Free Republic

Citigroup Inc. bolstered the finances of the Ameriquest companies Wednesday by providing new funds, setting up a major credit line and getting an option to buy some operations of the specialist in high-cost mortgages to high-risk buyers. Los Angeles billionaire Roland E. Arnall, Ameriquest's principal owner and the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, also will provide a cash infusion, the Orange-based sub-prime lending company said. It didn't specify how much new capital would flow into the businesses. Citigroup also would become the chief "warehouse" lender for the operations, providing credit to fund loans and hold them until they are packaged...