Paytm, Vijay Shekhar Sharma to acquire Raheja QBE General Insurance

Paytm, owned by One 97 Communications Ltd, along with its founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma will acquire Mumbai-based private sector general insurance company Raheja QBE, a company statement said.

"Raheja QBE is owned 51 percent by Prism Johnson and 49 percent by QBE Australia. Paytm is set to acquire both stakes and would own 100 percent of the company," Paytm said in a statement.

The company, however, did not disclose the financial details of the transactions.

The acquisition is subject to customary conditions, including approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the statement added.

Meanwhile, Prism Johnson Ltd, formerly Prism Cement Ltd, in a separate statement said its board has approved selling its entire 51 percent stake in its general insurance joint venture Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Ltd (RQBE) to Paytm and Vijay Shekhar Sharma for about Rs 290 crore.

In a regulatory filing, Prism Johnson said its board has approved divestment of 51 percent of the paid-up equity share capital in RQBE, a material subsidiary, to QORQL Pvt Ltd for an aggregate consideration of Rs 289.68 crore.

QORQL Pvt Ltd, is a technology company with a majority shareholding of Vijay Shekhar Sharma and remaining held by Paytm.

"It is an important milestone in Paytm's financial services journey, and we are very excited to welcome Raheja QBE General Insurance into the Paytm family. Its strong management team will help us accelerate our journey of taking insurance to the large population of India with the aim to create a tech-driven, multi-channel general insurance company with innovative and affordable insurance products," said Amit Nayyar, President at Paytm.

Commenting on the development, QBE Australia Pacific Chief Executive Officer, Vivek Bhatia said, "Today's announcement marks both a continuation of QBE's strategy to simplify our business and the beginning of a new & exciting chapter for our strong team at Raheja QBE."

Prism Johnson said the consideration to be received by the company for the divestment is subject to certain adjustments which may be carried out between the date of execution of definitive agreement and closure of the sale, and other customary terms for a sale of such nature.

"The divestment will result in the termination of the company's joint-venture with Australia's QBE in the general insurance business in India. Post the Divestment, RQBE will also cease to be a subsidiary of the company," Prism Johnson added.

Raheja QBE which started operations in 2009, is a joint venture between Prism Johnson Ltd and QBE Insurance Group, one of Australia's largest insurers.