The merger between Equity Bank Congo and BCDC has run into complications after the DRC’s central bank wrote in a letter that some decisions taken by EGH “do not comply with the legal and regulatory provisions”.
Issues cited by the central bank include EGH’s plans to “integrate the BCDC’s operations and data into the Equity Group platform”, “set up an initial management committee” and appoint two managing directors.
The bank is likely to outperform the Kenyan stock market this year.
Analysts argue that the logic of the merger is intact. “There is no fundamental problem” with the integration of BCDC, says Olivier Lumenganeso, a Congolese banker and economist now based in the Netherlands. “The acquisition of BCDC is a fact. It’s a question of form only.”
- The integration of the processes at the two banks is continuing with the necessary authorisations in place, says Lumenganeso.
- Equity Group is likely to respond quickly to the central bank, he adds. “The new entity must be given time to complete its integration.”
- Equity Group is “one of the most solid banks in the region,” says Lumenganeso.
- It has very strong liquidity ratios and is cheap at current levels, he adds.
The bank, which also operates in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda, is diversified enough to be able to withstand some uncertainty in one country. “Of all the tier-one banks, Equity is the most diversified in terms of revenue sources,” says Reginald Kadzutu, CEO at Amana Capital in Nairobi. “Their acquisitions in the region have been strategic and have added an impetus to their return on assets.”
Earnings per share growth
Research from EFG Hermes in January argues that a 2021 Kenyan stock market recovery will be led by banks, with Equity Bank – rated as ‘buy’ – the pick of the bunch. EFG Hermes forecasts that the bank will see earnings per share at a growth of 124% this year, as risk charges are normalised and net interest margins rebound.
- Such growth, combined with potential resumption of dividend payments, would be “strong catalysts for an upward rerating”, EFG Hermes says.
- EFG Hermes predicts a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.2 in 2021, falling to 4.1 in 2022. It forecasts a dividend yield of 6.2% this year.
- At KSh37 ($0.34), the shares are close to their level of November, when Faida Investment Bank in Nairobi argued that the bank is a long-term buy. The shares are trading at a discount of 26% to their three-year average price-to-book multiple of 1.6 times, Faida says.
- Faida adds that the bank’s digital strategy has been a success, with 98% of the bank’s transactions now executed outside branches.
Ruto Kellie, a financial analyst at Maitri Capital in Nairobi, agrees. She points to a low level of non-performing loans. At 10% in the third quarter of 2020, this was below the industry average of 13.6%.
The bank’s international diversification strategy allows it to mitigate the risks of Kenya’s general election in 2022, says Kellie. Maitri Capital expects continued digitisation of processes by Kenya’s traditional banks, making operations more efficient and cost effective.
But banks need to focus on keeping the percentage of non-performing loans down to ensure they remain financially stable, adds Kellie.