FHFA Sues Wells Fargo Regarding Underwriting Of RMBS

On June 3, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as conservator for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (Wells Fargo) (as successor to Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (Wachovia)), alleging a violation of Section 11 of the Securities Act. FHFA's lawsuit alleges losses resulting from Wachovia's underwriting of two NovaStar securitizations purchased in 2006. FHFA alleges that Freddie Mac was misled about the quality of the loans in the bond deals, and that Wachovia, which Wells Fargo acquired in 2008, participated in drafting the registration statements at issue. These registration statements allegedly contained material misstatements and omissions. FHFA further alleges that its claims are timely because of various tolling agreements entered into between FHFA, Freddie Mac and Wells Fargo...