National City has been heavily exposed to the worsening mortgage and housing market. Its stock price has plunged. And, the company has hired New York investment bank Goldman Sachs as an adviser, presumably to find ways to raise needed capital for the company.
Now, The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that National City is considering selling itself to Cleveland-based rival KeyCorp. The paper is quoting a source familiar with the matter. But, neither company is commenting on the prospect of a merger.
Raj Aggarwal, dean of the University of Akron’s Business College, says a sale isn’t the company’s sole option. The bank could make job cuts, refinance or
Raj Aggarwal: They could sell some stock, either regular common stock or they could sell preferred stock. Or even some debt to some investor or maybe a sovereign wealth fund or some other large investor and get the capital that they need.
Aggarwal says the region would benefit more from a sale to a foreign investor rather than a local entity like Key Corp, because that would mean fewer or no branch closings and preserve more jobs.
National City says it does not expect to comment further until the board has approved a specific course of action.
Tasha Flournoy, 90.3.