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Lloyd Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, last night said he planned to raise up to $12.5 billion (£6.74 billion) of new funds by selling a stake to Warren Buffett and tapping other institutional shareholders.
The bank, which this week abandoned its investment bank status to become a traditional financial institution, is seeking to bolster its balance sheet with new cash as the US Federal Reserve, its new regulator, demands that it reduces its borrowings. Last night, Goldman Sachs said it had agreed to sell $5 billion worth of preferred shares to Berkshire Hathaway, the investment group controlled by Mr Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway has also secured an agreement to buy another $5 billion worth of stock. At the same time, Goldman said it was planning to raise $2.5 billion from other investors.
While banks such as Goldman Sachs do not need to raise the capital, it is seeking to address anxieties on Wall Street about the long-term future of financial institutions. However, Goldman is paying a hefty price for Mr Buffett’s stake, having agreed a 10 per cent coupon on the preferred stock. It is understood that Goldman can repurchase the shares from Mr Buffett at any time, but at a 10 per cent premium.
In a statement, Mr Blankfein said: “We are pleased that given our longstanding relationship, Warren Buffett, arguably the world’s most admired and successful investor, has decided to make such a significant investment in Goldman Sachs.”
This week Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs got approval from the US Federal Reserve to turn themselves into traditional banks, relinquishing their investment bank roles. The difference in definition has two key implications. The first is that it allows Goldman Sachs the right to access emergency funds from the Federal Reserve’s lending facility on the same terms as retail banks, and the second is that it comes under the scrutiny of America’s central bank, which demands much more benign levels of debt.
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I note that Buffet invests only when Goldman Sachs has been altered by the US government from an investment bank without government guarantees,, into a bank holding company supervised by the Federal Reserve.
This means the Federal Reserve now guarantees Goldmans money, where before it did not.
Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Cheap at the price for GS, given Buffett's unrivalled judgement of businesses.
Only one question: where does Buffett draw the line between taking a stake at the bottom of the market and promoting business for GS by spotting an undervalued franchise ripe for takeover??!!
Rhys Jaggar, Leeds, UK
Gordon Brown take note of Warren Buffet. DON'T lend the
banking system 100 Billion, but buy new shares in the banks
for 100 Billion and in five years when things pick up sell them,
pay off the 100 Billion loan with interest and use the profit to
pay down our huge National Debt.
Roger, Weymouth, UK
Buffett might be thinking what good is it having $5b in the bank when hyperinflation might kick in? In a couple of years that $5b might only buy a few loaves of bread.
Fred, Moray, Scotland
Buffett is a genius. The last man in, and he has bought the best asset for the cheapest price.
LG, London, UK
I think goverments and Wall Street Financial Houses should learn a lesson from Warren Buffett's judgement & advice.Financial Institutes are making ill judgement in investing other peoples money.They walk away with big bonuses while ordinary people suffer.
Jitendra Pattni, Atlanta, USA
Warren Buffet is following what he preaches, buy low sell high ... can US govt take a clue from this guy ??
http://vikramsjourney.blogspot.com/
Vikram, Mumbai, India
Don't catch a falling knife as a friend once told me..... I got burned at the .Com busted flush... No truer words spoken. However if Buffett is investing then I would say that he knows something we don't. Nothing dodgy just his sense of what's happening around him in the markets.
Mike, MK,
Buffett has been wating for the bottom to be reached and I take confidence from his investment. He wouldhave let the Japanese etc invest if he thought the bottom had not been reached.
David, London,
This deal indicates how serious the financial crisis is and how worried Buffert is about its impact on the wider economy. With many of his major businesses still heavily exposed to the US economy, he is hoping that by throwing $10b into GS he can calm people's nerves. No. It just instils more fears.
Glen, HK,
He gets a great deal, cheaper because of the crash, cheaper still because of what he's giving Goldman's - a lifeline and a precious outward signal of confidence. Goldman's was on the verge of collapse last week, Buffett had them where he wanted them.
Laura Roberts, London, UK
There is an ancient saying: You cannot teach an old dog new tricks so I for one will watch this deal with great interest. IMHO Buffet will get his money back as per the deal sooner than expected so that the old dog can go back to its old ways by biting the hand that feeds it.
Chris Coles, Medstead, Alton, United Kingdom
Could this mean we are near the bottom?
Jeremy Hall, hassocks, england
Warren Buffett knows a deal when he sees one believe me. If I had the cash I would be following his lead!
Graham, UAE,