A subset of the Group’s Capital Raising Programme aiming to generate up to US$1.5 billion, the Rights Issue is designed to strengthen the Group’s financial footing and support ongoing working capital needs, including organic growth funding for its banking and non-banking subsidiaries.

Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, stated:

“The commencement of the Rights Issue subscription is an important step in our growth strategy and capital raising plans, reinforcing our financial strength and accelerating our strategic ambitions. However, this execution is more than a capital raise; it is a pivotal process that will propel us towards our goal of becoming one of the top 5 financial institutions in Africa by 2027. We are confident that this exercise will solidify our position as a market leader and drive sustainable growth for years to come.”

Access Holdings’ Rights Issue offers 17,772,612,811 ordinary shares of N0.50 each at N19.75 per share. The Offer will be issued on the basis of one (1) new ordinary share for every two existing ordinary shares held as of Friday, 7 June 2024.

The lead issuing house for the Rights Issue is Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited. Atlas Registrars Limited will serve as Registrars to the Offer.

The Rights Circular will be distributed to shareholders by the Registrars to the Offer, while the application forms will also be available on the following websites:

www.theaccesscorporation.com www.chapelhilldenham.com www.coronationmb.com; www.atlasregistrars.com

Now operational in 22 countries across the globe, with 15 in Africa, Access Holdings has established itself as one of the continent’s most trusted performers over the last 20 years. The Group reported robust financial results for the year ending December 31, 2023, with a 335 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to N729 billion and an 87 per cent surge in gross earnings to N2.59 trillion. A final dividend of N1.80 kobo per every N0.50 kobo ordinary share for the 2023 financial year was paid to shareholders, representing a 28 per cent increase from the previous year.

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The 2024 report revealed a remarkable 73% increase in Access Bank’s brand value, solidifying its position as the most valuable banking brand in Nigeria. This marks the third consecutive year that Access Bank has held the top spot in Brand Finance’s annual ranking of the world’s Top 500 Banking Brands.

Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy, reported that banking brands contributed a substantial 50% of the overall brand value among Nigeria’s top 25 brands. Within the Nigeria 25 2024 ranking, banking brands not only emerged as the most valuable but also the strongest and fastest growing.

Access Bank’s brand value soared to NGN355.3 billion, making it the 31st most valuable brand in Africa according to the Brand Finance Africa 200 2024. This impressive growth is primarily driven by significant increases in interest-based income, reflecting improved revenues and robust financial performance.

Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, stated: “We are proud to once again be recognised as Nigeria’s most valuable brand. This accolade is a testament to our commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. We will continue to focus on delivering exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders, driving positive impact across the communities we serve.”

Toyin Henry-Ajayi, Group Head, Group Marketing & Retail Analytics at Access Bank, who spoke on the brand’s journey at the announcement event, added: “Access Bank’s consistent performance and brand value growth reflects our ability to stay true to our DNA of excellence through every strategic 5-year cycle. Our journey has been one of continuous improvement and adaptation, and we remain dedicated to setting new standards in the banking industry and contributing to the economic development of Africa.”

Access Bank also distinguished itself as the top brand in terms of Sustainability perceptions value, surpassing Flour Mills of Nigeria which ranked second. This underscores the Bank’s dedication to sustainable practices and its leadership in corporate responsibility.

Babatunde Odumeru, Managing Director of Brand Finance Nigeria, commented on the resilience of Nigeria’s leading brands: “Despite a tumultuous financial year marked by the Naira plummeting over 30% against the US dollar and soaring inflation, Nigeria’s leading brands have displayed remarkable resilience. These top-tier brands have not only withstood economic pressures, but many have continued to flourish, with 23 of Nigeria’s top 25 most valuable brands achieving brand value growth. We are also increasingly seeing top brands continuing to expand beyond their domestic borders and grow their influence across the continent.”

The values of brands in the rankings are calculated using the Royalty Relief approach, a method compliant with ISO 10668 standards. This approach estimates future revenues attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, arriving at a ‘brand value’ that reflects the net economic benefit achievable by licensing the brand in the open market.

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Access Holdings PLC, a leading financial services group, has echoed the need for ethical considerations in using Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling stakeholders in the financial industry to factor its sustainability implications. This call to action was driven by a compelling keynote address delivered by Lanre Bamisebi, Executive Director of IT & Digitalisation at Access Holdings, at the Smart Banking Summit 2024 held in Kenya on Wednesday.

Speaking on the topic, “AI Guardians: Securing Compliance and Mitigating Risks,” Bamisebi’s keynote shed light on the imperative to strike a balance between innovation and responsibility as the banking sector and broader society embrace AI’s transformative potential.

“Artificial Intelligence has the power to revolutionise our societies. Over the years, this has become increasingly evident, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth, efficiency, and innovation. From enhancing customer service to optimising risk management, AI’s potential benefits in finance are vast. However, as we embrace AI, we must also ensure that its deployment is ethical, secure, and compliant with regulatory standards to mitigate risks effectively,” he said.

