The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved the acquisition of shares of Faisal Bank Limited
Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 12 March 2026) The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved the acquisition of shares of Faisal Bank Limited by…
Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF) after review under the Competition Act 2010.
The deal involves the purchase of Faisal Bank shares by Maple Leaf Cement through open market transactions on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The acquisitions have been implemented through a series of share purchases during 2025 and form part of Maple Leaf Cement’s investment in the banking sector, a statement issued here on Thursday said.
In one case, the Authority reviewed a deal involving the acquisition of Faisal Bank shares that was completed before obtaining the Authority’s approval.
The Commission examined the matter and subsequently granted a retroactive license after assessing that the deal did not raise any competition concerns.
The acquiring company is directed to ensure strict compliance with pre-merger approval requirements under the Competition Act and Competition (Merger Control) Regulations 2016 for future transactions.
In a related deal, the Authority also approved Maple Leaf Cement Company’s acquisition of additional shares in Faisal Bank, which will increase the company’s total shareholding in the bank.
The CCP conducted Phase I competition assessments in both matters to assess the potential impact of the transactions on competition in Pakistan. For audit purposes, the relevant market has been identified as the commercial banking market in Pakistan.
The authority noted that Maple Leaf Cement Company operates in the cement manufacturing sector, while Faisal Bank operates in the banking sector, and therefore the business activities of the two entities are completely distinct.
It has nothing to do with it.
The Commission concluded that the transactions do not involve any horizontal or vertical overlap between the merging parties and are unlikely to create or enhance a dominant position or significantly reduce competition in the relevant market. Accordingly, the Commission permitted both transactions under Section 31(1)(d)(i) of the Competition Act 2010.
Such investments in the financial sector support capital formation and enhance investor participation in the banking industry in Pakistan.
The Chinese Communist Party remains committed to facilitating investments that enhance the efficiency of markets while ensuring that mergers and acquisitions do not harm competitive dynamics.