Document Headings

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                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
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###### Federal Housing Finance Agency

          - 12 CFR Part 1253
          - RIN 2590-AA17

# AGENCY:

Federal Housing Finance Agency.

# ACTION:

Interim final rule; request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA or Agency) is promulgating and seeking comment on an interim final regulation to implement section 1321 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, as amended by section 1123 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. The regulation establishes a process for the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (collectively, the Enterprises) to obtain prior approval from the FHFA Director for a new product and provide prior notice to the Director of a new activity. Specifically, the interim final regulation implements section 1321 and is designed to ensure that the FHFA Director has the opportunity to determine prior to an Enterprise commencing a new activity whether the new activity is a new product, and if it is a new product, to determine whether the new product is authorized by the Enterprise's charter, is in the public interest, and is consistent with the safety and soundness of the Enterprise or the mortgage finance or financial system. FHFA invites public comment on all aspects of the regulation.

# DATES:

*Effective Date:*                         July 2, 2009.                    

*Comment Date:*                         FHFA will accept written comments on the interim final regulation on or before August 31, 2009.                    

# ADDRESSES:

Submit comments to FHFA using any one of the following methods:
      -  E-mail: regcomments@fhfa.gov . Please include “Public Comment—RIN 2590-AA17 (Prior Approval for Enterprise Products)” in the subject line of the message.                    
      -  Mail/Hand Delivery:                          Federal Housing Finance Agency, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552, Attention: Public Comment—RIN 2590-AA17 (Prior Approval for Enterprise Products). The package should be logged at the Guard Desk, First Floor, on business days between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.                    
      -  Federal eRulemaking: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. If you submit your comment to the                          Federal eRulemaking Portal,                          please also send it by e-mail to FHFA at                          regcomments@fhfa.gov                          to ensure timely receipt by the Agency. Include the following information in the subject line of your submission: “Public Comment—RIN 2590-AA17 (Prior Approval for Enterprise Products)”.                    

                        We will post all public comments we receive without change, including any personal information you provide, such as your name and address, on the FHFA Web site at                         *http://www.fhfa.gov.*

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Carol Connelly, 202-414-8910 (not a toll-free number), e-mail:                         *carol.connelly@fhfa.gov,*                         Office of Supervision—Office of Supervision Infrastructure; or Ming-Yuen Meyer-Fong, 202-414-3798 (not a toll-free number), e-mail:                         *ming-yuen.meyer-fong@fhfa.gov,*                         Office of General Counsel, Federal Housing Finance Agency, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552. The telephone number for the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf is: 800-877-8339.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## I. Comments and Access

                    This interim final regulation as well as any comments posted may be accessed via the Internet. Users can access the FHFA Web page at                     *http://www.fhfa.gov;*                     select Supervision and Regulations Tab; select Regulations, Notices and Public Comments; then, select the link titled “Prior Approval for Enterprise Products.” In addition, copies of all comments received will be available for examination by the public on business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552. To make an appointment to inspect comments, please call the Office of General Counsel at 202-414-6924.                

## II. Background

### A. Establishment of the Federal Housing Finance Agency

                    On July 30, 2008, the President signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (Pub. L. 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654) (HERA). Among other things, HERA amended the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4501*et seq.*) (Safety and Soundness Act) to establish a new independent agency of the Federal Government known as the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and transferred the supervisory and oversight responsibilities for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) and components of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to FHFA. The Enterprises are government-sponsored enterprises chartered by Congress for the purposes of establishing secondary market facilities for residential mortgages. 12 U.S.C. 1716*et seq.*                     (Fannie Mae Charter Act) and 12 U.S.C. 1451*et seq.*                     (Freddie Mac Corporation Act) (the authorizing statutes).                

                    Congress established FHFA, among other things, to oversee the prudential operations of the Enterprises, and to ensure that: (1) The Enterprises operate in a safe and sound manner, including maintenance of adequate capital and internal controls; (2) The activities of the Enterprises foster liquid, efficient, competitive, and resilient national housing finance markets; (3) The Enterprises comply with the Safety and Soundness Act and the rules, regulations, guidelines, and orders issued under the Safety and Soundness Act and the authorizing statutes; and (4) The Enterprises carry out their public missions through activities and operations that are authorized by and consistent with the Safety and Soundness Act, their respective authorizing statutes, and the public interest.                     *See*                     section 1313(a)(1)(B) of the Safety and Soundness Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 4513(a)(1)(B)).                

