Deposit taking licenses key to Letshego’s growth
Letshego Group Managing Director, Christopher Low
Botswana’s biggest multinational company has made great forays into African markets, expanding organically or buying into operations, in ten countries besides the home country.
Letshego’s first 15 years have seen the financial services group transformed from a small standalone office in Gaborone, of about 30 people, in 1998, to Botswana’s largest indigenous company with a presence in 10 countries in southern and East Africa.
The company is Botswana’s most heavily traded stock, with the shareholders now at 38 percent international investors as well as a market capitalisation of P5.4 billion, ranking in the top 40 listing of sub-Saharan companies ex-South Africa.
“Put another way we are larger than most banks in the markets in which we operate – our Botswana operations made well in excess of P300 million in post-tax profits this last year,” said Low.
Though the Group was denied a banking license in Botswana, it has managed to acquire deposit taking licenses in Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia.
“We have engaged in forums with the BoB (Bank of Botswana) in which they discussed their intention to review a tiered licensing structure. We welcome this development, as we believe it will aid financial inclusion and skills deepening across Botswana, and have indicated as much to the regulator.”
On the question of whether the Group will try again to obtain a deposit taking license in Botswana, Group Managing Director, Christopher Low, is previously quoted in another publication saying: “Given the projects currently being followed in Mozambique, Rwanda, Namibia, Tanzania, amongst others, we would rather wait until the BoB reverts with an update on the tiered licensing structure. Should this initiative progress, we would reconsider an application under the deposit-taking micro-finance tier.”
At Letshego’s Gala dinner which was held at Lansmore Masa hotel on Tuesday this week, Mr Low revealed that the company’s strategy will rely heavily on obtaining deposit taking licenses.
“However to really develop a fully-fledged diversified strategy we need to obtain deposit taking licences – we have gone live with these in Mozambique and Rwanda in 2014 and are aiming to do the same in Namibia this year” adding that, “once we obtain such licenses, we can offer our customers “any channel, anywhere” solutions to their financial needs, using the latest technology – these will be affordable, simple and appropriate to their needs.
Legodile Serema, board chair of Letshego group, affirming the stature of the Group, said that: “Letshego remains an indigenous Botswana force that is now a multinational company. It is effectively exporting Brand Botswana through the skills that are built amongst the more than 190 Batswana team members, approximately half of whom provide support at Group level to our 9 other country operations.”
The Group is expected to show strong growth in its financial results, with loans and advances to clients growing substantially.
Mr Low revealed that the Group’s revenue mix is improving, and following the acquisition of a micro-finance business with operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda three years ago, some 6 percent of revenues come from this business. “We are looking to roll this model out to further countries, including in Botswana,” he said.
In the last two years, Letshego has raised medium term notes (debt finance) of over P 1 billion Pula on both the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) – which has assisted the Company to improve its balance sheet leverage.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The financial results of Letshego Holdings Group for the year ended 31 December 2014, which were released this week, reflect double digit growth in profit after taxation and advances to clients.
Profit before tax increased by 24 percent to P970 million. Margins were consistent with the prior period despite the prevailing competitive Environment. 60 percent of profits before tax were generated outside of Botswana. Cost to income ratio was reduced to 29 percent. Impairment charges were 2.0 percent on average net advances. Capital adequacy ratio remains above 60 percent.
Advances to customers (net) increased by 28 percent to P5.7 billion while the payroll portfolio increased by 26 percent to P5.3 billion. The microfinance portfolio increased 117 percent to P370 million. The customer base grew by 11 percent to 265,265. Customer access points have extended to 252.
The largest contributors to advances growth in absolute terms were Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana, contributing P944 million (75 percent) of net increase, as well as driving the payroll portfolio growth. Lesotho operations’ portfolio doubled to P190 million. Growth in the Swaziland portfolio was revived after product reviews, closing at P151 million, up 41 percent from the prior period. The Company has doubled the dividend payout ratio, paying out a dividend of some P197 million.
