Engineering giant Kirloskar mulls entering general insurance business

MUMBAI: The Kirloskar Group, which has been in the engineering and machinery business for more than a century, is venturing into the country’s Rs 85,000-crore general insurance business.

People close to the development said the group has begun talks for a joint venture to sell general insurance products in India. The Kirloskars did not respond to an email query sent by ET in this regard. Large foreign insurance companies have been trying to enter India’s general insurance market after the government increased foreign investment ceiling to 49% from 26% earlier.

Some foreign insurers, including Travellers and Ace, are looking for joint venture partners in India. Kotak Mahindra Bank is the other domestic company looking to enter the non-life insurance market. The business needs an initial capital ofRs 100 crore.

In India, there are 28 nonlife insurance companies including four in the public sector. The industry is still dominated by public sector enterprises, with more than 50% of the business written by New India Assurance, National India, Oriental and United India Insurance Company.

Liberty Videocon General and Magma HDI General were the last to enter non-life insurance industry in 2012-13.