HSBC has agreed to sell its Singapore life and insurance business to Allianz for 2.7 billion Singapore dollars (£1.6 billion), a move that forms part of an ongoing strategic overhaul led by chief executive Georges Elhedery.
Crucially, the deal includes a 15-year distribution agreement, ensuring HSBC will continue to offer insurance products to its customers across Singapore.
The banking group anticipates a pre-tax gain of around 1.8 billion US dollars (£1.4 billion) from the sale, which is expected to significantly boost its balance sheet strength.
An initial cash lump sum of 200 million dollars (£150.1 million) is also payable as part of the distribution arrangement. The transaction is projected to complete in the first half of next year.
“Singapore is crucial to HSBC’s strategy and is a key focus of investment and growth for the group,” HSBC said.
The move is the latest made by boss Mr Elhedery, who has been restructuring the lender over the past two years.
He has already closed parts of HSBC’s investment banking business across the UK, Europe and the US and exited some markets.
He continues to slash costs across the group and said in May the group was set to meet a target for 1.5 billion dollars (£1.1 billion) in annual savings by June, which is six months earlier than planned.
HSBC said on Friday: “The transaction forms part of the ongoing simplification of the HSBC Group as it focuses on increasing leadership and market share in the areas where it has a clear competitive advantage and the greatest opportunities to grow and support its clients.”
In May, the UK-headquartered lender saw profits before tax fall to $9.4 billion (£6.96 billion), down from $9.5 billion (£7 billion) a year earlier.
The bank attributed this decline to higher expected credit losses, other credit impairment charges, and a rise in operating expenses.
However, HSBC's revenue climbed 6 per cent to $18.6 billion (£13.7 billion) compared with the opening quarter of 2025.
This growth was primarily driven by strong performance in its wealth management division and Hong Kong business segment.
