Citi, Merrill Look Overseas for More Cash

Merrill Lynch and Citigroup, which have already tapped foreign investors for billions of dollars to help bail them out of the subprime debacle, are headed back to the well, reports the Wall Street Journal. Merrill is seeking some $4 billion more, Citi up to $10 billion—all expected to come from foreign governments—to help recapitalize coffers stripped by writeoffs the past two quarters.

Foreign governments  have poured more than $27 billion into big banks, including Merrill and Citi, since the crisis began. Further influxes could prompt Washington to more closely monitor the deals; they also risk raising the ire of shareholders seeing their stakes diluted by the new shares. Citi and Merrill are expected to announce up to $25 billion in additional losses next week. (More Citigroup stories.)