Choppies chaos crashes BSE Domestic Company Index
Business
Failure by Choppies Enterprise Limited a fast expanding pan-African retail giant to submit and publish audited financial results on time has crashed the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) Domestic Company Index (DCI) figures, resulting in 11.4 percent decline for the year 2018.
On the 28th September 2018; Choppies lost 76.3 percent of its value when the share price plummeted from P1.69 to P0.40 in a single day. On that day, its market capitalisation slumped from P2.2 Billion to P521.5 Million. The DCI is indicia that shows aggregate changes in market value on the basis of share prices. For the year 2018 DCI declined by 11.4 percent compared to a decline of 5.8 percent in 2017.
Eight companies compared to 12 in 2017 registered positive price changes while 14 compared to 11 in the prior year registered negative price movements and four compared to 1 in 2017 closed the year with share prices back to their 2017 levels. A market status report for the period January –December 31st 2018 released by BSE this week reiterates that the impact of Choppies Enterprise Limited, arising from its failure to submit audited financials on time, on the decline in the total domestic market capitalisation and subsequently the DCI cannot be ignored.
“Due to this, Choppies contributed 41.2 percent to the decline in the DCI. In other words Choppies contributed negative 4.7 percentage points to the negative 11.4 percent decline in the DCI in 2018,” reads the report. Equity markets figures for the year 2018 depicts turnover levels drop of 25 percent when compared to that of 2017. The Exchange attributes this experience mainly to three events that occurred in the year and also in the prior year.
These are the introduction of the minimum brokerage commission of 60 basis points (0.60 percent) in April 2016, the reallocation of investment mandates in 2018 by some of the largest pension funds in the country following termination of investment management contracts at two of the largest local asset managers and lastly the decline in share prices.
“Given the dominance of institutional investors both local and international in our market, the increase in transaction costs was definitely a sensitive issue particularly coinciding with a slowdown in corporate earnings as it effectively eroded their returns. Perhaps the suspension of Choppies could be an additional factor, given its liquidity in the market,” states the report. Prior to its suspension from trading Choppies was the 4th most traded company on the BSE.
A further assessment of equity market Statistics indicates that majority of the listed companies recorded reduced earnings resulting in share price declines, but to the delight of the investors they maintained attractive dividend payouts closing the year at total dividend yield of 5.5 percent versus 5.1 percent in 2017.
BSE registers record high tradability and liquidity during 2018
On a positive note BSE closed the year 2018 on record high overall tradability and liquidity of listed instruments. A total turnover of P4.4 billion was recorded in 2018 compared to P3.2 billion in 2017. This information is also contained in the BSE market status report. The stock exchange discharged impressive performance on the capital market by raising a total of P3.2 billion locally in the bond market compared to P2.3 billion in 2017, mirroring an improvement of 39.1percent.
On the equity market, P296.8 million was raised as BancABC was the only company that undertook a public offer in 2018 compared to P575 million raised through public offers in 2017. Seed Co listed by introduction. For the Bond Market BSE trades it’s Index Series (BBIS) under a series of four bond indices being Composite Bond Index (BBI), Government Bond Index (GovI), Corporate Bond Index (CorpI) and Composite Fixed Rate Bond Index (BBIFixed).
In 2018, the BSE Bond Index Series (BBIS) appreciated by 3.2 percent whereas the GovI and CorpI registered returns of 3.5 percent and 3.3 percent respectively. The BBIFixed returned 2.6 percent since its introduction in April 2018. Inflation averaged 3.2% in 2018; meaning that listed bonds provided purchasing power protection, save for the fixed rate bonds. 10 Inflation in the year predominantly remained within the objective range of 3 percent-6 percent whereas interest rates were held constant throughout the year.
The value of bonds traded increased over four times from P535.6 million in 2017 to P2, 222.7 million in 2018. Government bonds continued to dominate liquidity of the market accounting for 97.9 percent of total turnover. The BSE registered a record number of new bond listings as 10 new bonds came on board compared to 8 in 2017. “This cushioned the impact of the 4 bond delisting in the year.
