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Contingencies And Other Disclosures
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Contingencies And Other Disclosures [Abstract]  
Contingencies And Other Disclosures

Note 9Contingencies and Other Disclosures

Contingencies

General

Contingent liabilities arise in the ordinary course of business, including those related to lawsuits, arbitration, mediation, and other forms of litigation. Various litigation matters are threatened or pending against FHN and its subsidiaries. Also, FHN at times receives requests for information, subpoenas, or other inquiries from federal, state, and local regulators and from other government authorities concerning various matters relating to FHN's current or former lines of business. Certain matters of that sort are pending at this time, and FHN is cooperating with the authorities involved. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of these matters, particularly where the claimants seek very large or indeterminate damages, or where the cases present novel legal theories or involve a large number of parties, or where claims or other actions are possible but have not been brought, FHN cannot reasonably determine what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters may be, or what the eventual loss or impact related to each matter may be. FHN establishes loss contingency liabilities for litigation matters when loss is both probable and reasonably estimable as prescribed by applicable financial accounting guidance. A liability generally is not established when a loss contingency either is not probable or its amount is not reasonably estimable. If loss for a matter is probable and a range of possible loss outcomes is the best estimate available, accounting guidance would require a liability to be established at the low end of the range.

In addition, disclosure of a range of reasonably possible loss associated with litigation matters, as prescribed by applicable financial accounting guidance, is provided as to those matters where there is more than a remote chance of an estimable, material loss outcome for FHN in excess of currently established loss liabilities. Based on current knowledge, and after consultation with counsel, management is of the opinion that loss contingencies related to such pending litigation matters should not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition of FHN, but may be material to FHN's operating results for any particular reporting period depending, in part, on the results from that period.

Litigation – Gain Contingency

The Chapter 11 Liquidation Trustee (the “Trustee”) of Sentinel Management Group, Inc. (“Sentinel”) filed complaints against two subsidiaries, First Tennessee Bank National Association (“FTBNA”) and FTN Financial Securities Corp. (“FTN”), and two former FTN employees. The Trustee's claims related to Sentinel's purchases of Preferred Term Securities Limited (“PreTSL”) products and other securities from FTN and/or the FTN Financial Capital Markets division of FTBNA from March 2005 to August 2007. In July 2011, the parties reached an agreement to settle the dispute. Under the terms of the settlement the Trustee received a total of $38.5 million dollars. After considering the terms of the settlement, FHN recognized a pre-tax expense of $36.7 million during second quarter 2011 related to the settlement. FHN believes that certain insurance policies provide coverage for these losses and related litigation costs, subject to policy limits and applicable deductibles. The insurers have denied coverage. FHN has brought suit against the insurers to enforce the policies under Tennessee law. The case is in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee styled as First Horizon National Corporation, et al. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's Syndicate Nos. 2987, et al., No. 2:11-cv-02608. In connection with this matter the previously recognized expense may be recouped in whole or in part. As to this matter, under applicable financial accounting guidance, FHN has determined that although material gain is not probable there is more than a slight chance of a material gain outcome for FHN. FHN cannot determine a probable outcome that may result from this matter because of the uncertainty of the potential outcomes of the legal proceedings and also due to significant uncertainties regarding: legal interpretation of the relevant contracts; potential remedies that might be available or awarded; and the incomplete status of the discovery process.

Litigation – Loss Contingencies

Set forth below are discussions of certain pending or threatened litigation matters. These material loss contingency matters generally fall into the following categories: (i) FHN has determined material loss to be probable and has established a material loss liability in accordance with applicable financial accounting guidance, other than matters reported as having been substantially settled or otherwise substantially resolved; (ii) FHN has determined material loss to be probable but is unable to determine an amount of material loss liability; or (iii) FHN has determined that material loss is not probable but is "reasonably possible" (as defined in applicable accounting guidance, there is more than a slight chance of a material loss outcome for FHN). In all litigation matters discussed, except as indicated, FHN has estimated a range of reasonably possible loss outcomes in excess of any currently established loss liabilities. In all litigation matters discussed FHN believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to pursue those defenses vigorously.

 

FHN reassesses the liability for litigation matters each quarter as the matters progress. At September 30, 2012, the aggregate amount of liabilities established for the litigation loss contingency matters discussed below was $29 million. No matter discussed under the heading "First Horizon Branded Mortgage Securitization Litigation Matters" below is among those matters for which a liability has been established. The liabilities discussed in this paragraph relate only to litigation matters and are separate from those discussed under the heading "Established Repurchase Liability" below.

 

In each potential loss contingency litigation matter discussed below, except as otherwise noted, there is a more than slight chance that each of the following outcomes will occur: the plaintiff will substantially prevail; the defense will substantially prevail; the plaintiff will prevail in part; or the matter will be settled by the parties. At September 30, 2012, FHN estimates that, for those litigation loss contingency matters discussed below as to which reasonably possible loss is estimable, reasonably possible losses in future periods in excess of currently established liabilities could aggregate in a range from zero to approximately $90 million. Of those matters discussed under the heading "First Horizon Branded Mortgage Securitization Litigation Matters," only the FHLB of Chicago, Charles Schwab, and Western & Southern suits are included in that range.

