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TCS Posts 9% YoY Rise in Q2 Net Profit – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

TCS Q2 Results: Profit rises 9% YoY to ₹11,342 crore

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reported a 9% YoY increase in consolidated net profit to ₹11,342 crore for the quarter ended September 2023 (Q2 FY24). Its consolidated revenue rose 8% YoY to ₹59,692 crore. EBITDA stood at ₹14,483 crores, up 9.1% YoY. The company’s board has recommended an interim dividend of ₹9 per share. The board has also approved buyback of shares worth ₹17,000 crore at ₹4,150 per share.

Read more here.

L&T secures mega contract in Middle East

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Ltd’s hydrocarbon business (L&T Energy Hydrocarbon) has secured a Letter of Intent (LoI) for a ‘mega onshore project’ from a prestigious client in the Middle East. The project is valued at above ₹7,000 crore and involves engineering, procurement and construction of gas compression plants.

Read more here.

Vedanta incorporates base metals unit

Vedanta Ltd has incorporated its base metals unit Vedanta Base Metals Ltd with an authorised share capital of ₹1 lakh to implement the demerger scheme. The company holds 100% shareholding of the newly incorporated unit. Vedanta Base Metals will have a diversified portfolio of international base metal assets, including Tuticorin, Fujairah Gold, Silvassa and VZL.

Read more here.

Maruti Suzuki signs MoU with IDBI to provide dealer financing solutions

Maruti Suzuki India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IDBI Bank to offer financing solutions for dealers. The partnership will empower over 4,000 Maruti Suzuki sales outlets across India with comprehensive inventory funding options for their working capital needs. 

Read more here.

GST Authority imposes ₹36,844 penalty on LIC

The Goods & Services Tax (GST) Authority has imposed a fine of ₹36,844 on Life Insurance Corporation Ltd (LIC) for lower payment of taxes. LIC has received a communication or demand order for collection of GST, along with interest and penalty for Jammu & Kashmir state. As per the notice, LIC paid 12% GST instead of 18% on certain invoices. LIC said there is no material impact on financials, operations or other activities.

Read more here.

Aster’s India unit draws suitors valuing business at $1.5 billion

Private equity firm BPEA EQT, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) Board, and other firms are considering a deal to acquire Aster DM Healthcare Ltd’s assets, including its India business. Others interested in potential bids for Aster’s India business include Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co. The deal values Aster’s India business at $1.5 billion.

Read more here.

ONGC Videsh keen on Sri Lankan oil and gas blocks

Oil and Natural Gas Corp is interested in the exploration of oil and gas blocks in Sri Lanka. The company is awaiting an announcement of the oil and gas ‘roadmap’ of the island nation. ONGC Videsh is an overseas investment arm of ONGC. ONGC Videsh is open to having deals through government-to-government negotiations or through competitive bidding depending on Sri Lanka’s yet-to-be-announced exploration policy.

Read more here.

Shakti Pumps to invest ₹114 crore in EV subsidiary Shakti EV Mobility

Shakti Pumps (India) Ltd will make an investment of ₹114 crore in its wholly-owned electric vehicle subsidiary, Shakti EV Mobility Pvt Ltd. The company will make the investment in one or more rounds in the next five years. Shakti Pumps had invested ₹1 crore in its Shakti EV Mobility Pvt Ltd by purchasing 10 lakh equity shares of ₹10 each last year. 

Read more here.

Grasim to consider fundraising on October 16

Grasim Industries will consider fundraising in its meeting scheduled on October 16. The board will consider the proposal for raising funds via equity shares or other securities through rights issues, qualified institutions placement, preferential issues or any other method in the board meeting.

Read more here.

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NIFTY to Open Flat. Trend Setting Day for Next Week! – Pre-Market Analysis Report

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets today:

U.S. inflation data for July came out better than expected, with traders betting this would signal a pause in interest rate hikes. The U.S. markets rallied in the first half and then fell back.

Stocks

Hero MotoCorp recorded a standalone profit of Rs 824.72 crore, rising 32% YoY.

LIC reported huge profits of Rs 9,543.7 crore, due to a one-time event. Net premium remained flat.

Apollo Tyres reported consolidated profit at Rs 396.9 crore, up by 124% YoY as raw material costs fell.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders saw a 40% YoY growth in consolidated profit at Rs 314.3 crore.

SAIL reported a consolidated profit of Rs 212.5 crore, down 73.6% YoY as revenues stayed flat.

HCL Technologies has signed a mega deal with Global 100 Corp with an estimated new total contract value of $2.1 billion over the term.

Major results today: IRFC, Muthoot Fin, Spicejet, ONGC, Nykaa, Apollo Hospital, Cochin Shipyard, HAL, Voltas

What Happened Yesterday?

NIFTY started the day flat at 19,605, slightly up. Consolidation till 10 AM was followed by quick up moves then a fall. Eventually touching the day low once again, NIFTY closed at 19,543, down by 89 points or 0.46% 

BANK NIFTY started the day at 44,797 with a gap-down. It tried to move near the 45k levels but saw a 500-point fall in 20 mins. The index mostly consolidated, with a bearish bias. BANK NIFTY closed the day at 44,541, down by 338 points or 0.76%. 

US markets closed flat after another day of high volatility. The European markets closed in green.

What to Expect Today?

The Asian markets are trading mixed.

The U.S. Futures are trading slightly in the green.

GIFT NIFTY is trading flat at 19,554.

All the factors combined indicate a flat to small gap-up opening in the market.

NIFTY has support at 19,566, 19,530 and 19,438. We can expect resistances at 19,617, 19,658, and 19,720. 

BANK NIFTY has support at 44,400, 44,277 and 44,000. Resistances are at 44,600, 44,800, 44,900 and 45,100.

NIFTY has the highest call OI build-up at 19,600. The highest put OI build-up is at 19,500. PCR is at 0.83.

BANK NIFTY has the highest call OI build-up at 45,000. The highest put OI build-up is also at 44,500. PCR is at 0.79

Foreign Institutional Investors net-bought shares worth Rs 703 crores. Domestic Institutional Investors net-bought worth Rs 331 crores.

INDIA VIX is at 11.14.

U.S. markets closed much lower from the day-high, but still in the green. Inflation data came out better than expected but is still not under control.

NIFTY is consolidating between the ranges of 19,650 and 19,300 for the last week. Although there is huge intraday volatility, only these levels breaking will indicate a larger move.

