View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Press Release

Release Date: September 16, 2008
For release at 9:00 p.m. EDT
The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday, with the full support of the Treasury Department,
authorized the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to lend up to $85 billion to the American
International Group (AIG) under section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act. The secured loan has
terms and conditions designed to protect the interests of the U.S. government and taxpayers.
The Board determined that, in current circumstances, a disorderly failure of AIG could add to
already significant levels of financial market fragility and lead to substantially higher borrowing
costs, reduced household wealth, and materially weaker economic performance.
The purpose of this liquidity facility is to assist AIG in meeting its obligations as they come
due. This loan will facilitate a process under which AIG will sell certain of its businesses in an
orderly manner, with the least possible disruption to the overall economy.
The AIG facility has a 24­month term. Interest will accrue on the outstanding balance at a rate of
three­month Libor plus 850 basis points. AIG will be permitted to draw up to $85 billion under the
facility.
The interests of taxpayers are protected by key terms of the loan. The loan is collateralized by all the
assets of AIG, and of its primary non­regulated subsidiaries. These assets include the stock of
substantially all of the regulated subsidiaries. The loan is expected to be repaid from the proceeds
of the sale of the firm’s assets. The U.S. government will receive a 79.9 percent equity interest in
AIG and has the right to veto the payment of dividends to common and preferred shareholders.