 

Matters Included in Reasonably Possible Loss Range

Branch Sale Litigation Matter. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company (“M&T”) is pursuing an arbitration claim against FTBNA arising out of FTBNA's sale of certain branch assets to M&T in 2007. M&T claims that FTBNA violated its obligations to repurchase home equity lines of credit (“HELOCs”) that it sold to M&T as part of the asset sale agreement. M&T alleges that the loans either are not in conformity with FTBNA's representations about them or are insured and sold due to mutual mistake or both. At this time, as a result of rulings to date, the claim has become a demand that FTBNA repurchase certain HELOCs having an original principal balance of $45.5 million. At September 30, 2012, the HELOCs at issue included loans with an unpaid principal balance of $22.7 million and also included charged-off loans of $11.9 million. These HELOCs are not included in the mortgage repurchase pipeline discussed below as potential repurchase obligations, but instead are evaluated separately as part of this pending litigation matter based on specific facts and circumstances related to this loan sale. FHN's estimate of reasonably possible loss for this matter is subject to significant uncertainties regarding: the potential remedies that might be available or awarded; the identity and value of assets FHN may be required to repurchase; and the unpredictable nature of the arbitration process.

 

Debit Transaction Sequencing Litigation Matter. FTBNA is a defendant in a putative class action lawsuit concerning overdraft fees charged in connection with debit card transactions. A key claim is that the method used to order or sequence the transactions posted each day was improper. The case is styled as Hawkins v. First Tennessee Bank National Association, before the Circuit Court for Shelby County, Tennessee, Case No. CT-004085-11. The plaintiff seeks actual damages of at least $5 million, unspecified restitution of fees charged, and unspecified punitive damages, among other things. FHN's estimate of reasonably possible loss for this matter is subject to significant uncertainties regarding: whether a class will be certified and, if so, the definition of the class; claims as to which no dollar amount is specified; the potential remedies that might be available or awarded; the outcome of potentially dispositive early-stage motions such as motions to dismiss; and the lack of discovery. FHN is aware that claims which appear to be somewhat similar have been brought against other financial institutions.

 

First Horizon Branded Mortgage Securitization Litigation Matters - Certain Matters. Several pending litigation matters are discussed under the heading "First Horizon Branded Mortgage Securitization Litigation Matters" below. For certain of those FHN has been able to estimate reasonably possible loss. Those estimable matters are the FHLB of Chicago, Charles Schwab, and Western & Southern cases. The estimates for those matters are included in the range of reasonably possible loss discussed above and are subject to significant uncertainties regarding: the dollar amount claimed; the potential remedies that might be available or awarded; the outcome of any settlement discussions; the outcome of potentially dispositive early stage motions such as motions to dismiss; the identity and value of assets that FHN may be required to repurchase to the extent asset repurchase is sought; the incomplete status of the discovery process; and the lack of precedent claims. The other such securitization matters are not included in the reasonably possible loss range discussed above.

 

Matters Not Included in Reasonably Possible Loss Range

VA Loan Guarantee Litigation Matter. FTBNA is a defendant in a qui tam action brought privately on behalf of the federal government against a number of mortgage lenders. The case is styled as United States ex rel Bibby and Donnelly v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A. et al, before the U.S. District Court for the N.D. of Georgia, Case No. 1:06-CV-0547-MHS. The plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly disclosed and improperly charged certain fees related to certain VA guaranteed interest rate reduction refinancing loans. They assert that the alleged acts violated the regulations governing loans of that type as well as the federal False Claims Act. The plaintiffs seek unspecified restitution of loan guarantee benefits improperly claimed and unspecified treble damages, among other things. In late September 2012 FHN agreed to settle this case. The settlement has not yet been finally documented or effected, but the agreed terms are reflected in the litigation liability established at September 30, 2012 discussed above.

 

First Horizon Branded Mortgage Securitization Litigation Matters. Prior to September 2008 FHN originated and sold home loan products through various channels and conducted its servicing business under the First Horizon Home Loans and First Tennessee Mortgage Servicing brands. Those sales channels included the securitization of loans into pools held by trustees and the sale of the resulting securities, sometimes called “certificates,” to investors. These activities are discussed in more detail below under the heading “Legacy Home Loan Sales and Servicing.”

At the time this report is filed, FHN, along with multiple defendants, is defending several lawsuits brought by investors which claim that the offering documents under which First Horizon branded certificates were sold to them were materially deficient. The plaintiffs and venues of these suits are: (1) the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 11-cv-6193 (PGG)); (2) Charles Schwab Corp. in the Superior Court of San Francisco, California (Case No. 10-501610); (3) Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of Chicago in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (Case No. 10 CH 45033); (4) Western & Southern Life Insurance Co, among others in the Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County, Ohio (Case No. A1105352); (5) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") as receiver for Colonial Bank, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama (Case No. CV-12-791-WKW-WC); and (6) FDIC as a receiver for Colonial Bank, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 12 Civ. 6166 (LLS)(MHD)). The plaintiffs in the pending suits claim to have purchased certificates in a number of separate First Horizon securitizations and demand that FHN repurchase their investments, or answer in damages or rescission, among other remedies sought.

In some of these suits, underwriters are co-defendants and have demanded, under provisions in the applicable underwriting agreements, that FHN indemnify them for their expenses and any losses they may incur. In addition, FHN has received indemnity demands from underwriters in certain other suits as to which investors claim to have purchased senior certificates in First Horizon branded securitizations ("FH proprietary securitizations"). FHN has not been named a defendant in these suits, which FHN is defending indirectly as indemnitor. The plaintiffs and venues of these other suits are: (7) FHLB of San Francisco, in the Superior Court of San Francisco County, California (Case No. CGC-10-497840); (8) Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., in the Supreme Court of New York County, New York (No. 651360-2012); and (9) Royal Park Invs. SA/NV, in the Supreme Court of New York County, New York (No. 652607-2012).

Details concerning the original purchase amounts of the investments at issue in these suits, as to which FHN is a named defendant or as to which FHN has an agreement to indemnify an underwriter defendant, are set forth below. Plaintiffs in the pending lawsuits claimed to have purchased a total of $1.2 billion of certificates and the purchase price of the certificates subject to the indemnification requests total $301.4 million. “Senior” and “Junior” refer to the ranking of the investments in broad terms; in most cases the securitization provided for sub-classifications within the Senior or Junior groups.

