(C) Reuters. Banners commemorating the 100th anniversary of American International Group Inc. adorn the New York Stock Exchange

By Suzanne Barlyn

(Reuters) – Insurer American International Group Inc (N:AIG) on Monday posted a 56% fall in quarterly adjusted earnings, spurred partly by higher catastrophe losses and lower private-equity returns.

Adjusted after-tax income attributable to AIG common shareholders fell to $571 million in the second quarter ended June 30, from $1.3 billion a year earlier.

Excluding items, AIG earned a profit of 66 cents per share compared with $1.43 per share a year earlier, exceeding Factset expectations of 50 cents per share, the company said.

Shares of AIG, one of the largest U.S. insurers, rose 3.7% in after-hours trading.

AIG posted an underwriting loss of $343 million in its general insurance business, compared with a $147 million profit a year earlier.

The loss included $674 million of catastrophes, net of reinsurance, partly reflecting $458 million related to COVID-19 and $126 million for civil unrest claims.

A decline in travel during the pandemic affected AIG’s travel insurance business.

Net adjusted investment income dropped $537 million from a year ago to $3.2 billion. Performance was hurt by $276 million in private-equity losses compared with $238 million in private-equity income a year ago which included a large gain from one of the holdings.

AIG’s general insurance accident year combined ratio excluding changes from losses incurred in past years, was 94.9 for the quarter, compared with 96.1 a year ago.

AIG has been using the metric to gauge the success of a turnaround plan launched by Chief Executive Officer Brian Duperreault upon taking the insurer’s helm in 2017.

A ratio below 100 means the insurer earns more in premiums than it pays out in claims.

Gross premiums written fell 2% to $8.47 billion in the general insurance business.

AIG’s life and retirement unit posted $881 million in adjusted pretax income compared with $1.0 billion a year ago, driven partly by private-equity losses and deaths from COVID-19.

AIG completed selling a 76.6% stake in its run-off company, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, to Carlyle Group Inc (O:CG) and T&D United Capital Co Ltd on June 2. The deal reduces risk on AIG’s balance sheet, the company said.