Economy
GCR Upgrades Presco Ratings on Improved Financial Profile
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The national scale long-term and short-term issuer ratings of Presco Plc have been upgraded by GCR Ratings, with a stable outlook.
In a statement by the rating agency, it was disclosed that the long-term issuer rating was moved up to A+(NG) from A-(NG) and the short-term issuer rating was raised to A1(NG) from A2(NG).
Concurrently, GCR has upgraded the national scale long-term issue ratings on each of the company’s N34.5Bn Series 1 Senior Unsecured Bond and N82.9Bn Programme 2 Series 1 Senior Unsecured Bond to A+(NG) from A-(NG) previously, with the outlook on the bonds ratings remaining stable.
Explaining the rationale behind the upgrade, GCR stated Presco has witnessed considerable improvements in its financial profile, with consistent reduction in debt over the past four years, coupled with improvements in earnings and free cash flows over the same period.
“We have maintained the analytical approach as group credit analysis using the consolidated financial statements of SIAT N.V., which owns 60 per cent interest in Presco and wholly owns other subsidiaries.
“The group credit analysis reflects Presco’s sustained position as the largest contributor to SIAT N.V. group earnings, with 72.9 per cent of revenue in financial year 2024 (2023: 60 per cent) following its acquisition of Ghana Palm Oil Development Company Limited (GOPDC),” parts of the statement read.
The group returned to turnover growth in 2024 and half year 2025 (H1 2025), reflecting a combination of factors including volumes growth, increased crude oil processing and refining activity, premium pricing and stability of the Naira in 2025.
Earnings concentration to Nigeria would be further accentuated by the proposed acquisition of Saro Oil Palm Limited (SOP), with future growth to be driven by additional inflows from enlarged mature plantations post consolidation, coupled with planned investments in oil milling and refining.
Earnings margins have also rebounded, with EBITDA margin reaching a high of 32 per cent in 2024, compared to a five-year historical average of 28 per cent.
In addition to the positive effect of the spinoff of loss-making subsidiaries in 2023, the recent earnings improvements reflect higher traded volume of higher margin refined palm oil and other processed palm oil products.
“We expect the sound topline growth of 23 per cent reported in H1 2025 to be largely sustained into the full year especially given the stable Naira, while margins would normalise to the 32 per cent-35 per cent range (management accounts: 68 per cent),” GCR stated.
“We consider the liquidity fundamentals to show signs of stress even though the coverage is relatively strong at 1.5x for the 18-month period to 31 December 2026. Maturing debt obligations and expected capital spending over the outlook period are minimal and could be sufficiently settled with operating cash flows and cash on hand of EUR82 million as of 30 June 2025.
“This notwithstanding, significant outflows are expected in respect of dividend distribution, which is now well above the historical levels.
“This is however balanced against the anticipated proceeds from a rights issue of N250 billion (c.EUR140 million), which will be used to repay portions of outstanding debt and fund the proposed acquisition of SOP and the settlement of outstanding purchase consideration on the acquisition of GOPDC.
“We have, however, haircut the expected proceeds of the rights issue. In addition, given the group’s plan to pursue further acquisitions in Nigeria, liquidity could be pressured if these are funded with large debt issuances,” it disclosed.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its stay in the south territory with a decline of 0.56 per cent on Wednesday, April 2.
This brought down the market capitalisation by N13 billion to N2.417 trillion from N2.430 trillion, and downed the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) by 22.57 points to 4,062.87 points from the previous session’s 4,062.87 points.
It was observed that the NASD exchange ended with three price gainers and three price losers during the trading day.
MRS Oil Plc depreciated by N19.00 to close at N171.00 per unit compared with the previous price of N190.00 per unit, NASD Plc lost N4.14 to trade at N37.36 per share compared with Wednesday’s N41.50 per share, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc gave up N2.00 to sell at N78.00 per unit versus N80.00 per unit.
On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by 19 Kobo to N93.00 per share from N92.81 per share, Food Concepts Plc expanded by 15 Kobo to N2.87 per unit from N2.72 per unit, and Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc improved by 2 Kobo to 52 Kobo per share from 50 Kobo per share.
Yesterday, the volume of securities dipped by 91.8 per cent to 260.2 million units from 3.2 billion units, the value of securities went down by 98.1 per cent to N154.2 million from N8.3 billion, while the number of deals soared by 53.3 per cent to 46 deals from 30 deals.
