HONG KONG, June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- AIA Group Limited ("AIA" or "the Group"; stock code: 1299), announced today that it has launched a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") programme. AIA's ADRs trade on the US over-the-counter market under the symbol AAGIY. The ADR programme does not represent an increase of the share capital or any issuance of new shares. Each ADR represents four ordinary shares of AIA.
Commenting on the launch, Mark Tucker, AIA's Group Chief Executive & President, said: "AIA's 100% focus on Asian retail financial services and its unique regional footprint has a global attraction to shareholders looking for high quality growth opportunities. After our recent inclusion in Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index, the sponsored ADR programme is a further step taken to enable a wider range of investors to participate in the Group's future."
Depositary Receipt Information
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Custodian | Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
| Effective Date | 22 June 2011 |
Sponsored Level 1 ADR
| Ticker | AAGIY |
| CUSIP | 001317205 |
| ISIN | US0013172053 |
| Ratio | 4 ordinary shares : 1 ADR |
| Exchange | Over-the-counter |
An ADR is a US dollar denominated security representing shares in a non-US company, which allows investors to indirectly hold shares and trade them in the United States. AIA has appointed BNY Mellon as the sole depositary bank to administer its ADR programme. The previous unsponsored programmes were transferred into the new sponsored programme.
About the AIA Group
AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "the AIA Group" or "the Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world. It has wholly-owned main operating subsidiaries or branches in 14 markets in Asia Pacific - Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Macau and Brunei and a 26% joint venture shareholding in India.
The Group traces its origins in Asia back more than 90 years. It is a market leader in the Asia Pacific region (ex Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It has total assets of US$107.9 billion (as at 30 November 2010).
The AIA Group meets the savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a comprehensive suite of products and services including retirement planning, life insurance and accident and health insurance. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of more than 260,000 agents and over 21,000 employees across Asia Pacific, AIA serves the holders of over 23 million individual policies and over 10 million participating members of group schemes.
AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code '1299'.
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