The Detroit automaker said it will purchase 200 million shares of GM stock held by Treasury for $5.5 billion — or $27.50 per share
Still, taxpayers will almost certainly lose billions of dollars in the $49.5 billion GM bailout - and the government would need to sell its remaining shares for about $70 each to break even.
"As told in "Overhaul," Rattner's book about the bailouts, it was Wilson who concluded that GM's obligation to the U.S. Treasury would have to be "equitized" -- in the form of stock rather than loans -- or else GM would sink under the burden of too much debt.
"I thought GM was dirt cheap a year ago and the stock is up 38% since then, and I still think it's attractive," he wrote."
Since I think the gov doesn't directly loan, but rather guarantees the loan, it may have ridden on what interest rates the lenders would have required. Remember, a lot of banks were in a crisis back then too and liquidity dried up.
Comments
Uncle Sam Books 50% Loss As Government Motors Buys Back 200MM Shares From Tim Geithner
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-19/gm-buys-back-200mm-shares-us-government- -uncle-sam-divest-remaining-stake-50-loss
The Detroit automaker said it will purchase 200 million shares of GM stock held by Treasury for $5.5 billion — or $27.50 per share
Still, taxpayers will almost certainly lose billions of dollars in the $49.5 billion GM bailout - and the government would need to sell its remaining shares for about $70 each to break even.
"I thought GM was dirt cheap a year ago and the stock is up 38% since then, and I still think it's attractive," he wrote."
Architect of GM bankruptcy says stock is undervalued (Detroit Free Press)