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New AXA owners have no reason to shake it up: Stewart

Tuesday 9th of February 2010

He told advisers at a roadshow in Wellington that the New Zealand business is one of the nation's top 20 companies by market capital and earnings and with the opportunity growth available in the local market the new owners, be it National Australia Bank or AMP, are unlikely to embark on a major shake-up of the business.

"We don't believe they're buying to sell," Stewart said. "They're paying a substantial premium and they will want to realise that premium."

NAB trumped an offer an offer from AMP in December to buy AXA Asia Pacific Holdings in an arrangement that would see the Asian operations sold back to French majority shareholder AXA SA. The NAB offer valued the Australian and New Zealand businesses at more than A$13 billion.

AXA SA's exclusivity agreement with AMP expired on Saturday, and the Australian wealth manager and insurer is no longer a substantial shareholder of the Australian-listed AXA A, opening the way for other offers to proceed.

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