GNI Plc was the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 56.9 million units valued at N3.9 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.5 million units traded for N1.8 billion.
The most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis was also GNI Plc with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.2 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units exchanged for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units transacted for N1.2 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira dropped N2.09 or 0.15 per cent against the United States Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Thursday, April 2, to trade at N1,380.79/$1 compared with Wednesday’s rate of N1,378.70/$1.
However, it appreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market by N2.77 to quote at N1,824.86/£1 versus the N1,836.57/£1 it was traded at midweek, and improved its value against the Euro by N10.54 to N1,591.92/€1 from N1,602.46/€1.
Yesterday was the last trading session of the week for the local currency in the spot market, as the market will be closed on Friday and Monday for the Easter Holiday.
At the black market, the Nigerian Naira maintained stability against the greenback yesterday at N1,405/$1, but gained N8 at the GTBank FX counter to settle at N1,388/$1, in contrast to the previous session’s N1,396/$1.
Pressure eased on the domestic currency as strong policy indicators have helped calm the majority of worries within the financial systems. Particularly in the remittance segment, the apex bank has directed all International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) to route remittance transactions through designated Naira settlement accounts in banks, a move aimed at boosting transparency and channelling more foreign exchange into the formal market.
This helps take off pressure from the foreign reserves, which have fallen below the $50 billion mark as they are gradually decreasing rather than falling sharply.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was bullish on Thursday, as macro sentiment shifted against recent optimism after reports that Iran is drafting a protocol with Oman to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns about disruptions to a key global oil route.
The remarks came after U.S. President Trump on Wednesday night vowed to hit Iran “extremely hard” in the coming weeks and that the Strait of Hormuz would “open naturally” once the war ends.
Cardano (ADA) chalked up 1.9 per cent to trade at $0.2435, Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 1.2 per cent to $0.0912, Ethereum (ETH) appreciated by 0.8 per cent to $2,066.37, Bitcoin (BTC) added 0.5 per cent to sell at $67,080.53, Solana (SOL) increased by 0.5 per cent to $79.91, and Ripple (XRP) jumped 0.2 per cent to $1.31.
Conversely, Binance Coin (BNB) dipped 0.7 per cent to $586.90, and TRON (TRX) depreciated by 0.3 per cent to $0.3147, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 each.
By Dipo Olowookere
The local stock market was relatively flat on Friday, as the bears and the bulls shared the spoils of war, though investor sentiment turned bullish compared with the preceding session’s bearish posture.
Data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited showed that the All-Share Index (ASI) was marginally down by 4.66 points as it ended at 201,698.89 points versus Wednesday’s 201,703.55 points, and the market capitalisation slightly contracted by N3 billion to N129.806 trillion from N129.809 trillion.
Customs Street was shut on Friday because of the public holidays declared by the federal government today and next Monday.
Business Post reports that John Holt declined by 9.91 per cent to N15.45, Abbey Mortgage Bank shed 9.60 per cent to trade at N8.95, International Energy Insurance slipped by 6.48 per cent to N3.32, Chams shrank by 5.30 per cent to N3.75, and Tantalizers depreciated by 5.18 per cent to N4.03.
On the flip side, Unilever Nigeria improved by 10.00 per cent to N103.40, Fortis Global Insurance gained 9.82 per cent to trade at N1.23, Multiverse appreciated 9.81 per cent to N20.15, Legend Internet advanced by 9.38 per cent to N6.30, and Zichis grew by 9.02 per cent to N14.14.
The market breadth index was positive during the trading session, as there were 35 appreciating stocks and 24 depreciating stocks.
Yesterday, investors traded 560.0 million equities valued at N19.3 billion in 49,676 deals, in contrast to the 815.5 million equities worth N33.3 billion transacted in 52,641 deals in the preceding day, representing a drop in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 31.33 per cent, 42.04 per cent, and 5.63 per cent, respectively.
Secure Electronic Technology dominated the activity log with 59.7 million shares valued at N61.1 million, Wema Bank exchanged 52.0 million equities worth N1.4 billion, VFD Group transacted 36.0 million stocks for N410.5 million, Access Holdings sold 35.3 million shares valued at N914.8 million, and Chams traded 31.0 million equities worth N115.0 million.
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