Axis Bank to pick about 30 pc stake in Max Life Insurance for Rs 1,600 cr
With the deal going through, sources said, the bank is expected to pay Rs 1,600 crore to Max Financial Services (MFS), the holding company of Max Life.
Axis Bank holds about 1 per cent stake in Max Life and is the biggest banking channel partner for distribution of its products. Products sold through the bank reportedly contribute for 54 per cent of Max Life's revenues.
The boards of Axis Bank, MFS and Max Life approved the transaction late on April 27, a joint statement said on Tuesday.
"This is an outcome of the inter-se discussions after the three companies had signed a confidentiality and exclusivity arrangement on February 20, 2020 to explore the possibility of a long-term strategic partnership between Axis Bank and Max Life," it said.
Interestingly, the deal comes at a time when the economy is hit by COVID-19 crisis impacting all sectors of the economy including the financial sector.
It is to be seen how the sectoral regulators including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) deal with the proposed transaction in these difficult times.
MFS holds 72.5 per cent stake in Max Life and Japan-based Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI) owns 25.5 per cent stake.
The joint venture arrangement will significantly improve Max Life's position vis-a-vis its competitors, including the other large banks owned life insurers, it said.
"The development will result in a mutually beneficial and enduring relationship between Axis Bank and Max Life and bring the stability of a long term partnership to India's fourth largest private life insurance franchise," it said.
The proposed transaction with Axis Bank follows the ongoing swapping by MSI of 20.6 per cent stake that it holds in Max Life with a 21.9 per cent stake in MFS, it added.
"MFS also plans to purchase MSI's balance stake in Max Life. Post completion of the series of transactions, Max Life will become a 70:30 joint venture between MFS and Axis Bank" the statement said.
The proposed transactions are subject to approval of requisite corporate and regulatory authorities including IRDAI, RBI and the Competition Commission of India, it added.
With regard to branding, it said, Max Life's tag line will include Axis Bank's name, which will further enhance customer trust in the brand and highlight the strength of the partnership.
The two companies have had a successful business relationship for over a decade, providing long term saving and protection products to over 19 lakh customers, it said.
The total premium generated through this relationship has aggregated to over Rs 38,000 crore, it said, adding, both companies have invested extensively in product and need-based sales training, thereby leading to consistent increase in productivity.
It is to be noted that Max Life had made an attempt to merge with HDFC Life in 2017 which failed as they did not receive regulatory approval due to reported complexity of the deal.
Interestingly, the deal was then brokered by the then HDFC Life CEO Amitabh Chaudhry who is now the CEO of Axis Bank.
Following failure of the deal, Max Group made several attempts to sell part of its stake. However, it did not meet success.
Announcing the transaction, Axis Bank CEO Amitabh Chaudhry said, "We continue to believe in the long-term prospects of India's under-penetrated life insurance space, current environment notwithstanding. We see this joint venture creating immense value for our stakeholders given our long-standing, high performing partnership with Max Life."
This transaction will help deepen working relationship leading to better integrated teams and infrastructure and a superior alignment in approach, he added.
Max Group founder and Chairman Analjit Singh said, "I believe that in Axis, we have found an exceptional partner and we have conviction that this will make Max Life fundamentally stronger, better performing and will bring stability to the franchise. We will run the organization as if it's an equal partnership, a philosophy which has held us in good stead earlier as well."
Virtually all major banks in the country have a presence in the insurance segment through joint ventures with foreign players, as banks' ability to distribute products gives them an edge in the sector that delivers one of the best profitability ratios over a long term. DP ANUANU