WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - The Federal Reserve's loan to JP Morgan
Chase for the Bear Stearns takeover will be for 10 years, renewable by the Fed,
at its primary credit rate that is currently 2.50 pct but will fluctuate with
the discount rate, the New York Federal Reserve Bank said this evening.
The loan will be against a portfolio of Bear Stearns assets valued at 30 bln
usd billion as of March 14. The New York Fed is forming a limited liability
company (LLC) to take control of the assets in return for a 29 bln usd loan to
JP Morgan Chase (JPMC).
JPMC has agreed to provide 1 bln usd in funding in a note subordinated to
the Federal Reserve note. The rate on the JPMC note is the the primary credit
rate of 2.50 pct plus 4.75 additional points to a current rate of 7.25 pct.
JPMC, through that note, will bear the first 1 bln usd of any losses, if
any, when the portfolio is liquidated and any realized gains will accrue to the
New York Fed.
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. will manage the portfolio under
guidelines established by the New York Fed "designed to minimize disruption to
financial markets and maximize recovery," the Fed said. "Using a single entity
(the LLC) will ease administration of the portfolio and will remove constraints
on the money manager that might arise from retaining the assets on the books of
Bear Stearns."
Repayment of the loans will begin on the second anniversary of the loan,
unless the NY Fed determines to begin payments earlier.
pete.kasperowicz@thomson.com+dennis.moore@thomson.com
dem/pik/wash
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