Blog
Citi Deal Inspires No Confidence
The government’s latest attempt to prop up Citi fails to ease worries that a full-scale takeover is on the way for it and other banks.
NEW YORK (Fortune) — If investors have regained confidence in the big U.S. banks, they have a funny way of showing it.
Shares of most big banks tumbled Friday morning after the government agreed to convert part of its preferred-stock investment in Citigroup ( C, Fortune 500) to common stock.
By swapping $25 billion of its preferred shares for new common shares, the Treasury Department is giving Citi a boost to a key measure of its capital cushion against future losses — tangible common equity.
But the move, the government’s latest bid to quell fears about the New York-based bank’s health, also dilutes existing shareholders.
That is one reason why Citi’s shares tumbled more than 30% to an 18-year low Friday. And some warn it could still leave Citi undercapitalized compared with other banks.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs said in a report Friday that the conversion would raise Citi’s tangible common equity to 4.3% of total capital — but noted that this figure is bloated by a deferred tax asset.
Excluding that asset, Goldman said, the ratio would be just 2% – compared with 3% at the average large bank.
Wall Street was not only concerned about Citi’s future though. Investors were also worried about the possibility of future federal intervention in the banking sector beyond Citi.
Shares Bank of America ( BAC, Fortune 500), which like Citi has received more than $100 billion in federal aid in recent months, tumbled 12%. Wells Fargo ( WFC, Fortune 500) fell 7%.
The use of taxpayer funds to support troubled financial institutions has become unpopular in Congress, particularly in light of recent reports of the perks lavished on some banks receiving federal aid.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke have said repeatedly over the past month that they want to keep the financial system in private hands.
But with the U.S. economy in its worst recession in at least 26 years, there is growing concern among investors that the half-measures taken so far by the government won’t be enough to prevent a wholesale takeover of the most troubled firms.
With unemployment rising, problems are increasingly spreading to the credit card and auto loan portfolios at many banks.
Earlier this week, JPMorgan Chase ( JPM, Fortune 500) – one of the healthiest big banks – slashed its quarterly dividend by 87% in a bid to conserve cash and add to its capital base.
Wall Street had high hopes earlier this month that Geithner would unveil a comprehensive plan to support banks. But the proposals he outlined were short on details. Treasury said this week it began conducting so-called stress tests of banks, but results aren’t expected for weeks.
In the meantime, investors — burned in the plunge of financial stocks since the credit markets started seizing up in August 2007 — are staying away from the banks, frustrating the administration’s efforts to bring in private capital to help solve the crisis. 
Fed’s Step Deeper Into Citi Bailout
Shift of preferred shares to common stock increases embattled bank’s capital base. Stock down by nearly a third in volatile trading.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The U.S. government waded deeper into the bailout of one of the nation’s largest banks Friday when it announced a deal that will give it control over as much as 36% of Citigroup’s common stock.
Citigroup shares plunged about a third in midday trading on the news.
The deal will convert preferred shares that the Treasury Department already holds in Citigroup for common shares, a shift that is designed to improve the embattled bank’s capital base, which in turn will hopefully allow it to increase its lending.
The U.S. government has already given Citigroup $45 billion, for which it received preferred shares and warrants in the company.
The new deal Friday did not give the bank any additional taxpayer dollars. But the government is taking on a greater risk by assuming more volatile common shares. The market price is well below the $3.25 per-share conversion price the government is paying.
Taxpayers will also lose roughly $2 billion in dividends, because the preferred shares they are giving up paid 8% dividends. Citi suspended its common stock dividend as part of the agreement.
The Treasury is trying to prop-up one of the nation’s largest banks as a key part of its efforts of fixing the battered banking system.
For Citigroup, the conversion is important because it increases the bank’s tangible common equity, making an improvement in the bank’s troubled balance sheet.
In the deal, Treasury will convert up to $25 billion of preferred shares, matching dollars that Citigroup is able to bring in from other investors, such as sovereign wealth funds.
It will virtually force those other preferred share investors to convert to common shares by eliminating most preferred dividends as well, although the government will continue to get an 8% dividend on the $20 billion in preferred shares it is not converting.
Friday’s move could very well be the first of similar actions taken by the federal government going forward. The Treasury Department said in its rescue plan, unveiled this week, that any major bank that comes up short in the so-called “stress tests” now being conducted will be required to raise more capital, and that may be accomplished by converting the preferred shares that Treasury now holds in each of the institutions.
The $20 billion of preferred shares Treasury will have left in Citi could also be converted if Treasury determines more assistance is needed, although company officials argued Friday this move puts it in the strongest capital and tangible common equity position among major banks.
