The crux of Mr. Wood's argument seems to be that Bank of America "should pay a price closer to Countrywide's book value, currently $22 a share," according to the Wall Street Journal.
The problem is that Countrywide's book value is overstated and will have to weather future writedowns. It isn't like Countrywide is sitting on a huge cash pile. In addition, the company has tons of future liabilities: shareholder lawsuits, investigations, even exceptionally rare lawsuits filed by bankruptcy trustees accusing the company of "sustained bad faith."
Countrywide's struggles have been front-page news for over a year -- Bank of America hardly snuck in and negotiated a back-room with an unknown entity. Wood can complain all he wants but I don't see anyone stepping forward with a better offer.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-05-2008 @ 12:24PM
DaveF said...
My preference as a BAC investor is to cut the losses and write off the investment in Countrywide. Make the Feds clean up this mess at Countrywide they helped create it by ignoring rational compliance with credit standards and securitization of junk bonds as AAA.
Another example of the mantra of deregulation helping thugs, thieves, and con artist's to create another national financial crisis.
3-17-2008 @ 7:45PM
Thomas said...
It it truelly appauling how many well off people do not think this depression will affect them. This is about the creation of a banking cartel/monopoly.
Countrywide has been around for over 30 years, and they are one of the competition that must be eliminated. Sounds banks and lender are being taken down as they stand in the way of the Global Elite Empire. Millions of home owners are having their property stolen from them, so the govt can buy they in with a 400 billion dollar prposal makintg its way thru congress.
Goverment housing, just in time for Socialist Barack /Hillary.
This is about getting rid of the middle class, a change is wealth, only a few rich and many poor, millions and 700 + scores mean nothing in this high stakes game of consolidations.
4-21-2008 @ 2:06PM
Ronni Mandell said...
We've never been so humiliated and degraded in our lives until Friday evening when we spoke to a Mr. Michael Jackson of the Countrywide Retention Department.
My wife and I have had A-1 credit but like so many others in this country, we have run out of a source for ready money and we were late on our March and April mortgage payments and Mr. Jackson was rude, cruel, degrading and humiliated us to the highest level.
We've reported him to the Countrywide Vice President of Public Relations and to our Ct. Attorney General, Richard Blumentha along with U.S. Senator Christoper Dodd of Connecticut.
Please see our blog that will be posted to, hopefully, daily with all dealings and progress or further declines as we go along in trying to get options and modification for some relief, which at this moment, they smugly will not offer us.
This band of Thugs belongs behind bars as they threaten and intimidate and give you the feeling that they will also be coming out to break your legs.
http://foreclosurewarroom.blogspot.com/
Sincerely,
George Mandell
Ronni Mandell
5-24-2008 @ 9:23PM
Hannah Harper said...
Why does BAC want to buy a troubled mortgage company? BAC should be focused on the business it has and improve its effiencey. Why does BAC want to loose capital by buying countrywide?
5-24-2008 @ 9:27PM
Hannah Harper said...
Any one know why BAC wants to lose money buying Countrywide? BAC is going to loose big on Countrywide............Hannah