I&M Holdings, which is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, says the acquisition of the bank is now subject to several conditions including regulatory and corporate approvals including those from the Central Bank of Kenya, Bank of Uganda, Capital Markets Authority and shareholders of the company in general meeting.

Dr Twinemanzi Tumubweine, the Bank of Uganda executive director for supervision said today that he had neither received a letter from Orient bank nor I&M bank in Kenya about the transaction.

 
“I am unable to respond to that,” Tumubweine said when asked to comment about the transaction.

He added that remains a private transaction until he’s been informed about it. He said the parties will have go to the central bank for vetting if the buying parties are to become a significant shareholder. Orient bank officials said a statement on the matter would be issued by close of business on Monday.

If the transaction goes through, it will be the second acquisition of a bank in Uganda this year. On July 1, 2020, the merger of NC bank and Commercial Bank of Africa was completed with the formation of NCBA Bank Uganda.

I&M Holdings Limited is not new to acquisitions in Uganda. In 2016, I&M Holdings Limited acquired 65 per cent shareholding in Burbidge Capital Group, a financial advisory firm. After the acquisition, Burbidge Capital was renamed I&M Burbidge Capital.

Orient bank launched its services in Uganda in 1993. In 1996, Orient bank opened a branch in Jinja, the first outside Kampala. The bank then acquired Trans-Africa Bank Limited in 2002, which had been declared insolvent by Bank of Uganda.

Through its history, the bank has gone through several ownerships by different entities and individuals. The last acquisition was by the London-headquartered private equity fund 8 Miles, founded by musician Bob Geldof, who acquired a 42 per cent stake in Orient Bank (U) Ltd in 2015. The founders of the bank, led by Ketan Morjaria, hold 49 per cent in the bank.

The remaining shareholding is by individuals Alemayehu Fisseha, the owner of Prime General Supplies, and the Ugandan-based Chinese manufacturer and property developer, Zhong Shuang Quan – each with 4.5 per cent.

In 2019, the bank struggled to make money, turning in a loss of Shs 1 billion from a Shs 5.6 billion profit registered in 2018. Its assets grew to Shs 814 billion in 2019 from Shs 749 billion in 2018, according to the official published financial results.