### B. Prior Approval Authority for Products and Activities

                    Through products offered to the marketplace and their activities in the housing finance system, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, together, own or guarantee nearly $5.4 trillion of residential mortgages in the United States. Their products play a key role in housing finance and the U.S. economy. However, the Enterprises also take on risks, and create risks for themselves and the mortgage finance and financial system, through their activities and product offerings. The configuration of particular products may also raise questions of how successfully such products achieve the Enterprises' public missions while balancing the risks borne or created through such products. Because of the significant effects Enterprise products and activities have and could have on the market and market participants, the Safety and Soundness Act empowered the FHFA Director to review products prior to being offered. Specifically, the Safety and Soundness Act requires “each Enterprise to obtain the approval of the Director for any product of the enterprise before initially offering the product.”                     *See*                     section 1321(a) of the                           ( print page 31603)                        Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(a)).                

                    Before commencing a new activity that an Enterprise does not consider to be a new product, the Safety and Soundness Act requires an Enterprise to provide “written notice” to the Director for a determination of whether such a new activity is a new product subject to prior approval under section 1321.                     *See*                     section 1321(e)(2) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(e)(2)). If the Director determines such a new activity to be a new product, the Enterprise shall “obtain the approval of the Director for any product of the enterprise before initially offering the product.”                     *See id.*                     at section 1321(a) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(a)).                

## III. Analysis of the Interim Final Rule

### A. Synopsis of the Interim Final Rule

The structure of the statute superficially suggests that an Enterprise has a choice of two types of submission to make to FHFA: First, a request for prior approval of a new product; and second, a notice of a new activity that the Enterprise does not believe to be a new product. However, the statute does not define either “product” or “activity,” nor does it direct the agency to define those terms. The standards for determining when an activity must be published for public notice and comment—thereby constituting a new product—include considerations of charter compliance, safety and soundness, and the public interest. These factors are of a high-level character, implicating many considerations in each case that may be difficult to define or identify in advance. FHFA concludes that the determination whether a new activity is a new product in specific instances is committed to agency discretion by law.

The agency does not believe that it is practical to require an Enterprise to identify a new product—as distinct from a new activity that is not a product—in advance for purposes of determining which type of submission to make to the agency. For that reason, the regulation meets the statutory mandate through employing a streamlined “notice” process. It requires an Enterprise to make a single form of submission—a notice of new activity. The Director will then decide whether the new activity is a new product that must be published for public notice and comment. In exigent circumstances, the Director may decide to allow an Enterprise to undertake a new product before the public notice and comment period.

To avoid duplication of review, a product undertaken by an Enterprise which is substantially similar to a product previously approved under this part for either Enterprise is not a new product. The definition of new product also does not include a product that is substantially similar to a product that has been continuously undertaken by either Enterprise since prior to the effective date of HERA of July 30, 2008. However, in either case, an Enterprise seeking to undertake such a product for the first time must provide notice to FHFA of the product as a new activity and obtain the Director's approval. FHFA reserves its authority to review such a new activity to ensure compliance with the Enterprise's authorizing statute, safety and soundness considerations, and the public interest, and to deny or to impose any terms, conditions, or limitations on the Enterprise's ability to undertake such a new activity. We note that 12 CFR part 1750, Subpart B, App. A (Risk-based capital) provides for a definition for new activity which applies to the relevant section of that appendix, and is not controlling for purposes of 12 CFR part 1253.

The Director's exercise of his authority under the regulations in this part in no way restricts his safety and soundness authority over all new and existing products or activities of an Enterprise, or his authority to review all new and existing products or activities to determine that such products or activities are consistent with the statutory mission of an Enterprise.

### B. Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1253.1 sets forth the purpose and authority of this part.

Section 1253.2 sets forth definitions of terms used in this part which are discussed further below in the context that they are used.

