May 07, (THEWILL) — Access Holdings Plc has reassured shareholders of its commitment to sustainable returns and long-term value creation, clarifying that the non-payment of dividends for the 2025 financial year was due to regulatory compliance issues rather than weak earnings or liquidity concerns.
The clarification was made during the Group’s Full Year 2025 Investors and Earnings Call, where management addressed concerns over the absence of a dividend declaration despite strong financial performance.
The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Innocent C. Ike, said the company’s history of rewarding shareholders remains intact, stressing that the dividend pause was purely driven by prudential regulatory requirements.
“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 alignment with regulatory and prudential guidelines”, Ike said.
The Group recorded impressive results for the 2025 financial year, with gross earnings rising by 13.3 percent to ₦5.53 trillion. Profit before tax climbed by 16.2 percent to ₦1.01 trillion, marking the first time the Group crossed the ₦1 trillion threshold.
Total assets also grew by 24.2 percent to ₦51.56 trillion, supported by the integration of newly acquired subsidiaries, while the cost-to-income ratio improved to 51.7 percent from 56.7 percent.
Capital adequacy remained strong at 18.2 percent at the holding company level and 20.2 percent for the banking subsidiary.
Access Holdings explained that while dividends were proposed at both half-year and full-year stages, regulatory approvals were not secured.
The company added that it is working with regulators to resolve outstanding issues and expects dividend payments to resume once all conditions and approvals are satisfied.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
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