KCB Group to sell National Bank of Kenya to Nigeria's Access
TLDR
- Kenya's KCB Group agrees to sell National Bank of Kenya (NBK) to Nigeria's Access Holdings for 1.25x book value in a strategic move for expansion.
- Access Holdings aims to strengthen its presence in Kenya and capitalize on the region's trade opportunities through the acquisition of NBK from KCB Group.
- KCB Group's shares receive a 9.9% surge post-deal announcement, signaling a potential reevaluation of its investment strategy in light of capital adequacy concerns.
Kenya's KCB Group has reached an agreement to sell its subsidiary, National Bank of Kenya (NBK), to Nigeria's Access, according to KCB's chief executive, Paul Russo, during an investor briefing on Wednesday. The deal was finalized at a valuation of 1.25x the book value, although the exact figure was not disclosed.
Access Holdings, which already operates a small unit in Kenya following a previous acquisition in an aggressive pan-African expansion drive, sees the NBK deal as an opportunity to expand its presence in the country and capitalize on the growing trade opportunities in the region.
KCB Group, the second-largest lender in Kenya, acquired NBK, a medium-sized lender previously owned by the state, in a rescue deal orchestrated by the central bank in 2019. Following news of the deal, KCB Group shares surged by 9.9%. While KCB had initially indicated a long-term commitment to its investment in NBK, narrowing capital adequacy ratios over the past two years may have prompted a reassessment of its strategy.
Key Takeaways
Access Bank, Nigeria's largest lender by assets, is strategically leveraging acquisitions to drive its expansion plans. The bank aims to extend its operations to 26 countries within the next four years, up from its current presence in 16 countries. Its expansion strategy includes entering new markets such as the United States, France, Hong Kong, and Malta, along with several African countries, including Namibia, Angola, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Plans to launch in Asia will see Access, with $26.5 billion in assets under management, in the company of South Africa's Standard Bank Group, boasting $161.53 billion in AUM, and TymeBank, a South African challenger fintech that has recently ventured into the Asian market.
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