Section 1253.3 establishes that before commencing any new activity, an Enterprise must submit to FHFA a written Notice. As part of its submission, an Enterprise must complete the FHFA Notice of New Activity Form (Notice Form) and submit it to FHFA in the manner described in the Instructions for the Notice Form established through the appendix to this part, and which may be modified from time to time by written direction of the Director. The Notice Form provides a mechanism for the Director to determine whether the new activity is a new product in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 4541 and 12 CFR part 1253. The Notice Form also serves, where the Director determines the activity is not a new product, to provide information to FHFA necessary in exercising its authorities as safety and soundness regulator. A Notice will not be considered complete and received for processing until all of the information required by the Notice Form, along with any follow-up information required by FHFA upon review of the initially submitted information to enable a determination whether the new activity is a new product, has been submitted. FHFA will notify the Enterprise once a Notice Form is deemed complete and accepted for review.

An Enterprise may not commence a new activity unless the Director makes a written determination that the new activity is not a new product, or at least 15 business-days have elapsed since the Enterprise was notified that a Notice was complete and received for processing without the Director having made a determination. If the Director determines that the new activity is a new product, the Enterprise must await approval of the new product under § 1253.4.

                    Section 1253.4 provides for public notice and comment of a new product to enable the Director to determine whether the new product is: (1) Authorized by the Charter Act (Fannie Mae) or Corporation Act (Freddie Mac); (2) In the public interest; and (3) Consistent with the safety and soundness of the Enterprise or the mortgage finance and financial system. Among the factors that the Director may consider when determining whether a new product is in the public interest are: (1) The degree to which the new product might reasonably be expected to advance any of the charter purposes of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; (2) The degree to which the new product serves underserved markets as set forth in section 1335 of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4565); (3) The degree to which the new product is being supplied or could be supplied by non-government-sponsored-enterprise firms; (4) Other alternatives for providing the new product to the market; (5) The degree to which the new product promotes competition in the marketplace or, to the contrary, would result in less competition and greater concentration of economic activity or risk; (6) The degree to which Enterprise provision of the service overcomes natural market barriers or inefficiencies; (7) The degree to which Enterprise provision of the new product might raise or mitigate systemic risks to the mortgage, mortgage finance or financial markets; (8) the degree to which the new product furthers fair housing; and (9) such other factors determined to be appropriate by the Director.                          ( print page 31604)    

                    Section 1321(c) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(c)) authorizes the Director to grant “temporary approval” of the new product if a delay associated with seeking public comment is contrary to public interest.                     *See id.*                     at section 1321 paragraphs (c)(2) through (c)(4) (12 U.S.C. 4541(c)(2) through (c)(4)). Accordingly, once FHFA determines that a new activity is a new product, FHFA will publish notice along with a description of the new product for a 30-day public comment period, unless the Director determines that delay associated with first seeking public comment is contrary to public interest. Where the Director determines that exigent circumstances exist such that delay associated with seeking public comment is contrary to public interest, the Director may consider and temporarily approve the new product without providing an advance public comment period. In such circumstances, the Director will provide for a public comment period after granting the Temporary Approval.                

In making a determination, the Director will consider all public comments received by the closing date of the comment period. The Director will make a determination on the new product no later than 30 calendar-days after the close of the public comment period. If the Director fails to make a determination on the new product within the 30-day time period, the Enterprise may offer the new product. If the Director approves the new product, the Director may condition such approval upon terms, conditions, and limitations with which the Enterprise must comply. If the Director denies a new product, the Enterprise may not offer the new product.

Where, as a result of public comment or otherwise in the course of considering the new product, FHFA believes that any information in addition to that supplied by the Enterprise is necessary for its decision, FHFA may request such information. FHFA may deny a new product if it does not receive the information requested from the Enterprise in sufficient time to permit adequate evaluation of the information.

Section 1253.5 states that confidential information submitted in support of either a Notice or a public comment submission, is presumed public. An Enterprise or commenter may request confidential treatment, and FHFA will consider such requests upon Enterprise or commenter compliance with the specified requirements.

