Banking
Fitch Affirms Afreximbank at ‘BBB-‘ With Stable Outlook
By Adedapo Adesanya
A leading credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has affirmed African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BBB-‘ with Stable Outlook. Fitch also affirmed the bank’s Short-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘F3’ and senior unsecured debt at ‘BBB-‘.
In a report, the agency noted that the Afreximbank’s ‘BBB-‘ rating was driven by the bank’s intrinsic features, including solvency and liquidity, both assessed at ‘a-‘.
Despite the pressure on asset quality resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, the ongoing and expected capital increases support the resilience of the bank’s solvency.
Afreximbank’s solvency assessment of ‘a-‘ reflects its ‘strong’ capitalisation and ‘moderate’ risk profile, a statement from the agency said.
The ‘strong’ capitalisation is underpinned by the equity to assets and guarantees ratio, at 18.1 per cent in 2019, close to 2018 level (18.5 per cent) as the bank’s expansion has been broadly matched by paid-in capital payments from the ongoing $1 billion capital increase (targeted to be completed by end-2021, 91 per cent of which had been raised by the first half of this year) and internal capital generation.
Fitch’s usable capital to risk-weighted assets (FRA) was 21 per cent in 2019 (from 20% in 2018), consistent with a ‘moderate’ assessment (15-25 per cent).
The agency said it expects the equity-to-assets and FRA ratios to decline in the coming years as the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on asset quality affects internal capital generation and the bank accelerates loan disbursement in the short-term in response to the crisis. Fitch expects the growth in loans to average close to 20 per cent in 2020-2022.
However, it expects that the bank’s capitalisation metrics should remain consistent with a ‘strong’ assessment by the end of 2022. This assumes continuing payments under the $1 billion capital increase and the start of payments under a new $500 million capital increase, approved in June this year.
The Bureau of African Union Heads of States and Governments recently endorsed a significant increase to the bank’s subscribed capital. Fitch understands that the final approval of this capital increase could take place at the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2021, and the first paid-in capital payments would start shortly thereafter. In Fitch’s view, this capital increase would support the resilience of the bank’s solvency, despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on asset quality.
Fitch assesses Afreximbank’s overall exposure to risks as ‘moderate’, balancing its ‘high’ credit risk profile and ‘moderate’ risk management policies against its ‘low’ concentration risk and ‘very low’ equity and market risks.
The agency expects the average rating of the bank’s loan portfolio before accounting for credit risk mitigants to decline to ‘CCC’ over the medium term from ‘B-‘ as of end-2019.
Afreximbank’s business environment is deemed ‘high risk’, primarily reflecting its strategy, characterised by the rapid growth of its banking operations in high-risk countries.
Fitch assesses Afreximbank’s support rating at ‘bb’, unchanged from the previous review. The average rating of key shareholders fell to ‘BB-‘ following the change in the bank’s shareholder base and the recent downgrade of Nigeria, the largest shareholder.
The bank’s callable capital is partially supported by medium-term credit risk mitigants, which provides a one-notch uplift over the bank’s shareholders’ average credit quality, leading to ‘bb’ support capacity.
Fitch has revised the bank’s shareholders’ propensity to support to ‘strong’ from ‘moderate’ previously. This reflects regular inflows of fresh capital and the recent endorsement for a significant increase to the bank’s subscribed capital. The strong propensity results in a support assessment of ‘bb’.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The continued tussle over an alleged $225.8 million debt between General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL) and top Nigerian lender, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, showed no signs of abating as the energy company accused the lender of recklessness.
GHL, owned by the chairman and editor-in-chief of ThisDay Media Group and Arise News Channel, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, in a statement Wednesday morning, said the bank’s failure to pay GHL pending request as per the agreed terms led to an international incident on October 7, 2023, “when the drilling rig, Blackford Dolphin, ran out of fuel, food, water and other critical supplies with 93 souls on board, and the rig was on the verge of declaring MAYDAY.”
“First Bank keeps talking about the diversion of funds by GHL without providing any evidence,” the statement said.
It alleged that all GHL contracts and invoices were vetted and paid by FBN through their Credit and Risk teams directly to all service providers, noting that the bank’s alleged repeated failures to pay on time within the contractual framework of five days which became up to 70 days or not at all, in a clear breach of its Tripartite Agreement obligations.
