Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Daily Archives: November 23, 2008

Bailout Follows Citibank Announcement of Mass Layoffs

Joint Statement by Treasury, Federal Reserve, and the FDIC on Citigroup, November 23, 2008: “The U.S. government is committed to supporting financial market stability, which is a prerequisite to restoring vigorous economic growth. In support of this commitment, the U.S. government on Sunday entered into an agreement with Citigroup to provide a package of guarantees, liquidity access, and capital.

As part of the agreement, Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will provide protection against the possibility of unusually large losses on an asset pool of approximately $306 billion of loans and securities backed by residential and commercial real estate and other such assets, which will remain on Citigroup’s balance sheet. As a fee for this arrangement, Citigroup will issue preferred shares to the Treasury and FDIC. In addition and if necessary, the Federal Reserve stands ready to backstop residual risk in the asset pool through a non-recourse loan.

In addition, Treasury will invest $20 billion in Citigroup from the Troubled Asset Relief Program in exchange for preferred stock with an 8% dividend to the Treasury. Citigroup will comply with enhanced executive compensation restrictions and implement the FDIC’s mortgage modification program.” [Term sheet – PDF]

  • News release: Citi Adds $40 Billion of Capital Benefit through Agreement with U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC
  • USA Today: 52,000 jobs to be cut at Citigroup – “Citigroup’s reduction is the largest job-cut announcement from a company since 1993…cuts…will affect 15% of its global workforce, and come on top of 23,000 jobs that have already been eliminated from January through September, for a total of 20% from its peak of 375,000 at the end of 2007. The company also said it would cut expenses 20%.”
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics – Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release: “In the third quarter of 2008, employers initiated 1,330 mass layoff events that resulted in the separation of 218,158 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Layoff events reached their highest level for the third quarter since 2001, while separations reached their highest level since 2003. The total number of layoff events was 312 higher in the third quarter 2008 than the same period a year earlier, and the number of associated separations increased by 58,134. Third quarter 2008 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.”
  • Related postings on financial system

New Ceres Report Outlines Strategies for Harnessing Foundation Investments to Solve Climate Crisis

Toolkit for Foundations and Individual Investors: Harnessing Your Investments to Help Solve the Climate Crisis, November 2008 “Climate change presents enormous risks and opportunities for investors. Climate risk is now embedded in all investment portfolios as companies worldwide face far-reaching competitive risks from emerging climate regulations, threats of litigation from climate inaction and physical hazards… Continue Reading

President – elect Obama Proposal to Create 2.5 Million Jobs

Via this posting on Change.gov: “President-elect Barack Obama today announced a bold initiative to save or create 2.5 million jobs in the next two years. In his weekly address, President-elect Obama announced that he has directed his economic team to formulate an Economic Recovery Plan — a two-year, nationwide initiative that will strengthen our economy… Continue Reading

New Report from Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Final Staff Report for the 110th Congress Staff, October 21, 2008: “The scientific debate on the cause of climate change is over. A clear scientific consensus now holds that global warming is happening, that manmade greenhouse gas emissions are largely responsible, and that failure to dramatically… Continue Reading

FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program

“The FDIC has created this program to strengthen confidence and encourage liquidity in the banking system by guaranteeing newly issued senior unsecured debt of banks, thrifts, and certain holding companies, and by providing full coverage of non-interest bearing deposit transaction accounts, regardless of dollar amount. Here are links to provide background on the program and… Continue Reading

Commerce Reports Trade Deficit Decreases in September 2008

“The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced that total September exports of $155.4 billion and imports of $211.9 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $56.5 billion, down from $59.1 billion in August, revised. September exports were $9.9 billion less than August exports… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports: Defense Acquisitions, Dept. of Labor Performance, Federal Judgeships, Highway Safety

Defense Acquisitions: Timely and Accurate Estimates of Costs and Requirements Are Needed to Define Optimal Future Strategic Airlift Mix, GAO-09-50, November 21, 2008 Department of Labor: Better Cost Assessments and Departmentwide Performance Tracking Are Needed to Effectively Manage Competitive Sourcing Program, GAO-09-14, November 21, 2008 Federal Judgeships: General Accuracy of District and Appellate Judgeship Case-Related… Continue Reading

New on LLRX.com: CongressLine: Presidential Patronage

CongressLine: Presidential Patronage – Paul Jenks’ commentary addresses the background of the scramble for thousands of presidentially appointed offices within the government that accompanies a new administration. The selection process has evolved over the past couple of hundred years and every position outside of the new president’s personal staff requires Senate approval. Continue Reading