Fannie Mae Lawsuits on the Horizon

WASHINGTON, DC-Beleaguered Fannie Mae has revealed in a Form 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission that eight lawsuits against the company have either been filed or are in the process of being prepared. Holders of the housing mortgage lender’s securities are behind the lawsuits, which, for the most part, accuse Fannie Mae of securities violations with regard to recently scrutinized accounting procedures.

The news comes just three weeks after the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight released a report based on an eight-month investigation concluding that the government-sponsored enterprise had manipulated earnings and engaged in dubious accounting practices. Fannie Mae CEO Franklin D. Raines and CFO J. Timothy Howard are also named in the lawsuits that have been officially filed.

With legal troubles looming, Fannie Mae is still in hot water with the government. As a result of its investigation, OFHEO had the company sign off on instituting a series of changes to its internal practices, including the increasing of its capital reserves to 30% of its holdings from 18%. Fannie Mae has cooperated fully with OFHEO during the entire process; however, the company notes that its agreement to adhere to the new regulations constitutes neither an admission nor denial of guilt.