Private Financing of Public Infrastructure, A way For West Africa (UGBS Public Lecture)

You are all invited to a very important Public Lecture to be delivered on Oct. 25th @ UGBS by Prof John Macomber, Professor of Finance at Harvard business School.  

ABSTRACT 

Africa and the world face three large trends:  rapid and massive urbanization; current and worsening resource scarcity; and the apparent inability of national governments to mobilize investment in urban infrastructure to get ahead of these problems.  At the same time, the world is awash in liquidity as trillions of dollars realize close to zero yield in the global capital markets.  How can thoughtful private investment and delivery of public infrastructure be attracted and channelled to address this “infrastructure paradox”?  This lecture provides an opportunity to discuss the broader opportunities available for private financing of public infrastructure, and then explore how these opportunities might be exploited and accomplished in western Africa.

Speaker profile

Professor John Macomber Lectures in Finance at the Harvard Business School, where his research and teaching focuses on exploring opportunities for private financing of public infrastructure in cities in the Global South.  He has undertaken field research in Latin America, Africa, and South Asia, and his sectors of interest include power, transportation, water/sanitation, and waste.   Prof. Macomber’s professional background is in construction and real estate before joining the HBS faculty.  He is a member of the Executive Committee of Harvard’s Center for African Studies.

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NEWS RELEASE: AngloGold Ashanti Update on Unprotected Strike at South Africa mines

NEWS RELEASE: (Johannesburg)  –  AngloGold  Ashanti (AGA)  confirms that  its  mines  in  South  Africa remain  at  a standstill  amid the unprotected  strike  which  began  on 20 September  2012 at the Kopanang operation  and spread to the  remaining  five  operations  on  25  September  2012. Our priority remains to protect the safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate and we continue to work with the authorities to that end. AngloGold Ashanti has

Week in Focus: How stocks performed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE)

New week, new gains, new losses, the GSE did not show any clear direction. On Monday the Ghana Stock Exchange gained some ground as gains in CAL Bank and Mechanical Lloyd Company (MLC) offset losses in two other equities. The GSE-Composite Index closed at 1,036.48 points, from 1,035.97 points and the GSE-Financial Stock Index closed at 872.44 points, up 0.64 points from 871.80 points. A total of 0.35 million shares traded, a 51.39% decline from the 0.72 million shares traded at the previous session. The corresponding trade value was GHS0.10 million, 43.76% less than the previous session.

Sector by Sector Market Capitalization for 1st Half, 2012 on Ghana Stock Exchange

Courtesy: CBL Research

By the end of the first half of 2012, the most capitalized sector on GSE is the Mining and Oil Sector. This sector had a market capitalization of GHS 48,874.46 million, making 88.81%. This sector can boast of a mining giant,

Ecobank Ghana (EBG) held lion's share of trade value - Market records worst performance

CBL:- The Stock Market recorded its worst day-on-day performance today, as the major indices (GSE Composite Index & GSE Financial Stock Index) fell, following losses in three equities. The GSE-Composite Index returned -0.96% as it fell 10.04 points from 1,040.70 points to 1,030.66 points. The GSE-Financial Stock Index closed at 883.00 points, from 893.32 points.

CAL BANK was dominant in terms of volume traded, accounting for

1st Quarter Analysis of the Manufacturing sector on the Ghana Stock Exchange

The Manufacturing sector on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) include stocks like that of Unilever Ghana Ltd. (UNIL), PZ Cussons Ghana Ltd. (PZC), Aluworks Limited (ALW) and the Pioneer Kitchen Limited (PKL). PKL is no more listed on the GSE with effect from 26^th March 2012 due to a sanction from the exchange for refusing to observe the continuing listing obligation including failure to hold annual general meetings. This move by the GSE reduces the market capitalization and that of the manufacturing sector by about GHS 2 million (about $1.25 million).

This sector on the exchange is dominated by Unilever Ghana Ltd; with a market capitalization of GHS 509.37 million (about $312.50 million), making it the most capitalized in the manufacturing sector.

UNIL

Unilever Ghana Limited (UNIL) manufactures and markets consumer goods throughout Ghana some of which includes toilet soaps, personal products, detergents, and consumable food products.

UNIL: 1st Quarter Chart on GSE: (courtesy; Bloomberg & GSE) 

This year, UNIL began trading at GHS 6.64 (03.01.12) per share on the exchange and saw price hikes to close at GHS 8.15 as at today with a Year-High of GHS 8.15 and a Year-Low of GHS 6.63. An investment made in UNIL exactly one year ago would yield 31.34% profit.  UNIL records a Price/Book value of 8.0428 in the most recent Quarter with Earning per share and Price/Earnings ratio of 0.5081 and 16.0388 (trailing 12 months) respectively.

