Prudential plc’s shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong have been included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme, effective immediately.
According to an announcement by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, this means that qualified investors in the Chinese mainland now have direct access to Prudential’s shares through the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
Prudential is now also officially part of the Hang Seng Composite Index (HSCI).
“The inclusion in the HSCI and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme marks another significant milestone in Prudential’s new chapter as an Asia- and Africa-focused company and supports our continued commitment to diversify our investor base,” said James Turner (pictured above), Prudential’s group chief financial officer. “We are delighted to offer investors in the Chinese mainland an opportunity to be part of our growth journey. Prudential has a robust capital position, with ample capacity to tap growth opportunities that are driven by increasing demand for health, protection and savings solutions as people live longer and become more affluent.
“We aim to achieve long-term double-digit growth in embedded value per share, driven by our diverse sources of growth across Asia and Africa and supported by our leading positions in high-growth markets.”
Prudential currently operates 34 businesses in 23 markets across Asia and Africa, focusing on offering health, protection and savings products and services. Its digitally enhanced multi-channel distribution platform has more than 530,000 agents and over 170 bancassurance partners.
“The diversification of our business across geographies, products and distribution platforms gives us resilience and a long-term growth trajectory,” Turner said. “As our markets emerge from the pandemic, we are well-placed to help our customers get the most out of life by providing them greater access to healthcare and financial security.”
