With Rs 57 bn in capital, GBIME, BOK began integrated transactions and became Nepal’s largest bank

KATHMANDU: Global IME Bank and Bank of Kathmandu’s integrated business began today. Today is the scheduled date for the integration of Global IME Bank and Bank of Kathmandu (Monday 25th of Poush). Global IME Bank has merged with Bank of Kathmandu to become the country’s largest bank.

The integrated business is about to begin 7 months after these two banks’ merger agreement. On June 2, Global IME Bank and Bank of Kathmandu signed a merger agreement. The agreement was signed by Global IME Bank Chairman Chandra Dhakal and Bank of Kathmandu Chairman Prakash Shrestha.

With a swap ratio of 1:1, Global IME Bank and Bank of Kathmandu are about to merge. In other words, after the merger, shareholders who own 100 shares of Bank of Kathmandu will receive 100 shares of Global IME Bank.

Following the merger, the bank’s total capital will be Rs. 57 billion, its paid-up capital will be Rs. 35.77 billion, its total deposits will be Rs. 400 billion, and its total debt will be Rs. 379 billion. The new bank formed as a result of the merger will be Nepal’s largest bank in terms of total assets, paid-up capital, and business size.

The new bank’s name will be Global IME Bank Limited, and its Board of Directors will include Chairman Chandra Prasad Dhakal on behalf of Global IME Bank and two people on behalf of Bank of Kathmandu. Similarly, Global IME Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Ratnaraj Bajracharya, will continue in his position.

Global IME Bank Limited, which will be created by joining 21 banks and financial institutions, which includes five commercial banks, 10 development banks, and six finance companies.

Additionally, through the end of October, both banks had generated a net profit of more than 1.47 billion rupees.

After the two banks merge, Global IME Bank Limited will have 385 branch offices, 367 ATMs, 275 branchless banking services, 61 extended branch offices, 3 foreign contact offices, more than 4 million customers, and many other financial indicators, making it the largest bank in the nation.

The Global IME Banks stated that following the merger of the two banks, the bank believes that the organization’s capital, work area, and work capacity will increase, and the bank will establish itself as the strongest and most capable bank in the financial market, providing more excellent services and facilities to customers while providing the highest returns to investors.

The presidents of the bank’s board of directors spoke at the signing ceremony and reaffirmed their shared commitment to the bank’s ability to create new financial opportunities and to consider the interests of all parties with a direct or indirect connection to the bank.

Global IME Bank Chairman Dhakal stated that the banking sector will be developed in accordance with the needs of the country. He stated that large and powerful banks will be required to invest in large infrastructures, provide financial access throughout the country, and reduce banking costs, and that the bank formed as a result of the merger will address this.

The role of banks and other financial institutions would be crucial to the country’s economic growth and prosperity, according to Bank of Kathmandu Chairman Shrestha.

“A large, capable, and good bank is required for the country’s economic transformation and prosperity. The Global IME Bank, which will be formed following the merger, will address it,” he stated.

He expressed his belief that the new bank formed as a result of the merger will be a huge success in Nepal’s banking sector.

In the program, the presidents of both banks expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the government of Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank, bank directors, shareholders, employees, the media sector, and other well-wishers who assisted in the merger/merger process, either directly or indirectly.

Radhesh Pant, the joint merger committee’s coordinator, stated that the merger committee works with investors, employees, and the entire bank at the center, and that only a large bank can provide sustainable and high returns.

Both banks initially agreed to merge on an equal footing on June 16. The merger agreement was reached after the Nepal Rastra Bank announced that it would not provide any facility if the banks did not sign a merger agreement by mid-July 2022.