PZC

PZC 1st Quarter Chart on GSE: (courtesy; Bloomberg & GSE) 

PZ Cussons Ghana Ltd. (PZC) is another company in the manufacturing sector on the GSE. This company is the manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics and beauty products. PZC began trading on the exchange in 2012 with a share price of 0.24p (03.01.12) and since then, there was no price change. The 1^st quarter did not favour PZC in terms of price change although it traded some volumes of share in the quarter. With a market capitalization of GHS 40.32 million, PZC recorded a dividend yield (trailing 12 months) of GHS 1.5694 and as reported by Bloomberg, an enterprise value of GHS 38.54 million.

ALW

ALW: 1st Quarter Chart on GSE: (courtesy; Bloomberg & GSE) 

Aluworks Ghana Limited as the name implies works with aluminum. It is an aluminum rolling mill with produces semi-finished and finished aluminum sheet in coil, circles, flat sheet and corrugated roofing sheets. This company was incorporated on February 24, 1978 and currently has a market capitalization of GHS 6.44 million making it the lowest in the manufacturing sector on the exchange since PKL has been suspended. ALW began the quarter and the year with a 0.13p share price (03.01.12)  and later dropped to 0.12p to 0.9p and now closed at 0.07p per share. With an obvious Year-High of 0.13p and a Year-low of 0.07p/share, ALW has a Price/Book of 0.2355, Earning per share (trailing 12 months) of -0.0977 and an Enterprise value of GHS 28.04 million.

The Manufacturing Sector as a whole did not performed so well despite the driving and dominating strength of UNIL in the sector. Investors should follow closely activities in this particular sector and look for the opportunities. 

Building the Economy: Middle Class of Ghana Unconcerned

Are we really sleeping? Then it is time to wake up.

The Middle Class in Ghana, simply don't care. They find means to solve public problems in personal ways and just remain unconcerned, very quiet!! It's a culture problem, people say. Others say Ghanaians just think about their families and not the Public. Scholars blame it on education, stating that, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". But is this helping the nation? Would it ever? How can we develop with this? Why won't us remain poor? Failed government or State, Failed Top Class, Now failing Middle class & educated elites, and the Voiceless/uneducated poor (which are the most populated).

We have the platforms, we don't use them. We have the knowledge, we don't apply it to help our nation, the worst of all, we sell them cheap to other nations. We have the energy, we misuse it. Oh Mother Ghana!!! How long would the Middle Class decide to be silent. It's pathetic they understand the problems better than anyone but decide to stay away.

Typical Middle Class (educated elites) Behaviors:

Power outage:- Put on the generator (For the family alone) and shut up.

Water Problem:- Get enough Poly-tanks to store water for the family. Don't care about the community or person next door (who's probably voiceless).

Education:- Send children to schools abroad. (No Teachers' strike).

Health:- Go to private hospitals. Don't care if doctors are on strike.

Ehhhhh!!!! My people. Are we safe? When the Voiceless or low class decide to talk or fight back, can we stand them? Ghana, we can't afford to fail God and the next Generation. Let's act NOW in all sectors of the economy. Let's be responsible and not think about our families alone. Let's build the economy of Ghana.

Oh Ghana!!!!. God Help us. Long Live Ghana

Bank of Ghana vs. Onward Investment Limited, Power vs. Fraud?

 With a vision ‘to achieve a comparative advantage among leading investment companies…’ and a mission ‘to become an outstanding provider of legitimate investment services…’ Onward Investment Limited, an indigenous Ghanaian company with registration number CA-75,073 is experiencing the sanction of Bank of Ghana (BOG) as they operate without a license in the financial market.

BOG is making a relentless effort to protect ordinary investors in the system hence would stop any organization that flouts its regulations.

Onward Investment Limited has an aim to contribute to the economy by developing the Forex market through the offering of Forex training services and online forex trading for individuals in the country and even foreigners. But it’s very unfortunate on their part that the BOG had to put a hold on their operations and warn the public about them, on the basis of not having a license to receive deposits from the public. What is the point in trying to achieve those great visions without passing through the right processes?

How many of these unlicensed financial service providers are in the system? What is the Securities and Exchange Commission doing to protect investors? Why do companies refuse to get a license if that could boost their businesses? Are the licensing processes too rigid or demanding? These are questions the average investor is asking.  

On the part of Onward Investment ltd.; who are the owners? , what is their expertise? , what are their records and what are the clear benefits for the investment community. If potential partners and investors find it difficult to answer these questions then there is something wrong.

