HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh today termed as premature the speculation about a merger between the mortgage major and its banking arm HDFC Bank but said that the entities may look at the possibility if it is a "win-win" situation.
"Both the companies' boards have not considered it and at the appropriate time if it is necessary and beneficial to both share-holders, if it is a win-win, then we will look at it," he said, addressing company share-holders at the annual general meeting here.
Keki Mistry, the vice-chairman and managing director of HDFC, said such a move has "theoretical" advantages like savings on CRR (cash reserve ratio) and SLR (statutory reserve ratio) requirements after the RBI liberalised its policies last week and putting the excess capital of parent HDFC to good use.
"Because of the reduction in CRR and SLR on existing funds, yes, if you were to work out the numbers, probably it may be a little bit better but we will have to do the arithmetic. It is something which the boards will have to look at in the future, whenever that is," Mistry said.
"Theoretically, if there is a merger, HDFC has an excess capital and that capital can be better utilised," he added.
Speculation about a merger between the two entities has been rife after the RBI released norms exempting banks from CRR and SLR requirements for long-term infrastructure bonds, which also included affordable housing.
HDFC and HDFC Bank had been reportedly looking at such a possibility for over a decade and the introduction of the new norms will only act as a catalyst, according to analysts.
HDFC Bank deputy managing director Paresh Sukthankar, addressing the media at the bank's first quarter earnings, also said as of now, nothing has been discussed but admitted to the advantages of merger.
The Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) was amongst the first to receive an 'in principle' approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up a bank in the private sector. The bank was incorporated in August 1994 in the name of 'HDFC Bank Limited', with its registered office in Mumbai, India. HDFC Bank commenced operations as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in January 1995.
