Prudential considers moving headquarters to Asia

British-based insurance group Prudential is reportedly reviving proposals to move its headquarters to Asia to avoid new European Union regulations.

The plans are believed to have been first laid out three years ago when Tidjane Thiam was chief executive and are now being re-examined in the face of the Solvency II rules due to come in at the beginning of 2016.

Sources told the Sunday Times that the company could potentially either dispose of or spin-out its British operations into a separate company.

Prudential responded to the newspaper by saying London "remains a very attractive place to be domiciled".

"However, we have always said that, as a large, international group, we regularly look at the structure of our business to ensure that it remains optimal."