OREANDA-NEWS. The Board of Directors of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd ("Kotak") and the Board of Directors of ING Vysya Bank Ltd ("ING Vysya") at their respective meetings have approved an all-stock amalgamation of ING Vysya with Kotak.

The amalgamation is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Kotak and ING Vysya respectively, Reserve Bank of India under the Banking Regulation Act, the Competition Commission of India and such other regulatory approvals as may be required.

Upon obtaining all approvals, when the merger becomes effective, ING Vysya will merge with Kotak. Shareholders of ING Vysya will receive shares of Kotak in exchange of shares in ING Vysya at the approved share exchange ("swap") ratio. All shareholders of Kotak and ING Vysya will participate thereafter in the (merged) Kotak business. All ING Vysya branches and employees will become Kotak branches and employees. ING Vysya's CEO designate, Mr Uday Sareen, will be inducted into the top management of Kotak reporting directly to Mr Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak.

Merger terms

The Boards of Kotak and ING Vysya respectively considered the results of a due diligence review covering areas such as advances, investments, deposits, properties & branches, liabilities, material contracts etc.

S.R.Batliboi & Co., LLP, Chartered Accountants, and Price Waterhouse & Co LLP, the independent valuers appointed by Kotak and ING Vysya respectively, have recommended a share exchange ratio, which has been accepted by the respective Boards. Avendus Capital Private Ltd. provided a Fairness Opinion to Kotak on the share exchange ratio and Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd. provided a Fairness Opinion to ING Vysya.

Accordingly ING Vysya shareholders will receive 725 shares in Kotak for 1,000 shares of ING Vysya. The share exchange ratio is considered fair and reasonable given the underlying value of ING Vysya, as also giving shareholders the ability to benefit from the potential that can be realised upon merging into Kotak.

This exchange ratio indicates an implied price of Rs.790 for each ING Vysya share based on the average closing price of Kotak shares during one month to November 19, 2014, which is a 16% premium to a like measure of ING Vysya market price.

The proposed merger would result in issuance of approximately 15.2% of the equity share capital of the merged Kotak.

One of ING Vysya's directors will be joining the Board of Directors of Kotak.