India may block Chinese investment in insurance giant LIC’s IPO

NEW DELHI: New Delhi wants to block Chinese investors from buying shares in Indian insurance giant Life Insurance Corp (LIC) which is due to go public, four senior government officials and a banker told Reuters, underscoring tensions between the two nations.

State-owned LIC is considered a strategic asset, commanding more than 60% of India’s life insurance market with assets of more than $500 billion. While the government is planning to allow foreign investors to participate in what is likely to be the country’s biggest-ever IPO worth a potential $12.2 billion, it is leery of Chinese ownership, the sources said.

Political tensions between the countries rocketed last year after their soldiers clashed on the disputed Himalayan border and since then, India has sought to limit Chinese investment in sensitive companies and sectors, banned a raft of Chinese mobile apps and subjected imports of Chinese goods to extra scrutiny.

“With China after the border clashes it cannot be business as usual. The trust deficit has significantly widen(ed),” said one of the government officials, adding that Chinese investment in companies like LIC could pose risks.

The sources declined to be identified as discussions on how Chinese investment might be blocked are ongoing and as no final decisions have been made.

India’s finance ministry and LIC did not respond to Reuters emailed requests for comment. China’s foreign ministry and commerce ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Aiming to solve budget constraints, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is hoping to raise 900 billion rupees through selling 5% to 10% of LIC this financial year which ends in March.