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Merrill Lynch Seeking $5B Cash From Singapore

Anticipating more writedowns, Merrill becomes the latest Western financial institution to look East for help

By Jim O'Neill, Newser User

Posted Dec 21, 2007 7:49 AM CST

(Newser) – Facing a fourth-quarter writedown of an estimated $8 billion in subprime paper, Merrill Lynch is negotiating with Singapore’s state-owned investment fund Temasek Holdings for a $5-billion cash infusion, the Wall Street Journal reports. If the deal goes through, Merrill would join several other Western financial institutions bailed out by Asian or Mideastern governments since November.

Morgan Stanley, UBS and Citigroup have all announced deals with foreign investors for bailouts, but none have seen the scope of losses projected at Merrill, which took $7.9 billion in mortgage write-downs in the third-quarter. A Credit Suisse Group analyst said the fourth-quarter writedown at Merrill, in a worst-case scenario, could run as high as $12 billion to $15 billion. Merrill’s stock has fallen 41% since June.

John Thain, Merrill Lynch CEO is seen in Davos, Switzerland in this Jan. 29, 2005 file photo. (Associated Press)

A Merrill Lynch office is seen in York, Pa., Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. (Associated Press)

Merrill Lynch & Co headquarters are seen October 29, 2007 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Employees walks past Merrill Lynch & Co headquarters are seen October 29, 2007 in New York City. (Getty Images)

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Merrill Lynch Seeking $5B Cash From Singapore

Anticipating more writedowns, Merrill becomes the latest Western financial institution to look East for help

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