James Cayne added insult to injury has he sold his last $61 million in stock. He got slight ly more than $10 a share. When the stock traded above $170 lost year, he was a bit better off. According to MarketWatch, "Cayne and his wife sold two large blocks of more than 5.6 million Bear Stearns shares."

Cayne will take a beating for cashing out while many Bear Stearns (NYSE:BSC) employees lose their jobs in a takeover by JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM). He had been kicked out of the CEO job by his board. While he has much responsibility for the collapse of the firm, he has lost most of his fortune, and is in his seventies.

Cayne took what he could before the deal faces potential reviews by Congress. The transaction could still fall apart and take the stock to zero. Cayne will be long gone then, back to playing bridge, golfing, and allegedly smoking pot.

Dougals A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Bear Stearns (BSC) chairman dumps all his stock originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although they might have messed up Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) far worse than anyone could have imagined such a venerable institution could be messed up, you'll happy to know that current CEO Alan Schwartz and chairman and former CEO James Cayne are staying on top of their real estate holdings.

Back in February -- while his company was in the midst of imploding -- James Cayne spent $27.4 million on two adjacent apartments at New York City's Plaza.

Something is badly wrong with corporate governance/executive compensation when a guy can sit by -- or in Cayne's case, play bridge and smoke doobies -- while one of the financial world's most revered institutions collapses under his watch -- and still have enough left to spend $27 million on two condos.

Meanwhile, Mr. Schwartz had pulled his $4.5 million property off the market and is renting it out.

Thankfully, these guys aren't out of the woods yet. They'll likely spend years dealing with a slew of class-action lawsuits stemming from the collapse of the company they destroyed. As Gary Weiss recently reported, Bear Stearns is no stranger to lawsuits.

Bear Stearns executives change real estate plans originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After I defended Jim Cramer's seemingly bullish comments on Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) -- and received some hate-mail for it -- I'm now feeling obligated to go back to slamming Mr. Cramer.

Back in July, Cramer said in an interview for TheStreet.com (see YouTube video below) that "if every loan that was subprime in 2006 blew up, we would still not notice it ... It has no relevance whatsoever ... it's been divided and split among so many different entities that no one guy is actually being hurt other than the dumb guy who ran Bear Stearns."

Well James Cayne got hurt -- and so did every other shareholder in the company. Cramer also said, in a stunning display of condescension that financial journalists are trying to "look like they in the room with the big boys. It's a fascination with trying to prove that you know as much as the hedge funds."

It looks like the omniscient hedge fund masters of the universe got it wrong -- and journalists like Herb Greenberg got it right.

Jim Cramer called subprime 'completely meaningless' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bruce Wasserstein's New York Magazine published a list of Wall Street titans who have seen their personal net worth decline in the last year. One name was conspicuously absent from that list: Bruce Wasserstein, who would rank second on the list of biggest losers if he not decided to exclude himself from his own publication. This type of omission has a proud history, as I have never seen Steve Forbes's name on his magazine's rich list.

Nevertheless, here are the top three biggest losers when Wasserstein's name is added accompanied by the amount they have lost:

• The Bear Stearns Companies (NYSE: BSC) former CEO James Cayne saw his net worth plummet $467 million
• Lazard Ltd.'s (NYSE: LAZ) CEO Bruce Wasserstein's net worth has fallen fallen $260 million. (This is calculated by multiplying Wasserstein's 11,394,504 shares by Lazard's stock tumble -- from its May 2007 high of $56.90 to January 24, 2008's $34.09); and
• The Goldman Sachs Group's (NYSE: GS) CEO Lloyd Blankfein has suffered a $100 million decline.

It's nice to own the means of production over at New York Magazine -- and that ownership clearly influences what it chooses not to publish.

Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in the securities mentioned.

Is Lazard's Bruce Wasserstein one of Wall Street's biggest losers? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The New York Times reports that an announcement is imminent that The Bear Stearns Companies (NYSE: BSC) has finally decided to boot its CEO James Cayne. Cayne played bridge while Bear burned -- and allegedly smoked pot -- but since he took over in July 1993, Bear's stock has risen 377% from $16 to $76.25.

Cayne oversaw a raft of problems. There's the billions in write-downs related to subprime, the failed hedge funds, the SEC investigation of how withdrawals from those funds were handled. But Cayne also got cash injections from Joseph Lewis, a Bahamas-based billionaire who now owns just under 10 percent of the firm, and Chinese investment bank Citic Securities, which will have a six percent stake.