But the move will reduce the stake that existing shareholders hold in the bank to as little as 26%. New common share investors, including other current preferred shareholders now expected to convert their shares to common, will own the remaining stake — which could be as much as 38%.
Shares of Citigroup, a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, have plunged about 90% in the past year even before Friday’s slide. Still, the bank hopes that the move will eventually help rebuild its battered share price.
In a call with investors, Citi Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said the decision was difficult because of what it would do to current investors, but that the bank had little choice.
“In the end, our business is about confidence,” he said. “We wanted to take definitive steps to put all capital issues aside.”
Analysts questioned Pandit as to who would be calling shots at the bank going forward.
“Will Citigroup be run for the shareholders, or is Citigroup going to be run for public policy goals or some other purpose?” asked Michael Mayo of Deutsche Bank.
Pandit insisted that Citi management would continue to be in charge — not the government or regulators — and that decisions would be made to maximize profits and shareholder return, rather than public policy agenda.
“For those people who have a concern about nationalization, this should put those concerns to rest,” Pandit said. “We’re going to run Citi for the shareholders.”
Many industry observers have argued that a 36% government stake is the equivalent of nationalizing Citigroup.
“This begs the question of nationalization,” said Sen. Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, at a hearing this week, as discussions of this kind of government stock swap swirled around both Wall Street and Washington. “If you had 40% working control, you wouldn’t own it, but you’d own working control.”
Ned Kelly, head of global banking for Citigroup, disputed that view in an interview Friday after the announcement.
“The term of nationalization covers a multitude of sins,” he said. “But the common equity has not been wiped out. There is no change in management. There are no operational restrictions.”
Under the deal, a majority of Citigroup’s independent directors will be replaced. Pandit and Chairman Richard Parsons will retain their positions.
Pandit tried to ensure investors that the deal is being structured in a way that allows it to retain its current stakes in foreign banks, such as Grupo Financiero Banamex, the No. 2 bank in Mexico. Some countries, such as Mexico, prohibit ownership of banks by companies controlled by foreign governments.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. considers a bank to be critically undercapitalized if the tangible equity-to-asset ratio is 2% or less. Citi’s ratio hovers around 1.5% now. Citigroup said it believed that ratio will rise to more than 4% as as result of Friday’s moves.
Citi said in its statement that the agreement could increase the tangible common equity of the company from the fourth-quarter level of $29.7 billion to as much as $81 billion.
At the same time, Citigroup ( C, Fortune 500) announced a pretax $9.6 billion charge in the recently completed fourth quarter, resulting in a roughly 50% increase in its 2008 loss.
The charge was to write down the value of the goodwill carried on its balance sheet for some key business units. It came to $8.7 billion on an after-tax basis. The company said that will result in a full-year loss of $27.7 billion, up from the previously reported $18.7 billion.
Corporate goodwill is the value of a company operation carried on balance sheet beyond what can be attributed to its strict financial operations, placing a value on such intangible items as the company’s name, reputation and its customer relations.
The charge will not result in any cash drain for the company or reduce its tangible common equity. It is an accounting procedure that wipes out the goodwill of Citigroup’s consumer banking operations in North America, Latin America and other key overseas markets.
When Citi announced its fourth-quarter results last month, it said it was continuing to review its goodwill to determine whether an impairment had occurred.
Citi’s Kelly said the charge announced Friday is simply an accounting procedure required by the sharp loss in market value of the company’s stock, not by damage to its brand caused by the drumbeat of bad news over the last year.
“We do not think it’s been permanently damaged. We still have a very strong brand globally,” he said. “Clearly when you’re in the spotlight, there’s going to be some negative impact. But it’s had no economic impact.” 
Webinars
Hello and Welcome to Financial Hope!
We are participating in a New Economic Solution that has been 15 years in the making and you too can become involved as we are!
We will be hosting an ongoing series of webinars to introduce you to this new educational journey. You will need to experience a paradigm shift and this will be your start so please accept our invitation and join us for the Financial Hope we all need and want! Register NOW!
I’ve scheduled this webinar for 11 am Pacific Standard Time Oregon USA, go to the Time Zone Converter and see the time for your country! It should be from 6-9 pm for UK through to SA, Europe and Scandinavia. Please come on this educational journey with us!
In His service,
Mitch
Register for a Monday Morning session now by clicking a date below:
- Mon, Apr 6, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, Apr 13, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, Apr 20, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, Apr 27, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 4, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 11, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 18, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 25, 2009 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
Register for a Monday Morning session now by clicking a date below:
- Mon, May 4, 2009 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 11, 2009 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 18, 2009 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT
- Mon, May 25, 2009 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT
Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.
FINANCIAL HOPE FUTURE WEBINARS
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IS NOW IN EFFECT!
