RCap partners Japan's Sumitomo, Nippon for bank foray

Sumitomo, Nippon to hold 4-5% stake each in the proposed bank

Readying itself for a bank licence, Anil Ambani-led group's Reliance Capital today said Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and Nippon Life would become its strategic partners in the proposed banking venture, with each having 4-5% stake.

Reliance Capital, which is present in a host of non-banking financial services businesses, would be the main promoter of the proposed bank, the application for which would be soon submitted to RBI, the company said in a statement.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is one of the largest banks in Japan, while Nippon Life Insurance is among Asia's largest financial services company and already has strategic stakes in Reliance Capital's life insurance and mutual fund units.

With the latest move, Reliance Capital joins a host of other entities who have firmed up their plans to seek a banking licence, for which applications need to be submitted by July 1 with the RBI.

Religare Enterprises has already announced plans to dilute promoter stake to 49% to meet the eligibility criteria, while Aditya Birla group, JM Financial Srei, TFCI and a host of others have also lined up their plans.

There are reports that Tatas are also among the interested candidates, while Mahindras have dropped their plans to seek a bank licence.

Reliance Capital said that both Sumitomo and Nippon would have 4-5% stake each in the proposed bank, subject to regulatory approvals, while agreements to this effect have been signed with them.

Meanwhile, shares of the company zoomed over 6% to Rs 332 in early trade at the BSE.

"Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is amongst the largest banks in Japan and the largest institutional investor in the country," Reliance Capital CEO Sam Ghosh said, while adding that it would bring in vast experience in retail and institutional banking to the new venture.

Sumitomo has total assets of $400 billion, advances of $238 billion and net assets of $25 billion.

Nippon Life, also known as Nissay, is Japan's largest private life insurer with revenues of $71 billion, profits of $2 billion and it is also present in a host of other Asian countries and in North America and Europe.

Reliance Capital, the financial services arm of Anil Ambani-led business conglomerate Reliance Group, is present in insurance, mutual funds, brokerage, investment banking and a host of other financial services sectors.

Reliance Group also interests in telecom, power, infrastructure, media and entertainment, among others.