View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE

THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

OF THE FEDERAL

WASHINGTON,

RESERVE

SYSTEM

D. C.

AND
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT

OF BANKING

TALLAHASSEE,

AND FINANCE

FLORIDA

>

Written Agreement by and among
BANCO POPULAR DEL ECUADOR,
Quito, Ecuador
BANCO POPULAR DEL ECUADOR,
MIAMI AGENCY
il
Miami, Florida
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF ATLANTA
Atlanta, Georgia

)
)
S.A. )
)
)
S.A. )

Docket Nos. 99-013-WARB-FB
99-013-WARB-FA

)
)
)
)
)
)

THE STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF BANKING
AND FINANCE
Tallahassee, Florida

WHEREAS, in recognition
and to ensure compliance

of their common goal to maintain the financial soundness of

with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations by

Banco Popular de1 Ecuador,

S.A., Quito, Ecuador (“Banco Popular”)

and its agency in Miami,

Florida (the “Agency”) during the period when the Agency is being voluntarily
Banco Popular’s U.S. activities are being terminated,

dissolved and

Banco Popular on its own behalf and on

behalf of the Agency, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (the “Reserve Bank”), and the

Department of Banking and Finance of the State of Florida (the “Department”) have mutually
agreed to enter into this Written Agreement (the “Agreement”);

WHEREAS, this Agreement is being executed in accordance with the Rules Regarding
Delegation of Authority of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Board
of Governors”), specifically 12 CFR 265.1 l(a) (15), and the Reserve Bank has received the
prior approval of the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation and the
General Counsel of the Board of Governors; and

WHEREAS, on June 4, 1999, the majority of the members of the board of directors of
Banco Popular, acting pursuant to due authority, authorize and direct Mr. Nicholas Landes to
enter into this Agreement, on behalf of Banco Popular and consented to compliance with each
and every provision of this Agreement by Banco Popular and its institution-affiliated parties,
and on June 4, 1999, the General Manager of the Agency agreed to the foregoing on behalf of
the Agency.

NOW, THEREFORE, before the taking of any testimony or adjudication of or finding
on any issue of fact or law herein, and without this Agreement constituting an admission of any
allegation made or implied by the Board of Governors or the Department, Banco Popular, the
Agency, the Reserve Bank and the Department agree as follows:

Orderly Voluntary Liquidation
1.

(a)

Within 10 days of this Agreement, Banco Popular and the Agency shall

jointly submit to the Reserve Bank and the Department a comprehensive, written description of
their liquidation and wind-down plan. The plan should, at a minimum, set forth:
(i)

A description of how the Agency will marshal and liquidate all
of the Agency’s known assets, by category of asset, and how it
will satisfy the claims of all of its creditors, by category of
creditor, and otherwise meet all of the Agency’s contractual,
tax and other obligations;

(ii)

procedures and forms of notices for notifying the Agency’s
known depositors and other creditors discussing Agency’s
pending liquidation and dissolution, and procedures for

2

restricting new business activities in light of the planned
dissolution of the Agency;
(iii)

a description of how the Agency will wind down existing
transactions with related parties and affiliates;

(iv)

a detailed description of meetings to be held and resolutions to
be adopted by Banco Popular and the Agency to adopt the plan,
to authorize its implementation, and to authorize the voluntary
dissolution of the Agency pursuant to sections 663.06, Florida
Statutes and 3c- 140.0 15, Florida Administrative Code, with
proposed draft resolutions; and

(v)

a detailed projected timetable for each of the actions mentioned
in paragraphs 4(a) (i) through (iv) hereof, for certification by
the Agency to the Reserve Bank and the Department that the
Agency has no further obligations, and for the surrender to the
Department of the Agency’s license, and a list of milestones for
assessing the Agency’s and Banco Popular’s progress in
implementing the plan.