Section 1253.6 sets forth certification requirements and grounds to nullify an approval. The Notice, any applicable Forms, and supporting information must be certified by an executive officer as that term is defined by 12 CFR 1770.3(g). We note that 12 CFR 1770.3(g) is in the process of being replaced, and § 1230.2 will become the relevant reference. 74 FR 26989 (June 5, 2009). If FHFA discovers a material misrepresentation or omission after the Director has rendered a decision, FHFA may nullify any approval, or terms, conditions, and limitations to such approval. Any person responsible for any material misrepresentation or omission in a filing or supporting materials may be subject to enforcement action and other penalties, including criminal penalties provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Section 1253.7 states penalties for failure to comply. If an Enterprise: (1) Offers a new product or commences a new activity without submitting a Notice; (2) offers a new product or commences a new activity after submitting a Notice before the expiration of time provided for the Director to make a determination; (3) offers a new product after the Director disapproves it; or (4) fails to adhere to any terms, conditions, or limitations established by the Director, the Enterprise must cease offering the new product or engaging in the new activity immediately upon discovery or notice of the events described in this section, unless otherwise informed by the Director in writing.

Upon discovery or notice of any one of these occurrences, the Enterprise must provide the FHFA Director and its board of directors, chief risk officer, internal audit, and compliance officer, a written description of the failure or failures of controls that resulted in the offering of the new product or commencement of new activity in contravention of regulations in this part. The Enterprise must also provide information regarding the steps it has taken and will take to remediate the control failures. Failure to comply with these steps may result in FHFA taking enforcement action.

Section 1253.8 provides that, if the Director approves a new product for one Enterprise, or the new product is otherwise available to that Enterprise under § 1253.4, the other Enterprise may also offer that new product, subject to submitting a request to the Director in the form of a Notice under § 1253.3 and approval by the Director.

                    Section 1253.9 states that the Director's authority is preserved. The Director's exercise of the Safety and Soundness Act's provisions on prior approval authority for products in no way restricts the safety and soundness authority of the Director over all new and existing products or activities, or the authority of the Director to review all new and existing products or activities to determine that such products or activities are consistent with the statutory mission of an Enterprise.                     *See*                     section 1321(f) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(f)).                

## IV. Notice and Public Participation

                    The notice and comment procedure required by the Administrative Procedure Act is inapplicable to this interim final regulation because it is in the public interest to implement section 1123 of HERA that amends section 1321 of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541) immediately.                     *See*5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The regulation facilitates the Enterprises' continued ability to meet their public mission in conservatorship, enabling them to contribute to combating the continuing deterioration and volatility of the residential mortgage market. Also, the regulation establishes procedures for the Enterprises to submit notices of new activities and new products for approval. However, because FHFA believes that public comments are valuable, it encourages comments on all aspects of the interim final regulation, and will consider all comments received on or before August 31, 2009 in adopting a final regulation.                

## V. Effective Date

                    For the reasons stated in section IV., above, the FHFA for good cause finds that the interim final regulation is immediately effective on July 2, 2009.                     *See id.*                     at para. (d)(3).                

## VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

                    FHFA is promulgating this regulation in the form of an interim final regulation and not as a proposed regulation. Therefore, the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply.                     *See*5 U.S.C. 601(2) and 603(a).                

## VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

                    The interim final regulation does not contain any information collection requirement that requires the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501*et seq.*).                

# List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1253

      - Government-sponsored enterprises; Mortgages; New activities; New products

## Authority and Issuance

                        Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, under the authorities of                               ( print page 31605)    12 U.S.C. 4526 and 12 U.S.C. 4541, the Federal Housing Finance Agency hereby amends Chapter XII of Title 12, Code of Federal Regulations as follows:                    

# CHAPTER XII—FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

# Subchapter C—Enterprises

1. Add part 1253 to subchapter C to read as follows: 

# PART 1253—PRIOR APPROVAL FOR ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS

        - 1253.1 
        - Purpose and authority.
        - 1253.2 
        - Definitions.
        - 1253.3 
        - Notice of new activity.
        - 1253.4 
        - New product approval.
        - 1253.5 
        - Confidential information.
        - 1253.6 
        - Certifying and nullifying an approval.
        - 1253.7 
        - Failure to comply.
        - 1253.8 
        - Availability of new product to an Enterprise after it has been approved for the other Enterprise.
        - 1253.9 
        - Preservation of authority.
        Appendix to Part 1253—Prior Approval for Enterprise Products: Instructions and Notice of New Activity Form 

Authority:12 U.S.C. 4526; 12 U.S.C. 4541.

