Cancel the Honeymoon
Malaysia's Runaway Bride
The failed merger between RHB Bank and AmBank has far-reaching implications.
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Banking consolidation in Malaysia is proving to be fiendishly tough. Blame it on a runaway bride, but leave room to lament the country's fraught racial relations.
Start with the Julia Roberts character. RHB Bank Bhd., Malaysia's fourth largest by assets, has now been involved in two failed marriage discussions. The first -- a three-way merger with CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. and Malaysia Building Society Bhd. -- collapsed in early 2015. The second, in which it wanted to join hands with AMMB Holdings Bhd., was called off Tuesday after the parties disagreed on terms.