Asia This Day:Chinese Investors Make Biggest Ever US Purchase;Tensions Mount With Vietnam

In an historic move,an investing consortium has made the biggest ever US purchase by Chinese investors.The Chinese group has acquired an 80.1% stake in AIG's International Lease Finance Corporation subsidiary,which is a plane-leasing operation,for 4.23 billion dollars.
IFLC is China's largest aircraft lessor,with a 30% market share.The sale is part of AIG CEO Robert Benmosche's plan to reduce the company's debt and refocus on its insurance business.The firm will be concentrating on its global property-casualty insurance and domestic life insurance lines.
Japan's GDP numbers show the country remains mired in a recession.The Nikkei stock index fell 0.5% in response.
China's November export figures rose 2.9%,which was less than expected,while Australia's iron ore exports rose on Chinese demand.
Indian stock futures were up on policy reform expectations.
Vietnamese marched in the streets to protest Chinese claims on territory in the South China Sea.Vietnam had charged that  two Chinese ships harassed and damaged one of its oil and gas survey vessels in the South China Sea,cutting its cables.The incident occurred  off Vietnam's central coast in the last week of November.The Vietnamese foreign ministry said China must respect Vietnam's sovereignty and immediately stop all these wrong actions,and make sure they are not repeated.
Asian shares were mostly higher in early Monday trading,with the MSCI Asia Pacific index up 0.33%.

AIG Conveys Its Renewal

The current market madness may be obscuring our vision.Investors need to remember that most large companies are doing very well.They have tons of cash on their balance sheets.There has been a remarkable resurgence in the corporate sector.AIG is a case in point.
AIG has actually turned the corner and our crisis is over,says CEO Robert Benmosche (pronounced Benmoshay).It is actually a strong,independent company.I'm looking at what is good and right in this country.
We provide guarantees for our customers,and that is going very well.Our fixed annuity sales have gone up dramatically.People are looking for more guarantees around their future.
I believe it's a very different world than 2008.People are trying to figure out what's gonna happen tomorrow.We've got to talk about what's positive.What's jeopardized is people being afraid to invest in their businesses.
You've got to add to the retirement age.These entitlement programs are for later in life;not for 20 years of life.
I think this is a great quarter for us.I don't think this is a long sort of trough.France has changed its retirement age.If that happens,the debt won't be as bad,Mr.Benmosche believes.
AIG is a multinational insurance and investment firm.Active in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions,it has 96,000 employees.The New York-based company was badly damaged by the financial crisis,and received much federal aid.
American International Group(AIG)

AIG At Its Core

Insurance titan AIG is going through a lot of restructuring.As they keep paying the government back for rescuing the company from the financial crisis,they have to keep accelerating the amortization,says CEO Robert Benmosche.
They'll be the largest property and casualty insurer,and one of the largest life and annuity firms.That's the core of the company.They're selling off a lot of smaller things.AIG can produce 6-8 billion dollars of profit once they complete the restructuring plan.
Now AIG is working on a liquidity plan.They want to have enough capital to withstand any future shock.They're gonna start showing that to the ratings agencies.
Right now there's a lot of capacity at AIG.They are well past their reputational issues.
Over the next couple of years,AIG won't be suffering from unrealistic prices.They think that they'll get all their issues behind them in Q4.You'll begin to see the company's earnings grow steadily over time,Mr.Benmosche believes.
AIG's global employees are returning the firm to its client-centered heritage.They are taking pride in restoring the company to a leadership position.
American International Group(AIG)

What Geithner Is Like

Tim looks at you and is very frank,telling you what a policy can and cannot do,Mr.El-Erian revealed.He has the self-confidence that comes from years of experience.There is no alternative for government involvement;Mr Geithner understands it has to be targeted and reversible,and that's a good thing,Mr.El-Erian observed.Susie Gharib,co-anchor of Nightly Business Report,has served with Mr.Geithner on the board of trustees of the Economic Club of New York.She describes him as very smart,thoughtful and humble.He is very diplomatic,she said.Mr.Geithner,who is the married father of two,is Mr.Experience.He has served under three presidents and five Treasury Secretaries,holding posts in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department,where he was Assistant Secretary for International Affairs.He is currently President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,helping to resolve the Bear Stearns,American International Group and Citigroup issues.

A Builder of Businesses

Eli Broad,a billionaire investor who,with his associates,owns a 4% stake(27 million shares) in American International Group(AIG),has been evaluating the company's prospects.He thinks new CEO Bob Willumstad is up for the job.He's met with him,and will meet with him again.Mr.Broad believes former CEO Martin Sullivan is a good man in commercial insurance,but AIG needs greater strength in finance and investment.It's going to get that soon.AIG's retirement and investment businesses have done well for it.The firm is manageable.It's a great franchise,with great core earning power,Mr.Broad said.