On December 17, 2012, the National Credit Union Administration Board, acting in its capacity as liquidating agent for four failed credit unions, sued several Bear Stearns affiliates in federal court in Kansas in connection with $3.6 billion in RMBS allegedly purchased by the failed credit unions. The NCUA alleges that the originators of the mortgage loans underlying the RMBS systematically disregarded the underwriting guidelines stated in the offering documents. It also alleges that the offering documents contain untrue statements of material fact concerning the evaluation of the borrowers’ capacity and likelihood to repay the mortgage loans, reduced documentation programs, loan-to-value ratios, and credit enhancement. The NCUA asserts 24 separate counts for relief under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, the California Corporate Securities Law, the Kansas Uniform Securities Act, the Texas Securities Act, and the Illinois Securities Act. Complaint.
Kansas Uniform Securities Act
NCUA Sues UBS Over $1.1 billion in RMBS Sold to Collapsed Credit Unions
On September 6, 2012, the National Credit Union Administration Board (NCUA) sued UBS in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The NCUA filed the suit in its capacity as Liquidating Agent of U.S. Central Federal Credit Union and Western Corporate Federal Credit Union, which collectively are alleged to have purchased over $1.1 billion in RMBS from UBS. The complaint alleges that the originators of the mortgages collateralized into the RMBS had “systematically abandoned” the underwriting guidelines described in the offering documents. The NCUA also alleges that the offering documents contained untrue statements of material fact concerning weighted average LTV ratios, the evaluation of the borrowers’ capacity and likelihood to repay the mortgage loans, and the reduced documentation programs used by the originators. The NCUA asserts claims under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, Sections 25401 and 25501 of the California Corporate Securities Law, and the Kansas Uniform Securities Act. The NCUA seeks rescission or rescissionary damages or, in the alternative, compensatory damages. NCUA Complaint.
Federal Court Allows RMBS Case Against RBS Securities and Wachovia Capital Markets to Proceed
On July 25, Judge Richard D. Rogers of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas denied defendants’ motion to dismiss the National Credit Union Administration Board’s suits against RBS Securities and Wachovia Capital Markets. The two consolidated actions allege violations of Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the federal Securities Act of 1933, as well as violations of the Kansas Uniform Securities Act, in connection with the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. The court concluded that plaintiffs’ claims were not barred by the applicable statutes of limitations or repose. The court also denied in large part defendants’ motion to the extent that it was based on failure to state a claim, but granted defendants’ motion to dismiss as to plaintiffs’ allegations of systematic disregard of underwriting guidelines as to certain certificates for which plaintiffs failed to identify specific originators or underwriting practices, as well as plaintiffs’ allegations that defendants had misrepresented the benefits of the credit enhancement associated with the certificates at issue. Decision.
National Credit Union Administration Sues Goldman Sachs Over Sale of MBS
On August 9, 2011, the National Credit Union Administration Board (“NCUA”) sued Goldman Sachs in federal court in Los Angeles over Goldman’s sale of mortgage-backed securities to credit unions. NCUA claims that Goldman misrepresented the quality of the loans backing the securities in its offering documents. It also claims that the loans did not satisfy the underwriting guidelines Goldman included in its offering documents. The Complaint cites the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Report issued in January 2011 in support of its claims that mortgage loan originators disregarded prudent underwriting practices and securitizers like Goldman did not perform sufficient due diligence, leaving investors without access to critical information about the loans. NCUA alleges claims under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the ’33 Act, Sections 25401 and 25501 of the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, and Section 17-12a509 of the Kansas Uniform Securities Act. NCUA seeks more than $491 million in damages. NCUA has brought four actions against other RMBS issuers since June 20, 2011. Complaint.