UBA Holds Statutory Provision against 9mobile Loan

• UBA Holds Statutory Provision against 9mobile Loan

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Tuesday explained that it has always maintained a statutory prudential provision of two per cent against its exposure to 9mobile.

A source at the bank explained that the statutory prudential provision has always been on the loan to the troubled network provider.

The lender, however, said it had a N38 billion ($125 million) exposure to 9mobile.

UBA said the exposure was secured, and part of a syndicated loan with 12 other banks extended to Etisalat Nigeria four years ago.

“We have taken a general loan loss provision on Etisalat,” Reuters quoted UBA’s Chief Executive, Kennedy Uzoka to have told analysts call.

“It’s instructive to note that Etisalat has reasonably turned around in terms of subscribers and revenues,” he said, adding that the bank was one of the lenders managing its receivables.

Zenith Bank said this month it had made a 30 percent provision on its loan to 9mobile, the country’s fourth-largest telecoms group.

Uzoka said Nigeria is its largest market, but that he expects the bank’s African operation to contribute about 50 percent to group earnings over the medium term from 32 percent in the first half of the year.

He said the lender had applied to British regulators for a banking license.

UBA shares, which have gained 114 percent so far this year, dipped 0.52 percent to N9.58 on Tuesday.