Jan 31, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's banks and non-bank firm consolidation was progressing with meeting with individual firms with the regulator with preliminary plans expected to be submitted by March 31.
The Central Bank said it was also in talks with consultancy firms to get valuation and other services for planned mergers.
Sri Lanka's central bank is trying to shrink the total number of banks and finance firms in the country which will make them larger and easier to regulate.
Following two balance of payments crises in rapid succession in 2008 and 2011, non-bank lenders in particular, that play in the sub-prime market have run into bad loans and capital deficiencies.
Banks usually run into trouble in any country following credit bubbles generated by prolonged periods of low interest rates.
Analysts say while credit cycles, and bank collapses can happens even in the absence of central banks, such as in free banking regimes.
But bubbles and bad loans with central banking have been greater as low interest rates persist for longer periods than in free banking allowing bigger bubbles to be blown, speculative activity and more severe mal-investment to take place.
The two most recent global credit bubble collapses and banking panics in the 1930s (Great Depression) and 2009 (Great Recession) was bigger in scale impact for example than the 1871/72 railway bubble collapse which happened before the US Fed was created.
The full statement from the regulator is reproduced below:-
As already set out in the Road Map 2014 and beyond, the Central Bank conducted a seminar on 17 January 2014 to explain the need and the rationale for the Consolidation in the banking and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) beginning 2014. At such seminar, the key components of the Consolidation Plan were announced to the Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), key management of the audit firms which are eligible to audit banks and NBFIs, and representatives of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Institute of Personnel Management.
Subsequently, the Central Bank senior management held one-on-one meetings with almost all boards of directors and senior management of the local banks and NBFIs, at which the expectations of the Consolidation process was further clarified and specific issues pertaining to particular institutions were discussed in detail.
The Central Bank also informed the banks and NBFIs to approach the Consolidation process in a professional manner by seeking specialised IT, Legal, Tax and HR services in order to ensure the objectivity and integrity of the process.
In addition, the Central Bank requested all banks, NBFIs and others who are involved in the process to continue a close dialogue with the Central Bank and obtain guidance if the need arises. In this regard, the members of the special unit headed by the Assistant Governor were introduced to the banks and NBFIs at these meetings. In keeping with the request of the Central Bank, banks and NBFIs agreed to submit their preliminary proposals re. the Consolidation effort by 31March 2014.
A meeting was also held with key office bearers of the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union, at which all clarifications sought were provided by the Governor of the Central Bank and other senior officials of the Central Bank. The Central Bank also held discussions with leading Consulting firms with regard to their provision of consultancy services in respect of valuations, accounting and other services. These meetings helped to provide a clear understanding of the process which will help all stakeholders to move forward with clarity and certainty.
In the meantime, the Central Bank also wishes to inform the general public that the Consolidation process will not, in any way, affect their current transactions and deposits with the banks and finance companies, with whom they are presently transacting.
The Central Bank said it was also in talks with consultancy firms to get valuation and other services for planned mergers.
Sri Lanka's central bank is trying to shrink the total number of banks and finance firms in the country which will make them larger and easier to regulate.
Following two balance of payments crises in rapid succession in 2008 and 2011, non-bank lenders in particular, that play in the sub-prime market have run into bad loans and capital deficiencies.
Banks usually run into trouble in any country following credit bubbles generated by prolonged periods of low interest rates.
Analysts say while credit cycles, and bank collapses can happens even in the absence of central banks, such as in free banking regimes.
But bubbles and bad loans with central banking have been greater as low interest rates persist for longer periods than in free banking allowing bigger bubbles to be blown, speculative activity and more severe mal-investment to take place.
The two most recent global credit bubble collapses and banking panics in the 1930s (Great Depression) and 2009 (Great Recession) was bigger in scale impact for example than the 1871/72 railway bubble collapse which happened before the US Fed was created.
The full statement from the regulator is reproduced below:-
Satisfactory progress being made on Consolidation effort
As already set out in the Road Map 2014 and beyond, the Central Bank conducted a seminar on 17 January 2014 to explain the need and the rationale for the Consolidation in the banking and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) beginning 2014. At such seminar, the key components of the Consolidation Plan were announced to the Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), key management of the audit firms which are eligible to audit banks and NBFIs, and representatives of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Institute of Personnel Management.
Subsequently, the Central Bank senior management held one-on-one meetings with almost all boards of directors and senior management of the local banks and NBFIs, at which the expectations of the Consolidation process was further clarified and specific issues pertaining to particular institutions were discussed in detail.
The Central Bank also informed the banks and NBFIs to approach the Consolidation process in a professional manner by seeking specialised IT, Legal, Tax and HR services in order to ensure the objectivity and integrity of the process.
In addition, the Central Bank requested all banks, NBFIs and others who are involved in the process to continue a close dialogue with the Central Bank and obtain guidance if the need arises. In this regard, the members of the special unit headed by the Assistant Governor were introduced to the banks and NBFIs at these meetings. In keeping with the request of the Central Bank, banks and NBFIs agreed to submit their preliminary proposals re. the Consolidation effort by 31March 2014.
A meeting was also held with key office bearers of the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union, at which all clarifications sought were provided by the Governor of the Central Bank and other senior officials of the Central Bank. The Central Bank also held discussions with leading Consulting firms with regard to their provision of consultancy services in respect of valuations, accounting and other services. These meetings helped to provide a clear understanding of the process which will help all stakeholders to move forward with clarity and certainty.
In the meantime, the Central Bank also wishes to inform the general public that the Consolidation process will not, in any way, affect their current transactions and deposits with the banks and finance companies, with whom they are presently transacting.
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