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Fast Money DisclaimerFast Money BiosAbout Fast MoneyRapid RecapFast Money Home
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Sep.26
7:05 PM ET
Friday, 26 Sep 2008
Wachovia Dances With Three Suitors

You might have heard reports that Wachovia [WB  Loading...      ()   ] has begun preliminary talks with Citigroup [C  Loading...      ()   ] about a potential merger.

Well that's only half the story. We spoke with the New York Times reporter who broke the story and got all the details.

"With WaMu going under all eyes were on Wachovia,” reveals NY Times reporter Andrews Ross Sorkin on Fast Money “There’s a nervousness that somehow this bailout might not happen or not happen the way they thought. And if that’s the case they’re really going to have to look for alternatives.”

Meanwhile in breaking news, Dylan Ratigan reveals the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Wachovia is also in talks with Wells Fargo [WFC  Loading...      ()   ] and Banco Santander [STD  Loading...      ()   ] as potential suitors.

But don't take that to mean they're desperate. Quite the contrary Sorkin tells us Wachovia is merely exploring all it's options if Monday comes and not bailout is on the table.

He thinks Wachovia CEO Robert Steel would "love to be in a good bank / bad bank situation where they get to keep the good stuff and get rid of the bad stuff." (That is currently the core of the bailout proposal at the time of writing.)

On the heels of Washington Mutual the traders can’t help but wonder what a deal would mean for Wachovia shareholders. Specifically, what's the likelihood that equity gets wiped out.

“It doesn’t seem that the Feds are involved,” adds Sorkin. “This is a real deal as opposed to a federally imposed deal."

And Sorkin adds another important point. "I do not want to cause a run on the stock. I think it’s a well capitalized company (exploring alternatives).”

The Bottom Line: These talks are probably a contingency plan if the bailout plan is not in place come Monday.


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Trader disclosure: On Sept. 26, 2008, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Macke Owns (MSFT), (WMT); Seymour Owns (AAPL), (EEM), (MER), (MSFT); Seygem Asset Management Owns (VIP); Seygem Asset Management Is Short (RSX); Finerman Owns (GS); Finerman's Firm Owns (MSFT), (MO), (PM), (RAI) ; Finerman's Firm Is Short (IYR), (IJR), (MDY), (SPY), (IWM); Terranova Owns (AAPL), (EOG), (FCX), (FTO), (GS), (KOL), (NOV), (POT), (X), (YHOO); Terranova Is Long Mini S&P Futures; Terranova Owns (AIG) And Owns (AIG) Puts; Terranova Owns (MS) And Owns (MS) Puts; Terranova Is Long Crude Oil

Terranova Is Chief Alternatives Strategist Of Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd.
Phoenix Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (ABD), (ARE), (BIG), (BRE), (CNTY), (CNW), (CLB), (OFC), (DLM), (DRH), (DLR), (EPR), (ESS), (EXR), (AGM), (FL), (GBL), (GNET), (IGE), (LNET), (MAC), (OIIM), (PSPT), (DBC), (DBV), (SLB), (GWX), (SSYS), (SKT), (UA), (BIV), (VV), (BLV)
Phoenix Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Fund - Money Market Fund
Phoenix Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of Seagate Technology Tax Refund Rights

Terranova Is Co-Portfolio Manager Of The Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO; Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO Owns (IGE), (DBC), (DBV)

GE Is The Parent Company Of CNBC


CNBC.com with wires

© 2009 CNBC.com

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