Stake In Big UK Insurer Taken By Chinese

Published: 8/25/2010

The Prudential, the second largest life insurance provider in the UK, has seen the Peoples Bank of China take a one percent stake in the company, worth GBP130 million.

The move puts the Chinese bank into the top 25 of institutional investors in the Prudential, though there is no feeling that the holding is leading up to a takeover bid. The Chinese bank invests in many different businesses and a one percent holding is not uncommon. Speculation came because of the Prudential developing the Asian market though the management at the insurer welcomes the investment.

Such is the activity of the Prudential in Asia that their growth for the first half of the year was 14 percent, a remarkable step forwards.