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U.S. Bancorp Sued Over Management of Securities Lending Trust

On March 15, 2011, Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, a participant in a securities lending trust formed by U.S. Bancorp, filed a complaint against U.S. Bancorp, and several affiliated individuals and entities, in Delaware Chancery Court. Defendants allegedly were responsible for the investment and oversight of the cash the trust received as collateral from persons borrowing securities placed into the trust by the plaintiff. The complaint alleges, inter alia, that the defendants wrongfully invested the cash collateral in commercial paper issued by SIVs that were backed by mortgage-backed securities, and then hid information from plaintiff about the risks of the investments they had made with the cash collateral. The complaint also alleges that, through a variety of actions, the defendants placed the financial interests of U.S. Bancorp and its affiliates over the interests of the plaintiff. The Complaint asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty and seeks money damages in an unspecified amount. Redacted Complaint.