Both NIFTY and BANK NIFTY option sellers have started making aggressive positions on the call side. If this is seen repeating today, it might set an overall bearish theme for next week’s trade.

On the other hand, FIIs have returned to the cash market buying multiple days in a row. Their involvement might take the market up.

For a larger picture of the week, do keep in mind 19,300 and 19,650.

So after a crazy week, let us hope for a calm and peaceful expiry on 17th August.

Follow along with Smart Money (NIFTY) and Piggy Bank (BANK NIFTY) trades. We will be entering new trades today!

Make sure that you tune in to The Stock Market Show at 7 PM on our YouTube channel. All the best for the day!

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Market News Top 10 News

NCLT Approves ZEEL’s Merger With Sony – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

NCLT approves ZEEL’s merger with Sony

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the merger scheme between Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) with Culver Max Entertainment (Sony). The tribunal has also dismissed all objections regarding the merger.  This is a key regulatory approval for the mega-merger, aimed at creating a $10-billion media giant.

Read more here.

RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) left the repo rate (key policy rate) unchanged at 6.5%. The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also retained its withdrawal of accommodation stance to ensure that the retail inflation remains within the target of 4%. The RBI retained the GDP growth projection for the current financial year (FY24) at 6.5% and raised the inflation projection marginally to 5.4%

Read more here.

Grasim Q1 Results: Net profit falls 18% YoY to ₹1,576 crore

Grasim Industries reported an 18% YoY fall in consolidated net profit to ₹1,576 crore for the quarter ended June (Q1 FY24). Its consolidated revenue for the quarter stood at ₹31,065 crore, up 10.7% YoY. The decline in net profit could be attributed to an over 14% YoY jump in its total expenses for Q1 at ₹27,923.38 crore. 

Read more here.

SBI Card enables RuPay credit cards on UPI

SBI Card and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the linking of SBI credit cards on the RuPay platform with UPI. The company’s customers will now be able to make UPI transactions through credit cards issued on RuPay. The facility can be availed of by registering the credit card with third-party UPI apps.

Read more here.

Samvardhana Motherson Q1 Results: Net profit jumps four-fold to ₹601 crore

Samvardhana Motherson reported a four-fold rise in consolidated net profit to ₹601 crore for the June quarter (Q1 FY24). Its consolidated revenue from operations rose 27% YoY to ₹22,462 crore during the same period. EBITDA stood at ₹1,940 crore, up 69% YoY, driven by operating efficiency, and softening of material and energy prices. 

Read more here.

Pidilite Q1 Results: Net profit rises 32% YoY to ₹474 crore

Pidilite Industries reported a 31.5% YoY jump in net profit to ₹473.7 crore for Q1 FY24. Its consolidated revenue rose 5.6% YoY to ₹3,275.1 crore during the same period. EBITDA rose 33.5% YoY ₹706.8 crore from ₹529.5 crore in the same quarter last year. EBITDA margin also expanded by 450 basis points (bps) from 17.1%, YoY to 21.6%.

Read more here.

Godrej Cons to build manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government of Tamil Nadu. The MoU is for building a manufacturing facility near Chennai. The company will make an investment of ₹515 crore over the next five years. It will serve as a manufacturing hub for brands such as Cinthol, Godrej Expert Rich Crème, Godrej Selfie Shampoo Hair Colour, and Goodknight.

Read more here.

Hero MotoCorp Q1 Results: Net profit rises 32% YoY to ₹825 crore

Hero MotoCorp reported a 32% YoY increase in net profit to ₹825 crore for Q1 FY24. Its consolidated revenue rose 4.5% YoY to ₹8,767.3 crore during the same period. EBITDA grew 28% YoY ₹1,206 crore in Q1. The company incurred a one-time cost of ₹160 crore towards the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) offered to certain employees.

Read more here.

NHPC plans to build pumped hydro storage projects of 22,000 MW

NHPC Ltd is planning to develop around 20,000-22,000 MW of pumped hydro energy storage projects in the coming years. The capacities are being explored in Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. However, the detailed project report and the approvals are likely to take a couple of years for at least some of these capacities to start building.

Read more here.

Vi seeks time till Dec to clear its statutory dues

Vodafone Idea has sought time till the end of December 2023 to clear its remaining statutory dues. The company hopes to close its fundraising from banks and third-party investors in the “near future” and is reiterating that its promoters are “committed” to supporting the company. Replying to a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) show cause notice, the company cited continuing liquidity challenges due to its delayed fundraising.

Read more here.

LIC Q1 Results: Net profit jumps 14x to ₹9,544 crore

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reported a 14x YoY increase in net profit to ₹9,544 crore for Q1 FY24. Its net premium income was flat at ₹98,363 crore during the same period. Income from investments rose 30% YoY to ₹90,309 crore in Q1.

Read more here.

Hindalco, Texmaco to make aluminium rail wagons, coaches

Hindalco Industries and Texmaco Rail & Engineering have entered into a strategic alliance and announced a ₹200 crore investment to develop and manufacture aluminium rail wagons and coaches that will help the Indian Railways achieve emission goals and boost operating efficiency. Texmaco is the flagship of the Adventz Group.

Read more here.

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Market News Top 10 News

IT Dept Conducts Survey Action at 5 Locations of Shree Cement – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

IT department conducts survey action at five locations of Shree Cement in Rajasthan

According to a CNBC-TV18 report, the Income Tax department has conducted survey action at five locations of Shree Cement Ltd. in Rajasthan. A survey action of the Income Tax department is an investigative procedure carried out to ascertain the actual income earned by a taxpayer for a financial year. Shree Cement’s shares fell as much as 2.7% on the news, posting its biggest intraday percentage decline since May 24.

Read more here.

PNB Housing Finance plans a comeback in corporate lending business

PNB Housing Finance is planning a cautious comeback in the corporate lending segment after consciously reducing its portfolio over the last few years. The mortgage lender is planning to resume business in construction finance for residential projects in the second half of the financial year, returning with lessons from past experience. The lender wishes to be selective in corporate lending with a restricted loan size of up to Rs 125 crore.

Read more here.

Reliance gets RBI nod to retain extra $2 billion from lenders

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has received the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) permission to retain $2 billion over and above the $3 billion it had raised last financial year (FY23) in what was the largest syndicated loan facility in years. RIL had sought RBI’s permission to retain the amount as it was collected above the limits mandated by the central bank. With more than 30 banks participating, the loan syndication was completed at the end of March.

