No AIG Here! Financial District Building De-AIGs Facade

Reader Dan Albanese sent us photographs of the anonymous-looking exterior of 175 Water Street. The building formerly had "American International Group" prominently over the front doors, along with "AIG" etched in the windows and doors. According to the Post, AIG spokespeople explained that "the company had decided to replace the large AIG sign -- outside the entrance to its property-casualty offices -- as part of its plan to change that operation's name to AIU Holdings Ltd"—to "distinguish these well-capitalized businesses from AIG." Is the subtext, then, that the employees here are not the ones protesters should be harassing?

AIG is trying to sell two other offices—and apparently a labor union is interested in the 72 Wall Street location!

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By Jen Chung in News on March 23, 2009 3:12 PM

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CoCo

there is a specific subset group of people that brought the massive losses to the company. HOWEVER, they do not work in ALL AIG buildings. Crazy protesters should back off and realize that they are crazy and focus on their own finances then HARASS employees who DID NOT receive bonus and DID NOT cause the demise of the company!

jpeditor

Stop criticising this story!

We need more media–created AIG rage / cowbell / pitchforks!

MARCH 23, 2009

Geithner Aides Worked With AIG for Months on Bonuses

WASHINGTON -- Since the fall, senior aides to Timothy Geithner have closely dealt with American International Group Inc. on compensation issues including bonuses, both from his time as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and as Treasury secretary.

The extent of their involvement, which wasn't widely known, raises fresh questions about whether Mr. Geithner could have known earlier about AIG's $165 million in bonus payments. When the bonuses sparked a political firestorm last week, Mr. Geithner said he learned about their full scope in early March, just days before they were paid....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123777083390610069.html

JacqueMehoff

you sleep with dogs you're going to get fleas.

pajamas

Yup, the financial institutions division of AIG, now AIU Holdings had nothing to do with credit swaps, etc. They actually were separately capitalized and highly regulated. Now I wonder where all the protesters are going to go...

EastRiver

I though the company HQ was at 70 Pine Street. AIG put 70 Pine up for sale last week along with 72 Wall Street. Anyway, the company is going to start renaming business units that are likely to be sold or spun off.

JacqueMehoff

I notice they get their own personal armed security paid by us.

I was interviewed twice by AIG for an underwriting position, both times rejected. so, it couldn't have happened to a nicer company. my kung fu karma be strong.

Next.

ma bell

but do you realize that your tax dollars have been used to buy this company? emotions aside, sure what they did should have been criminal. but you own it now. why would you want a company you own to fail.

politics based off emotions are dangerous

ma bell

does anybody realize that WE as americans own this company. yet we consistently protest at OUR building and threaten OUR employees. i mean seriously, we as taxpayers have pumped so much money into this company that we shoot be rooting for its survival to get our money back. yet everybody wants to destroy it. i must be missing something.

fakenewyorker

frankly i'm surprised those letters came off so cleanly, no corrosion, weathering, etc.

JRod5417

"Is the subtext, then, that the employees here are not the ones protesters should be harassing?"

It's very misguided for anyone to harass the people who are employed at the AIG offices in downtown Manhattan who had absolutely nothing to do with AIG's downfall. Most of the people working there are in claims, IT, actuarial and administrative positions far removed from the crisis. It was AIG's financial offices in London where the decisions were made that lead to AIG's current condition.