Citigroup will pay $1.13 billion to settle claims brought by investors over faulty mortgage-backed securities that the bank sold from 2005 to 2008.
As per the agreement with 18 institutional investors, Citigroup will make a binding offer to the trustees of 68 Citi-sponsored mortgage securitization trusts for $1.125 billion, plus certain fees and expenses. These 68 trusts issued in the aggregate $59.4 billion of residential mortgage-backed securities, according to a bank press release.
As a result of the settlement, the bank will have to take an additional charge of approximately $100 million in the first quarter of this year.
The agreement is still subject to approval by the trustees, who have 30 days to decide whether they want to accept the deal. In addition, the settlement must be approved by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
‘This settlement resolves a significant legacy issue from the financial crisis, and we are pleased to put it behind us,’ Citi states in its release.
If approved by the trusts, the agreement would release Citigroup's obligation to repurchase loans. It does not, however, prevent investors from claiming misrepresentations on offering documents or other potential regulatory actions.
For more, check out this Bloomberg News report.