SBI allowed to reduce stake in subsidiaries

The lok sabha allowed SBI to reduce its stake in its seven subsidiaries from 55 percent to 51 percent. This will make their shares available to retail investors by listing on the stock exchanges

The State Bank of India (Subsidiary Bank Laws) Amendment Bill, 2006, which amends the State Bank of Saurashtra Act, 1950, the State Bank of Hyderabad Act, 1956 and the SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 was passed by a voice vote. The bill also raised the authorized capital of these banks to Rs 500 crore, allow them to issue bonus shares and augment the number of nominated directors representing shareholders to a ceiling of three.This also gives the chairman of SBI the power to appoint chairmen of its subsidiaries.

The government however clarified that it has and would dismiss any proposal of reducing stake in the subsidiaries below 51% as it would like to have majority voting power in these to be state owned companies after RBI transfers its holding to the government in August.

Tthe SBI has 100 per cent stake in State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Saurashtra. Stakes in State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Travancore and State Bank of Indore -- SBI's stake varies from 75 per cent to 98 per cent.

Source: The Economic Times.