Fidelity Bank to raise N127.1bn to meet CBN’s new capital base requirement

Fidelity Bank Plc is set to raise ₦127.1 billion by way of Rights Issue to existing shareholders and a Public Offer.

The combined offer is part of the bank’s strategy to increase its share capital base in compliance with the revised minimum capital requirements for Nigerian commercial banks introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 28 March 2024.

Overall, the bank says it expects that the capital raised would support its efforts to drive sustained growth and diversification of its earnings base.

The signing ceremony with respect to the combined offer was held at the Board Room of the headquarters of Fidelity Bank in Lagos on Wednesday, 5 June 2024.

The Bank’s shareholders had already approved the Rights Issue and Public Offer at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting held on Friday, 11 August 2023. Under the Rights Issue, 3.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each will be offered in the ratio of 1 new ordinary share for every 10 ordinary shares held as of 05 January 2024, at ₦9.25 per share.

For the Public Offer, ten billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each will be offered to the general investing public at ₦9.75 per share.

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Stanbic IBTC Capital is the Lead Issuing House to the Combined Offer, whilst the Joint Issuing Houses include Iron Global Markets Limited, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Afrinvest Capital Limited, FSL Securities Limited, Futureview Financial Services Limited, Iroko Capital Market Advisory Limited, Kairos Capital Limited and Planet Capital Limited. The Acceptance and Application lists for the Rights Issue and Public Offer are expected to open on Thursday, 20 June 2024 and close on Monday, 29 July 2024.

At the Signing Ceremony, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank PLC, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, disclosed that the proceeds of the Combined Offer will be applied towards investment in IT infrastructure, business and regional expansion, and investment in product distribution channels.

The Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Capital, Oladele Sotubo, commended Fidelity Bank’s management team for their commitment towards executing the Combined Offer. He lauded their efforts for being at the forefront of achieving the CBN’s revised minimum capital requirements for Nigerian commercial banks.

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While thanking the Bank for trusting Stanbic IBTC Capital to lead and advise on this landmark transaction, Sotubo expressed confidence that the deal would encourage other corporates to tap into the equity capital markets to raise funding to meet their strategic business needs.