Westpac approaches St. George in possible shake-up of Australia's bank sector

Mon, May 12 02:20 PM

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) _ Westpac Banking Corp. said Monday it has approached rival St.

George Bank Ltd. with a 15 billion Australian dollars (US$14 billion; 9 billion) takeover offer that could be the biggest shake-up of Australia's bank sector in years.

The deal would create Australia's largest financial services firm in terms of market capitalization, valued at almost A$64 billion (US$60 billion; 39 billion) based on Friday's closing prices. The combined group would have some 10 million customers, a 25 percent share of Australia's home loan market and would be the nation's biggest wealth platform provider with funds under administration of A$108 billion (US$102 billion; 66 billion), Westpac said.

The planned takeover could top a bid by BG Group PLC for Origin Energy Ltd. as the largest proposed deal in Australia this year excluding debt.

"St. George and Westpac are two highly successful banks, but we believe they would be stronger together in a way that allows both to harness the strength of each, while maintaining their unique identities and market positions," Westpac Chairman Ted Evans said in a statement.

Westpac said its proposal is for an all-equity deal but it didn't provide any details on the value of the proposed transaction. At the close of trading Friday, St.

George's market capitalization was A$14.95 billion (US$14 billion; 9 billion).

St. George said in a statement it received Westpac's approach on May 9, and it expects to make a further announcement before the start of trade Tuesday.

Trading in Westpac and St. George shares was halted just before the announcement.

Westpac's new chief executive, Gail Kelly, a former chief executive of St. George, said a combined group would more effectively compete with rivals Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

and National Australia Bank Ltd. "The increased scale and integration of operations would drive further investment in our back office processes ensuring more reliable, consistent and improved customer service," Kelly said.

Westpac is currently Australia's third largest bank by market capitalization, and with the Commonwealth, ANZ and National Australia forms what is known as the country's "big four" banks. Stocks in other banks surged as investors speculated that a St.

George takeover could prompt other big banks to seek acquisitions to shore up their market positions. "What it will do is open up a whole can of worms for the whole sector," said Peter Rice, an analyst for trading firm BBY.

"Suddenly Westpac will swamp NAB and Commonwealth Bank, so if I was them I'd be looking at options to get back up the totem pole." NAB shares rose almost 4 percent in the first two hours of trade.

Commonwealth and ANZ shares rose about 2 percent. Smaller banks also rose, with Bank of Queensland up 3 percent.

The takeover requires approval of a range of regulatory authorities and Treasurer Wayne Swan. Regulators did not immediately comment on the Westpac's bid.

Swan said the government would examine the deal. "There are a number of regulatory steps that would need to be followed before any merger could go ahead," he said in a statement, declining to comment further.

For years, analysts have speculated that St. George Australia's fifth largest bank by market capitalization could be a takeover target.

The group is outside the big four banks, which are prohibited from merging with one another under the competition rules. Westpac has long been considered the most likely suitor.

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