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Cabinet fast tracks merger of public sector banks

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Cabinet fast tracks merger of public sector banks
New framework approved; mergers by share swaps

The Cabinet on Wednesday approvedaframework to speed up mergers of public sector banks, the first of which could take place by March. The mergers will not involve any cash but only share swaps.

The government also said there would be no job losses after any of the mergers.PSU bank unions had gone onastrike on Tuesday. The decision lifted banking stocks, but bankers said the decision should not be forced on them.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made it clear the process would be initiated by the boards of the banks. An official said a number of banks were discussing merger possibilities among themselves.“The government is saying it will not force (mergers). They will leave it to the banks.

If the players find it reasonable and profitable, they will work on it," said State Bank of India Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya. Business Standard had reported in June that Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank could acquire smaller banks like Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India and United Bank of India.

“You have a large number of banks in the public sector. The object is to create strong banks. Our experience of consolidation has been positive so far,” Jaitley said atamedia briefing after the Cabinet meeting.

He added the decision to merge would be “solely based on commercial considerations”. The official said once banks had decided to merge and had worked out issues like share valuation and swap ratio, the exchanges would be notified.

Simultaneously, the Reserve Bank of India and the government would study and approve the proposal, the person said. The final approval will be given by the Cabinet. The alternative mechanism, similar to structures put in place to approve disinvestment proposals, would be decided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overseen by Jaitley, sources said.

Business Standard New Delhi, 24th August 2017

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