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Just IN : All Banks in frantic moves to put recapitalisation plans on course ahead of the CBN April 30 deadline
Banks are holding a string of meetings to finalise their recapitalisation plans ahead of the April 30 deadline for the submission of their implementation strategies to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The implementation/ work plan will detail how each of the banks intends to achieve its new minimum capital requirement within the two-year timeline stipulated by the apex bank.
The details which will cover the two-year compliance period ending March 31, 2026, comprise step-by-step activities, transactional details, instruments and other options.
The CBN last month released a circular on review of minimum capital requirement for commercial, merchant and non-interest banks. It increased the new minimum capital for commercial banks with international affiliations, otherwise known as mega banks, to N500 billion; commercial banks with national authorisation, N200 billion and commercial banks with regional license, N50 billion.
Others included merchant banks, N50 billion; non-interest banks with national license, N20 billion and non-interest banks with regional license will now have N10 billion minimum capital. The 24-month timeline for compliance started yesterday and ends on March 31, 2026.
Banks’ insiders told The Nation yesterday that directors of the banks and professional parties were making final adjustments of market-based values and timelines.
They said about one-third of banks plan to increase their capital base mainly raising their capitals adequacy, while others outline prospects for combination of capital raise and mergers /acquisitions.
Two banks are said to be considering downgrade of their licences as final options in addition to prospects of mergers and acquisitions.
While all the tier 1 banks appeared confident of raising the required funds on a stand alone basis, they also indicated their preparedness to explore acquisition of small banks.
Living On The Margins
According to timelines of activities, about seven banks are expected to float their share offerings in the second half of this year. The capital market is expected to be busier in 2025.
An investment banking advisor said many big banks were seeking to raise more-than-needed funds in order to be in a position to cherry-pick when the recapitalisation fever pitches in mid-2025.
Under the new recapitalisation framework, banks have three broad options of injection of new equity capital, mergers and acquisitions and upgrade or downgrade of licence authorisation.
A source confirmed that Jaiz Bank has successfully scaled the recapitalisation hurdle with nearly N9 billion in excess of its national non-interest banking new capital requirement of N20 billion.
Jaiz Bank had closed 2023 with share capital and share premium of N18.62 billion. Multiple parties in the know said the bank has raised additional N10.05 billion through a recent private placement of 10.048 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N1 per share.
Investors scramble for banks’ shares on dividend expectations
It has also secured preliminary approvals to float a rights issue of about 5.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at offer price of N1 per share. This may take the bank’s minimum capital base, under the new definition, to more than N34 billion.
A source close to the bank said it could consider acquisition and “other strategic investments” where the offers align with its growth objectives.
Shareholders of Access Holdings at the weekend mandated the company to raise $1.5 billion and N365 billion in a multi-tranche, multi-currency and multi-instrument capital raising plan.
The N365 billion rights issue is expected to be the main plank of the recapitalisation plan, while the $1.5 billion foreign-denominated issuance, which broad mandate also includes equity offering, places the group, with a bold acquisition records, in position to play big in the mergers and acquisitions market.
Access Holdings already has share capital and share premium of N251.81 billion, with about N248 billion to meet its international authorisation category of N500 billion.
Shareholders of four of Nigeria’s largest banks- Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc– are scheduled to meet next month to approve recapitalisation plans involving about N3 trillion.
Zenith Bank, which is rounding off conversion to holding company structure ahead of the recapitalisation, is seeking a broad mandate to double its issued share capital. The bank is creating new 3.4 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for a multi-layered capital raising exercise that could see the bank with nearly N1 trillion.
GTCO is seeking shareholders’ approval for a $750 million multi-tranches, multi-instrument capital raising. The group is creating new 15 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for its new share issuance programme.
UBA, which has called a meeting later next month, is seeking approval to create additional 10.8 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for issuance to both domestic and foreign investors.
Fidelity Bank, which has a subsisting recapitalisation exercise, is expected to roll out additional recapitalisation measures.
FBN Holdings, which had secured earlier approval to raise some N150 billion, at the weekend cancelled an extraordinary general meeting called to consider a N300 billion capital raising plan. Market analysts expected FBN Holdings to review its recapitalisation plan upward.
