Citigroup picks favourites for over $3bn in Asia sales

Bloomberg

Citigroup Inc has chosen preferred bidders for its consumer assets in several Asian markets as the U.S. lender presses ahead with its plans to divest numerous units across the region.
The US lender picked Bank of Ayudhya Pcl as the leading suitor to buy its retail assets in Thailand, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The bank, which is owned by Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, will continue to negotiate the terms of a potential deal in the coming weeks, they said. A transaction could value the assets at about $2 billion, they said.
In Indonesia, Citigroup has selected the Singaporean lender United Overseas Bank Ltd as its preferred bidder, the people said. A sale could fetch several hundred million dollars, the people said. In Malaysia, Standard Chartered Plc has emerged as the frontrunner to buy Citigroup’s retail consumer assets in a deal that could also be valued at several hundred million dollars, the people said.
Citigroup has also picked Taiwan’s Fubon Financial Holding Co. as its preferred bidder for the Chinese assets, in a deal that could raise about $100 million to $200 million, the people said. Sales of businesses in other markets such as India and Taiwan may take longer to materialise, the people said.
No final decision has been made, deliberations are ongoing and other bidders remain interested in the different Asian markets, the people said.
Citigroup continues to focus on securing the best outcomes for its people and clients, and its strategy refresh prioritising wealth and institutional businesses across the region is showing strong results, bolstered by a record year for capital raising, a spokesperson for the bank said.
The US bank has been considering a sale of certain consumer banking assets in Asia as it reshapes itself around more profitable units like investment banking, and focuses its wealth business around hubs in Hong Kong, London and Singapore. Citigroup has said that it expects the exits from 13 consumer franchises across Asia and the Europe and Africa region will allow the bank to release roughly $7 billion of tangible common equity over time.
Citigroup has chosen Union Bank of the Philippines as its preferred bidder to acquire its consumer banking assets in the Southeast Asian country, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month. A potential sale could value the assets at about $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said.
A representative for Fubon declined to comment. Representatives for Bank of Ayudhya, Standard Chartered and UOB didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Shares in Bank of Ayudhya rise as much as 5%, their largest intraday move since September. They have climbed 17.6% this year, giving the lender a market value of about $8 billion.