Access Bank Plans Expansion Into Angolan Market

Access Holdings Plc has announced its planned acquisition of  a 51 percent majority equity stake in Angolan Bank, Finibanco.

Investors King learnt that Access Bank Plc is expanding its presence to Angola through the acquisition of a 51 percent stake in Finibanco.

The acquisition of Finibanco was disclosed in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited by Access Holdings Plc.

Finibanco is a full-service commercial bank with over 20 branches and around $300 million in total assets in Angola.

According to Access Holding Secretary, Mr Sunday Ekwochi, the Angolan market as the sixth largest economy in Africa and the seventh largest country overall, with a vast and diversified natural resource base and a growing population, represents a strong potential for the bank’s growth aspirations

The Secretary further stated that the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in Nigeria and Angola. The transaction is expected to be completed during the first half of 2023. This will however be subjected to customary conditions.

Access Bank has been on an acquisition spree since the beginning of 2021. The acquisition of a majority stake in Finibanco makes it Access’s sixth acquisition in the last 18 months.

In June 2022, it acquired a $37 million stake in Kenya Sidian Bank. Other acquisitions include African Banking Corporation of Botswana Limited, African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited, as well as Cavmont Bank.

Access bank is one of the leading banks in Nigeria. As a commercial bank, it operates through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets, spanning 3 continents, 17 markets and 45 million customers.

The lending bank employs 28,000 people in its operations in Nigeria and has subsidiaries in sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom. It also has a branch in Dubai, UAE and representative offices in China, Lebanon and India.

As at 31 March 2022, Access Bank had total assets of approximately US $28.8 billion.