   Alt-A Jumbo 
(Dollars in thousands)  Senior Junior Senior Junior 
Vintage              
2005 (a)$843,868 $ - $30,000 $ - 
2006 (a) 277,926   -  84,659  9,793 
2007   204,061   -  50,000  7,084 
Total  $1,325,855 $ - $164,659 $16,877 

  • The amounts shown in the table which are the subject of the FHFA litigations include $230,020 of the Senior Alt-A loans from 2006 and $643,751 of the Senior Alt-A from 2005.

If FHN were to repurchase certificates, it would recognize as a loss the difference between the amount paid (adjusted for any related litigation liability previously established) and the fair value of the certificates at that time. The original purchase amounts reported in this table do not reflect the cumulative amounts of principal and interest distributions received by investors since 2005. Such receipts generally would diminish any recovery a plaintiff might obtain.

 

Information on the performance of the securitizations related to these suits is available in monthly reports published by the trustee for the securitization trusts. Based on these reports, the ending certificate balance of the investments which are the subject of these lawsuits was approximately $645 million as of the September 25, 2012 trust statements. FHN believes that certain plaintiffs did not purchase the entire tranche, or class, in the securitizations in which they invested.  Reporting by the trustee is at a class-level and as a result, ending certificate balances in this disclosure were adjusted to reflect FHN's estimate of the ending balance of the certificates purchased by these plaintiffs.

Within that total, the ending certificate balance of the investments which are the subject of the FHFA lawsuit was $346.2 million, with approximately 85 percent of the remaining balances performing. Cumulative losses on the FHFA investments which are the subject of the lawsuit as reported on the September 25, 2012 trust statements represent approximately 6 percent of the original principal amount underlying the certificates purchased. The total ending certificate balance of the investments which are the subject of the remaining lawsuits was $298.9 million, with approximately 80 percent of the remaining balances performing. Cumulative losses on the remaining investments which are the subject of the lawsuits as reported on the September 25, 2012 trust statements represent approximately 5 percent of the original principal amount underlying the certificates purchased. Ending certificate balances reflect the remaining principal balance on the certificates, after the monthly principal and interest distributions and after reduction for applicable cumulative and current realized losses. Recognized cumulative losses largely do not take into account outstanding principal and interest amounts advanced by the servicer due to nonpayment by the borrowers; those advances may increase cumulative losses. Losses are often reported by the trustee based on each certificate within a pool or group, which limits FHN's ability to ascertain losses at the individual investor level..

FHN has been able to estimate reasonably possible loss for the FHLB of Chicago, Charles Schwab, and Western & Southern suits, as discussed above. For the other suits, FHN is unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss due to significant uncertainties regarding: claims as to which the claimant specifies no dollar amount; the potential remedies that might be available or awarded; the availability of significantly dispositive defenses such as statutes of limitations or repose; the outcome of potentially dispositive early-stage motions such as motions to dismiss; the identity and value of assets that FHN may be required to repurchase for those claims seeking asset repurchase; the incomplete status of the discovery process; the lack of a precise statement of damages; and lack of precedent claims.

As discussed under “Legacy Home Loan Sales and Servicing,” similar claims may be pursued by other investors, and loan repurchase, make-whole, or indemnity claims may be pursued by securitization trustees or other parties to transactions seeking indemnity. At September 30, 2012, FHN had not recognized a liability for exposure for investment rescission or damages arising from the foregoing or other potential claims by investors that the offering documents under which the loans were securitized were materially deficient, nor for exposure for repurchase of loans arising from potential claims that FHN breached its representations and warranties made in securitizations at closing.

Contract Claim Settlement Process – Mortgage Repurchase Pipeline

For several years FHN has received claims from government sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”), other government agencies, mortgage insurers, and others that FHN breached certain representations and warranties made in connection with whole-loan sales prior to September 2008. Generally such claims request or otherwise demand that FHN repurchase the loans or otherwise make the purchaser whole. FHN analyzes these claims using a pipeline approach. FHN reviews each claim in the pipeline and either offers to satisfy the claim or rejects the claim by asking the claimant to rescind it. FHN has established a material loss liability for probable incurred losses related to repurchase obligations for breaches of representations and warranties. As of September 30, 2012 none of these claims had become active litigation. These matters and the associated reserving methodologies are discussed under “Legacy Home Loan Sales and Servicing."

Other Litigation Matters

A shareholder, Cranston Reid, filed a putative derivative lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Western Division (Case No. 2:10cv02413-STA-cgc) against various former and current officers and directors of FHN. FHN is named as a nominal defendant, though no relief is sought against it. The complaint alleged the following causes of action: breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, and unjust enrichment. The claimed breach of fiduciary duty and other causes of action stemmed from a number of alleged events, including: certain litigation matters, both pending and previously disposed, unrelated to this plaintiff; certain matters that allegedly could become litigation matters, unrelated to this plaintiff; a matter that previously had been investigated and concluded, unrelated to this plaintiff; and an alleged general use of allegedly unlawful and high-risk banking practices. In March 2011 the District Court dismissed all claims, and the plaintiff appealed. In September 2012, the appellate court affirmed the District Court's decision.

