The
shareholders of FBN Holdings Plc have been assured of brighter future and
enhanced dividend at the 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.
Speaking at the meeting in Lagos, Dr Oba Otudeko, FBN Holdings Group
Chairman, assured the shareholders that the company had mapped out strategies
aimed at ensuring enhanced value creation for the future.
Otudeko said that the board and management would work together to create
shareholder value and build strong foundation for the future.
“We are not resting on our laurels, and our renewed approach to synergy
and innovation will be major drivers to unlocking earnings potential for our
group.
“We believe that our efforts to integrate our offerings and provide
end-to-end solutions for our customers will create a competitive advantage in
our markets,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Urum Kalu Eke, Group Managing Director FBN Holdings,
said that the company was committed to greater exploits in the future in its
drive to deliver value to its shareholders.
” I would like to reiterate our promise to you and the entire market that
2019 represents for us the year of inflection.
“All leading indicators, derived from our numbers, point to the
commencement of growth across businesses, markets and indices.
“As we transition to a new strategic planning cycle post-2019, we are
confident that the focused execution of our strategy, investment in
future-enabling technologies, development of our talents and our re-engineered
processes to repositioning the group for ultimate benefit of the
shareholders,” Eke said.
He also commended the shareholders for their unwavering support to the group
over the years.
The company for the period under review posted a profit after tax of N59.7
billion compared with N45. 5 billiin achieved in the comparative period of
2017, an increase of 31.4 per cent.
Profit before tax stood at N65. 3 billion against N54.5 billion recorded in
2017, representing a growth of 19.7 per cent.
Gross earnings stood at N583.5 billion compared with N595. 4 billion in 2017, a
decrease of two per cent.
Its total assets rose by 6.3 per cent from N5.2 trillion in 2017 to N5.6
trillion during the review period.
Similarly, customers deposits expanded by 10.9 per cent from N3.1 trillion in
2017 to N3.5 trillion in 2018.
The year also recorded reduction in impairment charges which declined to N87. 3
billion from N150.4 billion, representing 42 per cent drop and a proof to
the improving loan book of the commercial bank.
He assured the shareholders that the board and management had restructured the
entire group for more sustainable growth.
“For liquidity perspective, you have a strong institution that would
pay dividend on a regular basis.
“We have built capital buffet at the commercial bank and the other
entities are well capitalised also.
“2019 promises to be a much better year than 2018; all operating entities
are in safe hands with good management teams.
“NPL ratio should be at single digit by end of 2019, we will pursue
recovery and when it happens the commercial bank will contribute to dividend
payment,” he stated.
Eke noted that significant growth in the bottom line was due to several factors
including the improved risk management processes which endured that impairment
changes dropped year-on-year.
He , also, attributed the growth to implementation of servers cost containment
initiatives during the period.
Also speaking, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Chief
Executive Officer, said that recovery efforts on all accounts provisioned
were in progress.
Adeduntan said that the bank would ensure that no kobo would be left in the
hands of third party, noting that, they bank would work harder to resolve all
the legacy NPL.
He said that the number of banking agents had increased to 20,000, adding that
the figure processed through agency banking platform reached N1 trillion
as at last week.
The shareholders at the meeting approved a total dividend of N9.3 billion,
which translated to 26k per share.
The Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan; Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc., Mr. UK Eke; Group Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc., Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR and Company Secretary, FBN Holdings Plc. Mr. Seye Kosoko, at the 7th Annual General Meeting of FBN Holdings Plc held in Lagos.
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