AIG Answers ‘What-If’ Crisis Question With Divesture Strategy

July 2, 2014 by Zachary Tracer

American International Group Inc., the insurer that repaid a U.S. rescue in 2012, said it could divest insurance units and stop offering new policies if forced to wind itself down without a bailout in the future.

AIG, Prudential Financial Inc. and General Electric Co.’s finance unit submitted wind-down plans for the first time after being designated systemically risky by the Financial Stability Oversight Council last year. Banks are also required to submit the plans to help prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial firm rescues.

If the sale of assets is insufficient to stabilize the company, the insurer would eventually be liquidated under the supervision of government watchdogs, according to a document from the New York-based company that was released Tuesday by regulators.

“AIG believes that each resolution strategy is feasible and would not give rise to adverse effects on the financial stability of the United States,” the insurer said in the document.AIG was bailed out in 2008 after losses on mortgage-related derivative vets in the Financial Products unit. The rescue swelled to $182.3 billion and helped prompt legislation to make sure the government wouldn’t be needed to prop up more firms.