Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) made financial history on Thursday by becoming the first West African financial institution to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), while maintaining its existing listing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
The dual listing, celebrated at a formal event at the LSE in London, marks a major milestone for the company and Nigeria’s capital market, as GTCO transitions from its earlier Global Depository Receipt (GDR) structure to a full secondary listing of ordinary shares on the LSE’s main market.
In a notice to the NGX, GTCO confirmed that its entire issued share capital of 36.4 billion shares has been admitted to the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Official List and is now trading on the LSE. The company also launched a public offer of 2.29 billion ordinary shares at N70 per share, with proceeds targeted at raising $100 million in international capital.
Segun Agbaje, Group CEO of GTCO, said the listing will allow investors access to the “best of both worlds,” combining African growth potential with international liquidity and visibility.
“We have delisted the GDR and listed our ordinary shares, which gives us a strategic backroom to return to the London Stock Exchange for future capital raises,” Agbaje said. “This is about unlocking Africa’s potential on the world stage.”
Agbaje added that proceeds from the fundraising would support GTCO’s expansion in African markets and help deliver stronger returns to both local and global shareholders.
Tom Attenborough, Head of International Primary Markets at the LSE, described the moment as a “welcome back” for GTCO, noting its pioneering role in listing GDRs on the exchange back in 2007.
“Eighteen years later, you are now the first West African bank to dual-list shares on the LSE and NGX, continuing to blaze a trail for African finance,” Attenborough said.
Jude Chiemeka, CEO of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), praised GTCO’s high standards of corporate governance and called the listing a win for both the company and Nigeria.
“GTCO’s move enhances capital access, liquidity, and visibility while positioning Nigeria as a serious player in global finance,” he said. “This puts Africa in a positive spotlight.”
Lanre Buluro, Managing Director at Chapel Hill Denham and GTCO’s Nigerian transaction adviser, said the development is transformational for Nigeria’s capital market.
With the new share listing, GTCO’s total issued and fully paid-up shares now stand at 36,425,229,514 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.
The listing is expected to boost foreign investor confidence, deepen liquidity, and open up further pathways for Nigerian corporates to access international capital markets.
![Five Key Takeaways from Trump-Starmer Meeting in the UK Aylesbury, UK – September 18, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented a united front on major global issues during a joint press conference at Chequers, wrapping up Trump’s three-day visit to the United Kingdom. Despite recent tensions between Washington and European allies, the meeting underscored strong transatlantic ties as the two leaders discussed Ukraine, NATO, Gaza, Afghanistan, and more. 1. Trump Says Putin ‘Let Him Down’ Over Ukraine President Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the prolonged war in Ukraine, admitting he underestimated the challenge of resolving the conflict. “I thought it would be easiest because of my relationship with President Putin, but he’s let me down,” Trump said. PM Starmer reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, vowing to increase pressure on Russia and push for a lasting peace deal. 2. Divergence on Gaza, But Unity Against Hamas While both leaders condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, they differed on the broader approach to the Gaza conflict. Trump avoided criticizing Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which has killed over 65,000 Palestinians, calling October 7 “one of the worst days in the history of humanity.” Starmer's previous pledge to recognize a Palestinian state was noted as a “point of disagreement,” but Trump praised the UK leader’s strong stance against Hamas. 3. Trump Praises NATO and Increased Defense Spending Once a vocal NATO critic, Trump struck a different tone, applauding the alliance’s commitment to boost defense spending. “I want to thank NATO and our wonderful head of NATO, Mark [Rutte]… They’ve done a great job,” he said, highlighting a new pledge for members to spend 5% of GDP on defense. Trump emphasized U.S. support in supplying weapons to NATO allies, stressing that the alliance was now “paying its fair share.” 4. Bagram Airbase Back in Focus Trump hinted at possible negotiations with the Taliban for the U.S. to regain access to the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, which was vacated in 2021 during the Biden administration’s withdrawal. “We’re trying to get it back,” Trump said, citing its strategic location near China’s nuclear facilities. The Taliban, however, quickly dismissed the proposal, stating they welcome engagement with the U.S. but will not allow any foreign military presence. 5. Trump Weighs in on Kimmel Firing Trump also addressed the firing of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel by ABC, following political controversy over remarks involving conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. “Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings… He’s not a talented person,” Trump said, dismissing concerns about free speech and framing the firing as a business decision. Conclusion: The Trump-Starmer meeting reflected a broad effort to reinforce U.S.-UK ties amid ongoing global crises. While areas of disagreement remain, particularly on Middle East policy, both leaders signaled alignment on Ukraine, NATO, and global security cooperation.](https://trendbrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USA-TRUMP-BRITAIN-AND-KEIR-STARMER.webp)
