United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) successfully raised $500 million, though a debut Eurobond, which was 240 per cent over-subscribed. The significant investor demand reflects the strong global investor appetite for UBA’s credit and support for the Group’s pan-African financial services strategy. The Global Offering is a five-year senior unsecured benchmark bond (144A/Reg S) listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and will further support the Group’s strategic vision, as it continues to grow its franchise across the continent and client segments.
The bond, which is rated by both Fitch (B, stable outlook) and S&P (B, stable outlook), matures in June 2022 and was issued with a coupon rate of 7.75%, priced at an effective yield of 7.875%. This pricing is seen by the global investor community as the best possible pricing for a debut issue from a financial institution of Nigerian origin in current markets. The pricing was at par to the recent bond issue by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which issued USD1 billion in March 2017.
Investor interest was global, including the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US. Speaking on the offering, the Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka stated: “This successful dollar-denominated offering further illustrates global investor confidence in the strong fundamentals of our Group. The USD500 million bond will complement our stable funding base and support the growth of our balance sheet and the overall business. More importantly, this medium-term funding will further enhance our strength in financing profitable, impactful projects on the African continent.” Also commenting on the Eurobond, the Group CFO, Mr. Ugo Nwaghodoh said: “UBA’s debut global offering is another milestone for us. It is timely in the Group’s growth phase and aligns with our strategic plan to profitably grow the balance sheet, as we maintain our prudent risk management and benchmark asset quality ratios.”
The Nigerian Stock Exchange market capitalisation gained N87bn at the close of trading on the floor of the bourse as 46 stocks recorded appreciations.
The market continued its bullish trend, advancing further by 0.77 per cent, to settle the year-to-date return at 22.56 per cent. Aside of the 46 gainers, 14 losers emerged.
Similarly, the volume and market value of transactions advanced by 5.82 per cent and 18.8 per cent, accordingly.
A total of 528.692 million shares worth N4.84bn exchanged hands in 5,603 deals. The NSE capitalisation appreciated to N11.386tn from N11.299tn, as the All-Share Index closed at 32,937.98 basis points from 32,686.72 basis points.
Forte Oil Plc topped the gainers’ list, advancing by 10.22 per cent, to close at N58.33, while International Breweries Plc sustained its gains and appreciated by 10.21 per cent owing to the announcement of its merger plans.
On the top gainers’ list also were Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and Dangote Flour Plc, which appreciated by 10.15 per cent, 10.14 per cent and 10.13 per cent, accordingly.
However, Jaiz Bank Plc topped the losers’ table, depreciating by 4.71 per cent to close at N0.81. In the same vein, Golden Guinea Breweries Plc, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and Wapic Insurance Plc recorded declines of 4.71 per cent, 4.67 per cent, 4.05 per cent and 3.64 per cent, respectively.
At the close of trading, all the NSE sector indices closed positive, save for the NSE Industry and NSE Insurance indices, which declined by one per cent and 0.23 per cent, respectively.
“Although there was profit taking on large-cap counters (Dangote Cement Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc), positive investor sentiments ruled the day. We expect the market to close positive week on week,” analysts at Meristem Securities Limited said in a post.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced the commencement of a global offering of Nigeria’s first Diaspora Bond.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the DMO made this known in a statement. It said that the nation had filed a registration statement for the bonds with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
It said that application would be made for the bonds to be admitted to the official list of the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange Plc.
The office said this was to ensure that the bonds were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s regulated market.
“The bonds will be direct general obligations of Nigeria and will be denominated in U.S. dollars. “The international Joint Lead Managers are Bank of America Merrill Lynch and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited.
“The Nigerian Joint Lead Managers are First Bank of Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa Plc,’’ it said.
It said there would be a series of investor meetings in the UK, the U. S. and Switzerland from June 13.
The office said that pricing was expected to occur following the investor meetings and subject to market conditions. It said that Diaspora bond was used to raise funds from Nigerians in the Diaspora to finance capital projects and provide an opportunity for them to participate in the development of the country.
