IDBI Bank Deal: Fairfax sees closure in Q1 2027, CSB Bank stake decision pending

Fairfax Financial Holdings expects its proposed acquisition of 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank to close as early as the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals, chairman and CEO Prem Watsa said on Thursday, outlining the Canadian financial services group's funding plans, management appointments and longer-term strategy for the bank in a conference call.

"We are expecting that it might be the first quarter in 2027, next year. But it could happen sooner, too," Watsa said on a conference call, adding that Fairfax was working with the relevant regulators to move the process forward.

Fairfax expects to fund the $5.6 billion acquisition through a combination of holding company cash, dividends from subsidiaries, asset sales and contributions from Go Digit Insurance and IIFL Capital. The group does not plan to issue long-term debt to finance the transaction, which Watsa and Fairfax President Peter Clarke said should limit the impact on its financial leverage ratios.

The proposed acquisition follows Fairfax's selection as the buyer of a combined 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank held by the government and Life Insurance Corporation of India for Rs 52,878 crore.

Separately, Fairfax has two years to decide the future of its existing investment in CSB Bank, with a sale of its stake or a merger with IDBI Bank among the options under consideration.

Fairfax outlines funding plan for IDBI acquisition

Clarke said the acquisition would be funded through holding company cash and marketable securities, dividends from subsidiaries, asset sales and contributions from Go Digit and IIFL Capital. These businesses, along with Digit's life insurance operations, are expected to contribute approximately $3 billion towards the funding plan.

Fairfax held $2.3 billion in cash and marketable securities at its holding company as of June 30, 2026, along with another $2.3 billion in investments in associates and consolidated non-insurance businesses.

The group has also sold half its position in Poseidon for approximately $1.9 billion. The previously announced sale of Eurolife is expected to close in the second half of 2026 for approximately $900 million.

“When you go through all those points, you can see that we have a great amount of flexibility for financing this acquisition and the other transactions,” Clarke said.

He added that the funding plan would not involve any long-term debt issuance. Fairfax has also generated average annual earnings of approximately $4.3 billion over the last three years, with Watsa citing excess capital from its insurance operations as an additional source of funding flexibility.

Fairfax expects the use of insurance company portfolios to be minimal, with most of the funding arranged at the holding company level.

The acquisition and the proposed contributions of Go Digit and IIFL Capital remain subject to regulatory approvals, including those from the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the insurance regulator.

What Happens To CSB Bank?

Watsa said Fairfax had two years to decide how to address its ownership of CSB Bank alongside the proposed acquisition of IDBI Bank.

“CSB merge or sell, those are the two options we have,” Watsa said, adding that Fairfax would evaluate both options carefully before taking a decision.

Fairfax has been invested in CSB Bank since 2018. Watsa said the bank's book value had grown at approximately 24% annually since then, while net advances had increased by around 20% and deposits by approximately 15%.

He declined to indicate which option Fairfax currently favoured.

Fairfax also declined to comment on the future of its investment in IIFL Finance, in which it holds approximately 13%. Watsa said any decision would be communicated at the appropriate time.

IIFL Capital, a separate entity, is the business proposed to be brought into the IDBI Bank structure. Fairfax expects to hold approximately 31% in IIFL Capital following the proposed arrangement.

IDBI Bank Management Rejig

Fairfax plans to retain IDBI Bank's existing managing director and CEO, Rakesh Sharma, who led the bank's turnaround following a period of substantial losses.

Watsa said IDBI Bank had incurred cumulative losses of approximately $6.4 billion between 2016 and 2020, before returning to profitability in 2021. The bank earned Rs 9,320 crore in the 12 months ended June 2026, he said.

Fairfax proposes to appoint NS Kannan, former MD and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and former executive director and CFO of ICICI Bank, as IDBI Bank's chairman, subject to RBI approval.

Former CSB Bank CEO Rajendran will work with Fairfax as an adviser. Deepak Parekh, former chairman of HDFC Ltd, and Paresh Sukthankar, former deputy managing director of HDFC Bank, will also provide advisory support.

Watsa said Fairfax would follow a decentralised operating model, allowing existing management teams to continue running their businesses.

"We have never believed in synergies and all of that," he said, citing Fairfax's experience of retaining separate management structures across its insurance businesses.

Go Digit will continue to be run by founder Kamesh Goyal and his team, while IIFL Capital will retain its existing management and operating structure. Fairfax said it had no immediate plans to rebrand either business.

The Road Ahead For IDBI Bank

Fairfax described IDBI Bank as financially strong following its turnaround, citing a capital adequacy ratio of 27%, net worth of approximately $7.5 billion, a CASA ratio of 43.6% and a net non-performing asset ratio of 0.2%. The bank has provisions equivalent to 99% of its non-performing loans, according to Watsa.

The bank's loan-to-deposit ratio stands at 80%, while its assets-to-equity ratio is approximately seven times.

Watsa said IDBI Bank's loan book had shifted towards retail lending, which now accounts for around 70% of advances, with mortgages making up approximately 70% of its retail portfolio. Commercial lending, which historically accounted for around 70% of the loan book, now represents approximately 30%.

Fairfax sees scope to grow the bank's lending business as credit demand rises alongside India's economic expansion.

"The big thing I'm trying to mention to you is the growth possibility," Watsa said, adding that "the growth possibility in India, we think, could shock everybody."

He also said Fairfax's investment thesis was based on the potential for India's economy to expand substantially over the next two decades, creating demand for banking, insurance, housing and investment products.

Under the current regulatory framework outlined by Watsa, Fairfax would have to reduce its ownership in IDBI Bank from approximately 60% to 40% after 10 years, and further to 26% by the end of 15 years. Watsa said the group would comply with the applicable rules, while noting that ownership limits could change over time.