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For

immediate

February

release

The Federal
issuance

with

and Desist
the Asahi

the New

Order
Bank,
The

Money

false

Ltd.

Orders

of the New

York

to bank

obstruction

State

today

Banking
Bank,

the joint

announced

of a Cease

Department
Ltd.,

Tokyo,

Japan,

and

in New York.

issued

were

supervisory

statements

alleged

branch
also

Board

the Asahi

of $5 million

Both

confidential

York

against

Board

Penalty

officers

Reserve

13, 1997

an Order

against
issued

branch

the bank

relating

supervisory

of a Civil

and branch.

for misconduct

information,

of a formal

of Assessment

by certain

to the alleged

to the making
officials,

investigation

misuse

of

of allegedly

and to the
by bank

supervisory

officials.
The Asahi
allegations

made

Bank

against

and branch
them

did not admit

in connection

the Orders.
Copies

Attachments

of the Orders

are attached.

with

to any
the

issuance

of

'UNITED

AMERICA

STATES

OF

BEFORE

THF,

OF GOVERNORS OP TRR FEDERAL

BOARD

RESERVE

SYSTEM

AND
THE NE% YORX STATE BANKING

1

DEPARTMENT

Docket Nos.

In the Matter of

96-023-B-FB
96-023-B-FBR

I
THE ASAHI BANK,
Tokyo. Japan

LT3.

;
)

THE ASAH BANK, LTD.,
NEW YORK BRAWCH
New York, New York

Order to Cease and Desist
Issued Upon Consent

i

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section E(b) (1) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (the "FDI Act"), (12 U.S.C.
§ 1818(b) (1)).

and

pursuant

to Section

39 of

the New York State

Banking Law ("Banking Law"), the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (the "Board of Governors") and the
New York State Banking Department ("Banking Department") issue
this Order to Cease and Desist (the "Ordern) against the Asahi
,.a foreign bank, and its
Bank, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan ("AsahiO')

New York branch ("New York Branch"), for misconduct by certain
officers of the New York branch relating to the alleged misuse of
confidential supervisory information, to the making of allegedly
false statements to bank supervisory officials, and to the
alleged obstruction of an investigation; and

WRRREXS, on February 12, 1997, the Board of Directors
of Asahi adopted a resolution: (i) authorizing and directing
Shigehiko Yoshino to enter into this Order on Asahi's behalf;
(ii) authorizing and directing Katsumi Sakai to enter into this
Order on behalf of the New York Branch; (iii1 consenting on
behalf of Asahi, the New York Branch, and Asahi's institutionaffiliated parties, as defined in Sections 3(u) and e(b)(4) of
the FDI Act, to comply with each and every provision of

this

Order; and (iv) waiving any and all rights that Asahi and the
New York Branch may have pursuant to Section 8 of the FDI Act,
12 C.F.R. Part 263, Section 39 of the Banking Law or otherwise
to: (a) the issuance of a notice of charges and of hearing; \b) a
heazing for the purpose of taking evidence with respect to any
matter implied or set forth in this Order; (c) obtain judicial
review of this Order or any provision hereof; and (d) challenge
or contest in any manner the basis, issuance, validity,
effectiveness, or enforceability of this Order or any provision
hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, prior to the taking of any testimony or
adjudication of or finding on any issue of fact or law herein,
and without this Order constituting an admission of any
allegation made or implied by the Board of Governors or the
Ranking Department in connection with this proceeding and solely
for the purpose

of settlement of this proceeding without

protracted or extended hearings or testimony and pursuant to the
aforesaid resolution:
2

IT

1.

IS

HEREBY ORDRRED.

that:

Asahi, the New York Branch, and their institution-

affiliated parties shall preserve the confidentiality of all
supervisory information belonging to the Board of Governors or
the Banking Department.
2.

Asahi, the New York Branch, and their institution-

affiliated parties shall respond accurately to all inquiries
posed to them by the Board of Governors or the Banking
Department.
3.

Asahi, the New York Branch, and their institution-

affiliated parties shall neither solicit nor

accept confidential

supervisory infdrmation belonging to the Board of Governors or
the Banking Department from any source, including any financial
institution.
4.

