MCB and Maybank
In 2005, the management of the bank abbreviated its name from Muslim Commercial Bank Limited to MCB Bank Limited to explore international markets; they were facing resistance due to the word Muslim especially from Western Countries to avail license. In 2008 the head office of MCB was shifted from Karachi to Lahore in a newly constructed building, namely MCB House located at Sharea Ghous-ul-Azam, commonly known as Jail Road.
The MCB Tower in Karachi serves as the MCB's headquarters, and is also the tallest building in Pakistan. MCB, advised by Merrill Lynch, became the fourth Pakistani Company (the other three being Hubco, PTCL and Chakwal cement - they all have been delisted) to list on the London Stock Exchange when it raised US$150 million global depositary receipts.
In May 2008 Malaysian bank, Maybank and MCB signed an agreement, whereby Maybank acquired 20% of the ordinary shares in MCB from Nishat Group. The acquisition is in-line with Maybank’s strategy, as Malaysia’s financial services leader in the region, to build its presence in key growth markets across the region. It also paves the way for MCB, one of Pakistan’s premier financial services groups, to engage Maybank as its exclusive foreign commercial bank strategic partner. Maybank initially acquired from Nishat Group 94,241,527 ordinary shares in MCB, representing a 15% stake in the Bank, for a cash price of PKR470 per share. The total consideration paid was approximately US$686 million. The purchase price represented an 11.4% premium to MCB’s closing share price of PKR 422 on May 2, 2008, and a premium of 12.9% to the average closing share price for MCB over the 30 trading days immediately preceding the date of this announcement.
Based on MCB’s December 31, 2007 audited book value, the purchase price represents an implied price to book value multiple of 5.13x, a price to 2007 earnings multiple of 18.0x and a price to 2008 earnings multiple of 15.2x. In July 2008 Maybank exercised its right to increase its stake to 20%.
The stake in MCB allows Maybank the right to appoint two Directors to represent its interest on the Board of MCB. One of these Directors was to be appointed immediately and the second Director will be appointed upon completion of the term of the existing Board, scheduled to be on March 27, 2009.
As part of the transaction, Maybank and MCB are also expected to enter into a business cooperation arrangement which will include, among others, Islamic banking, retail banking, credit cards, asset management and SME banking. Leveraging Maybank’s leadership and experience in these segments coupled with MCB’s brand and broad distribution network, Maybank and MCB believe that significant revenue synergies can be attained. Both Maybank and MCB are also expected to benefit from increased business ties and trade flows between Pakistan and Malaysia
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