On Thursday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) is expected to propose new guidelines for private-equity investors seeking to buy failed banks. Those guidelines are intended to ensure that these largely unregulated firms don't take too many risks with troubled banks or buy and flip them.
The new rules come as private-equity firms have grown increasingly active in the banking sector. FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said she's comfortable with the private-equity deals the agency has struck for failed banks such as IndyMac and BankUnited, but that a more structured process needs to be put in place.



