The Nigerian Stock Exchangeon Mondaymigrated the ordinary shares of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc to its Premium Board, in what capital market analysts describe as an attestation to the Bank’s strong adherence to international best practices on corporate governance.

The Premium Board is the newly created platform for elite companies that meet the most stringent corporate governance and listing standards of the Exchange.

According to the CEO of Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema, UBA Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc and Access Bank Plc were admitted on this elite platform, having fulfilled all the stringent listing requirements for the Premium Board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. It is a platform for showcasing sector leaders, with sound corporate governance.

“Premium Board features companies that adhere to international best practices on corporate governance and meet the Exchange’s highest standards of capitalisation and liquidity,” Onyema said.

According to Onyema, UBA Plc, Lafarge Africa, Seplat and Access Bank have all passed the Corporate Governance Rating System and have a market capitalization of N374.48bn, N391.37bn N378.60bn and N347.12bn respectively.

Onyema added, “Companies on the Board are well-run corporate with sound governance, which is part of the requisite qualification for listing on the Premium Board. These stocks which currently have strong visibility on the Exchange will further appeal to investors seeking to invest in companies with the highest standards of corporate governance. From inception to date, the Premium Board Index continues to outperform the benchmark NSE ASI with the Premium Board recording a total return of 85% percent, compared to the NSE ASI’s return of 42% over the same period.

UBA, Seplat, Lafarge and Access would join Dangote Cement Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, and Zenith International Bank Plc on the Premium Board, bringing the total number of companies on this elite platform to seven.

Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka noted; “the migration of UBA shares to the Premium Board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is well deserved. It is instructive to bring back memories of our pioneer Initial Public Offer (IPO) in the Nigerian banking sector, following our listing on the NSE in 1970. Since then, we have remained committed to the development of the NSE and the broader capital market, through our equity and debt listings, as well as strategic partnerships with the leadership of the Nigerian capital market.