Cabinet nod to split of SBI subsidiaries, stock prices rise

New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today approved for introduction in Parliament an amendment to the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, which allows stock split of the subsidiaries.

''The amendment to the existing provisions will enable subsidiary banks of the SBI to attract a large number of small individual investors,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The share prices of the SBI and its three listed subsidiaries rose between 3-20 per cent after the cabinet approval.

The existing provisions of the Act will be amended to comply with certain guidelines issued by the SEBI Depositors Act, and also to enable the seven subsidiary banks to augument their ability to access the capital market for raising funds to provide for easy transferability and trading in their shares.

As per the existing provisions of the SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act, there is no uniformity in the authorised capital of the subsidiary banks. However, provision exists that the SBI can, with the approval of the RBI, authorise a subsidiary bank of the SBI to increase or reduce its authorised capital.

The existing provisions also lays down that the authorised capital shall be divided into shares of Rs 100 each.

UNI YJ VD PM1811