Financial regulators in the U.S. have named two non-bank firms — AIG and GE Capital — as systemically important firms that must be subject to tougher oversight, and will hold a hearing to consider whether to designate a third firm.
The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) announced that it has voted to designate two non-bank financial companies to face consolidated supervision and enhanced prudential standards to “address potential threats to financial stability.” The affected firms are American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and General Electric Capital Corporation, Inc. (GECC).
“Today, the council has taken a decisive step to address threats to U.S. financial stability and create a safer and more resilient financial system,” said U.S. Treasury secretary, Jacob Lew, chairperson of the FSOC. “These designations will help protect the financial system and broader economy from the types of risks that contributed to the financial crisis. The council will continue to review additional companies in the designations process, to address remaining threats to financial stability.”
Both firms were informed of the decision in early June and they were given an opportunity to contest the proposed designation, but neither of them requested a hearing to do so. However, a third company is seeking a hearing, which is to be held within 30 days. While the FSOC didn’t name that firm, back in early June, Prudential Financial Inc. issue a statement indicating that it had received notice of its potential designation, and that it was considering whether to contest the move.
Conversely, AIG issued a statement indicating that it welcomes the designation, and the fact that it will be supervised by the U.S. Federal Reserve as a systemically important financial institution.