§ 1253.1 

The purpose of this part is to establish policies and procedures implementing the prior approval authority for enterprise products, in accordance with section 1321 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (Safety and Soundness Act) (12 U.S.C. 4541), as amended.

§ 1253.2 

For purposes of this part:

*Authorizing statute*                                 means, in the case of Fannie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1716*et seq.*) and, in the case of Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1451*et seq.*).                            

*Director*                                 means the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency or his or her designee.                            

*Enterprise*                                 means the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).                            

*FHFA*                                 means the Federal Housing Finance Agency.                            

*New activity*                                 means with respect to an Enterprise, any business line, business practice, or service, including guarantee, financial instrument, consulting, or marketing, that is proposed to be undertaken by the Enterprise either on a standalone basis or as an incident to providing one or more Enterprise products to the market, and which was—                            

(a) Not initially engaged in prior to July 30, 2008;

(b) Commenced by the Enterprise prior to July 30, 2008, but which, after July 30, 2008, the Enterprise ceased to engage in, and presently intends to resume; or

(c) Offered or engaged in by the Enterprise after July 30, 2008, at a significantly different level, or in a significantly different manner, in terms of the activity's effect on public interest or risk to the Enterprise or the mortgage finance or financial system.

The term “new activity” does not include—

(1) Any Enterprise business practice, transactions, or conduct performed solely as an incident to the administration of the Enterprise's internal affairs to conduct its business; or

                                (2) Any business practice or service undertaken by an Enterprise that is                                 *de minimis*                                 in scope, volume, risk, or duration.                            

*New product*                                 means any activity that the Director determines merits public notice and comment on matters of compliance with the applicable authorizing statute, safety and soundness, or public interest. “New product” does not include—                            

(a) The automated loan underwriting system of an Enterprise in existence as of July 30, 2008, including any upgrade to the technology, operating system, or software to operate the underwriting system;

(b) Any modification to the mortgage terms and conditions or mortgage underwriting criteria relating to the mortgages that are purchased or guaranteed by the Enterprise, provided that such modifications do not alter the underlying transaction so as to include services or financing, other than residential mortgage financing;

(c) Any activity that is substantially similar to the activities described in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section;

(d) Any activity that is substantially similar to an activity or product that has been approved in accordance with this part for either Enterprise; or

(e) Any activity that is substantially similar to an activity or product continuously undertaken by the other Enterprise since prior to July 30, 2008.

*Substantially similar.*                                 In considering whether an activity is “substantially similar” to any activity described in section 1321(e)(1)(A) and (B) of the Safety and Soundness Act, 12 U.S.C. 4541(e)(1)(A) and in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section under the definition of new product, or to any activity approved in accordance with this part, or continuously engaged in by the other Enterprise as referenced in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section under the definition of new product, the Director may consider if the activity in question—                            

(1) Is a product;

(2) Is authorized under the applicable authorizing statute;

(3) Represents an upgrade to the way an approved product is delivered;

(4) Poses a significant change in risk to the Enterprise or the mortgage finance system from a previously approved product or activity;

(5) Involves a significant change in terms, conditions, or limitations expressly contained in any prior approval granted under this part;

(6) Poses a significant change in its effect on the public interest compared to a previously approved product or activity;

(7) Poses a significant change from a previously approved product or activity and if so, does a tradeoff exist in the composite of risk, public interest, and safety and soundness elements in the proposed new activity;

(8) Is likely to have significantly more enterprise resources dedicated to it;

(9) Requires approval by regulators other than FHFA, including Federal, State, or local regulators;

(10) Involves new classes or types of borrowers, investors, or counterparties;

(11) Involves new classes or types of collateral; or

(12) Such other factor as the Director determines to be appropriate.

