TAIPEI (March 9): Taiwan's Cathay Financial Holding Co is in exclusive talks to acquire the Malaysian unit of Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia, in a deal that could be valued at around US$200 million to US$300 million.

If clinched, the deal will enable Taiwan's largest financial holding company by assets to widen its reach in Southeast Asia.

The Taiwanese group's bank and life insurance units plan to jointly purchase all of Bank of Nova Scotia Berhad in Malaysia, according to a Cathay Financial statement to the Taiwan Stock Exchange on Thursday.

The two sides have until April 30 to agree to any deal terms, before the exclusivity expires, the statement said.

It gave no financial details.

An official in the media office for Cathay Financial told Reuters the Malaysian banking unit is estimated to have a net value of around US$200 million to US$300 million.

Cathay Financial already has around a quarter stake each in Bank Mayapada in Indonesia and the Philippines' Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC).

Its latest interest comes as Taiwan's government has been encouraging more investment into Southeast Asia, with Taiwanese financial conglomerates seeking to diversify revenue for their competitive home market.

Earlier this week, Taiwan's financial regulator gave its green light for Cathay rival CTBC Financial Holding Co to buy a 35.6% stake in Thailand's LH Financial Group for 16.6 billion baht (US$470.12 million), in a deal first announced last year.

For Bank of Nova Scotia, the move to sell its Malaysian unit comes as the Canadian lender has been revamping its Asian strategy, including announcing last year that it was pulling out of Taiwan.

(US$1 = 35.3100 baht)