Bank of Montreal announced Tuesday it is buying the Canadian life insurance business of financially troubled American International Group Inc. for $375 million in cash.

BMO said the deal will give its clients access to a broader range of investment, insurance and financial planning products.

The deal, which is expected to be completed by June 1, is projected to boost BMO's earnings within a year.

AIG Life of Canada has about 300 employees and 400,000 customers. Bloomberg said the business posted about $571.4 million in revenue through the first six months of 2008.

The deal may not be the only sale of AIG assets to a Canadian buyer. Manulife Financial is reported to be in the running for AIG assets in China and Japan.

Battered by the credit crisis, AIG received a lifeline from the U.S. government in the form of a $60-billion US loan. The company, which is one of the world's biggest insurance firms, has now moved to unload some of its assets in order to repay the loan.