NATIXIS - 2018 Registration document and annual financial report

RISK FACTORS, RISK MANAGEMENT AND PILLAR III Risk management

In April 2012, MMR Investment Ltd filed a joint claim against Natixis and the financial intermediary before the Commercial Court of Paris, claiming not to have received the bonds, despite having paid the subscription price to the financial intermediary. The claim mainly concerns the reimbursement of the subscription price of the bonds and, and as an alternative, the annulment of the subscription on the grounds of defect in consent. On February 6, 2017, the Commercial Court of Paris dismissed all of MMR Investment Ltd.'s claims, decision confirmed by the Court of Appeal of Paris on October 22, 2018. Union Mutualiste Retraite In June 2013, Union Mutualiste Retraite (UMR) filed three complaints against AEW S.A. (previously AEW Europe) in relation to the acquisition and management of two real estate portfolios in Germany between 2006 and 2008. The amounts claimed by UMR total €149 million. On October 25, 2016, the Commercial Court of Paris ordered the two insurance schemes involved to honor, in respect of AEW S.A., the sanctions covered by the policies that may be ruled in favor of UMR in connection with the litigation and to cover the defense costs incurred by AEW S.A.. Several of the insurers concerned appealed this decision. On June 26, 2018, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered a stay of proceedings opposing AEW S.A. and its insurers, until a final ruling is issued on the case opposing UMR and AEW S.A., currently before the Commercial Court of Paris. The matter of the insurance cover provided by the insurers, as established by the Commercial Court of Paris ruling of October 25, 2016, and the coverage of AEW S.A.’s legal fees, were not challenged by the Paris Court of Appeal. The proceeding opposing UMR and AEW S.A. is ongoing. Securitization in the United States Since 2012, five separate legal proceedings regarding residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) transactions executed between 2001 and mid-2007 have been initiated against Natixis Real Estate Holdings LLC before the New York Supreme Court. Two of these proceedings relate to accusations of fraud. One was dismissed in 2015 as time-barred. Some of the claims relating to the second case were also dismissed as time-barred and, in 2018, Natixis settled the outstanding claims before the court issued a final ruling on the merits of the case. Three of these five proceedings have been brought against Natixis, purportedly on behalf of certificate holders, alleging that Natixis failed to repurchase defective mortgages from certain securitization transactions. Natixis considers the claims brought against it before the New York Supreme Court to be without merit for multiple reasons, including that they are time-barred under the applicable statute of limitations (two proceedings have already been dismissed for these reasons but are open to appeal) and that the claimants do not have the legal standing to file the suit, and intends to defend itself vigorously.

EDA—SELCODIS On June 18, 2013, through two separate complaints, Selcodis and EDA brought proceedings before the Commercial Court of Paris against Compagnie Européenne de Garanties et Cautions for the sudden termination of commercial relations following the refusal by the latter to grant EDA a guarantee. Through two new complaints filed on November 20, 2013, Selcodis and EDA also brought claims before the Commercial Court of Paris against Natixis, BRED and CEGC for unlawful agreements, alleging that such actions led to the refusal by CEGC to grant a guarantee to EDA and to the termination of various loans by BRED. Selcodis is asking for compensation for the losses purportedly suffered as a result of the court-ordered liquidation of its subsidiary EDA, and is requesting that the defendants be ordered to pay damages and interest, which it assesses to be €32 million. For its part, EDA is requesting that the defendants be ordered to bear the asset shortfall in its entirety, with its amount being calculated by the court-appointed receiver. Natixis and CEGC consider all of these claims to be unfounded. On December 6, 2018, after consolidating these claims, the Commercial Court of Paris found them to have expired and deemed them closed. The plaintiffs filed an appeal against this ruling in January 2019. MPS Foundation In June 2014, MPS Foundation (Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena), an Italian foundation, filed a claim against 11 banks, including Natixis, which granted it financing in 2011 at the request of its previous executive officers, on the grounds that the financing thus granted was in violation of its bylaws, which state that MPS Foundation cannot hold debt exceeding 20% of its total balance sheet. The damages claimed by MPS Foundation against the banks and its former directors amount to €285 million. Natixis considers these accusations to be unfounded. Following an objection as to jurisdiction, the Tribunal of Siena referred the case to the Tribunal of Florence on February 23, 2016. The case is still in progress before the Tribunal of Florence. Formula funds Following an inspection by the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) in February 2015 with regard to Natixis Asset Management’s compliance with its professional obligations, particularly the management of its formula funds, the AMF's Enforcement Committee delivered its decision on July 25, 2017, issuing a warning and a fine of €35 million. The Enforcement Committee found a number of failings concerning the redemption fees charged to funds and structuring margins. Natixis Asset Management is mounting a rigorous defense against this decision and has filed an appeal with the French Council of State. The case is ongoing. In addition, UFC-QUE CHOISIR, in its capacity as a consumers’ rights non-profit, brought claims before the Paris District Court (Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris) on March 5, 2018 against the asset management company to obtain compensation for the financial losses suffered by the holders of the formula funds in question. The case is ongoing.

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Natixis Registration Document 2018

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