Citigroup

US Bank Cannot Revive Majority of MBS Suit Against Citigroup

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U.S. Bank NA v. Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp., No. 1:13-cv-06989 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 1, 2013)

On March 16, 2015, Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York denied the majority of claims in U.S. Bank’s attempt to refile an amended complaint against Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. and CitiMortgage, Inc.  U.S. Bank, as RMBS trustee, had sued Citigroup in October 2013, alleging that it breached representations and warranties in a $832 million RMBS deal.  In November 2014, Judge Daniels dismissed most of the claims, but permitted leave to amend.  In addressing U.S. Bank’s proposed amendments, Judge Daniels first held that the cause of action for breach of representations and warranties was untimely as to certain loans under the six-year statute of limitations.  Next, it dismissed U.S. Bank’s second claim that Citigroup independently discovered defects in the loan pool through due diligence or government investigations, because U.S. Bank failed to allege non-speculative facts plausibly showing such discovery.  These rulings were substantially similar to those set forth in the November 2014 order.  Finally, Judge Daniels permitted U.S. Bank’s third cause of action to proceed, holding that the plaintiff sufficiently pleaded that CitiMortgage discovered breaches of representations and warranties during its servicing of the securitized loans, and did not fulfill its contractual duties to notify the parties of the breaches and to enforce Citigroup’s cure or repurchase obligation.  Order. 

Citigroup, Goldman, and UBS to Pay $235 Million Settlement in MBS Class Action

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On February 13, 2015, the plaintiffs in New Jersey Carpenters Health Fund, et al., v. Residential Capital, LLC, et al., No. 08-cv-8781 (S.D.N.Y.) filed an unopposed motion for certification of the class and to approve a preliminary settlement.  The complaint, originally filed in 2008, included claims for materially false and misleading statements in securities offering documents under the Securities Act of 1933 against Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and UBS as underwriters for 16 mortgage-backed securities transactions in 2006 and 2007.  The class consists of investors who purchased the certificates, with the majority of the settlement funds set aside for investors who purchased their certificates within ten days after the relevant initial offering.  The proposed $235 million settlement does not include a $100 million settlement with Residential Capital, LLC that had previously been reached in the case.  Motion.

U.S. Bank Sues Citigroup in Connection with $528 Million of RMBS

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On December 22 and 23, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee for three RMBS trusts, filed three separate summonses with notice in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. U.S. Bank alleges that Citigroup misrepresented the quality of mortgage loans underlying $528 million in RMBS, and that it breached its duties as servicer by failing to notify the trustee of representation and warranty breaches that it discovered. The trustee seeks compensatory and rescissory damages, along with repurchase of loans not complying with the applicable representations and warranties.  Summons with Notice (2007-AMC2).  Summons with Notice (2007-AHL2).  Summons with Notice (2007-AR7).

Court Dismisses U.S. Bank’s RMBS Repurchase Claims Against Citigroup as Too Speculative

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 On November 14, Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed several of U.S. Bank’s repurchase claims against Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp.  U.S. Bank alleged that Citigroup breached representations and warranties with respect to loans underlying $832 million of RMBS.  The Court dismissed the trustee’s claim for breach of contract as to loans for which the trustee had not requested repurchase, holding that U.S. Bank did not sufficiently allege that Citigroup actually discovered any breaches of representations and warranties as to those loans.  The Court also dismissed the trustee’s claim for anticipatory breach of contract based on repurchase requests sent to Citigroup the same day as the complaint was filed.  In addition, Judge Daniels dismissed claims against servicer CitiMortgage, Inc., holding the trustee’s allegations suggesting CitiMortgage should have discovered breaches of representations and warranties in the course of servicing were conclusory and speculative.  The case remains pending against Citigroup as to claims for breach of contract with respect to the failure to repurchase 466 loans identified in pre-suit repurchase demands.  Order.

