BUSINESS
Closing due diligence underway at IDBI Bank
Financial bids will be called once the diligence report is finalised, which according to sources may happen by the end of March
BUSINESS
Bajaj Finserv may break ties with Allianz in H1CY25, possibly as soon as March-end
The valuation at which Bajaj and Allianz will split their joint venture for life and general insurance businesses is under consideration. Contours of the separation are expected to be formalised by January-end
BUSINESS
Ionic will be ready to go live soon: Srikanth Subramanian, co-founder and CEO, Ionic Wealth (By Angel One)
Srikanth Subramaniantalks about his target customer base which is the Rs 1 – 50 crore income bulge and how the company wants to be a 'co-founder' to them in the process of wealth creation
BUSINESS
Vault Matters: Banks must rethink business strategies to address high attrition
High attrition among private banks is something the RBI has been concerned about for the last two years. But solving this issue is not in the regulator’s hand. Will banks recognise the flaws in the system?
BUSINESS
Roadshows for HDB Financial’s IPO underway
HDFC Bank plans to roll out the initial public offering of its non-banking arm within two or three weeks of getting the go-ahead from Sebi
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive | M&M Finance in the process of restructuring its housing arm
The new leadership at the parent company is clear that the mortgage business has to move out of the affordable homes segment in order to pare its bad loans book.
BUSINESS
Vault matters | Thinning bank credit growth needs RBI’s immediate attention
While it is often perceived that bank credit growth is a derivate of GDP growth, the fact is both are interlinked. If credit growth posted by banks is muted, GDP growth is unlikely to outperform the loan growth data. At 11.5% as per recent RBI data, bank loan growth isn’t very inspiring
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive | Third term as Axis Bank chief will be about continuing our journey: Amitabh Chaudhry
Axis Bank MD and CEO speaks exclusively to Moneycontrol as he takes charge for the third term, shares his insight into the House of GPS and the road ahead
INDIA
Vault Matters | Should the regulator have the final word or the only word?
About nine intermediaries, including Kotak Mahindra Bank, India’s fourth largest private bank, faced the ire of the Reserve Bank of India in 2024. A few that faced bans have resumed business while others are yet to get their names cleared. Yet, it is far from business-as-usual for most of them. Should there be recourse for businesses to get a better grip on the core problem before stringent regulatory action?
BUSINESS
Mizuho makes a binding bid for Avendus Capital
On December 18, Moneycontrol reported that Nomura has placed its final bid for the homegrown investment banking firm. Bid from Carlyle is expected around the first week of January 2025
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive | We're on course to be small finance bank, talks on with RBI: Fino Payments Bank chief Rishi Gupta
Would prefer to convert to a small finance bank, even if permitted to lend as payments bank, says Rishi Gupta, MD and CEO, Fino Payments Bank
BUSINESS
Axis Bank MD & CEO says not looking to acquire Yes Bank or IDBI Bank
While the bank has plans for inorganic growth options, Amitabh Chaudhry ruled out the possibility of making a move for IDBI Bank or Yes Bank.
BUSINESS
Interest rate cut won’t spur capex: Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank
Chaudhry believes that while there is pressure building to cut interest rates, that itself may not help improve capex.
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive | We aim to maintain our NIM at 3.8% in long run: Axis Bank chief Amitabh Chaudhry
Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank speaks exclusively to Moneycontrol on what lies ahead for the bank.
BUSINESS
Vault matters | Barely discussed concerns in gold loans
The year 2024 belonged to gold loans clearly. From one of the largest players, IIFL Finance, being banned for a little over six months this year to the regulator waking up the irregularities in the sector, gold loans have become the product everyone wants to focus on. But if unsecured loans are being realigned as secured gold loans product, is that proposition well thought through?
BUSINESS
Final binding bids for Avendus Capital come through
Nomura has bid for complete acquisition of Avendus Capital, while bids from Mizuho and other interested investors expected later this week, sources have told Moneycontrol
BUSINESS
HDFC Bank reopens stake talks with MUFG for HDB Financial
Ahead of possible changes to the holding norms proposed by the central bank, HDFC Bank is keen to onboard a large investor in HDB Financial before it goes public
BUSINESS
Vault matters | Why credit bureaus need to be more borrower friendly
While the central bank has taking a slew of steps to ensure that there is accuracy and faster dissemination of credit history, more can be done to increase the efficiency of credit bureaus. Unlike corporate rating agencies, retail customers barely get a chance to make a case on why the rating score may be wrong. This needs to change for deeper retail penetration
BUSINESS
Vault Matters | How I would remember Shaktikanta Das
If former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao would be remembered for quietly reforming the country in 1991, Das will be remembered as RBI’s very own Narasimha Rao. He brought about certain critical changes in the way banks and NBFCs operated and ensured that everyone towed the line
BUSINESS
How Sachin Bansal's Navi Finserv reversed RBI lending ban in quick time
Navi’s move to reduce the peak interest rates could also mean that it will naturally reduce its exposure to customers with higher risk profiles and is likely to help the company reduce its NPA during FY 25
BUSINESS
MC Analysis | Sanjay Malhotra, who succeeds Shaktikanta Das as new RBI Governor, has a tougher task
Markets usually anticipate the incoming Governor to slash interest rates. This time around, with inflation being where it is, it needs to be seen whether there is adequate headroom to tinker with rates just yet. Malhotra’s decision on certain critical banking-related issues and the divestment of IDBI Bank will be interesting to note.
COMPANIES
Bain’s deal with Manappuram may face delays due to differences over terms
According to sources, promoters of Manappuram Finance and Bain Capital were not in agreement on structure of the deal
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive | Bajaj Finance to halt co-branded credit cards business
According to sources, Bajaj Finance is keen to launch its own credit card business if regulatory approvals come through rather than pursing co-branded cards with banks.
BUSINESS
MFI loan disbursements likely to be muted in November
This would be the third straight month of weak disbursements for the sector. Industry leaders warn that prolonged shrinkage in monthly disbursements could significantly hamper access to bank funding for NBFC-MFIs in the near term.
