India's Bajaj Auto Ltd said on May 17 that it would split its manufacturing and finance operations, and its shares fell sharply on concerns about options for Germany's Allianz to lift its stake in two insurance joint ventures.
Bajaj, India's second-biggest motorcycle maker, said it was releasing details of the options agreed with Allianz when they set up insurance units together in 2001, after analysts' valuations assigned to the joint ventures assumed "substantial and material proportions".
Bajaj, which also makes scooters and three-wheeled motorised rickshaws, reported quarterly net profit fell 11 percent to 3.08 billion rupees ($75.5 million), as higher costs and tough competition compressed margins, and a top company official said cost pressures would continue in the next two quarters.
Shares in Bajaj Auto initially rose 2.5 percent after the results but then fell more than 10 percent on concerns about the Allianz options, before closing down 6.7 percent at 2,500.30 rupees in a Mumbai market that rose 1.2 percent.
"Going forward insurance was a very promising area but investors were not aware of this option. This would now lead to a lower valuation. Hence the sharp correction," Arun Kejriwal, strategist at research firm KRIS, said. The government has said it wants to raise the foreign investment limit in insurance to 49 percent from 26 percent but the move has been held up by political opposition.
The options allow the German company to increase its stakes in both insurance ventures from the current limit of 26 percent if government regulations change.
Allianz can raise its stake in the general insurance venture to 50 percent at a cost of 10 rupees a share plus interest compounded at 16 percent annually for up to 15 years from April 23, 2001. It can also lift its stake in the life insurance venture to 74 percent at 5.42 rupees a share plus interest compounded at 16 percent annually for up to 15 years from July 31, 2001. Beyond 15 years, there were other pricing methods to exercise the options. Bajaj said it had corresponding put options.
The firm said it would transfer the auto business, along with investments in PT Bajaj Auto Indonesia and some vendor firms, as well as 15 billion rupees in cash and cash equivalents to the manufacturing subsidiary. The other subsidiary will control investments in consumer finance firm Bajaj Auto Finance Ltd, stakes in the insurance joint ventures with Allianz, along with 8 billion rupees in cash and cash equivalents, it said.