ARI SHAPIRO, host: NPR business news starts with AIG.</s>ARI SHAPIRO, host: At the height of the financial crisis a couple of years ago, the U.S. government bailed out the giant insurance firm. Taxpayers now own 80 percent of AIG.</s>ARI SHAPIRO, host: Well, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal report that the Obama administration is close to finalizing a plan to cut its stake in the firm. AIG would speed up repayment of its debt to the government. Meanwhile, the government would slowly begin to sell off its holdings to private investors.</s>ARI SHAPIRO, host: The newspapers report that a deal could be announced as early as today.
At the height of the financial crisis, the U.S. government bailed out insurance giant American International Group. Taxpayers own 80 percent of AIG. Published reports say the Obama administration is close to finalizing a plan to cut its stake in the firm. AIG would speed up repayment of its debt to the government.