HSBC USA Inc 10Q Part 2

HSBC Holdings PLC 16 November 2004 CREDIT QUALITY The following table provides a summary of credit quality statistics for the past five quarters. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30, June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Nonaccruing loans Balance at end of period: Commercial ....................... $ 160 $ 185 $ 231 $ 235 $ 222 Consumer ......................... 114 99 87 93 96 International .................... 16 15 11 38 30 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total ............................ $ 290 $ 299 $ 329 $ 366 $ 348 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== As a percent of loans: Commercial ....................... .89% 1.11% 1.44% 1.49% 1.29% Consumer ......................... .25 .24 .26 .32 .40 International .................... .53 .44 .31 1.11 .82 Total ............................ .43 .48 .63 .76 .77 Criticized assets Balance at end of period: Special mention .................. $ 734 $ 673 $ 707 $ 618 $ 637 Substandard ...................... 383 532 632 682 676 Doubtful ......................... 67 66 87 128 129 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total ............................ $ 1,184 $ 1,271 $ 1,426 $ 1,428 $ 1,442 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Impaired loans Balance at end of period ......... $ 252 $ 281 $ 314 $ 267 $ 240 Amount with impairment reserve ... 233 263 296 179 161 Impairment reserve ............... 38 38 61 86 91 Overview Unless otherwise noted, all increases and decreases referred to below for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 represent comparisons with the same 2003 periods. The allowance for credit losses was $340 million at September 30, 2004. The allowance has decreased $59 million (15%) from December 31, 2003, and has decreased $95 million (22%) from September 30, 2003. Reductions in the allowance attributable to domestic commercial loans and loans recorded in foreign offices were partially offset by moderate increases in the allowance attributed to domestic consumer loans. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are summarized in Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements on page 10 of this Form 10-Q. The provision for credit losses increased $28 million in the third quarter of 2004. Increased provisions were recorded during the quarter for domestic commercial and consumer loan portfolios, as well as for loans in foreign offices. The provision for credit losses decreased $79 million in the first nine months of 2004. Significantly reduced provisions associated with domestic commercial loan portfolios were partially offset by increases in provisions associated with domestic consumer loan portfolios. The third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 were highlighted by continued improvement in commercial credit quality, as evidenced by decreased commercial loan charge offs and increased recoveries of commercial loan balances previously charged off. 42 Commercial Credit Quality The allowance for credit losses associated with commercial loan portfolios remained relatively constant during the third quarter of 2004, and has decreased significantly from December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003 amounts. The provision for credit losses associated with commercial loans also has decreased significantly in the first nine months of 2004. The overall 2004 decreases in the allowance and in the provision for credit losses are due to continued improvement of credit quality associated with commercial loan portfolios, as evidenced by decreased nonaccruing loan balances, decreased criticized asset balances, decreased charge offs of commercial loan balances, and increased recoveries of balances previously charged off. These improvements resulted partially from the strategy to exit various commercial lending relationships, which have not provided acceptable levels of profitability to offset associated credit risk, and partially from continued improvement in economic conditions, which have resulted in pay downs on problem loans and upgrades of criticized assets. The improving economic environment also presented opportunities to sell certain criticized assets during 2004 at favorable prices to third parties resulting in the release of certain loan loss reserves and recoveries of previously recorded charge offs. Although there are numerous economic and geopolitical factors that can impact credit quality, it is anticipated that the recent trend of improved credit quality will continue throughout the remainder of 2004. Key economic indicators, consumer confidence, and corporate performance, as well as governmental and private sector spending priorities and political events will continue to be closely monitored. Consumer Credit Quality The allowance for credit losses associated with domestic consumer loan portfolios increased slightly during the third quarter of 2004, continuing a recent trend toward moderate growth in the allowance balance. Increases in the allowance for credit losses and in the provision for credit losses during 2004 were directly attributable to increasing consumer loan balances, particularly residential mortgages. Although nonaccruing consumer loans have increased during 2004, the percentage of nonaccruing loans to total consumer loans has decreased, indicating that the additional loans have not had a significant impact on overall credit quality. On December 31, 2003 $2.8 billion of residential mortgage loan assets were purchased at fair value from