Business
First Bank To Acquire Ghanaian Bank
Contrary to media re
ports that First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FBN) had acquired Ghana’s International Commercial Bank (ICB), First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc (FBN) has clarified that the discussion between its subsidiary and Ghanaian bank are ongoing.
A statement from FBN Holdings yesterday explained that,”Acquisition talks with ICB Financial group Holdings AG remains ongoing and an outcome of these discussions will be communicated in due course”.
If successful, the deal may see FBN take over ICB’s subsidiaries in the Gambia, Guinea, Senegal and Sierra-Leone.
The ICB as a part of a group comprising the network of 12 banks spread through Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.
FBN Holdings’ Profit before tax increased by 3.2 per cent to N55.1 billion in its unaudited results for the first half ended June 2013, as against the N53.5 billion it realized in the comparable period of 2012.
The Holding Company’s (Hold Co’s) gross earnings climed by 7.7 per cent to N194.9 billion as at June this year, from the 180.9 billion it recorded in June 2012.
Also as at June this year, FBN Holdings’ total assets was N3.4 trillion, representing a slight decline by 2.3 per cent from N3.5 trillion as at March this year, just as its total customer deposits grew by 0.9 per cent to N2.6 trillion from N2.5 trillion as at March.
Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer of FBN Holdings, Alhaji Bello Maccido, had said the group would continue to focus on strong natural synergies & cross-selling opportunities that existed between banking & the other financial services sectors.