Companies
I-Invest generates over N2 billion transaction in less than 6 months
Sterling Bank and Parthian partners have come up with an app called I-Invest to solve this problem.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that 50% or $8.4 billion of the foreign capital imported into Nigeria last year, went to money market securities. The most liquid form of money market securities are treasury bills which are sold by the CBN every two weeks.
The key buyers of these instruments were foreign investors. Why? Yields on money market securities are at double digits, much higher than in their home countries.
Treasury bills are also backed by the full faith of the Federal Government of Nigeria, thus making the risk of default quite low.
At the last CBN treasury bills auction, 364-day treasury bills went for 14.9%. Recent inflation figures went for 11.37%. For investors that were able to get in, they would have returns better than inflation. Naturally, they were massively oversubscribed.
So, you have the best of both worlds: You beat inflation with minimised risk.
Despite this, a large number of investors are seemingly locked out from this market. A minimum of N50 million is required to participate at the Primary Market Auction (PMA).
In order to meet demand, banks and other big players in the financial space, resell from their holdings or bundle up small bids. Here again, is another stumbling block, as some banks require as high as N1 million and N500,000 as the minimum amount customers can subscribe.
Prospective investors have to write ahead, sometimes a week ahead. If their bids come at lower cut off rates, they then have to wait for another two weeks. As with anything Nigerian, you sometimes have to go to the bank, to make sure you are attended to. That’s more inconvenience.
Sterling Bank and Parthian partners have come up with an app called I-Invest to solve this problem. You don’t have to write countless letters to your banker, or pay several visits either. Everything can be done from the comfort of your phone.
The best thing about the app, is that you get to see and pick the rates yourself, and it’s easy to use. It also doesn’t cost an arm or a leg. You need a minimum of just N100,000 to buy treasury bills. So far, I-Invest has generated over N2 billion transactions in less than 6 months.
The app also has some new products in the works. The whole idea is to promote a savings culture in Nigeria and across Africa. The new products will expand the product base of the platform and ultimately help diversify the portfolio of our clients. So watch out!
To download the I-invest app, click here.
Companies
MTN shareholders have made approximately N1 trillion since April 2020
Shareholders of MTN Nigeria gained close to a trillion naira in less than 7 months.
MTN Nigeria shareholders have gained N986.58 billion since the first trading session in April 2020.
This was uncovered by calculating the difference in the telecommunication giant’s market capitalization of ₦1.832 trillion at the open of trade, for the first trading session in the month of April 2020, and the market capitalization of ₦2.646 trillion at the close of trade in the first trading session in the month of October.
READ: Shell to cut 9,000 jobs globally due to oil price crash as it shifts to clean energy
This gives a whopping N814 billion increase in market capitalization, and this with the dividend the company has paid to shareholders on two occasions between this time period, brings the total gains both realized and unrealized to approximately N1 trillion.
READ: FUGAZ; Nigerian banks considered too big to fail
Hence, the N814 billion increase in market capitalization translates to the joint gains MTN investors have made from the increase in the shares of the company, as the share price of the company has increased by 44.44% or ₦40.00 between April 1, 2020, and October 2, 2020, with the share price of increasing from ₦90.00 to ₦130.00.
However, the gains MTN NG investors have made from their investments in the telecommunication company, is not limited to the gains driven by the increase in the price of the shares.
READ: World Bank says Nigerian banks are at risk of being destabilised by COVID-19
Recall that the company declared payment of dividends to its shareholders on two occasions, as investors/shareholders of the company, whose names appear in the Register of Members, as of the close of business on April 17, 2020 and August 14, 2020 were paid a cumulative dividend per share of ₦8.47, for all the outstanding shares of 20,354,513,050 held by the shareholders, and this translates to a total dividend payout of N171 billion by the company to its shareholders.
It is noteworthy that the realized and unrealized gains MTN investors have made from holding the shares over this period stands at N986.58 billion.
Companies
LASACO Assurance Plc Chairman, Aderinola Disu resigns from the Board of Directors
Aderinola Disu resigned her position as a Director on the Board of LASACO Assurance.
Lasaco Assurance Plc has announced the resignation of its former Chairman, Mrs. Aderinola Disu, as a Director on the Board. The resignation took effect from the 8th of September, 2020.
The following information is contained in a press release made available to the public, signed by the company Secretary, Gertrude Olutekunbi, and verified by Nairametrics.
The notification also revealed that, the aforementioned firm has received a provisional approval from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to appoint two other directors.
READ: 3 bank directors resign from NESG in protest to CBN immunity letter
The two newly appointed directors are; Dr (Mrs.) Maria Olateju Phillips, and Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, both appointed to a Non-Executive Director role.
Profile of the two newly appointed Directors
Chief (Mrs.) Teju Phillips, is a successful Chartered Accountant, who holds an ACCA from England and Wales. She is multilingual and has extensive experience in Management/Consultancy services, that spans across many years in both the public and private sectors. She has served as a Director in Keystone Bank; Director, Lagos State Lottery Board; Honorable Commissioner for Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Relations in Lagos State; Managing Director of Alma Beach Estate Ltd (a subsidiary of Rims Merchant Bank Ltd); Managing Director, Maridot Ventures Ltd. among others.
