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AIG becomes number 1 insurer

American giant AIG is close to cleaning up the final details of its takeover of American General Corp. The $46 billion merger agreement will make AIG the world’s largest insurer by market value and a dominant force in the US life insurance industry.

American General was all but sold to Britain’s Prudential in April when AIG stepped in with a higher bid, triggering a string of lawsuits and accusations of poaching.