As part of measures to fund capital expenditures, the Federal Government had in February announced its offering of one billion dollars euro bond under its newly-established one billion dollars Global Medium Term Note programme.
The office said that the one billion dollars euro bond, which would mature on Feb. 16, 2032, was eight times oversubscribed in the international market at an interest rate of 7.8 per cent with orders in excess of 7.8 billion dollars.
Nigeria’s total trade in the first quarter of 2017 stood at N5.30 trillion, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.
The nation’s exports in the period under review stood at N3.01 trillion compared to imports of N2.29 trillion, with a trade balance of N719.38 billion.
The NBS stated that imports fell by 0.9 per cent, adding that the country recorded an increase of 6.5 per cent in external trade According to the NBS, the value of the total trade at the end of 2016 was N17. 35 billion, stressing that the figure was 6.5 per cent higher than the value recorded in 2015. The report, however, stated that Nigeria’s external trade in the fourth quarter of 2016 was valued at N5.28 billion.
“The export component stood at N2.98 billion while the import component stood at N2.31 billion leading to a trade surplus of N671 billion. “Trade by sector showed that crude oil exports had the largest share of the total trade, accounting for N2.43 billion or 45.9 per cent trade in fourth quarter. “The second major contributor to total trade by sector was manufactured goods with N1.17 billion or 22.1 per cent of total trade,’’ it stated.
The report stated that manufactured goods were followed by the non-crude oil products, which was also a major contributor to total trade in the quarter under review. “The non-crude oil products stood at N1.15 billion or 21.8 per cent while Agricultural goods accounted for N212.7 billion or 4 per cent.
“Raw material goods accounted for N309 billion or 5.9 per cent and Solid mineral goods stood at N13.1billion or 0.3 per cent of total trade in the quarter.’’ The report stated that Nigeria’s export intensity in the months of October, November and December 2016 was the highest for South Africa with export intensities of 8.9, 7.3 and 4.1, respectively.
Export intensity in the fourth quarter was also intense with India recording export intensities of 5.8, 5.8 and 1.7 for the last three months of 2016. “ Spain and Netherlands also had high export intensities with export intensities of 4.8, 2.9 and 2.0 for Spain and 2.2, 1.5 and 2.2 for the Netherlands.
“Although United States was one of Nigeria’s major trading partners, its export intensity was low with 0.6, 0.6 and 0.2 for the last three months of 2016.’’ Meanwhile, the report stated that Nigeria imported mainly from China with total imports of N404.1billion or 17.5 per cent of total imports.
It stated that China was followed by Belgium with N356.46 billion or 15 per cent while import trade with Netherlands which was the third highest was valued at N230 billion or 10 per cent.
“ The remaining trading partners contributed relatively lower proportion of the total import trade.
“United States accounted for N205.6 billion or 8.9 per cent while India accounted for N113.9 billion or 4.9 per cent,’’ the report stated.
The Nigerian stock market, which has been described by analysts in recent days as one that is on steroids, sustained its rally Monday, gaining N417 billion, its highest daily gain in two years, to cross the N11 trillion psychological barrier.
This is just as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) paved the way for authorised dealers in the foreign exchange (FX) market to offset their excess foreign currency trading positions to other authorised dealers in the market without seeking the prior approval of the regulator.
On the Nigerian bourse, market capitalisation rose from N10.845 trillion to close at N11.262 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) recorded the daily highest gain in 23 months of 3.9 per cent to close at 32,578.38.
At the close of trading, year-to-date growth rose to 21.2 per cent. Monday’s rally was bolstered by Dangote Cement Plc, which added N290 billion to its value to close at N3.578 trillion, accounting for about 69 per cent of the gains recorded in the market.
In all, Dangote Cement, which accounts for over 30 per cent of market capitalisation, has amassed N596 billion ($1.76 billion) in the first three trading days of June.
