AIG Recapitalization Plan May Ding Stock Price

Nowhere has been American International Group Inc. remarkable turnaround been more apparent than in the performance of its common stock. AIG shares closed at $57.39 yesterday, approximately double the price from a year earlier.

Now, as the company nears completion of a series of transactions to recapitalize it, the stock may take a hit, according to Reuters. Citing a source close to the situation, Reuters says shares are expected to settle back to a level in the mid-$40 range once the company's newly announced warrants begin trading.

Last week, AIG announced 75 million warrants to purchase shares of AIG common stock at $45 per share were to be distributed on Jan. 19, 2011, to AIG's common shareholders of record as of Jan. 13, 2011. AIG President and CEO Robert Benmosche said the warrants were a necessary step to ensure repayment of the $182 billion in assistance the company received from the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the financial crisis.  

"This marks continued progress for AIG towards completing the recapitalization and furthering our work to repay the U.S. taxpayer," Benmosche said in a statement. "We are working diligently to complete this plan in the coming weeks."

Also exerting pressure on AIG shares will be the Treasury’s disbursement of AIG shares. Per the recapitalization plan AIG announced in September 2010, the FRBNY will soon transfer its shares of AIG to the Treasury, who then will control 92.1% of the shares outstanding. According to Reuters, the Treasury may begin selling those shares on the open market as early as March.