Read more here.

RIL expands ‘Independence’ FMCG brand to North India

Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), announced the expansion of its consumer packaged goods brand ‘Independence’ to North India. RRVL will sell its FMCG products ranging from staples to processed foods and other daily essentials to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar. The company said it provides locally developed, quality products at affordable prices to Indian consumers.

Read more here.

Lupin receives US FDA approval for generic drug

Lupin Ltd has received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for Tiotropium Bromide inhalation powder. The drug prevents wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. As per IQVIA MAT March 2023, the drug had an estimated annual sales of $1,264 million (~₹10,400 crore) in the US. 

Read more here.

SpiceJet finalises settlement with lessor Nordic Aviation Capital

According to a Reuters report, SpiceJet has entered into a settlement agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), a major lessor for its Q400 aircraft. The settlement agreement between the two entities settles all past liabilities for the Q400s leased by NAC to SpiceJet. The airline presently operates five Q400 aircraft from NAC in its fleet. After this agreement, Spicejet will be inducting three additional Q400 aircraft from NAC back into its fleet.

Read more here.

LIC reduces stake in NMDC to 9.6%

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)  reduced its stake in NMDC Ltd by 2% between March 14, 2023, and June 20, 2023. The state-owned insurer sold over 6.06 crore shares or 2.07% in NMDC at an average price of Rs 107.59 a share via open market sale. LIC currently holds a 9.6% stake in the iron ore producer.

Read more here.

Piramal Enterprises sells entire 8.34% stake in Shriram Finance

Piramal Enterprises has sold its entire 8.34% stake in Shriram Finance Ltd to third-party investors via a block deal. At least 3.12 crore shares of Shriram Finance changed hands in a large trade. The shares offloaded by the NBFC company are worth Rs 3.1 crore. Share prices of both Piramal Enterprises and Shriram Finance rallied higher today.

Read more here.

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Market News Top 10 News

Godrej Properties Acquires 28-acre Land Parcel in Bengaluru – Top Indian Market Updates

godrej properties

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

Godrej Properties acquires 28-acre land parcel in Bengaluru

Godrej Properties has acquired a land parcel spread over 28 acres in Bengaluru to develop a mixed-use project consisting of apartments and retail development. The land acquisition is in line with the company’s plan of strengthening its presence across key property markets in India. The land parcel is located near Outer Ring Road and Whitefield, a neighbourhood known for technology parks, upmarket apartments, and shopping & entertainment hubs.

Read more here.

Retail inflation drops to 6.44%

India’s retail inflation for February declined to 6.44% in February, compared to 6.52% in January 2023. Inflation in the food basket in Feb 2023 was at 5.95%, up from 5.94% in January (mainly due to higher cereal and milk prices). The risk of heat waves in India is a concern that could impact food production and prices.

Read more here.

LIC’s debt exposure in Adani Group companies falls marginally to Rs 6,183 crore

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has informed that its debt exposure to Adani Group of Companies has fallen from Rs 6,347.32 crore on Dec 31, 2022, to Rs 6,182.64 crore as on March 5, 2023. LIC has a debt exposure of Rs 5,388.60 in Adani Ports and SEZ, Rs 266 crore in Adani Power (Mundra), and Rs 81.60 crore in Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd – Phase I.

Read more here.

Ten more banks to join syndication for RIL’s $3 billion loan

Ten more lenders are set to join the syndication of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Reliance Jio Inforcomm’s $3 billion loans. It is the largest syndicated loan by an Indian corporate house in the last five years. The loan proceeds are to fund RIL’s capital expenditure and the 5G expansion of Jio. 

Read more here.

Amazon signs deal with DLF Downtown, Jayabheri Properties to acquire 8 lakh sq. ft. of space

Amazon and its affiliates have acquired over 8 lakh square feet of space from DLF Downtown and Jayabheri Properties for 15 years in Gurgaon and Hyderabad for web services, development centres, seller services, and transportation services. The e-commerce giant will be paying a rent of Rs 45-52 per sq. ft. for the Orange Towers property in Hyderabad, while the Downtown property in Gurugram will attract a rent of Rs 110.5 per sq. ft.

Read more here.

Capacite Infra secures non-fund based limit worth Rs 150 crore from SBI

State Bank of India (SBI) has sanctioned a non-fund based limit of Rs 150 crore to Capacite Infraprojects Ltd. Capacite also announced that it is continuously engaging with members of a lenders’ consortium to expedite the process of sanctioning additional non-fund-based limits. Engineering and construction company Capacite works with almost all major real estate developers in India.

Read more here.

USFDA completes inspection at Alembic Pharma’s Derma facility

Alembic Pharmaceuticals’ Derma facility at Karakhadi in Vadodara, Gujarat, has successfully undergone inspection by the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) with no observation. The inspection was conducted by the regulator between March 6 to March 10, 2023. The company manufactures and markets generic pharmaceutical products across the globe. 

Read more here.

Elgi Equipments’ US subsidiary acquires 33.33% stake in CS Industrial Services

Elgi Equipments has announced that its US subsidiary has acquired a 33.33%  stake in CS Industrial Services LLC to expand its reach in the US market. The company is engaged in the manufacturing and trading of air compressors. The total cost to acquire both class A and class B shares is worth $125,000. The all-cash transaction is likely to be executed by the end of this month.

Read more here.

Nazara Tech’s 2 subsidiaries hold Rs 64 cr in SVB

Nazara Technologies said that its two step-down subsidiaries, Kiddopia Inc and Mediawrkz Inc, hold cash balances at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). However, both subsidiaries continue to be well-capitalised and are generating positive cash flows along with profitability. Nazara Tech also continues to maintain healthy reserves of cash and cash equivalents in excess of Rs 600 crore, excluding the SVB-impacted funds. 

Read more here.

Indian Navy halts HAL’s ALH Dhruv Helicopter operations after accident

An Indian Navy helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) met with an accident off the Mumbai coast, triggering the navy to halt operations of the entire fleet of ALH Dhruv choppers. The ALH choppers are flown by all three defence forces (Army, Navy and Air Force), along with the Indian Coast Guard.

Read more here.

Shriram Finance aims to raise $2.44 billion in FY24 to fund growth

Non-banking finance company (NBFC) Shriram Finance aims to grow its assets under management (AUM) by 15% in the financial year 2024 (FY24) to around Rs 20,000 crore. The company’s total AUM was Rs 1.7 lakh crore as of December 31, 2022. The company will also raise funds from local banks and the domestic capital market among others, alongside external commercial borrowings (ECBs).

