JP Morgan Increases its offer on Bear Stearns to $10
but for a Minority Share
L'Opera Buffa On Wall Street
It is reported this morning that JP Morgan Chase is increasing its offer to buy Bear Stearns to $10 per share, but will only be buying 39.5% of the company.
In an amended deal, JP Morgan Chase will also be risking 1 billion dollars in losses in Bear Stearns.
The Federal Reserve (the public aka all holders of US dollars) will be taking the risk on the next $29 billion.
Without the Fed's guarantee, Bear Stearns would be in receivership todaywith the shares worth 'zero.' This is Aid to Dependent Pigmen.
Moral hazard reaches comedic proportions.
Text of Revised JPM-BSC Deal
March 24, 2008 10:02 a.m.
JPMorgan Chase and Bear Stearns Announce Amended Merger Agreement
and Agreement for JPMorgan Chase to Purchase 39.5% of Bear Stearns
NEW YORK-- March 24, 2008--
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM)
and The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC) announced an amended merger agreement regarding JPMorgan Chase's acquisition of Bear Stearns.
Under the revised terms, each share of Bear Stearns common stock would be exchanged for 0.21753 shares of JPMorgan Chase common stock (up from 0.05473 shares), reflecting an implied value of approximately $10 per share of Bear Stearns common stock based on the closing price of JPMorgan Chase common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 20, 2008.
In addition, JPMorgan Chase and Bear Stearns entered into a share purchase agreement under which JPMorgan Chase will purchase 95 million newly issued shares of Bear Stearns common stock, or 39.5% of the outstanding Bear Stearns common stock after giving effect to the issuance, at the same price as provided in the amended merger agreement. As discussed below, the purchase of the 95 million shares is expected to be completed on or about April 8, 2008.
The Boards of Directors of both companies have approved the amended agreement and the purchase agreement. All of the members of the Bear Stearns Board of Directors have indicated that they intend to vote their shares held as of the record date in favor of the merger.
The JPMorgan Chase guaranty of Bear Stearns' trading obligations has also been significantly clarified and expanded. For more information, the guaranty agreement will be filed publicly and the parties will provide a Question and Answer document describing the guaranty in further detail on their respective websites. JPMorgan Chase has also agreed to guarantee Bear Stearns' borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's $30 billion special financing associated with the transaction has also been amended so that JPMorgan Chase will bear the first $1
billion of any losses associated with the Bear Stearns assets being financed and the Fed will fund the remaining $29 billion on a non-recourse basis to JPMorgan Chase.
"We believe the amended terms are fair to all sides and reflect the value and risks of the Bear Stearns franchise," said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase, "and bring more certainty for our respective shareholders, clients, and the marketplace. We look forward to a prompt closing and being able to operate as one company."
"Our Board of Directors believes that the amended terms provide both significantly greater value to our shareholders, many of whom are Bear Stearns employees, and enhanced coverage and certainty for our customers, counterparties, and lenders," said Alan Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bear Stearns. "The substantial share issuance to JPMorgan Chase was a necessary condition to obtain the full set of amended terms, which in turn, were essential to maintaining Bear Stearns' financial stability."
While the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) generally require shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities that are convertible into more than 20% of the outstanding shares of a listed company, the NYSE's Shareholder Approval Policy provides an exception in cases where the delay involved in securing shareholder approval for the issuance would seriously jeopardize the financial viability of the listed company.In accordance with the NYSE rule providing that exception, the Audit Committee of Bear Stearns' Board of Directors has expressly approved, and the full Board of Directors has unanimously concurred with, Bear Stearns' intended use of the exception. The closing of the sale of the 95 million shares is expected to be completed upon the conclusion of a shareholder notice period required by the NYSE, which is expected to occur on or about April 8, 2008.
