Prudential fined for failed bid for AIG's Asia arm

[March 28, 2013]  LONDON (AP) -- Britain's financial services regulator has fined insurer Prudential PLC 30 million pounds ($45.5 million) and censured its chief executive, over the company's handling of a failed bid to acquire rival the Asian subsidiary of American International Group in 2010.

The fine from the Financial Services Authority centers on Prudential's ambitious attempt to buy AIA for 35.5 billion pounds, a bid that eventually collapsed after both parties failed to agree on a price.

The regulator said Prudential should have informed it of the deal when the two parties held a detailed meeting only weeks before news of the planned takeover emerged. The FSA also censured CEO Tidjane Thiam for playing a significant part in the decision not to contact the regulator.

"The FSA expects to have an open and frank relationship with the firms it supervises and with listed companies," the regulator said in a statement. "It is essential that firms give due consideration to their regulatory obligations at all times."

The FSA said it should have been informed of the deal because Prudential was planning to raise almost half the offer price -- or 14.5 billion pounds -- via a rights issue of shares. That would have been the biggest ever rights issue in the U.K., a development that could have affected confidence in the country's financial system.

Prudential said it regrets its failure to inform regulators.

"The board has decided to settle this matter in the best interests of the group and all its stakeholders," Chairman Paul Manduca said in a statement. "We wish to draw a line under the matter, and to ensure our constructive relationship with our regulators remains good."

American International Group Inc. had planned to use the proceeds from the sale to make a partial repayment to U.S. taxpayers, who are majority owners of the firm following the U.S. government's $180 billion bailout in 2008.

[Associated Press; By DANICA KIRKA]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.