Read more here.

M&M sells over 6% stake in Mahindra CIE Automotive

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has sold 2.29 crore equity shares of Mahindra CIE Automotive Ltd (representing 6.05% of the paid-up share capital). The sale has been executed on the stock exchanges at a gross price of Rs 357.39 per share. Following the sale, M&M’s shareholding in Mahindra CIE Automotive has come down from 9.25% to 3.19%.

Read more here.

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RIL to Develop Multi-Modal Logistics Park in TN – Top Indian Market Updates

silver lake to invest in Reliance

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets on Monday:

Reliance to develop multi-modal logistics park in Tamil Nadu

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has secured an order to develop India’s first multi-modal logistics park (MMLP) in Chennai from the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways. It is estimated to cater to 7.17 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in a time horizon of 45 years. The park will be developed in three phases with an estimated developer investment of ₹783 crores.

Read more here.

M&M Q2 Results: Net profit rises 44% YoY to ₹2,773 crore

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd reported a 44% year-on-year (YoY) increase in consolidated net profit to ₹2,773 crore for the quarter ended Sept (Q2 FY23). Its revenue from operations rose 39% YoY to ₹29,870 crore during the same period. The auto major sold a total of 1,74,098 vehicles in the second quarter, up 75% YoY. Tractor sales rose 5% YoY to 92,590 units. 

Read more here.

Hinduja brothers to end their long family dispute: Report

According to a Bloomberg report, Hinduja Group’s co-chairman Gopichand Hinduja, along with Prakash, Srichand, and Ashok (Hinduja family brothers) have called a truce and decided to end the family dispute. The conflict among the billionaire brothers was because of a pact signed by them in 2014 that said that ‘everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone’. To learn more about the Hinduja Group, click here.

Read more here.

Adani Power Q2 Results: Net profit at ₹696 crore

Adani Power Ltd reported a consolidated net profit of ₹695.53 crore for the quarter ended Sept (Q2 FY23). It posted a net loss of ₹230.6 crore in Q2 FY22. Its revenue from operations rose 36% YoY to ₹7,044 crore in Q2 FY23. EBITDA stood at ₹2,350 crore in Q2, up 51% YoY. The company has an installed thermal power capacity of 13,610 megawatts spread across seven power plants in India.

Read more here.

Domestic airline industry could report ₹15,000-17,000 crore loss: ICRA

Credit rating agency ICRA reported that India’s domestic airline industry is expected to take a hit in FY23. It projects at least a ₹15,000-17,000 crore loss due to increased aviation fuel costs. Despite domestic passenger traffic increasing by 26% YoY to 114 lakh in October, the numbers are still low compared to the pre-pandemic era.

Read more here.

HAL Q2 Results: Net profit rises 44% YoY to ₹1,221 crore

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) reported a 44.2% YoY increase in consolidated net profit to ₹1,221.22 crore for the quarter ended Sept (Q2 FY23). Its revenue from operations fell 7.3% YoY to ₹5,144.8 crore during the same period. Total expenses stood at ₹3,775.5 crore in Q2, down 17.1% YoY. HAL’s board declared an interim dividend of ₹10 per share.

Read more here.

USFDA issues Form-483 with 3 observations to Alkem Lab’s St Louis plant

The US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) has issued three observations to Alkem Laboratories Ltd’s St Louis-based manufacturing facility. The health regulator conducted a pre-approval inspection at the plant from October 31, 2022, to November 9, 2022. It has observed conditions that may constitute violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and related Acts.

Read more here.

Hindalco Q2 Results: Net profit falls 35% YoY to ₹2,205 crore

Hindalco Industries Ltd reported a 35% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to ₹2,205 crore for the quarter ended Sept (Q2 FY23). Its revenue from operations rose 18% YoY to ₹56,176 crore during the same period. Revenue from the upstream aluminium segment rose 11% YoY to ₹8,215 crore, while revenue from the copper business grew 1% YoY to ₹9,658 crore in Q2.

Read more here.

LIC Q2 Results: Net profit jumps 11-fold to ₹15,952 crore

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reported an 11-fold YoY jump in net profit to ₹15,952 crore for the quarter ended Sept (Q2 FY23). Its net premium income rose 27% YoY to ₹1.32 lakh crore during the same period. The net income from investments grew 10% YoY to ₹84,104 crore in Q2. LIC’s gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio improved to 5.60% in Q2 from 5.84% in Q1.

Read more here.

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Market News Top 10 News

CPI Inflation Falls to 6.71% in July – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets on Monday:

CPI inflation falls to 5-month low of 6.71% in July

India’s retail inflation (measured by the Consumer Price Index) fell to a five-month low of 6.71% in July. CPI stood at 7.01% in June. Inflation in the food basket also showed a month-on-month fall from 7.75% in June to 6.75% in July. Meanwhile, inflation in the fuel and light segment rose 11.76%.

India’s factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) witnessed a growth of 12.3% YoY to 137.9 during June.

Read more here.

LIC Q1 Results: Net profit jumps multifold to Rs 683 crore

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reported a multifold increase in net profit to Rs 682.89 crore for the quarter ended June (Q1 FY23). The life insurer had reported a net profit of Rs 2.94 crore in the corresponding quarter last year (Q1 FY22). Its total premium income rose 20.35% YoY to Rs 98,351.76 crore in Q1 FY23. LIC sold 36.81 lakh policies in the individual segment, registering a growth of 59.56%.

Read more here.

Kolte-Patil Developers eyes Rs 1,400 crore sales from housing project in Pune

Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd (KPDL) has acquired 25 acres of land in Pune to develop a housing project with an estimated sales revenue of Rs 1,400 crore. The realty firm has acquired Sampada Realities Pvt Ltd, which owns this land parcel. This acquisition is in line with KPDL’s business development target of Rs 7,000 crore for this year.

Read more here.

Hero MotoCorp Q1 Results: Net profit rises 71% YoY to Rs 625 crore

Hero MotoCorp Ltd reported a 71% YoY increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 625 crore for the quarter ended June (Q1 FY23). Its revenue from operations rose 53% YoY to Rs 8,393 crore during the same period. EBITDA stood at Rs 941 crore in Q1, up 82.7% YoY. The two-wheeler manufacturer registered a 36% YoY increase in sales to 13.9 lakh units. 

