Economy
Stock Exchange Begins Process to Delist Tourist Company of Nigeria
By Dipo Olowookere
Tourist Company of Nigeria may soon become the next organisation to be delisted from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, Business Post has learned.
Information reaching this newspaper authoritatively revealed that the NGX Regulations (NGX RegCo) Limited, a subsidiary of the NGX Group saddled with the responsibility of regulating the market, has been given the approval to begin the process of ejecting the firm from the exchange.
Tourist Company of Nigeria recently suspend
Recall that a few days ago, the Tourist Company of Nigeria was among the four companies suspended from the stock exchange for issues relating to poor corporate governance.
“Trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that pursuant to Rule 3.1, Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, (Default Filing Rules), which provides that, ‘If an issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will: a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period; b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities; and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension,’ trading in the shares of the four companies has been suspended from the facilities of the Nigerian Exchange Limited effective Friday, July 2, 2021, having failed to file their audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.
“In accordance with the Default Filing Rules set forth above, the suspension of trading in the shares of the above-mentioned companies will only be lifted upon the submission of the relevant accounts, provided NGX Regulation Limited is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange,” a statement from the NGX had read.
Delisting in Process
But the issue of the Tourist Company of Nigeria is not ending with suspension on trading of its stocks on the exchange like the other three.
The NGX is going further to remove the company from its platform and it has now placed it on its delisting in process category, with a Compliance Status Indicator (CSI) code of DIP, which means delisting in process.
Background to current issues
Tourist Company of Nigeria is one of the oldest firms on the exchange as it joined on January 1, 1970, according to its profile of the NGX.
Its nature of business is the operation of hotels, casinos and the provision of catering services. It operates the popular Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos. It has shares outstanding of 2,246,437,472 units and a market value of N6.4 billion and its last equity price was N2.84 each.
This is not the first time the firm is under the threat of being delisted on the exchange.
According to information gathered by Business Post, in 2015, the organisation was informed by the exchange of its intention to remove it from its platform as a result of free float deficiency issues and the board passed a resolution authorising the exchange to go ahead with this.
However, after about two years, the NGX said it was putting the delisting on hold because of corporate governance issues at Ikeja Hotel Plc, which is one of the key shareholders of the company.
Shareholding structure
Ikeja Hotel, another firm listed on the exchange, has a 12.2 per cent stake in the Tourist Company of Nigeria, according to its financial statements. Sun International Limited controls 49.3 per cent, Associated Ventures International Limited (a firm controlled by Goodie Ibru, a former Chairman of the company) has 18.7 per cent, while Oma Investments Limited (which is challenging the legality of the company’s operating management agreement currently in place for the management of TCN) has 18.1 per cent.
Financial performance
In its unaudited financial statements for 2020, Tourist Company of Nigeria reported a significant decline in revenue, especially from its gaming and hospitality business and this was mainly due to the restriction on movements and the shutting down of businesses in the year by the federal government to control the spread of COVID-19.
The company suffered a loss after tax of N6.5 billion in the year compared with the lost after tax of N1.2 billion reported in 2019.
Tourist Company of Nigeria has been making losses historically and has accumulated losses of N20.6 billion, higher than N14.1 billion in 2019.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian security depository company, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, has disclosed plans to pay N1.37 in dividends to new and existing shareholders for the 2022 financial year.
This was disclosed by the company in a notice to the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, where it trades its securities.
The notice indicated that the proposed dividend, comprising 87 Kobo dividend and 50 Kobo in special dividend, will be paid to those who hold the stocks of the company as of the qualification date for the dividend, which was Friday, June 2.
This means only those who hold the company’s shares as of the closing session will be eligible to receive the stipulated dividend payment.
The payment will be subject to the approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2022.
According to the, its AGM will hold at the Civic Centre, located at Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 10:00 a.m.
If the dividend payment is approved at the meeting, shareholders of the company will be credited on the same day as the annual general meeting.
The notice noted that the closure of the company’s register will be on Monday, June 5, through Friday, June 9, 2023, all days inclusive.
However, there was no bonus stipulated to be paid.
Cryptocurrency trading has offered a new way for investors to participate in the growing realm of digital assets. Unfortunately, navigating cryptocurrency trading requires a solid understanding of trading strategies and techniques for success.
As such, besides completing a crypto trading course, crypto traders should keep tabs on various tips to maximize their profits.
Learning various crypto trading principles, risk management strategies, and proper market analysis increases the chances of success. Here are a few tips to help you maximize profits.
Start Small and Scale Up Gradually
Most people venture into crypto trading anticipating overnight success and wealth. However, this is rarely the case for all. Instead, you should start your crypto trading journey with a small investment and increase your portfolio gradually as you gain experience.
Adopting this trading approach allows you to test and familiarize yourself with various trading strategies and market dynamics before risking significantly. Starting small also allows you to manage your emotions better, and you will be less likely to succumb to panic buying or selling.
