Chennai: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital (RCap) announced that it has invited Nippon Life Insurance to acquire its entire 42.88 per cent stake in Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management (RNAM).
Reliance Capital, in a regulatory filing, said, “Reliance Capital has invited its partner, Nippon Life Insurance, to make an offer to acquire up to 42.88 per cent stake held by Reliance Capital in Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management,”
The company said it would make further announcements at the appropriate time.
As per BSE data, as on 31 December, 2018, Reliance Capital held 42.9 per cent stake in RNAM. Japan’s Nippon Life Insurance already holds 42.88 per cent stake in the joint venture (JV).
According to reports, the transaction could help clear around 40 per cent of Reliance Capital’s outstanding debt worth Rs 18,000 crore. The transaction price is likely to be at a significant premium to the current market price, as it would also involve control premium.
The proposed share sale would also trigger the requirement of open offer to be made for 26 per cent stake in the company.
Once the transaction goes through, the company is poised to become the largest wholly foreign-owned mutual fund in India.
It must be noted that only on Wednesday the Supreme Court held RCom Chairman Anil Ambani and two others guilty of contempt of court for violating its order by not paying dues of Rs 550 crore to Ericsson and added that they faced a three-month jail term if Rs 453 crore was not paid to Ericsson in four weeks.