Household. On March 31, 2004, approximately $900 million of additional residential mortgage loan assets at fair value were also purchased from Household. In addition, approximately $2.2 billion of loans have been purchased from originating lenders during the first nine months of 2004 pursuant to a Household correspondent loan program. The purchase of these loans effectively increased the allowance for credit losses by approximately $6 million as of September 30, 2004. Continued utilization of Household services for origination of residential mortgage loans is planned for the remainder of 2004. The credit quality of all such loans will be closely monitored. Subject to regulatory approval, certain private label credit card receivables are expected to be purchased from Household by year end. Residual interests in certain securitized private label credit card receivable pools will also be acquired. The portfolio to be purchased is considered to be prime credit quality, with receivables originated through more than 60 merchant relationships. Credit losses associated with the portfolio have ranged from 5%-6% over the past few years. Credit losses are expected to improve modestly in future periods due to new credit management initiatives recently implemented by Household. The timing of regulatory approval, and therefore the timing of the asset transfers, cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. On the date of the transfer, the allowance for credit losses to be transferred from Household will be considered adequate to cover expected losses on the purchased portfolio. International Credit Quality During the first nine months of 2004, the allowance for credit losses, the provision for credit losses, and total nonaccruing loans associated with foreign operations of the Company have all decreased. The transfer of certain foreign operations in Uruguay and Panama to affiliated companies, combined with payments received from customers on certain foreign nonaccruing loans, contributed to the overall decreases. 43 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES The Company is party to various derivative financial instruments as an end user, as an international dealer in derivative instruments, and for purely trading purposes in order to realize profits from short-term movements in interest rates, commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and credit spreads. Additional information regarding the use of various derivative instruments is included on pages 98 and 99 of the 2003 Form 10-K. Notional Values of Derivative Contracts The following table summarizes the notional values of derivative contracts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30, December 31, 2004 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Interest rate: Futures and forwards ......................... $ 92,743 $ 107,646 Swaps ........................................ 979,301 625,670 Options written .............................. 126,996 161,824 Options purchased ............................ 105,272 197,081 ----------- ----------- 1,304,312 1,092,221 ----------- ----------- Foreign exchange: Swaps, futures and forwards .................. 205,386 147,741 Options written .............................. 42,002 16,583 Options purchased ............................ 42,804 16,769 Spot ......................................... 35,443 14,320 ----------- ----------- 325,635 195,413 ----------- ----------- Commodities, equities and precious metals: Swaps, futures and forwards .................. 40,640 33,897 Options written .............................. 9,751 7,048 Options purchased ............................ 9,018 7,081 Credit derivatives ........................... 97,991 31,302 ----------- ----------- 157,400 79,328 ----------- ----------- Total .......................................... $ 1,787,347 $ 1,366,962 =========== =========== Credit and Market Risk Associated with Derivative Contracts The notional value of derivative contracts only provides an indicator of the transaction volume in these types of instruments. It does not represent exposure to market or credit risks under these contracts. Credit (or repayment) risk in derivative instruments is minimized by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties including other HSBC group entities. Counterparties include financial institutions, government agencies, both foreign and domestic, corporations, funds (mutual funds, hedge funds, etc.), insurance companies and private clients. These counterparties are subject to regular credit review by the credit risk management department. Most derivative contracts are governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement. Depending on the type of counterparty and the level of expected activity, bilateral collateral arrangements may be required as well. The following table presents credit risk exposure and net fair value associated with derivative contracts. Total fair value of derivative receivables reflects revaluation gains from the "marking to market" of derivative contracts held for trading purposes, for all counterparties with an International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement in place. The net fair value of all derivative contracts represents the total fair value described above, less the net liability balance representing revaluation losses from the "marking to market" of derivative contracts held for trading purposes. 44 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 30, December 31, 2004 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (in millions) Credit risk exposure associated with derivative contracts: Total fair value of derivative receivables ................... $ 7,164 $ 7,653 Collateral held against exposure ............................. (2,027) (2,580) --------- --------- Net credit risk exposure ....................................... $ 5,137 $ 5,073 ========= ========= Net fair value of all derivative contracts ..................... $ (1,165) $ (566) --------- --------- OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS The following table provides information at September 30, 2004 related to the off-balance sheet arrangements and lending and sales commitments. Descriptions of these arrangements are found on pages 44-45 of the 2003 Form 10-K. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One Over One Over Year Through Five September 30, 2004 or Less Five Years Years Total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Standby letters of credit, net of participations .... $ 3,381 $ 1,623 $ 104 $ 5,108(1) Loan sales with recourse ............................ -- 2 10 12(2) Credit derivative contracts ......................... 1,886 45,410 7,567 54,863(3) Securities lending indemnifications ................. 3,717 -- -- 3,717 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total ............................................... $ 8,984 $ 47,035 $ 7,681 $ 63,700 ========= ========= ========= ========= (1) Includes $370 million issued for the benefit of related parties. (2) $9 million of this amount is indemnified by third parties. (3) Includes $7,529 million issued for the benefit of related parties. Standby Letters of Credit Fees are charged for issuing letters of credit commensurate with the customer's credit evaluation and the nature of any collateral. Included in other liabilities are deferred fees on standby letters of credit, representing the fair value of the "stand ready obligation to perform" under these guarantees, amounting to $14 million and $12 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 respectively. Also included in other liabilities is an allowance for credit losses on unfunded standby letters of credit of $19 million and $25 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 respectively. Credit Derivative Contracts The Company enters into credit derivative contracts both for its own benefit and to satisfy the needs of our customers. Credit derivatives are arrangements that provide for one party (the "beneficiary") to transfer the credit risk of a "reference asset" to another party (the "guarantor"). Under this arrangement the guarantor assumes the credit risk associated with the reference asset without directly purchasing it. The beneficiary agrees to pay to the guarantor a specified fee. In return, the guarantor agrees to pay the beneficiary an agreed upon amount if there is a default during the term of the contract. Virtually all of the market risk assumed in selling credit guarantees through credit derivative contracts is offset with another counterparty. Credit derivatives, although having characteristics of a guarantee, are accounted for as derivative instruments and are carried at fair value. The commitment amount included in the table above is the maximum amount that the Company could be required to pay, without consideration of the approximately equal amount receivable from third parties and any associated collateral. 45 Securities Lending Indemnifications The Company may lend securities of customers, on a fully collateralized basis, as an agent to third party borrowers. Customers are indemnified against the risk of loss, and collateral is obtained from the borrower with a market value exceeding the value of the loaned securities. At September 30, 2004, the fair value of that collateral was approximately $3,803 million. SPECIAL PURPOSE AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES The provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46 Revised, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FIN 46R) were adopted as of March 31, 2004. At September 30, 2004, none of the Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) that the Company is involved with are required to be consolidated under FIN 46R. The following table provides information for unconsolidated VIEs at September 30, 2004. Descriptions of these VIE relationships are included in pages 45-47 of the 2003 Form 10-K. During 2004, the Company revised the descriptive titles associated with various VIEs. In the following table, the former titles, as described in the 2003 Form 10-K, are presented parenthetically. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum Total Exposure Assets to Loss ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Asset backed commercial paper conduit (formerly, commercial paper conduit) ......... $ 2,524 $ 3,900 Securitization vehicles (formerly, trust certificates) ............................. 1,092 556 Investment funds (formerly, hedge funds) ........................................... 3,949 103 Capital funding vehicles (formerly, trust preferred securities) .................... 1,105 32 Low income housing tax credits (formerly, investments in limited partnerships) ..... 882 71 -------- -------- Total .............................................................................. $ 9,552 $ 4,662 ======== ======== CAPITAL The following table presents the capital ratios of the Company and the Bank calculated in accordance with banking regulations. To be categorized as "well-capitalized" under the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation guidelines, a banking institution must have the minimum ratios reflected in the table, and must not be subject to a directive, order, or written agreement to meet and maintain specific capital levels. