CBN sells Polaris Bank to SCIL for N1.305 trillion

Admin l Friday, October 21, 2022

 

ABUJA, Nigeria –  The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON have announced completion of the sale of shares in Polaris Bank to  Strategic Capital Investment Limited (SCIL) for N1.305 trillion.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Asset Management Company of  Nigeria (AMCON) are pleased to announce the completion of a Share Purchase  Agreement (SPA) for the acquisition of 100% of the equity in Polaris Bank  (‘Polaris’ or ‘the Bank’) by Strategic Capital Investment Limited (‘SCIL’)”, the CBN said in a statement by Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi.

Polaris has been operating as a bridge bank since 2018 when the Central Bank  of Nigeria intervened to revoke the licence of the former Skye Bank Plc and  established Polaris Bank to assume its assets and certain liabilities.

“As part of  the CBN intervention, consideration bonds with a face value of N898 billion  (future value of N1.305 trillion) was injected into the bridge bank through  AMCON, to be repaid over a 25-year period.

“These actions were taken to  prevent the imminent collapse of the bank, enable its stabilisation and recovery,  protect depositors’ fund, prevent job losses and preserve systemic financial  stability”, CBN said.

The statement added that SCIL has paid an upfront consideration of N50 billion to acquire 100% of the  equity of Polaris Bank and has accepted the terms of the agreement which  include the full repayment of the sum of N1.305 trillion, being the consideration  bonds injected.

By this development, The CBN said it  has received an immediate return for the value it has  created in Polaris Bank during the stabilisation period, as well as ensuring that  all funds originally provided to support the intervention are recovered.

The sale was coordinated by a Divestment Committee (the ‘Committee’)  comprising representatives of the CBN and AMCON, and advised by legal and  financial consultants. The Committee conducted a sale process by ‘private  treaty’, as provided in Section 34(5) of the AMCON Act to avoid negative speculations, retain value and preserve financial system stability.

It added that in the  process, parties who had formally expressed an interest in acquiring Polaris  Bank, subsequent to the CBN intervention in 2018, were invited to submit  financial and technical proposals.

“Invitations to submit proposals were sent to  25 pre-qualified interested parties, out of which three (3) parties eventually  submitted final purchase proposals following technical evaluation. All  submissions were subject to a rigorous transaction process from which SCIL  emerged as the preferred bidder having presented the most comprehensive  technical/financial purchase proposal as well as the highest rated growth plans  for Polaris Bank”, the CBN said.

Commenting on the transaction Mr. Godwin I. Emefiele, Governor of the Central  Bank of Nigeria said: “This sale marks the completion of a landmark intervention  in a strategic institution in the Nigerian banking sector by the CBN and AMCON.

“We commend the outgoing board and management for their vital role since the  bridge bank was established; in stabilising the Bank’s operations, its balance  sheet and implementing strong governance structures to address the issues  that led to the intervention.

“This process has provided the CBN with an  unprecedented opportunity to recover its intervention funds in full and promote  financial stability and inclusive growth. We wish SCIL well as they implement  growth plans to build the bank from the strong foundations that have been  established.”