@>

The Reser/;;e Bank and the Department may provide Banco Popular and

the Agency with comments on the plan within 10 days of its receipt, and Banco Popular and
the Agency shall prepare a revised plan of liquidation, winding up and dissolution responsive to
the comments. An acceptable plan shall be re-submitted to the Reserve Bank and the
Department within 10 days of receipt of any such comments. Upon acceptance of the plan,
Banco Popular and the Agency shall comply fully with it and take all such actions as are
necessary to implement the plan in accordance with its terms.

Restricted Transactions

2.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided by the provisions of this Agreement, the

Agency shall not, without the prior review of the Reserve Bank and the Department, directly or
indirectly, engage, undertake or, in any manner, participate in any financial transaction with
Banco Popular, or with any related party, subsidiary, affiliate, or institution-affiliated party of
Banco Popular. Notwithstanding this prior review requirement, the Reserve Bank, the

3

Department, Banco Popular, and the Agency may agree in writing that certain categories and
amounts of financial transactions do not have to be reviewed prior to consummation.

(b)

The Agency shall continue to determine, for each of its existing and

new customers, the customer’s relationship, if any, with Banco Popular, or with any related
party, subsidiary, affiliate, or institution-affiliated party of Banco Popular, and shall continue to
maintain a current list of all customers that have an association of any nature with Banco
Popular for subsequent supervisory review by the Reserve Bank and the Department.

(c)

For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms:
(i)

“Financial transaction” shall include (A) the payment of any
service or management fee; (B) the transfer, contribution,
purchase or sale of any asset; (C) the extension of credit,
including any overdrafts on a daylight as well as overnight
basis; (D) the direct or indirect payment, guarantee, or
confirmation of any obligation; and (E) the placement of any
deposit.

(ii)

“Extension of credit” shall be defined as set forth in section
215.3 of Regulation 0 of the Board of Governors ( 12 CFR
215.3).

(iii)

“Related party” shall include (A) any person holding an
ownership interest in excess of 25 percent in Banco Popular or
of any of Banco Popular’s subsidiaries and associated
companies operating in Ecuador and in other places; and (B)
any person, or group of persons acting in concert, that controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with Banco
Popular, but shall not include the government of Ecuador or
any agencies or instrumentalities thereof.

(iv)

“Control” shall be defined as the power, directly or indirectly,
to (A) vote 25 percent or more of the voting shares of a
company; (B) elect a majority of the directors of a company; or
(C) as determined by the Reserve Bank and the Department,

otherwise exercise a controlling influence over the management
and policies of a company.
(v)

“Person” shall mean a corporation, unincorporated association,
partnership, trust, or any other entity or individual.

(vi)

“Affiliate” shall be defined as set forth in 12 U.S.C. 371c(b)
(1).

(vii)

“Institution-affiliated party” shall be defined as set forth in
sections 3(u) and 8(b) (3) and (4) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, as amended (the “FDI Act”) (12 U.S.C.
1813(u) and 1818(b) (3) and (4)).

Review of Internal Controls and Related Party Transactions
3.

(a)

Within 60 days of this Agreement, Banco Popular and the Agency

shall conduct and complete a written review of the adequacy of internal controls and operations
of the Agency, and shall submit a written description of the findings of the review to the
Reserve Bank and the Department.

Banco Popular and the Agency shall engage a qualified

independent public accountant acceptable to the Reserve Bank and the Department to conduct
the review.
ri

(b)

Banco Popular and the Agency shall submit, within 10 days of this

Agreement, the scope of the review, in the form of an engagement letter that is acceptable to
the Reserve Bank and the Department, to the Reserve Bank and the Department for approval
The engagement letter should acknowledge that

prior to the commencement of the engagement.

all substantive information, including work papers, programs and procedures related to the
review would be provided to the Reserve Bank and the Department upon request.

(c>

The review shall be concentrated within the areas specifically criticized

during the examination of the Agency conducted by the Reserve Bank commencing on April 5,
1999, specifically the oversight and monitoring of related party transactions. The review shall,
at a minimum, address and adequately explain (i) the flow of, and purpose for, the transactions
between the Agency and Banco Popular and its related parties and affiliates that are described in
the Report of Examination of the Agency, and (ii) the effects of the transactions on Banco
Popular’s financial records and Ecuadorian regulatory reporting requirements.

