FBN Holdings (FBNH) released its 2014 FY results showing profits rose 17% to N82billion compared to N70.6billion a year ago. The bank however surprised many by proposing a meagre dividend per share of 10 kobo and bonus issue of 1 for every 10.

By paying 10 kobo the bank is essentially paying out just 3.9% of its earnings per share of 255 kobo. In trying to assuage shareholders the bank claimed the cash dividend and script (bonus issue) represents a N1.05 dividend and a 10% dividend yield.

Whilst that in a way is true, one still needs to wonder why cash dividend payment was very small considering that bonus issues increase the number of shares that have claims to earnings. A look at the results reveals perhaps why this happened.

Holdco model

When Holdco’s release results they include group profits as well as the company’s results. However, unlike regular structured companies who release group results, focus also has to be on the Holdco’s (company) side of the results. This is because Holdco’s are mostly shell companies with no significant operations and income streams. They only make money from dividends declared by their subsidiaries. Therefore as shareholders of the Holdco, you only earn dividends if the subsidiaries pay dividends to the Holdco and the Holdco correspondingly declares dividends.

How it affects FBNH

A look at FBNH results suggest the company only reported a profit of N5.8billion compared to the N70.6billion it declared a year earlier. Earnings per share was therefore 17kobo compared to N2.166 a year earlier. To understand why profits dropped this much, a look at the Dividend Income line for the company explains why. FBNH only received N13.7billion in dividend income from its subsidiaries compared to N74billion a year earlier. This is perhaps because the subsidiaries for whatever reasons did not pay the parent any dividends.

Why that happened

A look at the bank’s notes suggest a worrying sign. The Bank has a 16.7% Basel 2 CAR (Banking group) of just 16.7% (Dec 2013: 13.6%) just 1.67% higher than 15% acceptable by the CBN. This puts the bank at risk at defaulting and as such paying further cash dividends could just see them fall below the 15% band. There could also be other reasons such as excess dividend tax considerations (even thought the bank and other Holdcos have an exception).

FBNH going forward

For shareholders of the bank one can begin to prepare for a capital raising exercise by the bank. They will surely want to raise equity or quasi equity to help shore up their capital adequacy ratio (CAR). Not doing that will mean the bank has to rely on profits this quarter and the next to push it further away from the default line of 15%.

http://nairametrics.com/analysis-why-fbnh-is-paying-just-10kobo-dividend-and-1-for-10-bonus-issue/

SOURCE :  Nairametrics