This tracker covers possible deals reported by media across the Asia-Pacific region over a certain period. The information is gathered from various news sources, excludes confirmed deals and is limited to potential acquisitions or sales involving companies or operations in the region. Click here to read the previous month's article.
A number of foreign financial companies are looking to snap up Asia-Pacific assets, particularly in the insurance sector.
American International Group Inc. continued to circle possible deals in the Australian insurance space as it is now reportedly considering buying AMP Ltd.'s assets including its life insurance, wealth management and New Zealand operations, The Australian reported. AIG is also reportedly interested in Suncorp Group Ltd.'s life insurance operations, as well as Commonwealth Bank of Australia's general insurance arm.
AIG may have to compete with Hong Kong-based AIA Group Ltd. and China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. for AMP's assets. While AIA is reportedly interested in vying for all of the assets AMP is putting up for sale, China Life Insurance is only interested in acquiring up to A$3 billion worth of life insurance assets from AMP, The Australian reported. China Life has been touted as a likely potential suitor for the life insurance business as it has a strong relationship with AMP, with the latter holding a 19.9% stake in China Life Pension Co. AMP's asset investor, AMP Capital, also holds a stake in China Life AMP Asset Management.
Another Australian insurer, Insurance Australia Group Ltd., may soon be on the lookout for buyers for its Asian businesses, The Australian reported. The insurer has been reviewing its Asian businesses and is expected to conclude by the end of 2018. The Asian assets include operations in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Below is a snapshot of February reports of possible deals compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

In India, several North American financial companies have expressed interest in the country's insurance companies. Canada's Manulife Financial Corp. is seeking a controlling stake in IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Economic Times reported. Manulife is competing with local insurers such as HDFC Standard Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Co. Ltd. for the stake. Interested bidders are expected to submit binding offers in March and a definitive deal is expected by March 31.
Another Canadian financial company, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., has joined the race to acquire a 26% stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Mint reported. U.S.-based asset managers Warburg Pincus LLC and General Atlantic LLC are also in the running, sources said.
Over in Southeast Asia, PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk is exploring options for its stake in insurance unit PT Asuransi Adira Dinamika, but if it does decide to sell there are already a number of interested insurers from Europe and Japan, Bloomberg News reported. The transaction may also include a bancassurance agreement.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Great Eastern Holdings Ltd. is in talks to divest a minority stake in unit Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Bhd. The deal could fetch as much as US$1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Great Eastern Holdings is in early talks with Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund, but there is no certainty of a transaction.
Further articles about other deal possibilities:
Report: Westpac to divest dealer finance, auto loans biz in 2019 at earliest
Australian insurers HBF, HCF propose merger
Report: Founders of Australia's Nimble Money look to sell biz
Report: IOOF Holdings mulls selling stake in Ord Minnett
Vietcombank to sell 10% stake to foreign investors; other banks to follow
City Savings Bank eyes more acquisitions, plans 'branch-lite' units
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Agroniaga eyes acquisition of 2 small lenders
Dhaka Stock Exchange submits Chinese, Indian bids to regulator for approval
Report: Housing Development in talks to acquire Apollo Munich Health
Dhaka Stock Exchange seeks regulatory approval for Chinese buyers' bid
India, China bidding for stake in Bangladesh bourse
Sri Lanka's Janashakthi Insurance to off-load stake in general insurance biz
Report: India's Hinduja preparing to acquire majority stake in Mauritian lender
Report: 2 Chinese lenders among firms eyeing Germany's DVB Bank