FirstBank, the West Africa premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has strengthened its partnership with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to reaffirm its commitment to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development. This ongoing partnership was reinforced at the recently concluded Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in Seville, Spain.
The FfD4 Conference brought together global leaders, policymakers, and private sector experts to discuss innovative solutions to address the growing SDG financing gap and unlock capital for development in fragile and underserved regions.
FirstBank’s Chief Risk Officer, Patrick Akhidenor, represented the bank at the conference and highlighted two FirstBank flagship initiatives driving resilience finance in Nigeria: The Solar Equipment Financing initiative and the revamped FirstGem Fund. The Solar Equipment Financing initiative offers tailored financing options for the purchase and installation of solar power systems, ensuring access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. The FirstGem Fund, a women-focused proposition, provides single-digit interest loans to women entrepreneurs without collateral requirements, targeting funding gaps in critical sectors.
‘’We are committed to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development,” said Patrick Akhidenor. “Our partnership with UNGC and participation in the FfD4 Conference demonstrate our dedication to innovative finance solutions that address the SDG financing gap.”
Sanda Ojambo, CEO of UNGC, emphasized the need for innovative, inclusive financial models for underserved regions. “The private sector must play a central role in shaping fit-for-purpose, scalable finance solutions,” she said. “De-risking tools and blended finance can help unlock capital and drive meaningful impact.
FirstBank’s partnership with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and its SMEConnect hub demonstrate its capacity to lead efforts in sustainable finance. The bank provides training, networking, and tailored financing to SMEs across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and retail
Access Holdings PLC, the parent company of Access
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GTCO Plc Becomes the 1st Financial Services Institution in West Africa to Achieve Listing and Trading of its Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), Africa’s leading and most profitable Financial Services Group, has recorded a significant milestone in its growth and expansion journey with the successful admission of its Ordinary Shares to the Equity Shares (International Commercial Companies Secondary Listing) category of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.
This historic achievement makes GTCO Plc, the 1stFinancial Services Institution in West Africa to dual list its Ordinary Shares on both the Nigerian and London stock exchanges, and subject to certain criteria, it is expected that the Shares will be transferrable between the two exchanges.
The admission follows the successful pricing of its fully marketed offering (The Offering) on the London Stock Exchange to raise gross proceeds of $105million in exchange for 2.29 billion of new ordinary shares in the company, which was supported by a strong book of high-quality, long-term institutional investors.
Concurrent with the Offering, the Company also gave notice of its intention to cancel the listing of its existing GDRs on the certificates representing certain securities (depositary receipts) category of the Official List of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and the admission to trading of GDRs on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities.
Building on the momentum of the successful first tranche of its equity capital raise programme in July 2024, which secured ₦209 billion, GTCO will deploy the proceeds from the Offering to strengthen its capital base, meet its recapitalization target, and fund strategic expansion across high-growth markets and priority sectors within and outside Nigeria.
It is expected that Admission and unconditional dealing in the Shares will become effective on or before 8.00 a.m. (UK time) on 9 July 2025 under the ticker “GTHC”. Following the cancellation of the GDRs listing, the Company intends to change the ticker symbol for the Shares from “GTHC” to “GTCO” and will issue a separate announcement in due course to that effect.
Commenting on the LSE Listing, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “Today marks a major milestone—not just for GTCO, but for the future we see for African financial institutions on the global stage. We are incredibly proud to be the 1stFinancial Services Institution in West Africa to list our ordinary shares on London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities, and even more honored by the trust placed in us by the investing community. For us, this was not just about raising capital. It was about validating the strength of our franchise, the clarity of our strategy, and the discipline with which we execute.”
He further said; “I would like to thank everyone who made this possible—our advisors and legal teams, our longstanding shareholders, the regulators both in Nigeria and in the UK, as well as the Nigerian government for creating an environment that supports our bold ambition and vision to be Africa’s leading financial services institution.”
GTCO’s fully marketed offering attracted long-term institutional capital, reflecting investor confidence in the Group’s fundamentals, governance, and strategic outlook. It also signals improving market sentiment, buoyed by ongoing economic reforms by the Federal Government and a return to traditional orthodox monetary policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which have gone a long way to stabilising the macroeconomic environment and gradually restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s long-term prospects.
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