U.S. insurance group MetLife is considering the possible sale of its Ukrainian subsidiary, MetLife, which has operated in the market since 2002 and is the country’s largest player in the life insurance segment. However, this information has not been officially confirmed at this stage.
Several sources across the financial and insurance markets reported the potential transaction, although all of them spoke on condition of anonymity. MetLife itself, as well as the potential buyers, declined to comment publicly on the situation, emphasizing that they do not respond to market rumors.
According to the sources, at least three insurance companies have already shown interest in the asset, including Uniqa, part of Austria’s Uniqa Group; TAS Life, controlled by Sergiy Tigipko; and PZU Ukraine, which belongs to Poland’s PZU Group.
MetLife is the largest company in Ukraine’s life insurance market and, at the same time, the country’s most profitable insurer by the end of 2025. Its assets amount to UAH 11.4 billion, while net profit is close to UAH 1 billion. Life insurance premiums total around UAH 3 billion, with the majority generated from individual clients.
According to market participants, the potential deal value could exceed $100 million. Depending on the valuation approach and transaction structure, the company’s price may vary within a wide range — approximately from $90 million to $220 million. The main benchmark is the company’s equity, which stands at about UAH 4.9 billion (more than $110 million), as well as market multiples.
One possible reason for the sale, according to sources, is a strategic decision by the global MetLife group to reassess its presence in smaller markets, including in light of demographic factors in Ukraine.
An additional factor that may affect the deal price is its structure. In particular, a key issue remains where the settlement would take place — in Ukraine or abroad — as currency restrictions could influence the asset’s final value.
At this point, no official statements have been made regarding the sale of MetLife or the launch of any transaction process, and the information remains at the level of market speculation and industry estimates.