The company’s shares, which galloped from N175 at the close of business on May 31 to N210 Monday, have effectively made Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who owns 91 per cent of the shares in the cement giant, N518 billion ($1.6 billion) in just three trading days.
A stockbroker, Mr. David Andori, expressed confidence that the rally being witnessed in the market would be sustained, given the positive economic indicators.
“When an economy is in recession, investors move from equities to fixed income securities and when the economy begins to recover, investors move back to the equities market. That is what we’re seeing now. “Apart from occasional profit taking that we may see, the positive trend would remain for a significant period of time,” Andori said.
The market had surged N1.285 trillion, improving from N8.913 trillion at the end of April to N10.198 trillion at the end of May.
The rally was triggered by the introduction of the new foreign exchange window for investors and exporters (I&E) by the CBN. Apart from the new FX window, analysts said investors were also responding to favourable economic conditions.
“Looking at the strong growth in the unaudited results that quoted companies released for the period January-March 2017 and the improvement in the macroeconomic environment, we believe the equity market is ready for a recovery in 2017,” analysts at FSDH Research had said.
According to them, the increase in dollar supply to meet the input requirements of manufacturing companies should increase output and revenue in the current financial year.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to further deepen the FX market, CBN Monday paved the way for authorised dealers in the FX market to offset their excess foreign currency trading positions to other authorised dealers in the market without seeking the prior approval of the regulator.
The central bank, in a circular, said all authorised dealers shall be subject to a maximum spread of N1, adding that funds purchased by an authorised dealer from another dealer on the interbank market shall not be held in position overnight by the buying authorised dealer or sold to another authorised dealer.
The CBN, in the two-page document signed by its Director, Financial Markets Department, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, added: “Such interbank purchases shall only be sold by the buying authorised dealer to its customers for Permitted/Eligible Transactions as outlined in the above-referenced circular. All documentation requirements for Permitted Transactions shall apply.
“Authorised dealers shall not exceed their respective foreign currency trading position (FCTPL) without approval of the CBN. Compliance with the FCTPL shall strictly be monitored by the CBN.
“All interbank trades – spot, forwards, futures, option and swaps – that have an impact on an authorised dealer’s FCTPL are expected to comply with the rate reasonability standards.” In addition, the CBN pointed out that it reserves the right to intervene, as a buyer or sellers as it deems it fit in the interbank market.
It advised the dealers to encourage their corporate clients to on-board the FMDQ-advised forex trading system immediately, in order to avoid sanctions and to deepen the market.
CBN also injected another $190 million into the interbank market Monday. A breakdown of the dollar sales showed the bank offered $100 million as wholesale interventions and allocated $50 million to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) FX window. Also, customers requiring forex for business/personal travel allowances, tuition and medical fees, among others, got $40 million.
Confirming the latest injection Monday, CBN spokesman Isaac Okorafor said the bank was pleased with the performance of the naira, which has made tremendous gains against the dollar in recent days. According to him, the FX rates at both the inter-bank and BDC segments, had almost converged, prompting even greater optimism that the value of the naira will continue to spike.
The naira rose further against the dollar on the parallel market Monday, where it traded at N365, up from N369 to the dollar last Friday. Also reacting to market developments, Dangote at the weekend commended the performance of the CBN under Mr. Godwin Emefiele as its governor.
Dangote said this when he spoke on Sunday night during the presentation of the 2017 Zik Prize Award for Leadership to Emefiele by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), organisers of the award. Dangote highlighted the central bank’s intervention in the agriculture and real sectors of the economy, noting that they had been impactful.
“The policies of the central bank contributed in saving the economy,” Dangote said. According to PPRAC, the CBN governor exhibited dexterity and resilience in managing the economy despite the recession.
It pointed out that Emefiele’s singular courage, commitment and nationalist passion led to the conception and implementation of the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), which in just one full year added over two million tonnes of rice to the national output, created more than half a million direct jobs and was transforming rural lives in many states of the federation. Furthermore, the organisers of the awards pointed out that the CBN’s management of the FX market under Emefiele was worthy of mention.
