Letshego listing welcomed
Letshego is expected to gain market share by listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange.
Letshego's planned listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange has been welcomed by Simonis Storm analyst Megameno Shetunyenga, who says that it will provide the NSX with more liquidity.
According to Shetunyenga, this now broadens the choice open to investors.
“We think it's a good step, especially for the market. More counters in the market and will slightly improve on liquidity. There are more options for investors to choose from,” he says.
According to Shetunyenga, the listing will also help provide liquidity on the NSX.
“We do expect there to be an increase in demand, especially with the proposed adjustments of the pension fund Regulation 28 to increase local asset limit to 45%,” says Shetunyenga.
Currently, Regulation 15 and 28 require that 35% of long-term insurance and pension fund assets must be invested locally on the NSX.
The analyst is also of the view that Letshego still has more room for growth.
“Letshego is in a growth trajectory path and has potential to gain market share. It is still to grow the loan book [and its] balance sheet is not geared yet. Hence, we should expect the bank to go to the market to raise debt for further funding and not use shareholders capital as have been doing. With leveraging, we should expect growth in earnings and return on equity from current levels.”
Shetunyenga believes investors will be happy with a new counter to invest in.
“It is the only primary listing since Bank Windhoek Holdings' listing, hence, it should prompt some excitement.”
Bank of Namibia governor Iipumbu Shiimi described Letshego as a financial trailblazer and welcomed the listing when the announcement was made in July.
“I believe Letshego has been a strong partner in this journey of exclusive growth. Listing on the NSX is commendable and it broadens the ownership of the financial sector. Letshego is a trailblazer in this journey of financial inclusion,” said Shiimi.
According to him, the listing would help spur the growth of the financial sector locally.
“If some financial institutions list on the NSX, we will provide an outlet for money invested on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and elsewhere to find a way home,” said Shiimi.
The move its CEO says will bode well for the country's financial inclusiveness agenda.
“We believe that to be totally financially inclusive, we should offer Namibians the opportunity to be part of our growth. Through the planned IPO, partners, customers and wider stakeholders of Letshego have an opportunity to own shares in this business they have come to know so well. As we grow, so shall ordinary Namibians' wealth. We believe this is what empowerment is all about, as Letshego is now becoming our Letshego,” group CEO Ester Kali said of the planned listing.
The planned Letshego IPO will be a first of its kind on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), as the public offer will prioritise educating the public, giving preference to Namibian residents. This is with a primary focus on previously disadvantaged Namibians.
“We will be calling our planned IPO 'Ekwafo Letu', which means 'Our Support'. This is in recognition of what Letshego, at its core, stands for: to provide support. Support to those who are typically under-served by traditional financial institutions. Our Letshego story is about empowerment, via the solutions we provide, and now via Ekwafo Letu,” said Kali.
OGONE TLHAGE
According to Shetunyenga, this now broadens the choice open to investors.
“We think it's a good step, especially for the market. More counters in the market and will slightly improve on liquidity. There are more options for investors to choose from,” he says.
According to Shetunyenga, the listing will also help provide liquidity on the NSX.
“We do expect there to be an increase in demand, especially with the proposed adjustments of the pension fund Regulation 28 to increase local asset limit to 45%,” says Shetunyenga.
Currently, Regulation 15 and 28 require that 35% of long-term insurance and pension fund assets must be invested locally on the NSX.
The analyst is also of the view that Letshego still has more room for growth.
“Letshego is in a growth trajectory path and has potential to gain market share. It is still to grow the loan book [and its] balance sheet is not geared yet. Hence, we should expect the bank to go to the market to raise debt for further funding and not use shareholders capital as have been doing. With leveraging, we should expect growth in earnings and return on equity from current levels.”
Shetunyenga believes investors will be happy with a new counter to invest in.
“It is the only primary listing since Bank Windhoek Holdings' listing, hence, it should prompt some excitement.”
Bank of Namibia governor Iipumbu Shiimi described Letshego as a financial trailblazer and welcomed the listing when the announcement was made in July.
“I believe Letshego has been a strong partner in this journey of exclusive growth. Listing on the NSX is commendable and it broadens the ownership of the financial sector. Letshego is a trailblazer in this journey of financial inclusion,” said Shiimi.
According to him, the listing would help spur the growth of the financial sector locally.
“If some financial institutions list on the NSX, we will provide an outlet for money invested on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and elsewhere to find a way home,” said Shiimi.
The move its CEO says will bode well for the country's financial inclusiveness agenda.
“We believe that to be totally financially inclusive, we should offer Namibians the opportunity to be part of our growth. Through the planned IPO, partners, customers and wider stakeholders of Letshego have an opportunity to own shares in this business they have come to know so well. As we grow, so shall ordinary Namibians' wealth. We believe this is what empowerment is all about, as Letshego is now becoming our Letshego,” group CEO Ester Kali said of the planned listing.
The planned Letshego IPO will be a first of its kind on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), as the public offer will prioritise educating the public, giving preference to Namibian residents. This is with a primary focus on previously disadvantaged Namibians.
“We will be calling our planned IPO 'Ekwafo Letu', which means 'Our Support'. This is in recognition of what Letshego, at its core, stands for: to provide support. Support to those who are typically under-served by traditional financial institutions. Our Letshego story is about empowerment, via the solutions we provide, and now via Ekwafo Letu,” said Kali.
OGONE TLHAGE
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