Warren Buffett To The Resuce!

Warren Buffett Plan To Bail Out Muni Insurance.jpgHe's Warren Buffett, and he's here to help.

This morning Buffett revealed on CNBC's Squawk Box that he's extended an offer to tottering bond insurers to provide re-insurance of on up to $800 billion in municipal bonds. The offer does not, of course, cover the more complicated derivative instruments that have been the source of so much profit and trouble for the bond insurers.

Speaking on the phone with CNBC's Ancient Billionaire Correspondent Becky Quick, the Oracle of Omaha, said Berkshire Hathaway a week ago made the reinsurance offer to bond insurers Ambac, MBIA and FGIC. One firm has already rejected his offer to insure the safest part of their business. We're guessing that's MBIA, which is newly flush with Warburg Pincus cash. The other two haven't returned his calls are still considering the offer. The offer is ticking: he gave them 30 days to respond.

Buffett's plan would likely insure ensure that the covered municipal bonds would not be affected by a downgrade in the ratings of MBIA, Ambac or FGIC. According to Buffett, the trouble with the bond insurers is producing strange price discrepancies, with some uninsured bonds trading above insured bonds. "Essentially, they've already lost their triple A. They're trading as if they had lost it," Buffett said. "In the market the triple A has gone away a long time ago."

Shares of these insurance companies will initially spike on the news, although by satisfying some of the concerns of government insurance regulators it could wind up contributing to the demise of a industry-wide bailout plan. In short, this "bailout" could spell the end of the insurers if the CDO situation gets bad enough. Buffett noted that the CDO exposure for these companies would not be covered, adding that "we can't figure it out" when asked about the extent of that exposure. He described the "natural course" of the CDO insurance as "disastrous."

Perhaps still smarting from DealBreaker's "Will Warren Buffett Go To Hell?" feature, the Oracle stressed that he would "not be presenting this deal to Saint Peter" when he shows at the pearly gates. "We're doing this to make money," Buffett said. "I did not dream this up in one of my pro-bono moments."

We thought we should let you know about this development since the odds are your attention was riveted on Fox Business. While Becks was talking to Buffett, FBN's "Money for Breakfast" co-anchor Peter Barnes wasinterviewing an M&M in a Split-Screen from Candyland. Candyland! Who wants a gumdrop!

Comments

1

Posted by , Feb 12, 2008 9:01AM

this doesn't say anything about the viability of the MBIA/Ambac/FGIC firms. If they are overexposed to CDOs and other crap, then they are still screwed. Only their insured munis would be safe...

2

Posted by , Feb 12, 2008 9:03AM

your pun is sort of clever except the word you are looking for is ensure not insure

3

Posted by series7.5 , Feb 12, 2008 9:06AM

I see fgic pe sponsors / the beleaguered pmi possibly going for this deal but w.o abk and mbi its just another dime on warren's pocket and no great boon to the broader muni market

4

Posted by , Feb 12, 2008 9:11AM

isnt this just a tax play?

5

Posted by anon4life , Feb 12, 2008 9:21AM


I recall reading an article recently that indicated that the value of municipal bond insurance was extremely limited, in any event, and that some bonds are trading "as if" the guarantees didn't exist anyway.

To me, Buffett's move is like pouring water on a lit cigarette while the house is burning down.

6

Posted by Becky Boot Fan , Feb 12, 2008 9:26AM

Assure? Ass sure?

...anyhoo, could Becky assure herself of a new line on her resume?

"Geezer Pleazer"?

7

Posted by canydandy , Feb 12, 2008 9:28AM

what did the M&M say?

8

Posted by downgrade NOW , Feb 12, 2008 9:49AM

Why the hell the stocks of MBIA, etc, went up at the news? Buffett is just offering to reinsure their muni bonds for a price, nothing else.

This whiole mess has to be shaken up. The only way to do this is by the ratings agencies downgrading the MBIAs and the others ASAP. And if the muni bonds take a hit, I'll be gladly buying more muni bonds. Their inurance is ultimately irrelevant because of their very low default rates.

9

Posted by Erin Burnett's Booty Call , Feb 12, 2008 10:23AM

1. Warren better be banging Becky Quick.

2. I'm upset that you didn't post the M&M clip.

10

Posted by , Feb 12, 2008 10:51AM

I think 'insure' was o.k.

http://www.bartleby.com/68/42/3342.html

11

Posted by Becky Boot Fan , Feb 12, 2008 11:17AM

Warren goes to pick out flowers..."How do I order an arrangement that says, 'I want to stick my dick between your tits.'?"

12

Posted by Andy Tabbo , Feb 12, 2008 1:25PM

Anyone else notice how defensive Becks gets when anyone disparages ol' Warren. "Well, now that we've gone a whole 6 minutes bashing Warrens's plan...I just want to say....."

She is clearly having sex with the Oracle.

13

Posted by "Rescuer" , Feb 12, 2008 1:53PM

Man, I'd love to bring a Buffet-style rescue package to struggling homeowners facing forclosure. Here's the deal: I take your wife, your daughters and your money along with anything else you have which looks good (say, what's in the garage?) and leave you with the rest. Deal?

14

Posted by watchmen , Feb 12, 2008 5:31PM

@Andy Tabbo...1:25. I seldom find the need to tell anyone they are full of shit.....but, you are.

15

Posted by delaz , Feb 12, 2008 5:54PM

ODE TO "BUFFETT" & "BECKY QUICK"


Becky Quick Over his Candle Stik?

Not to worry! It has no Wick!

Saving B of A with all "HIS" dough,

Caused It`s burn out long ago.

Today`s Hero! Tomorrow`s chump!

The markets` good friend on his stump.

Yelling to all for the world to hear!

"I`ll save U now and my Becky dear"!

By and by the market will find

A willful aged loaner incurred by time.

His time draws near; theirs fleeting faster still

Fore all their banks are truly broke and "ALL" funds flow thru their spill

NEVER, EVER TO SEE THEM FILL.

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