“At a time when other countries, notably Venezuela, Egypt and Angola, were reeling under the vagaries of galloping inflation and social strife due to severe exchange rate depreciation, occasioned by global commodity price collapse, Emefiele in a most humble, courageous, yet ingenious manner led the CBN to adopt creative and innovative strategies through which Nigeria has been saved from a certain disaster of currency failure and potentially debilitating hyperinflation that would have decimated the little income of Nigeria’s poor.
“Under Emefiele’s watch at the CBN, Nigeria’s import substitution policy has acquired a new and irrepressible impetus with the slogan, ‘Produce what you eat and eat what you produce’. “Apart from food, this has found expression in different sectors of the Nigerian economy such as fashion, drinks, agricultural inputs, textile, leather products, etc,” PPRAC added.
STANBIC IBTC Bank Plc, has received approval from the FMDQ OTC PLC for the renewal of its shelf registration of N100 billion Multicurrency Commercial Paper (MCP) Programme. Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said that the renewal of the N100 Billion MCP is in line with the bank’s strategic drive to promote alternative capital sources including debt financing. Pursuant to the approvals, both programmes shall be included on the quotations list of the FMDQ, and all relevant information on the commercial paper (CP) programme uploaded to the FMDQ website.
Stanbic IBTC Bank intends to resume regular issuance under its CP Programme, as part of the bank’s overall assets and liabilities management strategy. Notes issued under the programme shall also be updated to the quotations page of the FMDQ website after which they will be admitted to, and eligible for trading on, the platform. In contrast, Stanbic IBTC Holdings is not immediately contemplating a transaction.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it would revoked the registration of about 400 capital market experts and professionals who do not comply with the directive to provide updated information of their companies by July 31, 2017.
According to a circular from SEC, yesterday, any firm whose response is not received within this time frame would be considered inactive and the SEC would exercise its power to revoke its registration.
SEC said pursuant to the powers conferred on it by the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, it has directed all capital market experts or professionals to provide updated information of their companies/firms in December 2016 and February 2017.
The commission observed that a large number of capital market experts or professionals comprising Reporting Accountants, Solicitors, and Estate Surveyors/Valuers, among others did not respond to the request.
“The concerned firms are by the circular required to indicate their interest in retaining their registration with SEC as capital market experts or professionals by providing updated information on their firms.
“They are also reminded that the minimum number of Sponsored Individuals required for their registered function is three, including a Compliance Officer,” SEC said.
According to SEC, in recognition that a larger number of capital market experts or professionals have offices in Lagos, the Commission in January 2017 relocated its Registration and Inspectorate Divisions to Lagos.
“The concerned capital market experts or professionals are enjoined to visit any of the commission’s offices in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano for further clarification:
“All concerned capital market experts are required to comply with this directive on or before July 31, 2017 as any firm whose response is not received within this time frame would be considered inactive and the SEC would exercise its power to revoke its registration,” the statement added.
FOLLOWING the recent rebalancing of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Frontier Index, Nigeria’s weighting in the index increased to 7.9 per cent from 6.5 per cent. In this development, analysts from Cardinal Stone Research, a Lagos based investment house, yesterday, said that it has reviewed the details of recent announcement by the MSCI ahead of the planned announcement (on June 20) of a reclassification (or not) of Nigeria to ‘Standalone’ status.
The increase in the weighting followed the move of Pakistan from the Frontier Markets Index to the Emerging Markets Index. There are 16 Nigerian stocks in the index and the new weightings are shown as follows: Nigerian Breweries 1.76 per cent; Guaranty Trust Bank 1.45 per cent; Zenith Bank 0.86 per cent, NESTLE 0.80 per cent; Dangote Cement 0.60 per cent; UBA 0.40 per cent: Access Bank 0.33 per cent; Stanbic IBTC 0.32 per cent; FirstBank Nigeria Holding 0.27 per cent; Seplat 0.24 per cent. Others are: Guinness Nigeria Plc 0.22 per cent, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI 0.22 per cent, WAPCO 0.21 per cent, Unilever Nigeria 0.20 per cent, PZ Nigeria 0.06 per cent, Forte Oil 0.05 per cent, and Total Nigeria 7.90 per cent. According to Cardinal Stone Research, “a total number of 14 funds worth $969 million currently track the MSCI Frontier Index according to data from Bloomberg.
