BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
Sequential quarterly Commercial Portfolio growth continues the trend that started last year, up 3% QoQ to reach $5.7 billion, driven by higher loan origination (+5% QoQ), with a continued focus on defensive sectors and stricter credit underwriting standards.
During 1Q21, Bladex continues to collect virtually all loan maturities (close to 100% since the onset of Covid-19), evidencing the high quality of the Bank s borrower base and short-term nature of its business.
As of March 31, 2021, Bladex s credit quality remains sound, with a well-diversified exposure across countries, having 57% of the Commercial Portfolio in investment grade countries, 53% with financial institutions and 18% with sovereign and state-owned corporations. As well, Bladex continues with the downsize of exposures to higher risk sectors since the onset of Covid-19, such as sugar (-46%) and airlines (-67%), now representing 1% and 0.8% of the total portfolio, respectively.
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It was meant to be a master stroke that would secure the bank permanently under their armpit, boost their ego and keep their antagonists at bay, but the sacking of Dr Adesola Adeduntan, First Bank Managing Director, by the bank’s board members, turned out to be their undoing as they underestimated the capacity and resolve of those they were dealing with.
The attempt to remove Adeduntan earned them a sack from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the board was dissolved, while Adeduntan was reinstated. The drama started the day after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its holding company, FBN Holdings Plc, on Tuesday April 27. At the AGM, First Bank, the commercial banking arm of the Group, headed by Dr Adeduntan, posted gross earnings of ₦539.0billion, total assets of ₦7.4trillion and profit after tax of ₦67.8billion. The performance was considered good enough by the shareholders because the arm made significant contribution to the fortunes of the Group.
Executive Magazine
What options do Lebanese banks have?
Anwar Amro / AFP
One year into Lebanon’s economic crisis, country total net losses are estimated at more than 44 billion dollars by the World Bank’s recent report as of early Q2 2020 and as mentioned in the Government reform plan of April 2020 (at a foreign exchange rate estimated at 3,500 Lebanese pounds to the dollar). This results from losses at the Lebanon central bank (BDL), losses in the banking sector, and losses at the government level mainly from the Eurobonds default. In this regard, the banking sector needs a deep restructuring to reorganize its assets and build back the needed trust from its internal and external clients.
A recent review of the status of Nigeria’s banking industry at the backdrop of the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the overall economy has indicated sound fundamentals. But the policy powerhouse of the apex financial regulatory authority also hinted of some downside risks and weak links.
Vanguard’s analysis of the financial performance of the leading banks in Nigeria indicated a significant drop in revenue and profitability on industry-wide scale.
However, the personal positions of members of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, of the CBN has given a near-clean bill of health to the industry, while pointing to some red flags in the first quarter of 2021.
Louis Achi
On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, the Senate passed an Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Amendment bill that empowers the corporation to, among others, take possession, manage or sell all property traced to debtors.
This is notwithstanding whether or not such assets or property were used as security/collateral for obtaining the loan in particular.
The passage of the crucial bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions. AMCON is also being empowered to access the Special Tribunal established by the BOFIA, 2020 for dealing with financial related matters.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), in his presentation said the Committee engaged with stakeholders such as AMCON, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Central Bank of Nigeria; and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).