5

Asset Maintenance
4.

(a)

The Agency shall continue to maintain,

on a daily basis, the ratio of its

eligible assets to total third party liabilities at a minimum of 110 percent (the “Asset
Maintenance
Agreement,

Ratio”).

The Asset Maintenance

the definitions contained

and as specified in Attachment

(b)
Department,

Ratio shall be calculated in accordance

in the laws, rules, and regulations

with this

of the State of Florida,

A.

Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Reserve Bank and the

on a daily basis from the date of this Agreement

daily assets and liabilities subject to the Asset Maintenance
B-l, and shall submit its calculations

(i) the Agency shall compute its

Ratio on the form of Attachment

to the Reserve Bank and the Department,

Popular shall certify in writing to the Reserve Bank and the Department

and (ii) Banco

that the Agency is in

compliance

with the required Asset Maintenance

Ratio.

Agreement,

For the purpose of calculating total eligible assets under this
//
the Agency shall adjust the value of its eligible assets by the estimated aggregate

Cc)

amount of loss in the assets as determined

by the Agency’s management.

In this connection,

the Agency’s estimated aggregate amount of loss at a minimum should be equal to the total of
the disallowances
of Attachment

applied to the four categories of classified assets as defined in paragraph 2(d)

A.

Liquidity
5.

(a)

The Agency shall maintain the ratio of its liquid assets to total third

party liabilities at a minimum of 100 percent (the “Liquidity
Agreement,

Ratio”).

the term “liquid assets” shall include only unencumbered
(i)

Cash and due from non-Ecuadorian
subsidiaries,
parties;

affiliates,

For the purposes of this
and unpledged:
banks and their

related parties, and institution-affiliated

U.S. government

(ii)

securities and other bonds, notes, and

debentures payable in U.S. dollars (at market value), excluding
securities issued by any Ecuadorian
subsidiaries,

affiliates,

banks and their

related parties, and institution-affiliated

parties;
Federal funds sold and securities purchased

(iii)

agreements,

excluding such transactions

and their subsidiaries,

affiliates,

under resale

with Ecuadorian banks

related parties, and institution-

affiliated parties; and
Such other assets as the Agency may be permitted to use by the

(iv)

Reserve Bank and the Department.

@I

The Agency shall maintain an adequate maturity gap position so that the

Agency shall have sufficient funds readily available from the Agency’s assets to cover fully its
maturing liabilities.

The Agency shall monitor its maturity gap position on a daily basis by

preparing a Maturity Distribution

(c)

Schedule.

For the purposes of preparing

asset classified by any regulatory

the Maturity Distribution

Schedule, any

ggency or internally by the Agency or any affiliate of the

Agency shall be designated in the maturity band for assets maturing in greater than one year.
For the purposes of this Agreement,
(i)

the terms:

“Adequate maturity gap position” shall be defined as
maintaining a positive cumulative gap position for each
maturity band of the Maturity Distribution
for readily marketable

(ii)

“Readily marketable

Schedule as adjusted

assets.
assets” shall be defined as (A) bank-

quality investments payable in U.S. dollars at market value; (B)
85 percent of self-liquidating

trade credits with maturities under

180 days; and (C) the value as agreed by the Reserve Bank of
any other asset or class of assets determined
marketable
(iii)

to be readily

by the Reserve Bank.

“Self-liquidating

trade credits” shall be defined as extensions of

credits that (A) are directly related to imports and exports and

7

(B) will be liquidated through the proceeds of the related trade
transactions.