Business
LLR transforms from Company to Group reporting
Botswana Stock Exchange listed diversified real estate company, Letlole La Rona Limited (“LLR” or “the Company” or “the Group”), posted its first set of group financial statements which comprise the Company and Group consolidated accounts, which show strong financial performance for the six months ended 31 December 2023, with improvements across all key metrics.
The Company commenced the financial year with the appointment of a Deputy Chairperson, Mr Mooketsi Maphane, in order to bolster its governance and enhance leadership continuity through the development of a Board and Executive Management Succession Plan.
At operational level, LLR increased its shareholding in Railpark Mall from 32.79% to 57.79% and proudly took over the management of this prime asset.
The CEO of LLR, Ms Kamogelo Mowaneng commented “During the period under review, our portfolio continued to perform strongly, with improvements across all key metrics as a result of our ongoing focus on portfolio growth and optimisation.
“We are pleased to report a successful first half of the 2024 financial year, where we managed to not only grow the portfolio through strategic acquisitions and value accretive refurbishments but also recycled capital through the disposal of Moedi House as well as the ongoing sale of section titles at Red Square Apartments. The acquisition of an additional 25% stake in JTTM Properties significantly uplifted the value of our investment portfolio to P2.0 billion at a Group level. Our investment portfolio was further differentiated by the quality of our tenant base, as demonstrated by above market occupancy levels of 99.15% and strong collections of above 100% for the period”.
The growth in contractual revenue of 9% from the prior year’s P48.0 million to the current year P52.2 million, increased income from Railpark Mall, coupled with high collection rates, has enabled the company to declare a distribution of 9.11 thebe per linked unit, which is in line with the prior year.
In line with its strategic pillars of ‘Streamlined and Expanded Botswana Portfolio’ as well as ‘Quality African Assets’, the Group continuously monitors the performance of its investments to ensure that they meet the targeted returns.
“The Group continues to explore yield accretive opportunities for balance sheet growth and funding options that can be deployed to finance that growth” further commented the CEO of LLR Ms Kamogelo Mowaneng.
Ms Mowaneng further thanked the Group’s stakeholders for their continued support and stated that they look forward to unlocking further value in the Group.
Business
Botswana’s Electricity Generation Dips 26.4%
The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has reported a significant decrease in electricity generation for the fourth quarter of 2023, with output plummeting by 26.4%. This decline is primarily attributed to operational difficulties at the Morupule B power plant, as per the latest Botswana Index of Electricity Generation (IEG) released recently.
Local electricity production saw a drastic reduction, falling from 889,535 MWH in the third quarter of 2023 to 654,312 MWH in the period under review. This substantial decrease is largely due to the operational challenges at the Morupule B power plant. Consequently, the need for imported electricity surged by 35.6% (136,243 MWH) from 382,426 MWH in the third quarter to 518,669 MWH in the fourth quarter. This increase was necessitated by the need to compensate for the shortfall in locally generated electricity.
Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) was the principal supplier of imported electricity, accounting for 43.1% of total electricity imports during the fourth quarter of 2023. Eskom followed with 21.8%, while the remaining 12.1, 10.3, 8.6, and 4.2% were sourced from Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM), Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Nampower, and Cross-border electricity markets, respectively. Cross-border electricity markets involve the supply of electricity to towns and villages along the border from neighboring countries such as Namibia and Zambia.
Distributed electricity exhibited a decrease of 7.8% (98,980 MWH), dropping from 1,271,961 MWH in the third quarter of 2023 to 1,172,981 MWH in the review quarter.
Electricity generated locally contributed 55.8% to the electricity distributed during the fourth quarter of 2023, a decrease from the 74.5% contribution in the same quarter of the previous year. This signifies a decrease of 18.7 percentage points. The quarter-on-quarter comparison shows that the contribution of locally generated electricity to the distributed electricity fell by 14.2 percentage points, from 69.9% in the third quarter of 2023 to 55.8% in the fourth quarter. The Morupule A and B power stations accounted for 90.4% of the electricity generated during the fourth quarter of 2023, while Matshelagabedi and Orapa emergency power plants contributed the remaining 5.9 and 3.7% respectively.
