(a) When the debt of a holder of eligible borrower stock issued by a production credit association, Federal land bank association, Federal land credit association or agricultural credit association is in default, such institution may, but shall not be required to, retire at par eligible borrower stock owned by such borrower on which the institution has a lien, in total or partial liquidation of the debt.

(b) When the debt of a holder of stock, participation certificates or other equities issued by a production credit association, Federal land bank association, Federal land credit association or agricultural credit association is in default, such institution may, but shall not be required to, retire at book value not to exceed par all or part of such equities, other than eligible borrower stock as defined in §615.5260(a)(1), owned by such borrower on which the institution has a lien, in total or partial liquidation of the debt.

(c) When the debt of a holder of equities or guaranty fund certificates issued by a bank for cooperatives or agricultural credit bank is in default the bank may, but shall not be required to, retire all or part of such equities qualify or guaranty fund investments owned by the borrower on which the bank has a lien, in total or partial liquidation of the debt. If such investments qualify as eligible borrower stock, it shall be retired at par, as defined in §615.5260(a)(3). All other investments shall be retired at a rate determined by the institution to reflect its present value on the date of retirement.

(d) When the debt of a holder of the equities of a Farm Credit Bank or agricultural credit bank is in default the bank may, but shall not be required to, retire all or part of such equities owned by the borrower on which the bank has a lien, in total or partial liquidation of the debt. If such equities qualify as eligible borrower stock or are retired solely to permit a Federal land bank association to retire eligible borrower stock under §615.5280(a), they shall be retired at par. All other equities shall be retired at book value not to exceed par.

(e) Any retirements made under this section by a Federal land bank association shall be made only upon the specific approval of, or in accordance with, approval procedures issued by the association's funding bank.

(f) Prior to making any retirement pursuant to this section, except retirements pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, the institution shall provide the borrower with written notice of the following matters;

(1) A statement that the institution has declared the borrower's loan to be in default;

(2) A statement that the institution will retire all or part of the equities of the borrower in total or partial liquidation of his or her loan;

(3) A description of the effect of the retirement on the relationship of the borrower to the institution;

(4) A statement of the amount of the outstanding debt that will be owed to the institution after the retirement of the borrower's equities; and

(5) The date on which the institution will retire the equities of the borrower.

(g) The notice required by this section shall be provided in person at least 10 days prior to the retirement of any equities of a holder, or by mailing a copy of the notice by first class mail to the last known address of the equity holder at least 13 days prior to the retirement of such person's equities.

(h) The requirements of this section may be satisfied by notices given pursuant to §§617.7405, 617.7410, 617.7420, and 617.7425 of this chapter that contain the information required by this section.

[53 FR 40048, Oct. 13, 1988; 54 FR 7029, Feb. 16, 1989, as amended at 61 FR 67187, Dec. 20, 1996; 62 FR 13213, Mar. 19, 1997; 69 FR 10907, Mar. 9, 2004]