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Goldman On A Greece And Portuguese Bankruptcy, Pardon "Sovereign Liability Management Exercise"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Goldman's Francesco Garzarelli adds fuel to the speculative PIIG fire:

Below are some reflections published yesterday evening on the unfolding events in Greece and Portugal. The thoughts on Greece add to what I wrote on 21 April (‘What to Make of the Greek Debt Restructuring Talk’). My thoughts on Portugal benefit from several discussions with the private and official sector in Lisbon last Wednesday and Thursday.

  • We are broadly sticking to the investment strategy we laid out in January-March: a segmentation of EMU sovereign risk between the three ‘program countries’ and an ‘EMU kernel’ comprising the current AAAs and Italy/Spain/Belgium. The ESFS bonds –built on a pro-rata credit risk basis – are a reasonable (albeit credit-enhanced) expression of this ‘kernel’ risk. Total issuance by the EFSF will amount to EUR50-60bn over the next 3 yrs.
  • Regarding Greece: We do not see a ‘haircut’ as a viable solution, particularly at this juncture, for a number of reasons: 1. The risk of potential financial ramifications (‘domino effects’) seem too large; 2. the level of debt that is sustainable will be guesswork until growth has stabilized and a primary surplus achieved; 3. the incentives for pursuing adjustment (in Greece and elsewhere) may wane if the debt stock is aggressively reduced; 4. finally, private-sector funding is unlikely to flow back at sustainable levels any earlier than under the current approach of conditional financial support.
  • We continue to believe that a more viable solution would be to prolong the period over which Greece delivers its necessary adjustment, which would help the government to deliver. This would mean providing more funds to the sovereign to make up for redemptions, at least over 2012-13, and recapitalizing the local banks. The choice between involving the Euro-zone private financial sector through debt extensions, in order to divert funds from the existing program, or ‘topping up’ the existing conditional funding (and concomitantly forcing the Euro-zone financial sector to set aside more capital for sovereign risk in the event of future impairments), is ultimately a political one.
  • We still do not expect to see sovereign liability management exercises in Ireland and Portugal. Bonds in these two sovereigns will, however, likely remain subject to higher volatility, reflecting decisions taken on Greece in coming weeks, in addition to local events (e.g., the Portuguese elections, approval of the support package, etc.).
  • Over the next few years, it is likely that program countries will have between 40% and 50% of government liabilities held by the official sector. These securities could eventually be subordinated, or carry more favorable conditions than those available at the time in the private markets. This could represent a step towards the evolution of a ‘common bond’, with additional funding at the country level.
  • For background, below is a chart on the Greek debt profile; see also this paper by our banks team, which discusses the extent of bank losses in the event of a ‘haircuts’ in the program countries (these take into account tax shields).

 

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Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:31 | 1258633 LawsofPhysics
LawsofPhysics's picture

The central bankers are not stupid, the level of debt will always be kept just barely "sustainable".  These mother fuckers and their co-opted governments know exactly how to get blood out of turnips.  Hedge accordingly.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:35 | 1258642 AUD
AUD's picture

No, they are not stupid but they are not gods, nor alchemists.

 

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:42 | 1258662 Weisbrot
Weisbrot's picture

nationalize the fed, then erase the debt

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:55 | 1258707 LawsofPhysics
LawsofPhysics's picture

Agree (with both comments).  The debt is a fraud, just like the "wealth" on the books of the banks.  Crash the system now, the sooner we do, the sooner compensation will find its way back to people that are actually worth a shit.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:08 | 1258744 Drag Racer
Drag Racer's picture

why nationalize it, just erase the debt and end it. its just an illusion that it is needed.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:35 | 1258634 AUD
AUD's picture

The risk of potential financial ramifications (‘domino effects’) seem too large

In the form of a large problem on Goldman's balance sheet?

 

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:40 | 1258650 Wooly
Wooly's picture

+1000

It would only be a problem for the TBTF's. Hence it wont happen... until there is literally no other choice and everyone else has already been screwed over!

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:09 | 1258761 vote_libertaria...
vote_libertarian_party's picture

Probably more like OFF-balance sheet.

 

"We got no exposure."  (wink wink)

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:36 | 1258635 oogs66
oogs66's picture

Got to love the 'sovereign liability management exercises'. 

 

'My thoughts on Portugal benefit from several discussions with the private and official sector in Lisbon last Wednesday and Thursday'

 

does he have inside information?  do his sources like when its convenient?

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:36 | 1258638 Oh regional Indian
Oh regional Indian's picture

AAA Spain and Italy (don't know enough about Belgium, though with all the EU money pouring to keep the fatcats in the EUP happy, no wonder it's AAA)... but Spain and Italy... if that is the kernel.... god help the EU.

Or is that the outlying Kernel, with the UK as the Outlier's outlier (A Colnel) and then there is the Franco-prussian heart.

All very confusing, bound to fail.

ORI

http://aadivaahan.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/population-control-vectors/

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:49 | 1258686 tiger7905
tiger7905's picture

Here is a piece out of Europe that see's the UK as the ultimate 'sick man of Europe', they also speculate on the US dollar falling 30% by this fall.

http://goldandsilverlinings.com/?p=935

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:33 | 1258639 Cassandra Syndrome
Cassandra Syndrome's picture

Keynesian Euphemisms Bitchez!

