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AIG to sell assets including aircraft leasing, WSJ reports

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc, left with deep financial scars from losses on guarantees it wrote to cover mortgage-linked securities, is expected to sell off assets, including a profitable aircraft leasing arm, the Wall Street Journal report yesterday.

AIG is under pressure to sell off some of its most valuable assets in a bid to quickly shore up capital.

Those involved in a widespread review of the company and how to fix its deepening financial problems, are working around the clock, said a source familiar with developments.

The Wall Street Journal, on its website, said AIG could hold a call with investors as early as Monday morning. The company did not confirm those plans.

"We are considering a broad range of options," said Spokesman Nicholas Ashooh.

The company is working feverishly after posting $18 billion in cumulative losses in the past three quarters.

Its shares were nearly halved over the last week and the stock closed down 31 percent Friday at $12.14. That was a level not seen in nearly 16 years and a fraction of the $100 the shares fetched in 2000.

While the company has yet to disclose what parts of the business will end up on the sales block, AIG's highly- profitable aircraft leasing arm, International Lease Finance Corp, is expected to be top on the list.

Bank of America analyst Alain Karaoglan estimates the business could fetch up to $14 billion, which would go a long way towards the $20 billion some analysts say AIG will need to add to its coffers.