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Notore Plans to Raise N40bn for Expansion

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By Dipo Olowookere

In order to meet up with its expansion plans, one of the makers of fertiliser in Nigeria, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, may need at least N40 billion.

According to a report by Reuters on Friday, the board will first need the approval of shareholders of the company to raise this fresh capital.

Last month, Business Post reported that the Group Deputy Managing Director of Notore, Mr Ohis Ohiwerei, had assured that the company will take various steps to boost profitability in the current financial year.

One of the ways listed to achieve this goal was to explore various financial initiatives to reduce the finance cost and diversify revenues to boost profitability.

In its financial results for the year ended September 30, 2019, the fertiliser manufacturer recorded a decline in revenue to N21.4 billion from N26.8 billion, while the gross profit reduced to N4.0 billion from N9.6 billion, with operating profit going down to N3.4 billion from N9.2 billion.

In the period under review, the company declared a loss before tax of N10.3 billion against N3.5 billion a year earlier and a loss after tax of N5.8 billion in contrast to N1.9 billion 12 months ago.

Thereafter, its auditors, PwC, pointed out that Notore may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

But the management said it was addressing the issues raised and has “embarked on a Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of its production plant and equipment to improve its reliability and increase production output.”

It further explained that, “The TAM programme will involve replacement/rehabilitation of some critical production equipment, stock up of some critical equipment spares and acquisition of a back-up 44 megawatts gas turbine.”

Quoting the company on Friday, Reuters said Notore plans to seek shareholder approval this month for the N40 billion capital increase.

It reported that the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Onajite Okoloko, explained that the funds would be used to boost access to capital to fund the company’s growth.

The firm was quoted as saying that it plans to gather its shareholders on Thursday, March 26, 2020, for the approval.

It further said it may raise the fresh capital through public offering or sell to existing shareholders via rights issue, or get the funds via bonds as a standalone or under a programme through book building.

Business Post reports that share price of Notore has remained static at N62.50 for a long time at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The company has a Below Listing Standard (BLS) mark on its counter at the exchange due to its free float deficiency.

At the close of business last Friday, only five units of the company’s stocks were traded at Customs Street, the headquarters of the NSE in Lagos.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

Nigeria Makes Maiden AfCFTA Shipment to Kenya

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By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s maiden shipment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has successfully arrived at the Mombasa Port in Kenya.

According to the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office in a statement, the development marks a historic moment for Africa’s trade landscape.

The Senior Trade Expert at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mr Olusegun Olutayo, said in line with its mandate under the leadership of the National Coordinator, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, the office had coordinated the landmark event.

He said the achievement marked a significant milestone for Nigeria in realising the vision of increased intra-African trade and economic integration championed by the agreement in line with the decision of the AU Assembly at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

“In times of escalating geopolitical tension and looming geo-economic fragmentation, AfCFTA presents a perfect opportunity for Africa to leverage trade as a strategic instrument for enhanced market access among state parties.

“This is a historic moment, a realisation of the vision of our continent’s founding fathers and mothers.”

He also said the first consignment which was a synthetic filaments product of Nigeria’s Lucky Fibres Limited (Lush), a subsidiary of the Tolaram Group, was exported under AfCFTA preferential terms.

Mr Olutayo lauded the bold economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, emphasising their catalytic role in enabling the country’s active participation in AfCFTA, fostering continental economic integration and industrialisation goals.

He also commended the seamless cooperation and commitment from Kenyan authorities, which exemplifies the true spirit of AfCFTA.

He acknowledged the pivotal leadership role of the AfCFTA Secretariat in fostering the success and emphasised the collaborative efforts of the Kenya AfCFTA Implementation Committee and the Kenya Revenue Authority (Customs).

According to him, the shipment, exported under AfCFTA preferential trade terms, underscores partnership, shared vision, the agreement’s potential to transform Africa’s economic landscape and pave the way for a new era of trade-driven prosperity.

