Ex-AIA chief eyes Aviva divisions

Mark Wilson, former chief executive of Asian life assurer AIA, is trying to raise private equity backing to bid for the non-core emerging markets businesses of Aviva, according to reports.

Wilson, who left AIA a year ago after the collapse of its proposed sale by AIG to Prudential, is thought to be only at the initial stages of his fundraising efforts, according to the Financial Times.

One person with knowledge of his plans said there were still a number of other opportunities he could pursue.

Aviva, which sold its RAC roadside rescue business to Carlyle for £1bn ($1.6bn) in June, is looking at potential sales of its smaller eastern European and Asian businesses as it refocuses on 12 core markets.

The non-core eastern Europe businesses are in Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic and analysts have valued them at about £100m.

The Asia businesses, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, would be worth collectively more than £400m.