Alan Schwartz will take over the CEO role while Cayne will remain Bear's chairman. The Times describes Schwartz as, "A smooth, discreet investment banker who has been with Bear since 1976, Mr. Schwartz, 57, is highly regarded inside the firm and out. While he may not have any direct experience with Bear's giant bond business, his youth and ability to charm top corporate clients provide a stark contrast to Mr. Cayne, who travels infrequently and is not known to spend large amounts of time courting clients."

For investors, it remains to be seen whether Schwartz can get to the bottoms of Bear's woes and revive profit growth. But I am impressed that -- unlike its peers -- Bear was able to replace its CEO with an internal executive who knows the company.

Peter Cohan is president of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in Bear Stearns securities.

Bear Stearns finally booting James Cayne originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bridge-playing, allegedly pot smoking Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) CEO James Cayne will reportedly step down from the executive role, but will stay with the company as chairman. He will be succeeded by current president Alan D. Schwartz.

While no official announcement has been made yet, the news has been a long time coming. Cayne has drawn sharp criticism for the company's huge subprime write-downs which have battered the stock, and his propensity for golfing through the crisis.

But subprime losses aren't the only thing dogging Bear Stearns. Regulators are taking a hard look at the company, and federal prosecutors are investigating whether a senior executive withdrew money from a Bear hedge fund while telling investors the fund's outlook was bright -- shortly before subprime losses led to its collapse.

The company's tanking share price has reportedly led to acquisition and merger overtures from other firms, and the exit of the patriarch from the operational management of the company could pave the way for a sale.

But Bear Stearns' problems may run pretty deep at this point, and the resignation of the CEO will do little to fix them in the short-term.

James Cayne reportedly stepping down as Bear Stearns CEO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to people familiar with the matter, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc (NYSE: BSC) CEO James Cayne is expected to step down, but is expected to remain as chairman, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), in a bid to diversify as a aerospace and naval contractor, is teaming with Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE: OSK) to bid on a contract to build Humvees for the Army and Marine Corps, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• The New York Times reported that court records have shown that troubled mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC) fabricated documents related to a Pennsylvania homeowner bankruptcy case.
• Alleging that its lending practices discriminated against minorities, leading to foreclosures, the Baltimore City Council is suing Wells Fargo Bank and Company (NYSE: WFC), the New York Times reported.

Newspaper wrap-up: Bear Stearns CEO expected to step down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The CEO of Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) was golfing during part of the credit crisis at his firm. Now, he will have a lot less for greens fees. James Cayne and several other big shots at the firm have agreed to skip taking bonuses this year.

According to The Wall Street Journal, "By forgoing their bonus pay, executives at Bear are hoping to increase their ability to compensate key players within the firm." The investment bank is expected to announce a loss for the last quarter.

It is about time that someone took responsibility for investments made in risky mortgage-related securities. Bear Stearns has been hit harder than most. So far this year, shares in the company are off about 42%.They could drop further when the latest earnings are released.

CNBC reports that the Bear Stearns board may be looking for a successor to Cayne. If so, he will go out with class.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wall st.com.

Bear Stearns execs decline bonuses this year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Whether what a CEO does in his spare time is important or not, The Wall Street Journal gives the impression that Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) chief James Cayne spent too many hours golfing and play bridge when two of the firms hedge funds were in trouble this summer.

The news about Mr. Cayne spending hours out of the office during the problem period in July is already well-known. But in the lead story at the paper's online edition, reporters for the paper write about Cayne's schedule, his habit of not having his cellphone with him at certain times, and rumors that he smokes marijuana to relax.

The paper also reports that when the hedge fund crisis was at its worst "Mr. Cayne left for Nashville to play in the bridge tournament, accompanied by his wife, Patricia, who is a neuropsychologist and another avid bridge player." He stayed in the city for most of the next ten days.

The WSJ wants to make a virtue out of playing detective, which is fine, but whether it helps shareholders in Bear Stearns is another question.

CEOs of large companies often leave the management of problems in the hands of other senior executives. There is too much activity and too many problems to go around for one person to spend close to full-time on any one. Whether Mr. Cayne did or did not allocate his time correctly during the failure of two of the investment bank's hedge funds will always be a matter of conjecture.

