LIC board approves acquisition of up to 51% stake in IDBI Bank

LIC’s buying stake in IDBI Bank will help the debt-ridden state-owned bank get a capital support of ₹10,000- 13,000 crore.

The LIC board on Monday gave approval to the insurance behemoth for acquiring of up to 51% stake in IDBI Bank, economic affairs secretary S C Garg said.

LIC has 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. (Reuters File Photo)

Now the state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will approach markets regulator SEBI.

Insurance regulator IRDAI has already given its approval to the insurer for the stake purchase. Garg said the board, which met in New Delhi, approved LIC buying up to 51% stake in IDBI Bank.

LIC stake buy will help the debt-ridden state-owned bank get a capital support of ₹10,000- 13,000 crore.

LIC has 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.

It will get about 2,000 branches through which it can sell its products, while the bank would get massive funds from LIC.

Once the deal goes through, IDBI Bank, which is grappling with mounting toxic loans with gross non-performing assets rising to a staggering ₹55,600 crore at the end of the March quarter, will get much needed capital support to revive its fortune.