The AfCFTA seeks to create a single market across Africa by reducing barriers to trade, investment, and labour.

The agreement’s goal is to increase socioeconomic development, reduce poverty, and make Africa more competitive globally.

On March 21, 2018, the AfCFTA agreement was adopted and opened for signature in Kigali, Rwanda. The agreement entered into force on May 30, 2019 and officially commenced on January 2021

Former President Muhammadu Buhari established the National Action Committee on AfCFTA (NAC) in December 2019.

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Capital Market Operators Get January 31 Deadline for Licence Renewal

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fixed January 31 as deadline for all Capital Market Operators (CMOs) to renew their operating licence.

In a circular to the operators on Sunday, the apex regulatory agency in the country’s capital market said the annual registration renewal would last between January 1 and 31, 2025.

SEC said the annual registration renewal enforcement for CMOs was aimed at ensuring that only “fit and proper” persons operate in the capital market, warning that CMOs without valid registration will be penalised and may be excluded from capital market activities.

”This is to inform all CMOs and the general public that the annual renewal of registration of CMOs for the year 2025 will commence from January 01.

“All CMOs applying for renewal are required to include their 2025 annual subscription receipt from their respective trade groups as part of their application.

“In line with the commission’s Rules & Regulations, all CMOs are to complete the process of renewal of registration for 2025 on or before January 31 via registration renewal portal at www.eportal.sec.gov.ng,” it said.

The commission added that CMOs desiring to make enquiries or get support to complete the process should contact [email protected].

The regulator said it had in 2021 re-introduced periodic registration renewal by CMOs to create a reliable active operators’ data bank in the country’s capital market.

It said the renewal arrangement aimed at updating operators information on capital market for official use by local and foreign investors, other regulatory agencies and the public.

The agency added that the renewals would drastically reduce incidences of unethical practices by CMOs which may affect investors’ confidence and impact the capital market negatively, noting that the exercise will strengthen supervision and monitoring of CMOs by the commission.

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Seven Equities Boost NASD OTC Securities Exchange by 1.24%

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The third trading week of 2025 ended on a positive note at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, with seven equities on the platform inspiring a 1.24 per cent growth.

Consequently, the market capitalisation of the bourse increased by N21.56 billion during the five-day trading week to N1.075 trillion from the N1.053 trillion quoted in the preceding week (Week 2) as the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) expanded by 37.98 points to 3,111.91 points from the 3,073.93 points it ended in the preceding week.

In the period under review, the volume of transactions went down by 42.1 per cent to 9.45 million units from the 16.30 million units in the previous week, as the value of trades declined by 53.1 per cent to N48.4 million from the N104.11 million, with these transactions completed in 122 deals involving 15 different stocks.

Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc gained 50 per cent in the week to close at 36 Kobo per share versus 34 Kobo per share, Mixta Real Estate Plc increased by 20 per cent to end at N2.58 per unit compared with the previous week’s N2.15 per unit, and Okitipupa Plc rose by 10 per cent to N39.59 per share from N35.99 per share.

Further, UBN Property Plc grew by 10 per cent to N2.20 per unit from N2.02 per unit, Newrest Asl Plc jumped by 9.9 per cent to N31.38 per share from N28.53 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc surged by 3.7 per cent to N39.65 per unit from N38.22 per unit, and 11 Plc advanced by 0.3 per cent to N256.00 per share from N255.31 per share.

FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc topped the activity chart last week by value with with N0.030 billion, 11 Plc recorded N0.009 billion, Central Security Clearing System (CSCS) Plc raked in N0.004 billion, IGI Plc followed with N0.002 billion, and Geo-Fluids Plc recorded N0.002 billion.

However, IGI Plc was the most traded instrument by volume with 7.5 million units, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc transacted 0.77 million units, UBN Property Plc recorded 0.38 million, Geo-Fluids Plc traded 0.37 million units, and CSCS Plc posted 0.16 million units.

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