HSBC weighs bid for Aviva’s Asian assets

Bloomberg

HSBC Holdings Plc, the bank that shook up its senior leadership this month, is considering a bid for Asian operations being sold by Aviva Plc as it seeks ways to diversify its business in the region, people with knowledge of the matter said. London-based HSBC is in the early stages of weighing an offer for at least part of Aviva’s Asian business, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. A deal would help HSBC bolster its insurance presence in Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, the people said.
Aviva, the UK insurance conglomerate whose shares have dropped 27% in the last 12 months, confirmed in August it’s examining options for its Asian business as new Chief Executive Officer Maurice Tulloch’s turnaround takes shape. The company’s operations in the region could be valued at about $3 billion to $4 billion, with an official process slated to kick off later this year, Bloomberg News reported earlier.
Hong Kong, where HSBC generates more than half of its pretax profit, has for weeks been roiled in protests that left the business and financial elite increasingly concerned about the city’s growth prospects.
Aviva has been capitalizing on the surging ranks of middle class consumers in Asia, many of whom are newcomers to life insurance policies.
Other suitors are also considering bids for Aviva assets, the people said. No final decisions have been made, and there’s no certainty the deliberations will result in a transaction, the people said. Representatives for HSBC and Aviva declined to comment.
Earlier in August, HSBC abruptly ousted Chief Executive Officer John Flint after just 18 months. Chairman Mark Tucker was increasingly at odds with Flint over the CEO’s focus on expansion in China, people with knowledge of the matter said at the time. The head of HSBC’s China business resigned the same week, and the bank unveiled a new round of job cuts that could eliminate 4,000 roles.
Hong Kong, where HSBC generates more than half of its pretax profit, has for weeks been roiled in protests that have left the business and financial elite increasingly concerned about the city’s growth prospects. The bank’s presence in the rival Asian hub of Singapore is smaller than some international competitors such as Standard Chartered Plc.
Aviva has been capitalizing on the surging ranks of middle class consumers in Asia, many of whom are newcomers to life insurance policies. Singapore is the company’s largest market in Asia, with its life insurance unit there generating 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in new business and 141 million pounds in adjusted operating profit last year, according to its latest annual report.