Credit Bulletin
September 05, 2019 | Mumbai
 
Update on amalgamation announcement of public sector banks
 

On August 30, 2019, Ministry of Finance announced a set of reforms for public sector banks (PSBs) including consolidation, capital infusion and measures to enhance governance standards. A key announcement was the amalgamation of 6 PSBs into 4 anchor PSBs. The proposed amalgamation is subject to approval by the boards of the respective banks as well as the required regulatory approvals.
 
The proposed list of anchor banks and the associated amalgamating banks is as below:

Anchor Bank Amalgamating Banks
Punjab National Bank (PNB) Oriental Bank of Commerce, United Bank of India
Canara Bank (Canara) Syndicate Bank
Union Bank of India (Union) Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank
Indian Bank (Indian) Allahabad Bank

The announcement of multiple bank amalgamations at one go, as against single announcements of the past, reveals the decisive intent of the government to go ahead with its consolidation agenda for PSBs. The consolidation of PSBs is expected to bring in economies of scale, increase operating efficiencies, and result in business synergies.
 
Earlier, in September 2018, the government had announced its plan for the amalgamation of Bank of Baroda (BoB), Vijaya Bank, and Dena Bank, which became effective as on April 1, 2019. The merger of State Bank of India (SBI) with five associate banks was completed in February 2017.
 
On completion of the proposed amalgamations, there will be 12 PSBs, of which 8 PSBs (PNB, Canara, Union, Indian, SBI, BoB, Bank of India, and Central Bank of India) are expected to have a strong national presence as per the amalgamation scheme, while the remaining 4 (Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, and Punjab & Sind Bank) are expected to have a strong regional focus.
 
While there will be clear long-term benefits of the proposed amalgamation if implemented successfully, any such large scale integration does entail some short-term challenges, such as managing cultural differences and manpower, branch rationalisation, technological integration, and potential opposition from trade unions. If these issues are handled well, the consolidation can bring in structural benefits, enabling PSBs to compete more effectively with other constituents in the financial sector.
 
The government also announced several other reforms, including the first found of capital infusion of Rs 55,000 crore in 10 PSBs (of the total Rs 70,000 crore proposed for fiscal 2020), and measures to enhance the governance standards of PSBs. The boards of PSBs have been empowered to make the management accountable and to undertake succession planning. Moreover, flexibility has been given to the boards to enhance sitting fees of non-official directors and to rationalise board committees. In addition, non-official directors will perform a similar role as independent directors. PSBs have also been advised to recruit a chief risk officer at market-linked compensation.
 
Given that the amalgamations are currently awaiting approvals, CRISIL will continue to closely monitor developments and engage with various stakeholders, and take appropriate rating action thereafter.


For accessing the previous rating rationale, please use the following link
Bank Name Link to Rating Rationale
Punjab National Bank  Click Here
Oriental Bank of Commerce  Click Here
United Bank of India Click Here
Canara Bank Click Here
Syndicate Bank Click Here
Union Bank Of India Limited Click Here
Andhra Bank Click Here
Corporation Bank Click Here
Indian Bank Click Here
Allahabad Bank Click Here
Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for Banks and Financial Institutions
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Entities Based on Government Support
Rating criteria for Basel III - compliant non-equity capital instruments

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Vinay Rajani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1835
M: +91 91 676 42913
B: +91 22 3342 3000
vinay.rajani@ext-crisil.com

Krishnan Sitaraman
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 8070
krishnan.sitaraman@crisil.com


Subhasri Narayanan
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3403
subhasri.narayanan@crisil.com


Sonica Gupta
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3531
Sonica.Gupta@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.
 
For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL.For further information on CRISIL’s privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL