Access Bank Plc has finally acquired Diamond Bank Plc. According to information reaching us, the official announcement of the transaction will be made in the course of the week by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Sources disclosed to us that the deal has been sealed and awaiting final ratification from the regulatory body. We gathered the acquisition was midwifed by the CBN in a bid to further consolidate the banking industry.
It is noteworthy that Diamond Bank not too long announced its decision to drop its international operating licence to focus on national operations following capitalisation issues. The bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Uzoma Dozie confirmed this in a statement issued on Friday, December 14, 2018.
Uzoma Dozie, Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc.
He said: “With this approval, the bank will cease to operate as an international bank. The re-licensing as a national bank supports Diamond Bank’s objective of streamlining its operations to focus resources on the significant opportunities in the Nigerian retail banking market, and the economy as a whole.”
“The move follows Diamond Bank’s decision to sell its international operations, which included the disposal of its West African Subsidiary in 2017 and Diamond Bank UK, the sale of which is currently in its final stages.”
“The change to national bank status also enables the bank to maintain a lower minimum capital requirement of 10 per cent, as against 15 per cent required for international banks.”
Sadly, the bank recorded its worst month on record with share plunging to 0.61k per unit on November 30, 2018.