HDFC Standard Life Insurance closes 18.71% higher on stock market debut

HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of mortgage lender HDFC, on Friday made its stock market debut on BSE and NSE.

The firm listed with an over 7 per cent premium against its issue price of Rs 290. The stock debuted at Rs 311, up 7.24 per cent from the issue price on the BSE.

At 12:25 pm, the stock was trading 17.83 percent or 51.70 points higher at 341 level on the BSE.

The life insurance firm's stock price later soared 27.24 per cent to Rs 369. On the NSE, it listed at Rs 310, reflecting a gain of 6.89 per cent.

It closed at Rs 344, up 18.71 percent over its issue price and 10.69 percent over its opening price.

The company's market valuation stood at Rs 69,671.19 crore. The Rs 8,695-crore IPO of the company was oversubscribed 4.90 times during November 7-9. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) portion was oversubscribed 16.60 times, non-institutional investors 2.29 times and retail investors 94 per cent, data available with the NSE showed. Price band for the offer was fixed at Rs 275-290 per share.

The IPO comprised sale of 1,91,246,050 equity shares, amounting to 9.55 per cent stake, by HDFC Ltd and up to 1,08,581,768 scrips, or 5.42 per cent, holding by Standard Life Mauritius.

HDFC Standard Life was established as a joint venture between HDFC and Standard Life Aberdeen plc (global investment company), initially through its wholly owned subsidiary The Standard Life Assurance Company and now through its wholly owned subsidiary, Standard Life Mauritius.

The insurer's solvency ratio as at March 31, 2015, March 31, 2016, March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017 was 196.1%, 198.4%, 191.6% and 197.5%, respectively. IRDAI has prescribed a minimum 150% solvency ratio limit.

The solvency ratio is derived out of the solvency margin (available solvency margin to required solvency margin) which denotes the amount by which the assets of the insurer exceed its liabilities.

The insurer had a balance sheet with total net worth of Rs 4,150 crore. The life insurer generated profit after tax of Rs 886.92 crore and delivered a return on equity of 25.6%, return on invested capital of 40.7% and operating return on embedded value of 21.7% during fiscal 2017.

As at June 30, 2017, the firm had total assets under management (AUMs) of Rs 94,750 crore and Indian Embedded Value of  Rs 13,220 crore.