Gov't gives GMAC $3.8B in new aid, boosts stake

[December 31, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government gave GMAC Financial Services another $3.8 billion in cash and took a majority stake in the auto lender, aiming to stabilize the company as it struggles with big losses in its home mortgage unit.

The fresh infusion is on top of $12.5 billion in taxpayer money Detroit-based GMAC has already received from the government. The new aid will boost the federal government's ownership in GMAC to 56 percent, from 35 percent, and means the U.S. now holds a majority stake in three companies that it bailed out with taxpayer funds -- GMAC, General Motors and insurer American International Group Inc. The government also has taken control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Keeping GMAC alive as it struggles with its mortgage loan problems has been a major component of the Obama administration's massive effort to rescue ailing automakers General Motors and Chrysler. The lender provides critical wholesale financing to thousands of GM and Chrysler auto dealers, allowing them to stock their showroom floors with vehicles.

That ability was crimped as loan losses mounted at GMAC's mortgage division -- Residential Capital LLC, dubbed ResCap. The company disclosed Wednesday that it will take an additional $3.3 billion in mortgage-related write-downs, part of a $3.8 billion expected charge in the fourth quarter. GMAC is also preparing to sell off mortgage assets in an effort to reduce volatility.

GMAC's core auto lending business has shown some signs of revival even as auto sales slumped this year. The auto financing division earned a profit of $395 million during the third quarter. The company's online consumer banking unit, Ally Bank, has also been a bright spot by bringing in billions of dollars in new deposits by offering relatively high interest rates. It now accounts for about 29 percent of GMAC's assets.

Even with the government upping its stake, Treasury officials said the government intends to stick to its policy of leaving day-to-day business decisions about financing to GMAC management. Still, with the additional stake, the government will have the right to appoint two additional directors to the company's board, bringing the total to four of nine, Treasury officials said.

GMAC will continue to be subject to executive pay restrictions imposed by the government's pay czar.

GMAC was granted bank holding company status a year ago, allowing it to borrow funds from the Federal Reserve and receive a portion of the government's bailout fund. It later failed the government's stress test, largely because of ResCap's big losses. That triggered a Treasury Department requirement that it raise $11.5 billion -- including $9.1 billion of new Tier 1 capital -- in additional capital this year. When it failed to do so, an extra government infusion became necessary.

"By protecting the financial performance and strength of our core automotive finance operations, we expect to increase the pace at which we can fully repay the U.S. taxpayer," Michael Carpenter, GMAC's chief executive, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Treasury Department said the new aid, which comes from a taxpayer-financed bailout fund, is less than the roughly $6 billion the government had earlier thought GMAC would need to steady the company. That's because the impact from General Motors' bankruptcy filing wasn't as severe as originally projected. It marked the third time the government has thrown GMAC a lifeline.

Even after the latest capital infusion, the government will likely take steps to help GMAC as it tries to ensure the recovery of GM and Chrysler, said Kirk Ludtke, senior vice president at CRT Capital Group LLC. That includes helping GMAC refinance its debt as it comes due, he said.

"The government has come this far, it is not going to destabilize GMAC at this point," he said.

GMAC still remains on shaky financial ground. Last month, it reported a quarterly loss of $767 million, though the results were an improvement over a giant loss a year ago. ResCap lost $747 million during the third quarter as homeowners continued to default on their mortgages in large numbers.

GMAC, which also provides financing to car buyers, had been hurt by the rapid decline of the U.S. auto industry after sales crumbled due to the recession and financial woes at big automakers. Sales of cars and trucks fell 24 percent through November compared with the same period last year. The industry is expected to sell around 10 million cars this year, one of the worst performances for autos sales in decades.

[Associated Press; By JEANNINE AVERSA and STEPHEN MANNING]

AP Business Writers Candice Choi and Dan Strumpf in New York contributed to this report.

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