Staff Writer
Angola’s former first daughter Isabel dos Santos indirect stake in Bank BIC Namibia Limited is up for sale with other shareholders in the bank reportedly to keen to acquire the shares.
Dos Santos who currently stands accused of theft, corruption and money laundering by Angolan authorities, is reported to be a majority shareholder in the banking concern, with a 42.5 percent shareholding.
“We can confirm, however, that the shares currently held indirectly by Ms dos Santos are still for sale but how this is done is a matter for shareholders to decide,” Bank Bic said in response to questions sent by the Windhoek Observer.
Quizzed on the current value of the shares held by Dos Santos and details on the on-going discussion regarding the stake, the bank said, “We are not party to any discussions that shareholders might have had. We are not shareholders nor have any knowledge of what shareholders’ agreements are in place so we are unable to comment.”
Bank BIC, however, maintained her planned exit from the bank will not have any material effect on its operations.
This comes as the bank which started operations 2016, is set to open its fifth branch in Namibia next month in Ongwediva.
“The Bank continues to strive slowly but with firm steps, completing its 4th year since the opening of its main branch in Ausspannplatz. With a strategic plan focused on the awareness of the brand and its services, our footprint is growing, proudly having five branches countrywide, Walvis Bay (2017), Prosperita (2018), Rundu (2019) and Ongwediva Branch (July 2020), as well as the launching of the BIC Mobile APP and POS Machines,” the bank said.
Once described as Africa’s riches woman with an estimated fortune of over N$37 billion, Dos Santos, daughter of long-term former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos, is wanted for questioning by Angolan authorities.
In January, an Angolan court froze her personal assets such as bank accounts and stakes in at least nine companies inside Angola.
In February, authorities in Portugal seized bank accounts belonging to Dos Santos and her husband, Sindika Dokola, as part of a request for international judicial cooperation by the Angolan authorities.
The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has maintained that it has not received any instructions regarding the freezing of accounts in Namibia but is aware of developments in Angola pertaining to Dos Santos.
