Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first West African financial institution to list its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
GTCO is live on the LSE. This was disclosed to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on July 9, 2025. GTCO’s entire issued share capital of 36.4 billion shares commenced trading under the ticker “GTHC.”
GTCO plans to cancel its GDR listing by July 31, 2025, and change its ticker to “GTCO.”
This landmark listing follows GTCO’s successful $105 million equity offering, announced on July 4, 2025, which involved issuing 2.29 billion new shares. The offering, supported by high-quality institutional investors, underscores strong global confidence in GTCO’s growth strategy and Nigeria’s financial sector.
The LSE listing aligns with GTCO’s strategic vision to enhance its global visibility and meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) N500 billion capital requirement for international banks by March 2026. By transitioning from Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) to ordinary shares, GTCO aims to boost liquidity and attract a broader investor base.
Group CEO Segun Agbaje emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “Today marks a major milestone, not just for GTCO, but for the future we see for African financial institutions on the global stage.”
The proceeds from the $105 million offering will bolster GTCO’s capital base, primarily to recapitalize its flagship subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria.
GTCO’s financial performance underscores its readiness for this global leap, with a first-quarter 2025 profit after tax of ₦258 billion, a 61% year-on-year increase. Its non-performing loan ratio improved to 4.5% from 5.2% in 2024, reflecting robust asset quality and operational efficiency.
The dual listing on the NGX and LSE positions GTCO to attract institutional capital, enhance liquidity, and improve price discovery. Financial analysts view this as a transformative step, signaling Nigeria’s growing influence in global financial markets.
