Firm to list N3b bond on NSE

Royal Exchange Plc has announced plans to list N3 billion bonds on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in October 2016.

According to the firm, the capital raise if success would position the 95-years old firm to play big and underwrite big-ticket risks in the nation’s insurance industry.

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Company, Auwalu Muktari, made the disclosure during an official visit to the management of the NSE where he rang the closing gong.

According to him, he said in line with ongoing reforms in the insurance industry particularly the Risk Based Supervision (RBS) requiring increased capital structure for bigger ticket risks, adding that the company was in line with this developing being proactive in readiness for higher responsibility.

He said, by October 2016 we want to play big in the Nigerian insurance industry and with need for more capital in the industry, we are re-strategizing to make sure that we have the required recapitalization to play bigger and take the opportunity in the insurance industry.”

“Besides that, the company is setting up a pension fund administration company, a PFA so that we tap into the opportunity of the annuity business,” Muktari stated.

However, he said, during the year 2015 we strategized to start doing annuity business under our life company. And we have a very good strategy of marketing the annuity businesses and we made an income of about N1 billion in 2015.

“The annuity funds are there in our books and we are assuring our shareholders and the investors that as soon as we continue to grow our annuity funds the technical provisions made by the regulations will continue to show the sign of profitability. So we are working towards that. From the 2016 accounts you will see that we have returned to profitability,” he said.

A bond is a debt investment in which an investor loans money to an entity (typically corporate or governmental), which borrows the funds for a defined period of time at a variable or fixed interest rate. Companies, municipalities, states and sovereign governments to raise money and finance a variety of projects and activities use bonds.

Royal Exchange Plc started operations in 1921 and continues to be driven by innovation and a determination to offer services that are of exceptional value to its customers.

Following the recapitalization exercise in 2007, the company was reorganized into a group structure comprising Royal Exchange Plc as the holding company and five strategic subsidiaries namely: Royal Exchange General Insurance Company Limited (Non-Life Insurance Services); Royal Exchange Prudential Life Plc (Life Assurance Services); Royal Exchange Finance and Investments Limited (Financial Advisory Services); Royal Exchange Healthcare Limited (HMO and Health Insurance) and Royal Exchange Microfinance Bank Limited (Banking Services).