On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, IDFC Ltd announced a major development in its ongoing merger process. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Chennai gave its official approval for the merger of IDFC Financial Holding Company with IDFC Ltd, and for their combined merger into IDFC First Bank.
This approval is a crucial step forward in the merger plan that was set in motion earlier. In a regulatory filing, IDFC Ltd expressed its readiness to move forward with the remaining legal and regulatory processes to finalize the merger. According to the company, the next steps involve obtaining a certified copy of the NCLT order and completing all necessary formalities to make the merger effective.
This announcement ties back to IDFC Ltd’s earlier communication from July 3, 2023, when the board of directors decided to move forward with the merger. At that time, IDFC Ltd submitted a joint application to the NCLT, Chennai, seeking approval under Section 230-232 of the Companies Act, which governs corporate mergers and amalgamations in India.
Shareholders’ Approval
Earlier this year, in May 2024, the shareholders of IDFC First Bank had already shown overwhelming support for the merger. A large majority, representing more than three-fourths of the shareholders, voted in favor of the merger during a shareholder meeting. The holders of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) also backed the merger strongly, with 99.99% of them voting in favor during the e-voting process.
RBI’s Nod
This merger has been in the works for some time, and in December 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave its approval for the reverse merger of IDFC Ltd with its banking arm, IDFC First Bank. This paved the way for the company to move ahead with the final steps.
What This Means for IDFC and IDFC First Bank
This merger marks an important milestone for IDFC Ltd and IDFC First Bank. Once complete, it will simplify the corporate structure by consolidating operations under IDFC First Bank. The move is expected to strengthen the bank’s balance sheet and create greater efficiencies in its operations. For shareholders and investors, this merger could bring long-term benefits as the unified entity is positioned for enhanced growth in the Indian banking sector.