Economy

GCR Affirms A-(NG) Rating on Transcorp Hotels

Published

8 years ago

22/09/2017

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Global Credit Ratings (GCR) has revealed affirming the long term and short term national scale issuer ratings of A-(NG) and A2(NG) respectively, assigned to Transcorp Hotels Plc with the outlook accorded as Stable.

The rating firm noted that concurrently, the national scale ratings accorded to the following bond Issuances were also affirmed: Series 1 N10bn Fixed Rate Bond – A-(NG), Stable Outlook; and Series 2 N9.8bn Fixed Rate Bond – A-(NG), Stable Outlook, pointing out that both the long and short term issuer and bond ratings are valid until August 2018.

GCR, in a statement, said it accorded the above credit ratings to Transcorp Hotels Plc because it remains one of the most prominent hotel brands in the country, benefitting from strong shareholder support and an operational agreement with Hilton International.

It point out that although, earnings derive predominantly from the Abuja hotel, construction of Lagos and Port Harcourt hotels will help to diversify revenue sources over the medium term. In the interim, ongoing refurbishments to the core Abuja hotel should consolidate its leading position in the upper scale market.

The challenging operating environment in 2016 (with the economy in recession), drove a significant decline in tourism and hospitality sector volumes, which severely impacted hotel patronage across the country.

Despite this, and given the fact that some floors were shut for renovation (for a number of months), revenue remained resilient, rising by 10% to N15.3bn in FY16. This was largely attributed to the increased business development and marketing activities, which kept occupancy rates at the hotel around 60% (well above the industry average of 35%), and improved inflows from food and beverage.

However, as economic activity remained sluggish at the start of 2017, with patronage reduced by the closure of the Abuja airport for six weeks, 1H FY17 revenue of N6.2bn evidenced a 23% year-on-year decline and lagged budget on an annualised basis.

Notwithstanding the top line growth, the impact of inflation, as well as the devaluation in the Naira value, led to an increase in both direct costs and overheads (personnel, energy), partly reversing gains reported from the implementation of cost saving measures in FY15. Operating income fell to N4.1bn (FY15: N4.7bn), translating to a 26.8% margin, the lowest over the last five years. With economic challenges persisting, and a further reduction in operating income to N856m at 1H FY17, it appears unlikely that the full year profitability target will be achieved.

Cost overruns on current capex projects (including refurbishment of the Abuja hotel) necessitated additional loans to meet the shortfall in funding. As such, total debt rose by a net N3.6bn to a high N24.2bn at 1H FY17. Whilst gross gearing remained moderate at 47% at 1H FY17 (FY16: 41%), gross debt to EBITDA rose to 891% (FY16: 408%) and net interest coverage was relatively low at 1.1x in FY16.

If persisting, such low debt coverage metrics are not consistent with companies in the ‘A’ band. Despite the economic challenges, THP still reports robust operating cash flows (N1.4bn at FY16 and N2.3bn at 1H FY17), underpinned by a strong cash generation and a favourable working capital position.

However, the continued payment of high dividends amidst falling cash flows and high capex, places additional strain on liquidity.

Given that the Bonds are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer, the Series 1 and Series 2 Bonds bear the same rating as the Issuer. Any change in the rating assigned to the Issuer will directly affect the Bonds ratings.

Positive rating action is only likely once the current capex programme is successfully completed, with minimum unexpected costs incurred, as well as an improvement in the operating environment. This should translate to improved earnings and also enhance profitability over the medium term. Conversely, persistently weak debt service metrics could result in negative ratings actions. This could be driven by continued weakness in operating performance, or delays and cost overruns related to capex.

Economy

Nigerian Stocks Close 1.13% Higher to Remain in Bulls’ Territory

Published

13 hours ago

20/12/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

The local stock market firmed up by 1.13 per cent on Friday as appetite for Nigerian stocks remained strong.

Investors reacted well to the 2026 budget presentation of President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly yesterday, especially because of the more realistic crude oil benchmark of $64 per barrel compared with the ambitious $75 per barrel for 2025. This year, prices have been between $60 and $65 per barrel.

Business Post observed profit-taking in the commodity and energy sectors as they respectively shed 0.14 per cent and 0.03 per cent.

But, bargain-hunting in the others sustained the positive run, with the consumer goods index up by 3.82 per cent.

Further, the industrial goods space appreciated by 1.46 per cent, the banking counter improved by 0.08 per cent, and the insurance industry gained 0.04 per cent.

As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 1,694.33 points to 152,057.38 points from 150,363.05 points and the market capitalisation chalked up N1.080 trillion to finish at N96.937 trillion compared with Thursday’s closing value of N95.857 trillion.

A total of 34 shares ended on the advancers’ chart, while 24 were on the laggards’ log, representing a positive market breadth index and bullish investor sentiment.

Austin Laz gained 10.00 per cent to close at N2.42, Union Dicon also jumped 10.00 per cent to N6.60, Tantalizers increased by 9.80 per cent to N2.69, Aluminium Extrusion improved by 9.78 per cent to N12.35, and Champion Breweries grew by 9.71 per cent to N16.95.

Conversely, Sovereign Trust Insurance dipped by 7.42 per cent to N3.87, Royal Exchange lost 6.84 per cent to trade at N1.77, Omatek slipped by 6.84 per cent to N1.09, Eunisell depreciated by 5.88 per cent to N80.00, and Eterna dropped 5.63 per cent to close at N28.50.

Yesterday, traders transacted 1.5 billion units worth N21.8 billion in 25,667 deals compared with the 839.8 million units sold for N32.8 billion in 23,211 deals in the preceding session, showing a surge in the trading volume by 76.61 per cent, an uptick in the number of deals by 10.58 per cent, and a shrink in the trading value by 33.54 per cent.

Economy

FrieslandCampina, Two Others Erase N26bn from NASD OTC Bourse

Published

15 hours ago

20/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Three stocks stretched the bearish run of the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 1.21 per cent on Friday, December 19, with the market capitalisation giving up N26.01 billion to close at N2.121 billion compared with the N2.147 trillion it ended a day earlier, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) dropping 43.47 points to 3,546.41 points from 3,589.88 points.

The trio of FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, and NASD Plc overpowered the gains printed by four other securities.

FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc lost N6.00 to sell at N54.00 per unit versus N60.00 per unit, NASD Plc shrank by N3.50 to N58.50 per share from N55.00 per share, and CSCS Plc depleted by N2.91 to N33.87 per unit from N36.78 per unit.

On the flip side, Air Liquide Plc gained N1.01 to close at N13.00 per share versus N11.99 per share, Golden Capital Plc appreciated by 70 Kobo to N7.68 per unit from N6.98 per unit, Geo-Fluids Plc added 39 Kobo to sell at N5.50 per share versus N5.11 per share, and IPWA Plc rose by 8 Kobo to 85 Kobo per unit from 77 Kobo per unit.

During the trading day, market participants traded 1.9 million securities versus the previous day’s 30.5 million securities showing a decline of 49.3 per cent. The value of trades went down by 64.3 per cent to N80.3 million from N225.1 million, but the number of deals jumped by 32.1 per cent to 37 deals from 28 deals.

Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) Plc finished the session as the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units valued at N16.4 billion, followed by Okitipupa Plc with 178.9 million units transacted for N9.5 billion, and MRS Oil Plc with 36.1 million units traded for N4.9 billion.

The most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis was still InfraCredit Plc with 5.8 billion units worth N16.4 billion, trailed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 1.2 billion units sold for N420.7 million, and Impresit Bakolori Plc with 536.9 million units traded for N524.9 million.

Economy

Naira Crashes to N1,464/$1 at Official Market, N1,485/$1 at Black Market

Published

17 hours ago

20/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

It was not a good day for the Nigerian Naira at the two major foreign exchange (FX) market on Friday as it suffered a heavy loss against the United States Dollar at the close of transactions.

In the black market segment, the Naira weakened against its American counterpart yesterday by N10 to quote at N1,485/$1, in contrast to the N1,475/$1 it was traded a day earlier, and at the GTBank forex counter, it depreciated by N2 to settle at N1,467/$1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,465/$1.

In the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) window, which is also the official market, the nation’s legal tender crashed against the greenback by N6.65 or 0.46 per cent to close at N1,464.49/$1 compared with the preceding session’s rate of N1,457.84/$1.

In the same vein, the local currency tumbled against the Euro in the spot market by N2.25 to sell for N1,714.63/€1 compared with the previous day’s N1,712.38/€1, but appreciated against the Pound Sterling by 73 Kobo to finish at N1,957.30/£1 compared with the N1,958.03/£1 it was traded in the preceding session.

The market continues to face seasonal pressure even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is still conducting FX intervention sales, which have significantly reduced but not remove pressure from the Naira. Also, there seems to be reduced supply from exporters, foreign portfolio investors and non-bank corporate inflows.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented the government’s N58.47 trillion budget plan aimed at consolidating economic reforms and boosting growth.

The budget is based on a projected crude oil price of $64.85 a barrel and includes a target oil output of 1.84 million barrels a day. It also projects an exchange rate of N1,400 to the Dollar.

President Tinubu said inflation had plunged to an annual rate of 14.45 per cent in November from 24.23 per cent in March, while foreign reserves had surged to a seven-year high of $47 billion.

Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was dominated by the bulls but it continues to face increased pressure after million in liquidations in previous session over accelerating declines, with Dogecoin (DOGE) recovering 4.2 per cent to trade at $0.1309.

Further, Ripple (XRP) appreciated by 3.9 per cent to $1.90, Cardano (ADA) rose by 3.5 per cent to $0.3728, Solana (SOL) jumped by 3.4 per cent to $126.23, Ethereum (ETH) climbed by 2.9 per cent to $2,982.42, Binance Coin (BNB) gained 2.0 per cent to sell for $853.06, Bitcoin (BTC) improved by 1.7 per cent to $88,281.21, and Litecoin (LTC) soared by 1.2 per cent to $76.50, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.