Even though Government bonds accounted for the majority of trading activity corporate bonds dominated in terms of the quantity of bonds listed, a phenomenon that in most African markets is the reverse,” explains the market status report. At sector level, the profile of the bond market at the end of 2018 was such that Government bonds accounted for 63.8 percent of market capitalization, Quasi-Government (1.3 percent), Parastatals (7.9 percent), Corporate (25.3 percent) and Supranational (1.7 percent).
Business
Grit divests from Letlole La Rona
Grit Services Limited, a member of the pan African real estate group, London Stock Exchange listed Grit Real Estate Income Group is divesting from Letlole La Rona Limited (LLR), a local real estate company established by government investment arm Botswana Development Corporation over a decade ago.
The Board of Directors of Letlole La Rona Limited this week announced in a statement to Unitholders that Grit Services Limited (‘Grit’) has informed them of its intention to exit its investment in the company.
Grit has been a material shareholder in LLR since 2019. On 07 March 2023, Grit sold 6 421 000 linked units, representing 2.29% of the Company’s total securities in issue, at a market value of BWP 22 537 710.
This trade follows previous sales of 6.79% in December 2022, as communicated to Unitholders on 10 January 2023, as well as a further sale of 4.78% (representing 13 347 068 linked units) on 24 February 2023 to various shareholders.
In aggregate, Grit has sold 13.9% shareholding in the Letlole La Rona between December 2022 and March 2023, resulting in current shareholding of 11.25% in the Company.
Letlole La Rona said in the statement that the exit process will take place in an orderly manner so as to maintain stability of the Company’s share price.
The statement explained that Grit’s sale of its entire shareholding in LLR is in line with its decision to exit investments where it does not have majority control, or where it has significant exposure to currencies other than US dollar, Euro or hard-currency-pegged revenue streams.
“Grit has announced similar decisions pertaining to certain of its hospitality assets in Mauritius recently. The Company would like to advise Unitholders that it remains focused on long-term value delivery to all stakeholders” LLR said
In July last year as part of their Go-to-Africa strategy Letlole La Rona acquired an initial 30% equity stake in Orbit Africa Logistics, with an option to increase this investment to 50%. OAL is a special purpose vehicle incorporated in Mauritius, owning an industrial asset in a prime industrial node in Nairobi, Kenya.
The co-investment was done alongside a wholly owned subsidiary of London listed Grit. The Orbit facility is situated on a prime industrial site on Mombasa Road, the principal route south of Nairobi center, serving the main industrial node, the port of Mombasa and the industrial town of Athi River and is strategically located 11 kilometers south of the international airport and 9.6 kilometers from the Inland Container Depot.
Grit shareholding in Letlole La Rona was seen as strategic for LLR, for the company to leverage on Grit’s already existing continental presence and expand its wings beyond Botswana borders as already delivered by Kenya transaction.
Media reports have however suggested that LLR and Grit have since late last year had fundamental disagreements on how to go about the Go-to-Africa strategy amongst other things, fuelled by alleged Botswana government interference on the affairs of LLR.
Government through LLR founding shareholder – Botswana Development Corporation has a controlling stake of around 40 percent in the company. Government is the sole shareholder of Botswana Development Corporation.
Letlole La Rona recently released their financial results for the six months ended December 2022, revenue increased by 4% to P50.2 million from P48.4 million in the prior comparative six months, whilst operating profit was up 8% to P36.5 million. Profit before tax of P49.7 million was reported, an increase of 8% on the prior comparative six months.
“We are encouraged by the strong results, notwithstanding a challenging economic environment. Our performance was mainly underpinned by annual lease escalations, our quality tenant base and below average market vacancy levels, especially in our warehouse portfolio,” Kamogelo Mowaneng, Letlole La Rona Chief Executive Officer commented.