Legacy Home Loan Sales and Servicing

Overview

Prior to September 2008, as a means to provide liquidity for its legacy mortgage banking business, FHN originated loans through its legacy mortgage business, primarily first lien home loans, with the intention of selling them. Some government-insured and government-guaranteed loans were originated with credit recourse retained by FHN and some other mortgages were originated to be held, but predominantly mortgage loans were intended to be sold without recourse for credit default. Sales typically were effected either as non-recourse whole loan sales or through non-recourse proprietary securitizations. Conventional conforming single-family residential mortgage loans were sold predominately to two GSEs - the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae,” "Fannie," or “FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac,” "Freddie," or “FHLMC”). Federally insured or guaranteed whole loans were pooled, and payments to investors were guaranteed through the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae", "Ginnie," or "GNMA"). Many mortgage loan originations, especially those "nonconforming" mortgage loans that did not meet criteria for whole loan sales to the GSEs, or insurance through Ginnie (collectively, the "Agencies"), were sold to investors, or certificate-holders, predominantly through proprietary securitizations but also, to a lesser extent, through whole loan sales to private non-Agency purchasers. In addition, FHN originated with the intent to sell and sold HELOCs and second lien mortgages through whole loan sales to private purchasers and, to a lesser extent, through proprietary securitizations.

Regarding these past loan sale activities, FHN has exposure to potential loss primarily through two avenues. First, purchasers of these mortgage loans may request that FHN repurchase loans or make the purchaser whole for economic losses incurred if it is determined that FHN violated certain contractual representations and warranties made at the time of these sales. Contractual representations and warranties differ based on deal structure and counterparty. For whole-loan sales, a claimant generally would be the purchaser. For securitizations, a repurchase claimant generally would be a trustee. Second, investors in securitizations may attempt to achieve rescission of their investments or damages through litigation by claiming that the applicable offering documents were materially deficient. In addition, overlaying these avenues: some of the loans that were sold or securitized were insured and the insurance carrier may seek repurchase or make-whole remedies by claiming that FHN violated certain contractual representations and warranties made in connection with the insurance contract; and, some of the loans sold to non-Agency whole-loan purchasers were included in securitizations of the purchasers, and the purchasers may seek repurchase or indemnification for losses and expenses caused by such a violation by FHN. In some cases FHN retains the servicing of the loans sold or securitized and so has substantial visibility into the status of the loans; in many cases FHN does not retain servicing and has had very limited or no such direct visibility.

From 2005 through 2008, FHN originated and sold $69.5 billion of mortgage loans without recourse which includes $57.6 billion of loans sold to GSEs and $11.9 billion of loans guaranteed by Ginnie Mae. Although additional GSE sales occurred in earlier years, a substantial majority of GSE repurchase requests have come from that period. In addition, from 2005 through 2007, FHN securitized $26.7 billion of mortgage loans without recourse in First Horizon branded proprietary transactions.

 

On August 31, 2008 FHN sold its national mortgage and servicing platforms along with a portion of its servicing assets and obligations. This is sometimes referred to as the “2008 sale,” the “2008 divestiture,” the “platform sale,” or other similar words. FHN contracted with the purchaser to have its remaining servicing obligations sub-serviced by the purchaser through August 2011.

 

Loans Sold With Full or Limited Recourse

Although not a substantial part of FHN's former business, FHN sold certain Agency mortgage loans with full recourse under agreements to repurchase the loans upon default. Loans sold with full recourse generally include mortgage loans sold to investors in the secondary market which are uninsurable under government guaranteed mortgage loan programs due to issues associated with underwriting activities, documentation, or other concerns. For mortgage insured single-family residential loans, in the event of borrower nonperformance, FHN would assume losses to the extent they exceed the value of the collateral and private mortgage insurance, the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) insurance, or the Veteran's Administration (“VA”) guaranty. On September 30, 2012 and 2011, the current unpaid principal balance ("UPB") of single-family residential loans that were sold on a full recourse basis with servicing retained was $37.8 million and $44.9 million, respectively.

Loans sold with limited recourse include loans sold under government guaranteed mortgage loan programs including the FHA and VA. FHN may absorb losses due to uncollected interest and foreclosure costs but has limited risk of credit losses in the event of foreclosure of the mortgage loan sold. Generally, the amount of recourse liability in the event of foreclosure is determined based upon the respective government program and/or the sale or disposal of the foreclosed property collateralizing the mortgage loan. Another instance of limited recourse is the VA/No bid. In this case, the VA guarantee is limited and FHN may be required to fund any deficiency in excess of the VA guarantee if the loan goes to foreclosure.

FHN also has potential loss exposure from claims that FHN violated FHA or VA requirements related to the origination of the loans and guarantee claims filed related to the loans. FHN recently agreed to settle a civil lawsuit, mentioned above, claiming that such violations occurred with respect to certain VA-guaranteed refinancing loans. In addition, FHN is cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in a civil investigation regarding compliance with requirements relating to certain FHA-guaranteed loans.

Unless otherwise noted, the remaining discussion under this section, “Legacy Home Loan Sales and Servicing,” excludes information concerning full or limited recourse loan sales.

Agency Whole Loan Sales

Substantially all of the conventional, conforming mortgage loans originated by FHN were sold to the GSEs. Each agency has specific guidelines and criteria for originators and servicers of loans backing their respective securities, and the risk of credit loss with regard to the principal amount of the loans sold was generally transferred to the GSEs upon sale, or resides with the insuring government agency if the loans were guaranteed through Ginnie.

Generally these loans were sold without recourse for credit loss. However, if it is determined that the loans sold were in breach of representations or warranties required by the Agency and made by FHN at the time of sale, FHN has obligations to either repurchase the loan for the UPB or make the purchaser whole for the economic loss incurred by the purchaser of such loan. Such representations and warranties required by the Agencies typically include those made regarding the existence and sufficiency of file documentation and the absence of fraud by borrowers or other third parties such as appraisers in connection with obtaining the loan.

