Access Holdings Plc has clarified that its decision not to pay dividends for the 2025 financial year was due to regulatory alignment requirements, not poor performance. The Group made the clarification during its Full Year 2025 Investors and Earnings Call, stressing that the move was in line with prudential guidelines. Despite recording N5.53 trillion in gross earnings and a 16.2 percent rise in profit before tax to N1.01 trillion, no dividend was declared.
Total assets grew by 24.2 percent to N51.56 trillion, driven by the integration of newly acquired subsidiaries and balance-sheet expansion. Net interest income and fees and commissions rose, with the latter increasing by 40.9 percent to N585.07 billion. The cost-to-income ratio improved from 56.7 percent to 51.7 percent, reflecting tighter cost controls. Capital adequacy stood at 18.2 percent at the holding company level, while the banking subsidiary reported 20.2 percent.
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Innocent C. Ike stated, "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." The company reaffirmed its commitment to long-term shareholder value.
Access Holdings cites regulatory alignment as the reason for withholding dividends despite posting N1.01 trillion in profit. The explanation creates a disconnect between record earnings and shareholder returns. Investors who expected payouts based on past performance now face uncertainty over when such alignment will be resolved. This gap could affect confidence in the company's payout predictability, even amid strong financials.
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