Finance

MTN to go Ahead With Nigeria Listing

Published

7 years ago

August 8, 2017

MTN to go Ahead With Nigeria Listing

MTN Group has confirmed it will proceed with plans to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over the coming months up to 2018.

The mobile operator presented an improved performance over the past six months in its interim financial results, despite what it described as challenging macro-economic conditions in many of its markets “with Nigeria, continuing to experience weaker naira as well as hard currency liquidity challenges.”

Its Group President and CEO, Rob Shuter, who assumed office in March this year, said the 6.7 per cent rise in group revenue (underpinned by a 10.8 per cent growth in revenue for Nigeria) is a good start to the year.

“I think we have made good progress and we have set out very clearly what we are asking of ourselves. We also need to get better at managing the kind of big issues and events that really come with managing a large number of complex geographies. I think we have made a respectable star,” he said.

According to ITWeb, the telco said its Nigerian business is continuing to make progress with preparations to list on the NSE and should have the task completed in 2018 subject to market conditions.

The telco added that Nigeria is also the market it has chosen along with South Africa for the rollout of its operational execution programme called Project IGNITE.

MTN’s Net Promoter Score, which measures the likelihood of customers to recommend a company’s products or services, stands at 13 per cent in Nigeria – although it is much higher in the telco’s other key markets including Iran (33 per cent) and South Africa (75 per cent).

Its Group Chief Financial Officer, Ralph Mupita, said the use of constant currency to measure financial performance provides a better visibility of the underlying operating performance of MTN.

“If you look at all our operations across the 23 markets relative to the rand over the period, they have all weakened and so the first major impact of this is that you will see that our reported results are lower than our constant currency results if you look at revenue, EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation) and other main KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) particularly in Nigeria, where the weaker naira has had a significant impact on network opex (operation expenditure) and has resulted in lower margins as you will have seen at the end of December 2016,” he said.

While Nigeria EBITDA declined 15 per cent over the six months to 30 June in rand terms, driven by the naira devaluation and network opex according to Mupita, MTN reported service revenue growth of 11 per cent in the country over the same period.

Overall MTN, experienced a 3.6 per cent drop in subscribers to 231,8 million over the six month period, with Nigeria and Ghana recording the biggest drop. The number of MTN subscribers in Nigeria has decreased by 14.3 per cent to 53.1 million.

Shuter emphasised the telco’s unshaken belief in the potential of its Nigeria business which has historically been its most profitable market.

“One of the challenges for the Nigerian economy is that it is very much resource focused unlike South Africa which is a much more diversified economy, but things are looking better. Even though the oil price has not moved much, the production has increased, we see some lift coming back into the market; we are seeing more availability of foreign exchange for the kinds of things that we need to do there. Our revenues were up 11 per cent, data is up 70 per cent. It is a vibrant market and I think MTN is well placed there. I’ve actually been encouraged by our performance there in the last couple of quarters. I think things will look a lot better going forward,” Shutter said.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Banking Sector

UBA, Access Holdings, and FBN Holdings Lead Nigerian Banks in Electronic Banking Revenue

Published

18 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Samed Olukoya

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Access Holdings Plc, and FBN Holdings Plc have emerged as frontrunners in electronic banking revenue among the country’s top financial institutions.

Data revealed that these banks led the pack in income from electronic banking services throughout the 2023 fiscal year.

UBA reported the highest electronic banking income of N125.5 billion in 2023, up from N78.9 billion recorded in the previous year.

Similarly, Access Holdings grew electronic banking revenue from N59.6 billion in the previous year to N101.6 billion in the year under review.

FBN Holdings also experienced an increase in electronic banking revenue from N55 billion in 2022 to N66 billion.

The rise in electronic banking revenue underscores the pivotal role played by these banks in facilitating digital financial transactions across Nigeria.

As the nation embraces digitalization and transitions towards cashless transactions, these banks have capitalized on the growing demand for electronic banking services.

Tesleemah Lateef, a bank analyst at Cordros Securities Limited, attributed the increase in electronic banking income to the surge in online transactions driven by the cashless policy implemented in the first quarter of 2023.

The policy incentivized individuals and businesses to conduct more transactions through digital channels, resulting in a substantial uptick in electronic banking revenue.