The year-on-year analysis reveals some improvement in local electricity generation. The year-on-year perspective shows that the amount of distributed electricity increased by 8.2% (88,781 MWH), from 1,084,200 MWH in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 1,172,981 MWH in the current quarter. The trend of the Index of Electricity Generation from the first quarter of 2013 to the fourth quarter of 2023 indicates an improvement in local electricity generation, despite fluctuations.
The year-on-year analysis also reveals a downward trend in the physical volume of imported electricity. The trend in the physical volume of imported electricity from the first quarter of 2013 to the fourth quarter of 2023 shows a downward trend, indicating the country’s continued effort to generate adequate electricity to meet domestic demand, has led to the decreased reliance on electricity imports.
In response to the need to increase local generation and reduce power imports, the government has initiated a new National Energy Policy. This policy is aimed at guiding the management and development of Botswana’s energy sector and encouraging investment in new and renewable energy. In the policy document, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Lefoko Moagi stated that the policy aims to transform Botswana from being a net energy importer to a self-sufficient nation with surplus energy for export into the region. Moagi expressed confidence that Botswana has the potential to achieve self-sufficiency in electric power supply, given the country’s readily available energy resources such as coal and renewable sources.
Business
MMG acquires Khoemacau in a transaction valued at P23Bn
MMG Limited, the Hong Kong-based mining company specializing in base metals, has successfully concluded the acquisition of Khoemacau Copper Mine, a state-of-the-art, world-class copper asset nestled in the northwest of Botswana.
On Monday, MMG announced that the acquisition of Khoemacau Mine in Botswana was finalized on 22nd March 2024. “This acquisition enriches the company’s portfolio with a top-tier, transformative growth project and signifies a monumental milestone in the Company’s journey,” MMG communicated in an official statement published on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Upon completion of the acquisition, MMG remitted to the Sellers an Aggregate Consideration of approximately US$1,734,657,000 (over P23 billion), a sum subject to potential adjustments post-Completion.
In addition to the Aggregate Consideration, MMG, in accordance with the Agreement, advanced an aggregate amount of approximately US$348,580,000 (over P4.5 billion) as the Aggregate Debt Settlement Amount, to settle certain debt balances of the Target Group (Cuprous Capital/Khoemacau).
On November 21, 2023, Khoemacau announced that the shareholders of its parent company [Cuprous Capital] had agreed to sell 100% of their interests to MMG Limited.
MMG is a global resources company that mines, explores, and develops copper and other base metals projects on four continents. The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and has a significant shareholder, China Minmetals Corporation, which is China’s largest metals and minerals group owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
On December 22, 2023, Khoemacau Copper Mining (Pty) Ltd received the approval from the Minister of Minerals and Energy of Botswana regarding the transfer of a controlling interest in the Project Licenses and Prospecting Licenses associated with the Khoemacau Copper Mine, a result of the Acquisition.
The Botswana Competition & Consumer Authority (CCA) on January 29, 2024, notified the market that it had given its approval for the takeover of Khoemacau Copper Mining by MMG Limited.
On January 29, 2024, the CCA issued a merger decision to the market, stating that after conducting all necessary assessments, it was ready to proceed.
The Competition Authority affirmed that the structure of the relevant market would not significantly change upon implementation of the proposed merger as the proposed transaction is not likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition, nor endanger the continuity of service in the market of mining of copper and silver ores and the production, and sale or supply of copper concentrate in Botswana.
Furthermore, the CCA stated that the proposed merger would not have any negative impact on public interest matters in Botswana as per the provisions of section 52(2) of the Competition Act 2018.
Earlier this month, Minister of Minerals & Energy, Lefoko Maxwell Moagi, informed parliament that his Ministry was endorsing the Khoemacau acquisition by MMG Limited. He noted that not only was the company acquiring the existing operation but also committing to an expansion program that would cost over $700 million to double production, create more jobs for Batswana, and increase taxes and royalties paid to the Government.