Keep Off Buying Honeywell Flour, EcoBank Warns Prospect Buyers

Ecobank Nigeria Limited has placed a caveat on any share of the company following media reports on a move by Flour Mills Nigeria PLC to acquire 71.69 per cent of Honeywell Group Limited.

It warned prospective buyers on the ground that Honeywell Group Limited is allegedly hugely indebted to the bank, adding that the debt is currently the subject of litigation.

The ‘buyer beware’ was contained in a statement released by Ecobank through its counsel, Kunle Ogunba & Associates, titled “Purchase of Honeywell Group Limited’s 71.69% stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Limited- “Caveat Emptor”.

The statement cautioned the public and corporate bodies on the danger inherent in dealing in any shares of the company.

Ecobank said this was consequent on a press release circulated in several online publications and as further contained on Honeywell Group Limited’s website: ‘honeywellgroup.com’ wherein the notification of the proposed divestment of Honeywell Group Limited’s 71.69% stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc was advertised.

The bank, narrating its interest in the company, said it advanced several loan facilities which included working capital disbursements to Honeywell Flour Mills Plc.

It alleged that due to the company’s failure to liquidate the said loan facilities, Ecobank was constrained to commence winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited at the Federal High Court, Lagos in suit no: FHC/L/CP/1571/2015; Ecobank stated that Honeywell Group Limited, being Respondent to the winding up petition, objected to the jurisdiction of the trial court to preside over the said suit. This, the bank said, was upheld by the trial court.

Aggrieved with that decision, Ecobank said it filed an appeal (with appeal No: CA/L/1041/2016) at the the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division and that upon a review of Ecobank’s case, the appellate court found merit in the appeal and held that the winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited was properly commenced and that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear the said petition.

Ecobank said that while the said decision of the Court of Appeal had been appealed to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal’s judgment remains valid and subsisting till date.

The bank stated that the effect of the Appeal Court judgement is that there is currently a winding-up action/proceeding pending against the said Honeywell Group Limited.

Ecobank added that the provisions of Section 577 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA): “Where a company is being wound up by the court, any attachment, sequestration, distress or execution put in force against the estate or effects of the company after the commencement of the winding up is void”

The bank said the estate or effects of Honeywell Group Limited includes (but is not limited to) its 71.69% stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc which it now seeks to divest to Flour Mills, contrary to the express provisions of the law which prohibits the said sale/transfer or divestment during the course of the winding up proceedings.

It added that it was clear that Honeywell Group Limited was legally estopped from sequestering and/or disposing any of its assets pending the final determination of the winding up action commenced against it.

Furthermore, it alleged that the Honeywell Flour Mills Plc in which the shares are held is also currently indebted to Ecobank by virtue of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 14th day of December, 2020 in appeal number: CA/LAG/CV/975/2019,

“wherein the appellate court held that the company did not repay its debt to our client in line with the agreement of parties. While the said judgment is subject of a further appeal to the Supreme Court.”

Consequently, the bank demanded that Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, in its best corporate interest, immediately cease and desist from consummating the subject transaction which aims to divest the assets of a company being wound-up (Honeywell Group Limited).

“Please be further informed that the assets of both Honeywell Group Limited and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. are the subject of the winding-up action and thus based on the doctrine of “lis-pendens” (in addition to the provisions of CAMA supplied above) you are advised to refrain from dealing with the subject asset which forms part of the subject matter of litigation. ”

The bank said that while it believed that Flour Mills or any other interested person or group will adhere to its wise counsel and comply with its demands as a responsible and publicly listed entity, it stated that it would not hesitate to deploy all available legal options to prevent this audacious illegality from coming to fruition.

“Moreover, we are constrained not only to demand an urgent reversal of the alleged ‘divestment processes’ as epitomized by a counter publication, notification or caveat in that regard,” the statement added