RBI Rejects Muthoot Finance’s Plan To Acquire IDBI Mutual Fund

The RBI has turned down the proposal of Muthoot Finance Ltd. to acquire IDBI Bank's mutual fund business, saying sponsoring a mutual fund is not in consonance with the activity of an operating NBFC.

According to a regulatory filing by IDBI Bank Ltd. on Nov. 24, a share purchase agreement with regard to sale of IDBI Mutual Fund to Muthoot Finance was signed on Nov. 22, 2019.

"The agreement was entered into by and between Muthoot Finance, IDBI Bank, IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, IDBI Asset Management and IDBI MF Trustee Company...for acquisition by Muthoot Finance of 100% equity shares of IDBI Asset Management held by IDBI Bank and its nominees and IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, and 100 % equity shares of IDBI MF Trustee Company held by IDBI Bank and its nominees," it said.

This was subject to receipt of necessary regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Board of India and other regulators.

"As advised by Muthoot Finance, we (IDBI Bank) would like to inform that their request for a no objection certificate was not acceded to by Reserve Bank of India on the ground that, the activity of sponsoring a Mutual Fund or owning an Asset Management Company is not in consonance with the activity of an operating NBFC," the filing said.

Muthoot Finance had proposed to purchase 100% equity shares of IDBI AMC and IDBI MF Trustee Company held by the sellers for a total consideration of Rs 215 crore.