§ 1253.3

                                (a) Before commencing a new activity, an Enterprise must submit a Notice of New Activity (Notice) to the FHFA, and either receive a determination that the new activity is not a new product, await passage of the 15 business-day period as described in paragraph (d) of this section, or, where FHFA determines the new activity to be a new product, await approval of the new product under § 1253.4. In addition, for any new activity that an Enterprise seeks to engage in which FHFA had previously approved in accordance with this part for the other Enterprise, or in which the other Enterprise had engaged continuously since prior to July 30, 2008, the Enterprise must submit a Notice to FHFA. In support of its Notice, the Enterprise shall submit information sufficient to allow the Director to make a determination on the Notice pursuant to section 1321 of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541), as amended, including any information required by FHFA by regulation or otherwise. The Enterprise shall provide a thorough, meaningful, complete and                                       ( print page 31606)                                    specific description of the new activity such that the public will be able to provide fully informed comment on the new activity if FHFA determines the new activity to be a new product. Such information shall include that contained in the FHFA Notice Form and the Instructions for the FHFA Notice of New Activity Form (Notice Form Instructions) that appear in the appendix of this part. The Notice Form and Notice Form Instructions may be amended from time to time by written direction of the Director. Requests for confidential treatment for any portion of an Enterprise's submission must be made consistent with § 1253.5.                            

(b) FHFA will evaluate a Notice to establish whether the submission contains sufficient information for FHFA to make a determination whether the new activity is a new product subject to prior approval. Upon establishing that the Notice contains sufficient information, FHFA shall deem the submission complete and “received” for purposes of section 1321(e)(2)(B) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(e)(2)(B)), and shall notify the Enterprise accordingly.

(c) No later than 15 business-days after the Notice is deemed completed and “received” for purposes of section 1321(e)(2)(B) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541(e)(2)(B)), the Director will make a written determination on the Notice, and shall notify the Enterprise accordingly. The Director may also approve the new activity subject to such terms, conditions, or limitations on the Enterprise's engagement in the new activity as the Director determines to be appropriate.

(d) If the Director fails to make a determination within the 15 business-day period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, the Enterprise may commence the new activity. The Director's failure to make a determination within the 15-day period does not limit or restrict the Director's safety and soundness authority or the authority of the Director to review the new activity to determine whether the activity is consistent with the statutory mission of the Enterprise.

§ 1253.4

                                (a)                                 *Public notice.*                                 If the Director determines that the new activity is a new product, FHFA shall publish a public notice soliciting comments on the proposed product for a 30 calendar-day period.                            

(1) The public notice will describe the new product and state the closing date of the public comment period. The public notice will provide instructions for submission of public comment.

(2) The Director will consider all public comments received by the closing date of the comment period.

                                (3) In computing the 30 calendar-day public comment period, FHFA excludes the day on which the public notice is published in the                                 **Federal Register,**                                 from which the period begins to run, and includes the last day of the period, regardless of whether it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.                            

                                (b)                                 *Director's determination.*                                 (1) No later than 30 calendar-days after the end of the public comment period, the Director will provide the Enterprise with a written determination on whether it may proceed with the new product. The written determination will specify the grounds for the Director's determination.                            

(2) The Director will approve the new product if the Director determines that the new product complies with the applicable authorizing statute, is in the public interest, and is consistent with the safety and soundness of the Enterprise and the mortgage finance and financial system. The Enterprise may then offer the new product subject to any terms, conditions, or limitations as may be established by the Director.

(3) Among the factors that the Director may consider when determining whether a new product is in the public interest are—

(i) The degree to which the new product might reasonably be expected to advance any of the purposes of the Enterprise under the applicable authorizing statute;

(ii) The degree to which the new product serves underserved markets as set forth in section 1335 of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4565);

(iii) The degree to which the new product is being supplied or could be supplied by non-government-sponsored-enterprise firms;

(iv) Other alternatives for providing the new product;

(v) The degree to which the new product promotes competition in the marketplace or, to the contrary, would result in less competition and greater concentration of economic activity or risk;

(vi) The degree to which Enterprise provision of the new product overcomes natural market barriers or inefficiencies;

(vii) The degree to which Enterprise provision of the new product might raise or mitigate systemic risks to the mortgage, mortgage finance or other financial markets;

(viii) The degree to which the new product furthers fair housing; and

(ix) Such other factors determined appropriate by the Director.

