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US govt scraps AIG bailout, seals another deal

The US government reached a deal on Sunday night to scrap its original $123bn bailout of American International Group and replace it with a new $150bn package, the two groups have confirmed.

Edward Liddy, AIG chairman and CEO, said these agreements are a dramatic step forward for AIG and all of its stakeholders: "Today’s actions send a strong signal to our policyholders, business partners and counterparties that AIG is on the road to recovery. Our comprehensive plan addresses the liquidity issues that threatened AIG, and gives us the financial flexibility to complete our restructuring process successfully for the benefit of all of our constituencies."

Liddy continued: "The $85bn emergency bridge loan was essential to prevent an AIG bankruptcy, which would have caused incalculable damage to AIG, our economy and the global financial system. Thanks to decisive action by Congress, Treasury and the Federal Reserve, there are now additional tools available to create a durable capital structure that will make possible an orderly disposition of certain of AIG’s assets and a successful future for the company.

"Our goal is to repay taxpayers in full with interest, and emerge as a focused global insurer that will create meaningful value for taxpayers and other stakeholders."

The actions announced today include both ongoing financing facilities and one-time transactions designed to address AIG’s liquidity issues. The ongoing financing facilities include: preferred equity investment: The US Treasury will purchase, through TARP, $40bn of newly issued AIG perpetual preferred shares and warrants to purchase a number of shares of common stock of AIG equal to 2% of the issued and outstanding shares as of the purchase date. All of the proceeds will be used to pay down a portion of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York credit facility.

"The perpetual preferred shares will carry a 10% coupon with cumulative dividends. Revised Credit Facility: The existing FRBNY credit facility will be revised to reflect, among other things, the following: (a) the total commitment following the issuance of the perpetual preferred shares will be $60bn; (b) the interest rate will be reduced to LIBOR plus 3.0% per annum from the current rate of LIBOR plus 8.5% per annum; (c) the fee on undrawn commitments will be reduced to 0.75% from the current fee of 8.5%; and (d) the term of the loan will be extended from two to five years.

"The extension of the term of the loan will give AIG time to complete its planned asset sales in an orderly manner. Proceeds from these asset sales will be used to repay the credit facility. In connection with the amendment to the FRBNY credit facility, the equity interest that taxpayers will hold in AIG, coupled with the warrants described above, will total 79.9%."

Liddy added, "Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the vision and extraordinary hard work, dedication and cooperation of officials from the US Treasury, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Reserve Board and the state insurance departments. On behalf of AIG, I would like to extend sincere thanks to all of those involved in crafting this mutually beneficial solution."

 

 

 

 
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