Read more here.

Passenger vehicle dispatches rise 11% in July: SIAM

Passenger vehicle dispatches to dealers rose 11% to 2.64 lakh units in July 2022. An improvement in semiconductor supplies helped automakers ramp up production ahead of the festive season. Dispatches of passenger cars increased by 10% YoY to 1,43,522 units in July. Wholesales of motorcycles grew 4% YoY to Rs 8,70,028 units last month. The data was released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM).

Read more here.

Divi’s Labs Q1 Results: Net profit rises 26% YoY to Rs 702 crore

Divi’s Laboratories Ltd reported a 26% YoY increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 702 crore for the quarter ended June (Q4 FY22). Its revenue from operations rose 15% YoY to Rs 2,254 crore during the same period. However, EBITDA fell 0.6% YoY to Rs 846.7 crore. Total expenses stood at Rs 1,491.61 crore in Q1, up 26.18% YoY.

Read more here.

Tata Elxsi brings new age solutions for driverless cars, connected vehicles: CMO

Tech service provider Tata Elxsi is helping customers reimagine products and services in the three key verticals of transportation, media & telecom, and healthcare, said Nitin Pai, Chief Marketing Officer. It has delivered platforms like AUTONOMAI for driverless cars, TETHER for connected cars, and TE Play for OTT services. Tata Motors has adopted TETHER Auto to power connectivity and data-led services for nearly 500,000 on-road vehicles.

Read more here.

ONGC Q1 Results: Net profit jumps 3.5x to Rs 15,206 crore

ONGC Ltd reported a 251% YoY jump in net profit to Rs 15,205.85 crore for the quarter ended June (Q4 FY22). Its revenue from operations rose 84% YoY to Rs 42,320.72 crore during the same period. The company’s operating margin improved to 49.7% in Q1 FY23, compared to 32.01% in Q1 FY22.

Read more here.

NCLT approves demerger of pharma business from Piramal Enterprises

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the demerger of Piramal Enterprises Ltd’s (PEL) pharma business and the simplification of the company’s corporate structure. The order paves the way for the creation of two separate listed entities— PEL and Piramal Pharma Ltd (PPL). PEL said the demerged entities will have greater focus and ability to pursue accelerated growth.

Read more here.

Apollo Tyres Q1 Results: Net profit rises 49% YoY to Rs 191 crore

Apollo Tyres Ltd reported a 49.21% YoY jump in net profit to Rs 190.68 crore for the quarter ended June (Q4 FY22). Its revenue from operations rose 29.6% YoY to Rs 5,942 crore during the same period. Both Indian and European operations performed well, with their revenues from operations increasing 38% and 14%, respectively.

Read more here.

Grasim Q1 Results: Net profit rises 13% YoY to Rs 2,759 crore

Grasim Industries Ltd reported a 12.7% YoY increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,758.75 crore for the quarter ended June (Q4 FY22). Its revenue from operations rose 40.7% YoY to Rs 28,041.54 crore during the same period. Grasim’s viscose (fibre and yarn) business generated a revenue of Rs 4,299.88 crore in Q1 FY23, compared to Rs 2,102.76 crore in Q1 FY22.

Read more here.

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Market News Top 10 News

WPI Inflation Rises to Record-High of 15.88% in May – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

WPI inflation rises to record-high of 15.88% in May

Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) hit a record high of 15.88% in May 2022, compared to 15.08% in April. The surge is mainly driven by inflation in vegetable prices, which grew from 23.24% in April to 56.36% in May. Inflation in the fuel and power segment jumped to 40.62% in May from 38.66% in April. Food inflation rose to 10.89% in May, compared to 8.88% in April.

Read more here.

Adani Group, TotalEnergies to invest $50 billion in green hydrogen

French energy major TotalEnergies will invest at ~$12.5 billion for a 25% stake in Adani Group’s new clean energy services company, Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL). ANIL will be created by Adani Enterprises Ltd, in partnership with TotalEnergies. The new venture aims to invest over $50 billion over the next 10 years in green hydrogen and associated ecosystems. It will develop a green hydrogen production capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum before 2030.

Read more here.

LIC increases stake in Capri Global to over 7% with Rs 221 crore investment

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has increased its stake in Capri Global Capital from 5.043% to 7.059% during the Feb-June period with an investment of ~Rs 221 crore. Capri Global is a non-banking finance company (NBFC) with a presence in the construction finance, affordable housing, and indirect retail lending segments.

Read more here.

Dr. Reddy’s Labs launches Sorafenib tablets in the US

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd has launched Sorafenib tablets in the US market after getting approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA). The drug is used in the treatment of liver, kidney, and thyroid cancer. The product is a therapeutic generic equivalent of Bayer HeathCare Pharma’s Nexavar tablets.

Read more here.

Infosys partners with Harvard Business Publishing to offer digital courses

Infosys Ltd has partnered with Harvard Business Publishing to empower India’s next generation with essential digital and life skills. This initiative will be brought forward via Infosys Springboard, a platform that provides critical digital and life skills. Students and young professionals can now access select Harvard Business Review articles, videos, and podcasts. 

Read more here.

Ashok Leyland’s arm Switch Mobility to raise $300 million; unveils e-bus platform

Ashok Leyland Ltd’s electric vehicle arm, Switch Mobility, is in talks with investors to raise about $300 million (~Rs 2,340 crore). Around $200 million will be utilised for capital expenditure requirements, and $100 million will go towards its subsidiary, Ohm Global Mobility. Switch Mobility has also launched its next-gen electric bus platform ‘Switch EiV 12’ for the Indian market.

Read more here.

Shriram City to raise up to Rs 300 crore by issuing bonds

Shriram City Union Finance Ltd (SCUFL) will raise up to Rs 300 crore by issuing debt securities on a private placement basis. The Banking & Securities Management Committee of SCUFL has approved the issuance of principal-protected market-linked non-convertible debentures (PP-MLD) for Rs 50 crore with a green shoe option up to Rs 250 crore. 

Read more here.

SBI hikes deposit, lending rates

State Bank of India (SBI) has raised its deposit and lending rates following the Reserve Bank of India’s repo rate hike last week. The lender’s interest rates have been raised by 0.20% on domestic term deposits of below Rs 2 crore for select tenors. SBI will offer an interest rate of 4.60% for deposits of 211 days to less than one year, compared to 4.40% earlier.

