Anbang to buy Allianz’s South Korean operations
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China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. reached a deal to buy the South Korean operations of Germany’s Allianz SE, just days after it walked away from a $14 billion bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Anbang has exploded onto the international scene in recent years by spending billions to acquire insurers and hotels throughout the world. In February 2015, it laid out nearly $2 billion to buy New York’s Waldorf Astoria, the highest price ever paid for a single U.S. hotel. It is also a big player at home, with stakes in listed Chinese developers and banks, while also investing in a traditional Chinese medicine maker and a wind-turbine manufacturer.
Anbang made a bid in March for Starwood Hotels after the U.S. luxury hotel owner had struck a deal to sell itself to Marriott International Inc. That sparked a bidding war for Starwood that culminated in a $14 billion offer from Anbang, which dropped the bid last week citing “various market considerations.”
The deal with Germany’s Allianz marks the Chinese insurance group’s second acquisition in South Korea. Beijing-based Anbang bought a controlling stake in South Korean life insurer Tong Yang Life Insurance Co. for $1 billion a year ago from South Korea-focused private-equity firm Vogo Investment Group and other investors.
Allianz agreed to sell Allianz Life Insurance Korea and Allianz Global Investors Korea to Anbang for an undisclosed amount, the two companies said in a statement Wednesday. The Allianz purchase is subject to local regulatory approvals and the parties expect to complete the deal in the second half of the year.
Questions & Answers
Q.What kind of businesses has Anbang Insurance Group typically acquired internationally in recent years?
What kind of businesses has Anbang Insurance Group typically acquired internationally in recent years?
Anbang has been acquiring insurers and hotels worldwide. Notable purchases include New York's Waldorf Astoria and controlling stakes in South Korean life insurers, alongside their recent deal for Allianz's South Korean operations.
Q.Why did Anbang Insurance Group withdraw its offer to buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.?
Why did Anbang Insurance Group withdraw its offer to buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.?
Anbang dropped its $14 billion bid for Starwood Hotels, which had sparked a bidding war, citing 'various market considerations' as the reason for its withdrawal last week.
Q.Which specific South Korean operations is Anbang Insurance Group acquiring from Allianz SE?
Which specific South Korean operations is Anbang Insurance Group acquiring from Allianz SE?
Anbang is set to acquire Allianz Life Insurance Korea and Allianz Global Investors Korea from Allianz SE. This is their second acquisition in the South Korean market.
Q.When is the acquisition of Allianz's South Korean operations expected to be finalised?
When is the acquisition of Allianz's South Korean operations expected to be finalised?
The parties involved anticipate that the deal for Allianz's South Korean operations will be completed in the second half of the year, once local regulatory approvals have been secured.
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