ING Vysya Bank

As of March 2013, ING Vysya was the seventh largest private sector bank in India with assets totalling ₹548.36 billion (US$5.7 billion) and operating a pan-India network of over 1,000 outlets, including 527 branches, which serviced over two million customers. ING Group, the highest-ranking institutional shareholder, held a 44% equity stake in ING Vysya Bank, followed by Aberdeen Asset Management, private equity firm ChrysCapital, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup, respectively.

ING Vysya Bank was ranked among top five Most Trusted Brands among private sector banks in India in the Economic Times Brand Equity – Neilsen survey 2011. The bank had also been ranked the "Safest Banker" by the New Indian Express and among "Top 5 Most Trusted Private Sector Banks" by the Economic Times.

On 20 November 2014, in an all-stock amalgamation, ING Vysya Bank decided to merge with Kotak Mahindra Bank, creating the fourth largest private sector bank in India. On 1 April 2015, the Reserve Bank of India approved the merger. On 15 May 2016 the whole merger process was completed.

History

Early years

see Vysya Bank

Globalisation through Europe

In 1995, Vysya Bank entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Belgian bank Bank Bruxelles Lambert (BBL). Following this agreement, the Vysya Bank engaged KPMC Peat Marwick international investment banking joint venture (JV) with MC Securities (London), an investment banking subsidiary of BBL, was formally established.

In 1998, the ING Group acquired BBL and all its contractual and JV interests in Vysya Bank. In 1999, Vysya Bank joined the ING Group in co-marketing/distribution of life insurance products in India. Vysya Bank also acquired a 26% equity stake in the ING Asset Management Company. In 2000, Vysya Bank, ING Insurance, and the Damani Group formed a life insurance JV; this innovative collaboration marks the first bancassurance venture in India.

Formal merger with the ING Group

In 2002, Vysya Bank's board of directors and the RBI approved Vysya Bank's formal merger with the ING Group. Under Indian law, this move allowed ING to increase its total equity holdings in Vysya Bank from 20% to 44%. Peter Alexander Smyth and Jacques PM Kemp were appointed to the board of the newly formed ING Vysya Bank.

ING Vysya Bank then appointed Bart Hellemans as CEO and managing director (MD) and G Mallikarjuna Rao as chairman of the board.

Post-merger news

In 2003, Western Union, a leading global money transfer firm, tied up with ING Vysya for inbound money transfer services across India. ING Vysya then launched three new endowment products and an innovative retail savings account called Orange with facilities such as personal accident and free annual accident coverage. Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota then signed an agreement with ING Vysya for auto financing services. ING Vysya then inked a deal with fertilizer producers, Madras Fertiliser Ltd (MFL), to co-market/distribute life insurance products to farmers by employing the fertilizer company's broker-dealer network in the rural sector.

In 2005, ING Vysya Bank named Ned Swarup to the CEO and MD role. ING Vysya launched a cheque account product for mid-sized businesses. It also rolled-out its own proprietary online money transfer service.

In 2006, Vaughn Richtor stepped into the CEO and MD role for a fixed three-year term. Under Mr Richtor's leadership, ING Vysya went private and delisted from the Bangalore Stock Exchange. ING Vysya also forayed into private banking and portfolio management services.

In 2009, Shailendra Bhandari was appointed as CEO and MD. He was formerly the Head of Private Equity at Tata Capital, the Tata Group's private equity arm. Having completed his three-year term in India, Vaughn Richtor was promoted to CEO of ING Banking Asia.

In 2010, the Board of ING Vysya Bank nominated Mr Arun Thiagarajan to succeed Mr K.R. Ramamoorthy as chairman of the board. Mr Thiagarajan was selected for his vast international experience across strategic planning, economics and finance, technology and systems.

As of January 2013, ING Group announced plans to divest itself of its Indian insurance and investment management businesses through the sale of its 26% interest in ING Vysya Life Insurance Company Ltd. to its joint venture partner Exide Industries Ltd.