At the time of sale, FHN retained servicing rights for a majority of these mortgage loans sold. However, FHN has since sold (through the 2008 divestiture and bulk sales) servicing rights on a significant amount of the loans that were sold to or insured by Agencies. As of September 30, 2012, the original and current UPB of agency loans originated from 2005 through 2008 that FHN continues to service was $5.4 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively. A substantial amount of FHN's existing repurchase obligations from outstanding requests relate to conforming conventional mortgage loans that were sold to the GSEs. Since the mortgage platform sale in 2008 through September 30, 2012, Agencies have accounted for the vast majority of repurchase/make-whole claims received.

First Horizon Branded Proprietary Mortgage Securitizations

From 2005-2007 FHN originated and sold certain non-agency, nonconforming mortgage loans, consisting of Jumbo and Alternative-A (“Alt A”) first lien mortgage loans, to private investors through 80 proprietary securitization trusts under the “First Horizon” ("FH") name. Securitized loans generally were sold indirectly to investors as interests, commonly known as certificates, in trusts or other vehicles. The certificates were sold to a variety of investors, including GSEs in some cases, through securities offerings under a prospectus or other offering documents. In most cases, the certificates were tiered into different risk classes, with junior classes exposed to trust losses first and senior classes exposed only after junior classes were exhausted. Unlike servicing on loans sold to GSEs, FHN still services substantially all of the remaining loans sold through FH proprietary securitizations. As of September 30, 2012, the remaining UPB in active FH proprietary securitizations from 2005-2007 was $8.9 billion consisting of $5.9 billion Alt-A mortgage loans and $3.0 billion Jumbo mortgage loans. Representations and warranties were made to the trustee for the benefit of investors. As such, FHN has exposure for repurchase of loans arising from claims that FHN breached its representations and warranties made at closing, and exposure for investment rescission or damages arising from claims by investors that the offering documents under which the loans were securitized were materially deficient. As of September 30, 2012, the repurchase request pipeline contained no repurchase requests related to FH first lien proprietary mortgage securitizations based on representations and warranties.

Unlike loans sold to GSEs, contractual representations and warranties for FH proprietary first lien mortgage securitizations do not include specific representations regarding the absence of other-party fraud or negligence in the underwriting or origination of the mortgage loans. Securitization documents typically provide the investors with a right to request that the trustee investigate and initiate repurchase of a mortgage loan if FHN breached certain representations and warranties made at the time the securitization closed and such breach materially and adversely affects the interests of the investors in such mortgage loan. The securitization documents do not require the trustee to make an investigation into the facts or matters stated in any investor request or notice unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of certificates evidencing not less than 25 percent of the voting rights allocated to each class of certificates. The certificate holders may also be required to indemnify the trustee for its costs related to investigations made in connection with repurchase actions. FHN has no knowledge of any investor requests to the trustee of an FH proprietary mortgage securitization to investigate mortgage loans for possible breach of representations and warranties. GSEs were among the purchasers of certificates in FH securitizations. As such, they are entitled to the benefits of the same representations and warranties as other investors. However, the GSEs, acting through their conservator under federal law, are permitted to undertake, independently of other investors, reviews of FHN's mortgage loan origination and servicing files. Such reviews are commenced using a subpoena process. If, because of such reviews, the GSEs determine there has been a breach of a representation or warranty that has had a material and adverse affect on the interests of the investors in any mortgage loan, the GSEs may seek enforcement of a repurchase obligation against FHN. Certain other government entities have asserted a similar right of review not generally available to other investors. As discussed in more detail below, FHN has received several such subpoenas.

In addition, the FH securitization trustee generally may initiate a loan review, without prior official action by investors, for the purpose of determining compliance with applicable representations and warranties with respect to any or all of the active FH securitizations. If non-compliance is discovered, the trustee may seek repurchase or other relief. At September 30, 2012, FHN's trustee had made no claims against FHN and no litigation by the trustee was pending against FHN. Accordingly, FHN is not able to estimate any liability for this risk. FHN similarly is not able to estimate a range of reasonably possible losses associated with this risk, and no such amounts are included in the aggregate range discussed above. Those inabilities are due to significant uncertainties regarding: the absence of claims made; the nature and outcome of any claims process or related settlement discussions; the outcome of litigation if litigation is pursued; the identity and value of assets that FHN may be required to repurchase to the extent asset repurchase is sought; and the lack of precedent claims.

Also unlike loans sold to the GSEs through nonrecourse whole loan sales, interests in securitized loans were sold as securities under prospectuses or other offering documents subject to the disclosure requirements of applicable federal and state securities laws. As an alternative to pursuing a claim for breach of representations and warranties through the trustee as mentioned above, investors could pursue (and in certain cases mentioned below, are pursuing) a claim alleging that the prospectus or other disclosure documents were deficient by containing materially false or misleading information or by omitting material information. Claims for such disclosure deficiencies typically could be brought under applicable federal or state securities statutes, and the statutory remedies typically could include rescission of the investment or monetary damages measured in relation to the original investment made. Any such statutory claim would be subject to applicable limitation periods and other statutory defenses. If a plaintiff properly made and proved its allegations, the plaintiff might attempt to claim that damages could include loss of market value on the investment even if there were little or no credit loss in the underlying loans. Claims based on alleged disclosure deficiencies also could be brought as traditional fraud or negligence claims with a wider scope of damages possible. Each investor could bring such a claim individually, without acting through the trustee to pursue a claim for breach of representations and warranties, and investors could attempt joint claims or attempt to pursue claims on a class-action basis. Claims of this sort are likely to be resolved in a litigation context in most cases, unlike most of the GSE repurchase requests. The analysis of loss content and establishment of appropriate liabilities in those cases would follow principles and practices associated with litigation matters, including an analysis of available procedural and substantive defenses in each particular case, a determination whether material loss is probable, and (if so) an estimation of the amount of ultimate loss, if any can be estimated. FHN expects most litigation claims to take much longer to resolve than repurchase requests typically have taken.

