HDFC gets CCI nod for buying 51.2 pc stake in Apollo Munich Health for Rs 1347 crore

In June, HDFC agreed to acquire Apollo Hospitals Group's entire 50.8 per cent stake in Apollo Munich Health for Rs 1,336 crore and also the 0.4 per cent stake held by a few employees for Rs 10.84 crore.

New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India on Friday said that it has approved mortgage major HDFC's acquisition of 51.20 per cent stake in Apollo Munich Health Insurance and subsequent merger of the latter into HDFC Ergoin a deal worth nearly Rs 1,347 crore.

In June, HDFC agreed to acquire Apollo Hospitals Group's entire 50.8 per cent stake in Apollo Munich Health for Rs 1,336 crore and also the 0.4 per cent stake held by a few employees for Rs 10.84 crore.

HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh had said the deal will have two steps -- HDFC first acquiring 51.2 per cent in Apollo Munich Health and then merging it with HDFC Ergo.

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The merger with HDFC Ergo will create a strong health insurance franchise with a combined gross direct premium of Rs 10,807 crore, Parekh had said.

In a tweet, the fair trade regulator said it "approves the acquisition of 51.20 per cent shareholding of Apollo Munich by HDFC and subsequent merger of Apollo Munich into HDFC ERGO."

Munich Health, the health business arm of Germany-based Munich Re, owns 49 per cent stake in Apollo Munich Health, while Ergo International AG, another subsidiary of the German major, owns 49 per cent stake in HDFC Ergo.

HDFC Ergo is the general insurance arm of HDFC.

Combinations (mergers and acquisitions) beyond a certain threshold require clearance from the CCI.

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