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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
and

THE NEW YORK STATE BANKING DEPARTMENT

Written Agreement By and Among
,’
CAISSE NATIONALE
CREDIT AGRICOLE
Paris, France

DE
;

Docket No. OO-020-WA/RB-FHC
OO-020-WA/RB-FB
OO-020-WARB-FBR

;
CREDIT AGRICOLE
Paris. France

INDOSUEZ
;

CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ
NEW YORK BRANCH
New York, NY

;

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK
New York,New York

)

NEW YORK STATE BANKING DEPARTMENT
New York, New York

;
)
;

WHEREAS, Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole, Paris, France (“CNCA”),
Credit Agricole Indosuez, Paris, France (the “Bank”), and the Bank’s branch in New York, New
York (the “New York Branch”) (collectively, “Credit Agricole”) are taking steps to enhance and
improve the New York Branch’s internal control, risk management, compliance, audit, and
regulatory reporting functions, and its management; and it is the common goal of the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York (the “Reserve Bank”), the New York State Banking Department (the
“Department”), and Credit Agricole to continue these measures, as well as to ensure the New
York Branch’s accurate reporting and compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and
regulations;
WHEREAS, to accomplish these goals, the Bank and the new management of the
New York Branch, with the full support and assistance of CNCA, working in cooperation with
the Reserve Bank and the Department, have adopted, and made progress toward implementing, a
detailed corrective action plan and are committed to assuring the availability of the resources
necessary for full implementation of the plan; and

WHEREAS, on November x
and &2000,
respectively, the executive
committee of CNCA and the supervisory board of the Bank, at duly constituted meetings,
adopted resolutions authorizing and directing Jean Laurent, Chief Executive Offrcer of CNCA,
and Marc-Antoine Autheman, Chairman of the Bank, to enter into this Written Agreement (the
“Agreement”) and consenting to compliance by CNCA and the Bank with each and every
provision of this Agreement; and, on November n,
2000, Didier Varlet, Senior Regional
Officer-North
America, agreed to the foregoing on behalf of the New York Branch.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Reserve Bank, the Department,
the New York Branch agree as follows:
Comprehensive

CNCA, the Bank and

Audit and Review

Within 30 days of this Agreement, Credit Agricole shall engage a
1.
(a)
qualified independent public accounting, management consulting, or law firm(s) acceptable to
the Reserve Bank and the Department (the “Independent Firm”) to conduct a comprehensive
audit and review of the New York Branch’s operations and to assist in the development of new
policies and procedures designed to ensure that the New York Branch conducts its activities in a
safe and sound manner and complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as
well as to issue the report and make the attestations required by Part 5 of the General Regulations
of the Banking Board of New York. The comprehensive audit and review shall address, at a
minimum, deficiencies in the New York Branch’s internal controls, risk management,
compliance, accounting, audit, regulatory reporting, and management supervision identified in
the most recent report of examination of the New York Branch (the “Report of Examination”),
and shall include:
An analysis of all transactions of the New York Branch’s
international structured finance division (“SFI”) that were open as of September 30,200O; a
random sample of at least 15 SF1 transactions closed between January 1, 1997 and September 30,
2000; and all SF1 transactions that were assigned or novated by the New York Branch between
January 1, 1999 and September 30,200O. For each SF1 transaction reviewed, the analysis shall
include: (A) the identity of the parties; (B) the business objective of each party; (C) whether a
sufficient analysis of credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and reputational risks was
prepared; (D) whether the transaction was reported in accordance with Call Report instructions
and, if not, a detailed description of the differences for each SF1 transaction and the aggregate
difference for each quarterly period (where appropriate, the review shall provide independent
market valuations for the SF1 transactions); (E) who at Credit Agricole approved the transaction
and when; and (F) whether a broker or other intermediary was involved, and if so: (1) the
amount of the intermediary’s fee; (2) how the fee was calculated; (3) the payee’s name and
address; (4) when the fee was paid; (5) how the fee was paid; (6) how the fee was recorded in the
Bank’s and New York Branch’s books and records; and (7) who at Credit Agricole authorized
payment of the fee.

