(Adds share movement, background)
March 29 (Reuters) - Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX said on Thursday it is undertaking a strategic review of its Indonesian life insurance business, PT Commonwealth Life, and that it has engaged external advisers for guidance on a possible sale of the venture.
The decision follows an earlier announcement of the proposed sale of the bank's life insurance businesses in Australia and New Zealand to AIA Group 1299.HK , the company added in a statement. had earlier reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Australia's biggest lender was considering selling its majority stake in an Indonesian insurance venture in a deal valued at up to $250 million. Bank is an 80 percent shareholder in PT Commonwealth Life.
A possible stake sale, if completed, will be another instance of Asia Pacific banks exiting the insurance sector to free up capital and focus on their core businesses amid tougher regulatory capital buffer requirements.
CBA shares were up 0.6 percent in early Sydney trade compared with a 0.2 percent decline in the broader benchmark index .AXJO .