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well-Capitalized" September 30, December 31, Minimum 2004 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total capital (to risk weighted assets) Company........................................... 10.00% 11.87% 12.42% Bank.............................................. 10.00 11.69 11.82 Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets) Company........................................... 6.00 8.00 8.53 Bank.............................................. 6.00 8.49 8.99 Tier 1 capital (to average assets) Company........................................... 3.00 5.96 5.87 Bank.............................................. 5.00 6.36 6.22 Tangible common equity (to risk weighted assets) Company........................................... 6.37 6.39 Bank.............................................. 8.53 9.07 Capital ratios have generally declined in relation to risk-weighted assets during 2004, due primarily to increases in consumer loan balances, off-balance sheet unused loan commitments, and derivatives activity. Tier 1 capital of $400 million was contributed to the Company and the Bank during the third quarter of 2004 in support of continuing growth in risk-weighted assets. Capital ratios are expected to remain substantially in excess of "well-capitalized" minimums in support of continued on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet growth planned for the remainder of 2004 and for 2005. 46 RISK MANAGEMENT Liquidity Management The approach to address liquidity risk and to meet funding requirements is summarized on pages 51-53 of the 2003 Form 10-K. During 2004, the Company's liquidity management approach was supplemented by increased long-term debt issuances to third parties, and potential asset sales (i.e. residential mortgage loans) in liquidity contingency plans. In addition, the Company is now planning its funding and liquidity management in conjunction with Household, as the markets increasingly view debt issuances from the separate companies within the context of their common parent company. In October 2004, Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) raised the long-term credit rating for the Company from A1 to Aa3. During the third quarter, Moody's raised the long-term credit rating for the Bank from Aa3 to Aa2 and Fitch Ratings raised the long-term credit rating from AA- to AA for both the Company and Bank. The long-term credit ratings from Standard & Poors are unchanged from December 31, 2003. The Company and the Bank periodically issue debt instruments to fund balance sheet growth, to meet cash and capital needs, or to fund investments in subsidiaries. See Note 7 to the financial statements on pages 12 and 13 of this Form 10-Q for an analysis of 2004 long-term debt activity. In June 2004, the Bank finalized a $10 billion Global Bank Note Program for the issuance of subordinated and senior global notes. In September 2004, this program was expanded to $20 billion to allow for further opportunity to access the market for longer term funding of anticipated balance sheet growth. Through September 30, 2004, approximately $6.5 billion of debt has been issued from this program. In October 2004, an additional $209 million of senior notes and $1 billion of subordinated notes were issued under the program. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company increased its short-term borrowings from affiliated HSBC entities and from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) by approximately $1.6 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. Subject to regulatory approvals, private label credit card receivables of approximately $12 billion are expected to be purchased from Household by year end. Residual interests in securitized private label credit card receivables pools of approximately $3 billion will also be acquired. The timing of regulatory approval, and therefore the timing of the asset transfers, cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. The portfolio purchase will be funded through a variety of sources, including new deposit growth, asset securitizations, borrowings from other Group affiliates, borrowings from the FHLB, debt issuances from the Global Bank Note Program, and short-term wholesale markets. Interest Rate Risk Management Various techniques are utilized to quantify and monitor risks associated with the repricing characteristics of the Company's assets, liabilities, and derivative contracts. The approach toward managing interest rate risk is summarized on pages 53-56 of the 2003 Form 10-K. During the first nine months of 2004, there were no significant changes in policies or approach for managing interest rate risk. Static "gap" measurement of interest rate risk is not used as a primary management tool. In the course of managing interest rate risk, Present Value of a Basis Point (PVBP) analysis is utilized in conjunction with a combination of other risk assessment techniques, including capital at risk, dynamic simulation modeling, capital risk and Value at Risk (VAR) analyses. The combination of these tools enables management to identify and assess the potential impact of interest rate movements and take appropriate action. Institutional movement limits are established at the beginning of each fiscal year for each of the assessment techniques discussed below. These limits act as a guide for managing interest rate risk associated with balance sheet composition and off-balance sheet hedging strategy (the risk position). Calculated values within movement limit ranges reflect an acceptable risk position, although an unfavorable trend may prompt consideration to adjust on or off-balance sheet exposure. Calculated values outside of movement limit ranges will result in consideration of adjustment of the risk position, or consideration of temporary dispensation from making adjustments. 