corresp
(AIG Letterhead)
September 28, 2011
Mr. Jeffrey Riedler
Assistant Director
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
|
|
|
Re: |
|
American International Group, Inc.
Form 8-K Filed September 13, 2011
File No. 001-08787 |
Dear Mr. Riedler:
We are in receipt of your letter dated September 22, 2011, with respect to American
International Group, Inc.s (AIG) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2011
(Form 8-K). This letter sets forth AIGs response to the Staffs comment contained in your letter.
AIG acknowledges that the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the Form 8-K is the
responsibility of AIG, that Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments
do not foreclose the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) from taking any action
with respect to the Form 8-K and that Staff comments may not be asserted by AIG as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the Federal securities laws of the
United States.
We have repeated your comment below to facilitate your review.
Exhibit 5.1
|
1. |
|
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP states in their legal opinion that they have assumed that the
Indenture has been duly authorized. It is inappropriate for counsel to include
assumptions that are too broad, that assume away the issue or that assume any of the
material facts underlying the opinion. Accordingly, please amend your Form 8-K to file a
revised legal opinion that does not include the assumption that the Indenture has been duly
authorized. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Jeffrey Riedler |
|
|
-2- |
|
Securities and Exchange Commission |
|
|
|
|
AIG Response
The Sullivan & Cromwell LLP opinion contains an assumption that the Indenture has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee (emphasis added). This assumption relates only
to the actions of the Trustee, not to actions of AIG. Such an assumption is fully consistent with
customary legal opinion (and Exhibit 5 opinion) practice, and has been accepted by the Staff on
many previous occasions. Consequently, and consistent with our telephonic discussion with the
Staff, we believe no change is warranted in response to your comment.
* * * * *
If you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact me at (212) 770-5123.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
/s/ Kathleen E. Shannon
|
|
|
Kathleen E. Shannon |
|
|
Senior Vice President and
Deputy General Counsel |
|
|