Cd)

Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Reserve Bank and the

Department, on a daily basis from the date of this Agreement (i) the Agency shall compute its
daily assets and liabilities subject to the liquidity ratio described in paragraph 5 (a) hereof on
the form of Attachment B, and shall submit its calculations to the Reserve Bank and the
Department, (ii) the Agency shall prepare and submit to the Reserve Bank and the Department
a Maturity Distribution Schedule of its assets and liabilities in the form of Attachment B-2, and
(iii) Banco Popular shall certify in writing to the Reserve Bank and the Department that the
Agency is in compliance with the required liquidity ratio and maturity gap position.

Communications
6.

All communications regarding this Agreement shall be sent to:

(a>

Ms. SuzaJ)Ila Costello
Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
104 Marietta Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Co)

Mr. Art Simon
Director, Division of Banking
State of Florida
Department of Banking and Finance
101 East Gaines Street, Suite 636
Tallahassee, Florida 30399

cc>

Mr. Nicholas Landes
President
Banco Popular de1 Ecuador, S .A.
c/o Miami Agency
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2500
Miami, Florida 3313 1

8

(d)

Mr. Barton Corredero
General Manager
Banco Popular de1 Ecuador, S .A.
Miami Agency
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2500
Miami, Florida 33 13 1

Miscellaneous Provisions
7.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on Banco Popular, the

Agency and each of their institution-affiliated parties, in their capacities as such, and their
successors and assigns.

8~

Each provision of this Agreement shall remain effective and enforceable until

stayed, modified, suspended, or terminated by the Reserve Bank and the Department.

9.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Reserve

Bank and the Department may, in their sole discretion, grant written extensions of time to
Banco Popular and the Agency to comply with any provision of this Agreement.
d’

10.

The provisions of this Agreement shall not bar, estop or otherwise prevent the

Board of Governors, the Reserve Bank or any federal or state agency or department, from
taking any other action affecting Banco Popular, the Agency or any related party, subsidiary,
affiliate, or institution-affiliated party.

11.

Upon execution of this Agreement, the Commitment Letter dated June 25, 1998

shall be terminated.

9

This Agreement is a “written agreement” for the purposes of section 8 of the

12.

FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1818).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of
this

4th

day of

June

, 1999.

Banco Popular de1 Ecuador, S.A.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Banco Popular de1 Ecuador, Miami Agency

State of Florida

Miami Agency

Department of Banking and
Finance

By:
Art yiimon Vy
Director, Division of Banking

ATTACHMENT

A

For the purposes of this Agreement,

1.

“eligible assets” shall be defined

pursuant to Section 663.07 of Florida Statutes and the applicable rules thereunder, as modified
herein.

“Eligible assets” shall include all the assets of the Agency and its International

Banking

Facility (“IBF”), reduced by the amount of any specifically allocated reserves established on the
books in connection with such assets, and such assets shall be valued at the lower of book
“Eligible assets” shall also include

amount or market value and be payable through the Agency.
85 percent of the market value of non-investment
(7), Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative

grade securities permitted by Section 663.07
Code 3C-140.015 (6) for which a significant

market exists and market rates are readily obtainable.

Deposits and placements of funds by the

Agency with banks shall be eligible only if, with respect to each such deposit or placement of
funds, the head office of Banco Popular certifies, in writing, that: (a) such deposit or placement is
otherwise unencumbered

and (b) ths head office has no knowledge

of any amount due by the

head office of Banco Popular and Banco Popular’s other offices and affiliates to the bank holding
the deposit or placement that would subject such deposit or placement to being set off against
any amount owed by the head office of Banco Popular, and Banco Popular’s other offices and
affiliates other than the Agency.

2.

The term “eligible assets” shall exclude:

(a)

equity securities;

(b)

all amounts due, directly or indirectly, from and all amounts pledged to or
otherwise subject to any encumbrance
1

in favor of the head office or any

other office of the Agency, including income accrued but not collected on
such amounts;
(c)

amounts due from any affiliate of the Agency, except to the extent that
such amounts are fully cash-collateralized
Agency (determined

(d)

by collected funds held at the

separately for each such affiliate);

100 percent of any asset classified loss, 50 percent of assets classified
doubtful, 20 percent of assets classified substandard and 100 percent of the
required allocated transfer risk reserve percentage for any asset classified
value impaired and 20 percent for any residual value-impaired

(e)

prepaid expenses and unamortized
leasehold improvements;

(f)

exposure;

costs, furniture and fixtures and

and

any other asset or class of assets determined to be ineligible by the
Reserve Ba.r$or the Department

based on an assessment of the risks

associated with the asset or class of assets.