The only 'known' Board of Directors of this company includes; Lawrence Mensah, Mohammed B. Saleh , Kwesi T. Ababio and Simon Y. Nyarko.

We hope to know more about this company and the progress of their restriction by the Bank of Ghana.

2011 Year Review Chart of Ecobank Ghana Ltd (EBG) on Ghana Stock Exchange

Ecobank Ghana Ltd (EBG) on GSE. - 2011 Review.

Comparing EBG stock & the GSE Composite Index

Courtesy: Bloomberg

2011 Year Review of CAL Bank on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

Overview of Company

 CAL Bank Limited formerly Continental Acceptances Limited and then CAL Merchant Bank was incorporated on March 20, 1989 but the bank was licensed in June 1990 and commenced business in July 1990. With issued shares of 238,802,978, CAL Bank is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and the share price is 0.23p as at December 6, 2011. We would be looking at how this bank performed on the GSE for the 2011 financial year.
As at 31st December, 2010, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) held 82,363,074 shares in the bank making 34.13% whiles Mr. Afare Donkor, the largest individual shareholder and second largest shareholder held a stake of 7.51% representing 18,120,000 shares.



Analysis

CAL Bank began the year, 2011 with a share price of 0.33p (04/JAN/2011) and because of investor activities & active trades, share price of the bank rose to 0.39p (04/FEB/2011). Meanwhile, the stock price dropped steadily after that time to close at 0.26p on 22/March/ 2011. Further fluctuation of price was recorded from July to October 2011. Ten months down the year, CAL recorded a Year high of 0.39 pesewas and Year-Low of  0.25 pesewas (p). The volume of trade heightened at the end of October and hence was reflected by an increased in share price by some pesewas.
CAL stock and other financial stocks performed badly in November making the Financial Stock Index remain lower than the Base index of 1000.

The Year 2011 obviously was not the best year for most stocks on the GSE and CAL Bank is no exception.

I would be writing on Ecobank Ghana Limited (EBG) in my next post. I would be reviewing EBG stock on the Ghana Stock Exchange for the Year 2011.

[Courtesy: Ghana Stock Exchange, Bloomberg]

Listing & Trading Rules are set for ETFs on GSE.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are considered by some financial gurus as an investment product of choice for the inexperienced trader all the way to the professional money managers. In emerging financial markets like that of Ghana, ETFs are yet to see the light of the day. The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) announced the introduction of  ETFs in to the market sometime ago and finally, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the Rules for the Exchange Traded Funds. 
The general listing rules prescribing the requirements for obtaining and maintaining the listing of securities on the Ghana Stock Exchange does not apply to ETFs hence different rules were set for listing and trading. With reference to the Rules for ETFs released this month, trades in ETFs shall be settled through the Clearing and Settlement System of the GSE and Securities Depository System of GSE Securities Depository Ltd just like stocks on the GSE.
This same document revealed that an application for the issue of ETFs must include, Net Asset Value (NAV) of the ETF as at the date of application and the Percentage change of the NAV of the underlying basket of securities / index / underlying asset for the previous 6 months on a weekly basis, among others. The criteria for listing revealed that, the ETFs must be open-ended and fully secured at all times: either by the underlying securities/commodities or financial instruments it represents, a proxy security
acceptable to GSE which should be listed, freely tradable and have adequate liquidity or cash. Looking at the current affairs of the capital market, liquidity issues are very important to the GSE & SEC.
Further scrutiny of the rules showed that, ETF issuers must undertake to compute the Net Asset Value of the ETF on a daily basis and make the NAV public to all market participants at the same time through the GSE. Obviously, no insider trading would be encouraged. The condition for listing stipulated among a list of requirements that, GSE may, in its overriding discretion, grant a listing to an Issuer who does not fulfill the requirements set out or refuse a listing to an Issuer who does not comply with the listing requirements on the basis that, in the GSE’s opinion, the grant or refusal of the listing is in the interest of the investing public.

In terms of pricing the ETFs, the rules stated that, the issue price shall be on a basis approved by the Exchange and shall not include management charges and other fees. Moreover all management charges and other fees are required to be separately specified in the offer Document.

The rules for ETFs are very clear and easy to understand. For more analysis of the essence of these rules, join me on Twitter: peagama (click to follow) or facebook: Patrick .... and let's discuss.
For more details on the Rules for ETFs in Ghana, Click to download full document. (Courtesy: GSE, & SEC).

Shareholding of The Trust Bank (TTB) as Ecobank tries a Takeover

The Trust Bank (TTB), with about 20 networked branches covering Ghana,  is undergoing a takeover by Ecobank which most people including the Coalition for the Protection of Individual and Constitutional Rights are against. Meanwhile, shareholders of TTB, are strongly in favour of the takeover by Ecobank, the leading Pan- African Bank. Who then owns TTB?

