Stratos Trading Limited has successfully redeemed its inaugural N5 billion commercial paper (CP) issued under its N20 billion commercial paper programme, reinforcing investor confidence in the company’s financial strength and business strategy.
The company said the successful repayment of the Series 1 Commercial Paper marked a major milestone in its growth journey, demonstrating its capacity to meet financial obligations while maintaining operational expansion.
The debut issuance, which consisted of 180-day and 270-day tranches, was oversubscribed by 15 per cent, reflecting strong investor appetite and confidence in the company’s business model.
According to Stratos, the transaction attracted significant participation from investors and further positioned the company as a credible participant in Nigeria’s debt capital market.
The Chief Executive Officer of Stratos Trading Limited, Francisco Lakanu, said the redemption underscored the company’s commitment to sound financial practices and sustainable growth.
“The successful redemption of our inaugural Commercial Paper issuance reflects the strength of our business model, the confidence investors have placed in our strategy, and our unwavering commitment to prudent financial management,” Lakanu said.
He added that the company would continue to invest in operational capacity and infrastructure development to strengthen its position within Nigeria’s energy and marine services sector.
Expansion beyond marine fuel trading
Stratos Trading, a licensed bunker trading company regulated by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has expanded its operations beyond bunkering into the trading of petroleum products, including fuel oil, gasoil, naphtha, bitumen and natural gas liquids.
The company supplies energy products to customers across West Africa and has continued to grow its footprint within the regional energy market.
Its financial performance has also recorded significant improvement in recent years, with revenue increasing from N2.1 billion in 2020 to N22.7 billion in its 2024 audited financial statements.
Over the same period, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose from N584 million to N3.2 billion.
Stratos further disclosed that its revenue reached N38 billion in the first half of 2026, with EBITDA standing at approximately N7.6 billion.
Company plans major infrastructure investment
As part of efforts to deepen its operations, Stratos is developing a 25,000-metric-tonne bunker terminal and a dedicated jetty at the Lagos Free Zone, located near the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
The planned facility is expected to strengthen marine fuel supply capabilities, improve logistics efficiency and support the growth of maritime trade within the region.
Commenting on the successful transaction, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cedrus Group, Olubusayo Adeniyi, said the commercial paper redemption reflected Stratos’ financial discipline, strong corporate governance and operational resilience.
He noted that institutional investors were increasingly attracted to companies with sustainable business models, effective governance structures and clear long-term growth strategies.
The Executive Director of Cedrus Group, Dele Akinjo, said the transaction demonstrated the importance of strong corporate fundamentals and effective execution in accessing Nigeria’s debt capital market.
Cedrus Capital acted as the Lead Financial Adviser to Stratos, providing advisory and execution support for the commercial paper issuance.
Independent credit rating agencies have also recognised Stratos’ financial standing, with DataPro Ratings assigning the company an A- long-term rating with a Positive Outlook and A1 short-term rating. Agusto & Co. rated the company Bbb- long-term with a Stable Outlook and A- short-term rating.