AMCON Seek Investors to Buy Keystone Bank

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria on Monday said it was seeking prospective investors to buy Keystone Bank Limited, the last of the three nationalised banks yet to be sold.

This came a year after the corporation had sold Mainstreet Bank Limited to Skye Bank Plc, and Enterprise Bank Limited to Heritage Bank.

The Federal Government had in 2011 nationalised Afribank Plc, Spring Bank Plc and Bank PHB and changed their names to Mainstreet Bank, Enterprise Bank and Keystone Bank, respectively.

AMCON said in a public notice that it had decided to divest its 100 per cent interest in the bank and asked prospective buyers to submit their bids by March 4, 2015

The corporation has appointed Citibank Nigeria and FBN Capital as financial advisers to manage the Keystone Bank sale process.

The bad debt manager has also asked prospective investors to submit bids, showing evidence of credibility and eligibility for the transaction.

Based on audited account as of June last year, Keystone Bank has total assets of N317.6bn ($1.60bn), equity of N18.9bn and a loan portfolio of N98.2bn, according to Reuters report.

By December 31, 2015, the bank had 156 branches across the country with four subsidiaries, two of which are international, AMCON said in the notice.

Sterling Bank Plc told Reuters on Friday it was aiming to buy one or two mid-sized commercial lenders as sharp falls in the value of the naira and increased regulatory pressure were forcing banks to recapitalise.

AMCON was set up in 2010 to absorb non-performing loans in exchange for government bonds, after the Central Bank of Nigeria had injected $4bn to rescue nine banks from collapse.