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Compagnie Générale de Banque (Cogebanque)

Company type	Private
Industry	Financial services
Founded	1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Headquarters	Kigali, Rwanda
Net income	US$3.16 million (2014)
Total assets	US$192.2 million (2014)
Owner	Equity Group Holdings (2023–present)
Website	Homepage

Compagnie Générale de Banque (Cogebanque), sometimes referred to as Cogebank, is a Rwandan commercial bank. It is one of the commercial banks in the Republic of Rwanda, licensed by National Bank of Rwanda, the national banking regulator.

In 2023, Cogebanque was acquired by Equity Group Holdings.

Overview

As of December 2014, the bank's total assets were valued in excess of US$192.2 million (RWF:134 billion), with shareholders' equity valued at US$19.65 million (RWF:13.7 billion).

History

Cogebanque was established in July 1999 by forty-two private Rwandan investors. At that time, the insurance company Compagnie Générale d'Assurance et de Reassurance, was the largest shareholder, with 34 percent ownership. In the beginning, the bank's emphasis was Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), agriculture and the service industries.

In 2008, three new international investors paid US$6 million for a 40% ownership in the bank. The new investors included: (a) ShoreCap International (SCI) of Chicago, Illinois, United States; (b) the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) and (c) AfricaInvest, an investment company based in Tunisia. These transactions, initiated in 2008, were concluded in early 2010. The original Rwandan investors maintain a 60 percent shareholding in the restructured bank.

Acquisition

In June 2023, Equity Group Holdings signed an agreement to acquire 91.9 percent shareholding in the stock of Cogebanque for a consideration of RWF:54.68 billion (approx. US$44 million). The shares to be sold are now owned by (a) Government of Rwanda (b) Rwanda Social Security Board (c) Sanlam Vie Plc and (d) Ms Judith Mugirasoni. Equity Group has plans to eventually buy the remaining 8.1 shareholding in the bank. The deal requires regulatory approval by regulators in COMESA, Rwanda and Kenya, as well as shareholders in Cogebanque and Equity Group Holdings.

The acquisition deal closed on 30 November 2023, with Equity Group Holdings paying US$47 million for 99.125 percent shares of stock of Cogebanque. More minority shareholders agreed to sell under the original contract price executed in June 2023. Under a separate agreement, Equity Group agreed to buy the Cogebanque headquarters building for KSh1.4 billion (US$9.2 million) within one year from the completion of the transaction.

In January 2024, having acquired 99.8 percent of Cogebanque, Equity Group began the process of merging Cogebanque with Equity Bank Rwanda. The process is expected to last six months and will lead to the new combined bank, with 47 brick-and-motor branches, 56 ATMs, and 6,000 banking agents across the country. The combined entity will be known as Equity Bank Rwanda and will employ about 700 staff.

Branch network

As of March 2015, Cogebanque maintained branches at the following locations:

1. Cogebanque Headquarters – Centenary House, KN 4 Avenue, Kigali
2. Rond-Point Branch – BIB Trading Building, KN 1 Round About, Kigali
3. Rubangura Branch – Rubangura House, KN 2 Street, Kigali
4. Nyabugogo Branch – Chez Manu Building, KN 1 Road, Kigali
5. Nyarutarama Branch – MTN Centre, KG 9 Avenue, Kigali
6. Gisozi Branch – Companion House, KG 33 Avenue, Gisozi, Kigali
7. Remera Branch – Nyiransengimana Justine Building, KG 11 Avenue, Kigali
8. Kicukiro Branch – Inind House, Kigali
9. Rwamagana Branch – Rusirare Jacques Building, Rwamagana, Eastern Rwanda
10. Kabarondo Branch – Cogebanque Building, Kabarondo, Eastern Rwanda
11. Huye Branch – Bihira Juvenal Building, Butare, Huye District, Southern Rwanda
12. Nyamagabe Branch – Kanimba Building, Nyamagabe, Southern Rwanda
13. Muhanga Branch – Mukantabana Speciose Building, Gitarama, Southern Rwanda
14. Musanze Branch – Economat Diocese Building, Ruhengeri, Northern Rwanda
15. Rubavu Branch – Munyandekwe Issa Building, Rubavu, Western Rwanda
16. Kamembe Branch – Twizeyimana Vincent Building, Kamembe, Western Rwanda
17. Tyazo Branch – Kagorora Jacques Building, Tyazo, Southern Rwanda
18. Nyagatare Branch – Karangwa House, Eastern Rwanda
19. Prestige Banking Branch – Centenary House, Kigali.

See also

• List of banks in Rwanda
• Economy of Rwanda

References

1. "List of Licensed Commercial Banks in Rwanda". National Bank of Rwanda. 2014. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
2. "Equity Group Holdings plc completes acquisition of COGEBANQUE plc". Equity Group Holdings. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
3. Bateta, Agnes (15 March 2015). "Rwanda's Cogebanque Raises Capital". East African Business Week (Kampala). Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
4. "History of Cogebanque". World INvestment NEws. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
5. John Gahamanyi (1 February 2010). "Rwanda: Cogebanque Trades 40 Per Cent Shares, to Raise capital". New Times (Rwanda) via AllAfrica.com. Kigali, Rwanda. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
6. Lynet Igadwah (15 June 2023). "Equity snaps up Rwanda bank in Sh6.7bn deal". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
7. "Equity's Rwanda bank buy deal hits $47m". The EastAfrican Quoting Business Daily Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
8. Alice Kagina (3 January 2024). "Rwanda: Equity Bank Rwanda Boss Outlines Priorities After Cogebanque Acquisition" (via AllAfrica.com). The New Times (Rwanda). Kigali, Rwanda. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
9. "Location of the Branches of Cogebanque". Cogebank. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Overview of the Beginnings of Cogebanque

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