Hedge Funds, Private Equity Win Big at TARP Auctions
A new SIGTARP report reveals that private investors like hedge funds and others have stepped in and scooped up about 70% of Treasury's auctioned TARP investments in small banks. As the new owners of the bank’s shares, the funds can profit by reselling them back to the bank at a premium. For instance, one winning bidder won the shares for $3 million less than taxpayers had originally paid. Eight months later, the same bidder sold the shares back to the bank at a $1.6 million profit. Treasury has taken steps to work with community banks to restructure the TARP investments -- including restructured investments in 35 community banks and helping 28 community banks refinance into the lower-cost Community Development Capital Initiative program, which supports lending in underserved communities.