I'm not an AIG shareholder. But I can't help but wonder how many AIG shareholders wish Hank Greenberg hadn't lost control of the company in 2005.
And I'm wondering if we'll see Greenberg attempt to take control again. He owns 9.8% of the stock. If he gets some of the top shareholders to back him, he's in a good position to make a run.
Greenberg called earlier today for the annual meeting to be postponed, and appeared on CNBC this evening. He wants the annual meeting delayed so the shareholders can take time "to consider" the impact of AIG's lousy past two quarters. Maybe he wants the time to line up his chips and make the run during a re-scheduled AGM.
In that case, the shareholders need to ask themselves how much (if any) of AIG's troubles were baked in pre-2005. Or if, as Greenberg-loyalists will doubtlessly stress, the troubles are the result of terrible management post-Hank.
One thing looks certain. With Hank Greenberg owning nearly 10% of the company -- and with a company as big as AIG, that's A LOT of money -- we know his interests are aligned with shareholders.
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