Investors Jump on Union Bank of Nigeria’s Shares Amid Acquisition Rumour

Shares of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, a leading financial institution in Nigeria, rose by 50 kobo or 9.26 percent on Monday following reports that Atlas Mara Limited, a 49.7 percent owner in the bank has been talking to investors to sell its stake.

Investors King had reported that Bloomberg sources claimed Atlas Mara Limited, a London Stock Exchange-listed pan-African banking group started by Mr. Bob Diamond is in talks with Zenith Bank, Access Bank and other investors across Africa to sell its holding in the bank.

Since the report became public investors have been acquiring shares of Union Bank in case Zenith Bank or Access Bank, one of the leading banks in the country, acquire it. Even the bank’s CEO, Godson Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, purchased an additional 2,431,917 ordinary shares of the bank on Thursday, according to the bank’s latest disclosure filing.

Union Bank of Nigeria was the third-highest gainer on Monday.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited gained N59.4 billion on Monday to close at N20.491 trillion on Monday.