The two GSEs were placed in conservatorship in September 2008 by Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. At the time, their common and junior preferred shares were considered worthless.
Spencer Stuart, headhunting firm, aided the MI in its search for a new CEO. A few months back former Freddie Mac executive Bruce Witherell was approached about the job, but passed.
The DTAs are available to the GSEs as future deductions against taxable income. A reduction in the corporate tax rate would reduce existing DTAs for not just Fannie and Freddie but for other U.S. businesses as well.