47 PVBP Analysis For assets and liabilities whose cash flows are subject to change due to movements in interest rates, such as the sensitivity of mortgage loans to prepayments, data is reported based on the earlier of expected repricing or maturity and reflects anticipated prepayments based on the current rate environment. The resulting "gaps" are reviewed to assess the potential sensitivity to earnings with respect to the direction, magnitude and timing of changes in market interest rates. Certain limits and benchmarks that serve as guidelines in determining the appropriate levels of interest rate risk for the institution have been established. One such limit is expressed in terms of the PVBP, which is the change in value of the balance sheet for a one basis point upward movement in all interest rates. The following table reflects the PVBP position at September 30, 2004. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30, 2004 Values ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Institutional PVBP movement limit ....................... +/- $ 5.0 PVBP position at period end.............................. (.1) In November 2004, the institutional PVBP movement limit was increased to $6.5 million. Capital at Risk The Company also monitors capital at risk, which is the change in base case valuation of the balance sheet for either a 200 basis point gradual rate increase or a 100 basis point gradual rate decrease. The following table reflects the capital at risk position at September 30, 2004. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 30, 2004 Values ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Institutional capital at risk movement limit........................................................ +/- 10.0% Projected change in value resulting from a gradual 200 basis point increase in interest rates....... (6.5) Projected change in value resulting from a gradual 100 basis point decrease in interest rates....... (5.3) The projected drop in value for a 100 basis point gradual decrease in rates is primarily related to the anticipated acceleration of prepayments for the held mortgage and mortgage backed securities portfolios in this lower rate environment. This assumes that no management actions are taken to manage exposures to the changing interest rate environment. 48 Dynamic Simulation Modeling In addition to the previously mentioned limits, the Asset and Liability Policy Committee (ALCO) uses various modeling techniques to monitor a number of interest rate scenarios for their impact on net interest income. These techniques include both rate shock scenarios which assume immediate market rate movements of 200 basis points, as well as scenarios in which rates rise or fall by 200 basis points over a twelve month period. The following table reflects the impact on net interest income of the scenarios utilized by these modeling techniques. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 30, 2004 Values --------------------------- Amount % ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (in millions) Projected change in net interest income (reflects projected rate movements on October 1, 2004): Institutional base earnings movement limit.................................................. +/- 10 Change resulting from a gradual 200 basis point increase in the yield curve ................ $ (2) (3) Change resulting from a gradual 200 basis point decrease in the yield curve ................ 182 (7) Other significant scenarios monitored (reflects projected rate movements on October 1, 2004): Change resulting from an immediate 100 basis point increase in the yield curve ............. (22) Change resulting from an immediate 100 basis point decrease in the yield curve ............. (59) Change resulting from an immediate 200 basis point increase in the yield curve ............. (96) Change resulting from an immediate 200 basis point decrease in the yield curve ............. (211) Change resulting from an immediate 75-100 basis point decrease in long term rates, and a decrease of 50 basis points in short-term rates.......................................... (102) Change resulting from an immediate 100 basis point increase in short-term rates............. (120) The projections do not take into consideration possible complicating factors such as the effect of changes in interest rates on the credit quality, size and composition of the balance sheet. Therefore, although this provides a reasonable estimate of interest rate sensitivity, actual results will vary from these estimates, possibly by significant amounts. Capital Risk Large movements of interest rates could directly affect some reported capital and capital ratios. The mark to market valuation of available for sale securities is credited on a tax effective basis through other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders' equity. This valuation mark is excluded from Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital ratios but it would be included in two important accounting based capital ratios: the tangible common equity to tangible assets and the tangible common equity to risk weighted assets. