11 Jan 2017

ANZ to sell UDC Finance to Chinese company for $660m

10:54 am on 11 January 2017

The ANZ Bank has agreed to sell UDC Finance to a Chinese company for $660 million.

anz

anz Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

HNA Group is headquartered in the world's second biggest economy and focuses on tourism, logistics and financial services.

ANZ chief executive David Hisco said the sale came after a review of UDC.

"(The sale) was in line with ANZ's strategy to simplify its business and focus on its core banking activities," he said.

Last year, S&P Global Ratings downgraded the rating of UDC and kept it on a negative credit watch, because it thought the company would be sold.

Mr Hisco said UDC was performing well and the purchase was a vote of confidence in the New Zealand economy.

"HNA doesn't currently operate in New Zealand, so this sale will maintain competition in the asset finance and leasing market which is good for customers," he added.

The Chinese company planned to keep current UDC employees and maintain existing customer lending.

The sale was expected to be completed later this year.