Asset manager Cytonn Investments has acquired 7.5 million shares
of NIC Bank #ticker:NIC worth Sh256 million, becoming the ninth largest
shareholder of the lender listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
of NIC Bank #ticker:NIC worth Sh256 million, becoming the ninth largest
shareholder of the lender listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Cytonn,
which has also bought 689,655 HF Group #ticker:HFCK shares worth Sh6.9
million, says the investments are its latest bets on banks it believes
are cheap.
which has also bought 689,655 HF Group #ticker:HFCK shares worth Sh6.9
million, says the investments are its latest bets on banks it believes
are cheap.
The company’s chief executive, Edwin Dande, told the Business Daily
the banking stock investments started with a large position in KCB
#ticker:KCB in February last year in the wake of the rate caps which
sparked a sell-off in bank shares.
the banking stock investments started with a large position in KCB
#ticker:KCB in February last year in the wake of the rate caps which
sparked a sell-off in bank shares.
“We believe the
market was wrong and we bought a big stake in KCB which we have sold,
earning a return of about 80 per cent,” Mr Dande said.
market was wrong and we bought a big stake in KCB which we have sold,
earning a return of about 80 per cent,” Mr Dande said.
“We are seeing the same thing at NIC where we have bought shares to become the ninth largest investor.”
Mr
Dande added that Kenyan banks have historically traded at between two
to three times their book value, noting that NIC and HF are currently
priced by the market at below their net worth.
Dande added that Kenyan banks have historically traded at between two
to three times their book value, noting that NIC and HF are currently
priced by the market at below their net worth.
NIC
is for instance currently trading at about two-thirds of its per-share
book value of Sh53, giving it one of the lowest annualised
price-to-earnings ratio of five.
is for instance currently trading at about two-thirds of its per-share
book value of Sh53, giving it one of the lowest annualised
price-to-earnings ratio of five.
Investors have in
recent months grappled with the fair valuation of banks in light of two
momentous developments in the industry — the capping of interest rates
and adoption of more conservative accounting standards.
recent months grappled with the fair valuation of banks in light of two
momentous developments in the industry — the capping of interest rates
and adoption of more conservative accounting standards.
The
rate cap has reduced earnings from lending while the new accounting
system, IFRS9 is set to result in higher provisions for bad debt
starting this quarter.
rate cap has reduced earnings from lending while the new accounting
system, IFRS9 is set to result in higher provisions for bad debt
starting this quarter.