The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has granted a 30-day extension to five banks for filing of their first half (H1), 2020 financial reports for the period ended June 30, 2020.
The banks, which are Fidelity Bank, Access Bank Plc Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank, in different releases have announced delay filing of their H1 financial results.
Zenith Bank in its statement announced extension of releasing its audited results till September. The lender, attributed the delay to plans to meet all requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also, Guaranty Trust Bank, in a statement signed by its company secretary, Mr Erhi Obededuo, said, “The Shareholders and the investing public are kindly informed that following the consideration of the bank’s audited Half-Year Financial Statement (AFS) for the period ended June 30, 2020, by the Board on July 22, 2020, steps were taken to finalise the AFS with the bank’s external auditors and same submitted to the bank’s primary Regulator for approval before release of same to the market.
“The bank’s primary Regulator is still in the process of reviewing the AFS and same would be released to the market upon receipt of the said approval.
“In view of the foregoing, the bank requested an extension of time from the Exchange to publish its AFS, subsequent to which a 30-day extension was granted. However, kindly be assured that if the approval from the primary regulator is received earlier, the bank’s AFS would be released to the market earlier than the period approved by the Exchange.”
Meanwhile, Access Bank, in a statement signed by the Group company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, noted that, “The Bank’s primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria, is still reviewing the Bank’s Audited Interim Financial Statement which was submitted to it following the approval of the Bank’ Board of Directors.”
It noted further, “In view of the foregoing, the Exchange has approved a 30-day extension of time to file the Bank’s Audited Interim Financial Statements.
“Accordingly, Access Bank Plc expects to publish the Audited Interim Financial Statements on or before September 28. 2020.”
It added the Bank’s insiders are hereby reminded that the earlier declared closed period in respect of the Bank’s securities remains in place until 24 hours after the release of the Bank’s Audited Interim
Financial Statements for Half Year Ended June 30, 2020.
In addition, company secretary, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Chidi Okezie, said “We are experiencing a slight delay in the release of the 2020 Half Year Audited Financial Statements for Stanbic IBTC Holdings.
“This delay is occasioned by the fact that we are currently seeking the approval of our primary Regulator, the CBN for the Half Year Audited Financial Statements, following which the said Financial Statements will then be released to the Market.
“We are working diligently to ensure that our Company’s 2020 Half Year Results are published on or before Friday 25 September 2020.”