Economy
Lafarge Africa Repays N33.6bn Bond from Internally Generated Cash Flow
By Dipo Olowookere
The N33.6 billion series 2 bond issued by Lafarge Africa in 2016 under its N100 billion bond issuance programme has been repaid, the cement manufacturing company has confirmed.
The note with a 5-five tenor and a coupon rate of 14.75 per cent was redeemed by the organisation after its maturity a few days ago, a disclosure from the firm stated.
Business Post reports that when Lafarge Africa approached the market for the debt five years ago, it stated that it would use proceeds from the sale to part-refinance the debt of its wholly-owned subsidiary, United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited.
“The proceeds of this issue will allow Lafarge Africa Plc to part-refinance the debt of its new wholly-owned subsidiary, Unicem.
“These proceeds will deliver savings in financing costs to Unicem and Lafarge Africa. Unicem is currently undergoing a 2.5mtpa capacity expansion which will be completed by the end of 2016,” the then Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa, Mr Michel Puchercos, who now heads the company’s industry rival, Dangote Cement, had said.
Chapel Hill Denham had acted as the lead financial adviser, lead issuing house and lead book runner on the transaction, while Citibank Nigeria was the joint lead financial adviser and book-runner, with Standard Chartered and Stanbic IBTC as the joint issuing houses and book runners.
On June 17, 2021, Lafarge Africa provided an update on the paper, informing the investing community that holders of the bond have been repaid after maturity on Tuesday.
The cement giant disclosed that the redemption of the debt was made from its internally generated cash flow, adding that it has no outstanding issued bond under the N100 billion bond issuance programme.
“Lafarge Africa announces the redemption of its matured N33.6 billion bond due on June 15, 2021.
“The company registered a N100 billion bond issuance programme in June 2016, out of which the sum of N60 billion was issued in series 1 and 2 of the programme.
“The matured series 1 bond was issued on June 10, 2016, with a 3-year tenor and at a fixed coupon of 14.25 per cent, which has been repaid, while the matured series 2 bond issued on June 15, 2016, with a 5-year tenor at a fixed tenor of 14.75 per cent has now been repaid.
“The company leveraging on its performance and its recently concluded management strategic plans to systematically deleverage the company has redeemed the series 2 bond from internally generated cash flow.
“In view of this, the company has no outstanding issued bond under the N100 billion bond issuance programme,” the notice signed by the Chief Financial Officer, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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