Access Holdings Plc has clarified the reasons behind its decision not to pay dividends for the 2025 financial year, despite posting strong earnings growth and achieving a historic profit milestone.
The clarification was made during the Group’s Full Year 2025 Investors and Earnings Call, where management assured shareholders that the temporary suspension of dividend payments was due to regulatory and prudential compliance requirements rather than weak financial performance.
According to the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc�, Innocent C. Ike, the company remains committed to rewarding shareholders and restoring dividend payments once all regulatory conditions are met.
“Access Holdings has a strong history of consistent dividend payments, and rewarding shareholders remains a core priority for the Board and Management. The non-payment of dividend for 2025 was not due to earnings weakness or cash flow constraints, but an alignment with regulatory and prudential guidelines,” Ike said.
The financial services group recorded a strong performance for the 2025 financial year, with gross earnings rising by 13.3 per cent to ₦5.53 trillion. The growth was driven by improved net interest income and a 40.9 per cent increase in fees and commissions, which climbed to ₦585.07 billion.
Profit before tax also rose by 16.2 per cent to ₦1.01 trillion, marking the first time the Group crossed the ₦1 trillion threshold.
The company’s balance sheet also expanded significantly during the year, as total assets increased by 24.2 per cent to ₦51.56 trillion, supported by the integration of newly acquired subsidiaries across its operations.
Access Holdings further reported an improvement in operational efficiency, with its cost-to-income ratio declining from 56.7 per cent to 51.7 per cent. Capital adequacy remained above regulatory thresholds at 18.2 per cent for the holding company and 20.2 per cent for its banking subsidiary.
Explaining the regulatory issues affecting dividend payment, the company stated that although dividends were proposed at both the half-year and full-year stages, approvals were not granted by regulators.
The Group explained that the initial challenge at the half-year stage related to Section 7.1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s guidelines for Financial Holding Companies. According to the company, the issue has now been resolved following the completion of an approved private placement.
However, another regulatory concern later emerged 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 the issue, the company disclosed that regulators have granted it a 12-month remediation period, during which it plans to partially divest from some foreign banking subsidiaries while maintaining majority ownership.
Ike noted that maintaining the confidence of regulators, depositors and investors remains central to the Group’s operations.
“In line with our long-standing culture of prudence and sound governance, the Board remains committed to balance sheet strength and capital resilience, as the basis for sustainable shareholder distributions,” he said.
The company also assured investors that it is strengthening its capital and liquidity buffers to support the eventual resumption of dividend payments, subject to regulatory approvals and the successful completion of the remediation process.
Access Holdings added that it would continue to provide timely disclosures and updates to shareholders and the investment community as discussions with regulators progress.
Reaffirming confidence in the Group’s future, Ike stated that the company remains well-positioned to leverage its geographic diversification, scale and strong market presence to sustain earnings growth and deliver long-term shareholder value.
