Lessons for the TARP Warrants from 1983 Chrysler Auction

Wilson, Linus

Lessons for the TARP Warrants from 1983 Chrysler Auction

Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 69-76, 2012

14 Pages Posted: 23 Jul 2009 Last revised: 15 Apr 2012

See all articles by Linus Wilson

Linus Wilson

University of Louisiana at Lafayette - College of Business Administration

Date Written: December 31, 2009

Abstract

The U.S. Treasury began auctioning its warrant holdings in December 2009. Nevertheless, this was not the first large auction of warrants. The U.S. Treasury auctioned its holdings of warrants from the bailout of Chrysler Motors in 1983. That warrant auction resulted in an implied volatility of less than zero, but it generated higher price than the management of Chrysler was willing to pay in negotiations. The similarities and differences between this auction and the more recent auction of the JP Morgan Chase warrants, which were issued as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), are discussed.

Keywords: auctions, bailout, banks, banking, Capital Purchase Program, Chrysler, EESA, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, JP Morgan, options, TARP, Troubled Asset Relief Program, valuation, warrants

JEL Classification: A44, G01, G13, G21, G28, G32, G38

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Wilson, Linus, Lessons for the TARP Warrants from 1983 Chrysler Auction (December 31, 2009). Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 69-76, 2012. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1436649