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had an available for sale securities portfolio of approximately $15 billion with a net positive mark to market of $18 million included in tangible common equity of $5 billion. An increase of 25 basis points in interest rates of all maturities would lower the mark to market by approximately $105 million to a net loss of $87 million with the following results on the tangible capital ratios. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proforma - Reflecting 25 Basis Points September 30, 2004 Actual Increase in Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tangible common equity to tangible assets............ 4.51% 4.46% Tangible common equity to risk weighted assets....... 6.37 6.28 Value at Risk (VAR) VAR analysis is also used to measure interest rate risk and to calculate the economic capital required to cover potential losses due to interest risk. The approach toward using VAR to measure interest rate risk is summarized on pages 55-56 of the Company's 2003 Form 10-K. 49 Trading Activities Trading portfolios reside primarily in the Treasury and mortgage banking areas and include foreign exchange, derivatives, precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), commodities, equities, money market instruments including "repos" and securities. Trading occurs as a result of customer facilitation, proprietary position taking, and economic hedging. In this context, economic hedging may include, for example, forward contracts to sell residential mortgages and derivative contracts which, while economically viable, may not satisfy the hedge requirements of SFAS 133. The trading portfolios have defined limits pertaining to items such as permissible investments, risk exposures, loss review, balance sheet size and product concentrations. "Loss review" refers to the maximum amount of loss that may be incurred before senior management intervention is required. Trading Activities - Treasury Value at Risk Value at Risk (VAR) analysis is relied upon as a basis for quantifying and managing risks associated with the Treasury trading portfolios. Such analysis is based upon the following two general principles. (i) VAR applies to all trading positions across all risk classes including interest rate, equity, commodity, optionality and global/foreign exchange risks and (ii) VAR is based on the concept of independent valuations, with all transactions being repriced by an independent risk management function using separate models prior to being stressed against VAR parameters. VAR attempts to capture the potential loss resulting from unfavorable market developments within a given time horizon (typically ten days), given a certain confidence level (99%) and based on a two year observation period. VAR calculations are performed for all material trading and investment portfolios and for market risk-related treasury activities. The VAR is calculated using the historical simulation or the variance/covariance (parametric) method. The following table summarizes trading VAR for 2004, assuming a 99% confidence level for 500 business days and a 10 day "holding period". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended September 30, 2004 September 30, ------------------------------------- December 31, 2004 Minimum Maximum Average 2003 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Total trading .......... $ 62 $ 26 $ 69 $ 43 $ 23 Commodities ............ 1 1 14 4 -- Credit derivatives ..... 20 3 20 4 4 Equities ............... -- -- 1 1 1 Foreign exchange ....... 10 1 11 4 11 Interest rate .......... 36 8 61 37 16 Trading Volatility The following tables summarize the frequency distribution of daily market risk-related revenues for Treasury trading activities during 2004. Market risk-related Treasury trading revenues include realized and unrealized gains (losses) related to Treasury trading activities, but exclude the related net interest income. Analysis of the third quarter of 2004 gain (loss) data shows that the largest daily gain was $6 million and the largest daily loss was $11 million. Analysis of the first nine months of 2004 gain (loss) data shows that the largest daily gain was $12 million and the largest daily loss was $11 million. 50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended September 30, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranges of daily Treasury trading revenue earned from market risk-related activities Below $(2) to $0 to $2 to $4 to Over (in millions) $(2) $0 $2 $4 $6 $6 Number of trading days market risk-related revenue was within the stated range............ 4 11 28 13 7 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nine months ended September 30, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranges of daily Treasury trading revenue earned from market risk-related activities Below $(2) to $0 to $2 to $4 to Over (in millions) $(2) $0 $2 $4 $6 $6 Number of trading days market risk-related revenue was within the stated range............ 