Asahi, the New York Branch, and their institution-

affiliated parties shall fully and timely comply with any
investigations conducted by the Board of Governors or the Banking
Department.
5.

Asahi and the New York Branch shall provide

effective training for all their personnel in the United States
in ethics and the United States bank supervisory process,
including the roles and responsibilities of the personnel of
financial institutions in the supervisory process.

This training

shall, at a minimum, highlight: (a) the necessity for candor in
all communications with bank supervisors, especially during bank
examinations; (b) the necessity of maintaining the
3

confidentiality of supervisory information; and (c) the sanctions
possible for non-compliance with the laws and regulations
applicable to personnel of a financial institution.

Asahi and

the New York Branch shall submit to the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York ("New York Fed") and the Banking Department an
acceptable written plan for compliance with the provisions of
this paragraph within 90 day8 of this Order.
6.

Asahi and the New York Branch shall submit reports

on a ,quarterly basis detailing their progress in fulfilling the
objectives of

the written plan, prepared by their regulatory

compliance consultant, to enhance the risk-management,
operational controls, and compliance environment of the New York
Branch.
7.

During the term of this Order, Asahi and the

New York Branch shall comply fully with the plan submitted
pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof, and shall execute the plan
prepared by their regulatory compliance consultant, referenced in
paragraph 6, with all deliberate speed.

Asahi and the New York

Branch shall not amend or rescind these plans without the prior
written approval of the New York Fed and the Banking Department.
8.

The New York Fed and the Banking Department,

acting jointly, may waive or modify the provisions of this Order,
including extending any time periods set forth in this Order.
9.

All communications regarding this Order shall be

directed to:

4

(al

Donald

T. Vangel
Senior Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045

(b) Robert K. McCormick
Deputy Superintendent of Banks
New York State Bankin,gDepartment
2 Rector Street
New York, NY 10006
(c) Katsumi Sakai, General Manager
Asahi Bank, Ltd., New York branch
One world Trade Center. Suite 6011
New York, NY 10048-0476
10.

The provisions of this Order shall be binding upon

Asahi. the New York Branch, and each of their institutionaffiliated parties, in their capacities as such, and their
successors and assigns.
11.

Each provision of this Order shall remain

effective and enforceable until stayed, modified, terminated, or
suspended by the Board of Governors and the Banking Department.
12.

The provisions of this Order shall not bar, estop

or otherwise prevent the Board of Governors, the Banking
Department, or any federal or state agency or department from
taking any other action affecting Asahi, the New York Branch, or
any of their current or former institution-affiliated parties.
Asahi and the New York Branch agree and acknowledge that this
Order does not bar or estop any criminal charges or prosecutions
against them, and Asahi and the New York Branch hereby waive any
claim in any criminal proceeding that this Order constitutes a
penalty, punishment, or criminal sanction, precluding a criminal

5

proceeding under the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth
Amendment to the United States Constitution.
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, and

of

effective this z5day

THE ASAHI SANK,
Tokyo, Japan

the New York State Banking Department,
of February, 1997.

LTD.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

/

/
By: &&!A
William W. Wiles
Secretary of the Board
ASAHI BANK, LTD.
NEW YORK BRANCH

NEW YORK STATE
BANKING DEPARTMENT

BvL&
General

manager

Deputy Superintendent
of Banks

6

UNITED STATES OF AXERICA
BEFORE THE BOARD OF

GOVRRNORS OF THR

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Docket Nos.
In the Matter
THEASAHI

96-023-CMP-FB
96-023-CMP-FBR

of

BANK, LTD.

,’

Tokyo, Japan
;
THE ASAHI BANK,

of a
Issued

Upon Consent Pursuant to the

LTD.,

NEW YORE BRANCH

i

New York, New York

1

WBRREAS.

Order of Assessment
Civil Money Penalty

pursuant

Federal Deposit
as Amended

to Section

Insurance

Act,

8(i) of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (the "FDI Act"),

(12 U.S.C.