We think that following the events of the past one to two years, most of these funds sold off Nigerian equities and many are still underweight Nigeria. Decision on reclassification still ahead, but we expect a positive outcome – Nigeria is currently under review for a potential reclassification as part of the MSCI 2017 Annual Market Classification Review.” It should be noted that the decision to review Nigeria’s status to “Standalone”, from the Frontier Markets Index, came on the heels of the liquidity issues that plagued the country’s foreign exchange (FX) market. According to Morgan Stanley, the introduction of restrictions on foreign currency trading in the first half of 2015 as well as the huge scarcity of the green back resulted in a deterioration of market accessibility, and thus consultations with market participants would be held until a decision is taken and announced by June 2017.
However, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) consistent supply of FX to the market, liquidity has improved significantly across the market’s major segments – the interbank, the newly introduced investors/exporters FX (NAFEX) window and the parallel market.
Basking in the euphoria of the near rate convergence achieved in the foreign exchange (forex) market, indications emerged yesterday that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would sustain its dollar injection in the market this week.
The sell side of the naira exchange rate against the dollar appreciated significantly by N12, to close at N363 to the dollar on the parallel market on Friday, as against the N375 to the dollar as was last Thursday.
Also, the buy rate of the greenback closed at N369 to the dollar on Friday, stronger than the N382 to the dollar it was the previous day.
To this end, a reliable source at the central bank revealed that the Bank was not resting on its oars and remained determined to ensure a convergence between the interbank and Bureau de Change (BDC) rates soon, hence the move to continue its intervention in the interbank market.
The CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, confirmed that there were indeed plans by the CBN to make necessary interventions in the forex market, in line with its earlier resolve to achieve forex rates convergence and liquidity in the market.
On how the bank hoped to sustain its interventions, Okorafor said the CBN has enough forex to meet the requirements of all customers, who had genuine need for the dollar.
He also expressed optimism that the current policy of the bank and the cooperation of all stakeholders would check the unwholesome activities of speculators.
CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, while commenting recently on how far the CBN would go in sustaining its market interventions, had said: “I have said it and I will repeat myself that the interventions will be more vigorous than before to underscore the fact that we are determined to ensure that the Nigerian economy recovers, by making sure that foreign exchange is being made available to operators of the economy to conduct their businesses.”
The production capacity of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company has significantly fallen due to pipeline sabotage, OKECHUKWU NNODIM writes
The oil production subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, has been recording steady monthly losses arising from its inability to sell substantial volume of crude oil it is producing.
An analysis of the month-by-month financial report of the NPDC showed that the company’s inability to sell crude had steadily reduced its revenue between February 2016 and February 2017 by about N20bn monthly.
Officials of the NNPC confirmed to our correspondent in Abuja that the petroleum development company had lost over N260bn as a result of this, adding that the crude production capability of the NPDC had dropped by 70 per cent.
They noted that the national oil firm could indeed attain lofty heights with the support of Nigerians, especially in areas of security and integrity of infrastructure.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, admitted that the NPDC’s inability to sell crude and the resultant effect on the company’s revenue had been a source of concern to the corporation.
He, however, stated that the management of the NNPC was working out ways to address the issue.
“On the NPDC and pipeline vandalism, the NNPC management is still discussing it,” Ughamadu, who also referred our correspondent to the corporation’s reports on the matter, said.
In one of its financial and operations reports, the corporation stated that “with the restoration of the NPDC production, the NNPC can indeed post more impressive results where substantial portion of crude oil sale for the month of over N20bn could not be realised.”
