Banks seek higher exposure limit for M&A financing

Core Insights - Banks are advocating for modifications to the Reserve Bank of India's draft acquisition finance guidelines, including higher exposure limits and the ability to fund unlisted companies' M&A plans [1][4] - The current proposal caps banks' exposure to acquisition finance at 10% of their Tier-I capital, which banks believe is insufficient [3][6] - Recent major M&A deals highlight the potential for significant acquisition financing in the market [8][9] Group 1: Regulatory Changes - Banks are requesting the RBI to increase the exposure limit for acquisition finance from the proposed 10% of Tier-I capital to possibly 30-40% of banks' net worth [3][6] - There is a call for the RBI to allow banks to finance acquisitions of well-run unlisted entities, as smaller listed companies have faced governance issues [2][4] Group 2: Current M&A Landscape - Notable recent domestic M&A transactions include JSW Paints acquiring a 75% stake in Akzo Nobel India for $1.6 billion, Torrent Pharmaceuticals purchasing JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals for $3 billion, and ONGC NTPC Green acquiring Ayana Renewable Power Pvt Ltd for $2.3 billion [8] - The total Tier-1 capital of banks is approximately ₹28.4 lakh crore, indicating that the immediate funding availability for M&As would be slightly above ₹2.8 lakh crore, which is considered small but a starting point for regulatory changes [9]