Access Holdings Plc has clarified why it did not declare dividends for the 2025 financial year despite posting one of its strongest financial performances to date.
Speaking during the Group’s Full Year 2025 Investors and Earnings Call, the company said the decision was not linked to weak earnings or cash flow problems, but was driven by the need to comply with regulatory and prudential requirements before dividends could be paid to shareholders.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Innocent C. Ike, said the company remains committed to rewarding investors and sustaining long-term shareholder value.
According to him, Access Holdings has maintained a strong tradition of dividend payments over the years, stressing that the temporary suspension was strictly tied to regulatory alignment issues.
The financial group delivered a strong performance in 2025, with gross earnings rising by 13.3 percent to ₦5.53 trillion. The growth was supported by stronger net interest income and a 40.9 percent increase in fees and commissions, which climbed to ₦585.07 billion.
Profit before tax also grew by 16.2 percent to ₦1.01 trillion, marking the first time the Group crossed the ₦1 trillion threshold in its history.
Total assets expanded by 24.2 percent to ₦51.56 trillion, reflecting the impact of business expansion and integration of newly acquired subsidiaries. The company also improved operational efficiency, with its cost-to-income ratio dropping from 56.7 percent to 51.7 percent.
Access Holdings further disclosed that its capital adequacy ratio remained strong at 18.2 percent at the holding company level, while the banking subsidiary closed the year at 20.2 percent.
The company explained that although dividends were proposed at both half-year and full-year stages in 2025, regulatory approvals were not secured.
At the half-year stage, the issue stemmed from Section 7.1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines for financial holding companies. The Group said this matter has now been resolved following the completion of an approved private placement.
However, another issue emerged at year-end under Section 19(8)(c) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), which limits investments in foreign banking subsidiaries relative to shareholders’ funds.
To address this, the Group said it has been granted a 12-month period to fully regularise its position and may partially divest from some foreign banking subsidiaries while still retaining majority control.
Ike stated that maintaining the confidence of regulators, depositors and stakeholders remains central to the company’s governance culture, adding that the Group is focused on preserving balance sheet strength and capital resilience.
He assured shareholders that Access Holdings is actively engaging regulators and other stakeholders to resolve all outstanding issues within the approved timeline.
The company also said it is strengthening its capital and liquidity buffers to support the sustainable return of dividend payments once all conditions and approvals are met.
Reaffirming management’s confidence in the future, Ike noted that the Group remains well-positioned to leverage its scale, geographic spread and strong franchise to deliver resilient earnings growth and stronger long-term value for shareholders.
