Two sources have direct knowledge of the matter, saying that the FWD Group, controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li, is considering shifting its $2 - $3 billion share sale from the United States to Hong Kong.
The company, which filed confidentially in June for the New York initial public offering IPO, is considering the switch amid delays by U.S. regulators scrutinising the plan and lacklustre interests from investors, according to sources from the Hong Kong-based company.
A FWD spokesman wouldn't give any comment on Wednesday when he was asked by Reuters about a possible change in the listing venue.
The insurer has yet to receive a nod from the U.S. regulators for its IPO to go ahead before the end of the year, a timetable that sources had flagged previously.
The second source said that the delays had creased concerns that approval would not be granted, while the second source said that investors cited lukewarm interests from investors.
The two sources said that FWD and its advisors would consider returning to Hong Kong for its market debut due to the delayed approval process.
FWD has faced questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its mainland China ties and has been treated by authorities as a Chinese business rather than a Hong Kong entity, said one of the sources and a third person.
The information has not yet been made public, which could not be named as the three sources could not be named.