Judge Rakoff Approves SEC’s $285M Settlement With Citigroup

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On remand following a Second Circuit decision vacating his June 2011 rejection of a settlement between Citigroup and the SEC, Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York approved the settlement, finding that it met the requirements articulated by the Second Circuit.  In the settlement, Citigroup has agreed to pay US$285 million to resolve fraud claims stemming from the sale of mortgage-backed securities.  Additionally, in its August 1, 2014, Form 10-Q, Citigroup stated that the SEC had advised Citigroup that it had concluded its investigation of Citigroup’s MBS practices and did not intend to recommend an enforcement action.  Opinion.  10-Q Excerpt.

European Commission Imposes EUR 1.71 Billion Fine for Participating in Illegal Cartels

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On December 4, the European Commission announced that it had fined eight international banks a total of more than 1.7 billion for their participation in illegal cartels in markets for financial derivatives covering the European Economic Area.

Using the cartel settlement procedure, the Commission reached two separate decisions; one decision involved seven separate bilateral infringements relating to interest rate derivatives denominated in Japanese yen.  The companies involved were UBS, RBS, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, Citigroup and RP Martin.

The other decision was made in relation to a collusion by four banks in relation to interest rate derivatives denominated in euro.  The banks were Barclays, Deutsche Bank, RBS and Société Générale.  Utilizing the Commission’s 2006 Leniency Notice, Barclays and UBS received complete immunity from fines.  Announcement.

FDIC’s $388M MBS Suit Brought On Behalf Of Colonial Bank Survives Motion to Dismiss

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On September 27, Judge Louis L. Stanton of the Southern District of New York denied a motion by JPMorgan, Citigroup and several other banks to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the FDIC, as receiver for Colonial Bank, involving $388 million in RMBS.  Judge Stanton rejected the defendants’ arguments that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations, finding that publicly available information about troubles in the mortgage industry in 2007 did not put the plaintiff on notice of facts constituting an alleged violation of federal securities laws in connection with the specific transactions at issue.  Judge Stanton also held that the FDIC’s allegations of misstatements in the offering documents were sufficiently detailed to survive the pleading stage.  The court concluded that it was premature to rule on whether a defendant may be liable under Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 when it did not underwrite the particular tranche of a securitization that the plaintiff purchased.  Opinion.

Federal Court Dismisses $31 Million FDIC Suit as Time-Barred

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On April 22, Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer of the United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed as time-barred the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) $31 million suit against JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank AG related to the sale of RMBS originated by Countrywide.  FDIC sued as receiver for Strategic Capital Bank.  Judge Pfaelzer held that a reasonable investor in Countrywide securities could have sued before May 22, 2008, and therefore a reasonably diligent investor should have discovered alleged misstatements in the offering documents before that date.  The Court held that the statute of limitations for later-filed federal claims was not tolled by an earlier action because it was filed in state court, and the plaintiff had not purchased any of the same tranches as Strategic Capital Bank.  Decision.

Bank of America Reaches Pre-Litigation Settlement with NCUA for RMBS Losses

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On April 2, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an independent federal agency that supervises and charters federal credit unions, reached a $165 million settlement with Bank of America, stemming from BofA’s sale of RMBS to failed credit unions.  Bank of America did not admit any fault in the agreement.  NCUA previously reached similar settlements with Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and HSBC.  NCUA did not file a lawsuit against Bank of America, although litigation is pending between NCUA and several other financial institutions.  Press Release.

Impac Settles RMBS Suit Brought by Citigroup for $3.1 Million

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On January 24, Impac Funding Corp. settled a lawsuit brought by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. alleging violations of Sections 18 and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act and negligent misrepresentation based on alleged misstatements in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for an RMBS trust.  Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer of the Federal District Court for the Central District of California approved the settlement, which requires Impac to pay Citigroup $3.1 million in cash or securities of Impac Mortgage Holdings.  Motion for Approval of Settlement.  Order Approving Settlement.