IRDAI tightens ownership norms, eases capital infusion

Mumbai IRDAI has tightened oversight of ownership changes in insurers while easing group restructuring and capital raising, as part of the latest amendments announced late Friday.

The biggest change relates to the transfer of shares. Unlike the 2024 framework, which required approval only for specified transfer situations, insurers will now need prior IRDAI approval whenever an investor's holding crosses 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% or 75%, or when an investor becomes the single largest shareholder.

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The regulator has also extended the approval requirement to transfers within promoter groups and allowed insurers to refer cases where ownership structures appear designed to avoid the 5% approval threshold through indirect holdings.

In another change, the regulator has clarified that dilution arising from existing shareholders not participating in a fresh issue of shares will also be treated as a transfer event, bringing such transactions under the approval framework.