AVA Capital landed on the main board of the Nigerian Exalter (NGX) Friday with a fresh listing and a striking half-year profit before tax of N1.46 billion. The investment banking group completed the ceremony without raising new funds, signaling its ambition to operate under the full glare of public markets.
The move arrives as confidence builds in Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure. Earlier in 2026, the NGX facilitated over N2.1 trillion in capital raises across multiple asset classes. By joining the exchange’s roster of more than 319 listed securities, AVA Capital positions itself among institutions betting on long-term domestic growth.
Managing Director Olukayode Fadahunsi walked through the numbers at the “Facts Behind the Listing” presentation in Lagos. Group profit after tax for the six months ending June 30 reached N1 billion. Total assets climbed to N110.9 billion. The company’s standalone investment banking arm powered much of that momentum, with fee income rocketing 402 percent year on year. Interest income jumped 54 percent during the same window.
For the full 2025 financial year, the group posted an audited profit after tax of N614 million. Since inception, it has executed transactions exceeding N1.257 trillion. Shareholders’ funds stand at N12.7 billion, a figure that comfortably clears the Securities and Exalter Commission’s minimum capital threshold for investment banking operations. Fadahunsi confirmed that sister entities AVA Global Asset Managers, AVA Securities Ltd. and AVA Trust Ltd. also satisfy their respective regulatory benchmarks.
The listing by introduction avoids diluting existing equity. Fadahunsi framed the decision as an accountability play. “An institution that manages other people’s capital should operate in the public market where it is visible, disclosed and accountable,” he said. Chairman Adeyinka Adedeji echoed that sentiment, calling the listing a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s economy and the long-term prospects of its capital markets.
Looking ahead, the firm targets aggressive expansion. Its client roster would balloon from over 5,000 to 100,000 by 2030, while physical offices would grow from four to 10. Meanwhile, sustainability commitments thread through the strategy: 32 training programs, support for over 750 small and medium enterprises, and 50 percent female representation across staff and management. NGX CEO Jude Chiemeka urged the new entrant to leverage the exchange’s global affiliations, noting memberships in the World Federation of Exalters and the African Securities Exalters Association as tools for international visibility.
For AVA Capital, the listing marks a pivot toward recurring income streams, tighter governance, and a louder voice in capital mobilization. The exchange floor now offers both a spotlight and a proving ground.