Read more here.

NTPC to begin commercial operations of 15 MW solar capacity at Kawas Solar Project

NTPC Ltd will commence commercial operations of its 15 megawatts (MW) solar capacity at Kawas Solar Project in Gujarat on Wednesday. With this, the standalone installed and commercial capacity of NTPC will rise to 54,666.68 MW. Meanwhile, its group installed and commercial capacity will become 69,031.68 MW.

Read more here.

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Market News Top 10 News

India’s GDP Grows 8.7% in FY22 – Top Indian Market Updates

Here are some of the major updates that could move the markets tomorrow:

India’s GDP growth slows to 4.1% in Q4; FY22 growth at 8.7%

India’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the January-March quarter (Q4 FY22) grew 4.1%. In the third quarter of FY22, GDP growth slowed to 5.4% from 8.5% in the second quarter and 20.3% in the first quarter. India’s economy had just begun to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic-induced slump when a rise in Omicron cases in January brought back restrictions.

The GDP growth in the financial year 2021-22 stood at 8.7%, compared to a contraction of 6.6% in FY21.

Read more here.

M&M raises auto, farm equipment biz capex by 27% till FY24

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has increased its mid-term capital expenditure for automotive and farm equipment business by 27% or Rs 3,400 crore to Rs 15,300 crore till FY24. The automaker aims to increase the capacity for its XUV700 and new models in the pipeline. The Rs 400 crore spike in capex for farm business will go into new plant expansion. 

Read more here.

NCC bags three orders worth Rs 6,388 cr in May

Construction firm NCC Limited secured three orders worth Rs 6,388 crores in May 2022. The company has received an order from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the design, build, operation & maintenance of the Malad Wastewater Treatment Facility under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project-II. It has received similar orders from other state government agencies.

Read more here.

CarTrade Tech partners with IDFC First Bank to offer financing solutions for used cars

CarTrade Tech Ltd has announced a strategic partnership with IDFC First Bank to offer easy and smart financing for used cars. The bank will become the preferred financier for customers purchasing used vehicles from CarWale abSure’s dealers with customised offerings to suit their needs. CarWale abSure is the used car platform of CarTrade Tech.

Defence Ministry signs Rs 2,971 crore deal with BDL

The Ministry of Defence has signed a deal with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for the supply of Astra Mk-1 missiles for the Indian Air Force and Navy at the cost of Rs 2,971 crore. Astra Mk-1 is India’s first indigenous air-to-air missile. This project will act as a catalyst for the development of infrastructure and testing facilities at BDL.

Read more here.

Tata Elxsi partners with Lenovo to deliver XR solutions

Tata Elxsi has partnered with Lenovo to develop smart extended reality (XR) solutions for enterprise and engineering applications. Customers using Lenovo’s smart XR devices will benefit from end-to-end solutions and services from Tata Elxsi and Lenovo. The two entities will enable enterprises to deliver immersive digital transformation solutions.

Read more here.

ONGC sees crude oil production rising 11% by FY25

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) said its crude oil production will rise 11% and natural gas output will jump 25% after newer discoveries in the western and eastern offshore start producing. Crude oil production is expected to rise from 19.54 million tonnes (MT) in FY 2021-22 to 19.88 MT in FY23 and 21.58 MT in FY24. ONGC will spend Rs 31,000 crore from 2022 to 2025 on exploration campaigns throughout India.

Read more here.

Govt keeps fiscal deficit at 6.7% of GDP for FY22

The fiscal deficit for FY 2021-22 worked out to be 6.71% of the gross domestic product (GDP). The figure is lower than the 6.9% projected by the Ministry of Finance in the revised budget estimates. The fiscal deficit in the absolute terms was Rs 15,86,537 crore (provisional). The revenue deficit at the end of FY22 was 4.37%.

[Fiscal deficit is the difference between the total revenue and total expenditure of the government].

Read more here.

LIC makes Rs 42,000 crore equity gains in FY22

Life Insurance Corp of India (LIC) made Rs 42,000 crore of gains from equity investments in the financial year ended March 2022 (FY22), up 17% YoY. The company reported equity gains of Rs 36,000 crore in the previous year. LIC’s Managing Director Raj Kumar said the insurer will match the profitability of its private sector counterparts in the next five years.

Read more here.

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Market News Top 10 News

GAIL to Invest ₹6,000 crore in Renewables in Next 3 Years – Top Indian Market News

GAIL to invest Rs 6,000 crore in renewables in next three years

GAIL India Ltd has announced plans to invest Rs 6,000 crore in renewable energy over the next three years. The investment can go up by an additional Rs 20,000 crore by 2030, said Manoj Jain— Chairman and MD. GAIL has outlined an overall capital expenditure (capex) plan of up to Rs 40,000 crore in the next five years.

Read more here.

Sun Pharma Q4 Results: Net loss at Rs 2,277 crore

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (SPIL) reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 2,277 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4 FY22). It had posted a net profit of Rs 894 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Its revenue from operations rose 11% YoY to Rs 9,386.1 crore in Q4 FY22. ​​The pharma company faced a one-time loss of Rs 3,935.7 crore due to antitrust payments and other lawsuit settlements in the US. SPIL’s board has declared a final dividend of Rs 3 per share.

Read more here.

Tata Motors signs MoU for potential acquisition of Ford India’s Sanand plant

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEML) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ford India Pvt Ltd and the Government of Gujarat for the potential acquisition of Ford’s vehicle manufacturing facility in Sanand. The proposed MoU includes the purchase of land & buildings, vehicle manufacturing plant, machinery and equipment, and transfer of all eligible employees of the unit. TPEML is a subsidiary of Tata Motors.

Read more here.

LIC Q4 Results: Net profit falls 18% YoY to Rs 2,409 crore

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reported a 17.41% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,409.39 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4 FY22). Its net premium income (NPI) rose 17.8% YoY to Rs 1.44 lakh crore during the same period. Income from investments stood at Rs 67,855.59 crore in Q4, compared to Rs 67,684.27 crore in the year-ago quarter. LIC’s board declared a dividend of Rs 1.5 per share.

Read more here. 

Jubilant Foodworks Q4 Results: Net profit falls 9% YoY to Rs 96 crore

Jubilant Foodworks Ltd (JFL) reported an 8.8% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 96 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4 FY22). Its revenue from operations rose 13.3% YoY to Rs 1,175.97 crore during the same period. Total expenses increased 13.7% YoY to Rs 1,038.27 crore. JFL opened 80 new Domino’s Pizza restaurants in Q4. The company’s board declared a dividend of Rs 1.2 per share. 

