Today the general insurance market is very fragmented, says K Sanath Kumar

Sanath Kumar tells Namrata Acharya that general insurance firms will now have to reprioritise its strategies

After the initial public offering (IPO) of New India Assurance last year, Kolkata-based National Insurance was next in line for an IPO early next fiscal year. With the government proposing the merger of the three public sector general insurance firms—Oriental Insurance, National Insurance and United India Assurance — National Insurance will now have to reprioritise its strategies, K Sanath Kumar, chairman and managing director of National Insurance, tells Namrata Acharya. Edited excerpts:

What are your views on the merger of the three public sector general insurance firms?

The merger will increase the combined strength of the public sector insurance companies, and also