5 1818(i)), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(the "Board of Governors") issues this Order of Assessment of a
Civil Money Penalty (the "Order") against the Asahi Bank, Ltd.,
Tokyo, Japan ("Asahi"), a foreign bank, and its New York branch
("New York Branch"),
New York branch
supervisory
statements

for misconduct

relating

information,

of the

by certain officers

to the alleged misuse
to the making of

to federal bank supervisory

of

confidential

allegedly

officials,

false

and to the

alleged obstruction of a Federal Reserve investigation;
WBBBRAS,
Asahi

adopted

Shigehiko

12, 1997. the Executive

a resolution: (i) authorizing

Yoehino

(ii) authorizing

and directing

Katsumi

the New York Branch;

Board

of

and directing

to enter into this Order on Asahi's

Order on behalf of
behalf

on February

and

behalf;

Sakai to enter into this
(iii) consenting

on

of Asahi and the New York Branch to comply with each and

every provision of this Order; and (iv1 waiving any and all
rights that Asahi and the New York Branch may have pursuant to
Section 8 of the FDI Act and 12 C.F.R. Part 263 or otherwise to:
(a) the issuance of a notice of assessment of a civil money
penalty; (b) a hearing for the purpose of taking evidence with
respect to any matter implied

or

set forth in this Order;

(c) obtain judicial review of this Order or any provision hereof;
and (d) challenge or contest in

any

manner the basis, issuance,

validity, effectiveness, collectibility or enforceability of this
Order or any provision hereof;
NOW, TEEREPORE, prior to the taking of

any

testimony or

adjudication of or finding on any issue of fact or law herein,
and without this Order constituting an admission of any
allegation made or implied by the Board of Governors in
connection with this proceeding and solely for the purpose of
settlement of this proceeding without protracted or extended
hearings or testimony and pursuant to the aforesaid resolution:
IT IS EEREBY ORDERED,
I..

that:

Asahi and the New York Branch are hereby assessed

and shall pay, in settlement of these proceedings, a civil money
penalty in the amount of $5 million.

This amount shall be

remitted in full at the time of the execution of this Order by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Federal
ReseNe

Bank of New York, ABA No. 023001208, to the attention of

Thomas C. Baxter, Jr., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel.

The Federal Reserve

Bank

2

of New York, on behalf of the

Board of Governors,

shall distribute this sum to the

United States Department of the Treasu-ry,pursuant to
Section S(i) of the FDI Act.
2.

All communications regarding this Order shall be

directed to:
(a) Donald T. Vangel
Senior Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
(b) Katsumi Sakai, General Manager
Asahi Bank, Ltd., New York branch
One World Trade Center, Suite 6011
New York, NY 10048-0476
3.

The provisions of this Order shall be binding upon

Asahi, the New York Branch, and their successors and assigns.
4.

The provisions of this Order shall not bar, estop

or otherwise prevent the Board of Governors or any federal or
state agency or department from taking any other action affecting
Asahi, the New York Branch, or any of their current or former
institution-affiliated parties, as defined in Sections 3(u) and
S(b) 14) of the FDI Act; provided, however, that the Board of
Governors shall not take any further action against Asahi or the
New York Branch based upon information presently known by the
Board of Governors relating to the matters addressed by this
Order; provided further, that the Board of Governors is not
barred, estopped or otherwise prevented from taking action under
Section 8 of the FDI Act for

any

violation of, or noncompliance

with, this Order; provided further, that Asahi and the New York
Branch agree and acknowledge that this order, and the payment
3

made herewith, does not bar or estop any criminal charges or
prosecutions against them, and Asahi and the New York Branch
hereby waive any claim in any criminal proceeding that this
Order. and the payment

made

herewith, constitute a penalty,

punishment, or criminal sanction, precluding a

criminal

proceeding under the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth
Amendment to the United States Constitution.
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System, effective this may

of February, 1997.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

THE ASAHI BANX, LTD.
Tokyo, Japan

w

.m

By:

By:

Secretary

THE ASAHI BANK, LTD.,
NEW YORK BRANCH

By:e

General Manager

4

of the Board