Starting small also allows you to learn from your mistakes without incurring significant losses. You can gradually increase your investments as you get comfortable with the market and your trading strategy.
Use Stop-Loss Orders and Risk Management Strategies
The crypto market is very volatile, and your investments can disappear in minutes. Therefore, effectively managing your risks is crucial to long-term success. It also preserves your capital. The stop-loss order is among the many risk-management strategies you should always use at any given time.
It will allow you to set a predetermined price at which the trade automatically closes if the market goes against your predictions, limiting potential losses. Other risk management strategies include:
- Diversification – spreading your investments across different crypto coins and sectors is prudent. It reduces the risk on your investment portfolio and lowers the impact of poor-performing assets.
- Set realistic targets – you should establish realistic profit targets for your trades. Doing this helps you maintain discipline, as you won’t be stuck in the same position waiting for unrealistic profits.
- Review and adjust your strategy regularly – monitor and adjust your trading strategies as needed. Refine your choice of assets, entry/exit criteria, and risk management options.
Stay Informed
The cryptocurrency market is dynamic and widely known for rapid fluctuations. Therefore, traders should always be in the know and ready to adjust to market changes. Industry news, trends, and developments will give valuable insights to guide your trading decisions. Simple ways to stay informed include:
- Following reputable news sources – you should subscribe to reliable crypto websites, blogs, and newsletters to stay updated on recent market developments, regulatory changes, and tech advancements.
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- Engage with the crypto community – you should be active in online forums, chat platforms, and social media groups with discussions revolving around cryptocurrencies.
The Bottom Line
While there’s no pre-defined strategy for maximizing cryptocurrency trading profits, adhering to some best practices increases your chances of success. Develop a trading strategy, diversity your portfolio, stay updated on market news and use take profit and stop loss orders. Never trade blindly.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Despite the economic headwinds that affected many businesses in the 2022 financial year, Unity Bank Plc gave its shareholders something to savour as its performance improved in the period under review.
In the audited full-year financial statements of the company for 2022 submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, it was observed that gross earnings grew by 13.1 per cent to N57 billion from N50.2 billion in 2021, as the pre-tax profit stood at N1.1 billion and the net profit at N941.4 million.
A brief analysis showed that the total comprehensive income expanded by 262.1 per cent to N1.2 billion from N744 million in the corresponding period of 2021, as the 7.5 per cent increase in the loan book to N289.4 billion from N269.3 billion resulted in the improvement in interest and similar income to N48.9 billion from N43.2 billion.
Similarly, income from fees and commissions recorded significant growth, rising by 25.7 per cent to N7.68 billion from N6.1 billion.
More so, deposits from customers saw marginal growth, increasing by 1.6 per cent to N327.4 billion from N322.2 billion, as the lender pushes for deeper penetration of its retail footprint with the rollout of products targeting different market segments.
Meanwhile, Unity Bank also released its unaudited financials for Q1, 2023, in which it sustained improved performance, posting a 21 per cent growth in profit after tax to N1.04 billion from N869.2 million. Its gross earnings for the quarter also rose by 17 per cent to N15.9 billion, in contrast to the N13.6 billion posted a year earlier.
Commenting on the financial statements, the Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs Tomi Somefun, noted that the bank’s focus on building back momentum continues to reflect in the key performance indicators despite economic headwinds and volatilities that characterized the operating environment in the 2022 financial year.
“There are highs and lows as we look at the gross earnings, with 13.7 per cent growth, increase in liquid assets by 7.5 per cent and deposits recording moderate growth of 1.6 per cent, while maintaining steady growth in profitability,” she stated.
“Overall, the financial statement thus threw up both strong and less optimal points which inform the outlook for our business,” she further stated.
She reassures that going into the new financial year, the bank will focus on our strategic choices and key growth drivers to push all the indices and elevate growth to double-digit territory.
“The performance posted for Q1’23 in terms of the PBT, gross earnings, and other key indicators are strong reinforcement of adequate measures being adopted and a testament of our resolve to sustain and equally improve upon the fundamental initiatives adopted to strengthen growth throughout the financial year,” Mrs Somefun stated.
She further said: “Since late 2022, the Bank has begun significant investment in technology and innovation in line with its strategic pursuits to win in the retail space with our focus on digital and lifestyle banking, dynamic product development, and accelerated onboarding.
“As part of our transformation journey, we will double down on these investments in the coming months to achieve our aspirations of (1) significantly reducing customer pain points and simplifying customer experience; (2) increasing the rate of customer acquisition; (3) expanding the frontiers of partnerships; and (4) ultimately developing new and sustainable income lines for the bank.”
According to her, the bank will further give attention to fast-paced process automation, cost and resource efficiency, targeted value chain relationships, and brand visibility as it expands the range of products and services to meet the evolving needs of its esteemed customers.
Analysts believe that the growing retail footprint driving the repositioning strategy of the bank aligns with the market expectations, which is also reflected in the increasing uptake of the bank’s offering.
