Banking, finance, and taxes

A Second Bail-Out For Countrywide

Countrywide (CFC) Financial has hired Goldman Sachs and law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz to arrange another multi-billion investment in the company, just weeks after Bank of America (BAC) made a $2 billion investment in preferred shares in the mortgage company, according to The New York Post.

The deal could involve several hedge funds and one or more money center banks.

Countrywide’s shares continue to fall. They are now off 52% over the last three months. Alliance Capital Management disclosed that it has sold about 31 million shares of Countrywide in the last month. Barclays Global Investors has also sold nearly 25 million shares.

One by-product of a new round of financing would probably be the departure of CEO Angelo Mozilo. It was on his watch that the company became especially aggressive in offering loans to home buyer who appear to have been bad credit risks. This may have helped CFC earnings for several quarters, but the piper is being paid now. Mr. Mozilo has been a big seller of his own stock.

Douglas A. McIntyre

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.