Read more here.

L&T secures order for Chennai Metro Rail Project

Larsen & Toubro Ltd has secured a significant order (in the range of Rs 1,000-2,500 crore) for the Chennai Metro Rail Project. The scope of the order involves the construction of an elevated viaduct of ~10 km, including an elevated ramp and 10 elevated metro stations. This metro rail package is to be constructed in 35 months.

Read more here.

IRCTC Q4 Results: Net profit doubles to Rs 213.78 crore

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp (IRCTC) reported a 105.99% YoY jump in net profit to Rs 213.78 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4 FY22). Its revenue from operations rose 103.95% YoY to Rs 690.96 crore during the same period. Revenue from internet ticketing stood at Rs 292.82 crore, up 38.11% YoY. IRCTC’s board has declared a final dividend of Rs 1.5 per share.

Read more here.

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC partners with BentallGreenOak to form credit investment vehicle

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd (ABSLAMC) has partnered with BentallGreenOak to form a structured credit investment vehicle. This investment vehicle will target structured debt investments in post-approval real estate projects, primarily in Tier-1 metropolitan locations. The collaboration brings together two established investment managers with extensive track records in both the domestic and international markets.

Read more here.

Natco Pharma Q4 Results: Net loss at Rs 50.5 crore

Natco Pharma Ltd reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 50.5 crore for the quarter ended March (Q4 FY22). It had posted a net profit of Rs 53 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Its revenue from operations rose 80.13% YoY to Rs 596.8 crore in Q4 FY22. ​​The loss in the fourth quarter was primarily due to inventory value write-off and provision of estimated credit losses.

Read more here.

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Editorial

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) IPO: All You Need to Know

The biggest initial public offering (IPO) in the history of the Indian stock market is here! Life Insurance Corporation of India has launched its IPO today— May 4. The Central Government aims to raise up to Rs 21,000 crore by divesting a 3.5% stake in the country’s largest life insurer. In this article, learn all about LIC and its IPO.

Company Profile – Life Insurance Corporation of India Ltd

Life Insurance Corporation of India was formed on September 1, 1956, by merging and nationalizing 245 private life insurance companies in India. It offers unit-linked insurance products, saving insurance products, term insurance products, health insurance, and annuity & pension products. LIC is currently the largest entity in the Indian insurance space, with a market share of above 61.6% in terms of premiums. 

They also hold a 61.4% market share in terms of new business premiums (NBS) and a 71.8% market share based on the number of individual policies issued. [NBS is the premium acquired from new policies during a particular year.] More importantly, LIC is the fifth-largest insurer in the world in terms of gross written premiums (GWP).

LIC is a trusted brand in our country and has a customer-centric business model. It has been a security net for Indians. Over the years, the company has harnessed technological capabilities to support policyholders and drive operational efficiencies. 

Fact Sheet:

LIC’s total assets under management (AUM) stood at a whopping Rs 40.1 lakh crore as of December 31, 2021 (Q3 FY22). Interestingly, this figure is more than 3.2 times the total AUM of all private life insurers in India. It is more than 1.1 times the AUM of the entire Indian mutual fund industry’s AUM!

The company has a strong omnichannel distribution network, consisting of over 0.13 crore agents, 2,128 micro insurance agents, and 215 alternative channels. LIC operates through an extensive network of 2,048 branches and 1,559 satellite offices. [A satellite office is a branch of a larger company that is physically separate from the organization’s main office.] The insurer also operates in the UAE, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, Qatar, and the United Kingdom. 

The embedded value (EV) of LIC was estimated at Rs 5.4 lakh crore as of Q3 FY22. The EV of a life insurance company is the sum of the adjusted net asset value (NAV) and the present value of future profits. It is essentially the industry standard for valuing an insurance company. As per reports, the market valuation of LIC could be around 3-4 times the EV.

LIC is also the biggest player in India’s equity markets. As of Dec 31, 2021, its investments in listed shares represented ~4% of the total market capitalization of NSE! 

About the IPO

Life Insurance Corporation’s public issue opens on May 4 and closes on May 9. The company has fixed Rs 902-949 per share as the price band for the IPO.

The IPO is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of 22.13 crore equity shares by the promoter (Government of India), aggregating to Rs 21,008.48 crore. Individual investors can bid for a minimum of 15 equity shares (1 lot) and in multiples of 15 shares thereafter. You will need a minimum of Rs 14,235 (at the cut-off price) to apply for this IPO. The maximum number of shares that can be applied by a retail investor is 210 equity shares (14 lots).

The government has announced a discount of Rs 60 per share for policyholders and Rs 45 for employees.

If you are a LIC policyholder and wish to apply for the IPO:

  1. Your PAN must be updated in LIC’s records.
  2. The PAN used for LIC policies has to be the same as that registered with your broker account.

The primary objective of the IPO is to provide an exit strategy (or liquidity) for LIC’s promoters. The company aims to achieve the benefits of listing the equity shares on NSE and BSE. The total promoter holding in LIC will decline from 100% to 96.5% post the IPO.

Financial Performance

LIC has posted strong growth in revenue and profits from FY 2019-21. The company’s total income increased by 9% YoY to Rs. 7,03,732.43 crore in fiscal 2021. It was due to higher net earned premiums and investment income. Meanwhile, net profit rose 9.73% YoY to Rs 2,974.14 crore in FY21. The net profit on sale/redemption of policyholders’ investments jumped 105% YoY to Rs 39,809.61 crore during the same period. 

The gross written premium (GWP) increased at a CAGR of 9.21% on a consolidated basis between FY19 and FY21. [GWP is the total premium an insurer writes during a specific period before deductions like reinsurance and ceding commissions.] Moreover, LIC’s 13-month persistency ratio increased from 66% in FY19 to 67% in FY21. This suggests growth in policyholders who renewed their policies.

It has an investment of Rs 38.4 lakh crore towards policyholders’ funds and is debt-free as of Dec 31.

