Just How Risky Is MetLife's Bid for AIG's ALICO Unit?

MetLife's (MET) shares got knocked down nearly 4% on Wednesday, thanks to a Standard & Poor's credit warning, and they're still fighting to shake off the negative affects. S&P is concerned about MetLife's potential acquisition of the American Life Insurance Co. (ALICO) unit of bailed-out insurer AIG. However, upgrades of the stock on Thursday and Friday from two investment banking firms that seem to endorse the deal may highlight a difference of opinion in the investment community about the acceptable level of risk involved in the insurance giant's proposed merger.