AXA has announced that it has received an irrevocable offer from Ageas for the potential sale of its Portuguese operations, including in particular its entire stake in AXA Portugal Companhia de Seguros SA (“P&C Business”), AXA Portugal Companhia de Seguros de Vida SA (“Life & Savings Business”) as well as AXA Global Direct Seguros y Reaseguros, the Portuguese branch of its direct operations (“Direct Business”).
The proposed transaction would value 100% of AXA’s Portuguese operations at €197.5 mln, representing an implied 1.2x book value multiple as of June 30, 2015. The net cash consideration received by AXA at completion would amount to €190.8 mln.
“As part of our Ambition AXA strategy, we focus our efforts and allocate our capital in markets with strong long term growth prospects. We are convinced that the combination of Ageas with AXA's operations in Portugal would open new business opportunities by creating a stronger player in this market and would benefit to our customers, employees and distributors”, said Jean-Laurent Granier, Chief Executive Officer of the Mediterranean and Latin American region. “I would like to take the opportunity to very warmly thank the Portuguese teams for their continuous engagement and for the commitment to our customers they have always demonstrated over the years”.
The proposed transaction is subject to customary conditions, including completing the information and consultation of the relevant works councils as well as obtaining required regulatory approvals, and should be finalized before the end of the first semester of 2016.
The proposed transaction should generate a positive exceptional P&L impact of approximately €100 mln, which would be accounted for in Net Income. AXA’s Portuguese operations affected by this proposed transaction will be treated as held for sale in AXA’s Full Year 2015 consolidated financial statements.
Source: AXA
