“APS Bank unveils €45 million Rights Issue plan…”

AROM Holdings Limited – owned by the Archdiocese of Malta – and the Diocese of Gozo are set to have their stakes in APS reduced as the bank unveils plans to raise around €45 million in fresh equity through a Rights Issue.

At present, AROM Holdings Limited and the Diocese of Gozo hold 54.67 per cent and 12.52 per cent of the bank’s issued share capital, respectively.

They are not anticipated to take up their rights in any significant way. Consequently, their shareholdings will be diluted, with AROM Holdings expected to slip below the 50 per cent mark.

This development continues the trend seen during the bank’s 2022 Initial Public Offering (IPO), when the two qualifying shareholders began lowering their concentration, paving the way for more than 3,300 new shareholders and a free float of roughly 30 per cent.

Despite this reduction, both Church entities remain supportive of APS Bank’s long-term strategic growth.

APS confirmed it is already in talks with institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and existing shareholders to absorb the rights expected to go unused by the two major shareholders.

Interested parties with a minimum investment of €500,000 have until 22nd September 2025 – just one week away – to register their interest.

The Rights Issue is a key element of APS Bank’s wider strategy to strengthen its capital base in line with regulatory obligations while supporting growth both organically and through acquisitions.

The bank is currently in the final stages of securing regulatory clearance from the Malta Financial Services Authority, with the prospectus scheduled for release in the second half of October.

The Rights Issue process, including the admission of new ordinary shares to trading, is projected to conclude by the end of 2025.

Medserv plans €25 million bond issue to refinance 2026 bond maturities

MedservRegis, an integrated logistics provider mainly serving the energy (oil and gas) and mining industries, has unveiled plans to partially refinance its existing bonds, maturing on 5th February 2026, through a new bond issuance of up to €25 million.

At present, the company has two outstanding bonds: €21.98 million in 4.5 per cent euro-denominated unsecured bonds and $8.05 million in 5.75 per cent US dollar-denominated unsecured bonds, both issued in 2015.

To meet the upcoming maturity, Medserv intends to roll out a fresh bond issue, denominated in both euro and US dollars. An application for approval to list the new securities on the Malta Stock Exchange will shortly be submitted to the Malta Financial Services Authority.

As part of its refinancing approach, Medserv also indicated it may repurchase up to €4 million of its euro-denominated bonds on the market before their maturity date.

The company added that more information regarding the bond issuance and buyback programme will be shared in due course.

Earlier this month, Medserv announced that it had won a multi-million-dollar contract for a marine logistics base in Suriname, South America, after an international competitive tender.

The four-year deal was granted by a global oilfield services and engineering contractor that recently secured a major offshore Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) project.

Operations under this contract are expected to commence in mid-2026, with delivery supported by MedservRegis’ existing internal capacity, meaning no substantial capital expenditure will be necessary.

CrediaBank agrees €200 million deal to take over HSBC Malta

HSBC Holdings has reached an agreement with CrediaBank for the sale of its 70.03 per cent stake in HSBC Malta, valued at €200 million.

The deal values HSBC’s shares at €0.793 each – significantly below their current market price of €1.33.

If completed, the transaction – which is still subject to certain conditions – will trigger a mandatory takeover bid by CrediaBank, as required by the MFSA’s listing rules, for the remaining shares.

In line with its recent public commitments, CrediaBank will offer minority shareholders €1.44 per share, a substantially better price than the one being paid to HSBC. However, this is still below the record €1.65 per share reached just before HSBC’s September 2024 announcement that it would exit Malta.

According to a company statement, HSBC Malta confirmed that CrediaBank intends to retain the existing management team and keep the bank listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Greek lender has also pledged to maintain current employment terms for HSBC Malta staff for at least two years following completion.

The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026, pending regulatory and corporate approvals.

CrediaBank said the acquisition will help advance its growth strategy by acquiring “a high-quality franchise with leading market positions in Malta’s attractive and growing banking market.”

HSBC Malta currently serves around 200,000 customers, offering a full range of banking and insurance services, including mortgages, personal and SME loans, as well as life and non-life insurance.

About CrediaBank

CrediaBank is Greece’s fifth-largest bank by total assets, serving around 300,000 corporate and retail clients. It operates 65 retail branches and 5 business centres across the country, providing loans, deposits, insurance, investment products, mutual funds, and stock trading services. In 2023, it acquired HSBC Greece via Pancreta Bank.

Malta Company Announcements:

Bank of Valletta plc

Share Buy-Back disclosure – During the period of September 9th to September 12th, Bank of Valletta did not purchase any shares as part of its Share Buy-Back (non-cancellable) Disclosure Programme.

 In aggregate, since the commencement of the scheme till the 12th of September, Bank of Valletta has purchased a total of 59,885 shares, equal to around 0.009% of its share capital, at an average weighted purchase price of €1.9094 per share, for a total amount of €114,346.

ACMUS plc

Reference is made to Company Announcement ACM 01 issued by the Company on the 18 August 2025 relative to the basis of acceptance of the Company’s offer of €9,500,000 5.25% secured bonds 2028- 2030 (the “Tranche 1 Bonds”) and €9,500,000 5.25% secured bonds 2028-2030 (the “Tranche 2 Bonds”). On 21 August 2025, the Tranche 1 Bonds and Tranche 2 Bonds were merged into a single issue totalling €19,000,000 5.25% secured bonds 2028-2030 (ISIN: MT0002921220) (the “Secured Bonds”) with trading commencing on same day.

Luxury Living Finance plc

The company hereby announces that an agreement has been reached and signed between Luxury Living Technologies Limited, the Guarantor of the EUR 8 million bonds issued by the company, and Mediterranean Aviation Company Limited (C4145). Following this agreement all litigation has now been withdrawn. Furthermore all garnishee orders have been withdrawn. This matter has now been settled definitely.

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