- By Avinash Kumar
Introduction
A merger is when two or more corporations plan to merge to form a single entity, often with a new name rather than remaining separately owned and operated. A bank merger involves two or more banks merging their operations and resources into a single entity. A bank merger typically involves a larger bank with more resources. The merged entity can benefit from economies of scale, which can reduce costs. It also allows banks to share risk, diversify product offerings, improve investment returns, and grow into new markets. A bank merger can also allow banks to access new technology and implement new solutions.
Bank mergers can strengthen the Bank Nifty futures and options and banking stocks in the following ways:
Increased market capitalization and liquidity: When banks merge, they create larger and more liquid entities. This makes them more attractive to investors, which can lead to higher stock prices and increased trading volume in futures and options.
Improved financial performance: Bank mergers can lead to improved financial performance through economies of scale, cost savings, and synergies. This can make the merged banks more profitable and sustainable, which can also boost their stock prices.
Increased confidence in the banking sector: Bank mergers can be seen as a sign of strength and stability in the banking sector. This can increase investor confidence and lead to higher demand for bank stocks and derivatives.
The necessity of bank mergers:
In India, many small banks operate as separate entities. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) believes that mergers of most of these banks will lead to the development of a strong, well-capitalized, and globally integrated banking system. A bank merger will lead to greater scale efficiency due to a larger customer base and wider market reach. This will lead to a wider variety of products and services available to customers, which in turn will reduce lending capital risk. A mutually beneficial partnership would make the most of each other’s network, customer base and access to cheap deposits. The government of India believes that a bigger bank will be stronger in the event of a crisis and will be better able to compete on a global stage, as it will eliminate similar jobs and lower lending costs. A larger bank will also benefit the economy as it will reduce competition between the key players within the same industry.
Bank mergers in India
Bank mergers have been taking place in India since before independence. The first bank merger in India took place in 1921 when the banks of Bengal, the Bank of Bombay, and the Bank of Madras merged with what is now known as the State Bank of India. In 2019, following the announcement of the mergers by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the notification by the Reserve bank of India (RBI) on 1 April 2020, the mergers of the state-owned banks (PSBs) were decided based on bad loans and regional considerations. The mergers have led to the formation of 12 state-owned banks in India, including the State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda, as compared to the 27 state-owned banks that existed in 2017. The mergers aim to Adhere at three to four top global banks in India.
List of some recent mergers in India.
YEARS | ANCHOR BANK | BANKS MERGED |
01 April 2020 | Punjab National Bank (PNB) | Oriental Bank of Commerce United Bank of India |
01 April 2020 | Canara Bank | Syndicate Bank |
01 April 2020 | Union Bank of India | Andhra Bank Corporation Bank |
01 April 2020 | Indian Bank | Allahabad Bank |
01 July 2023 | HDFC Bank | HDFC |
The State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest public sector bank in India, followed by the Punjab National Bank (PNB), which acquired the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) and the United Bank of India (UBI). After the merger, PNB has 11,437 locations, and the bank's overall revenue is Rs. 17,95 lakh crores.
To become India's fourth-largest public sector bank, Canara Bank acquired Syndicate Bank. With 89,885 workers overall, Canara Bank's branch count increased to 10,342. The merged business will be worth Rs. 15.20 lakh crores and the post-merger bank's net NPA ratio is 8.77%. The Government of India gave Canara Bank capital in the amount of Rs. 6500 crores for this transaction.
After acquiring Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, The Union Bank of India merged to form the fifth-largest PSB. With a net NPA of 6.85%, the combined business base of the merged banks will be Rs. 14.59 lakh crore. 11,700 crores of rupees were given to UBI by the Indian government to support this merger.
After merging with Allahabad Bank, Indian Bank rose to become the seventh-largest PSB. The entire NPA ratio of the Indian Bank is currently 3.75%, and the combined business of the bank will be worth Rs. 8.07 lakh crore. The Indian government provided the bank with funding in the amount of Rs. 2500 crore to complete this merger.
On April 4th, 2022, HDFC announced the merger into HDFC Bank. The merger was made to consolidate the market capitalization of HDFC, which is now the third-largest company in India. On July 1st, 2023, HDFC Bank completed the merger with HDFC, making it the largest private sector bank-to-NBRFC merger.
Ripples in the Capital Markets
The Bank Nifty index has risen by over 5% since the announcement of the HDFC Bank and HDFC merger on April 4, 2023.
The average daily trading volume in Bank Nifty futures and options has increased by over 10% since the announcement of the merger.
The share prices of most major banking stocks have also risen since the announcement of the merger. For example, HDFC Bank's share price has risen by over 7%, ICICI Bank's share price has risen by over 6%, and State Bank of India's share price has risen by over 5%.
Financials of Banks after mergers
Loan book size:
Among the four merged banks, all the banks showed a downfall after the merger.
Current account Saving account (CASA) Ratio:
Among the four merged banks, only Punjab National Bank showed a growth in the CASA ratio
Bottom Line
Bank mergers are essential for consolidation and growth, which is why, in the current environment, many banks are serious about mergers and acquisitions. They are also important for the economy, as they are often successful in rescuing weak banks that fail to meet expectations. bank mergers can have a positive impact on the Bank Nifty futures and options and banking stocks by increasing market capitalization and liquidity, improving financial performance, and increasing confidence in the banking sector.
Mergers create a variety of issues that can lead to serious consequences if the merger process is not executed correctly. For example, merging two existing brands into a single brand could be challenging as it requires a lot of thought to consider both brand identities to maintain both customer bases. It’s important to maintain each brand’s qualities and not alienate either brand’s customer base. Bank mergers often lead to job losses as redundant jobs and positions are eliminated. This can have a significant impact on the local economy as the employees affected may not have the skills needed to quickly find new jobs. Banks that merge often have different regulatory requirements which can make it difficult for the merged entity to comply with all regulatory requirements. The merged entity must comply with all regulatory requirements during the merger process or else penalties may be imposed.
If a merger is necessary, it should be done in a way that leads to an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding between the people of both organizations. If the people, work culture and vision blend well, the merger is sure to have a synergistic effect and a win-win situation. Big investments are needed to make India a 5 trillion economy. If the banks have sufficient funds to finance large programs, the country's economic growth will accelerate.
Key Statistical Figures in the Recent Past
The Bank Nifty index has closed in the green in 10 of the last 12 trading sessions.
The average daily trading volume in Bank Nifty futures and options has exceeded 100 million contracts for the past 10 trading sessions.
The share prices of most major banking stocks have closed higher in the last 12 trading sessions.
These statistics suggest that the Bank Nifty futures and options and banking stocks are currently in a bullish trend. This trend is likely to continue in the near future, as the market remains optimistic about the outlook for the banking sector.
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