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NEW YORK (Bloomberg)—American International Group Inc., the insurer bailed out by the U.S. government, said it is set to issue 75 million warrants to shareholders by Jan. 19 as it works to repay the $182.3 billion rescue.
The U.S. Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Bank of New York agreed the insurer’s recapitalization can move forward, New York-based AIG said Wednesday in a statement.
AIG said it expects to pay about $21 billion to the New York Fed to settle a credit line. It also plans to issue common stock to the Treasury in exchange for preferred shares, leaving the government with a stake of about 92%. Treasury would sell its shares over time, AIG said.
“With today’s announcement, we anticipate that we will be able to deliver on our promise to the American people to repay the extraordinary assistance they provided to AIG during the financial crisis of 2008,” CEO Robert Benmosche said in the statement.
Shareholders of record on Jan. 13 will receive warrants to buy AIG stock at $45 a share, the insurer said last week. AIG’s stock has surged almost ninefold since March 2009 and stood at $58.40 as of 4 p.m. Wednesday in New York trading.
Under Mr. Benmosche, 66, the insurer’s fourth head since 2008, AIG is focusing on property/casualty coverage and U.S. life insurance and retirement products. The company, which shrank its derivatives unit, benefited from a rebound in corporate debt holdings and investments in private-equity and hedge funds.
Copyright 2011 Bloomberg