Document Type
Case Study
JEL Codes
G01, G28
Abstract
In 2008, American International Group (AIG) was among the largest insurance corporations in the world and maintained a profitable securities lending program. However, AIG invested much of the cash collateral received from counterparties in residential mortgage-backed securities, whose value began to collapse rapidly and unexpectedly, creating liquidity strain for AIG when borrowers returned their securities. Because of these strains, credit downgrades, and losses, in September, the company sought assistance from the Federal Reserve which, on October 6, 2008, approved the establishment of the Securities Borrowing Facility by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY). The FRBNY agreed to loan as much as $37.8 billion to AIG to return cash to securities borrowers, accepting as collateral the investment-grade securities that AIG had lent to those securities borrowers. SBF The facility allowed AIG to borrow funds to repay securities borrowers and mitigate liquidity constraints. Its operations were terminated following the creation of the Maiden Lane II facility.
Recommended Citation
Engbith, Lily S.; Buchholtz, Alec; and Jeffereis, Devyn
(2021)
"The Rescue of American International Group Module B: The Securities Borrowing Facility,"
Journal of Financial Crises: Vol. 3
:
Iss. 1, 63-82.
Available at:
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/journal-of-financial-crises/vol3/iss1/3
Date Revised
2021-04-16
Included in
Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Corporate Finance Commons, Finance Commons, Finance and Financial Management Commons, Insurance Commons, Macroeconomics Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Political Economy Commons