花旗將償還200億美元紓困資金

Citigroup yesterday unveiled plans to raise up to $19.6bn and return $20bn to US taxpayers in a move that will free the bank from heightened government supervision but could inflict further pain on its shareholders.

花旗集團(Citigroup)昨日宣布，計劃籌集至多196億美元的資金，并向美國納稅人償還200億美元。此舉將使該行擺脫更為嚴格的政府監(jiān)管，但可能會對該行股東造成更多痛苦。

The decision, after months of tense talks with regulators, is a milestone for Citi, which was repeatedly bailed out during the financial crisis and was one of the last banks still subject to tough government restrictions on pay and operations.

在與監(jiān)管機構緊張協(xié)商數(shù)月后達成的上述決定，對花旗具有里程碑式的意義。金融危機期間，該行多次接受紓困，是最后幾家仍然受制于政府嚴格的薪酬與經(jīng)營管制的銀行之一。

The equity offering, which could be the largest ever by a US bank, will be a test of investors' faith in Citi's ability to compete with healthier rivals without government support.

此次股權融資的規(guī)模，可能超過美國以往任何一家銀行。它將考驗投資者對花旗能力的信心，即該行能否在沒有政府支持的情況下，與健康狀況更好的競爭對手較量。

Under yesterday's agreement, the US Treasury will sell up to $5bn of the bank's shares, reducing its 34 per cent stake in the lender to below 30 per cent.

根據(jù)昨日達成的協(xié)議，美國財政部將出售至多50億美元的花旗股份，把在該行的持股比例從34%降至30%以下。

The authorities have agreed to sell the rest of the government's stake within 12 months.

當局同意在未來12個月內(nèi)售出剩余的政府持股。

Citi will also terminate an insurance agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on some $250bn in toxic assets – a key condition for Citi's release from restrictions on bankers' pay.

花旗還將終止一項與美國聯(lián)邦存款保險公司(FDIC)達成的針對大約2500億美元有毒資產(chǎn)的保險協(xié)議，這是花旗擺脫銀行家薪酬限制的一個關鍵條件。

As a result, Citi will cancel $1.8bn-worth of preferred securities held by the FDIC, leaving the regulator with a $5.4bn preferred investment in the lender.

其結果是，花旗將取消由FDIC持有的18億美元優(yōu)先證券，使FDIC對該行優(yōu)先證券的投資規(guī)模降至54億美元。

Citi will also issue $1.7bn in stock to staff in lieu of cash bonuses and might sell $3bn in preferred securities in early 2010 if it needs more capital.

花旗還將向員工發(fā)放17億美元的股票，以代替現(xiàn)金獎金。如需更多資金，該行可能會在2010年初出售30億美元的優(yōu)先證券。

The measures taken to repay the $20bn from the Troubled Asset Relief Programme will result in a $10.1bn pre-tax loss in the fourth quarter but will save Citi $2.2bn a year in interest and amortisation expenses.

為償還從問題資產(chǎn)救援計劃(TARP)那里得到的200億美元資金所采取的上述舉措，將導致該行在第四季度出現(xiàn)一項101億美元的稅前虧損，但將為花旗節(jié)省每年22億美元的利息和攤銷支出。

譯者/章晴