Combined entity will get benefit of lower cost of funds: HDFC's Keki Mistry

Keki Mistry, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of HDFC, tells Manojit Saha the option to merge with HDFC Bank was on the drawing-board but it is making sense now owing to a variety of factors. Edited excerpts.
 

Why did HDFC decide to give up its identity?

This is not a question of giving up the identity. HDFC was the holding company, and the bank was a separate entity. Time and again we have looked at the possibility of merger. In the past these things did not make sense for a variety of reasons. [Now] cash reserve ratio/statutory liquidity ratio (CRR/SLR)