LIC completes acquisition of 51% stake in IDBI Bank

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
IDBI Bank Monday said insurance behemoth LIC has completed acquisition of 51 per cent controlling stake in bank, making it 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, Cabinet approved acquisition of controlling stake by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) as a promoter in bank through a
combination of preferential allotment and open offer of equity
LIC had been looking to enter banking space by acquiring a majority stake in IDBI Bank, as deal is expected to provide business synergies
despite lender's stressed balance sheet
The bank had reported a net loss of Rs 3,602.49 crore during September quarter of 2018-19
Its gross non-performing assets hit 31.78 per cent (Rs 60,875.49 crore) of gross advances as on September 30, 2018, as compared with 24.98
per cent in year-ago period
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, public sector lender said
IDBI Bank said it would significantly increase its investments in building data analytics capabilities to analyse customer behaviour of
both entities
This will enable 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 per cent by fiscal 2019-20
"IDBI Bank and LIC have started working to ensure full realisation of their synergies over next 12 months
Improved financial health will pave way for 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 interests of all stakeholders," bank said
Of 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under 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.