The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says that listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange declared a total dividend of N1.1 trillion for shareholders in 2024.
Speaking at the first quarter Capital Market Committee meeting in Lagos, the Director-General of SEC, Emomotimi Agama noted that N1tn of the total dividend declared had already been paid to shareholders, reflecting improved investor confidence and returns.
He added that between January and December 2024, the commission approved new issues valued at N3.68tn. This included N59.82bn from fixed-income issuances and N3.62tn from equities, indicating strong investor appetite for the equity segment.
“For the period spanning January to April 2025, we have so far approved new issues worth approximately N446.38bn. Of this, N265.90 bn came from fixed-income instruments, while N180.48 bn was mobilised through equities,” he said.
On mergers and acquisitions, Agama said the commission approved 11 transactions in 2024 with a combined value of N320.36bn.
The most notable among them, he said, was the acquisition of a 58.02 per cent equity stake in Guinness Nigeria Plc by N Seven Nigeria Ltd., valued at over N103.7bn.
Other transactions included three corporate restructuring deals, two share capital reconstructions, one takeover, and four securities registrations.
According to him, the scheme of arrangement involving Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc was valued at over N105bn. At the same time, Transnational Corporation Plc executed a share capital reconstruction involving a one-for-four share consolidation worth N5.08bn.
He also disclosed that, so far in 2025, the commission had approved three major transactions valued at N38.53bn. These included two takeovers and one corporate restructuring.
While no mergers had been recorded in the review period, he said market activity remained steady with ongoing strategic realignments in key sectors.
On collective investment schemes, the SEC boss revealed that the sector recorded a combined net asset value of N3.84tn as of the fourth quarter of 2024, with 184 registered mutual funds and over 800,000 unit holders.
He added that privately managed portfolios grew to 444 investment vehicles, with assets under management totalling ₦4.69tn. In total, 82 active asset management firms now oversee ₦8.53tn in investments.
GIK/APA