LIC completes acquisition of 51 percent stake in IDBI Bank; insurer to have strategic investment in large bancassurance channel

New Delhi: IDBI Bank Monday said insurance behemoth LIC has completed the acquisition of 51 percent controlling stake in the bank, making it the lender's majority shareholder.

"The deal, conceptualised in June 2018, is envisaged as a win-win situation for both IDBI Bank and LIC with an opportunity to create enormous value for shareholders, customers & employees of both entities through mutual synergies," IDBI Bank said in a BSE filing.

In August last year, the Cabinet approved the acquisition of controlling stake by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) as a promoter in the bank through a combination of preferential allotment and open offer of equity.

LIC had been looking to enter the banking space by acquiring a majority stake in IDBI Bank, as the deal is expected to provide business synergies despite the lender's stressed balance sheet.

The bank had reported a net loss of Rs 3,602.49 crore during the September quarter of 2018-19. Its gross non-performing assets hit 31.78 percent (Rs 60,875.49 crore) of the gross advances as on September 30, 2018, as compared with 24.98 percent in the year-ago period.

Representational image. Reuters.

IDBI Bank has about 1.5 crore retail customers and about 18,000 employees. With this deal, LIC will have a strategic investment in a large bancassurance channel, thereby increasing its productivity and reducing distribution costs.

Over 800 branches of IDBI Bank can be used as touch points for selling LIC policies, the public sector lender said.

IDBI Bank said it would significantly increase its investments in building data analytics capabilities to analyse customer behaviour of both the entities.

This will enable the bank to enhance its product offerings, reduce distribution cost, de-risk portfolio and support retail business build, it added.

IDBI Bank said its retail loan portfolio is expected to reach 50 percent by fiscal 2019-20.

"IDBI Bank and LIC have started working to ensure full realisation of their synergies over the next 12 months. Improved financial health will pave the way for the bank to exit from prompt corrective action (PCA) in a time-bound manner and be a future-ready, top-ranked bank. LIC and IDBI Bank are committed to serve the interests of all stakeholders," the bank said.

Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework. These are Allahabad Bank, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Dena Bank and Bank of Maharashtra.

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