Will US Treasury mull Citi-style rescues to auto giants?

The US Treasury Department has given itself free rein in deciding the rescues of companies in the finance and auto sectors, according to two Treasury statements published this week.

The Treasury on Friday released guidelines for its Targeted Investment Program (TIP), part of emergency legislation enacted in early October to ease a credit crunch from the worst global financial meltdown since the Great Depression.

In the statement, the Treasury outlined the principles of the program under which it rescued ailing banking giant Citigroup on November 23.

Under TIP, the Treasury said it would determine the eligibility of participants and the allocation of resources "on a case-by-case basis."

"Treasury may invest in any financial instrument, including debt, equity, or warrants, that the secretary of the Treasury determines to be a troubled asset, after consultation with the chairman of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System and notice to Congress," the department said.

Among the criteria in determining a financial firm's eligibility is "whether the institution is sufficiently important to the nation's financial and economic system that a loss of confidence in the firm's financial position could potentially cause major disruptions to credit markets ... or lead to similar losses of confidence or financial market stability that could materially weaken overall economic performance."

Wednesday, the Treasury Department posted on its website a description of its Automotive Industry Financing Program, justifying after the fact its decision to lend a combined 13.4 billion dollars in TARP funds to embattled automakers General Motors and Chrysler to stave off their imminent collapse.

"The objective of this program is to prevent a significant disruption of the American automotive industry that poses a systemic risk to financial market stability and will have a negative effect on the real economy of the United States," it said.

Similar to its approach to the finance industry, the Treasury said it would determine eligibility of participants in the program on a case-by-case basis.

The Treasury announced on December 19 a massive rescue of cash-strapped GM and Chrysler, facing a threat of imminent bankruptcy that could create economic chaos and throw millions out of work across the country.

Source: Agencies