Transcorp Jumps 34% to N105bn as Elumelu Consolidates Position

The share price of Transcorp Plc spiked strongly after its chairman, Tony Elumelu, consolidated positions while its power subsidiary received the certificate of discharge post privatisation from the Nigerian government.

Consolidating its chairman’s interest, Last week, Dr. Awele V. Elumelu, wife of billionaire investor Tony Elumelu acquired 2,063,484,991 units of the total shares of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp) at a share price of N3.12 per share.

The purchase was valued at about N6.4 billion, translating to 5.076% of the company shares outstanding, according to the notice submitted to the Nigerian Exchange. At the close of the trading session on Friday, Transcorp Plc’s market valuation jump crossed N105 billion after a record weekly gain.

Its share rose 34%, pushing the year-to-date return to 123.28%. The group’s 40.65 billion shares outstanding were valued at N105.578 billion after sustained positive movement in its market price over the week.

According to the management, Transcorp Power Limited with an installed capacity of 972 megawatts (MW), was presented with a post-privatization discharge certificate by the Federal Government of Nigeria, following fulfillment of all conditions attached to the sales.

Hence, Transcorp Power will no longer be subjected to post-privatization monitoring and is the first privatized power generation company to achieve this milestone since the power sector privatization commenced in 2013, the management said.

One of the key targets set for Transcorp is to achieve a minimum available capacity of 670MW.

The discharge certificate was presented at the meeting of the National Council of Privatisation (NCP) by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of NCP, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Group Chairman, Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp), owner of Transcorp Power.

Commenting on the ceremony, His Excellency said “Post privatization monitoring is an important aspect of the Federal Government’s privatization program.

“Transcorp Power has been able to ensure compliance and surpassed expectations with all post-privatization deliverables. I commend Tony Elumelu and his Transcorp team for this feat. I urge Transcorp Group to continue on that path and even do better. Speaking further, the VP said,

” This being the first, should not be the last post-privatization discharge event.” The Group Chairman, Transcorp, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, thanked the Federal Government for their trust and confidence in Transcorp.

He stated: “In addition to fulfilling the post-privatization performance criteria, Transcorp has driven a strong indigenous agenda – our plants are managed and fully operated by Nigerians, creating jobs and reducing unemployment in the country. Safety is very important to us as well, since we began operations in 2013, we have recorded zero incidents to date”.

Continuing he said, At Transcorp Group, we do well and do good. We have grown together with our Host communities, enriching lives, and improving the community”

Speaking at the Event, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoh congratulated the Board and management of Transcorp for the milestones achieved in turning around the enterprise.

He noted that Transcorp has met and exceeded the performance targets and all other covenanted obligations agreed upon during the signing of the privatization agreement in 2013. He said “Transcorp Power increased the generation capacity of the plant by 227% from the operational status as of handover in 2013.

Speaking further, he said capital expenditure totaling N58.612bn was covenanted for phase1, phase 2 as ‘additional investment’ but the actual investment made by Transcorp was the sum of N83.85bn, leading up to a score of 143%.”

Transnational Corporation Plc acquired Ughelli Power Plc (now Transcorp Power Limited) from the Federal Government of Nigeria on 1 November 2013 during the privatization of the power sector. At the time of acquisition, the plant had an available capacity of 160MW.

Transcorp invested and increased the available capacity to 680.83MW (a 227% increase) within 4 years of the takeover, surpassing the 5-year target of 670MW set by the Bureau of Public Enterprises. Transcorp Power Limited is a member of the West African Power Pool and a participant in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market.

Today, Transcorp Power supplies electricity to the ECOWAS Regional Market. Transcorp Power is a leading power generation plant in Nigeria, with a commitment to developing Nigerian human capital and the plant is currently operated 100% by Nigerians.

In 2020, Transcorp Group increased its installed capacity to 2,000MW with the acquisition of Afam Power Plc and Afam III Fast Power Ltd, located in Rivers State.

Our mission is to improve lives, and we are leading the way in energy generation for millions of people in Nigeria and Africa.  Visit www.transcorppower.com for more.

Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) is a publicly quoted conglomerate, with a diversified shareholder base of approximately 300,000.

“Our portfolio comprises strategic investments in the power, hospitality, and oil and gas sectors.  Our businesses include Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar, Transcorp Power, Transafam Power, and Transcorp Energy”, management said in a statement.