Recall that the issue commenced when First Bank of Nigeria Limited and FBN Quest Trustees Limited on December 27, 2024, approached the Federal High Court in Ikoyi to seek orders in respect of a total claim of $225.8 million being alleged outstanding indebtedness on General Hydrocarbons’ account with First Bank as of September 30, 2024.
The Ikoyi court granted an order restraining all commercial banks in Nigeria from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to $225.8 million due to Mr Obaigbena.
The court also blocked all commercial banks from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to the said amount belonging to Efe Damilola Obaigbena, Olabisi Eka Obaigbena and General Hydrocarbons Limited, an oil and gas firm in which all three are directors and shareholders.
Another order barring the banks from dealing in or releasing such monies and assets due to the company, its agents, privies, subsidiaries and sister companies with the banks up to the same sum was issued.
Yesterday, First Bank responded that it didn’t abuse court processes in the ongoing legal battles with General Hydrocarbons Limited, adding that its opponent’s claims were misleading and incorrect.
The bank said it performed its obligations under the loan agreements but trouble started when it demanded good governance and transparency in the transaction, which GHL rejected.
However, in the latest right of reply, GHL said it will meet FBN in court with daily reports and log details to debunk, what it called “this continuing misinformation of diversion.”
“GHL acted to save 93 souls, most of them foreign nationals, who had begun contacting their embassies and home governments, and to save Nigeria from an international incident offshore Nigeria,” the statement said.
“This 2nd Right of Reply has become necessary, again, in view of FBN’s continued misstatement but they have failed to debunk or deny the foundational material facts and seeking to eating their cake and having it. Luckily, FBN has not denied the Subrogation MOU and the benefits it got upfront from GHL’s intervention. They should meet their obligations and all will be well,” it added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nine commercial banks operating in the country have been fined N150 million each by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over their failure to dispense cash to customers through their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
Recall that last year, the banking sector watchdog warned deposit money banks (DMBs) to load their ATMs with cash to ease the hardships Nigerians go through in getting cash.
It was alleged that members of staff of banks were selling cash to Point of Sale (POS) operators as it was getting difficult for customers to withdraw cash from banks.
To address this issue, the central bank directed lenders to ensure customers are able to withdraw their funds via their ATMs or risk being sanctioned.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, said spot checks showed that the affected banks did not comply with the cash distribution guidelines, noting that the fines will be directly debited from the affected banks’ accounts.
She listed the defaulting lenders as Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Globus Bank, Keystone Bank, Providus Bank, Sterling Bank, Union Bank, UBA, and Zenith Bank.
“In a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines, during the yuletide season.
“Each bank was fined N150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand.
“The affected banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank, Union Bank Plc, Globus Bank, Providus Bank, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Sterling Bank Plc,” the statement said, stressing that the apex bank will not hesitate to impose further sanctions on any institution violating its cash circulation guidelines.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Top remittances service firm, LemFi, has raised $53 million in Series B funding to further boost its efforts to acquire more customers and expand its footprint into more countries.
The funding round was led by Highland Europe, a London-based growth-stage investment firm that backs startups with more than €10 million in annualized revenues. Other participants in the deal included existing investors like Endeavor Catalyst, Left Lane Capital, Palm Drive Capital, and Y Combinator.
Lemfi, founded by Mr Ridwan Olalere, its chief executive officer (CEO), and Mr Rian Cochran, its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), closed the Series B round in four months, bringing LemFi’s total funding to $85 million, as per TechCrunch.
LemFi will use the funding to extend its offerings, scale its payment network licenses and partnerships to provide hyper-localized service and recruit talent for its next growth phase.
The firm, which generates revenue from transaction fees and foreign exchange spreads, currently has more than 300 employees across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia.
Founded in 2020, the four-year-old company has seen massive increases in parameters and claims to have over one million active users who rely on its multi-currency accounts to transfer money to friends and family in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, India, China, Pakistan, and 15 others.
LemFi has undergone rapid growth by helping diaspora communities in North America and, more recently, Europe, send money to emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It currently has 27 send-from markets and 20 send-to countries on its roster.
As part of its expansion plans, the firm has also expanded into Europe by partnering with embedded finance provider Modulr and will help LemFi kickstart operations until it secures its license next month after acquiring a firm based in the Republic of Ireland.
“We intend to go to as many markets as we have a significant number of immigrants, starting now with Europe this year, which is going to be a big focus for us,” CEO, Mr Olalere told TechCrunch in an interview.
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