Trump aiming for IPOs of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac this year — valuing firms at $500B combined: report

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration is planning for the initial public offerings (IPOs) of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac later this year, potentially valuing the companies at around $500 billion combined and generating $30 billion for the administration [1]. Group 1: Background and Current Status - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been under federal conservatorship since 2008 due to insolvency during the financial crisis, which was exacerbated by the subprime mortgage meltdown [2][4]. - The exit from conservatorship would represent a significant milestone for these companies, which were established by Congress to support the housing market through affordable mortgage financing [2]. Group 2: Financial Implications and Market Reaction - The companies were bailed out with taxpayer funds, leading to the Treasury receiving preferred shares that have paid billions in dividends over the years [3]. - Recent discussions about privatization have included meetings between Trump and the CEOs of Citigroup and Bank of America, indicating a serious push towards returning these entities to private control [5][6]. - Following the news of potential privatization, shares of Fannie Mae rose by 20% and Freddie Mac increased by 15% [5].