The shareholding structure of TTB reveals that, The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the single largest pension fund in Ghana is the largest shareholder with about 61.11% stake. SSNIT, with reference to the recent pressure from pensioners supports the takeover. 
The second largest shareholder is Compagnie Africaine de Financement et de Participation (COFIPA), a Paris-based investment company owned by West African businessmen. COFIPA has also agreed to the takeover by Ecobank. 

 The Trust Bank which remains one of the fastest growing banks in Ghana gained so much trust from Ghanaians and that reflected in the Total Bank Deposits rising from about 39.17million GH cedis in 2003 to about 239.55 million GH cedis in 2010.


The 3rd largest shareholder of TTB is FMO – The Netherlands development finance company,which has about 10.00% stake. FMO, like other shareholders have voted in favour of the takeover by Ecobank.
The Ghana Reinsurance Organisation remains the second major local shareholders of The Trust Bank. It has about 9.39% stake in TTB making it the 4th largest shareholder. With a stand just like SSNIT, Ghana Reinsurance Org. supports the takeover despite the rumour that the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has blocked the takeover.


Africa Tiger Mutual fund, an investment company registered in Ghana, is the smallest shareholder of TTB. And with 6.00% stake, it stands to be the 5th and the 3rd local shareholder of TTB.


Only time can tell whether the sale of TTB to Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) would be successful. 

One year GSE Equities Trend Analysis for FML, EBG & GCB

One Year EQUITIES TREND ANALYSIS. [Charts from Databank Financial Services]

Fan Milk Limited (FML)

  Ecobank Ghana Limited (EBG)

  Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB)

 

History of Initial Public Offers (IPO) in the Ghanaian Capital Market.

Initial Public Offering which is popularly known as IPO comes about when companies issue new shares to the public to purchase as a source of raising capital. Ghana has a wonderful history of IPOs and since the inception of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), there have been so many IPOs with an impressive performance in the market. Meanwhile others were just so bad and despite their impressive subscriptions, they traded badly on exchange.

On 12^th November, 1990, Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) made a provisional listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange, making it one of the earliest companies to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. This company and others existed before the inceptions of the GSE Public Limited Liability Companies hence were initially given provisional listing status before the formal listing. ABL made its formal listing on 20^th December, 1991 (Source; GSE Research Dept.).

One IPO listing was by SPPC and this was from December to February 1992. Eight (8) million shares were offered but only 4.2 million shares were sold to raise an amount of 630 million old cedis (GHC 63,000). Mechanical LLoyd Company Ltd (MLC) also offered 11 million shares as IPO at 50 old cedis (0.05 pesewas) per share from December 1993 to February 1994 and only 9.36 million shares were sold which raised an amount of 468.16 million old cedis (GHC46,816). Looking at these historical trends, it is obvious that early IPOs were cheap but subscriptions were not impressive. In January 1995, HFC Bank stocks were oversubscribed when they made a placement.  Shares offered were 11.35 million at 100 old cedis (0.10 pesewas) and 13.10 million shares were sold to raise about 1,315.45 million old cedis (GHC 131,545). Most of the time, shares of this nature were patronized by foreigners because the investment community of Ghana was small by then. Aside the HFC placement, SSB (now known as SG-SSB) IPO in 1995 was also oversubscribed. Many companies like ALW, UTC, PZ, EIC, FML made primary issues which were not necessarily IPOs. In 2006, Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) issued and IPO of 49.50 million shares but 68.44 million shares were subscribed. This oversubscription set the pace for most IPOs and the investment community of Ghana especially the youth, took advantage of them. Initial Public Offers of Camelot (CMLT), Produce Buying Company (PBC), Sam Wood Ltd (SWL), Cocoa Producing Company (CPC) followed and in 2004 alone, four (4) Companies (CLYD, BOPP, CAL & SPL) listed IPOs on the GSE. But how well do the trade on the Exchange?

About two year ago, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) offered an IPO that was largely subscribed meanwhile these shares are facing liquidity problems as at now in the market. Share price of ETI has fallen below its IPO price and shareholders are not happy at all.  UT Bank entered the market with an IPO which was also oversubscribed but the question still remains, do IPOs perform well in the market. Shares of UT bank had so many problems when it started trading in the market but is currently bouncing back.

The most recent IPO issued in the market is the shares of Tullow Oil, just weeks ago and these were undersubscribed. Does it mean that the investment community is no longer having confidence in IPOs or it was due to the costly price of this particular offer? As an investor, you must find out because this can inform your investment decision.