Nigerian Stock Exchange Suspends Ecobank Nigeria

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Wednesday placed Ecobank Nigeria Plc on full suspension preparatory to its delisting from the Exchange.

Ecobank had last November notified the NSE of its intention to delist from the Exchange following the proposed re-organisation of its share capital that will make its parent company, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated(ETI) own its 93 per cent.

The re-organisation was a result of the  acquisition of Oceanic Bank International by ETI, which made both Ecobank and Oceanic Bank subsidiaries of the  pan- African holding company.


But directors of Ecobank had  said that they had  agreed to merge its  business with Oceanic Bank  and would leave Ecobank as the surviving entity.


Consequent upon the merger, it is expected that ETI’s shareholding in the enlarged Ecobank Nigeria will increase from its current 85 per cent to approximately 93 per cent. This, the bank explained, would further reduce Ecobank Nigeria's minimum free float to maintain listing on the NSE.


Shareholders of Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Oceanic Bank last December  approved the  merger proposal. Under the merger scheme, the shareholders approved that all the assets, liabilities and undertakings of Oceanic Bank, including real property and intellectual property rights, be transferred to Ecobank Nigeria, while issued ordinary shares Oceanic Bank be dissolved and that the bank be dissolved without being wound up.


Given the approval already obtained from the shareholders and based on earlier notification, the NSE yesterday placed the shares of Ecobank on full suspension. This means that the shares cannot be traded, a development that will persistent until the shares would be delisted  from the NSE and operate as a private entity.


Meanwhile, trading at the stock market remained negative for the second day with the benchmark index shedding  0.17 per cent to close lower at 20,635.07. The market had opened the year the previous day with a decline of 0.28 per cent.


Speaking about the bearish opening, analysts at Meristem Securities Limited  had said: “The reason for this, in our opinion is the festive period, which is still in the air and more importantly, the fear of a multiplier effect of the fuel subsidy removal.”


The trend continued yesterday as 20 stocks declined compared with 18 others that appreciated. Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc led the price losers with N2.50 to close at N63.00 per share, while Okomu Oil Palm Plc led the price gainers with N1.15 to close at N24.25 per share.

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