Risk Factors

  • The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic could adversely affect LIC’s business aspects like agents’ abilities to sell products and increased expenses due to changes in mortality and investment portfolio.
  • The insurance industry is highly competitive. The company will be directly competing with leading private entities such as SBI Life, HDFC Life, and ICICI Prudential once it gets listed.
  • Volatility in capital markets, loss of customer confidence in the insurance industry, or a decline in customers’ financial positions could severely affect LIC’s overall performance.
  • Any unfavourable publicity concerning the insurance giant can harm its brand name and reputation.
  • The inability to retain and recruit individual agents at a reasonable cost and time could adversely impact LIC as individual agents procure most individual new business premiums.

IPO Details in a Nutshell

The book-running lead managers for the public issue are Axis Capital, Kotak Mahindra Capital, BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs (India), J.P. Morgan, etc. LIC filed the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) for its IPO on April 26. You can read it here. Out of the total offer, 50% is reserved for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), 15% for Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs), and 35% for retail investors.

Ahead of the IPO, LIC raised a massive Rs 5,627 crore from 123 anchor investors! The anchor investor portion of the IPO was also oversubscribed.

Conclusion

Insurance is not too popular in India, especially when it comes to life insurance. Only a marginal portion of the country holds life insurance. The total insurance coverage in India stood at a mere 3.76% in 2019. There can be a massive scale of development in this sector. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the awareness towards securing insurance policies has increased. Whether it be health insurance or life insurance, more people are actively looking for the best products that can safeguard their future. Thus, LIC can capitalise on the high growth opportunities in the Indian life insurance sector. 

LIC’s maiden offer is expected to help the central government meet its disinvestment target of Rs 78,000 crore for FY22.

LIC’s IPO shares are trading at a premium of Rs 63 in the grey market. Before applying to this IPO, we will wait to see if the portion reserved for institutional investors gets oversubscribed. As always, consider the risks associated with the company and come to your own conclusion.

What are your views on LIC’s IPO? Will you be applying for it? Let us know in the comments section of the marketfeed app.

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Editorial

LIC Files DRHP for Rs 63,000 crore IPO: Key Takeaways

State-owned insurance giant Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has filed the draft papers for its IPO with market regulator SEBI. It will be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in the history of the Indian stock market! 

The IPO is completely an offer for sale (OFS) by the Government of India. The Centre will divest a 5% stake (or 31.6 crore shares) in LIC and is expected to raise up to Rs 63,000 crore. The valuation is not yet finalised. The proceeds from the public issue will be crucial to meet the government’s revised disinvestment target of Rs 78,000 crore in the current fiscal (FY22). Once listed, LIC would join the league of India’s biggest companies like Reliance Industries and TCS. 

Let us dive into LIC’s Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) and analyse certain interesting findings. 

Company Profile – Life Insurance Corporation of India 

Life Insurance Corporation of India was formed on September 1, 1956, by merging and nationalizing 245 private life insurance companies in India. It offers unit-linked insurance products, saving insurance products, term insurance products, health insurance, and annuity & pension products. LIC is currently the largest company in the Indian insurance space, with a market share of above 64.1% in terms of premiums. 

They also hold a 66.2% market share in terms of new business premiums (NBS) and a 74.6% market share based on the number of individual policies issued. [NBS is the premium acquired from new policies during a particular year.] More importantly, LIC is the fifth-largest insurer in the world in terms of gross written premiums (GWP).

LIC is a trusted brand in our country and has a customer-centric business model. It has been a security net for Indians. Over the years, the company has harnessed technological capabilities to support policyholders and drive operational efficiencies. 

Factsheet:

LIC’s total assets under management (AUM) stood at a whopping Rs 39.55 lakh crore as of September 30, 2021 (Q2 FY22). Interestingly, this figure is more than 3.3 times the total AUM of all private life insurers in India. It is more than 1.1 times the AUM of the entire Indian mutual fund industry’s AUM!

The company has a strong omni-channel distribution network, consisting of 1.35 million agents, 3,463 micro insurance agents, and 174 alternative channels. LIC operates through an extensive network of 2,048 branches, 113 divisional offices, and 1,554 satellite offices. [A satellite office is a branch of a larger company that is physically separate from the organization’s main office.] The insurer also operates in the UAE, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, Qatar, and the United Kingdom. 

The DRHP states that LIC’s embedded value (EV) stands at Rs 5.39 lakh crore in Q2 FY22. The EV of a life insurance company is the sum of the adjusted net asset value (NAV) and the present value of future profits. It is essentially the industry standard for valuing an insurance company. As per reports, the market valuation of LIC could be around 3-4 times the embedded value.

LIC is also the biggest player in India’s equity markets. As of September 30, 2021, its investments in listed shares represented ~4% of the total market capitalization of NSE! 

As of Q2 FY22, LIC policyholders’ investment portfolio included:

  • Central government securities – 37.50% 
  • Equity securities – 24.78%
  • State government securities – 24.61% 
  • Corporate bonds – 8.07%

Financial Performance

LIC has posted a strong growth in revenue and profits over the past three financial years (FY19-21). The company’s total income increased by 9% YoY to Rs. 7,03,732.43 crore in fiscal 2021. It was due to higher net earned premiums and investment income. Meanwhile, net profit rose 9.73% YoY to Rs 2,974.14 crore in FY21. The net profit on sale/redemption of policyholders’ investments jumped 105% YoY to Rs 39,809.61 crore during the same period. 

The gross written premium (GWP) increased at a CAGR of 9.21% on a consolidated basis between FY19 and FY21. GWP is the total premium an insurer writes during a specific period before deductions like reinsurance and ceding commissions.

Get Ready for LIC’s IPO!

Insurance is not too popular in India, especially when it comes to life insurance. Only a marginal proportion of the country holds life insurance. The total insurance coverage in India was recorded to be just 3.76% in 2019. This shows that there can be a massive scale of development in this sector. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the awareness towards securing insurance policies has increased. Whether it be health insurance or life insurance, more people are actively looking for the best products that can safeguard their future.

Thus, LIC can capitalise on the high growth opportunities in the Indian life insurance sector.

Employees and policyholders of LIC would get a discount over the floor price. Up to 5% of issue size can be reserved for employees and up to 10% for policyholders. The Centre aims to launch LIC’s IPO in March 2022.

If you are a LIC policyholder and wish to apply for the IPO:

  1. Your PAN must be updated in the LIC records.
  2. The PAN used for LIC policies has to be the same as that registered with your broker account.

You can read the Draft Red Herring Prospectus of LIC’s IPO here. What are your views on the IPO? Do let us know in the comments section of the marketfeed app. We will bring you a detailed article on the IPO once LIC announces the price band and other details.