Govt considering merging banks including IDBI, BoB, Oriental Bank and CBI

The government is considering merging state-run banks, including Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank Ltd, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Central Bank of India. If merged, the entity will become the second-largest bank in the country after State Bank of India, with combined assets of ₹16.58 trillion.  The four banks that are being proposed to be merged are under pressure with combined losses of ₹21,646.38 crore in the year ended 31 March.  The merger will also allow the weak banks to sell assets, reduce overheads and shut money-losing branches.

The finance ministry, is also parallely considering a 51% stake sale in IDBI Bank to a strategic partner, for ₹9,000-10,000 crore, the people said on condition of anonymity.

“Dilution of (government) stake in IDBI Bank could also be achieved through stake sale to private equity investors,” said one of the two people cited above. Queries emailed to IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Central Bank of India did not elicit any response.

On 21 May, IDBI Bank told the exchanges in a regulatory filling that a special resolution will be placed for further issue of capital at its board meeting of 25 May.

On the following day, IDBI Bank informed the exchanges about a scrutinizer report for an increase in the bank’s authorized capital from the existing ₹4,500 crore to ₹8,000 crore.

The increase in authorized capital could facilitate the sale of a stake of 51% or more, in the form of a preferential issue to investors.