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:39 | 1258645 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

Banksters do a wonderful job managing the economy. :roll:

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:36 | 1258646 Weisbrot
Weisbrot's picture

I would like to lie to my creditors then get more money even though I couldnt possibly pay them back, and then get even more money and more money ---- this is a warped keynesian idea ---- screw the masses and benefit the few

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:40 | 1258656 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

SURE YOU CAN!

Make sure you can apply for 1 last credit raise of 10000$ and apply at 20 banks for a new visa card with a 10000 dollar limit ON THE SAME DAY!

200K easy and when they do a credit check none of them sees each other that day.

After that, I propose you to take the first flight to Mexico and stay there for a while :)

 

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:37 | 1258649 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture
Goldman On A Greece And Portuguese Bankruptcy, Pardon "Sovereign Liability Management Exercise"

As we speak, the Floor managers are preparing a solution. When they've finished cleaning the toilets...

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:45 | 1258652 Re-Discovery
Re-Discovery's picture

Sovereign Liability Management Exercise

SL(I)ME :(

Sovereign Management Liability Exercise

SM(I)LE  (:

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:41 | 1258660 Ethics Gradient
Ethics Gradient's picture

Which can be paraphrased as:

"Buy every bond we dump on the market because we don't want to carry the can".

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:49 | 1258675 lizzy36
lizzy36's picture

Wouldn't it make more sense (i know sense is not common in this context), to quit with the throwing bad money after bad.

Why hasn't the euro-zone looked at setting up a TARP program. And instead of giving Greece a second round of bailouts, and then Ireland and Portugal, use the money to recapitalize the banks affected by the haircuts.

Perhaps this route is too direct and would cause the citizens of the euro-zone, to notice exactly why the countries are getting bailout, but if billions of Euros are going to be spent regardless, why isn't this even being considered?

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:47 | 1258677 falak pema
falak pema's picture

Greece only has to learn to hold its breath up to 2022, according to the above chart. No problem for those minnows... if you saw the film 'The Deep Blue' by Luc Besson you would realize they are world champions at holding their breath, like sons of lost Atlantis!

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:53 | 1258690 cognus
cognus's picture

Solution:  Canada buys both failed states in a 2fer

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 12:06 | 1259400 Terminus C
Terminus C's picture

With money loaned from the Fed.

Sounds like a solution

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:57 | 1258703 n9lhm
n9lhm's picture

"2. the level of debt that is sustainable will be guesswork until growth has stabilized and a primary surplus achieved;"

Ha. HaHa. HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa......................

 

You just can't make this stuff up.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:22 | 1259010 ivana
ivana's picture

How about this: ... We do not see a ‘haircut’ as a viable solution... Translated - haircut is going to happen 100% sure and now we are spinning sheeps wrong way for better sheep shearing results ...

Come on little sheeps: meeeeee meeeeeee!!

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:01 | 1258715 the not so migh...
the not so mighty maximiza's picture

management exercises = energize the shredding machines

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:01 | 1258717 eurusdog
eurusdog's picture

You have got to love that term "

"Sovereign Liability Management Exercise"
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:02 | 1258732 youngman
youngman's picture

"These securities could eventually be subordinated, or carry more favorable conditions than those available at the time in the private markets."

This is an interesting statement...

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:04 | 1258737 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Goldman can easily see 'haircuts' for the bankrupt people, never for central banksters.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:43 | 1259110 unununium
unununium's picture

Au contraire.  The Fed takes a haircut every time it doesn't get paid back 100% on maturing MBS. 

But that does not stop it from "reinvesting" 100% of face value.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:09 | 1258747 Yancey Ward
Yancey Ward's picture

Since we are heading there anyway, why not just jump the end and call "Full Sovereign Repayment Scheme"?  Or maybe we should drop the "Scheme" part, too.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:08 | 1258753 Drag Racer
Drag Racer's picture

someone just got spooked, euro and gold just took a hit

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:17 | 1258775 The Count
The Count's picture

Who comes up with all the politically correct new-speak concoctions?

 

 

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:21 | 1258819 youngman
youngman's picture

Greenspan is on contract.....

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:51 | 1259133 Re-Discovery
Re-Discovery's picture

Ministry of Truth

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:18 | 1258804 Overflow-admin
Overflow-admin's picture

Just learn from countries like Argentina, greeks! Please say good bye (and go to hell) to the Euro!

 

Btw fuck the ECB, the IMF and the Fed.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:37 | 1258876 gsavakis
gsavakis's picture

See the positive side of the chart: After 2022 the profile maturity is awesome! 

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 13:26 | 1259683 slewie the pi-rat
slewie the pi-rat's picture

We continue to believe that a more viable solution would be to prolong the period over which Greece delivers its necessary adjustment, which would help the government to deliver. This would mean providing more funds to the sovereign to make up for redemptions, at least over 2012-13, and recapitalizing the local banks.

keep those zombies movin!  rawhide!  let the hoi polloi pay.  yes, we're humane, here's the vaseline, ok? 

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 20:50 | 1261143 M.B. Drapier
M.B. Drapier's picture

A 'sovereign liability management exercise', or ... SLiME? Just like old times.

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