8 39 66 43 23 9' Trading Activities - Mortgage Banking Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) are assets that represent the present value of net servicing income (servicing fees, ancillary income, escrow and deposit float, and net of servicing costs). MSRs are recognized upon the sale of the underlying loans or at the time that servicing rights are purchased. MSRs are subject to interest rate risk, in that their value will decline as a result of actual and expected acceleration of prepayment of the underlying loans in a falling interest rate environment. Interest rate risk is mitigated through an active hedging program that uses available for sale (AFS) securities and derivative instruments to offset changes in value of MSRs. Since the hedging program involves trading activity, risk is quantified and managed using a number of risk assessment techniques. A review of the Company's MSRs hedging program was conducted in light of the unprecedented market conditions of 2003. This was to ensure that a program is in place to support anticipated business growth while at the same time limiting volatility in the mortgage banking results. Existing risk limits were revised and additional risk limits were established for hedging of economic losses. Rate Shock Analysis Modeling techniques are used to monitor certain interest rate scenarios for their impact on the economic value of net hedged MSRs, as reflected in the following table. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30, 2004 Values ------------------------- Amount % ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (in millions) Projected change in net market value of hedged MSRs portfolio (reflects projected rate movements on October 1, 2004): Value of hedged MSRs portfolio.............................................. $ 336 Change resulting from an immediate 50 bp decrease in the yield curve: Change limit............................................................ <- 4 Calculate change in net market value.................................... 2 + 1 Change resulting from an immediate 50 bp increase in the yield curve: Change limit............................................................ <- 2 Calculate change in net market value.................................... 3 + 1 Change resulting from an immediate 100 bp increase in the yield curve: Change limit............................................................ <- 3 Calculate change in net market value.................................... 6 + 2 51 Economic Value of MSRs The economic value of the net, hedged MSRs portfolio is monitored on a daily basis for interest rate sensitivity. If the economic value declines by more than established limits for one day or one month, various levels of management review, intervention and/or corrective actions are required. Hedge Volatility During 2004, there was volatility in the trading positions in derivative instruments used to protect the economic value of the MSRs portfolio. The following tables summarize the frequency distribution of weekly market risk-related revenues during 2004 associated with mortgage trading positions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended September 30, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranges of mortgage trading revenue earned from market risk-related activities Below $(5) to $0 to $5 to Over (in millions) $(5) $0 $5 $10 $10 Number of trading weeks market risk-related revenue was within the stated range.............. 2 4 3 5 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nine months ended September 30, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ranges of mortgage trading revenue earned from market risk-related activities Below $(5) to $0 to $5 to Over (in millions) $(5) $0 $5 $10 $10 Number of trading weeks market risk-related revenue was within the stated range.............. 10 11 11 8 3 52 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Refer to the disclosure in Item 2 of the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the captions "Interest Rate Risk Management" and "Trading Activities". Item 4. Controls and Procedures Under the direction of the Company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Company has reviewed its "disclosure controls and procedures". That term means controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by the due dates specified by the SEC's rules. Such controls and procedures must be designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed with the SEC, is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management personnel to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Also, this process directly supports the CEO and CFO certifications included as exhibits to this report. Since 1993, the CEO and CFO have reported on the Bank's internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA) regulations. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm has annually attested, without qualification, to the reports. Thus management is well acquainted with the process underlying the attestation to financial reporting controls. The current review process is built on the annual review at the Bank in accordance with FDICIA as well as various other internal control processes and procedures, which management has established and monitors. The review is conducted quarterly and includes all subsidiaries of the Company. To monitor the Company's compliance with the disclosure controls and procedures, the Company has formed a Disclosure Committee chaired by its CFO. The Disclosure Committee is composed of key members of senior management, who have knowledge of significant portions of the Company's internal control system as well as the business and competitive environment in which the Company operates. The Disclosure Committee covers all of the Company's significant business and administrative functions. One of the key responsibilities of each Committee member is to review the document to be filed with the SEC as it progresses through the preparation process. Open lines of communication to financial reporting management exist for Disclosure Committee members to convey comments and suggestions. The Disclosure Committee has designated a preparation working group that is responsible for providing and/or reviewing the detail supporting financial disclosures including the development of appropriate forward-looking disclosures. The Company's CEO and CFO have concluded that, based on the deliberations of the Disclosure Committee and input received from senior business and financial managers, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2004 and that those controls and procedures support the disclosures in this document. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, there were no material changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting. 53 Part II - OTHER INFORMATION Item 1 - Legal Proceedings The Company is named in and is defending legal actions in various jurisdictions arising from its normal business. None of these proceedings is regarded as material litigation. In addition, there are certain proceedings related to the "Princeton Note Matter" that are described below. In relation to the Princeton Note Matter, as disclosed in the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K, two of the noteholders were not included in the settlement and their civil suits are continuing. The U.S. Government excluded one of them from the restitution order (Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.) because a senior officer of the noteholder was being criminally prosecuted in Japan for his conduct relating to its Princeton Notes. The senior officer in question was convicted during September 2002 of various criminal charges related to the sale of the Princeton Notes. The U.S. Government excluded the other noteholder (Maruzen Company, Limited) because the sum it is likely to recover from the Princeton Receiver exceeds its losses attributable to its funds transfers with Republic New York Securities Corporation as calculated by the U.S. Government. Both of these civil suits seek compensatory, punitive, and treble damages pursuant to RICO and assorted fraud and breach of duty claims arising from unpaid Princeton Notes with face amounts totaling approximately $125 million. No amount of compensatory damages is specified in either complaint. These two complaints name HSBC USA Inc., the Bank, and Republic New York Securities Corporation as defendants. HSBC USA Inc. and the Bank have moved to dismiss both complaints. The motion is fully briefed and sub judice. Mutual production of documents took place in 2001, but additional discovery proceedings have been suspended pending the Court's resolution of the motions to dismiss. Item 5 - Other Information As approved by the Audit and Examining Committee of the Board of Directors, the Company has engaged KPMG to perform certain non-audit services during 2004, including tax compliance and consultation services, litigation support services and general accounting consultation services. Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) Exhibits - 3(i) Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amendments thereto, Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated herein by reference. (ii) Registrant's By-Laws, as Amended to Date, Exhibit 3 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 incorporated herein by reference. 4 Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, including Indentures, incorporated by reference to previously filed periodic reports. 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 32.0 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (b) Reports on Form 8-K There were no reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2004. 54 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. HSBC USA Inc. (Registrant) Date: November 15, 2004 /s/ Joseph R. Simpson -------------------------------------- Joseph R. Simpson Senior Vice President & Controller (On behalf of Registrant and as Chief Accounting Officer) 55 Exhibit 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. I, Martin J. G. Glynn, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004 of HSBC USA Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting. Date: November 15, 2004 /s/ Martin J. G. Glynn --------------------------------------- Martin J. G. Glynn President and Chief Executive Officer 56 Exhibit 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. I, Roger K. McGregor, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004 of HSBC USA Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting. Date: November 15, 2004 /s/ Roger K. McGregor --------------------------------- Roger K. McGregor Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 57 Exhibit 32.0 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of HSBC USA Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that: The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (the Form 10-Q) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: November 15, 2004 /s/ Martin J. G. Glynn ----------------------------------------- Martin J. G. Glynn President and Chief Executive Officer Date: November 15, 2004 /s/ Roger K. McGregor ----------------------------------------- Roger K. McGregor Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure document. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to HSBC USA Inc. and will be retained by HSBC USA Inc. and furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 58 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange ABBFI
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