- Highlights transparency, collaboration as drivers of investor confidence
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja - Seplat Energy Plc has recognized sturdy company governance, transparency and stakeholder collaboration as crucial to unlocking structured financing alternatives for Nigerian companies, urging corporations to embrace world greatest practices to appeal to funding and maintain progress.
- The firm’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Director, Eleanor Adaralegbe, acknowledged this on the Olaniwun Ajayi Structured Finance Roundtable in Lagos, the place she highlighted how Seplat’s governance framework, administration credibility and clear engagement with financiers had helped it appeal to capital to assist its enlargement.
Speaking throughout a panel session themed, “From Theory to Transactions: Overcoming Barriers and Scaling Structured Finance in the Nigerian Market,” Adaralegbe mentioned investor confidence depended largely on the credibility of an organization’s management and the energy of its governance buildings. - “I think one of the most fundamental things for the success of structured financing is the management team. The role of a management team is unbelievable. I’ve found in my journey with the company that this has been one area where a lot of people have invested in us because they believe in the management team,” she mentioned.
She defined that Seplat approached financing establishments as companions, prioritising transparency and a shared understanding of its enterprise targets somewhat than merely presenting proposals to safe approvals. - “At Seplat, we work with financiers as partners. We don’t try to package a deal so that they can approve it. We work with them to ensure there’s a general understanding of what we’re trying to achieve, and we carry them along in our process,” she mentioned.
According to her, the corporate’s dedication to sound governance, disciplined monetary administration and worldwide reporting requirements had helped it set up lasting relationships with lenders, traders and regulators, strengthening its entry to native and worldwide capital. - Adaralegbe maintained that governance ought to be seen as a strategic enterprise benefit somewhat than merely a compliance requirement, notably for corporations searching for long-term financing for main investments.
“The quality of our governance, the strength of our management team and our willingness to engage openly with stakeholders have enabled us to build credibility in the market. Governance is not just a compliance exercise; it is a strategic enabler that gives investors and lenders confidence to support long-term growth,” she mentioned.
She additionally credited Seplat’s twin itemizing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the London Stock Exchange with strengthening its institutional processes and investor confidence.
According to her, complying with the necessities of each markets instilled larger self-discipline within the firm’s operations, notably in governance and disclosure.
“The regulators and listing authorities helped shape us as a company because we had to meet listing requirements in both Nigeria and London. There was a discipline that we had to build into how we operated as a business, and that really helped us,” she mentioned.
Adaralegbe added that the stringent governance and disclosure obligations related to its London itemizing had been notably helpful in constructing the corporate’s institutional capability.
She additionally counseled the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for supporting innovation and capital formation, noting that engagement with the regulator had helped Seplat pursue a number of initiatives over time.
In his remarks, the Director General of the SEC, Emomotimi Agama, who delivered the keynote tackle on the roundtable, equally known as for larger cooperation amongst regulators, authorized practitioners, issuers, traders and different market individuals to deepen Nigeria’s capital markets and develop structured financing.
Agama mentioned collaboration was mandatory to tackle regulatory challenges, enhance the working atmosphere and develop financing options able to supporting financial progress.
“We must work together. There is nothing wrong with our law firms identifying challenges in regulation and proposing ways to improve the regulatory framework. We must make this market better together because it is for the benefit of all of us,” he mentioned.
He reaffirmed the fee’s dedication to defending traders whereas encouraging innovation, stressing that an acceptable stability between regulation and market growth was important to the credibility and progress of Nigeria’s structured finance market.
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