6)

An analysis of any transfers of all or any part of the Bank’s and the
(ii)
New York Branch’s SF1 business (including, without limitation, transactions, employees,
2

contractual rights and obligations, client contacts, and documents), directly or indirectly, to any
person(s) or entity(ies), whether or not afftliated with Credit Agricole (the “SF1 Transferees”).
The analysis shall cover, at a minimum, the terms of any such transfer, the reasons for the
transfer, all past and continuing affiliations and connections between the SF1 Transferees and
their affiliates and the Bank and the New York Branch, and whether the business dealings
between the SF1 Transferees and the Bank and the New York Branch were conducted on an
arms-length basis.
(iii)
An analysis of the extent to which the improper reporting of
income, loss, assets and/or liabilities with respect to the SF1 business has necessitated either
restatements of the Bank’s and the New York Branch’s earnings or restatements of periodic
reports by the Bank and the New York Branch to the Reserve Bank, the Board of Governors or
the Department.
Credit Agricole shall provide the Independent Firm complete
(b)
(i)
access to all employees, books, records, legal and financial documentation, and communications
(including e-mails).
(ii)
Upon request by the Independent Firm, Credit Agricole shall use
its best efforts to obtain and provide any relevant information or records from the SF1
Transferees and their affiliates.
(iii)
If unavailability of information and records from the SF1
Transferees or their afftliates prevents the Independent Firm from conducting any aspect of the
audit and review required by this Agreement, the Bank shall promptly advise the Reserve Bank
and the Department.
Pursuant to Part 5 of the General Regulations of the Banking
(c)
(9
Board of New York State, the Independent Firm shall (A) issue a report on the New York
Branch’s balance sheet and accompanying disclosures, which shall include off-balance sheet
amounts and assets held on behalf of others as of September 30,2000, and (B) attest to the New
York Branch’s management’s assertions regarding the effectiveness of the New York Branch’s
internal control structure over financial reporting, based on reasonable criteria established by the
Bank. The report and attestation shall comply with the standards set forth in
sections 5.3(a)( 1) and (2) of Part 5, respectively. Coincident with reports issued pursuant to
sections 53(a)(l) and (2), the New York Branch’s management shall assert its compliance with
applicable laws and regulations in accordance with the requirements of section 5.5 of Part 5 of
the General Regulations. The report, the attestation, and management’s assertions shall be issued
to the Department, the Chairman of the Bank and the chief auditors for the Bank and CNCA,
with a copy to be delivered to the Reserve Bank.
(ii)
Pursuant to section 5.3(e) of the General Regulations of the
Banking Board of New York State, the Independent Firm shall provide formal management
letters containing findings and recommendations to improve financial internal controls and shall
include management’s response to each recommendation.
Copies of the Independent Firm’s

3

management letters, along with management’s
the Reserve Bank.

response, shall be provided to the Department

and

Within 15 days of the retention of the Independent Firm, the Bank shall
(4
submit to the Reserve Bank and the Department an acceptable engagement letter that delineates
the scope of the comprehensive audit and review and the Part 5 compliance procedures. The
engagement letter shall provide (i) that the Independent Firm will exercise its best efforts to
complete the comprehensive audit and review within six months, and (ii) that a copy of the
Independent Firm’s written report of its findings and recommendations will be provided to the
Reserve Bank and the Department at the same time that it is provided to Credit Agricole.
Interim

Policies and Procedures

2.
Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank and
the Department acceptable interim policies and procedures designed to improve internal controls,
risk management, compliance, audit, and regulatory reporting at the New York Branch. At a
minimum, the interim policies and procedures shall address the deficiencies noted in the Report
of Examination, and shall include steps to ensure full compliance with all applicable federal and
state laws and regulations.
Internal

