Tuesday, March 4, 2008

MGIC Plans Stock Sale to Bolster Mortgage Insurance

(Bloomberg) -- MGIC Investment Corp., the largest U.S. mortgage insurer, said it will sell shares to increase capital.

Part of the money raised will be used to boost sales, the Milwaukee-based company said late yesterday in a statement. MGIC plans to decide on the size of the stock offering by ``mid to late March,'' and the company may consider other ways of raising capital, it said.

MGIC needs to raise capital to avoid a downgrade of its claims-paying ability after a record fourth-quarter loss of $1.47 billion, Fitch Ratings said Feb. 25. The insurer said Feb. 13 it hired an adviser to help raise money.

Mortgage insurers, which reimburse lenders when borrowers don't repay their debt, are facing a surge in claims amid the worst housing slump in 25 years.
 

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