• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As U.S. Treasury intervened in the bond market, the Netherlands rushed 86 tons of gold out of America because of ‘geopolitical unrest’

2

'Critical employees will begin to retire': Trump’s new pay plan will deny most federal roles a raise, and it has workers warning of a retention crunch

3

New LA Angels owner Stan Kroenke is quietly America's largest private landowner, boasting 2.7 million acres and besting Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos

1

As U.S. Treasury intervened in the bond market, the Netherlands rushed 86 tons of gold out of America because of ‘geopolitical unrest’

2

'Critical employees will begin to retire': Trump’s new pay plan will deny most federal roles a raise, and it has workers warning of a retention crunch

3

New LA Angels owner Stan Kroenke is quietly America's largest private landowner, boasting 2.7 million acres and besting Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos

Norway’s central bank sues Citi

By
Colin Barr
Colin Barr
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Colin Barr
Colin Barr
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 24, 2010, 4:57 PM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Citi’s subprime quicksand keeps getting deeper.

The New York-based financial giant and some of its top officers, past and present, were sued Friday by Norges Bank, the Norwegian central bank that also runs the oil-rich country’s big sovereign wealth fund.



Suddenly the fjords look less lovely to Citi

Norges Bank Investment Management says it lost $735 million buying Citi stock between 2007 and 2009, in part because it relied on inaccurate disclosures regarding the bank’s subprime exposure. Citi was slow to tell investors in fall 2007 the true extent of its massive, destabilizing holdings of faltering subprime-related securities.

As it happens, Citi just recently agreed to pay $75 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges on that issue. Citi says the SEC settlement is “fair, adequate, reasonable and appropriate,” and the SEC sees it as “sufficiently substantial to send a clear message that misleading statements by a corporation on issues of importance to investors cannot go unaddressed.”

But a judge has scheduled a hearing for today on whether the settlement is appropriate.

Among other things, there is the question of whether the modest penalties assessed against two Citi execs in the case are substantial enough given the scope of the bank’s disclosure failures, and why higher-ups such as then CEO Chuck Prince and former chairman Robert Rubin weren’t flagged.

The Norges Bank suit names as defendants Prince and Citi’s current CEO, Vikram Pandit, as well as a number of board members including Dick Parsons and Anne Mulcahy. It does not, however, name Rubin.

Citi said, “We believe the suit has no merit and will defend ourselves vigorously.”

A call to Grant & Eisenhofer, the New York law firm representing the Norwegians, wasn’t immediately returned.

About the Author
By Colin Barr
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.