Carlyle-backed China Pacific readies HK IPO-sources

HONG KONG, July 15 (Reuters) - China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co Ltd (601601.SS), the country's third-largest life insurer and partly owned by the Carlyle Group, is set to relaunch its Hong Kong IPO, according to sources, after its first attempt failed last year when markets plunged.

The insurer, which tried to raise around 30 billion yuan ($4.39 billion) from the Hong Kong market last year, has been in early discussions with several investment banks for a new Hong Kong IPO proposal, said the sources close to the situation.

The new IPO plan aims to exclude a minimum listing price condition that had previously been required, said sources who declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media before an official announcement is made.

Shanghai-headquartered China Pacific and Washington D.C.-based Carlyle both declined to comment. ($1=6.831 Yuan) (Reporting by George Chen and Michael Flaherty; Editing by Chris Lewis)