Monday, March 24, 2008

JP Morgan to Boost Bid for Bear Stearns???

JPMorgan (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon is in talks for a $10/share deal that would quintuple its original $2/share offer for Bear Stearns (BSC). Dimon hopes the move will placate angry shareholders, who vowed to fight the original deal. The Fed is balking at the price, because it doesn't want the public to perceive the deal as a bailout. Bear's board also moved to authorize a 39.5% stake sale to JP Morgan, which would give it an upper hand in gaining majority shareholder approval. Dimon may also be motivated by a need to change the original agreement, which inadvertently left JPM on the hook for Bear losses even if the deal fails.

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