AXA to sell its investment, pensions and direct protection businesses in the UK to Phoenix Group Holdings

AXA announced today that it had entered into an agreement with Phoenix Group Holdings to sell its (non-platform) investment and pensions business and its direct protection business (“Sunlife”) in the UK. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the second semester 2016.

The overall consideration for the sale of the UK Life & Savings businesses, including the transaction announced today, the sale of the offshore investment bonds business based in the Isle of Man announced on April 28th, and the sale of the wrap platform Elevate announced on May 4th would amount to ca. GBP 632 million (or ca. Euro 832 million (1)). These transactions would generate an exceptional negative P&L impact of ca. Euro 0.4 billion accounted for in net income (2).

The operations affected by these transactions will be treated as discontinued operations in AXA’s 2016 consolidated financial statements. As a consequence, their earnings will be accounted for in Net Income until the closing date.

(1) 1 EUR = 0. 75979 GBP as of May 25, 2016 (Source: Bloomberg)
(2) As previously communicated, AXA also expects to realize an exceptional gain of ca. USD 1.1 billion (or ca. Euro 1.0 billion) after tax on the disposal of two real estate properties in the US, which will be accounted for in net income during the first half of 2016.