(4) The Director will disapprove the new product if the Director determines that approval is inconsistent with applicable law, regulation, or FHFA policy thereunder, or contrary to public interest or the safety and soundness of the Enterprise or the mortgage finance or financial system. If the Director disapproves the new product, the Enterprise may not offer the new product.

(5) The Director may establish terms, conditions, or limitations on the Enterprise's offering of the new product to ensure that the product offering is consistent with applicable statutory and regulatory standards, FHFA policies, public interest, or the safety and soundness of the Enterprise or the mortgage finance or financial system.

(6) If the Director fails to make a determination within the 30 calendar-day period that begins on the day after the end of the public comment period, the Enterprise may offer the new product. The Director's failure to make a determination within such 30-day period does not limit or restrict the Director's safety and soundness authority or the authority of the Director to review the new product to determine that the product is consistent with the statutory mission of the Enterprise.

                                (c)                                 *Temporary approval.*                                 (1) FHFA may approve a new product without first seeking public comments as described in § 1253.4(c) if—                            

(i) The Enterprise submits a specific request for Temporary Approval that describes the exigent circumstances that make the delay associated with the 30-day public comment period contrary to the public interest and the Director determines that exigent circumstances exist and that delay associated with first seeking public comment would be contrary to the public interest; or

(ii) Notwithstanding the absence of a request by the Enterprise for Temporary Approval, the Director determines on his or her own initiative that there are exigent circumstances that make the delay associated with first seeking public comment contrary to the public interest.

(2) The Director may impose terms, conditions, or limitations on the Temporary Approval to ensure that the new product offering is consistent with applicable statutory and regulatory standards, FHFA policies, public interest, and the safety and soundness of the Enterprise or the mortgage finance system.

                                (3) If the Director grants Temporary Approval, the Director will notify the Enterprise in writing of the Director's                                       ( print page 31607)                                    decision, and include the period for which it is effective and any terms, conditions or limitations. Upon granting of Temporary Approval, FHFA will also publish the request for public comment to begin the process for permanent approval.                            

(4) If the Director denies a request for Temporary Approval, the Director will notify the Enterprise in writing of the Director's decision, and will evaluate the new product in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section.

                                (d)                                 *Additional information.*                                 The Director may request any information in addition to that supplied in the completed Notice if, as a result of public comment or otherwise in the course of considering the Notice, the Director believes that the information is necessary for his or her decision. The Director may disapprove a new product if he or she does not receive the information requested from the Enterprise in sufficient time to permit adequate evaluation of the information within the time periods set forth in paragraph (c) of this section.                            

§ 1253.5 

                                (a)                                 *Information presumed public.*                                 FHFA will treat all information an Enterprise submits in a Notice as public information, except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section. FHFA will also treat information provided by a commenter, in response to a notice requesting comment on an Enterprise new product, as public information, except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.                            

                                (b)                                 *Confidential treatment request.*                                 An Enterprise or commenter may designate specific information as confidential and request that it not be made publicly available. For any information that an Enterprise or commenter seeks confidential treatment, the Enterprise or commenter is required to submit a complete copy of the Notice or comment, with a specific request for confidential treatment. Simultaneously, the Enterprise or commenter is required to submit a copy of the Notice or comment containing only those portions for which no request for confidential treatment is made, and from which those portions for which confidential treatment is requested have been redacted. The Enterprise or commenter must specify the bases for designated information not being made public as set forth in paragraph (c) of this section.                            

                                (c)                                 *Required information.*                                 The Enterprise or commenter is required to provide the following information in support of its request for confidential treatment of the designated information—                            

(1) Identification of the specific information for which confidential treatment is sought, and the specific Notice for which the information is being submitted;

(2) Explanation of the bases for the proposed confidential treatment including, but not limited to, why the information is “commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential” as that phrase is used in Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), and § 1202.4(a)(4) of this chapter;

(3) Explanation of the relevance and necessity of the information to whether the Notice should be approved or denied;

(4) Explanation of how disclosure of the information would result in substantial harm to the competitive position of the Enterprise or commenter;

(5) Explanation of whether the information is available to the public and the extent of any previous disclosure to third parties;

(6) Justification of the time period during which the Enterprise or commenter asserts that the material should not be available for public disclosure; and

(7) Any other information that the Enterprise or commenter seeking confidential treatment believes may be useful in assessing whether its request for confidentiality should be granted.