As the transformative power of AI continues to fuel innovation, concerns remain about its negative impact on the environment. According to OpenAI researchers, since 2012, the amount of computing power required to train cutting-edge AI models has doubled every 3.4 months. They also posit that by 2040, the emissions from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry will reach 14 per cent of the global emissions, with the bulk of those emissions coming from ICT infrastructure, particularly data centres and communication networks.

Speaking to these concerns, Bamisebi said, “The exponential growth of AI adoption must be met with thoughtful consideration for its environmental footprint. As we harness the power of AI, we must prioritise sustainable practices to mitigate its energy consumption and carbon emissions, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between technological advancement and environmental preservation.

“We must embrace our roles as guardians, and place comprehensive regulatory frameworks, ethical standards, and continuous learning at the fore of our considerations so that we create a future that is safe, inclusive, and prosperous for all,” Bamisebi charged.

Themed ‘Navigating the Next: Africa’s Leap into Smart, Secure, and Inclusive Banking’, the summit was a pivotal gathering of leaders spearheading the digital evolution in the African banking and finance space.

Other contributors at the summit include Winnie Kaaka, Head of Product and Digital Banking, Access Bank Plc; Harry Hare, Co-Founder and Chairman, dx5; Moses Okundi, CIO/CTO, Absa; Tim Theuri, CISO, Safaricom/M-Pesa Africa; Daniel Adaramola, CISO, SunTrust Bank Nigeria Ltd; Steve Njenga, Founder and CEO, Metis Technology Solutions Ltd, and more.

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Access Holdings Plc, one of Africa’s leading financial groups, has unveiled plans to establish a Capital Raising Programme of up to US$1,500,000,000.00 (One Billion, Five Hundred Million United States Dollars) or its equivalent.
The Programme aims to enhance the Group’s financial strength through the issuance of various financial instruments such as ordinary shares, preference shares, Alternative Tier 1 capital, convertible and/or non-convertible debt, bonds, or other capital and/or funding instruments.
The Programme may be executed through a variety of methods including public offerings, private placements, rights issues, book building processes, or a combination thereof.
The specifics regarding the tranches, series, proportions, dates, pricing, tenor, and other terms and conditions that may be associated, will be determined by the Board of Directors, contingent upon securing the necessary regulatory approvals.
Drawing from the Programme, the Group expects to raise up to N365,000,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Billion Naira) specifically via a Rights Issue of ordinary shares. The proceeds of the proposed Rights Issue would be used to support ongoing working capital needs including organic growth funding for its banking and other non-banking subsidiaries.
The plans for the Programme were disclosed in the Group’s Notice of the 2nd Annual General Meeting holding on April 19, 2024 which was published on the Nigerian Exchange portal on March 27, 2024.

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The parties aim to explore solutions that will provide a remittance corridor between East and West Africa, connecting some of the continent’s largest economies.

The collaboration will see the convergence of Access Holdings’ robust Pan-African banking infrastructure, spanning 14 African countries, with Coronation Group’s comprehensive array of technology-infused financial services offerings in West Africa, coupled with M-PESA and Safaricom. M-PESA is the continent’s leading mobile money and digital payments service, connecting more than 60 million customers and 5 million businesses across 8 countries and processing more than $1 billion a day in transaction value. Safaricom is Kenya’s leading telecommunications, ICT and financial services provider with more than 32 million of its customers using M-PESA services every month.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, emphasised the ethos of empowerment that forms the foundation of this collaboration. “We stand at the threshold of an extraordinary journey, one poised to shape the financial landscape of Africa. This partnership encompasses more than a convergence of capabilities; it signifies the fusion of collective expertise, resources, and an unwavering commitment to drive financial inclusion, empowering millions throughout Africa. Through collaborative innovation, shared vision, and resolute determination, we are primed to unlock unprecedented opportunities, transform lives, and make an indelible imprint on Africa’s trajectory,” Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede added.

Sharing insights into the transformative potential of the collaboration, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, affirmed, “Our conviction remains steadfast – this collaboration has the power to recalibrate the trajectory of financial services in Africa. By combining our strengths with those of Coronation Group, Safaricom and M-Pesa Africa, we will deliver on our promise of sustainably impacting our stakeholders, empowering individuals, and significantly contributing to the continent’s economic ascension.”

“African countries trade more with nations outside the continent than within themselves. Initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) seek to address the lack of intra-continental trade. This partnership with Safaricom, Coronation Group and Access Holdings seeks to explore remittance corridors between East and West Africa bringing alive the AfCFTA spirit,” said Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, MD – M-PESA Africa.

“We will be collaborating with M-PESA Africa, Coronation Group and Access Holdings to explore secure, convenient, and affordable remittance solutions that will connect our customers to opportunities in West Africa. Africa remains an underserved region especially for remittances within the continent making such partnerships crucial in closing the gap,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO – Safaricom.

The initial phase of the collaboration will concentrate on pivotal markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania.

The collaboration is subject to commercial discussions and definitive agreements, internal corporate approvals of the respective parties and relevant legal and regulatory processes. The partners remain steadfast in their adherence to regulatory frameworks and their dedication to establishing an enabling environment that empowers individuals and enterprises alike, fostering significant contributions to Africa’s economic advancement.

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