CBC BUYOUT : Exclusivity Granted to Management and Staff to Acquire Majority Stake
La voix des entreprises 
(LVDE) — The Cameroonian government is granting an exclusive window to the executives and employees of Commercial Bank Cameroon (CBC) to acquire the majority of the bank’s capital. This decision marks a key step in the privatization process and the reorganization of the local banking sector.
In an official letter dated February 2026, the Presidency confirmed that the Cameroonian State is granting CBC’s management and staff a period of exclusivity to enable them to become majority shareholders. This measure concerns 51% of the bank’s capital, currently held by public stakes. The correspondence reviewed by EcoMatin specifies that this initiative is part of the government’s strategy to modernize and energize the banking sector while promoting local ownership of its institutions.
The process of divesting public shares in CBC was launched several months ago as part of a broader banking and financial sector reform program. The decision to offer exclusivity to internal teams serves a dual purpose: securing the continuity of the bank’s operational activities and valuing the expertise of executives and employees who already understand the internal workings and market dynamics. Analysts believe that this approach could facilitate the transition to fully private governance and strengthen institutional stability.
According to government sources, the exclusivity period is limited in time and contingent upon the formation of an internal consortium capable of raising the necessary funds for the acquisition. Interested executives and staff will need to demonstrate both the financial and strategic capacity to manage the bank post-acquisition. Observers note that while this type of mechanism is not unprecedented, it reflects the authorities’ desire to favor a participatory and inclusive model in privatizations.
This announcement comes as CBC continues to play a central role in financing local businesses and supporting economic growth. With a network of over 50 branches across the country and a diversified client portfolio, the bank is a key actor in Cameroon’s economic landscape. According to data from the Cameroonian Banking Commission, CBC recorded a loan portfolio exceeding 450 billion FCFA in 2025, with a non-performing loan ratio maintained around 4.5%.
Financial experts consulted by LVDE highlight that the success of this buyout will depend not only on the financial resources mobilized by the executives and employees but also on their ability to enhance innovation, digitalization of services, and competitiveness against rapidly expanding regional rivals. The partial privatization could also pave the way for strategic partnerships with other African financial institutions eager to invest in a growing market.
For the Cameroonian State, this operation is part of a broader vision of liberalization and national ownership of strategic assets. It responds both to the need to mobilize private capital and the desire to ensure that local actors remain at the heart of banking development while complying with international standards of governance and transparency.
The exclusivity window thus opens a decisive new chapter for CBC and sends a strong signal to the national banking market: consolidation and modernization of the sector are achieved through local initiative and direct engagement of internal teams in bank ownership. The coming months will be crucial to observe whether this participatory approach can secure control and accelerate CBC’s transformation into a fully competitive financial institution in the regional market.
Esther Grace
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