Capital Market

Govts, Businesses Raise N4.6 Trillion from Capital Market in Five months

Published

3 years ago

May 31, 2021

Nigerian governments and companies have raised some N4.6 trillion in new capital from the capital market so far this year, already more than 100 per cent above the total capital raising recorded for the whole of 2020.

Preliminary report at the weekend at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited indicated that the Exchange has facilitated more than N4.6 trillion so far this year. The capital raising cut across several asset classes including debts and equities and from several issuers including the Federal Government, state governments and companies.

The Federal Government has sustained the monthly issuance of its Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bonds (FGNSBs) in addition to other intermittent debt issuances. The government, at the weekend, listed two tranches of savings bonds worth N700.5 million on the NGX. The savings bonds were issued in May.

A breakdown of the fund-raising entities showed five broad categories – Federal Government, state governments, quoted companies, fund management finds and special purpose vehicles (SPVs).

Also, a breakdown of the capital raising by issuers showed that the Federal Government accounted for the largest part of the new issues.

Other public sector issuers included Lagos State and Kogi State governments. Corporate issuers included BUA Cement, Fidelity Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Transcorp Hotel and Sunu Assurances Plc.

The report also showed many maiden issues by companies, including debt issuances by Me cure Industries and Emzor Pharmaceuticals.

The latest report further illustrated that the capital market has continued to provide critical funding in debts and equities to governments and companies, after the market braced the COVID-19 lockdowns and disruptions in 2020 to pool more than N2 trillion funding.

Last year, issuers or fund-raising entities had included sovereign issuances by the Federal Government, sub-national issuances by the Ondo State Government, debts and equities raising by several quoted companies, including Dangote Cement, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Coronation Insurance, formerly Wapic Insurance, International Breweries and Golden Guinea Breweries.

Other corporate issuers in 2020 included Abbey Mortgage Bank, C & I Leasing, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC), United Capital, AIICO Insurance, Red Star Express and Interswitch Africa One. Investment management companies such as ARM Investment Managers and Meristem Wealth Management also launched new collective investment schemes.

The market had, particularly, provided innovative finance through SPVs to support key infrastructural development and corporate restructuring. These included issuances such as Axxela Funding 1, LAPO MFB SPV, FBNQ MB Funding SPV and Primero BRT Securitisation SPV.

Despite the pandemic, the market has seen many landmark transactions since 2020, including maiden bond issue by Nigeria’s largest quoted company and Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest cement company, which floated a N100 billion bond, the largest single corporate bond issue in the capital market.

Also, International Breweries, the Nigerian subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), had in 2020 raised N164.39 billion through a rights issue, reported to be the largest right issue and a major indirect capital injection by a foreign investor in a Nigerian company.

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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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Capital Market

Nigerian Breweries to Raise N600 Billion to Tackle Foreign Exchange Debt

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Nigerian Breweries Plc, the largest brewery in Nigeria, has announced plans to N600 billion through a rights issue, with the primary objective of clearing its N500 billion foreign exchange debt burden.

This initiative was unveiled by Uaboi Agbebaku, the company’s secretary and legal director, during a pre-annual general meeting press conference held in Lagos.

Agbebaku stated that Nigerian Breweries is committed to implementing a comprehensive company-wide reorganization strategy to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for all stakeholders.

“The additional capital raised via rights issue will be utilized to settle all overdue foreign exchange debts and payables, effectively eliminating foreign exchange exposure,” Agbebaku explained.

He further highlighted the importance of strengthening the company’s balance sheet and liquidity position to restore profitability in the shortest possible time frame.

Hans Essaadi, the managing director and CEO of Nigerian Breweries, echoed Agbebaku’s sentiments, acknowledging the challenging operating environment characterized by factors such as double-digit inflation rates, currency devaluation, and foreign exchange challenges.

Essaadi emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues to mitigate their adverse impact on the company’s financial performance.

To achieve its objectives, Nigerian Breweries intends to leverage the support of its majority shareholder, Heineken Plc, which has committed to contributing over 50 percent of the N600 billion fundraising target.

This partnership underscores the strategic importance of the rights issue in revitalizing Nigerian Breweries’ financial health and positioning it for sustainable growth.