Controls

(4

The interim policies and procedures

shall include steps to, at a minimum:

strengthen internal accounting and recordkeeping functions,
(i)
including recording all transactions according to either (A) U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) or (B) generally accepted French accounting standards, provided that the
New York Branch maintains workpapers identifying the French accounting standards applied
and showing a reconciliation between such standards and GAAP;
(ii)
maintain appropriate segregation of duties, including, without
limitation, duties that involve accounting procedures and risk-related decision-making;
(iii)
enhance management information systems to ensure that
appropriate management personnel receive timely and accurate reports necessary to effectively
manage business risks and correct weaknesses and deficiencies;

underwriting

establish enhanced internal operational and financial controls, loan
(iv)
standards and internal credit grading procedures;

and reconciliation

ensure proper handling of dormant accounts, and the processing
(v)
of transactions through “wash” or suspense accounts;

ensure the adequacy of controls, including the maintenance of
(vi)
proper support documentation, for consulting fees and commission payments, for disclosure of
related party transactions, and for novation fees;
4

(vii)
ensure prompt translation and distribution of foreign language
instructions, and audit reports to appropriate New York Branch personnel; and

communications,

(viii) monitor compliance by New York Branch personnel with all
instructions and directives of the Bank’s head office.

Risk Management
@I

The interim policies and procedures shall include steps to, at a minimum:

effectivety manage risk for all transactions, including enhanced
(i)
procedures for oversight and control of credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and
reputational risks;
(ii)
ensure that the appropriate staff at the New York Branch are
involved in risk decisions, and that all transactions are reviewed by appropriate credit and
accounting personnel;
(iii)

correct all risk management

deficiencies

identified in the Report of

Examination:
centralize and enhance credit risk management,
complete and accurate credit analysis documentation; and

(iv)

and ensure

increase the effectiveness of current means of valuing trading
(v)
positions, including systems to capture and report credit and market exposures, line approval and
allocation, excess reporting, and margin/collateral requirements, and procedures to calculate and
approve limits, exposures, and line approvals.

Compliance
The interim policies and procedures shall include a written compliance
(c)
program that is designed to ensure the New York Branch’s compliance with all applicable
federal and state banking laws, regulations, and supervisory requirements and that includes, at a
minimum, comprehensive compliance policies and procedures, a plan for monitoring and testing
compliance, a process for escalating or resolving outstanding issues, workpaper documentation
standards, and a compliance training program for New York Branch management and staff.

The interim policies and procedures shall include a written internal audit
program for the New York Branch that provides, at a minimum:

(4

procedures consistent with the Institute for Internal Auditors’
(i)
Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing;

(ii)
procedures designed to ensure the independence
Branch’s audit function, including appropriate escalation protocols;

of the New York

(iii)
risk assessments to ensure that ongoing internal audits of critical or
high-risk areas are performed with reasonable frequency and depth, and that the adequacy,
effectiveness, and efftciency of the internal control environment of each function is reviewed;
(iv)
procedures for the submission of formal written reports directly to
the chief auditor and the audit committee of the Bank;
(v)
to the appropriate persons;

procedures to ensure that all audit reports are provided in English

(vi)
procedures for management to respond promptly and completely to
audit findings, including status reports on the implementation of corrective actions;

annually
proposed
effective
adoption

a requirement that the Bank’s audit committee meet at least
(vii)
to discuss the prior year’s internal audit activities and to review the New York Branch’s
audit program for the following year to ensure that it is revised in a timely and
manner to reflect changes in the organizational and business environment, including the
of evolving industry best practices; and

(viii) guidelines and the designation of resources to ensure that internal
audits are completed effectively and as scheduled.

