Citigroup buys $50 million plane with bailout money, WTF!!!

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  • Poker_Beast
    SBR Hall of Famer
    • 09-14-06
    • 6547

    #1
    Citigroup buys $50 million plane with bailout money, WTF!!!
    This is unfuking real, we are paying for this bullshit and it is no big deal. First AIG and their multi-million dollar retreats and now this. Just saw it on Fox News and Googled it.

    I am outraged at this fuking shit. The government is so corrupt. Total bullshit!!!!



    Beleaguered Citigroup is upgrading its mile-high club with a brand-new $50 million corporate jet - only this time, it's the taxpayers who are getting screwed.
    Even though the bank's stock is as cheap as a gallon of gas and it's burning through a $45 billion taxpayer-funded rescue, the airhead execs pushed through the purchase of a new Dassault Falcon 7X, according to a source familiar with the deal.
    The French-made luxury jet seats up to 12 in a plush interior with leather seats, sofas and a customizable entertainment center, according to Dassault's sales literature. It can cruise 5,950 miles before refueling and has a top speed of 559 mph.
    There are just nine of these top-of-the-line models in the United States, with Dassault's European factory churning out three to four 7Xs a month.
    Citigroup decided to get its new wings two years ago, when the financial-services giant was flush with cash, but it still intends to take possession of the jet this year despite its current woes, the source said.
    "Why should I help you when what you write will be used to the detriment of our company?" replied Bill McNamee, head of CitiFlight Inc., the subsidiary that manages Citigroup's corporate fleet, when asked to comment about the new 7X.
    "What relevance does it have but to hurt my company?"
    It's not uncommon for large companies to pay a deposit on a new plane then cancel the order before delivery, according to a source in the corporate aviation business.
    Citigroup execs are also quietly trying to unload two of their older Dassault 900EXs.
    Those jets, nearly 10 years old, are worth an estimated $27 million each. They were still listed for sale yesterday on the Web site of Citigroup's aviation broker, Aviation Professionals.
    A company representative said she would not comment on "brokering both sides of the deal" when asked about the incoming Falcon 7X.
    The Dassaults are part of CitiFlight's Gulf Sierra fleet, which includes the two Falcon 900EXs, tail numbers N399GS and N588GS, currently for sale. FAA records show Citigroup reserved a new tail number, N488GS, possibly for the incoming 7X on Nov. 10 last year.
    A woman answering the phone at CitiFlight's private hangar in White Plains said she was "not authorized to release information" about the new jet.
    Dassault's US sales office declined to comment.
    Citigroup spokesman Stephen Cohen declined to comment.
  • BigAL
    Restricted User
    • 01-27-09
    • 461

    #2
    heard that on the radio. This is why I vehemately dissaprove of any bailouts
    Comment
    • capitalist pig
      SBR MVP
      • 01-25-07
      • 4998

      #3
      It didnt happen, they cancelled it.

      later
      Comment
      • pavyracer
        SBR Aristocracy
        • 04-12-07
        • 82897

        #4
        Originally posted by capitalist pig
        It didnt happen, they cancelled it.

        later
        True. They paid the $20 million cancellation fee to the aircraft manufacturer. The taxpayers paid $20 million out of pocket for a plane that was never bought.
        Comment
        • Poker_Beast
          SBR Hall of Famer
          • 09-14-06
          • 6547

          #5
          Originally posted by capitalist pig
          It didnt happen, they cancelled it.

          later
          Found it



          Funny how they did not cancel it unitil the media started reporting the issue.

          Still bullshit in my book.
          Comment
          • WhatAboutMeBitch
            SBR MVP
            • 01-02-09
            • 1294

            #6
            Originally posted by pavyracer
            True. They paid the $20 million cancellation fee to the aircraft manufacturer. The taxpayers paid $20 million out of pocket for a plane that was never bought.

            ouch. I hate rich people
            Comment
            • Slim
              SBR MVP
              • 11-13-08
              • 4722

              #7
              Fukking assholes. These people need to be killed.
              Comment
              • CS-Cedrick
                SBR MVP
                • 01-10-09
                • 1578

                #8
                Unfvckin' real, man, no wonder the world's like it currently is right now, bunch of crooks out there.
                Comment
                • capitalist pig
                  SBR MVP
                  • 01-25-07
                  • 4998

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Poker_Beast
                  Found it



                  Funny how they did not cancel it unitil the media started reporting the issue.