OUR WEBINARS ARE NOW ON PACIFIC DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME! ADJUST ACCORDINGLY!
System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
What Is Financial Hope?
Financial Hope is an opportunity to change your life.
We are offering our members a new economic solution that provides a way to end the recession. Simply put, this is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. This is not multi-level-marketing (MLM), or any other kind of here today – gone tomorrow schemes. This company has successfully been in business for over a decade, and it’s services are needed now more than ever.
Financial Hope is offering funding for real estate purchases as well as business ventures. Not only do we offer funding, but also a substantial income can be achieved at the same time.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been foreclosed on, have a horrible credit score, or failed in business – TODAY IS A NEW DAY! A day of HOPE! Financial Hope offers you a bright future not based upon your past, but rather your desire to succeed today.
Why not sign-up today for a FREE Look at all that Financial Hope has to offer – and get the answer and hope that you, your friends, your family & your community needs. You’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose so Sign-up TODAY!
Financial Demise
Understanding the Financial Demise!
Banks vulnerable as
‘rotten’ foundations crumble!
From CNN’s Richard Quest
(CNN)– From pubs in London to bars in New York, everyone is asking the same question: Why is this financial crisis different? The answer is simple albeit not sexy. The rot has set in!
Traders will continue to feel the strain until the world’s investment banks can restore the loss of confidence.
The world’s investment banks are basically houses built on pillars of money. Sometimes those pillars are cash, often revenue sharing obligations; these days pillars are made up of derivatives, swaps, options and other frighteningly complex instruments.
But these pillars are the strength that supports not only the bank itself, but also its debts and liabilities. Under technical rules the pillars have to be transparent and of a certain quality, so that investors know just how well propped up the bank is. In layman’s terms — everyone can tell “the bank is safe!” If the pillars remain strong — the bank stays standing.
What has happened is that the rot has got into the pillars and no-one noticed. If they were wooden it would be worms. The very financial instruments that make up the core of the banks are questionable.
No-one can say for certain how much these instruments are worth, if anything. No-one knows if counter parties to deals are financially secure and will be around tomorrow. The very structure upon which banks like Lehman depended became doubtful.
If this was happening to just one or two banks then it would be a “nasty business.” But it is happening to all the banks — at once. The major names have all been taking on these dodgy instruments and are all now seeking better quality investments and cash. And of course those with the cash want to keep it to themselves, in case they need it — hence the term credit crunch.
Often during a period of financial turmoil there are clearly definable events — oil crises, war, acts of terror — which cause a loss of confidence which leads to a slowdown and possibly a recession.
But the infrastructure of the banks remains by-and-large solid. The pillars remain standing. Here the exact opposite is happening. Every event merely puts dodgy pillars under more strain and eventually they give way.
This is what links today’s crises with those of the past: 1929 Wall Street Crash; 1970′s Oil Crises; Black Monday, 1987; the Dot Com bubble bursting in 1998. In all cases it wasn’t just a turn of the economic cycle gone wrong, it was a problem at the very core of the financial system which in size and scale meant everyone was affected and from which no-one escaped.
How will this play out? Badly!
Until the financial pillars can be rebuilt then there is little anyone can do but watch some banks get rescued, while others collapse completely.
End quote
Forclosure Alley CA = unbelievable!
12 minute video please watch!
[flash http://p.castfire.com/fcieq/video/26078/26078_2008-09-25-215549.flv]
http://www.kcet.org/socal/2008/09/foreclosure-alley.html
Unbelievable amount of foreclosures in California and what people leave behind that goes to the landfill!!
SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE… NOW!
From the above report one might conclude that the financial pillars cannot be “patched up”… Rather, they must be rebuilt.
Efforts over the last few days by governments are laudable, but (in effect) printing more money to throw into the situation might create an even greater risk.
That is, if the new pile of “paper” doesn’t smother the flames, it may ignite and carry the firestorm right back up-line to burn down the “printing press”!
At best, even if visible flames are smothered, smoldering should be expected to continue until a new outbreak takes place.
The problem is that, for world currencies to function properly, they were detached from real-world back in 1971 when President Nixon took the USD off the “gold standard”.
As long as monetary transactions continued to be played out primarily in commercial markets, that was a good thing – commerce provided the base, finance was a means of interchange.
But, once financial markets began to far overshadow commerce, inflated values of money, revenue sharing obligations, and stocks should not have been expected to carry the weight when real world crises show up.
So, we are where we are and where can we go from here?
Please read and watch the “Story of Stuff” as it will give you the complete problem we are facing worldwide! Yes we have solutions for every aspect of this linear system so come join with us and start your re-education in the “New Economic Model” NOW!