Forced insolvencies to help Indian bank avoid huge haircuts

New Delhi

PUNJAB National Bank, India's second-largest state-run lender, will be able to avoid massive losses after the government forced delinquent borrowers to repay loans or face liquidation proceedings under a new law.

The interest and bids received so far for assets put up for sale by India's new bankruptcy court indicates that the bank may not have to take "huge haircuts" and cases will be resolved quickly, Sunil Mehta, managing director of the state-run bank, said in an interview over the weekend. He did not give details.