Prudential Increases Investment in Malaysian Life Insurance Operations Through Strategic Acquisition

Prudential Increases Investment in Malaysian Life Insurance Operations Through Strategic Acquisition

(IN BRIEF) Prudential plc has agreed to acquire an additional 19% stake in Sri Han Suria Sdn. Bhd., increasing its total ownership of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad to 70% and reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Malaysian insurance market. The RM1.52 billion transaction, approved by Bank Negara Malaysia, is expected to be earnings and value accretive and will further strengthen Prudential’s position in both conventional life insurance and takaful-related activities in Malaysia. Following completion, Prudential will continue to consolidate the business while reducing minority interests, aligning ownership structure with its strategic focus on sustainable growth and disciplined capital deployment in the region.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 22-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Prudential plc (LON: PRU), a British multinational life and health insurance company, has reached an agreement to increase its ownership in its Malaysian life insurance operations by acquiring an additional 19% stake in Sri Han Suria Sdn. Bhd., the holding company of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad. The transaction will be executed through Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited, a wholly owned Prudential subsidiary, and will raise Prudential’s total shareholding in Sri Han Suria to 70%¹ once completed.

Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad represents Prudential’s conventional life insurance business in Malaysia and, together with the Group’s interest in Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad, forms Prudential’s Malaysian life insurance segment. The increased shareholding strengthens Prudential’s long-standing presence in Malaysia, where the Group has operated for more than a century and continues to support life, health, protection, and savings needs across the market.

The transaction involves the purchase of the additional 19% stake from Detik Ria Sdn. Bhd. for RM1.52 billion, equivalent to approximately US$375 million². Regulatory approval has been granted by Bank Negara Malaysia, and completion is expected shortly. Based on Prudential Group’s unaudited financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2025, the transaction would have been accretive to adjusted operating earnings per share, traditional embedded value, and IFRS shareholders’ equity per share.

Following completion, Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited has also agreed to cooperate with Detik Ria in connection with any potential divestment of Detik Ria’s remaining 30% interest in Sri Han Suria to agreed third parties. From an accounting perspective, Prudential will continue to consolidate Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad as an indirectly controlled subsidiary, with operating performance metrics for the Malaysian segment presented before minority interests. The proportion of profit and equity attributed to non-controlling interests will reflect the reduction in Detik Ria’s shareholding from 49% to 30%.

The transaction reinforces Prudential’s disciplined capital allocation approach and its long-term commitment to Malaysia as a core growth market, supporting continued value creation for customers, policyholders, and communities across the country.

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SOURCE: Prudential plc