Mar 11 2010
"Natixis has a debt to shareholders'
lefigaro.fr: A year ago, almost to the day, you said that "it was time for the truth about Natixis. How did you welcome the confirmation by the AMF (AMF) by sending a notice of objections to Natixis?
Colette Neuville: This is a new good, which will complete our complaint. But there will still be some way to go because, although Natixis has to be sanctioned, it will compensate the victims. The shareholders want compensation before any other words, recover some of their money.
If one assumes that the losses of shareholders are due for half to the general fall in stock markets, should implement a procedure that allows them to get half the introductory price (19.55 euros), or 10 euros.One might ask why the Banques Populaires and Caisses d'Epargne to buy Natixis shares they sold to the public offering in exchange for an IOU in the form of bonds or other securities composed of an amount of 10 euros. I
the need bear in mind that these are nearly 3 million shareholders who have lost 80% of the 5 billion they have invested in this case. It is the political and financial scandals have made the most victims in France. We for our part before the Prosecutor of the Republic there is a little over a year and, for now, we had no return. The only merit of our complaint so far is to have interrupted prescription.
Probably for political reasons and timing, the state has not seen fit to punish Natixis.
It seems that the French government considered that it was not appropriate to shed light on the matter Natixis when he put forward the behavior "virtuous" French banks during the crisis under their European and American counterparts. But he did not respect the principle of separation of powers, but embodied in the Declaration of Human Rights and considered from Aristotle through Locke and Montesquieu Great Britain in France as essential for the proper functioning of democracy. So I look forward to the appointment of a judge who makes all the light and determines all the responsibilities on the scandal Natixis cash advance in one hour .
What do you expect from the MFA?
I expect the Sanction Commission (member of the MFA, Ed) it is not limited to information on complaints issued in October 2008, but it is seized of the whole affair since the beginning. Regarding the objections that have been transmitted, Natixis said it is not pursued by the MFA for disseminating false information. I note however that according to Article 223-1 of its General Regulations which the MFA refers "to inform the public must be accurate, precise and sincere." So although the AMF services consider that the information given by Natixis did not exhibit these qualities.
You are involved in Vivendi (1), and you are indignant at the action taken on the matter EADS (2).The case Natixis is it more serious than the other two? Do you think that the MFA will draw lessons from the EADS?
The Vivendi case and Natixis have in common is that many shareholders were victims of misleading information. But the case of Natixis is more serious because of the shameful organized canvassing by both banks to enjoy the confidence of their customers and sell their securities. Vivendi shareholders had they bought their securities without being specifically requested otherwise by the misleading representation of society.
As in the case EADS, the chairman of the MFA has publicly expressed the day after the pronouncement of the decision of the Sanctions Committee of its wish to be making appeals against decisions of the commission. I think it will ensure that a text quickly gives it this right, the logic of separation of powers.
(*) Association for the Defense of Minority Shareholders
(1) Colette Neuville is the origin of a class action against Vivendi and two of its former leaders, Jean-Marie Messier, former CEO and Guillaume Hannezo, former chief financial officer, accused of transvestite results group between 2000 and 2002.
(2) after three years of investigation, the AMF has cleared all officers of EADS.
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