Monoline insurance is a form of credit enhancement provided to a securitization by an insurer not affiliated with FHN. Subject to the terms and conditions of the policy, the insurer guarantees payments of accrued interest and principal due to the investors. None of the FH proprietary first lien securitizations involved the use of monoline insurance for the benefit of all classes of security holders. In certain limited situations, insurance was provided for a specific senior retail class of holders within an individual securitization. The only insured certificate more recent than 2004, from 2005, covered $25.0 million of original certificate balance. The trustee statement dated September 25, 2012 reported to FHN that the remaining outstanding certificate balance for the class was $23.8 million. FHN understands that some monoline insurers have commenced lawsuits against others in the industry seeking to rescind policies of this sort due to alleged misrepresentations as to the quality of the loan portfolio insured. FHN has not received notice of a lawsuit from the monoline insurers of the senior retail level class.

Certain government entities acting on behalf of several purchasers of FH branded and other securitizations have subpoenaed information from FHN and others. In 2009 FHN was subpoenaed by the federal regulator of credit unions, the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”), related to securitization investments by certain federal credit unions. There has been little communication with FHN associated with this matter since 2010. FHN has been subpoenaed by the FHFA acting as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac related to securitization investments by those institutions. In addition, the FHLB of San Francisco has subpoenaed FHN for purposes of a loan origination review related to certain of its securitization investments. Collectively, the NCUA, FHFA and FHLB of San Francisco subpoenas seek information concerning a number of FH first lien securitizations and a FH HELOC securitization during the years 2005 and 2006. In addition, the FDIC, acting on behalf of certain failed banks, has also subpoenaed FHN related to FH securitization investments by those institutions. The FDIC and FHLB San Francisco subpoenas also concern loans sold by FHN to non-Agency purchasers on a whole-loan basis which were included by those purchasers in non-FH securitizations. The FDIC subpoena fails to identify the specific investments made by the failed banks. Other than the dollar amounts of those investments which are the subject of the FDIC's active litigation as receiver for Colonial Bank, FHN has limited information on the loans under review or the dollar amounts invested in the FDIC subpoenas and the FHLB San Francisco subpoena. The FDIC subpoena overlaps partially, and the FHFA subpoena overlaps substantially with the ongoing litigation matters mentioned above under “Litigation – Loss Contingencies.

These subpoenas relate to ongoing reviews which ultimately could result in claims against FHN. The original and current (as of the September 25, 2012 trust statements) combined first lien certificate balances of the related FH securitizations in which the credit unions invested, were $321.6 million and $139.7 million, respectively. The original and current (as of the September 25, 2012 trust statements) HELOC certificate balances of the related FH HELOC securitization in which the credit unions invested was $299.8 million and $102.1 million. The original and current certificate balances of the FH securitizations in which the FHLB SF invested are $601.1 million and $197.8 million respectively. There are limitations as to FHN's knowledge of the amount of investments made that are subject to the FDIC subpoena. As mentioned above, FHN does not know which pools or what portions of those pools the institutions represented by the FDIC purchased. Since the reviews at this time are neither repurchase claims nor litigation, the associated loans are not considered part of the repurchase pipeline.

Other First Horizon Branded Proprietary Securitizations

FHN also originated and sold home equity lines and second lien loans through certain FH proprietary securitization trusts, most of which related to HELOC loans. As of September 30, 2012, only three of those securitizations, all HELOC, remain active; the rest have been retired as a result of clean-up calls exercised by FHN. Each remaining trust issued notes backed by these loans and publicly offered the asset-backed notes to investors pursuant to a prospectus. The Trustee statements dated September 25, 2012, reported that the cumulative original and current outstanding note balances of the FH HELOC securitizations were $961.8 million and $388.9 million, respectively.

The loans in the FH HELOC securitization trusts are included on FHN's balance sheet in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles either as consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or because the securitization did not qualify for sale treatment. These loans and the associated credit risk are reflected in FHN's consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2012, the loans related to the consolidated VIEs and the associated ALLL are reflected as “restricted” on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Condition.

The asset-backed notes issued in the FH HELOC securitizations were “wrapped” by monoline insurers. FHN understands that some monoline insurers have commenced lawsuits against other originators of asset-backed securities seeking to cancel policies of this sort due to alleged misrepresentations as to the quality of the loan portfolio insured. FHN has not received notice from a monoline insurer of any such lawsuit. The monoline insurers also have certain contractual rights to pursue repurchase and indemnification. In response to unreimbursed insurance draws resulting from insufficient remittances to investors, two monoline insurers of certain FH HELOC securitizations have commenced reviews of these HELOC securitizations and certain underlying loan files, underwriting guidelines, and payment histories, and repurchase requests have been made. Because the underlying loans and their associated loss content are recorded on FHN's balance sheet, FHN reviews the portfolio each quarter for inherent loss and has established reserves for loss content. For that reason, FHN does not include these requests in the repurchase pipeline reported for first lien mortgages, and FHN believes that any ultimate cash payouts related to these loans are unlikely to have any material impact upon FHN's financial results as such payouts would be reflected as reductions to the existing balance of restricted or secured term borrowings. Additionally, advances made by monoline insurers for the benefit of security holders have been recognized within restricted or secured term borrowings in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Condition. This recognition practice is used because the insurers have a higher priority to certain cash flows from the securitization trusts than FHN.

Other Whole Loan Sales

FHN has sold first lien mortgages without recourse through whole loan sales to non-Agency purchasers. FHN made contractual representations and warranties to the purchasers generally similar to those made to Agency purchasers. As of September 30, 2012, the amount of repurchase/make-whole claims related to such other whole loan sales was negligible. These claims are included in FHN's liability methodology and the assessment of the adequacy of the repurchase and foreclosure liability.

