The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) may acquire a stake in a health insurance company by the end of March, CEO Siddhartha Mohanty has revealed. While the CEO did not provide further details on the potential deal, he clarified that the company is not looking to take a majority stake. This marks a significant move for LIC, which currently only offers life insurance policies, pension plans, and investment-linked insurance products, but not health insurance.
The Indian insurance sector has become increasingly competitive, with private insurers expanding their offerings in the health insurance space to capitalize on growing consumer demand. If LIC enters the health insurance market, it will face competition from major players such as Star Health Insurance, Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa Health Insurance, and Care Health Insurance. However, the company’s reputation and brand recognition could give it an edge in the market.
In addition to exploring health insurance, LIC is also in discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the issuance of longer-term bonds. The company is looking to invest in bonds with maturity periods of 50 years or even 100 years, which is longer than the current range of 20-40 years. The CEO noted that the company’s people are discussing this with the RBI and considering the option. This move is likely to have a significant impact on the Indian bond market and the country’s financial landscape.