Company News

Why Toyota Retains Lead in Car Sales Globally Amidst Chip Shortages

Published

2 years ago

January 28, 2022

Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota on Friday said its vehicle car sales in 2021 surged by 10.1 percent, beating German counterpart, Volkswagen and Electric Vehicle, Tesla to having the highest sales record in the world.

Maintaining the top sales record for two years in a row, Toyota Motor Co. stated that it sold 10.5 million vehicles in 2021, including those by affiliates Daihatsu Motors and Hino Motors. That is 5 percent fewer than the number sold in 2020, its lowest sales figures in 10 years, and more than 8.88 million vehicles delivered by Volkswagen AG within the same year.

Toyota clinched the position for the first time in five years in 2020, with CEO, Akio Toyoda describing the company’s operations unit as higher than that of the EV, Tesla.

Toyoda said, “What we have and what Tesla doesn’t have is the units in operation more than 100 million vehicles out in the world.”

The company still records success despite disruptions which include the pandemic, shortages in semiconductor chips supply and a large competitive market.

Many car manufacturers in Asia and especially Europe have had to reduce output in 2021 especially due to the shortage of semiconductor chips used in vehicles for critical functions, such as sensing, safety features, power management, displays and control.

According to analysts at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the impact of the chip shortages, created by pandemic-related shutdowns of factories in the Far East, is expected to reduce later this year. The problem may likely continue up till 2023, they said.

Investors King learnt that one reason the Japanese car maker has an upper hand could be as a result of the presence of top chip manufacturing company, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Japan. Also, electronic manufacturers in Asian countries like China and South Korea, including Taiwan produce more semiconductors than any region in the world.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the TSMC announced that it will build a chip manufacturing plant in Japan to boost its production levels during the global semiconductor shortage that’s affecting industries of all types.

Although Toyota’s sales soared last year, the company has said it may likely fall short of a production target of 9 million vehicles in the business year that ends on March 31st because of disruptions linked to COVID-19. The company is also set to release its third-quarter earnings on Feb 9, this year.

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Company News

Flour Mills of Nigeria Repays N51.64 Billion Series 2 Commercial Paper

Published

4 days ago

December 7, 2023

Investors King

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has successfully repaid its N51.64 billion Series 2 Commercial Paper as revealed in a statement issued by the company.

This follows the earlier repayment of its N13.33 billion Series 1 Commercial Paper in August 2023.

Both the Series 1 and Series 2 Commercial Papers, totaling N64.97 billion, were initially issued on February 22, 2023, under FMN’s N200 billion Commercial Paper Programme.

The Series 1, with a yield of 13.0%, raised N13.3 billion, while the Series 2, with a yield of 14.0%, raised N51.64 billion.

FMN had launched its N200 billion Commercial Paper Programme on February 10, 2023, reflecting the company’s strategic financial planning.

The Group Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Anders Kristiansson, expressed satisfaction with the timely and successful repayment of the Series 2 Commercial Paper.

He emphasized FMN’s commitment to financial prudence and acknowledged the confidence placed in the organization by the investing public.

Kristiansson expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their continuous support, reiterating FMN’s dedication to delivering sustainable value and upholding the highest standards of corporate governance.

In addition to the successful repayment, FMN tapped into the market for its Series 3 Commercial Paper in June 2023, with subscriptions from banks and Pension Fund Administrators, contributing 39.7% and 40.8%, respectively.

The transaction was managed by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited as the Lead Arranger, with ChapelHill Denham Advisory Limited, FCMB Capital Limited, and United Capital PLC serving as Joint Arrangers.

Company News

SpaceX Explores $175 Billion Valuation in Insider Share Sale Talks

Published

4 days ago

December 7, 2023

Investors King

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly in discussions about initiating a tender offer that values the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company at $175 billion or more.

According to insiders familiar with the matter, the most valuable US startup is contemplating a tender offer ranging between $500 million and $750 million.

Sources suggest that SpaceX is evaluating the possibility of offering shares at approximately $95 per share, with the terms and size of the tender offer subject to change based on the level of interest from potential insider sellers and buyers.

If the $175 billion valuation is realized, it would mark a notable increase from the $150 billion valuation obtained through a tender offer earlier this summer.

This elevated valuation would position SpaceX among the world’s 75 largest companies by market capitalization, comparable to industry giants such as T-Mobile USA Inc., Nike Inc., and China Mobile.

SpaceX, known formally as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., dominates the commercial space launch services market with its Falcon rockets and operates the Starlink service, which provides internet from space via a growing constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit.

With anticipated revenues of about $9 billion in 2023, projected to rise to approximately $15 billion in 2024, SpaceX’s strategic moves, including a potential initial public offering for Starlink, underscore the company’s ambitious plans and strong market position.

Representatives for SpaceX have not yet responded to requests for comment on these recent developments.

Merger and Acquisition

Bitmama Inc. Acquires Payday, Expanding Fintech Footprint in Nigeria

Published

6 days ago

December 5, 2023

Investors King

Nigeria’s blockchain payments platform Bitmama Inc. has successfully acquired Payday, a virtual card service provider.

The acquisition, facilitated through Bitmama’s cross-border payments product, Changera, signals a pivotal shift in the industry and consolidated the blockchain payment platform by acquiring 100% of Payday’s customer base.

Launched in 2021, Changera is set to absorb key personnel from Payday, spanning various departments like marketing, customer service, and engineering.

While specific details of the financial terms remain undisclosed, a source close to the matter revealed that the acquisition process is approximately “85% complete.”

For the over 300,000 customers formerly under Payday’s purview, the transition to Changera’s care promises a seamless experience, with minimal noticeable changes.

Despite Payday CEO Favour Ori’s integration into Bitmama’s team remaining uncertain, Changera is well-positioned with an established leadership and a robust technical team.

A senior member of Bitmama’s management assured that Payday’s brand will persist but will now operate under the broader umbrella of Changera, supported by its stablecoin infrastructure.

This integration aims to address operational challenges faced by Payday, such as industry-wide charge-back fraud, disruptions in Mastercard services, and the departure of senior team members.

Post-acquisition, Bitmama plans to embark on an ambitious roadmap, including the development of a new solution enhancing foreign exchange (FX) transactions for African businesses.

Anticipated for launch in Q1 2024, this solution aims to facilitate smoother and more efficient B2B cross-border financial interactions.

The acquisition of Payday by Bitmama aligns with the broader trend of strategic consolidations within the fintech industry, reflecting a pattern where companies seek partnerships and acquisitions to overcome market challenges and scale operations.

This move mirrors similar strategic consolidations, including the acquisition of Chaka by Risevest in September 2023, underscoring the industry’s drive towards collaborative growth.