The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
131 BOARD OF G O V E R N O R S OF THE ******* FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM R-711 WASHINGTON ADDRESS OFFICIAL C O R R E S P O N D E N C E TO THE BOARD October 7, 1940 Dear Sir: When Congress enacted the Banking Act of 1933, it placed upon the Federal Reserve System a responsibility for the examination and supervision of holding company affiliates of member banks. This responsibility was emphasized by Congress recently when it enacted the Investment Company Act of 1940 and included therein the following exemption: "SEC. 3. "(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), none of the following persons is an investment company within the meaning of this title: " ( 4 ) Any holding company affiliate, as defined in the Banking Act of 1933, which is under the supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System by reason of the fact that such holding company affiliate holds a general voting permit issued to it by such Board prior to January 1, 1940 j and any holding company affiliate which is under such supervision by reason of the fact that it holds a general voting permit thereafter issued to it by the Board of Governors and which is determined bysuch Board to be primarily engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of holding the stock of, and managing or controlling, banks, banking associations, savings banks, or trust companies. The Commission shall be given appropriate notice prior to any such determination and shall be entitled to be heard. The definition of the term 1 control1 in section 2(a) shall not apply to this paragraph." R-7H - 2 - A similar exemption from, the Investment- Advisers Act of 1940 is contained in section 202 of that Act. For your information in connection with the above exemptions, the Board has requested me to forward to you the enclosed copy of certain testimony submitted to the Subcommittee of the Committee on Banking and Currency of the Senate during hearings on the Investment Company and Investment Advisers Acts This enclosure includes a report which the Board made to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency and certain correspond ence between the Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the exemptions above referred to. Very truly yours, Chester Morrill, Secretary. Enclosure TO THE PRESIDENTS OF ALL FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS 133 R-7-ll-a. EXC'ERPT FROM HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY. UNITED STATES SENATE,SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, THIRD SESSION, ON s 7 3580. A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND INVESTMENT ADVISERS. AND FOR OTHFITPURPOSES • (Page 925 and .following) "Senator HUGHES. While you are looking up that, I do not want to take you away from the subject of the audit, but I should like to say at this time that Senator Wagner has sent over to me correspondence that has passed between the Federal Reserve Board and the Commission, with respect to duplication of Federal supervision. There are letters and answers5 and I suggest that they be put in the record for our information. "(The letters referred to are as follows:) "BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, Washington, April 22, 1940. "Hon. Robert F. Wagner, Chairman, Committee on Banking and Currency, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. "DEAR SENATOR WAGNER: This refers to your letter of March 15, 1940, requesting^a report from the Reserve Board on the bill, S.358O, relating to the registration and regulation of investment companies. "The Board is advised that the evidence submitted to your committee discloses the desirability of legislation which will provide for adequate regulation of investment companies in the interest of the public and in the interest of investors. It is understood that representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of investment companies are submitting detailed comments to your committee with respect to the various provisions of the bill, and the Board will not undertake to comment on all of these provisions. "The Board has noted that enactment of the bill in its present form might result in duplication of Federal supervision of banks and holding company alfiliates of banks. The Board feels that such duplication of supervision should be avoided and to that end representatives of the Board have discussed the matter with representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission are in agreement that certain, amendments should appropriately be made to the bill to avoid such additional duplication of supervision. 134 R-7H-a -2- "These amendments are described, in some detail in the attached copies of correspondence between the Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission and are to the following effect: "Amend section 3(c) of the bill by adding an additional paragraph as follows: '"Any holding company affiliate, as defined in the Banking Act of 1933> which is under the supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System by reason of the fact that such holding company affiliate holds a general voting permit issued to it by such Board prior to January 1, 1940; and any holding company affiliate which is under such supervision by reason of the fact that it holds a general voting permit thereafter issued to it by the Board of Governors and which is determined by such Board to be primarily engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of holding the stock of, and managing or controlling, banks, banking associations, savings banks, or trust companies. The Commission shall be given appropriate notice prior to any such determination and shall, be entitled to be heard.1 "Make such amendment as may be necessary to exempt from the 'investment adviser1 provisions of the bill those holding company affiliates which are exempted from the provisions of the bill relating to investment companies. "Make an appropriate amendment to section 26(a) of the bill to make it clear for the purposes of such section that at least in the case of any trustee which is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System the statement of the trustee's combined capital and surplus in its most recent published report of condition shall be conclusive. "The Board recommends that such amendments be made to the bill. "Very truly yours, CHESTER MORRILL, Secretary. "SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, Washington, April 18, 1940. "Re Investment company bill (S.3580). "BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, Washington, D. C. "GENTLiMEN: The Securities and Exchange Commission is prepared to recommend to the subcommittee of the Banking and Currency Committee of -3- R-711-a the Senate, before which hearings on the above bill are currently being held, that the bill be amended in the following respects: "1. By adding to section 3(c) an additional paragraph which will exclude from the definition of 'investment- company1 those bank holdingcompany affiliates