What is certain now is that history will re-write the roles of people like Cayne and Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER)'s Stan O'Neal. They will be cast as villains. And perhaps they should be. But playing bridge during a crisis is never going to look good.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Wall Street Journal makes an issue of Bear Stearns CEO habits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chuck Prince, CEO of Citigroup (NYSE: C), needs a few friends. Not the kind he can go fishing with.

Prince's job may be on the line now that Citi has announced that its Q3 profits will drop 60% from last year. According to MarketWatch, the bank blamed "dislocations in the mortgage-backed-securities and credit markets, and deterioration in the consumer-credit environment."

Prince finds himself in a position not unlike that of James Cayne, the head of Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC). Both financial institutions now have taken very big hits on their watches. Both can blame subordinates, but that may not cut it with their boards or public shareholders.

What saves them? For starters, UBS (NYSE: UBS). The Swiss bank has just reported similar problems in its fixed income portfolio. If the bad news spreads to Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Lehman (NYSE: LEH) and other global money center banks and investment firms, Prince may be viewed as a victim of a train wreck that almost none of the large firms could avoid. He will, in essence, look as stupid as all of his peers.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Will Citi (C) earnings hit send Chuck Prince out the door? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) volatility Elevated into EPS, Risk Exposure & Outlook. GS is expected to report EPS on 9/20. Wachovia Corp.(NYSE:WB) say's "Lack of mortgage and Chinese exposure distinguish GS." GS September option implied volatility is at 50; October is at 45; above its 26-week average of 35 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) MS is expected to report EPS on 9/19. MS September option implied volatility is at 48; October is at 41; above its 26-week average of 33 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) is expected to report EPS on 9/20. Aquarian Investments holds a 6.97% stake in BSC for investment purposes. BSC Chairman & CEO James Cayne is 72. BSC Chairman of Executive committee Alan Greenberg is 79. WB say's BSC "shares are currently 1.2x book value compared to its historical average of 1.6x." BSC September option implied volatility is at 71; October is at 63; is above its 26-week average of 43 according to Track Data, suggesting large price movement.

Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) is expected to report 3rd quarter EPS on 9/18. WCHV say's LEH's "Q3 started strong but ended real weak." LEH September option implied volatility is at 76; October is at 62; above its 26-week average of 40 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk.

Option update: Goldman (GS), Morgan (MS), Bear (BSC) & Lehman (LEH) EPS, Risk Outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bear Stearns-(NYSE-BSC) volatility Elevated at 56; above 26-week average of 31. BSC is recently down $5.78 to $115.49. BSC August & September option implied volatility of 56 is above its 26-week average of 31 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LEH) volatility Elevated at 55, above 26-week average of 30. LEH is recently down $2.47 to $59.56. LEH call option volume of 16,716 contracts compares to put volume of 18,651 contracts. LEH August & September option implied volatility of 55 is above its 26-week average of 30 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX up 1.34 to 24.86.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Option update 8-1-07: Volatility indicating increased movement in market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Immersing yourself in a hobby, such as gardening or golf, can often be an excellent way to relieve stress and work-related anxiety. But if you're a shareholder of Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) who has just witnessed the collapse of a hedge fund requiring that the company put up $1.6 billion to bail it out, you might prefer that the CEO would spend some extra time at the office. But according to The New York Times, the company's CEO James Cayne is sticking with golf, thank you very much:

On June 14, the day when Bear Stearns reported a 10 percent drop in its operating earnings for the second quarter, Mr. Cayne played a round and shot a 96 ... The next day, a Friday, he played again.

On Thursday, June 21, as several big banks pressured Bear Stearns to increase the collateral on loans they had made to its sinking fund, Mr. Cayne was back on the course. That day, he shot a 98.

The next day, in the biggest rescue of a hedge fund in almost a decade, Bear Stearns pledged to put up $3.2 billion to bail out its fund. (It later said that $1.6 billion would suffice.) Then the remarkably consistent Mr. Cayne played golf, shooting a 97.

Of course a company spokesperson said that Cayne flies down after work on Thursdays and plays an evening round of golf. On Fridays, he plays a round near his home, staying in touch with the company's office.

Hmm ... I wonder if Tiger Woods trades stocks to get his mind off work when his golf game isn't going so well. I somehow doubt it.

In face of adversity, Bear Stearns CEO ... goes golfing? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.