3.

Those assets subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and

including the restrictions imposed by rule 3C-140.015, Florida Administrative

Code, shall

include without limitation all currency, bonds, notes, debentures, drafts, bills of exchange or
other evidences of indebtedness,

including loan participation

agreements or certificates, or other

obligations payable in the United States, in United States funds or, with the prior written
approval of the Reserve Bank and the Department,
funds.
2

in funds freely convertible into United States

4.

For the purposes of this Agreement,

the terms (a) “liabilities requiring

cover” shall include liabilities of the Agency and its IBF, including acceptances,

and such other

liabilities as determined by the Reserve Bank and the Department, but excluding amounts due to
the head office of the Agency, including unremitted profits and reserves for possible loan losses
and other contingencies;

and (b) “affiliate” shall mean any person, or group of persons acting in

concert, that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with any foreign banking
corporation.

3

ATTACHMENT

Branch/Agency

B -1

Name

City’
Date,
(in thousands

of USJ)
Schedule

[ASSET

MAINTENANCE

ELIGIBLE

1
ILIABILITIES

ASSETS:

Total assets including
Less ineligible

1

SCHEDULE
including

Less ineligible

assets:

Due directly/indirectly

from subsidiaries,

parties and instttution-affiliated

affiliates,

related

deposits

Unremitted

Preoaid exoenses

Reserve

loans \3

Bankina

Deoartment

ineligible

Eligible

Assets

to be ineligible

Subtotal

(a)

liabilities

requiring

cover

MAINTENANCE

(b)

RATIO

(a/b)

2

SCHEDULE

Assets:

THIRD

Cash and due from banks
U.S. Government

securities

Other investment

(at Market

grade securities

Federal funds sold 8 securities
Less assets pledged
Eligible

ineligible

Liabilities

Schedule
Liquid

profits

for loan losses and other contingencies

Official

assets

RATIO

Liquid

Value)

payable

purchased

LIABILITIES:
including

Less ineligible

liabilities

IBF

in US$ (MV)

Due directly/indirectly

u/a to resell

parties and institution-affiliated

above
Assets

PARTY

Total liabilities

Unremitted
(c)

Reserve

to subsidiaries,

affiliates,

parties \4

profits

for loan losses and other contingencies

Other liabilities
Pledged
Memo, Outstanding
through

related

by FRB or State

ASSET

LIQUIDITY

affiliates,

parties \4

Other liabilities

Other assets determined
Subtotal

assets at this office

to subsidiaries,

parties and institution-affiliated

Fixed assets
Classified

securing

Due directly/indirectly

parties \1,\2

I

COVER:
IBF

liabilities:

Pledged

Equity securities

Total

REQUIRING

Total liabilities

IBF

checks

issued

outside

U S. payable

at or

branch/agency

Subtotal
Total

Third

LIQUIDITY
I certify the above to be true and correct

deposits

ineligible
Party
RATIO

securing

assets at this office

liabilities
Liabilities

(d)

(c/d)

to the bast of my knowledge.
Authorized

Signature

8 Title

related

ATTACHMENT
MATURITY

B-2

DISTRIBUTION
In thousands

SCHEDULE

of US$

Name:
City:
Date:

PERIOD

GAP (A-L)

CUMULATIVE

l

l

GAP (A-L)

Report Items gross
* Adjustments

for readily marketable

assets

MEMO ITEMS.

I certify the above to be true and correct to the best of my

Pledged Assets

knowledge.

Committed

Contmgent

Liabilities
Authorized

Signature

8 Title