Furthermore, the combined revenue from electronic banking among the top 10 Nigerian banks surged to N427 billion from N309 billion, reflecting the industry’s robust growth trajectory in digital financial services.

The impressive performance of UBA, Access Holdings, and FBN Holdings underscores their strategic focus on leveraging technology to enhance customer experience and drive financial inclusion.

By investing in digital payment infrastructure and promoting digital payments among their customers, these banks have cemented their position as industry leaders in the rapidly evolving landscape of electronic banking in Nigeria.

As the Central Bank of Nigeria continues to promote digital payments and reduce the country’s dependence on cash, banks are poised to further capitalize on the opportunities presented by the digital economy.

Loans

Nigeria’s $2.25 Billion Loan Request to Receive Final Approval from World Bank in June

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Nigeria’s $2.25 billion loan request is expected to receive final approval from the World Bank in June.

The loan, consisting of $1.5 billion in Development Policy Financing and $750 million in Programme-for-Results Financing, aims to bolster Nigeria’s developmental efforts.

Finance Minister Wale Edun hailed the loan as a “free lunch,” highlighting its favorable terms, including a 40-year term, 10 years of moratorium, and a 1% interest rate.

Edun highlighted the loan’s quasi-grant nature, providing substantial financial support to Nigeria’s economic endeavors.

While the loan request awaits formal approval in June, Edun revealed that the World Bank’s board of directors had already greenlit the credit, currently undergoing processing.

The loan signifies a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s economic resilience and strategic response to global challenges, as showcased during the recent Spring Meetings.

Nigeria’s delegation, led by Edun, underscored the nation’s commitment to addressing economic obstacles and leveraging international partnerships for sustainable development.

With the impending approval of the $2.25 billion loan, Nigeria looks poised to embark on transformative initiatives, buoyed by crucial financial backing from the World Bank.

Banking Sector

FMBN Set for Commercialization to Improve Affordable Mortgage Financing

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Samed Olukoya

In a bid to bolster housing delivery efficiency and enhance affordable mortgage financing for Nigerians, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) is gearing up for commercialization.

This move comes as part of the Nigerian government’s efforts to address the housing deficit and ensure adequate shelter for its citizens.

The Managing Director of FMBN, Shehu Osidi, made this announcement during a courtesy visit by the Federal Housing Delivery Reforms Task Team at the bank’s headquarters in Abuja.

Led by Mr. Adedeji Adesemoye and Brig. Gen. Tunde Reis, the task team discussed strategies to revitalize the housing sector, with a focus on FMBN’s pivotal role in providing affordable mortgage financing.

Osidi explained the bank’s commitment to supporting the government’s agenda of reforming and improving the housing sector, which is vital for sustainable development and enhancing citizens’ quality of life.

He underscored FMBN’s significant journey in the history of mortgage and housing finance in Nigeria and expressed optimism about the forthcoming commercialization process.

The commercialization plan involves repositioning and recapitalization efforts, following extensive engagements with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

Osidi stressed the importance of aligning the bank’s operations with its mandate of affordable mortgage financing, ensuring that it remains a reliable partner in the quest for accessible housing solutions.

As part of its strategic blueprint, FMBN has prioritized various initiatives to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.

Of note is the ICT project aimed at upgrading core banking applications that is almost complete and promised to revolutionize customers’ experience.

Also, amendments to the FMBN and NFH Acts are underway in the National Assembly, addressing key areas to facilitate the bank’s transformation.

Despite challenges, including performance issues with estate development loans, FMBN is determined to overcome obstacles and achieve its objectives.

The commercialization plan aligns with broader efforts to deepen reforms and foster a remarkable turnaround in the housing sector.

By focusing on process automation, cost efficiency, credit quality enhancement, and strategic partnerships, FMBN aims to catalyze sustainable growth and address the nation’s housing needs effectively.

Chairman of the Federal Housing Reforms Task Team, Adedeji Adesomoye, reiterated the committee’s mandate to review the operations and governance structures of key housing institutions.

With ambitious targets set by the government, including the construction of 20,000 housing units in 2024 and 50,000 units in subsequent years, the commercialization of FMBN marks a pivotal step towards realizing Nigeria’s housing aspirations.

As the commercialization process unfolds, FMBN stands poised to play a central role in facilitating access to affordable mortgage financing, thereby contributing to the realization of homeownership dreams for millions of Nigerians.