Similarly, the NNPC in its just released operations reports for February 2017, showed that the NPDC’s contribution to the national crude oil and condensate production in January this year was the lowest at 1.18 million barrels, when compared with the contributions from joint ventures at 16.23 million barrels; production sharing contracts, 28.2 million barrels; alternative funding, 8.57 million barrels; and independent/marginal fields, 2.77 million barrels.
“Of the January 2017 production, JVs and PSCs contributed about 28.5 per cent and 49.52 per cent, respectively. While AF, NPDC and independents/marginal fields accounted for 15.05 per cent, 2.07 per cent and 4.86 per cent, respectively,” the corporation stated.
Officials of the oil firm told our correspondent on Saturday that the compromise of the integrity of the NNPC’s infrastructure by vandals, which led to the declaration of a force majeure by Shell Petroleum Development Company following the vandalism of the 48-inch Forcados export line, resulted in production shut-in of about 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
In a presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, which was made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the NPDC’s Managing Director, Mr. Yusuf Matashi, explained that the pulverisation of the Forcados trunk line by militants in 2016 also impacted gas production by the company and its JV partners gravely.
He said, “The attack, which primarily led to a loss of about 70 per cent of the NPDC’s crude oil production capability, also had an effect on gas production. Unfortunately, gas production in the region we operate is not non-associated gas but associated with the crude oil we produce.
“So by the time we shut in the oil well, we also shut in most of the gas. That is why we now see the level of gas supply shortage for power generation.”
Matashi noted that some other operators might have other reasons for the shortfall in gas supply in their domain, but stressed that the damage of the Forcados export terminal supply line was the biggest obstacle to the production of gas by the NPDC and its JV partners.
He, however, stated that the company would increase its gas production by as much as 50 per cent whenever the Forcados line comes back on stream.
“The impact of the attack on that line is immeasurable and in the last one year, the NPDC has struggled to mitigate the effects of that act on its production,” Matashi explained.
The Director, Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Wumi Iledare, expressed worry over the vandalism of pipelines and its impact on oil earnings by the country.
He, however, lauded the efforts of the Federal Government, led by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, in ensuring peace and stability in the Niger Delta, a development that had also impacted positively on crude oil production in recent times.
Iledare said, “Why should someone or a group of persons rupture the country’s pipelines and plunge the entire nation into dire straits financially? It is uncalled for and should be condemned by all.
“This is particularly painful when you consider the effects of such acts on our national economy, although we’ve recorded some improvements in production volumes in recent times after the series of interventions by the acting President in the Niger Delta region.”
On oil production volumes, the latest operations report of the NNPC stated that a total of 56.95 million barrels of crude oil and condensate was produced in January 2017, representing an average daily production of 1.84 million barrels.
This represents an increase of 16.51 per cent compared to December 2016 performance.
It stated that the NPDC’s cumulative production from all fields (January 2016 to January 2017) amounted to 18,196,613 barrels of crude oil, which translated to an average daily production of 45,835 barrels.
Comparing the NPDC performance to national production, the report stated that the company’s production share amounted to 2.53 per cent.
It said, “The NPDC production continued to be hampered by the incessant pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. The NPDC is projected to ramp up production level to 250,000 barrels per day after the completion of the ongoing the NPDC re-kitting project and repairs of vandalised facilities.
“Production from the NPDC wholly operated assets amounted to 9,781,195 barrels (or 53.75 per cent of the total NPDC production) with Okono Okpoho (OML 119) alone producing 91.90 per cent of the NPDC wholly owned operated assets or 49.4 per cent of the total NPDC production.”
On the NPDC operated JV assets, in which the firm owns 55 per cent controlling interest, crude oil production amounted to 4,850,475 barrels or 26.66 per cent of the company’s total production.
The report also noted that for the non-operated assets, production level stood at 3,564,943 barrels or 19.59 per cent of the company’s production.
