application under 12 CFR 
part 516, subpart A. Applications filed under this section are subject 
to the publication, public comment, and meeting provisions of 12 CFR 
part 516, subparts B, C, and D. OTS will review applications filed 
under this section under the review standards set forth for savings and 
loan holding company applications in section 10(e)(2) of the HOLA, 
Sec.  574.7(c) of this chapter, and Sec.  563e.29(a) of this chapter.
    (b) Certain acquisitions by multiple savings and loan holding 
companies. No multiple savings and loan holding company (other than a 
savings and loan holding company described in Sec.  584.2a(a)(1)(ii) of 
this part) may, directly or indirectly, or through one or more 
subsidiaries or through one or more transactions, acquire or retain 
more than five percent of the voting shares of any company that is not 
a subsidiary that is engaged in any business activity other than those 
specified in Sec.  584.2(b) of this part.
    (c)(1) Exception for certain acquisitions of voting shares of 
savings associations and savings and loan holding companies. Paragraphs 
(a) and (b) of this section do not apply to voting shares of a savings 
association or of a savings and loan holding company--
    (i) Held as a bona fide fiduciary (whether with or without the sole 
discretion to vote such shares);
    (ii) Held temporarily pursuant to an underwriting commitment in the 
normal course of an underwriting business;
    (iii) Held in an account solely for trading purposes or over which 
no control is held other than control of voting rights acquired in the 
normal course of a proxy solicitation;
    (iv) Acquired in securing or collecting a debt previously 
contracted in good faith, for two years after the date of acquisition 
or for such additional time (not exceeding three years) as the Office 
may permit if, in the Office's judgment, such an extension would not be 
detrimental to the public interest;
    (v) Acquired under section 13(k)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (or section 408(m) of the National Housing Act as in 
effect immediately prior to the enactment of the Financial Institutions 
Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989);
    (vi) Held by any insurance companies as defined in section 2(a)(17) 
of the Investment Company Act of 1940: Provided, That all shares held 
by all insurance company affiliates of such savings association or 
savings and loan holding company may not, in the aggregate, exceed five 
percent of all outstanding shares or of the voting power of the savings 
association or savings and loan holding company, and such shares are 
not acquired or retained with a view to acquiring, exercising, or 
transferring control of the savings association or savings and loan 
holding company; and
    (vii) Acquired pursuant to a qualified stock issuance if such a 
purchase is approved pursuant to Sec.  574.8 of this chapter.
    (2) The aggregate amount of shares held under this paragraph (c) 
(other than pursuant to paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iv) and 
(c)(1)(vi) may not exceed 15 percent of all outstanding shares or the 
voting power of a savings association or savings and loan holding 
company.
    (d) Acquisitions of uninsured institutions. No savings and loan 
holding company may, directly or indirectly, or through one or more 
subsidiaries or through one or more transactions, acquire control of an 
uninsured institution or retain, for more than one year after the date 
any savings association subsidiary becomes uninsured, control of such 
association.

    Dated: December 14, 2007.

    By the Office of Thrift Supervision
John M. Reich,
Director.
[FR Doc. E7-24676 Filed 12-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6720-01-P