Fannie Mae Preferred S (FNMAS)

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This Des Moines court case may change the Freddie, Fannie investor sweep

Judge will rule whether Continental Western Insurance has standing

Trey GarrisonDecember 26, 2014 11:50AM1 Comment


scale and gavel

GSE investors nationwide are watching a court case in Des Moines to see if the federal government’s seizure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profits is, in fact legal.[/t]

InsideSources has the story.

Continental Western Insurance Co., a Des Moines-based regional insurer that owns shares in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, recently sued the U.S. Government in federal court because the U.S. Treasury has claimed all of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s profits, denying shareholders their share of dividends. U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt for the Southern District of Iowa will be ruling on Continental Western’s legal standing.

Many investors across the country are tied to the fate of these companies. This includes those saving for retirement with mutual funds, which remain some of the largest investors in Fannie and Freddie stock. Judge Pratt’s decision could have a direct impact.

According its most recent financial report, published last week but covering only up until June 30, 2014, the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System has over $1 billion invested in both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The lawsuit stems from the federal government’s decision to place Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the FHFA’s own website explains this role: “A Conservator is the person or entity appointed to oversee the affairs of a Company for the purpose of bringing the Company back to financial health.”

How the government has run the enterprises as conservator is precisely what has precipitated the legal action by the plaintiffs, who represent investors in both Fannie and Freddie.