Successful Fundraising to Support Operations
MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest mobile network operator, has successfully raised ₦75 billion through its commercial paper issuance program. The raised funds are intended to support the company’s daily operations and meet its immediate financial obligations.
Strong Investor Confidence Despite Market Challenges
The issuance represents the conclusion of the Series 11 and 12 rounds under MTN Nigeria’s ₦250 billion Commercial Paper Issuance Programme. Initially targeting ₦50 billion, the offer was significantly oversubscribed, with subscriptions reaching 150% and resulting in a total of ₦75.18 billion raised. According to a filing with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Friday, this high level of investor interest underscores continued confidence in MTN Nigeria, despite a turbulent financial environment.
Impact of Naira Devaluation on Financial Performance
While MTN Nigeria faced substantial economic headwinds, including a loss after tax of ₦514.9 billion for the nine months ending September 30, 2024, it still managed to attract strong investor support. The company’s losses were primarily driven by the devaluation of the Nigerian Naira, which resulted in net foreign exchange losses totaling ₦904.9 billion, significantly increasing finance costs during the period.
Service Revenue Growth Driven by Data and Fintech
Despite these financial setbacks, MTN Nigeria reported robust growth in service revenue, which rose by 33.6% year-on-year to ₦2.35 trillion. This impressive performance was fueled by a 52.3% increase in demand for data services, along with an 18% growth in its fintech services. The company’s strategic focus on expanding digital services continues to deliver positive results, helping to offset currency-related challenges.
Diverse Investor Participation, Excluding Pension Funds
The commercial paper issuance saw participation from a wide range of institutional investors, including asset managers, banks, and insurance companies. However, pension funds were notably absent due to a temporary suspension by the National Pension Commission. This restriction remains in place pending updated guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which may affect future participation from this sector.
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Source: InnovationVillage