Bloomberg News
Shares of Prudential PLC, Britain's second-largest insurer, began trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.
The company aims to make acquisitions in the world's biggest financial services market.
Prudential, of London, raised $209 million by selling 15 million ordinary and American depositary receipts in U.S. and international offerings.
Prudential joined companies such as Switzerland's UBS AG that are seeking to use dollar-denominated shares to finance purchases. Prudential wants to buy a fund manager in the United States as it seeks to boost income from outside the United Kingdom.
"The U.S. is a big and very liquid market," chief executive Jonathan Bloomer said. "It also provides a currency if we want to do something. The market is changing a lot and gives rise to opportunities."
