AIA, Manulife Said to Bid for SCB’s Thai Life Insurance Unit

AIA Group Ltd. and Manulife Financial Corp. are among bidders for Siam Commercial Bank Pcl’s life insurance operations in what could be the biggest-ever acquisition of a Southeast Asian insurer, people with knowledge of the matter said. Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi is partnering with Singapore’s Great Eastern Holdings Ltd. on a non-binding offer, while Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li’s FWD Group and, separately, Prudential Plc have also bid, according to the people.