LLR reported a weighted average lease expiry period of 3.3 years and escalation rates averaging 6.8% per annum for the period ended 31 December 2022.Its investment portfolio value increased by 14% year-on-year to close the period at P1.4 billion, mainly driven by the acquisition of a 30% stake in OAL in July 2022.
The Company also recorded a significant increase in other income, predominantly due to foreign exchange gains on the OAL shareholder loan. “We continue to explore pipeline opportunities locally, and regionally in line with our Go-to-Africa strategy and our interest remains on value-accretive investments,” Mowaneng said.
An interim distribution of 9.11 thebe per linked unit was declared on the 6th of February 2023 for the half-year period to 31 December 2022, comprising of a dividend of 0.05 thebe and debenture interest of 9.06 thebe per linked unit which will be paid to linked unit holders registered in the books of the Company at the close of business on 24 February 2023.
Business
Stargems Group establishes Training Center in BW
Internationally-acclaimed diamond manufacturing company StarGems Group has established the Stargems Diamond Training Center which will be providing specialized training in diamond manufacturing and evaluation.
The Stargems Diamond Training Institute is located at the Stargems Group Botswana Unit in Gaborone.
“In accordance with the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS) which holds the principle that through education and skills development as well as the strategic alignment between national ambitions and individual capabilities, Botswana will become a prosperous, productive and innovative nation due to the quality and efficacy of its citizenry. The Training Centre will provide a range of modules in theory and in practice; from rough diamond evaluation to diamond grading and polishing for Batswana, at no cost for eight weeks. The internationally- recognized certificate offered in partnership with Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School presents invaluable opportunities for Batswana to access in the diamond industry locally and internationally. The initiative is an extension of our Corporate Social Investment to the community in which we operate,” said Vishal Shah, Stargems Group Managing Director, during the launch of the Stargems Diamond Training Center.
In order to participate in this rare opportunity, interested candidates are invited to submit a police clearance certificate and a BGCSE certificate only to the Stargems offices. Students who excel in these programs will have the chance to be onboarded by the Stargems Group. This serves as motivation for them to go through this training with a high level of seriousness.
“Community empowerment is one of our CSR principles. We believe that businesses can only thrive when their communities are well taken of. We are hoping that our presence will be impactful to various communities and economies. In the six countries that we are operating in, we have contributed through dedicating 10% of our revenues during COVID-19 to facilitate education, donating to hospitals and also to NGOs committed to supporting women and children living with HIV. One key issue that we are targeting in Botswana is the rate of unemployment amongst the youth. We are looking forward to working closely with the government and other relevant authorities to curb unemployment,” said Shah.
Currently, Stargems Group has employed 117 Batswana and they are looking forward to growing the numbers to 500 as the company grows. Majority of the employees will be graduates from the Stargems Diamond Training Center. This initiation has been received with open arms by the general public and stakeholders. During the launch, the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Honorable Lefoko Moagi, stated that the ministry fully endorses Stargems Diamond Training and will work closely with the Group to support and grow the initiative.
“As a ministry, we see this as an game changer that is aligned with one of the United Nations’ Six Priority Sustainable Development Goals, which is to Advance Opportunity and Impact for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). What Stargems Group is launching today will have a huge impact on the creation of employment in Botswana. An economy’s productivity rises as the number of educated workers increases as its skilled workmanship increases. It is not a secret that low skills perpetuate poverty and widen the inequality gap, therefore the development of skills has the potential to contribute significantly to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and helping the country become more competitive. We are grateful to see the emergence of industry players such as Stargems Group who have strived to create such opportunities that mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economy,” said the Minister of Minerals and Energy.
Business
Food import bill slightly declines
The latest figures released by Statistics Botswana this week shows that food import bill for Botswana slightly declined from around P1.1 billion in November 2022 to around P981 million in December during the same year.
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