                  Still bullshit in my book.
                  I agree with you, lets chalk one up for the press, its not very often they prevent things from happening.

                  later
                  Comment
                  • konck
                    SBR Posting Legend
                    • 10-17-06
                    • 12554

                    #10
                    As long as Obama doesnt form a team and put these "criminals" in jail it will continue to happen . Richard Fund is a joke 770k salary for 7 years and over the 7 years he earns 480 million giving himself bonus money out the ass while his company goes broke (Lehman Brothers) He goes before a senate commity they ask him why he got so much...His answer was I earned it.
                    Comment
                    • konck
                      SBR Posting Legend
                      • 10-17-06
                      • 12554

                      #11
                      Bottom line on Fund is he says he is stepping down this month as CEO of a company that is broke .04 a share for what was once 68 dollars. He says he doesnt want any severance pay This cok should be in jail but no one will put him there because there afraid with 480 mill he will have you killed.
                      Comment
                      • Tsoprano
                        BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                        • 04-14-08
                        • 26374

                        #12
                        Originally posted by WhatAboutMeBitch
                        ouch. I hate rich people
                        There are tons of good rich people out there. Don't judge them all based on of a flock of rich pricks.
                        Comment
                        • sportsduder
                          SBR Rookie
                          • 01-29-09
                          • 3

                          #13
                          1. The government has bought an equity interest in Citigroup, but they haven't given them a handout. So you can't really say money that Citigroup spends is taxpayer money, since the government just bought something of equal value with its money.
                          2. This plane was ordered years ago, when Citigroup was flush, and when the private plane was definitely justified by their business needs (clients all over the world where commercial flights are more expensive or difficult to work). You can't really say it was irresponsible of them to order the plane in 2004 when everyone thought everything was peachy keen.
                          3. It would have been a better use of Citigroup's money to buy the plane and then use/sell it. As it is now, they were forced by irresponsible politicans, media, and internet hacks to pay a $20 million cancellation fee. $20 million dollars for NOTHING! Now THAT is an irresponsible waste of money forced on Citigroup shareholders and owners (including the taxpayers).
                          Comment
                          • purecarnagge
                            SBR MVP
                            • 10-05-07
                            • 4843

                            #14
                            they didn't pay 20 million to cxl... But they did pay a few millions.
                            Comment
                            • sportsduder
                              SBR Rookie
                              • 01-29-09
                              • 3

                              #15
                              Originally posted by purecarnagge
                              they didn't pay 20 million to cxl... But they did pay a few millions.
                              Where'd you hear that? The number I've heard reported in quite a few places is "at least $20 million."

                              Even if it is a couple million for nothing, that's totally irresponsible. They should have bought the plan and sold it (which is what the company was apparently planning on doing, because of its economic condition). Then they would have probably come closer to breaking even or maybe got some use out of it.
                              Comment
                              • pavyracer
                                SBR Aristocracy
                                • 04-12-07
                                • 82897

                                #16
                                A luxurious aircraft manufacturer (French Dassault?) would not build a plane without at least 40% down. They made a down payment 4 years ago so parts can be purchased. This is not a Czesna dust cropper boys. It's the top of the line!
                                Comment
                                • Poker_Beast
                                  SBR Hall of Famer
                                  • 09-14-06
                                  • 6547

                                  #17
                                  They did not cancel until this week once the story was reported. It should have been canceled weeks ago.
                                  Comment
                                  • pavyracer
                                    SBR Aristocracy
                                    • 04-12-07
                                    • 82897

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by Poker_Beast
                                    They did not cancel until this week once the story was reported. It should have been canceled weeks ago.
                                    But the $20 million down payment was made 4 years ago so the money is taken out from our paychecks with payroll taxes.
                                    Comment
                                    • sportsduder
                                      SBR Rookie
                                      • 01-29-09
                                      • 3

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by Poker_Beast
                                      They did not cancel until this week once the story was reported. It should have been canceled weeks ago.
                                      They shouldn't have cancelled it at all! It would have been much better for their finances, and thus for the finances of their shareholders like the U.S. government, to take delivery of the plane and resell it.

                                      The point is that the down payment and cancellation fees are now lost and sent to France forever. At least if they had taken delivery, they could have resold it and kept some value.

                                      This is why the government should not be investing in and trying to take control of these companies. It makes even worse business decisions than the worse of businesses.
                                      Comment
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