which hold general voting permits issued by your board and which are primarily engaged in bank holding-company activities "The necessity of distinguishing between investment companies on the one hand and those companies which are primarily holding companies on the other is, of course, recognized in the bill. Section 3(b) of the bill is particularly addressed to this problem, various phases of which are also dealt with in sections 3(a)(2) and 3(c)(4). The Commission understands, however, from conversations between members of its staff and members of the staff of your Board, that the exceptions provided in section 3(b) may not in all cases be adequate to exclude bank holdingcompany affiliates of the type above referred to. The Commission also recognizes that the determination of border-line cases, which under section 3(b)(2) of the bill is committed in the first instance to the Commission, can more appropriately be made a function of your Board when the company involved is a bank holding-company affiliate. On the other hand, the Commission feels that in any proceeding of this character before your Board, the Commission should be entitled, if it desires, to appear as a party and present evidence and advance arguments bearing upon the question at issue. "The Commission also deems it of the utmost importance that only those bank holding-company affiliates which are primarily engaged in non investment company activities be excluded. In other words, although the letter of section 3(b) may not be applicable in all of these situations, the Commission feels that the principle of that section should apply. In particular, it is important that the amendment be so drafted that it will not be possible for an investment company to escape the bill by the simple expedient of using a relatively small, portion of its assets to acquire control of two or three banks. "2. By making such amendment of paragraph (16) of section 45(a) as may prove necessary in order to make it clear that, the term 'investment adviser' does not embrace bank holding-company affiliates of the type above referred to. "3. By .amending paragraph (1) of section 26(a) to make it clear that, at least in the case of any trustee which is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, the statement of the trustee's combined capital and surplus in its most recent published report of condition shall be conclusive. It is expected that the specific language which will be recommended will closely follow that of paragraph (2) of section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. 136 —^— Z. R—yil—a "We should appreciate being advised whether, in principle, the above recommendations meet with your approval. We shall also be glad to consider any precise language to accomplish the above objectives which you may care to suggest. "Very truly yours, ROBERT E. HEALY, Commissioner. "BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, Washington, April 19, 1940. "Hon. Robert E. Healy, Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D. C. "Dear Mr. Healy: This refers to your letter of April 18, 1940, advising that, in accordance with conversations between representatives of the Board and members of your staff, the Securities and Exchange Commission is prepared to recommend to the subcommittee of the Banking and Currency Committee of the Senate, before which hearings are being held on the investment-company bill, S.3580, that the bill be amended in certain respects in order to avoid additional duplication of supervision by Federal agencies of banks and holding-company affiliates of banks. "The Board considers appropriate the suggestion that holding-ccmpany affiliates of member banks which obtain and hold voting permits issued by the Reserve Board under the provisions of the Banking Act of 1933 and which are primarily engaged in the business of holding the stock of and managing or controlling banks be exempted from the provisions of the proposed Investment Company Act, since these companies are subject to examination and supervision by the Reserve Board. "As you know, from the information which has been submitted to representatives of your Commission during the conferences which have been held with members of the Board's staff, there are a number of holding-company affiliates of member banks which now hold voting permits issued by the Reserve Board. When it granted these permits, the Board, pursuant to authority given in the statute, in effect determined that such companies were engaged as a business in holding bank stocks and managing and controlling banks. If the Board should be required to make a determination in these cases, it would, on the facts now in its possession, determine that they are primarily engaged in the business of holding bank stocks and managing and controlling banks. Accordingly, the Board feels that it would involve unnecessary consumption of time and expense, both to the 137 -5- R—711—a Federal Government and the holding-company affiliates, and would not serve any useful purpose, for such a determination to be made in each of these cases. For these reasons, the Board suggests that these holding companies, a list of which has been furnished to your staff, which now hold voting permits and are therefore under supervision, and examination by the Board be exempted from the provisions. of the proposed investment company act by the terms of the act itself. The Board believes that such an exemption would be in conformity with the suggested principle under which only companies which hold voting permits and are primarily engaged in holding the stock of and managing or controlling banks would be exempted from the provisions of the proposed investment company act. (In addition to the holding-company affiliates to which reference is made above, there are a few banks which control other banks and hold voting permits issued by the Board. However, these are already exempted from the provisions of the bill under exceptions relating to banks.) In order to accomplish the exemption which the Board has in mind, it is suggested, that section 3(c) of the bill, S.3580, be amended by adding an additional paragraph as follows: 111 Any holding company affiliate, as defined in the Banking Act of 1933, which is under the supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System by reason of the fact that such holding company affiliate holds a general voting permit issued to it by such Board prior to January 1, 1940j and any holding company affiliate which is under such supervision by reason of the fact that it holds a general voting permit thereafter issued to it by the Board of Governors and which is determined by such Board to be primarily engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of holding the stock of, and managing or controlling, banks, banking associations, savings banks, or trust companies. The Commission shall be given appropriate notice prior to any such determination and shall be entitled to be heard.1 "You will, observe that under this proposed amendment any holdingcompany affiliate of a member