 

Many of these loans were included by the purchasers in non-FH securitizations. FHN's contractual representations and warranties to these loan purchasers generally included indemnity covenants for losses and expenses applicable to the securitization caused by FHN's breach. FHN has received indemnification requests from UBS Securities LLC and from certain affiliates of Citigroup. FHN also has received subpoenas seeking loan reviews in certain cases where FHN is not a defendant. In addition, the trustee of a non-FH securitization which included FHN loans has commenced a legal proceeding against FHN and others seeking repurchase or make-whole based on claimed breaches of representations and warranties made to the purchaser/securitizer. The trustee is basing its claim, in part, on an assignment of contractual rights FHN gave to FHN's loan purchaser. These matters are not included in the repurchase pipeline.

 

Private Mortgage Insurance

Private mortgage insurance (“MI”) was required by GSE rules for certain of the loans sold to GSEs and was also provided for certain of the loans that were securitized. MI generally was provided for the first lien loans sold or securitized having a loan-to-value ratio at origination of greater than 80 percent. Although unresolved MI cancellation notices are not formal repurchase requests, FHN includes these in the active repurchase request pipeline. FHN tracks and monitors MI cancellation notices received and considers the amount of loans sold to GSEs where MI coverage has ultimately been lost when assessing the overall adequacy of FHN's repurchase liability. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, $415.2 million and $271.9 million, respectively, of loans sold or securitized have lost MI coverage.

Established Repurchase Liability

In second quarter 2012, significant new information was received from Fannie Mae, including information relating to loans previously transferred and no longer serviced by FHN. Fannie Mae updates this information periodically, and updated this information most recently in the third quarter. FHN's current estimate of losses associated with repurchase obligations for loans sold to Fannie and Freddie is based on Fannie's information as most recently updated. That information includes: trends and status of loans currently selected for review and potential repurchase demand; information about loans, by vintage year, concerning portfolio attrition, delinquency, default, payoff, and unpaid balance; and information supporting anticipated future selections (for review and potential repurchase demand) from liquidated loans and seriously delinquent loan pools. Based on currently available information and experience to date, FHN has evaluated its loan repurchase exposure as mentioned above and has accrued for losses of $293.5 million and $171.4 million as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. A vast majority of this liability relates to obligations associated with the sale of first lien mortgages to GSEs through the legacy mortgage banking business. Accrued liabilities for FHN's estimate of these obligations are reflected in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Condition. Charges to increase the liability are included within Repurchase and foreclosure provision on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. The estimate is based upon currently available information and fact patterns that exist as of the balance sheet date and could be subject to future changes. Changes to any one of these factors could significantly impact the estimate of FHN's liability.

Servicing and Foreclosure Practices

FHN services a predominately first lien mortgage loan portfolio with an unpaid principal balance of approximately $20 billion as of September 30, 2012. A substantial portion of the first lien portfolio is serviced through a subservicer. The first lien portfolio is held primarily by private security holders and GSEs, with less significant portions held by other private investors. In connection with its servicing activities, FHN collects and remits the principal and interest payments on the underlying loans for the account of the appropriate investor. In the event of delinquency or non-payment on a loan in a private or agency securitization: (1) the terms of the private securities agreements generally require FHN, as servicer, to continue to make monthly advances of principal and interest (“P&I”) to the trustee for the benefit of the investors; and (2) the terms of the majority of the agency agreements may require the servicer to make advances of P&I, or in certain circumstances to repurchase the loan out of the trust pool. In the event payments are ultimately made by FHN to satisfy this obligation, P&I advances and servicer advances are recoverable from: (1) the liquidation proceeds of the property securing the loan, in the case of private securitizations and (2) the proceeds of the foreclosure sale by the government agency, in the case of government agency-owned loans. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, FHN has recognized servicing and P&I advances of $300.6 million and $317.1 million, respectively. Servicing and P&I advances are included in Other assets on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Condition.

FHN is subject to losses in its loan servicing portfolio due to loan foreclosures. Foreclosure exposure arises from certain government agency agreements which limit the agency's repayment guarantees on foreclosed loans, resulting in losses to the servicer. Foreclosure exposure also includes real estate costs, marketing costs, and costs to maintain properties, especially during protracted resale periods in geographic areas of the country negatively impacted by declining home values.

For several years governmental officials and agencies have scrutinized industry foreclosure practices, particularly in judicial foreclosure states. The initial focus on judicial foreclosure practices of financial institutions nationwide expanded to include non-judicial foreclosure and loss mitigation practices including the effective coordination by servicers of foreclosure and loss mitigation activities. All of the changes to servicing practices arising out of this activity including those described below could impact FHN through increased operational and legal costs. FHN continues to review, monitor, and revise, as appropriate, its foreclosure processes and coordinated loss mitigation practices with the goal of conforming them to evolving servicing requirements.

FHN's national mortgage and servicing platforms were sold in August 2008 and the related servicing activities, including foreclosure and loss mitigation practices, of the still-owned portion of FHN's mortgage servicing portfolio was outsourced through a three year subservicing arrangement (the “2008 subservicing agreement”) with the platform buyer (the “2008 subservicer”). The 2008 subservicing agreement expired in August 2011. In 2011, FHN entered into a replacement agreement with a new subservicer (the “2011 subservicer”).

