By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Champion Breweries Plc recently issued its 5-year fixed rate senior unsecured bond to investors at a coupon of 19.50 per cent under its N45 billion bond issuance programme.

The exercise saw about N30 billion raised, with participation from a diverse set of institutional investors, including Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), asset managers, trustees, a bank, a registrar and High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs), underscoring strong confidence in Champion Breweries’ credit quality and long-term growth strategy under its management team and board of directors.

Business Post reports that one of the major facilitators of the transaction was Rand Merchant Bank, which acted as lead issuing house and bookrunner.

Proceeds from the issuance would be strategically used to enhance operational efficiency, enabling Champion Breweries sustain growth and deliver long-term value to stakeholders.

This landmark transaction marks a significant milestone as Champion Breweries continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its position in Nigeria’s beverage industry.

It is the first bond to be issued by a player in the breweries sub-sector in Nigeria, signalling the company’s ambition to diversify its funding sources, strengthen its capital structure, and position Champion Breweries for sustainable growth in a competitive market.

“The successful bond issuance is more than a financing milestone; it is a statement of intent. By accessing the debt capital markets, we have demonstrated the strength of our governance, the resilience of our business model, and the confidence investors place in our long‑term vision,” the chairman of Champion Breweries, Mr Imo-Abasi Jacob, commented.

On his part, the chief executive of Champion Breweries, Mr Inalegwu Adoga, said, “This successful Bond Issuance reflects investor confidence in Champion Breweries and our strategic direction under EnjoyCorp. With this capital, we are focused on driving operational efficiency and unlocking opportunities that will sustain growth and reinforce our leadership in Nigeria’s beverage market.”

Also speaking, an Executive Director at Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited and Head of Investment Banking for Broader Africa, Mr Chidi Iwuchukwu, said, “Champion Breweries Plc’s maiden Bond Issuance is a significant milestone for the breweries sub-sector and reflects the increasing depth of Nigeria’s debt capital markets.

:Rand Merchant Bank is proud to have partnered with Champion Breweries as lead issuing house and bookrunner, leveraging our expertise in credit ratings advisory, transaction structuring, debt advisory, as well as investor and regulatory engagements to deliver seamless execution.

“This success reinforces our commitment to delivering holistic solutions that help clients achieve strategic objectives and set new benchmarks. We appreciate Champion Breweries Plc’s confidence in RMB Nigeria throughout this journey.”

The chief executive of RMB Nigeria, Mr Bayo Ajayi, said, “We are proud to have led and advised Champion Breweries through the process of accessing long-term funding from the debt capital markets.

“This transaction demonstrates the depth and sophistication of Nigeria’s debt capital markets. At RMB Nigeria, we remain committed to structuring solutions that meet our clients’ funding needs while contributing to the development of Nigeria’s capital markets. Champion Breweries’ successful issuance sets a strong precedent for future bond issuances from players in the breweries sub-sector.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Naira is poised to weaken this week as the US Dollar rallies as investors ignore US-Venezuela tension and instead focused on a slate of US macroeconomic indicators due this week that could be crucial in steering Federal Reserve policy.

The indication of a weaker outcome for the Nigerian currency is seen as the American currency gained against a basket of currencies.

The greenback hit two-week highs against the Yen, Swiss Franc, and Canadian Dollar in the first full trading week of 2026.

The United States at the weekend, raided Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro. US special operations forces seized the Venezuelan President and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a nighttime operation to bring him to the US to face a 2020 narco-terrorism indictment.

As of press time, the Dollar advanced 0.3 per cent to $1.1682 per Euro, after earlier touching its strongest level since December 10 at $1.1672.

It climbed as high as 157.295 on the Yen, 0.7951 on the Swiss Franc, and C$1.37771, all of which were the highest levels since December 22.

The American currency advanced 0.1 per cent to $1.3425 per British Pound, and added 0.3 per cent to $0.6670 versus the Aussie Dollar.

Traders currently expect two US rate cuts this year, according to calculations by LSEG based on futures.

Investors are also awaiting US President Donald Trump’s choice for the next Federal Reserve chair, as Jerome Powell’s term is set to end in May. US President Donald Trump has expressed his displeasure against Mr Powell and will be looking to replace him with a candidate that aligns with his policies.

President Trump has said he will announce his pick this month, and has said Powell’s successor will be “someone who believes in lower interest rates, by a lot.”

Meanwhile, the Naira last Friday closed the first session of 2026 positive against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) as it gained N4.91 or 0.34 per cent to trade at N1,430.85/$1 compared to the previous rate of N1,435.76/$1.

Preliminary outlook shows that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reforms may help enhance efficiency and transparency in the FX market which will narrow the premium between the NAFEM and unofficial rates, and sustain exchange rate stability. In addition, improved domestic oil refining capacity is expected to reduce foreign exchange demand for fuel imports.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

To strengthen investor confidence and market integrity, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has concluded plans to significantly step up enforcement actions in 2026, following the enactment of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025.

The agency emphasised that it would used the its powers to “firmly and impartially” address market abuse, insider dealing, fraudulent investment schemes, and other forms of misconduct in the capital market.

While outlining the commission’s regulatory priorities, the Director-General of SEC, Mr Emomotimi Agama, noted that the new law has expanded the organisation’s supervisory and enforcement powers, but stressed that enforcement actions will be guided by due process and the rule of law, adding that predictable and consistent regulation remains critical to building trust among investors.

“With the enactment of the Investments and Securities Act 2025, the Commission’s supervisory and enforcement framework has been strengthened. In 2026, the Commission will continue to apply these powers firmly and impartially,” he said.

He explained that the SEC’s enforcement push forms part of broader measures to strengthen market integrity, efficiency, and resilience, adding that confidence in the capital market depends on effective supervision and the consistent application of rules.

Beyond enforcement, the regulator, he stated, plans to advance regulatory efficiency through digitalisation, including streamlined approvals, automated filings, and improved disclosure processes.

“These measures are intended to reduce unnecessary frictions, improve regulatory responsiveness, and enhance transparency across the market,” he emphasized.

Mr Agama also said the SEC would introduce enhanced disclosure standards, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, alongside a structured recapitalisation and governance review of market intermediaries to ensure financial resilience and sound risk management.

On investor protection, the Director-General reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to balancing broader market access with strong safeguards, particularly for retail investors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Looking ahead, Mr Agama said the SEC remains focused on supporting Nigeria’s economic transition while maintaining market discipline.

“We will regulate not to stifle, but to catalyse. We will enforce not to punish, but to protect and build trust,” he said, noting that the SEC also plans to roll out a nationwide financial literacy programme in 2026 aimed at improving investor awareness and reducing vulnerability to fraudulent schemes.