GCR affirms NOVA Merchant Bank Limited’s BBB/A3 ratings

Global Credit Rating (GCR) has affirmed NOVA Merchant Bank Limited’s national scale long and short-term ratings of BBB(NG) and A3(NG) respectively, with a stable outlook.

The rating agency explained that NOVA was rated on the basis of its strong capital base as well as its financial position, adding, “The ratings of NOVA Merchant Bank Limited reflect its sound capitalisation and good risk position, as characterised by minimal non-performing loans (“NPL”) and credit losses.

Citing the rationale for the ratings, GCR said; “NOVA Merchant Bank operates within the Nigerian merchant banking subsector and continues to drive the evolution of its market position through the launch of bespoke customer-centric products/solutions and innovations to improve value propositions and meet the specific needs of its clients.

“The bank’s capitalisation is considered sound, with capital adequacy ratio maintained above the regulatory threshold of 10 per cent as of December 2021, reinforcing the headroom for risk asset growth and overall balance sheet capacity,” the report noted.

NOVA Merchant Bank maintains stable funding and adequate liquidity. According to GCR, NOVA MB’s funding structure is predominantly made up of deposits. In FY21, total deposits accounted for 95 per cent of the funding base, with customer deposits increasing by 30.4 per cent during the year, on the back of improved deposits mobilisation capacity.

NOVA’s Managing Director/CEO, Nath Ude, who commented on the ratings said, “GCR’s affirmations of NOVA’s investment grade ratings and stable outlook, are instructive. The rating rationale succinctly reflects the sound governance, robust risk management and unrivalled record of asset quality. More importantly, the rating construct underscores the strong credibility of the bank, as highlighted by the adequate liquidity and stable funding metrics.

“With continuous investment in people and technology, and more importantly innovative partnerships with credible clients, NOVA is primed to positively disrupt the merchant banking space, with the vision to unlock opportunities for our clients across the key growth sectors of the Nigerian economy,” Ude said.

Chairman of the bank, Phillips Oduoza, noted that given the challenging macroeconomic environment, the ratings demonstrate the efficiency of the governance structures put in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of the bank.

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GCR affirms…  GCR affirms…