Eqypt’s Biggest Lender CIB Fully Acquires Mayfair Bank

The Commercial International Bank  (Egypt) S.A.E. (CIB) has acquired the remaining 49 percent shareholding of the Mayfair CIB Bank Limited (MBL) effective January 31, 2023.

In a statement on Monday, January 30, 2023, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced that it had approved the transaction on January 23, 2023.

“This follows CBK’s approval on  January 23, 2023, under Section 13(4) of the Banking Act and approval by the Cabinet  Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning on January 24, 2023, pursuant to Section 9(1) of the Banking Act,” CBK stated. 

This transaction follows the earlier acquisition by CIB of 51 percent shareholding in  MBL announced in April 2020. Subsequently, MBL is now a fully owned (100  percent) subsidiary of CIB. 

MBL was licensed in June 2017 and commenced operations in August 2017. The bank has five branches in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa and targets high-net-worth individuals and the corporate market segment. It is categorised as a small bank with a  market share of 0.26 percent as of December 2022.  

The Central Bank of Egypt licensed CIB on August 13, 1975. It is currently the leading private sector bank in Egypt with a total asset base of approximately USD19.8 billion (Ksh2.5 trillion). It is listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, London Stock  Exchange, and trades over the counter on the New York Stock Exchange. CIB has representative offices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia. 

CIB’s business model mainly focuses on individuals, Small and Medium Enterprises  (SMEs) institutions and corporates. CIB is the first Egyptian bank to establish a fully owned banking subsidiary in Kenya.

“The acquisition will anchor CIB’s expansion into the East African region. Additionally, it will strengthen the trade and investment ties between Kenya and Egypt. CBK welcomes this transaction that will diversify and strengthen the resilience of the  Kenyan banking sector,” CBK added.

Read: Kenyans Taken Off CRB, Outstanding Mobile Loans Halved in CBK Deal

>>> Kenyans Taken Off CRB, Outstanding Mobile Loans Halved in CBK Deal