China's go-getting financial buyers push overseas

JD Capital’s purchase of a Hong Kong life insurance business from Belgian insurer Ageas for $1.4 billion is the latest in a surge of deals by Chinese financial institutions looking to diversify overseas.

Established in 2007, JD Capital is similar to other privately owned Chinese peers such as Fosun and Anbang which have struck high-profile deals lately as they look to rapidly build an international financial services platform using the steady cash flow from insurance premiums. 

The value of Chinese insurance acquisitions abroad has already hit an annual high so far this year at $5.77 billion, up from $2.23 billion in all of 2014,...