FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks at the General Motors Orion assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. The U.S. government said Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, that it will sell its remaining stake in General Motors in the next year or so, winding down a $50 billion bailout that saved the iconic American car giant but also set off a heated debate about government intervention in private business that influenced this year’s presidential election. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Government prepares to sell General Motors stock
FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks at the General Motors Orion assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. The U.S. government said Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, that it will sell its remaining stake in General Motors in the next year or so, winding down a $50 billion bailout that saved the iconic American car giant but also set off a heated debate about government intervention in private business that influenced this year’s presidential election. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
By TOM KRISHER and MARTIN CRUTSINGER
AP Business Writers /
December 19, 2012
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The government sold 412 million shares in the 2010 initial public offering. The shares rose shortly after the IPO, but then slid as the U.S. economic recovery faltered and Europe’s economy took a turn for the worse. As the shares fell, the government balked at further sales.
Even with the government ownership, GM has made money for 11 straight quarters. But there are signs of trouble. It has lost money in Europe for a dozen years, and its U.S. sales aren’t growing as fast as competitors or the overall market.
The company has never been prohibited from paying a dividend to shareholders, but so far has decided against it.
Government-ordered pay restrictions will remain in effect until the Treasury completes the sale of its remaining 19 percent stake. CEO Dan Akerson has complained the pay limits have hurt the company in its efforts to recruit top talent.
Although GM is paying a premium for the government shares, GM’s other shareholders could benefit because the number of shares on the market will be reduced about 11 percent. That should increase the value of the remaining shares.
The bailouts of GM and rival Chrysler were part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program created by Congress to save banks during the 2008 financial crisis. So far, the government has recovered 92 percent of the $418 billion in funds disbursed through the TARP.
Last week, Treasury sold its final shares of insurance giant American International Group, which had received the largest amount of government support. The government actually made money on its bailout of big banks, and it expects to recoup all but $1.8 billion of the $14.6 billion supplied to smaller banks.
But in the end, TARP programs are expected to lose $42.1 billion, including a $45.6 billion loss on programs supporting homeowners who are battling foreclosure.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said Treasury’s estimate of final losses from TARP is overstated because much of the money for homeowners will never be used.
Private economists rated the TARP effort as an unqualified success in stabilizing the banking system during the crisis.
‘‘It was a slam-dunk success,’’ Zandi said. ‘‘It was vitally necessary and proved to be a key to ending the financial panic and jump-starting an economic recovery.’’ He expects the final government loss on TARP to be $24 billion.
‘‘No one liked bailing out the banks,’’ Zandi added. ‘‘But without a banking system on solid ground, the economy would have never found its footing.’’
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Crutsinger reported from Washington, D.C.
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