• 01 Apr 2009 at 1:37 PM

We Told You Months Ago

Back when it wasn’t totally clear that GM would suck away every dollar unfortunate enough to even cross the expanding event horizon of fail that surrounded the company, you would have looked at us skeptically and slowly backed away (or jabbed us in the eye with a sharp stick). Still, that’s exactly what happened with the auto giant. But, as it happens, Obama doesn’t listen much to us, so, we were a little taken aback when he finally admitted the inevitable.

President Barack Obama believes a quick, negotiated bankruptcy is the most likely way for General Motors Corp. to restructure and become a competitive automaker, people familiar with the matter said.
GM’s $500 million of 7.7 percent notes due in 2016 tumbled 8.8 cents to 10.4 cents on the dollar as of 9:45 a.m. in New York, a record low, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The debt yields 79.7 percent, or 77 percentage points more than similar- maturity Treasuries, Trace data show.

Obama Said to Find Bankruptcy Likely for GM, Chrysler [Bloomberg]

Comments (23)

  1. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    A quick bankruptcy is a fallacy here. The PBGC issues alone are enormous.

  2. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 1:49 PM

    How will the Gubament reinflate the GM bond prices?

  3. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 1:59 PM

    Next you are going to tell me Chrysler is in trouble.

  4. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM

    And all those bondholder holdouts hedged with CDSs are loving it

  5. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:01 PM

    Holy crap, you need to proofread.

  6. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:02 PM

    I TOTALLY called this in 1881. We should have stopped Samuel Gompers when we had the chance.

  7. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:07 PM

    Prepackaged bankruptcy means “do anything to protect the unions who vote for us”.
    Scary that in America, we have to fear undereducated blue collar workers and make stupid decisions to appease them.
    Go the normal Ch 11 way – heck let them all fail.

  8. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:09 PM

    I normally let grammatical issues through but what exact language is this written in?
    “unfortunate enough to cross even horizon an expanding event horizon of fail”

  9. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:13 PM

    I am sure the bonds are falling but TRACE doesnt work and I wouldnt rely on its quotes

  10. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:13 PM

    What does this even mean?
    “Obama doesn’t listen much tus”

  11. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:15 PM

    I actually think the administration knew this as well as the rest of us, months ago. It’s just that if you’re going to tell the country that General Motors needs to file for bankruptcy, you’d better looked like you’ve tried every other option first.
    I think the argument for bank nationalization might be the same.
    Just saying.

  12. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:23 PM

    Bob Lutz leaving GM was the best and earliest indicator.

  13. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:25 PM

    @ 11 FTW!

  14. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    Fool@#4…
    “And all those bondholder holdouts hedged with CDSs are loving it”
    And what makes you so positively sure that those CDSs are actually going to pay out? Hmmm?
    The Guy from Delaware

  15. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:45 PM

    @14.. The gubament will make sure CDSs are paid out at 100%. The only people that lose while “team no one fais” is in office are the common share holders.

  16. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:52 PM

    Well, I’m glad we didn’t throw a ton of money into it before it went the BK route.

  17. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    guest@#15…
    If the “gubament” makes sure, that means us. Does it not?
    And if that’s true, you should go buy some CDS contracts on those 2016 notes this afternoon. Sounds like you can’t lose.
    The Guy from Delaware

  18. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    Big O shaded this one months ago. Not to mention he openly laughed at the thought of an auto bailout citing 70% of Americans didn’t want it.

  19. Posted by Anal_yst | April 1, 2009 at 2:57 PM

    And yet GM stock is still trading > $0 because…

  20. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 3:10 PM

    Every just f’ing relax – it’s another April Fools joke. Retards.

  21. Posted by Anal_yst | April 1, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    @20
    So GM’s already on the Pinksheets and my data providers are just f*cking with me?
    Well, I guess that’s about as good of an explanation as any I’ve heard…

  22. Posted by guest | April 1, 2009 at 5:16 PM

    @14 because if they weren’t going to pay out, then bondholders would have accepted a deal at a price higher than they;re are trading at now, or could chance get in bankruptcy

  23. Posted by guest | April 2, 2009 at 8:52 AM

    Airlines all went bankrupt. They got rid of all their obligations (pensions, extravangant labor contracts). Now we fly on cheap flights.
    That was years ago and they are barely making it. Only one that did not file bankruptsy was Southwest and they make a profit.
    So what does this say about the Big 3?
    GM will downsize until they disappear like other manufacturing here? Or will it just be a way to get rid of obligations and be able to compete?

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