As part of its broader business restructuring efforts, Nigerian Breweries had previously announced plans to temporarily suspend operations at two of its nine breweries.

Sade Morgan, the director of corporate affairs at Nigerian Breweries, explained that the company is committed to executing its 2024 business recovery plan, which comprises cost management, operational optimization, and portfolio innovation.

“Our strategy for success in 2024 revolves around strong cost management, operational efficiency, and the introduction of exciting innovations to delight our customers,” Morgan stated.

“We remain dedicated to our employees, communities, and stakeholders as we navigate through these challenging times.”

With the proposed rights issue, Nigerian Breweries aims to not only alleviate its foreign exchange debt burden but also to fortify its financial resilience and drive sustainable growth in the dynamic Nigerian market.

Capital Market

Royal Exchange Plc Rights Issue Falls Short, Closes at 75.83%”

Published

1 week ago

April 15, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Royal Exchange Plc, a leading player in life assurance, health insurance, and credit financing, recently concluded its rights issue with a subscription rate of 75.83%, indicating a shortfall in investor uptake.

The rights issue aimed at raising capital through the issuance of additional ordinary shares saw only a portion of the offered shares subscribed by existing shareholders.

According to the weekly report of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, an additional 3,121,328,866 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were listed on the market, resulting from the completion of Royal Exchange’s rights issue.

This falls short of the total intended issuance of 4,116,296,059 ordinary shares at a price of N0.50 per share.

Despite the lower-than-expected subscription rate, Royal Exchange remains optimistic about its future prospects.

The company’s unaudited 2023 report revealed significant growth in earned income, soaring by 253% to N882.32 million compared to the previous year.

This boost in earnings was attributed to increases in net interest income and profits from investments in associates, totaling N591.55 million.

Also, Royal Exchange reported a profit of N46.09 million for the year 2023, a stark turnaround from the loss of N150.47 million recorded in 2022.

The company’s restructuring efforts, with a focus on asset management, have contributed to its improved financial performance.

Despite the shortfall in its rights issue, Royal Exchange Plc remains committed to its growth trajectory, leveraging its strengthened financial position to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the insurance and financial services sectors.

Capital Market

Fast Credit CEO Emeka Iloelunachi Proudly Announces Seamless Redemption of Series 2 Commercial Paper

Published

4 months ago

December 12, 2023

Investors King

Fast Credit Limited’s Chief Executive Officer, Emeka Iloelunachi, proudly announced the successful redemption of the Series 2 Commercial Paper Issuance in a statement released on Monday.

This achievement marks another significant milestone for the financial institution, reinforcing its reputation for fiscal resilience and adherence to sound financial practices.

The Series 2 Commercial Paper, a pivotal element in Fast Credit’s diversified financing strategy, was efficiently redeemed, underlining the company’s meticulous financial planning and disciplined execution.

The payout, executed seamlessly on November 30, reflects the company’s dedication to transparency and accountability.

Fast Credit has consistently demonstrated its commitment to meeting financial obligations punctually, fostering trust and confidence among investors and stakeholders alike.

Investors who participated in the Series 2 Commercial Paper Issuance on June 5, 2023, received their payout, further solidifying Fast Credit’s position as a reliable investment choice.

The timely redemption underscores the company’s ability to navigate the complexities of the financial landscape and strategically manage its debt instruments.

Emeka Iloelunachi expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to announce the successful payout of our Series 2 Commercial Paper Issuance. This achievement reflects not only the strength of our business but also the dedication of our team and the trust our investors place in us. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency.”

The redemption of the Series 2 Commercial Paper adds to the positive narrative surrounding Fast Credit’s financial performance, enhancing its reputation within the financial markets.

This triumph resonates not only within the company but also across the broader community of investors, analysts, and stakeholders closely monitoring Fast Credit’s financial trajectory.

Fast Credit’s ability to deliver on its financial commitments reinforces its position as a leading financial institution and sets a benchmark for excellence in the industry.

As the company continues its trajectory of success, investor confidence remains buoyant, signaling a positive outlook for Fast Credit in the competitive financial landscape.