The financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 sent the American economy into complete free fall. Mortgage providers, investment banks, automakers, and other businesses nationwide were on the cusp of total collapse, and fears of a second Great Depression mounted on a daily basis.
However, the government stepped in with a number of enormous, unprecedented, and controversial bailout packages to help rescue the economy. Here’s the current status of each one.
American International Group (AIG)
Bailout: $85 billion at 14.5 percent interest
Recovered: $107.7 billion
Net Result: $22.7 billion profit
Background: AIG received its first bailout funds in September of 2008 after the insurance giant became crippled by mortgage-related securities, particularly credit default swaps (CDS). The insurance giant had sold a huge portion of CDS, which generated huge losses for AIG when the housing market went bust.
In August 2009, the company hired a new CEO in Robert Benmosche, who has since gotten the company back on its feet. AIG began repaying its bailout funds in 2010, restructured its bailout in 2011, and became fully independent of government ownership in December 2012.
TARP Bank Bailouts
Bailout: $245.1 billion
Recovered: $271 billion
Net result: $25.9 billion profit
As part of the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the government dispersed almost $250 billion to a plethora of major American banks, according to the Treasury website. Some major banks, such as Bank of America (BAC) and Citigroup (C), desperately need the money to stay solvent. Other banks like JPMorgan Chase (JPM) took bailout funds by force to strengthen the credit market.
While the Treasury claims a $25 billion profit on the bank bailouts, this figure is widely disputed. Some banks still haven’t paid back TARP funds, and because the financial landscape was an absolute mess during the Great Recession, the specifics of TARP funds remain convoluted.
Automakers
- Ford (F)
Bailout: $5.9 billion loan
Recovered: $400 million
Expected Result: Loan paid back by 2022
Background: Ford CEO Alan Mulally famously avoided government bailout money by selling off struggling brands like Mercury, Volvo, and Land Rover. The company also upgraded its existing models with nicer interiors, sharper design, more horsepower, and better fuel economy, which has allowed Ford to emerge as one of the world’s best-selling automakers.
Ford, however, was forced to take a $5.9 billion in June 2009 to upgrade its factories and develop its hybrid and electric models, part of the same loan package given to Tesla Motors (TSLA). While the loan was not classified as a bailout, its timing was designed to ensure Ford remained on strong footing in case the economy took a turn for the worse.
- General Motors (GM)
Bailout: $49.5 billion
Recovered: $32.5 billion
Expected Result: $10 billion loss
Background: On the verge of total collapse, General Motors received an infamous $49.5 billion bailout in early 2009. The company then filed for Chapter 11 and underwent enormous restructuring. When the company finally got back in its feet in 2010, GM returned to public markets and raised $20.1 billion in its IPO, the largest in history.
Although GM is back in business and fully profitable, the company’s success story is overshadowed by the fact that the government has a loss on the bailout. According to the LA Times, the government still owns around 189 million share of GM that it intends to sell, and based on the current share price, the government will recover $10 billion less than it paid.
Bailout: $12.5 billion
Recovered: $11.2 billion
Net Result: $1.3 billion loss
Background: Chrysler, like GM, was on the verge of bankruptcy and even threatened to permanently shut down production without government intervention. The Bush administration responded with a $12.5 billion bailout package, allowing the company to stay in business, become more efficient, and develop its line of vehicles. According to CNN, the government sold the last of its Chrysler stake in 2011 to the tune of a $1.3 billion loss.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Bailout: Government makes $200 billion investment, takes charge of $5 trillion in loans
Recovered: Unknown
Net Result: Outcome Pending
Background: The September 2008 takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, America’s largest mortgage providers, was one of the boldest government-sponsored financial decisions in history. With Fannie and Freddie were losing billions of dollars per month and the U.S. credit market on the verge of total destruction, the government decided to take over the two government sponsored enterprises (GSE) in hopes of keeping the U.S. credit market at least somewhat in tact.
A recent report from Equities.com claims that Fannie and Freddie have become wildly profitable in recent years, earning $17 billion and $11 billion in 2012 profit, respectively. While the two enterprises are profitable and have dispersed over $81 billion in dividends to the government, the net result of the investment is unknown.
