MTN CEO Designate, Karl Toriola Acquires Shares Worth Over N41 million

Mr. Karl Toriola, the CEO designate of Nigeria’s telecommunication behemoth, MTN Nigeria Plc, has acquired 253,982 ordinary shares of MTN Nigeria, worth over N41 million.

This information was made available Monday, 4 January in a Notification of Share Dealing by Insiders, issued and signed by the Company Secretary, Mrs Uto Ukpanah.

According to the information disclosed, the CEO designate of MTN Nigeria PLC acquired 253,982 ordinary shares of the largest telecommunication company in Africa on 31 December 2020.

The purchase of the shares was made over a spread of three deals/transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, at an average price pegged at N162.96, over the course of the transactions.

At this price, the total consideration for the 253,982 shares purchased by Toriola is put at N41,388,906.72

Dealings by insiders of listed companies are corporate actions to be disclosed, as required by the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

This is in compliance with the exchange policy on insider dealing, as the disclosure is key in the effort to ensure transparency and reinforce the trust of the investing public.

Toriola’s purchase of the shares of MTN Nigeria Plc shows the confidence the incoming CEO has in the fundamental strengths of the company, as well as the valuation of the company in 2021 and beyond, despite the stemming regulatory tensions spiked by the Federal Government’s moves to profile all active mobile phone subscribers, which may affect the profit of the company which was pressured in 2020.

The Management of MTN Nigeria announced the appointment of Toriola as the CEO designate in October 2020.

His appointment as the CEO will become effective 19 March 2021, providing enough time for an orderly handover by Mr Ferdinand Moolman, the current CEO.