Government considers allowing foreign direct investment in Life Insurance Corporation

Aug 24, 2021

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NEW DELHI: The federal government is contemplating permitting overseas direct funding (FDI) in Life Insurance coverage Company (LIC), in accordance with an individual acquainted with the matter, which might allow a single abroad investor to purchase a big stake within the agency that’s headed for a mega-IPO.
Any strategic funding can be topic to a cap, although it’s unclear at what stage that will be set, the individual mentioned, asking to not be recognized because the deliberations are non-public.
Individuals at a gathering earlier this month famous a 20% FDI restrict on state-run banks, the individual mentioned.
Permitting FDI in LIC would allow so-called strategic buyers reminiscent of large pension funds or insurance coverage corporations to take part within the preliminary public providing, which is slated to be India’s largest ever.
The Reserve Financial institution of India (RBI) defines FDI as buy of a stake that’s 10% or bigger by a person or entity primarily based overseas.
Bankers looking for to rearrange LIC’s IPO are resulting from make displays to the federal government on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration — which owns 100% of LIC — is trying on the sale to assist slim its price range hole to six.8% of gross home product within the yr via March 2022.
The itemizing might worth LIC at as a lot as $261 billion, primarily based on its property underneath administration and utilizing non-public sector insurers as a benchmark, analysts at Jefferies India wrote in a February be aware.
Whereas FDI of as a lot as 74% is permitted in most Indian insurers, the principles don’t apply to LIC as a result of it’s a particular entity created by an act of parliament, the individual mentioned, including that the discussions relating to FDI are at an early stage and no last resolution has been reached but.
A spokesperson for the finance ministry couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
BNP Paribas SA, Citigroup Inc and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are amongst seven overseas banks vying to handle the IPO. 9 Indian corporations embrace HDFC Financial institution Ltd and Axis Capital.



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