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Roundup: Fannie & Freddie Bailout

Last evening, we asked what are the costs and consequences, as well as the market reaction to, the imminent bailout of Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE). Your responses were inspired and informative.  (For a brief history of the GSEs, see this earlier commentary).

This morning, its page one news. Here's what the major papers are suggesting is the likely outcome:

• Conservatorship: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be brought under government control; The assumption is this is a temporary measure (12-24 months);

• Management: will be kicked out, starting with Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd as well as Freddie Mac CEO Richard Syron.  (No word if Charlie Gasparino is defending the two on CNBC). The current Board of Directors would also be fired;no word on other senior management;

• Shareholders: Speculation is that most (but not all) of the common stock would be diluted but not wiped out; Company debt and preferred shares are likely to be protected according to the Washington Post. A variation comes The New York Times, which stated that both the common and the $36 billion of outstanding preferreds "would be reduced to little or nothing."

In a typical recapitalization, preferreds, which are equity, receive little if anything.

• Mortgages: held by FNM/FRE would be guaranteed by taxpayers. This is approximately $5+ trillion dollars, the vast majority of which are sound. (Remember, Fannie was not allowed to buy subn-prime). If 3% of these go bad -- a historically high estimate -- that would amount to ~$150 billion dollars;

• Legislation: President Bush signed the law that gave the government the authority to inject billions of dollars into the companies through investments or loans. At the time, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson said there were no plans to actually use the money, it was to help the firms raise capital.

• Foreign Holders: NYT: "With foreign governments increasingly skittish about holding billions of dollars in securities issued by the companies, no sign that their losses will abate any time soon, and the inability of the companies to raise new capital" forced the government's hand;

Foreign central banks are key investors in Fannie and Freddie paper, and they have been losing confidence in the GSEs. Barron's reports that "Fed data offer circumstantial evidence of, if not of a run, then of a steady walking away from Fannie and Freddie securities."   

• Financial sector: With losses of about $500 Billion, and quite a few billion more to go, the hope is that the relief to FNM/FRE eventually finds its way to the entire sector.

Note that the Preferreds of both companies are primarily banks, many of which already are already suffering from the effects of the credit crunch and mortgage debacle. A bailout of the Preferreds would amount to a $36 billion bailout of the entire financial sector.

• Politics: With both conventions now over (were the GSEs even mentioned?) the Presidential election starts to heat up. The closer we came to November 4th, the greater the risk of political complications.  Hence, the bailout sooner rather than later;

• Timing: Any Decision is likely to be announced Sunday, before Asian markets open. Some are speculating that this is an attempt to get out in front, rather than waiting for a "financial tipping point, as happened with Bear Stearns;" Delaying a rescue might also increase the "risks and costs."

• Insolvency: Armando Falcon Jr., who from 1999 to 2005 headed the agency that oversaw the companies' financial stability, believes the GSEs are already insolvent. "I would force the more accurate accounting of their assets and liabilities, and that would show them to be insolvent," Falcon said in an interview. He added that additional delay to receivership "only digs taxpayers into a deeper hole."

One more note: Anytime the government obtains authority to do something -- go to war, spend money on bailouts -- it is identical to actually authorizing the act. Meaning that yes, it will eventually occur. Claiming you are merely granting authority only serves to make the act more politically palatable, but don't ever kid yourself -- it is no different than the actual act.

In practice, the act of authorizing a fill in the blank (war, bailout, whatever) is the same as declaring  (war, bailout). The two are identical.

More on the bailout to come . . .

~~~

As you add sources and links in comments, I will cull key data points and add above.

>

Full source list after the jump . . .

Previously:
Fannie + Freddie = Frannie ?   (September 2008)
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/09/fannie-freddie.html

His Name is Mudd (August 2008) 
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/08/perilous-pursui.html

Freddie's Risk Officer: CEO Ignored Warning Signs (August 2008)   
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/08/freddies-risk-o.html

>

Sources:
U.S. Near Deal on Fannie, Freddie
Plan Could Amount to Government Takeover; Management Shakeup Is Expected
DEBORAH SOLOMON and DAMIAN PALETTA
NYT, September 6, 2008; Page A1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122064650145404781.html

Paulson Plans to Bring Fannie, Freddie Under Government Control
Alison Vekshin and Dawn Kopecki
Bloomberg, September 6, 2008; Page A1 
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=azJ2NQoKxMnE&

U.S. Rescue Seen at Hand for 2 Mortgage Giants   
STEPHEN LABATON and ANDREW ROSS SORKIN   
NYT, September 5, 2008 
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/business/06fannie.html

U.S. Nears Rescue Plan For Fannie And Freddie
Deal Said to Involve Change of Leadership, Infusions of Capital
By David S. Hilzenrath, Neil Irwin and Zachary A. Goldfarb
Washington Post, September 6, 2008; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/05/AR2008090503351_pf.html

Questions, and Hope, on Plans for Mortgage Giants
VIKAS BAJAJ and ERIC DASH
NYT, September 5, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/business/06credit.html

Pulling the Trigger for Fannie and Freddie?   
RANDALL W. FORSYTH
Barron's SEPTEMBER 8, 2008   
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB122065346802205333.html

Former Regulator: Move On Freddie, Fannie Now
David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post, September 5, 2008
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washbizblog/2008/09/former_regulator_move_on_fredd.html

An Analysis of the Systemic Risks Posed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Elisa Parisi-Capone
RGE, Sep 5, 2006 
http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/editorial/144556

Saturday, September 06, 2008 | 06:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (79) | TrackBack (1)
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Comments

The fact that they now own 5 trillion in mortgages should be disconcerting. If neither exist anymore - the suggestion is that Banks will freeze the housing market.

How about this, let's freeze the "securitization" of the housing market and let Banks make money the old fashioned way, by keeping the mortgages on their books. Yeah, people will need 20% down, stable income, and good credit and the Bank can't lever up. Just exactly what is wrong with that. If people don't have the money to put down - guess what, you are a credit risk.

The money quote and the reason for the bailout is from your NYT picture - "virtually every wall street bank and many overseas financial institutions, central banks and investors do business with Fannie and Freddie."

Posted by: Maj Tom | Sep 6, 2008 7:37:09 AM