AIG says it will use IPO to sell life and retirement unit; 'pivots' to growth

By Alwyn Scott

NEW YORK (Reuters) -American International Group INC has decided to use an IPO to sell a 19.9% stake in its life and retirement business, Chief Executive Officer Peter Zaffino said on Friday, dashing prospects for potential bidders.

AIG weighed interest from competitors, but "at this time, we believe an IPO remains the optimal path forward to maximize value for our stakeholders and to position the business for additional value creation as a stand-alone company," Zaffino said in a conference call with analysts, his first as CEO of the company.

"An IPO allows AIG to retain maximum flexibility regarding the operations of the business as well as the separation process."

Zaffino said AIG is working with "urgency" to complete the separation this year but that the timing could slip into the first quarter of 2022.

The life and retirement unit, which sells insurance and annuities, reported $941 million in adjusted pre-tax income in the first quarter, up 57% from a year ago, AIG said on Thursday. But premiums fell by 53% to $600 million.

Zaffino said AIG's general insurance business, which reported a 6% increase in gross premium revenue to $10.7 billion in the quarter, would continue to see revenue growth at that level in the remainder of 2021.

AIG, which began to retool its underwriting to make its core business more profitable after Zaffino and former CEO Brian Duperreault arrived in 2017, said that process is largely complete and it is now "pivoting" to focus on growth.

(Reporting by Alwyn ScottEditing by Chizu Nomiyama and Steve Orlofsky)