Zero Hedge

In an early precedent of Bank Failure Friday (and a LOT of work for the CNBC green shoot spin doctors for early Friday am consumption) BankUnited just expired, in the largest blow up of a bank to date in 2009. The bank will be "sold" to Carlyle, Blackstone and WL Ross. But why should Carlyle et al "pay up" for the asset when they can get Sheila Bair to use taxpayer money to backstop the entire sale for them. And when we are talking $12.8 billion in assets, it surely is much better to get Joe Q. Sixpack to make sure you (Wilbur Ross et al) don't have any risk exposure. After all, it worked so well for WaMu and JPM. The immediate cost to the FDIC will be $4.9 billion (and up to $10.7 billion based on the loss-sharing arrangement), which means that at this point the FDIC's DIF is negative with almost 100% certainty. Robbing from poor Peter to pay rich Paul continues.

And most curiously, just how does it work out that a bank with $10.7 billion in deposits has its loans assumed for $4.9 billion, or a 54% haircut on the loan book?

On Thursday, May 21, 2009, BankUnited, FSB, Coral Gables, FL was closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver. Subsequent to the closure, BankUnited, a newly chartered federal savings bank, acquired the assets and most of the liabilities of BankUnited, FSB from the FDIC as Receiver for BankUnited, FSB. No advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed.

Bank United, FSB had assets of $12.80 billion and deposits of $8.6 billion as of May 2, 2009. The new BankUnited will assume $12.7 billion in assets and $8.3 billion in nonbrokered deposits. The FDIC and BankUnited entered into a loss-share transaction and will share in the losses on approximately $10.7 billion in assets covered under the agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the covered assets by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers as they will maintain a banking relationship. BankUnited will recapitalize the institution with $900 million in new capital.

The FDIC facilitated the transaction with John Kanas and a consortium of investors after BankUnited, FSB, was closed today by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the FDIC as receiver. The FDIC estimates that the cost to its Deposit Insurance Fund will be $4.9 billion. BankUnited's acquisition of all the deposits and assets of BankUnited, FSB was the "least costly" resolution for the DIF compared to alternatives.

In addition to the management team led by John Kanas, ownership includes WL Ross & Co. LLC; Carlyle Investment Management L.L.C.; Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P.; Centerbridge Capital Partners, L.P. LeFrak Organization, Inc; The Wellcome Trust; Greenaap Investments Ltd.; and East Rock Endowment Fund.

Here for the full press release. Sphere: Related Content

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