Banks profitability declines in 2014
Business
Bank of Bostwana Governor, Linah Mohohlo
The banks regulator, the Bank of Botswana has reported that the banking sector financial performance and profitability declined in 2014 due to a decrease in interest margins.
In its latest Banking Supervision Annual Report for 2014, the bank reports that the banking sector after-tax profit decreased by 16.7percent to P1.5 billion for the period ended December 31, 2014 from P1.8 billion in December 2013. This contrasted with a positive growth rate of 0.1 percent in 2013.
The regulator highlighted that decline in profitability was largely due to the prevailing low interest rate environment in the country coupled with a 31.2 percent increase in the total provisions charge for loan impairments to P760 million in December 2014 compared to P579.4 million in 2013,contributed to the decline in profits.
Despite the decline in profitability, BoB says, the profitability ratios for the banking sector remained strong and above international norms for comparable sized banks. “Generally, the banking sector remained safe, sound and stable during 2014.”
The bank reports that total assets of the banking sector grew by 13.4 percent to P68 billion in December 2014, compared to the marginal increase of 3.5 percent recorded the prior year.
“All banks, with the exception of one small bank, recorded an increase in assets,” BoB stated. The significant increase in assets was mainly from placements with other banks, which increased by 50.3 percent to P9.6 billion in December 2014 from P6.4 billion in December 2013. Seventy six percent of these funds were placements with foreign affiliated banks.
In addition the growth was funded by customer deposits, which increased by 6 percent to P51.5 billion in December 2014 from P48.6 billion in December 2013. Customer deposits continued to constitute a significant portion of the liabilities at 75.7 percent.
Due to tight liquidity in the banking sector, the banks managed balance due to other banks. BoB reports that Vostro and domestic balances increased significantly by 157 percent to P3.6 billion at year-end from P1.4 billion in December 2013.
“This could imply that some banks increased their borrowing in the interbank and foreign markets to cover the shortfall in liquidity experienced in 2014. Shareholders’ funds made 11.4 percent of total liabilities P7.7 billion,” BoB stated.
During the 2014 period total credit to the household sector stood at P25.2 billion, which represented 55.8 percent of total loans and advances. Unsecured personal loans constituted the largest proportion of loans to the household sector, at 60.4 percent in December 2014; down from 62 percent in December 2013. This was followed by mortgage and motor vehicle loans at 30.5 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively.
The bank noted that banking sector total statutory liquid assets were almost constant at P7.4 billion for the period under review. Liquid assets comprised cash, BoBCs and current account balances with domestic banks. However, the Liquid Assets to Total Deposits ratio continued to be on a downward trajectory, reaching a low of 14.5 percent as at December 31, 2014. The ratio was, however, above the statutory minimum limit of 10 percent. Similarly, the Liquid Assets to Total Assets and Liquid Assets to Short Term Liabilities ratios maintained the downward trend.
“The decrease in these ratios was due to the continued decline in BoBC holdings by banks, which historically constituted a large proportion of banks’ liquid assets. As a result, funds initially invested in BoBCs were channeled to loans and advances and other investment assets which do not qualify as liquid assets,” the bank said.
The banking sector continued to be dominated by commercial banks. Their share of total deposits declined slightly, from 80 percent in 2013 to 79 percent in 2014. Their share of total assets and total loans and advances remained unchanged at 81 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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