Remember, PMI Group is also a Mortgage electronic Registration System, INC. “MERS” shareholder! Hmmm…

Business Week-

PMI Group Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection after the mortgage insurer lost a court bid to undo the takeover of its main unit by Arizona regulators.

The Walnut Creek, California-based company listed assets of $225 million and debt of $736 million as of Aug. 4 in a Chapter 11 petition filed today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware.

Arizona Director of Insurance Christina Urias took control of the PMI unit last month on an interim basis and directed claims to be paid at 50 cents on the dollar after losses on mortgage defaults drained capital.“

The ADI Director’s action in seeking receivership of MIC, among other things, has led the debtor to seek bankruptcy protection in order to maximize value for its estate and creditors,” L. Stephen Smith, PMI’s chief executive officer, said in court papers.

[BUSINESS WEEK]

Business Week-

PMI Group Inc., the mortgage insurer that was ordered in August to stop writing policies, said a unit that sells such coverage was seized by Arizona authorities and will pay out claims at 50 percent starting tomorrow.

The Arizona insurance regulator has full possession, management and control of the unit, PMI Group said in a statement on its website. Bill Horning, a spokesman for PMI, didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.

[BUSINESS WEEK]