Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia, reported a 24.3% jump in the net value of its investment portfolio in 2012, a profit before taxes of 2.1 billion ringgit, and a dividend payout to the Malaysian government of 1.0 billion ringgit. Khazanah cited its property development investments in Malaysia as well as initial public offerings by portfolio companies IHH Healthcare Berhad and cable-TV network Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad as factors contributing to its annual gains. In a separate announcement, Khazanah and Sun Life Financial Inc. announced plans to acquire insurance joint ventures CIMB Aviva Assurance Berhad and CIMB Aviva Takaful Berhad for C$586 million (US$594 million) from Aviva PLC. The deal is expected to close during the first half of 2013.
The Canadian life insurer InSun Life Financial c. (SLF) has forged an alliance with Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) to jointly acquire 98% of CIMB Aviva Assurance Berhad, and CIMB Aviva Takaful Berhad. The remaining 2%will be retained by CIMB Group. The bancassurance agreement will cover a span of 20 years and will cost C$586 million. Through this transaction, SLF will be able to expand its international operations in Asia.
According to a statement by CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, the sale of its 49% stakes worth RM1.11 billion in CIMB Aviva Assurance Bhd and CIMB Aviva Takaful Bhd to Khazanah Nasional Bhd has been completed. The life insurance and takaful companies stake sales are satisfied by RM1.06 billion in cash combined with RM43.5 million worth of shares in a new insurance holding company called Renggis Ventures Sdn Bhd. The latter s wholly-owned by Khazanah. To sum up, CIMB will maintain an effective 2% interest in CIMB Aviva Assurance and CIMB Aviva Takaful respectively.
Khazanah Nasional is planning to launch renminbi-denominated sukuk, making it the first-ever Islamic financing in Hong Kong’s booming Dim Sum market.
It seems that Khazanah's target is 500 million renminbi (US$77.5mil) with a tenor of five years, although a three-year piece was also in discussion.