KARACHI: As part of restructuring of Khushhali Bank Limited KBL (largest microfinance bank in Pakistan) agreed between State Bank of Pakistan and KBL shareholders, a consortium of shareholders (Sellers Consortium being represented and led by MCB Bank Limited) intends to divest its 79.2 percent shareholding in KBL along with transfer of management control (Equity Stake) to strategic Investor.

The strategic investor should have a minimum tangible net worth of PKR 1,000 million (US$12 million) and if strategic investor is a consortium, the consortium must have a minimum aggregate tangible net worth of PKR 1,000 million (US$12 million) and each consortium member must have a minimum tangible net Worth of at least PKR 300 million (US$3.5 million).

On receipt of formal EOIs from interested parties, the information on short listed potential bidders will be submitted to SBP for pre-qualification to participate in bidding process for acquisition of the Equity Stake.

All pre-qualified bidders will be required to obtain clearance from SBP to conduct due diligence of KBL for potential acquisition of Equity Stake in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

Following such clearance from SBP, pre-qualified bidders will be required to enter into a Confidentiality Agreement with the Sellers Consortium subject to which, they will be provided preliminary Information Memorandum (IM) on KBL, details of due diligence, bidding process along with expected timeline.

EOI along with bank draft must be submitted in sealed envelope no later than 4.pm on April 21, 2011 to SEVP, Group Head Whole Sale Banking Group, MCB Bank Limited, MCB Tower, Karachi KBL's geographic outreach extends in over 90 districts across the country.

Its primary objective is access of financial services to low income households, particularly poor women. KBL has been assigned

a long term credit rating of A- and a short term credit rating of A-2 by JCR-VIS.