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Bank of America Doubles Stake in Chinese Bank

Shells out $7B while slashing jobs, taking bailout funds

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2008 8:02 AM CST

(Newser) – Bank of America will inject $7 billion into China Construction Bank Corp, Bloomberg reports, nearly doubling its stake in the bank even as it slashes jobs and accepts government bailout money. CCB is down 45% over the past six months, and BoA CEO Ken Lewis is getting a 32% premium on that devalued market price. The acquisition comes on the heels of the purchase of Merrill Lynch, which will result in thousands of job cuts.

“This is falling closely on the heels of their receiving TARP money, which was intended to spur lending in the US or have bigger, stronger banks buy the failing banks,” notes one Morningstar analyst. “But neither of those things is happening.”

Guo Shuqing, Chairman of China Construction Bank speaks at the company's 2008 interim results announcement in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.
Guo Shuqing, Chairman of China Construction Bank speaks at the company's 2008 interim results announcement in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
In this March 16, 2005 file photo, customers wait at a branch office of China Construction Bank in Shanghai, China.
In this March 16, 2005 file photo, customers wait at a branch office of China Construction Bank in Shanghai, China.   (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, FILE)
In this Oct. 19, 2006 file photo, a customer leaves a Bank of America office in New York City.
In this Oct. 19, 2006 file photo, a customer leaves a Bank of America office in New York City.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo, traffic passes a branch of the Bank of America in New York.
In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo, traffic passes a branch of the Bank of America in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
A Bank of America branch is shown in Charlotte, NC, Monday, April 21, 2008.
A Bank of America branch is shown in Charlotte, NC, Monday, April 21, 2008.   (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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