Telecommunication giant, MTN, will today begins the sale of up to 575 million shares held in MTN Nigeria by MTN Group to Nigerian retail and institutional investors.
The announcement of the sale is coming a week after the company disclosed that the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) had approved its offer for sale of up to 575 million ordinary shares by way of a bookbuild to qualified investors (Institutional Offer) and a fixed price to retail investors (Retail Offer).
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, talking about the sale of the shares yesterday in a press conference clarified that the sale of the shares was never an initiative of funds raising but an attempt to deepen the company’s shareholding and in order to enable more Nigerians to partake in the prosperity of the company.
“The offer opens at 8:00am today and is scheduled to close at 5:00 pm on December14, 2021. It is priced at N169.00 per share and the minimum subscription is for 20 shares and lots of 20 shares thereafter. The offer includes an incentive in the form of one free share for every 20 shares purchased, subject to a maximum of 250 free shares per investor. The incentive is open to retail investors who buy and hold the shares allotted to them for at least 12 months, post the allotment date,” the CEO said.
The retail offer is the first in Nigeria to be delivered via a digital platform. It aims to facilitate the maximum possible participation by Nigerian investors leveraging on technology. Similarly, It is the first time the company will invite subscription from the public nearly two years after it listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
Speaking about the offer, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, said the offer was MTN’s strategic priority to create shared value. “In the last 20 years, we have worked diligently to connect 68 million subscribers onto voice and data networks and ensure that we deliver the benefits of a modern connected life. With this offer, we will contribute to the further deepening of Nigeria’s equity capital markets. It is the first in a series of transactions as MTN Group implements its plans to ensure broad-based ownership by reducing its shareholding in MTN Nigeria to 65 per cent over time. We thank the Nigerian authorities for the support we as MTN Group have received in the various approvals related to this Offer, and remain committed to playing our humble role in driving digital and financial inclusion across the country over the medium-term, ” he added.
Investors will be able to submit applications through the issuing houses, receiving agents (authorised stockbrokers and Nigerian banks) and online via a unique digital application platform, Primary Offer, administered by the Nigerian Exchange Limited.