bank which hereafter desires to obtain a voting permit from the Reserve Board and be exempted from the provisions of the Investment Company Act must, after your Commission has had an opportunity to be heard, be affirmatively determined, by the Board to be engaged primarily in the business of holding stock of and managing or controlling banks. It is believed that this procedure would effectively prevent evasion of the Investment Company Act by investment companies which might attempt to evade it by using a relatively small portion of their assets to acquire control of two or three banks. "It is understood from your letter that the Commission will recommend such amendment as may be necessary to exempt from the 'investment adviser1 provisions of the bill those holding company affiliates which are exempted from the provisions of the bill relating to investment companies. It is also understood that the Commission will recommend that 138 -6- R-711-a an appropriate amendment be made to section 2.6(a) of the bill to make it clear that at least in the case of any trustee which is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System the statement of the trustee's combined capital and surplus in its most recent published report of condition shall be conclusive. "As representatives of your Commission were advised by members of the Board's staff, the Board has felt for some time that the statutes relating to the supervision of holding company affiliates of member banks should be strengthened. The Board feels that it would be more appropriate to consider these matters in connection with a broad investigation of banking and credit matters such as that which the Banking and Currency Committee of the Senate has been authorized to undertake under the provisions of Senate Resolution 125. "The Board and its staff appreciate the cooperation of the representatives of your Commission in working out this problem. "Very truly yours, CHESTER MORRILL, Secretary. "SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, Washington, April 20, 1940. "Re Investment Company bill (S. 3530). HON. CHESTER MORRILL, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D. C. "DEAR SIR: This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 19) 1940, regarding the above bill. "The Commission understands from your letter that, if the Board were now required to determine whether those holding company affiliates referred to therein, which hold general voting permits issued by the Board prior to January 1, 1940, are primarily engaged in the business of holding bank stocks and managing and controlling banks, the Board would make an affirmative determination with respect to each of such holding company affiliates. "From information which the Board has made available to the Commission, it appears that the bank-holding company affiliates referred to in 139 R-711-a -7- your letter are the following: BancOhio Corporation; Bank Shares Corporation; Barnett National Securities Corporation; Citizens & Southern Holding Co.; First Bank Stock Corporation; First Security Corporation of Ogden; Florida National Group, Inc.; Marine Bancorporation; Marine Midland Corporation; New Hampshire Bankshares, Inc.; Northwest Bancorporation; Old Colony Trust Associates; Shawmut Association; Transamerica Corporation; Trust Co. of Georgia Association; Trustees, First National Bank, etc.; Union Bond & Mortgage Co.; United States National Corporation; Wisconsin Bankshares Corporation. "In view of certain financial information regarding these companies (which the Board has made available to the Commission in confidence), the Commission, with two possible exceptions hereinafter referred to, readily accepts the Board's conclusion that these holding-company affiliates are primarily engaged in the business of holding bank stocks and managing and controlling banks. "The two possible exceptions to which reference has been made are Transamerica Corporation and Shawmut Association. It is understood that, as of December 31, 1939, the former company had approximately 40 percent of its assets invested in stocks of banks which it controls, and that approximately one-third of its assets consisted of securities of nonbanking subsidiaries, most of which were wholly-owned and operated almost exclusively as adjuncts or virtual departments of controlled banks, Shawmut Association, as of the same date, had approximately one-fourth of its assets invested in stocks of a number of banks; such investment was equal to approximately one-third of its investment in stocks of other corporations; and the total assets of banks controlled by Shawmut Association, consisting substantially of investment securities which are under the control and management of the Association, aggregated several times as much as the amount of its investment in stocks of nonbanking corporations. The Commission recognizes that, despite the fact that a considerable portion of the assets of these two companies is invested in securities other than those of controlled banks, various other factors may properly be considered in determining whether they are companies primarily engaged in the business of holding bank stocks and managing and. controlling banks. In view of the Board's familiarity with the operations of both of these companies, it is felt that it is appropriate for the Commission to accept the Board's judgment in this matter. "Accordingly, the Commission will recommend to the subcommittee of the Banking and Currency Committee of the Senate before which hearings on the above bill are now being held that the bill be amended as suggested in your letter. The proposed wording of the amendment is likewise agreeable to the Commission. "Very truly yours, ROBERT E. HEALY, Commissioner. 140 -8- R-7H-a "Mr. SCHENKER. Senator, with respect to that correspondence, this point is involved: There are certain companies which hold stocks of banks. For instance, take one of the Shawmut trusts: It has 20 percent of its assets consisting of majority holdings of a number of banks, and 80 percent of its assets consist of diversified securities. That investment company has qualified for a voting permit as a bank-holding company and, therefore, had to enter into an agreement with the Federal Reserve Board with reference to its supervision of its activities. That is one extreme example. "On the other extreme you have the Transamerica Co., out on the coast, which has a great deal of its assets in banks but which does not own a majority of the outstanding; it owns only 40 percent of the Transamerica Bank. However, it has qualified as a bank-holding company, with a voting permit, with the Federal Reserve Board. "Our purpose by this exchange of letters is to make it clear for the record that these are two situations which exist, that you have the problem, When is it a bank-holding company and when is it an investment company? "We want specifically to call attention to the fact that if bank-holding companies are exempt, that exempts the type of situation such as Transamerica and exempts the Shawmut situations."
@FedFRASER