We have always played by the rules! Honeywell Group says as it reacts to First Bank – CBN face-off

The Honeywell Group has reacted to the ongoing drama going on between First Bank and Nigeria’s regulatory bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria due largely to its insider loan sourced from the bank.

According to Honeywell Group in a statement it issued on Sunday May 2nd and sighted by Business a.m, it maintained that its relationship and dealings with First has always been professional, at arm’s length and in accordance with all regulatory and industry practices and norms.

You would recall that we had earlier reported that the Central Bank had sacked the board of the bank and subsequently replaced it with an interim board with the former Managing Director of the bank reinstated.

According to the group, the credit facilities it has accessed from First Bank as well as other banks were granted after due negotiations with the necessary documentation and in line with regulatory policies and industry standards. It also maintained that as a group, it has serviced all the credit facilities in line with the terms agreed with First Bank and at no point has any of the facilities been non-performing.

Explaining its loan timeline with the bank, it highlighted thus:

In 2015, First Bank under the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), drew our attention to a 2004 circular (BSD/9/2004) which requires that insider related facilities must not exceed 10% of paid-up share capital. Based on this directive we subsequently entered negotiations with the Bank to agree an appropriate repayment structure and the final negotiated position was duly approved by the CBN. It is important to note that from the inception of the facilities and to-date, the facilities have been performing. 

In accordance with agreed terms, our facilities are adequately secured with First Bank, with collaterals in place at over 170% of Forced Sales Value and 230% at Open Market Value.

In addition to the above, First Bank, on the directive of CBN, requested additional security in the form of FBN Holdings Plc shares held by the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko citing a 2001 circular. This was duly provided through an authorisation to place a lien on the shares.

Honeywell Group has continued to meet all its obligations on its facilities with the Bank according to agreed terms and has reduced its exposure by nearly 30% in 2.5 years. The facilities were charged at market rates and the Bank continues to earn significant interest therefrom.