Regulatory Reporting
The interim policies and procedures shall contain steps to ensure
(4
(9
that accurate and complete regulatory reports are timely tiled with the Board of Governors, the
Reserve Bank and the Department, including, without limitation, corrective steps to ensure that
all regulatory reports filed by the Bank and the New York Branch with the Board of Governors,
the Reserve Bank and the Department accurately reflect the tiling entity’s financial condition on
the dates for which such reports are filed, and that all records indicating how such reports are
prepared are adequately maintained for subsequent supervisory review; and
Within 60 days of receipt of the Independent Firm’s report of its
(ii)
comprehensive audit and review, the New York Branch shall, as required, refile the call reports
FFIEC-002 for the six quarters preceding and including September 30,200O.
Permanent

Policies and Procedures

Within 60 days of receipt of the Independent Firm’s report of its comprehensive
3.
audit and review, the Bank shall (a) review the interim policies and procedures required by this
Agreement to determine whether they adequately address the findings and recommendations of
the Independent Firm’s comprehensive audit and review; (b) make any appropriate, necessary

6

modifications to the interim policies and procedures; and (c) submit to the Reserve Bank and the
Department acceptable permanent policies and procedures.
Management

Review

Within 60 days of this Agreement, CNCA and the Bank shall jointly provide the
4.
Reserve Bank and the Department with a written analysis of all key personnel and official
positions at the New York Branch. This analysis shall focus on the New York Branch’s
organizational structure, including reporting lines, duties performed by key personnel, including
signatory authorities delegated to such individuals, and each person’s qualifications for the
position held.
Approval

of Policies and Procedures

The engagement letter and the policies and procedures required by
5.
paragraphs l(d), 2 and 3 hereof shall be submitted to the Reserve Bank and the Department for
review and approval. An acceptable engagement letter and acceptable policies and procedures
shall be submitted within the time periods set forth in this Agreement. CNCA, the Bank and the
New York Branch, as applicable, shall adopt the approved engagement letter and policies and
procedures within 10 days of approval by the Reserve Bank and the Department, and then shall
fully comply with them. During the term of this Agreement, the approved engagement letter and
policies and procedures shall not be amended or rescinded without the prior written approval of
the Reserve Bank and the Department.
Progress

Reports

Within 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter (December 3 1, March 3 1,
6.
June 30, and September 30) following the date of this Agreement, the Bank, on its own behalf
and on behalf of CNCA and the New York Branch, shall furnish a written progress report
detailing the form and manner of all actions taken to secure compliance with this Agreement, and
the results thereof.
Communications
7.

All communications
(a)

regarding this Agreement shall be sent to:

Mr. Robert A. O’Sullivan
Senior Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045

@I

Mr. Michael P. Hess
Assistant Deputy Superintendent
New York State Banking Department
Two Rector Street
New York, NY 10006

(cl

Mr. Didier Varlet
Senior Regional Officer-North
America
Credit Agricole Indosuez, New York Branch
666 Third Avenue
NewYork,NY
10017-4011

(4

Mr. Marc-Antoine Autheman
Chairman, Board of Management
Credit Agricole Indosuez
9 Quai du President Paul Doumer
Paris, La Defense 92920, France

(4

Mr. Jean Laurent
Chief Executive Officer
Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole
9 l-93 Boulevard Pasteur
75710 Paris CEDEX 15
France

Miscellaneous
8.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on CNCA, the Bank, and the
New York Branch, and each of their institution-affiliated parties in their capacities as such, and
their successors and assigns.
9.
Each provision of this Agreement shall remain effective and enforceable until
stayed, modified, terminated, or suspended by the Reserve Bank and the Department.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Reserve Bank and the
10.
Department may, in their discretion, grant written extensions of time to Credit Agricole to
comply with any provision of this Agreement.
The provisions of this Agreement shall not bar, estop or otherwise prevent the
11.
Board of Governors, the Department or any federal or state agency or department from taking
any other action affecting CNCA, the Bank, the New York Branch, or any of their current or
former institution-affiliated parties.