安邦(Anbang)擬將壽險業務上市
Anbang is considering floating its life insurance unit and has asked banks to pitch for the work, in a move that suggests the acquisitive Chinese group, which has to date valued its privacy, is preparing to become more open in return for capital.
安邦(Anbang)正在考慮將其壽險部門上市，並已爲此邀請各銀行爭取這單業務。此舉似乎表明，這家收購意識較強、但迄今看重自身隱私的中資集團準備提高開放度以換取資本。
The group, best known for an abortive bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts this year, is founded on its insurance business — a model that reflects founder Wu Xiaohui’s admiration for the investing style of Warren Buffett, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman.
該集團最爲人所知的事件是今年早些時候曾競購喜達屋酒店及度假村(Starwood Hotels & Resorts)，但最後放棄了。其本行是保險業務，這種業務模式反映了其創始人吳小暉對伯克希爾哈撒韋公司(Berkshire Hathaway)董事長沃倫•巴菲特(Warren Buffett)的投資風格的仰慕。
Bankers, who asked not to be identified, said talks were at an early stage and no decisions had been taken on structure, listing venue or deal size. “They’re looking for comments from banks on these points,” said one.
不願透露姓名的銀行家們表示，相關商談處於早期階段，尚未就上市結構、上市地或交易規模等做出決定。“他們正在這些問題上徵求銀行的意見，”其中一人表示。
Pitches are due in by the end of the week, with Anbang expected to decide on the lead banks in the next two weeks.
銀行最遲在本週結束時提交自我推介，預計安邦會在未來兩週內決定牽頭銀行。
Hong Kong, home to China’s biggest insurers including China Life, Ping An and PICC, is thought to be preferred to New York. Anbang declined to comment.
已經有中國人壽(China Life)、平安(PingAn)和中國人保(PICC)等中資保險公司上市的香港，據信比紐約更受青睞。安邦拒絕置評。
The hitherto unknown group embarked on a global spending spree in 2014, buying the Waldorf Astoria in New York for $2bn. This year it acquired Strategic Hotels & Resorts.
這家此前鮮爲人知的集團在2014年發起了一波全球支出熱潮，斥資20億美元收購紐約華爾道夫酒店(Waldorf Astoria)。今年它收購了Strategic Hotels & Resorts。
In March Anbang hit the headlines with a surprise, weeks-long bidding war against Marriott International for Starwood. After increasing its bid to $14bn, the Chinese group abruptly walked away with little explanation.
今年3月，安邦再度登上新聞頭條，出人意料地與萬豪國際集團(Marriott International)展開持續數週的喜達屋競購戰。在提高出價至140億美元后，這家中資集團突然放棄競購，而未作什麼解釋。
People close to the deal said the Chinese insurance regulator planned to block the purchase.
接近那筆交易的人士表示，中國保險監管機構當時計劃阻止安邦的這起收購。
Since then Anbang has gone quiet. In June it dropped an approval application for a proposed $1.57bn buyout of Fidelity & Guaranty Life in the US after New York’s Department of Financial Services asked it for more information.
從那時起，安邦變得安靜下來。今年6月，在紐約金融服務部要求提交更多信息後，它撤回了15.7億美元收購美國信保人壽(Fidelity & Guaranty Life)的審批申請。
A Hong Kong listing would cement the city’s reputation as the favoured international centre for mainland financial groups. The city is preparing for the listing of Postal Savings Bank of China, worth up to $10bn.
安邦如果在香港上市，將鞏固香港作爲中國內地金融集團青睞的國際中心的聲譽。香港正準備迎接中國郵政儲蓄銀行(Postal Savings Bank of China)的上市，其融資規模可能高達100億美元。
