The latest disclosures from the Nigerian Exchange Group have shown that a total of N69,378,297.12 was divested from the listed company by investors in March 2023.
Investors sold a combined 2,666,451 shares after the audited financial statement of the group showed profit plunged from N2.248 billion reported in the 2021 financial year to N698.482 million in the financial year ended December 31, 2022.
A breakdown of the disclosures signed by Obehi Ikhaghe, Ag. Company Secretary done by Investors King showed that the MIRI Strategic Emerging Markets Fund LP, Substantial Shareholder, sold 1,480,000 units of shares at N26.09 per share on 03 March 2023.
Pivot Capital Limited, a company related to a Statutory Audit Committee Member, Mr. Samuel Adejumo, relinquished 71,923 units at N26.40 a unit on 07 March 2023.
Somafam Global Concepts, also related to Mr. Samuel Adejumo, a Statutory Audit Committee Member, disposed of 20,000 units of shares at N26.45 per share on 07 March 2023.
Between March 06 and 07, 2023, MIRI Strategic Emerging Markets Fund LP sold another 1,094,528 units of shares at N25.89 a share.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited reported N7.499 billion in revenue and other income in 2022 while profit before minimum tax and income tax expense declined to N823.089 million from N2.401 billion filed in 2021 financial year.
Therefore, after paying N124.607 million in income tax expense for the 2022 financial year, the company announced N692.482 million in profit after tax.
While the decline has been consistent since the company was listed, aggressive selling by Mr. Samuel Adejumo, a Statutory Audit Committee Member of the company with presumable knowledge of the company’s financial position underscores the deteriorating state of the company.