Write Down Time
CreditClutch

 

Decreased Valuations End Long-Running, Large Profit Periods

 

As of the end of Q3, estimations are for a total of nearly $20 billion in write-downs by major banks and securities firms. This amount is less than the actual losses because they are tallied by deducting fees, offsetting hedges, and gains earned.
Deutsche Bank's profit may be reduced by up to 1.7 billion euros ($2.4 billion). This is because loans have dwindled in value during the credit market crisis. Chief Executive Josef Ackermann said the bank had a rocky Q3. He noted an upcoming revaluation of 29 billion euros of credit it had promised to clients.
These loans would usually be parceled out to other banks. However it has become harder to sell debt in the midst of the credit squeeze. The bank will be required to write down the value of these loans.
Reportedly the bank is estimating that the credit is now worth 4% to 6% less than its face value.
This write down will decrease profit by up to 1.7 billion euros booked during Q3. The third quarter of 2006, Deutsche Bank earned a net profit of 1.2 billion.
One of the world's biggest M&A banks, Deutsche is working to have clients renegotiate credit terms or terminate deals.

Chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch Stan ONeal reported, "Despite solid underlying performances in most of our businesses in the third quarter, the impact of this difficult market was much more severe in certain of our FICC businesses than we expected earlier in the quarter... While market conditions were extremely difficult and the degree of sustained dislocation unprecedented, we are disappointed in our performance in structured finance and mortgages. We can do a better job in managing this risk, as we have done with other asset classes, including leveraged finance, interest rate and foreign exchange trading, equity trading, principal investments and commodities".
Merrill Lynch reports that, "Write-downs of an estimated $4.5 billion, net of hedges, related to incremental third quarter market impact on the value of CDOs and sub-prime mortgages. These valuation adjustments reflect in part significant dislocations in the highest-rated tranches of these securities which were affected by an unprecedented move in credit spreads and a lack of market liquidity in these securities, which intensified during the third quarter. During the quarter, the company significantly reduced its overall exposure to these asset classes."
Merrill Lynch further stated that, "Write-downs of an estimated $967 million on a gross basis, and $463 million net of related underwriting fees, related to all corporate and financial sponsor, non-investment grade lending commitments, regardless of the expected timing of funding or closing. These commitments totaled $31 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2007, a net reduction of 42% from $53 billion at the end of the second quarter. The net losses related to these commitments were limited through aggressive and effective risk management, including disciplined and selective underwriting and exposure reductions through syndication, sales and transaction restructurings.
Merrill Lynch owns approximately half of BlackRock which has over $1 trillion in assets under management.

Washington Mutual, Inc. announced that weakening housing markets as well as disruptions in secondary markets will cause a decline in net income of approximately 75% from Q2 2007. This projection is subject to finalization of Q3 results.
Washington Mutual provided preliminary information about its Q3 results before its scheduled earnings announcement. This was done, it said, in view of impacts from a very challenging market environment. No further details will be made available regarding company Q3 results before its regularly scheduled earnings release on October 17, 2007.