FBN Holdings (FBNH) Plc has reacted to the viral report about the acquisition of a majority stake in the company by billionaire Femi Otedola.
FBN in a statement to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd. said it was yet to receive any notification of the purported acquisition.
The statement signed by the FBNH Company Secretary, Mr Seyi Kosoko, said the company would notify the appropriate agencies and authorities whenever it received any notice of significant shareholding by the registrars.
“The attention of FBNH has been drawn to media reports of today, Oct. 22, purporting that a certain individual has acquired significant shareholding interest in FBN Holdings, making him the majority shareholder in the company.
“As a listed company, the shares of FBN Holdings are publicly traded, and sale and acquisition of shares is expected in the normal course of business,” said the statement.
FBN Holding said the company operated in a regulated environment, which required notification of significant shareholding by shareholders to the company, where shares were held in different vehicles, further to which the company would notify the regulators and the public as appropriate.
“The company is yet to receive any notification from the individual mentioned in the media report, of such acquisitions.
“FBN Holdings Plc will always notify the appropriate agencies and authorities whenever it receives any notice of significant shareholding by the shareholders and the company’s registrars,” continued the statement.
Viral reports on Friday claimed that Otedola had emerged the majority shareholder of FBNH following months of slow and meticulous purchase of the company’s shares on the NGX.
A source who pleaded anonymity claimed Otedola was behind a massive mop-up of the shares of FBNH, which would result in his becoming the single majority shareholder of the company.
Also, a top capital market operator who pleaded anonymity, said the statement of FBNH should trigger investigation by regulators to know the correct position, protect market integrity and avoid share manipulation.
