Conglomerate Swire Pacific has disposed of its remaining 30 per cent stake in insurance-broking business Swire Blanch (Insurance) Holdings to EW Blanch Holdings for an undisclosed sum. The disposal forms part of Swire's plan to focus on core businesses. EW Blanch - a Texas-based reinsurance intermediary company - acquired a 70 per cent stake in Swire Blanch in early 1997. It also bought a 70 per cent stake in Swire Fraser - a British-based insurance broker - at the same time for GBP8 million (about HK$102.86 million). Swire chairman James Hughes-Hallett said: 'From the Swire perspective, this transaction reflects the strategic decision we made some time ago to dispose of our various interests in the insurance industry in order to focus our attention more directly on our core businesses.' Swire Blanch will be renamed EW Blanch following the deal, expected to be completed by the end of the year.