AIG to sell unit to Arch Capital for US$3.4 billion

AMERICAN International Group Inc said on Monday it would sell its mortgage-guaranty unit to Arch Capital Group Ltd for about US$ 3.4 billion.

AIG, the largest commercial insurer in the United States and Canada, said it would get US$ 2.2 billion in cash, US$ 250 million in Arch Capital’s perpetual preferred stock and US$ 975 million in non- voting commonequivalent preferred stock from the sale of United Guaranty Corp.

The Wall Street Journal first reported AIG’s deal with Bermuda- based Arch Capital earlier on Monday, citing sources.

AIG said in January it would spin off the mortgage insurance unit, cut jobs and sell its brokerdealer network as part of a sweeping overhaul promised to shareholders to fend off activist investor Carl Icahn.

Later in March, United Guaranty filed for an initial public offering of up to US$ 100 million with US regulators.

Icahn, whose representative secured a board seat at AIG earlier this year, has been pushing the insurer to split itself into three smaller companies.

The billionaire saw it as a way for the company to shed its designation as a systemically important financial institution, which would free the company from having to comply with stricter capital requirements.

The insurer reported a bigger- than- expected quarterly operating profit earlier this month, driven by lower costs and strong underwriting.

Shares of Arch Capital and AIG were unchanged in after- market trading on Monday.

JP Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co LLC advised AIG on the deal. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP was its legal adviser. Arch’s financial adviser was Credit Suisse Group AG, with Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP and Clyde & Co acting as legal counsel. — Reuters