Barclays explores mergers with rival banks

現階段大新系的重組倡議為：一、大新金融(440)應在完成出售大新人壽之後，分派盡可能最多的特別股息，減少控股折讓和提振回報；二、在盡可能情況下進行大新金融和大新銀行(2356)的系內重組，比如實物分派，改善兩者的架構和估值；三、爭取中長期放售大新銀行，推升回報並達致長期規模效益。

As matters now stand, we've come up with a win-win shareholding-restructuring proposal in respect of the Dah Sing Group, one that is set to be mutually beneficial to all parties concerned, as follows:
1) In order to enhance the group’s future growth prospects and with a view to improving the deep share-price discount now existing to its NAV, we believe that now is the time for Dah Sing Financial (440) to seriously consider distributing 99%, if not all, of the sales proceed resulting from the sale of Dah Sing Life, say, by way of a special cash dividend once and for all;
2) Dah Sing Financial and Dah Sing Banking (2356) to determinedly go for, and on a best-effort basis, the immediate target for a shareholding restructuring, like turning it into a simple, but more clear structure, with a view to improving the valuation of the Group as a whole. This can probably be implemented and thereby achieved, say, by way of distributing in specie of the Dah Sing Banking and the Bank of Chongqing (1963);
3) Dah Sing Financial to endeavor on an ongoing basis, for whatever it takes, even if it means a longer-term perspective, to procure the sale of Dah Sing Banking , so that not only a fruitful return can be anticipated, but also to call for an upbeat and consistent return on the shareholder’s funds of the bank, given the optimal efficiency so achieved through the aforesaid actions.