In 2011 regulators entered into consent decrees with several institutions requiring comprehensive revision of loan modification and foreclosure processes, including the remediation of borrowers that have experienced financial harm. The 2008 subservicer is subject to a consent decree and its parent company agreed to pay related monetary sanctions. The 2008 subservicer has advised FHN that it has implemented or was in the process of implementing the new standards as the subservicing relationship terminated in August 2011. In accordance with the terms of the consent decree, the 2008 subservicer had commenced an independent third party assessment of its foreclosure processes and is participating in a regulator-prescribed foreclosure claims review process which is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2012. As a result of the above examinations, in June 2011 the OCC issued Supervisory Guidance relating to Foreclosure Management setting forth the OCC's expectations for the oversight and management of mortgage foreclosure activities for national banks, and requiring self-assessments of foreclosure management practices including compliance with legal requirements, testing and file review. FHN has reviewed the Supervisory Guidance and utilized a third party consultant to assist in its self-assessment of its foreclosure management process relating to all its mortgage servicing, including that conducted by the 2011 subservicer. The assessment of FHN and the 2011 subservicer was completed in the fourth quarter of 2011; FHN is implementing changes to strengthen its processes including additional oversight and review processes. Also in connection with the 2008 subservicer's third party assessment process, FHN and its 2011 subservicer will cooperate with the 2008 subservicer to identify and correct any servicing deficiencies in foreclosure or loss mitigation that might impact FHN's subserviced loans including claims identified in the consent decree claim review process.

Under FHN's 2008 subservicing agreement, the 2008 subservicer had the contractual right to follow FHN's prior servicing practices as they existed 180 days prior to August 2008 until the 2008 subservicer became aware that such practices did not comply with applicable servicing requirements, subject to subservicer's obligation to follow accepted servicing practices, applicable law, and new requirements, including evolving interpretations of such practices, law and requirements. FHN cannot predict the amount of additional operating costs related to foreclosure delays, including required process changes, increased default services, extended periods of servicing advances and the recoverability of such advances, legal expenses, or other costs that may be incurred as a result of the internal reviews or external actions. In the event of a dispute such as that described below between FHN and 2008 subservicer over any liabilities for subservicer's servicing and management of foreclosure or loss mitigation processes, FHN cannot predict the costs that may be incurred.

FHN's 2008 subservicer has presented invoices and made demands under the 2008 subservicing agreement that FHN pay certain costs related to tax service contracts, miscellaneous transfer costs, and servicing timeline penalties, compensatory damages, and curtailments charged prior to the servicing transfer by GSEs and a government agency in connection with FHN's transfer of subservicing to its 2011 subservicer in the amount of $8.9 million. The 2008 subservicer also is seeking reimbursement for expenditures the 2008 subservicer has incurred or anticipates it will incur under the consent decree and Supervisory Guidance relating to foreclosure review (collectively, “foreclosure review”), alleging that FHN has either an implied agreement to participate in and share in such cost or was obligated to do so under the subservicing agreement. The foreclosure review expenditures for which the 2008 subservicer presently seeks reimbursement are $34.8 million. The 2008 subservicer has indicated that additional reimbursement requests will be made as the foreclosure review continues. FHN disputes that it has any responsibility or liability for either demand under the 2008 subservicing agreement or otherwise. In the event that the 2008 subservicer pursues its position through litigation, FHN believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend itself vigorously.

Other Disclosures - Visa Matters

FHN is a member of the Visa USA network. On October 3, 2007, the Visa organization of affiliated entities completed a series of global restructuring transactions to combine its affiliated operating companies, including Visa USA, under a single holding company, Visa Inc. (“Visa”). Upon completion of the reorganization, the members of the Visa USA network remained contingently liable for certain Visa litigation matters. Based on its proportionate membership share of Visa USA, FHN recognized a contingent liability in fourth quarter 2007 related to this contingent obligation. In March 2008, Visa completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) and funded an escrow account from its IPO proceeds to be used to make payments related to the Visa litigation matters. FHN received approximately 2.4 million Class B shares in conjunction with Visa's IPO.

FHN's Visa shares are included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Condition at their historical cost of $0. Conversion of these shares into class A shares of Visa and, with limited exceptions, transfer of these shares is restricted until the final resolution of the covered litigation. In conjunction with the prior sales of Visa class B shares in December 2010 and September 2011, FHN and the purchasers entered into derivative transactions whereby FHN will make, or receive, cash payments whenever the conversion ratio of the Visa class B shares into Visa class A shares is adjusted. The conversion ratio is adjusted when Visa deposits funds into the escrow account to cover certain litigation. In March 2011, Visa deposited funds into the escrow account. Accordingly, FHN reduced its contingent liability by $3.3 million to $1.4 million through a credit to noninterest expense and the conversion ratio declined to 49 percent. This escrow funding and associated decline in the conversion ratio resulted in a cash payment to the derivative counterparty of $.7 million in second quarter 2011.

As a result of Visa's escrow funding in December 2011, the conversion ratio was reduced to 43 percent in February 2012, effective as of December 29, 2011. On July 13, 2012, Visa and MasterCard announced a joint settlement related to outstanding litigation matters. The settlement is subject to judicial approval. Based on the amount of the settlement attributable to Visa, and an assessment of FHN's contingent liability accrued for Visa litigation matters, the settlement did not have material impact on FHN. As a result of the settlement, Visa funded an additional $150 million into the escrow account in July 2012, which resulted in a decline in the conversion rate to 42 percent. FHN made a payment to the counterparty of $.8 million as a result of Visa's escrow funding. Future funding of the escrow will dilute this exchange rate by an amount that is yet to be determined.

 

As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the derivative liabilities were $2.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively.

 

FHN now holds approximately 1.1 million Visa Class B shares.

Other Disclosures – Indemnification Agreements and Guarantees

In the ordinary course of business, FHN enters into indemnification agreements for legal proceedings against its directors and officers and standard representations and warranties for underwriting agreements, merger and acquisition agreements, loan sales, contractual commitments, and various other business transactions or arrangements. The extent of FHN's obligations under these agreements depends upon the occurrence of future events; therefore, it is not possible to estimate a maximum potential amount of payouts that could be required with such agreements.