AIG Explores China Insurance Joint Venture With PICC
Insurance giant American International Group (NYS: AIG) has reached a nonbinding agreement with Chinese insurer PICC Group to establish a joint venture in that country, AIG announced this week. The venture, which would involve AIG and its counterpart's PICC Life unit, would sell life insurance and other insurance products throughout the country, focusing its efforts on the nation's major cities.
The American company has also committed to invest around $500 million in PICC Group's upcoming IPO in Hong Kong, pledging that it will subsequently sell no more than 25% of its stake without permission from PICC for a period of five years. However, it can sell all its shares without PICC's consent if the joint venture does not move forward. AIG currently has a nearly 10% stake in the Hong Kong-listed PICC Property and Casualty Company, a subsidiary of PICC Group.
The agreement brings AIG closer to its roots, in a way -- the company's predecessor, American Asiatic Underwriters, was founded in Shanghai in 1919.
The article AIG Explores China Insurance Joint Venture With PICC originally appeared on Fool.com.
Eric Volkman has no positions in American International Group. The Motley Fool owns shares of American International Group and has the following options: long JAN 2014 $25.00 calls on American International Group. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend American International Group. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
