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FINRA found that Credit Suisse in 2006 misrepresented the historical delinquency rates for 21 subprime residential subprime mortgage securitizations it underwrote and sold.
Although Credit Suisse knew of these inaccuracies, FINRA said Credit Suisse did not sufficiently investigate the delinquency errors, inform clients who invested in these securitizations of the specific reporting discrepancies or correct the information on the website where the information was displayed.
Credit Suisse also failed to name or define the methodology used to calculate mortgage delinquencies in five other subprime securitizations.
Additionally, Credit Suisse failed to establish an adequate system to supervise the maintenance and updating of relevant disclosure on its website.
Issuers of security products involving subprime mortgages are required to disclose historical performance information for past securitizations that contain mortgage loans similar to those in the new securitizations being offered to investors.
Historical delinquency rates are material to investors in assessing the value of residential subprime mortgage securitizations and in determining whether future returns may be disrupted by mortgage holders' failures to make loan payments. As there are different standards for calculating delinquencies, issuers are required to disclose the specific method it used to calculate delinquencies.
For six of the 21 Credit Suisse securitizations, the delinquency errors were significant enough to affect an investor's assessment of subsequent securitizations, as it was referenced in four subsequent residential subprime mortgage securitizations investments.
Separately, FINRA found that Merrill Lynch negligently misrepresented the historical delinquency rates for 61 subprime residential subprime mortgage securitizations it underwrote and sold.
However, in June 2007, after learning of the delinquency errors, Merrill Lynch recalculated the information and posted the corrected historical delinquency rates on its website. Merrill Lynch also failed to establish a reasonable system to supervise and review its reporting of historical delinquency information.
On January 1, 2009, Merrill Lynch was acquired by Bank of America, but the firm continues to do brokerage business under its own individual broker-dealer registration.
In eight instances, the delinquencies were significant enough to affect an investor's assessment of subsequent securitizations, as it was referenced in five subsequent residential subprime mortgage securitizations investments.
“Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch failed to monitor and supervise the reporting of historical delinquency rates, depriving investors of information essential to assessing the profitability of mortgage-backed investments,'' said Brad Bennett, FINRA Executive Vice President and Chief of Enforcement, said.
Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch
