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Exide Life Insurance
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Exide Life Insurance Company Limited was an Indian life insurance company. Exide Life Insurance distributed its products through multiple channels, including an agency channel with over 40,000 advisors and more than 200 company offices across the country.[2] The company had over 1.5 million customers and managed assets exceeding INR 18,000 crores (INR 180 billion).[3] Established in 2001 and headquartered in Bangalore, the company provided long-term protection and savings options.[4] Exide Life merged with HDFC Life in late 2022.
Key Information
History
[edit]In 2000, ING Insurance, a subsidiary of the Dutch financial group ING Group, partnered with Bangalore-based Vysya Bank to enter the Indian life insurance market, forming ING Vysya Life Insurance Company.[5] The same year, ING Vysya Bank, ING Insurance, and the Damani Group established a life insurance joint venture, marking the first bancassurance venture in India.
In 2005, Exide Industries acquired a 50% stake in ING Vysya Life Insurance. The company distributed its products through various channels, including Agency, Bancassurance, Corporate Agency & Broking, Direct Channel, and Online.[6]
After the 2008 financial crisis, ING entered a global restructuring strategy and decided to exit the insurance business in India.[7] Prior to its exit from India, ING had also exited insurance ventures in Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong.[8]
Exide Life Insurance
[edit]After ING's exit from India in January 2013, Exide Industries acquired the remaining 50% stake in ING Vysya Life Insurance, becoming the sole owner.[8] In May 2014, following approvals from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the company was renamed Exide Life Insurance Company Limited (Exide Life Insurance).[9] The company had a presence in over 200 cities across India and planned to expand operations to additional centres, including major cities such as Kolkata, Asansol, Jorhat, and states like Bihar and Odisha.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Exide Life appoints Sanjay Vij as Executive Director and Principal Officer". www.business-standard.com. 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Exide Life Insurance is Great Place to Work-Certified™ in 2021". India Education | Latest Education News | Global Educational News | Recent Educational News. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Exide Life Insurance in FY 2019-20 delivers strong growth in profit with growth in premium". 30 June 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "ING exits life insurance in India". The Times of India. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "ING Vysya Bank Company History". economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Exide Industries Company History".
- ^ "Exide to buy remaining 50% stake in ING Vysya Life". 23 January 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ a b Saha, Manojit. "Exide to buy out partners' stake in ING Vysya Life for Rs 550 cr". Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ Kulkarni, Mahesh. "ING Vysya Life renamed as Exide Life Insurance". Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ Kulkarni, Mahesh (6 May 2014). "ING Vysya Life renamed as Exide Life Insurance". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
Exide Life Insurance
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding as ING Vysya Life Insurance
ING Vysya Life Insurance Company Limited was established in September 2001 as a tripartite joint venture between ING Insurance International B.V. of the Netherlands (holding 26%), Vysya Bank Ltd. of India (49%), and GMR Technologies and Industries Ltd. (25%).[11] The company received its certificate of registration from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) on August 2, 2001, with registration number 114, enabling it to commence life insurance operations in compliance with Indian regulatory guidelines.[12] Initial paid-up capital stood at Rs 110 crore, with authorized capital of Rs 200 crore, providing the foundation for nationwide distribution starting in key cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi.[13] From the outset, ING Vysya Life Insurance adopted a bancassurance model, capitalizing on Vysya Bank's established branch network of over 400 locations to reach customers efficiently and offer integrated financial services.[14] On September 19, 2001, the company launched its inaugural products in Bangalore: the Reassuring Life Endowment Plan for long-term protection and savings, the Maximising Life Money Back Plan providing annual cash bonuses for liquidity, and the Fulfilling Life Anticipated Whole Life Plan offering lifetime coverage with periodic payouts.[15] These offerings targeted individual needs for protection, wealth accumulation, and financial flexibility, aligning with the emerging private insurance sector post-liberalization. The company achieved rapid early growth, with total income surpassing Rs 100 crore in the fiscal year 2003-04, reflecting a 227% year-on-year increase driven by expanding distribution and product uptake.[14] By 2005, projections indicated issuance of around 250,000 policies for the year, underscoring its momentum in customer acquisition amid the competitive private life insurance landscape.[16] This period of initial operations laid the groundwork for subsequent developments, including stake acquisitions by Exide Industries beginning in 2005.[17]Acquisition and Expansion under Exide Industries
In July 2005, Exide Industries acquired a 49.13% stake in ING Vysya Life Insurance from GMR Industries for Rs 203 crore, valuing the insurer at Rs 413 crore.[18] Exide also committed to subscribing to additional shares worth Rs 28.4 crore, bringing its total holding to 50%, along with a planned investment of Rs 17.5 crore in convertible warrants over three to four years.[18] This move marked Exide's entry into the life insurance sector as a joint venture partner with ING, leveraging its established presence in the automotive battery market to support the insurer's growth.[17] Under Exide's involvement, ING Vysya Life shifted its strategy from a heavy reliance on bancassurance through its parent bank to a more diversified distribution model, incorporating agency networks and alternative channels such as corporate alliances and brokers.[19] This expansion enabled the company to broaden its market reach, growing its branch network to 308 locations across 246 cities by 2008, with further development leading to presence in over 200 cities by the early 2010s.[20] Key milestones during this period included the launch of unit-linked savings products like ING Positive Life in 2007 and lifestyle protection plans in 2008, alongside enhancements to group insurance offerings such as gratuity trusts by 2010.[21][22] By 2011, these efforts contributed to assets under management reaching approximately Rs 34,957 crore.[23] The global financial crisis of 2008 posed challenges to the Indian insurance sector, including reduced premium growth and investment volatility, but ING Vysya Life demonstrated resilience through its diversified product portfolio and expanded channels.[24] Exide's strategic support helped mitigate impacts by focusing on stable bancassurance ties while building agency and alternative distributions, ensuring continued operational expansion amid sector-wide pressures.[19] This phase solidified the joint venture's position, achieving steady premium income growth despite the economic downturn.[25]Rebranding and Full Ownership
In January 2013, ING Group announced its exit from the Indian life insurance sector, agreeing to sell its 26% stake in ING Vysya Life Insurance Company Private Limited to joint venture partner Exide Industries Limited, which already held a 50% stake.[17] Exide subsequently acquired the remaining shares from minority partners, including 16.32% from the Hemendra Kothari Group and 7.68% from the Enam Group, for an aggregate consideration of approximately Rs 550 crore, completing the transaction in March 2013 and securing 100% ownership of the insurer.[26][27] Following the full acquisition, Exide pursued regulatory approvals for rebranding to align the insurer more closely with its parent company's identity. In April 2014, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs granted the necessary permissions.[28] On May 5, 2014, the company officially changed its name to Exide Life Insurance Company Limited, marking the end of the ING Vysya branding.[29] Post-rebranding, Exide Life Insurance launched its inaugural advertising and marketing campaign in June-July 2014 to reinforce brand awareness and relevance among customers.[30] The company also focused on product innovation by submitting nine new insurance products for IRDA approval during the year, aiming to expand its portfolio amid growing market demand.[31] These efforts contributed to operational growth, with the insurer serving over 1 million customers across more than 200 cities in India by mid-2014.[4] Additionally, Exide Life began emphasizing digital strategies to enhance customer engagement and accessibility, building on its established distribution network.[30] The full ownership enabled Exide Industries to explore synergies between its core battery manufacturing operations and the insurance arm, particularly through leveraging the parent company's extensive rural distribution channels—spanning over 35,000 retail outlets—for potential cross-selling of insurance products in underserved markets.[32] This integration supported Exide Life's expansion into rural areas, where Exide's battery business already maintained a strong presence via initiatives like tractor battery servicing programs.Merger with HDFC Life
On September 3, 2021, HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited announced its intention to acquire 100% stake in Exide Life Insurance Company Limited from Exide Industries Limited for a total consideration of Rs 6,687 crore (approximately $915 million), structured as a cash payment of Rs 726 crore and issuance of 8,70,22,222 equity shares at Rs 685 per share.[2][33] The acquisition received necessary regulatory clearances, including approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in November 2021, leading to the completion of the share transfer on January 1, 2022, after which Exide Life became a wholly-owned subsidiary of HDFC Life.[7][34] Subsequently, the merger process advanced with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) sanctioning the scheme of amalgamation on September 16, 2022, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) providing final approval on October 13, 2022, making the merger effective from October 14, 2022.[35][36] Following the merger, HDFC Life integrated Exide Life's operations, transferring approximately 1.2 million customer policies and assets under management (AUM) of around Rs 18,781 crore as of June 30, 2021, which bolstered HDFC Life's presence in tier II and III markets, particularly through Exide Life's robust agency distribution network in South India comprising nearly 37,000 agents.[2][10] This integration enhanced HDFC Life's overall scale, with legacy Exide Life policies continuing to be serviced and honored under the HDFC Life brand.[8] As of 2025, the merger remains fully effective, with Exide Life's business fully absorbed into HDFC Life, contributing to sustained growth in HDFC Life's market share and operational efficiency without any separate entity status for Exide Life.[37]Operations
Headquarters and Organizational Structure
Exide Life Insurance maintained its corporate headquarters in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, since its inception in 2000, with the primary office located at the 3rd Floor, JP Techno Park, No. 3/1, Millers Road, Bengaluru - 560001.[38] The registered office was situated in Mumbai at 1st Floor, Unit No. 5-8, Inizio Building, Opp P&G Plaza, Cardinal Gracious Road, Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai - 400099.[38] To facilitate nationwide operations, the company established key regional offices in major cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai.[39] The organizational hierarchy of Exide Life Insurance consisted of a board of directors providing oversight, supported by executive management responsible for day-to-day operations.[38] Specialized departments handled core functions, including underwriting for policy evaluation and risk assessment, claims processing with an average settlement time of 22 days for individual claims, and information technology initiatives such as AI-based voice bots and cloud-based services.[38] Prior to the merger, the workforce exceeded 6,000 employees, enabling efficient management across these areas.[40] Following the acquisition of full ownership by HDFC Life in January 2022 and the merger's completion on October 14, 2022—the first such merger in India's life insurance sector—Exide Life was fully integrated into HDFC Life's operational framework, enhancing distribution channels and geographic reach while providing legacy policyholders continued support through HDFC Life's services for approximately 1.2 million policies.[8] Bengaluru operations were retained to handle ongoing legacy matters post-integration.[8] Throughout its independent existence, the company complied with Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) regulations on corporate governance, including a three-line defense risk management model and adherence to guidelines on advertisements and distance marketing, maintaining a solvency ratio of 217% as of March 31, 2022, against the required 150%.[38]Distribution Network and Market Reach
Exide Life Insurance employed a multi-channel distribution strategy to reach customers, encompassing a robust agency network of over 40,000 advisors, bancassurance partnerships, corporate agents, broking channels, direct sales, and online platforms.[41][42][43] The agency channel formed the backbone of its operations, supported by bancassurance tie-ups such as the 2016 partnership with SVC Co-operative Bank, which enabled distribution through banking networks.[44] The company established a presence in more than 200 cities across India, with a particularly strong foothold in South India, including Tier II and III locations, complemented by expansion efforts in the East such as Kolkata.[45][46][47] Rural penetration was enhanced by leveraging the parent company Exide Industries' extensive distribution network, which spanned semi-urban and rural markets with a focus on increasing activation in upcountry areas.[48] Digital initiatives included the launch of the MyConnect mobile app in 2014, enabling policy management and customer engagement, followed by online policy issuance capabilities by 2018 as part of broader digitization efforts.[49][50][51] Following the 2022 merger with HDFC Life, Exide Life's distribution was integrated and enhanced through HDFC Life's advanced digital platforms, expanding overall accessibility.[45] Customer accessibility was further supported by 24/7 helpline services via toll-free numbers like 1800-419-0808 and an extensive pre-merger network of branches across key regions.[52]Financial Performance and Assets
Exide Life Insurance demonstrated robust financial growth in the years leading up to its acquisition by HDFC Life. In FY21, the company's net profit more than doubled to INR 61 crore, driven by a 3.3% increase in gross written premium to INR 3,325 crore despite market challenges.[53] By the end of FY21, assets under management (AUM) stood at over INR 18,000 crore, reflecting steady accumulation from policyholder funds and investments.[54] This momentum continued into FY22, with total premium income rising to INR 3,768 crore and AUM expanding by 12% to approximately INR 20,584 crore.[38] Revenue for Exide Life was predominantly derived from life insurance premiums, accounting for over 90% of total income, with the remainder from investment returns and fees.[55] The company maintained strong regulatory compliance, with its solvency ratio consistently exceeding the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (IRDAI) minimum requirement of 150%, reaching 217% by the end of FY22.[38] Key operational ratios underscored operational efficiency: the claim settlement ratio improved progressively from 86.1% in FY14-15 to 99.09% in FY21-22, settling over 98% of individual death claims in recent years.[56] Meanwhile, the expense ratio, measured as management expenses to gross premium, hovered around 21-22% in FY21-22, reflecting controlled costs amid expansion.[57] Following the full merger with HDFC Life in October 2022, Exide Life's legacy AUM and operations were seamlessly integrated into the parent entity's portfolio, enhancing HDFC Life's scale in protection and savings products.[8] This contributed to sustained growth in the combined entity, with HDFC Life's total AUM reaching INR 3,36,282 crore as of March 31, 2025, up 15% from INR 2,92,220 crore in FY24, and net profit after tax climbing 15% to INR 1,802 crore.[37] Total premiums grew 13% to INR 71,045 crore in FY25, supported by the diversified distribution from Exide's network. The solvency ratio for the integrated HDFC Life stood at 194% in FY25, well above regulatory thresholds, while the claim settlement ratio achieved 99.68% as of March 31, 2025.[37][58] Expense efficiency improved, with the operating expense ratio (excluding commission) dropping to 8.8% in FY25 from 9.3% in FY24, aided by synergies from the merger.[37]| Key Metric | Pre-Merger (FY21-22) | Post-Merger (FY24-25, HDFC Life) |
|---|---|---|
| AUM (INR crore) | 18,000 - 20,584 | 292,220 - 336,282 |
| Net Profit (INR crore) | 61 (FY21) - 12 (FY22 est.) | 1,569 - 1,802 |
| Total Premiums (INR crore) | 3,325 - 3,768 | 63,076 - 71,045 |
| Solvency Ratio (%) | 220 - 217 | 187 - 194 |
| Claim Settlement Ratio (%) | 98.5 - 99.09 | 99.50 - 99.68 |
| Expense Ratio (%) | 21 - 22 | 9.3 - 8.8 |
