Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank, has announced that the lender received regulatory approval to acquire African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited (Atlas Mara Zambia).

The Nigerian lender has been making series of acquisition across Africa to boost its bottomline and increase access to more liquidity and assets outside the shores of Nigeria.

Part of the acquisitions include African Banking Corporation, also owned by Atlas Mara, in Mozambique. It is also in talks to acquire other African Banking Corporation subsidiary in Botswana.

Access Bank has also acquired Grobank Limited in South Africa, Cavmont Bank Limited in Zambia, and also revealed plans to acquire Finibanco Angola S.A.

The Herbert Wigwe-led bank had also moved to acquire Sidian Bank in Kenya, but the deal failed due to disagreement on the fulfillment or waiver of certain conditions before the “Long Stop date” for the completion of the transaction.

In its latest update on the negotiation with African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited in a corporate document sent to shareholders on Friday but dated March 23, 2023, which was obtained by Ripples Nigeria, Access Bank said its Zambian subsidiary has obtained approval from Central Bank of Zambia to proceed with the acquisition.

Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition Commission had previously granted their “no objection” to the Transaction in 2022.

With the necessary approvals received, Access Bank said the deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023

Further to its announcement on October 25, 2021, Access Holdings Plc (Access Holdings) is pleased to announce that Access Bank Zambia Limited (“Access Zambia”), a subsidiary of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc , has received final regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Zambia for the acquisition and merger of African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited (“Atlas Mara Zambia”) into its existing operations (‘the Transaction’).

“The Central Bank of Nigeria and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition Commission had earlier granted their “no objection” to the Transaction in 2022.

“Access Zambia will now move towards integrating and merging Atlas Mara Zambia into its operations, which is expected to create one of the top five banks in Zambia,” the statement reads.

Addressing the acquisition, the Group Chief Executive Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, said: “The transaction builds on our earlier acquisition and merger of Cavmont Bank Plc into Access Bank Zambia and underscores our resolve to strengthen our presence in Zambia, a key African market.

“The combination of the two banks will create significant synergies between Access Zambia’s world class wholesale and transaction banking capabilities and Atlas Mara Zambia’s market leading retail and public sector capabilities to form a market leading universal banking platform that will greatly impact the Zambia market