                                (d)                                 *FHFA determination.*                                 FHFA will determine whether the designated information may be withheld from public disclosure and will notify the Enterprise or commenter of the determination. In the event that FHFA determines the information may not be withheld from public disclosure, the Enterprise or commenter may withdraw the information or consent to public disclosure. Requests for confidential treatment that do not comply with paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section will not be considered.                            

§ 1253.6 

(a) An Enterprise shall certify, through an executive officer, as that term is defined by § 1770.3(g) of this title, that any filing or supporting material submitted to FHFA pursuant to regulations in this part contains no material misrepresentations or omissions. FHFA may review and verify any information filed in connection with a Notice. If FHFA discovers a material misrepresentation or omission after the Director has rendered a decision on the filing, FHFA may nullify any approval or modify the terms, conditions, and limitations to such approval. For purposes of this paragraph, an Enterprise's authority to offer a new product or engage in a new activity by reason of the Director's not having made an explicit determination within the statutory time period constitutes an approval.

(b) Any person responsible for any material misrepresentation or omission in a submission or supporting materials may be subject to enforcement action and other penalties, including criminal penalties provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

§ 1253.7 

(a) Unless the Director otherwise informs the Enterprise in writing, an Enterprise must cease offering a new product or engaging in a new activity immediately upon discovering or receiving notice from the Director that the Enterprise has—

(1) Offered a new product or commenced a new activity without submitting a Notice;

(2) Offered a new product or commenced a new activity after submitting a Notice but before approval is granted, and before the expiration of the time provided for the Director to make a determination under §§ 1253.3 and 1253.4;

(3) Offered a new product after the Director disapproved it; or

(4) Failed to adhere to any terms, conditions or limitations established by the Director in his or her approval of a new product or activity.

(b) Within five (5) business-days of the discovery or notice of any of the events described in paragraph (a) of this section, the Enterprise must provide the Director a written description of the failure or failures of controls that resulted in the offering of the new product or commencement of the new activity in contravention of this regulation, and the steps that the Enterprise has taken or will take to remediate the control failures. The Enterprise must provide the board of directors of the Enterprise and chief risk officer, internal audit, and compliance officer of the Enterprise with a copy of the written description on the same date the description is provided to the Director of FHFA.

                                (c) In the event that the Enterprise elects to resubmit the Notice of a new product or new activity that was undertaken in contravention of this regulation, the resubmission must provide sufficient documentation of the effectiveness of the remediation efforts described in paragraph (b) of this section.                                      ( print page 31608)    

(d) Failure to comply with paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section above may result in FHFA's taking enforcement action, including pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 4631 (orders to cease and desist), 12 U.S.C. 4632 (temporary orders to cease and desist), and 12 U.S.C. 4636 (civil money penalties).

§ 1253.8 

(a) If the Director approves a new product for one Enterprise or the new product is otherwise available to that Enterprise under § 1253.4, the other Enterprise may also undertake that new product, subject to submitting a request to the Director in the form of a Notice under § 1253.3 and approval by the Director.

(b) The Director may require such further information from the requesting Enterprise as he or she deems necessary to approve or deny the request. Approving the request does not require public notice and comment.

§ 1253.9 

(a) The Director's exercise of his or her authority pursuant to the prior approval authority for products under section 1321 of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4541), and this regulation and other issuances in no way restricts—

(1) The safety and soundness authority of the Director over all new and existing products or activities; or

(2) The authority of the Director to review all new and existing products or activities to determine that such products or activities are consistent with the statutory mission of an Enterprise.

# Appendix to Part 1253—Prior Approval for Enterprise Products—Instructions and Notice of New Activity Form

      ( print page 31609)          ( print page 31610)          ( print page 31611)          ( print page 31612)          ( print page 31613)          ( print page 31614)          ( print page 31615)          ( print page 31616)          ( print page 31617)    

      ( print page 31618)    
Dated: June 22, 2009.

James B. Lockhart III,

Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

[FR Doc. E9-15304 Filed 7-1-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8070-01-P