The Government of Kenya has invited local or foreign investors to buy a stake in Consolidated Bank. This comes after shareholders had approved an increase of the authorized capital of the bank by Kshs 3.5 billion through the creation of 175 million redeemable cumulative preference shares which will be allocated to the new investors.

The bank was ranked 30 out of 40 in terms of asset size at the beginning of the year.  Kenyan banks have been impacted by interest rate caps, more so small banks, and Consolidated has also been limited by its capital base which was Kshs 594 million at the beginning of the year. As at September 30 2018, the bank had Kshs 12.6 billion in assets, with Kshs 8.3 billion in deposits and Kshs 7.9 billion of loans.

The Government owns 85% of Consolidated through, stakes were previously partially owned by the Deposit Protection Fund, and through entities including Kenya National Assurance (2001), Kenya Pipeline Company, Kenya National Examination Council, Telkom Kenya, National Hospital Insurance Fund and LAPTRUST Retirement Services. The institutions had deposits in several banks that collapsed in the 1980’s  – such as Jimba Credit Corporation, Kenya Savings & Mortgages, Citizen Building Society, Estate Building Society, Estate Finance Company of Kenya, Business Finance Company, Home Savings and Mortgages, Union Bank of Kenya, and Nationwide Finance Company – and which were then “consolidated” into one restructured bank.

The Government had earlier injected Kshs 500 million of capital into the bank and appointed a transaction advisor in May 2018. Bidders are to register their details and submit their expressions of interest by email before the deadline for tenders on January 23, 2019.