- AccessCorp CEO, Access Bank MD, others vested with N427m shares.
United Bank for Africa Plc has released its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 showing strong growth across key performance measures.
The Group’s results which were released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited saw outstanding year-on-year increases across top-to-bottom line figures.
First quarter 2024 gross earnings rose by 110 percent from N271.1billion in Q1’2023 to N570.2 billion; interest income grew by 130 percent, to N440.7 billion; while operating income increased by 115 percent, from N175.7 billion in 2023 to N378.59 billion.
UBA further consolidated the record performance it delivered in the Group’s 2023 full year audited financials as its Profit Before Tax rose significantly by 155percent from N61.7 billion in Q1 2023 to N156.34 billion in Q1 2024; while Profit After Tax (PAT) jumped from N53.5 billion to N142.5 billion, representing an impressive rise of 165percent year-on-year.
While commenting on the results, Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director, UBA Plc said the Group delivered strong first quarter performance, building on the solid momentum of 2023, as well as the ongoing execution of its long-held strategy of customer focus, geographic diversification and effective risk management and governance.
He said, “Our record Q1 profit before tax was delivered with triple digit gross earnings growth, supported by very strong interest and non-interest income. Fees and Commissions rose by 118percent year-on-year on the back of improved efficiencies and continued digital adoption. This has helped drive improvement in efficiency and customer satisfaction, with the Group’s cost-to-income ratio held at 57.8percent.
“The Group’s balance sheet grew steadily with total assets increasing by 23percent to N25.4 trillion. Customer deposits closed at N18.4 trillion, recording a 23percent increase year-on-year, largely attributed to growth in current accounts and savings accounts.
“Our unwavering commitment to sound governance, robust risk management, and financial strength positions us for continued growth, while we contribute meaningfully to inclusive economic development across our network.”
Also speaking on the performance, Ugo Nwaghodoh, Executive Director, Finance and Risk, UBA said the Group’s operating results for the quarter showed the actions taken to enhance the Group’s performance continued to deliver.
He said, “Our first quarter results highlight our relentless customer focus and the strength of UBA’s geographic and product diversification, with good performance across all our regions. We continue to differentiate ourselves across all key financial metrics, with a keen focus on high-quality risk adjusted revenues and cost discipline, while maintaining very sound asset quality.
“We remain committed to reducing both interest expense and operating expenses and expect to make steady progress as we move through the year toward our stated profitability targets,” Nwaghodoh stated.
AccessCorp CEO, Access Bank MD, others vested with N427m shares
Meanwhile, the acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Bolaji Agbede, Managing Director of Access Bank, Roosevelt Ogbonna and six other directors of the bank have been vested with about 23,883,790 units of shares of the Holdco worth N427.13.
This was disclosed in notices of insider trading filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday.
According to the filings, the Access Bank MD, Roosevelt Ogbonna, got the highest amount of shares of 12,345,679 units worth N220.37m having been traded at N17.85 per share.
Agbede, who was appointed as the HoldCo’s GCEO, following the demise of Herbert Wigwe earlier this year was vested with 2,216,992 units of AccessCorp shares valued at N39.795m.
Other directors who had shares vested include the Group Chief Financial Officer of Access Bank, Seyi Kumapayi, with 1,234,568 worth N22.16m, another director of Access Bank, Iyabo Soji-Okusanya was vested with 1,691,308 at N17.95 per share. Her vested shares are valued at N30.36m and the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Retail South, Chizoma Okoli, got 1,728,395 units at N30.85m.
Access Bank’s Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer, Dr Gregory Jobome, was vested with 1,728,395 worth N30.85m, the Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Access Bank, Hadiza Ambursa, got 1,728,395 units at N17.95, which brings the value of her shares to N N31.02m and Company Secretary of Access Holdings, Sunday Ekwochi, was vested with 1,210,058 units of the holdco’s shares worth N21.72m.
The shares were vested on May 3rd and May 6th respectively with the average price being N17.91 per unit.
Based on the rules of the exchange, the vesting of the shares is not a purchase or sale transaction.
In November, Access Holdings vested more than 15.5 million shares in stock compensation to two members of its directors’ board and six members of Access Bank’s board of directors.
Access Holdings shares closed trading priced at N17.7, down 1.39 per cent from the previous day’s trading figure.