'Back to Basics' Strategy Key to ING's Ongoing Market Reviews of China and Japan
Tue. October 13, 2009;
HONG KONG, Oct 13, 2009 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) --
After offloading its life insurance and wealth management assets in Australia and New Zealand, Dutch financial institution ING Groep N.V. [85144] confirmed that it will continue to streamline its diversified businesses in the Asia-Pacific region as it reviews life insurance activities in China and Japan. New Video Series by Don Miller
Paul Bedbrook, regional chief executive officer of ING covering Japan, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, told BestWeek Asia/Pacific that the group is now reviewing the markets in both Japan and China -- especially China -- which he said has recorded "positive growth and higher profitability, as well as generated revenues across the Asia-Pacific region."
According to Hong Kong-based Bedbrook, the market reviews include analyzing customer-related products and services, reviewing sales processes and simplifying business practices and structures in line with the group's global strategy of "reducing complexity." ING will operate the insurance, banking and investment units separately under one group umbrella.
The company noted that it will increase its focus on businesses and regions where it has a "strong position in savings and investments" that is sustainable for the long term. In this context, ING said it has reviewed investments in new greenfield operations to preserve capital and has decided not to launch ING Direct operations in Japan.
ING said up to 15 businesses have been identified for divestment over the coming years, but it will work toward these disposals "in a disciplined way."
Reducing Complexity
Jan Hommen, ING's CEO-designate, earlier said that "we are taking ING back to basics on all levels," claiming the group will be "focusing on fewer but more transparent products."
The strategy involves creating a predominantly European bank with one integrated balance sheet; further narrowing the focus of insurance to life and retirement services; a fundamental shift in the risk profile of the U.S. insurance business; forming one global investment manager, including real estate investment management; and over time divesting 6 billion to 8 billion euros in noncore activities as market conditions permit.
Key building blocks will include the operations in the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands Luxembourg), the United States, Central Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, said ING in a statement.
"We will streamline processes to make them more efficient and steer towards operational and commercial excellence. Our governance model will be adapted to our strategy, with rigorous business performance reviews and reinforced accountability," said Hommen.
By the end of September, ING entered a deal with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (ANZ) to sell 51% of its shareholdings in the ANZ-ING wealth management and life insurance joint ventures in Australia and New Zealand.
The divestment of ING Australia Ltd. (INGA) [78524] and ING (NZ) Holdings Ltd. (ING (NZ), which will become wholly owned subsidiaries of ANZ on completion, echoes the group's earlier announced measures of taking ING back to basics by "reducing cost, risk and leverage," according to Amsterdam-based ING.
The financial group also said the transaction will generate an estimated net profit of 300 million euros and free up 900 million euros of capital, while the cash proceeds and the estimated net profit will improve the debt-to-equity ratio of ING Insurance by 345 basis points.
Under the agreement, ING will receive 1.1 billion euros (US$1.6 billion) in cash from ANZ, which Bedbrook said is "a fair price with the business cycle."
He also claimed that "policyholders of the company will not be affected and the ING brand will keep a year" after the transaction.
Careful Divestiture
Bedbrook noted all businesses of ING New Zealand will be operated under one entity -- the joint venture with ANZ, while ING Australia, which benefits from the positive economy of the country, will "continue to operate as a specialist wealth management and protection business."
ING emphasized that the change in ownership in its Australian and New Zealand units "will not change the service and policy commitments that the company has in place." ING said meeting the needs of advisers and customers "remains our key focus."
According to the agreement between ING and ANZ, Harry Stout will continue as CEO of INGA, which remains based in Sydney, while Helen Troup will continue as CEO of ING (NZ) in Auckland.
As part of the transaction, ANZ said it has agreed to enter into transitional services arrangements with ING Group, which includes continued use of the ING brand for a period of up to 12 months, while future branding is determined.
ANZ will continue to use ING Investment Management as its preferred provider of asset management services in the medium term.
In New Zealand, the acquisition includes the ING New Zealand investment management business and life insurance businesses, as well as ING's two property trusts, all of which will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ANZ National Bank Ltd.
In connection with the transaction, ANZ has also agreed to purchase ING Group's interests in the ING (NZ) Diversified Yield Fund and Regular Income Fund in New Zealand for A$55 million (US$49 million).
According to ANZ, the cash purchase price of about A$1.8 billion (US$1.6 billion) equates to around 11 times normalized 2008 earnings and 1.2 times embedded value as of Dec. 31, 2008.
"The value proposition is also compelling, with an attractive purchase price combined with significant revenue opportunities and selected cost synergies," said Mike Smith, CEO of ANZ.
Smith added the transaction, which is expected to be cash earnings per share accretive in the 2010 financial year before synergy benefits, reinforces ANZ's regional objective as "not just an Asian strategy; it's a regional strategy founded on strong positions in our Australian, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific markets."
ANZ believes the acquisition will strengthen its position in wealth management and life insurance, and provides flexibility for growth. Its total funds under management amount to A$45 billion as at July 31, 2009.
In 2002, ING and ANZ merged their insurance and wealth management operations in Australia and New Zealand. The operations now employ 2,200 staff in Australia and 500 in New Zealand, offering wealth management and insurance products through ANZ bank branches, financial advisers and directly through the Internet.
The group said ING Australia is the second-largest life insurer and has a top-five position in wealth management, while ING New Zealand has market leading positions in retail fund management, life insurance and real estate.
(By Rebecca Ng, Hong Kong news editor: Rebecca.Ng@ambest.com)