Reports

VFD Group Q3 profit surges 61% as rights issue fuels next phase of growth

VFD Group Plc has released its nine-month (Q3 2025) unaudited financial results, showing 61 percent surge in profit before tax (PBT) and an impressive 49 percent year-on-year growth in operating income.

The result reflects cost efficiency gains and margin expansion for the principal investment firm dedicated to building Africa’s ecosystem value chain.

Profit Before Tax for the period ended September 30, 2025, stood at N7.99 billion, compared to Q3 2024 which stood at N4.95 billion, reinforcing sustainability of earnings and its return to shareholders.

VFD Group sustained strong momentum in Q3 2025, reflecting continued focus on value optimisation and portfolio enhancement in line with our drive to build a sustainable and scalable investment ecosystem.

Read also: VFD Group says N50.67bn Rights Issue to strengthen capital base, boost investment

The Group’s Debt-to-Equity ratio improved to 1.68x (FY 2024: 2.07x), reflecting consistent accretion of internally generated capital and prudent balance sheet management.

The ongoing Rights Issue is expected to further strengthen the capital position and overall balance. More so, the proceeds of the Rights Issue would help to deleverage the balance sheet, reduce funding costs, and ultimately enhance earnings growth and profitability.

Gross earnings rose 35 percent to N60.72 billion, while net investment income grew 45 percent, driven by robust subsidiary performance and disciplined capital deployment.

Operating profit increased 66 percent, supported by enhanced efficiency and cost optimisation, while operating cashflow turned positive at N12.21 billion, underscoring improved earnings quality and disciplined asset-liability management practice.

The Group’s balance sheet remained resilient, with total assets up 30 percent to N383.39 billion and shareholders’ equity rising 29 percent to N71.50 billion, reflecting business expansion and prudent capital management.

Read also: VFD Group Explores Strategic Expansion Into Southern Africa

Across VFD Group subsidiaries and portfolio of associate/investee companies, it continued to create symbiotic opportunities, unlocking inherent value and strengthening overall returns to shareholders.

Looking ahead to Q4 and beyond, VFD Group is focused on executing its rights issue, advancing its strategic expansion plan, and scaling growth initiatives.

Nonso Okpala, Group Managing Director, VFD Group, said, “Our third quarter results reflect the compounding effect of disciplined execution: operational efficiency and effectiveness of our strategy. As we optimise our capital allocation and consolidate on our unique position to build a sustainable ecosystem, we are, more than ever, optimistic about our portfolio, with stylised exposure to key growth sectors. The diversification of our portfolio offers a unique blend of growth and resilience, especially as we increasingly leverage scale and scope economies to enhance the group’s profitability and overall returns to shareholders.”

He further noted, “Notwithstanding the complex environment, our cost-efficient strategy proved invaluable, as the cost-to-income ratio moderated 700 basis points to 30.4 percent. We are consolidating on our stronger footing to fund only the best risk-adjusted opportunities, deploying our capital and liquidity towards assets capable of generating alpha returns. Most notably, the Bvndle Rewards Festival, as our fintech and loyalty subsidiary, Bvndle, continues to demonstrate strong growth momentum and unicorn potential within our portfolio.”

Read also: VFD Group fully redeems its N4.24bn series 4 Commercial Paper issue

Folajimi Adeleye, Executive Director, Finance and Investor Relations, VFD Group, also note,d “Our Q3 2025 results underscore the effectiveness of our strategy, highlighted by a 65.8 percent year-on-year surge in operating profit and a 61.4 percent rise in profit-before-tax, reflecting strong cost efficiency gains and margin expansion.”

“We are committed to financial prudence, as evidenced by the improvement in our Debt-to-Equity ratio of 1.68x. The ongoing rights issue will further solidify our capital base, support deleveraging, and position us for sustained, profitable growth,” Adeleye said.