READ: FIRS retires coordinating directors, appoints new ones
Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, is an accomplished Insurance professional, having practiced in Canada and Nigeria. He brings to the board over 30 years of experience as a Broker.
Lasaco Assurance Plc, is a listed Nigerian firm that provides life and general insurance services, which includes motor, bond, contractors-all-risk, fire, burglary, aviation, marine, general accident, life, pension schemes, engineering, and oil and gas. The company has a market capitalization of about N2.05 billion and it share price currently trades at N0.28 kobo.
Companies
MTN: Data subscriptions triggered surge in Q2 2020 Revenues
Data revenues jumped from N56.7 billion to N79.9 billion in the period under review.
Analysis of the MTN’s results shows that revenues surged, due to increased data usage, aided by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN), reported revenues of N638.1 billion in H1 2020, relative to N566.9 billion recorded in the same period in 2019 – a 12.5% increase.
MTN Plc is Nigeria’s premier provider of connectivity, communication, and collaboration solutions. From the very first phone call, made at Maritime House Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria on May 16th, 2001, MTN Plc has been facilitating connections in Nigeria.
READ: COVID-19 boosts Fidson Healthcare Plc’s Q2 2020 performance
The COVID-19 related lockdown affected businesses worldwide, including businesses in Nigeria. This resulted in most business activities being conducted virtually, in a bid to salvage businesses from collapsing. With social distancing rule, came an increased utilization of online mediums for meetings, weddings, social interactions, and everything that couldn’t be done physically. Consequently, people consumed more data compared with the pre-COVID-19 periods.
According to the latest data available on the NCC website, MTN Plc’s market share of internet subscribers is 42.54%. Its revenue-generating segments include Voice, Data, SMS, Interconnect and Roaming, Handset and Accessories, Digital, Value Added Service, and Other revenues. Aside from SMS, revenues from the other seven segments increased in H1 2020 compared with the previous period last year.
READ: How Apple lost over $500 billion in 12 trading days
Data revenues jumped from N56.7 billion to N79.9 billion in the period under review. The number of port-out subscribers almost doubles port-in subscribers in the period under consideration, so this does not confound the analysis conducted, which revealed that COVID-19 lockdown boosted data revenues.
The Earnings Per Share (EPS) of the company declined by 4.70% in H1 2020 from N4.89 to N4.66 compared with the same period last year. A 4.68% decline in distributable profit to N94.88 billion in H1 2020, relative to N99.54 billion contributed to this decline in H1 2019.
READ: Finding Balance: GTB’s impeccable gains versus its notable losses
MTN Plc’s shares were listed on the floor of the NSE on 16th May 2019. The shares currently trade at N129 per unit. The highest price for a unit of share in 52 weeks was N132 and the lowest N90. A total of 51,885,740 units was sold in the last seven days trades. Shares outstanding is 20,354,513,050 units and its market capitalization is N2.63 trillion.
Airtel Africa Plc operates in the same sub-sector as MTN Nigeria Plc – Telecommunications Services. Airtel Africa Plc’s share price is N380. The highest price for a unit of share in 52 weeks was N380 and the lowest N298.90. A total of 15,972 units was sold in the last seven days trades. Shares outstanding is 3,758,151,504 units and its market capitalization is N1,428,097.57 trillion.
READ: Floods disrupt operations in Flour Mills’ Sugar Estate
On the 30th of September 2020, Telecompaper reported that MTN has added MusicTime playlists to its Ayoba app. MTN’s Ayoba platform and MusicTime announced a partnership deal to bring free music to Ayoba app users. MusicTime in Ayoba is now live in Nigeria and some other African countries, including South Africa and Ghana. The app offers users free access to ten playlists with twenty songs each.
Ayoba is an instant messaging app powered by MTN. With Ayoba, it is possible to chat with anyone, regardless of whether they have the Ayoba app or not. Users who do not have the app, but receive an SMS from an Ayoba user, will be able to respond via SMS, and it will display within the Ayoba user’s chat in the app. Ayoba is available on Android devices (iOS to come later).
#EndSARS: Ex-Presidential aspirant sues Twitter and its founder, Dorsey for $1 billion
I won’t approve 2021 budget without provisions for #EndSARS victims, ASUU – Gbajabiamila
SET Plc recorded N14.4m post-tax loss in Q3 2020
2021 Budget: Senate sets motion for budget defense, commences 2020 review
#EndSARS: Human Rights Commission seeks prosecution of 35 indicted police officers
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
Daily Parallel Market Exchange Rate – ₦460/$1
Why Airtel Nigeria credited subscribers with free airtime
#EndSARS Nigerian Rights group switch to Crypto
Lagos orders shutdown of all schools over #EndSARS protests
Emmanuel Edigbo
February 18, 2019 at 11:16 am
Can you get to lose….investing in this i-invest
Alfred Akuki
February 18, 2019 at 11:27 am
Emmanuel I-Invest deals on Fixed income and as such your capital is safe.
Linda
October 15, 2019 at 6:47 am
Who has used the I-invest and cashed out successfully.
I have not been able to upload my kyc.
Sent a mail. I got no response yet.
Gbenga
October 24, 2019 at 9:02 am
Thanks for the information but can the longest give quarterly income or is the interest paid off front