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BofA Stress Test Result: $35 Billion Shortfall

By Anonymous

So reports the Wall Street Journal:

Regulators have told Bank of America Corp. that the company needs to take steps to address a roughly $35 billion capital shortfall based on results of the government's stress tests, according to people familiar with the situation.

The exact amount of the needed infusion couldn't be determined late Tuesday, and Bank of America officials either declined to comment or couldn't be reached.

Regulators began notifying the 19 financial companies subjected to the government tests of the results Tuesday.
...
At Bank of America, the government's findings are likely to set off a scramble over how to fill the capital hole at the nation's largest bank in assets.

The Charlotte, N.C., bank already has received $45 billion in capital from the federal government, some of it to help the bank cover losses stemming from its purchase of securities firm Merrill Lynch & Co. in January.

The amount of capital now needed by Bank of America could exceed what the bank can raise by selling assets or more shares to the public.

As a result, the bank may have no choice but to convert the government's preferred shares into common stock.

This isn't too terribly surprising. I think one of the biggest takeaways from the stress test results will be that BofA is in a lot worse shape than any other major U.S. bank, Citi included.

Full post as published by Economics of Contempt on May 06, 2009 (boomark / email).