Bank Bailouts and Trust Preferreds: Still Too Much Risk Here [View article]
I seem to remember reading that trust preferred was invented so that banks could include a part of them as Tier I capital on the balance sheet and also fully deduct their dividends at the same time as debt payments. It just worked out better for them on the balance sheets & tax forms that way. Trust preferreds are interests in a trust fund made up of one giant bond issued by the parent co. Normal preferreds are shareholders.
Bank Bailouts and Trust Preferreds: Still Too Much Risk Here [View article]