Business

CBN opens up on sale of Polaris Bank

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says Fairview Acquisition Partners did not acquire 100 per cent equity in Polaris Bank Ltd.

The CBN said the equity in Polaris Bank was sold to a new core investor, Strategic Capital Investment Limited (SCIL).

The apex bank, however, described as “spurious, malicious, and misleading” the reports that itself and the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) sold the Federal Government’s interest in Polaris Bank to Fairview Acquisition Partners.

It made this known via a statement issued on Wednesday by the CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi.

The CBN, on October 20, 2022, announced the sale of 100 per cent equity in Polaris Bank to Strategic Capital Investment Limited.

Nwanisobi, on Wednesday, stated that contrary to rumours making the rounds, the divestment from Polaris Bank was supervised by a Divestment Committee comprising senior representatives of AMCON and CBN and supported by reputable legal and financial advisers.

“In addition, the divestment mode, process and decision received requisite board and regulatory approvals.

“At no time did any other party make a higher purchase offer as falsely claimed by the online publication.

“The entity in question, Fairview Acquisition Partners, had indicated an interest in acquiring two banks, including Polaris Bank, for a total sum of N1.2 trillion, an indicative offer which significantly discounted the existing N1.305 trillion debt owed by Polaris Bank to AMCON and so represented a material loss to the Federal Government.

“Notwithstanding, along with 24 other parties, Fairview Acquisition Partners was invited by the financial advisors to participate in the sale process via the execution of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), the first stage of the process.

“The financial advisors informed the Committee that Fairview Acquisition Partners neither executed nor returned the NDA despite verbally confirming receipt of the agreement and after follow-up from the financial advisors.

“Therefore, Fairview Acquisition Partners did not take the opportunity to update their offer by participating in the divestment process and thus did not make a binding purchase offer for Polaris Bank,” he noted.

The CBN director stated that the divestment was executed based on the relevant laws, global best practices for bank resolutions, and requisite regulatory approvals.

Nwanisobi said the committee, along with its legal and financial advisers, conducted a rigorous technical and financial evaluation of the purchase proposals, assessing promoters’ fitness and propriety, offer price received vs reserve price, funding structure, and financial capacity, strategy and growth plans, amongst others.

He noted that SCIL emerged as the preferred purchaser after it presented the most comprehensive technical/financial purchase proposal and the highest-rated growth plans for Polaris Bank.

“In addition to passing all fitness and propriety tests, the promoters also made the highest financial offer for the bank, which was significantly above its core valuation and reserve price.

“SCIL’s binding offer involved an immediate upfront consideration of N50 billion and full responsibility for the debt of N1.305 trillion owed to AMCON, essentially a total purchase consideration of N1.355 trillion.

“This offer was the most competitive and provided taxpayers and the Federal Government with more than full recovery of its intervention cost. By the sale, the CBN and Federal Government achieved a successful, value-driven resolution of a strategic financial institution,” the CBN director added.

Nwanisobi said the false report deliberately misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the sale of a strategic asset of the Federal Government, adding that the statements were intended to undermine the credibility of the divestment process.

“It also portends negatively on the stability of Polaris Bank and risks derailing the progress made by the monetary authorities.

“We reiterate that the divestment from Polaris Bank was an institutional decision supervised by a Committee comprising senior representatives of AMCON and CBN, coordinated through reputable legal and financial advisers and approved by the respective leadership and boards of the two institutions.

“The CBN remains resolute in pursuing its mandate to promote a safe and sound financial system in Nigeria,” Nwanisobi stressed.

The Star