FIPB clears Rs 14,000 crore FDI proposals; Nippon, Yes Bank get nod

(FIPB) Monday cleared 16 foreign direct investment proposals worth Rs 14,000 crore, including that of Japan's Nippon hiking stake in Reliance Life Insurance to 49%, as also that of four other foreign insurers.

The FIPB also approved the proposal of Yes Bank to hike foreign investment limit to 74%, from present 41%-- making it the first bank to get approval for hiking FDI limit after the new regulations were announced in November.

FIPB, chaired by Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, also cleared Sun Life Financial Investments Inc's proposal to hike stake in Birla Sunlife Insurance company to 49%.

The proposal of Japan's Nippon Life Insurance to acquire another 23% stake in Reliance Life Insurance was also cleared by the Board. Nippon currently holds 26% in Reliance Life.

Also Yes Bank's proposal to hike FDI limit was cleared by the Board, the source said.

In November 2015, the government had removed sub-limit restrictions for foreign investments in private sector banks within the overall sectoral limit of 74%.

In the private banking sector, the government has introduced full fungibility of foreign investment and accordingly, "FIIs/FPIs/QFIs, following due procedure, can now invest up to sectoral limit of 74%, provided there is no change of control and management of the investee company", the government had said.

FIPB also cleared the proposal of Aviva Life Insurance and Raheja QBE General Insurance Company to hike foreign investment limit in their respective companies to 49%.

The other proposals cleared by the FIPB included Tata AIA Life Insurance Company, Tata Sikorsky Aerospace Limited and International Asset Reconstruction Co Pvt Ltd.