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ANALYSIS: The Problem With International Breweries N165bn Rights Issue

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international breweries rights issue

By Dipo Olowookere

Not too long ago, the board of International Breweries announced that it plans to raise about N165 billion from its existing shareholders through rights issue.

According to board, proceeds from the exercise would be wholly used to refinance part of the N245 billion debts the brewery giant incurred from five local and foreign lending institutions; Citibank N.A, Zenith Bank, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC and Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria.

Analysts at Meristem Research said if this exercise is 100 percent successful, the company’s debt burden should significantly reduce by 66 percent to about N81.90 billion, with the finance costs hovering between N5.5 billion and N6 billion in 2020.

But it noted that while this should be good news to shareholders of the firm, the bitter truth is that International Breweries has been operating at a loss since 2017 and that the N165 billion rights issue may have little impact on the overall performance of the company without a strategy to effectively cut costs.

“We note that the financing decision does not solve the operating problems of the company which is responsible for the poor margins,” the investment firm said in its report seen by Business Post.

It further said, “Costs have been high and hampering profits and if this persists, the company’s performance will not improve. Therefore, we believe that International Breweries’ current operating profile negatively affects its ability to deliver value to shareholders.”

“In addition, the potential dilution in earnings will erode the near-term benefits. We also expect that the company will require additional capital to boost its working capital needs, a measure that will not materialise with this issue.

“Hence, we expect it to raise debt in the near term or equities with the potential for more earnings dilution. We therefore do not expect the benefits of this financing decision to improve margins in the near-term,” the report also stated.

Giving an insight on the brewery giant’s performance, Meristem Research said before it became a subsidiary of AB InBev, the largest beer producer in the world, the brewer operated an average cost to sales of 55.12 percent, second to Nigerian Breweries at 52.88 percent, the cost leader in the industry.

However, since this deal was finalised, the firm has made consecutive losses, which worsened to N16.45 billion in 9M:2019, with cost to sales trending northwards at 60.75 percent in 2018FY, 64.42 percent in Q1:2019, reaching its highest point of 68.00 percent in 9M:2019 due to a spike in production costs- raw material costs and production staff salaries shot up by 27.99 percent and 45.22 percent respectively.

In addition, revenue has continued to decline despite initially rising after the completion of its new plant in Sagamu, Ogun State, which ranks as the second largest in Africa.

The turnover first grew YoY by 32.16 percent and 23.54 percent in Q1:2019 and Q2:2019 respectively, but went down by 5.32 percent to N28.63 billion in Q3:2019 from N30.24 billion in Q3:2018 as increased excise duties and competitive pressures constrained topline growth. Also, the firm’s depreciation charges rose in 9M:2019 by 31.54 percent YoY, contracting the gross margin to 32.00 percent (vs. 38.67 percent in 9M:2018).

It was noted that high operating costs has been another worrisome trend post-merger, a major factor for the thinning operating margin which turned negative in 9M:2019 at -11.25 percent, saying the firm has been expending higher costs on advertising (+36.10 percent in 9M:2019) as well as transportation and distribution expenses (up by 36.53 percent during the same period) in order to stay competitive.

“Apart from the high production and overhead costs pressuring margins, finance costs, which increased by 45.81 percent to N13.14 billion in 9M:2019, has been a drag on the company’s performance.

“Benefits can only accrue to shareholders if the company maintains a lid on costs, which seems to be slipping out of hand,” the report stated.

International Breweries, which controls 20.35 percent of the beer sector in Nigeria as at FY2018, is raising N165 billion by selling 18,266,206,614 units of shares on the basis of 17 new shares for every eight held by shareholders whose names were on the register of the company as at November 6, 2019 at N9.00 each.

Meristem Research, giving its verdict on the exercise based on the above issues it highlighted, declared that, “We do not recommend that shareholders take up their rights.”

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements

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NGX RegCo

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The investing public has been advised to exercise due diligence before trading stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

This caution was given by the NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the independent regulatory arm of the NGX Group Plc.

The advisory became necessary in response to notable price movements observed in the shares of certain listed companies over recent trading sessions.

On Monday, the bourse suspended trading in the shares of newly-listed Zichis Agro-allied Industries Plc. The company’s stocks gained almost 900 per cent within a month of its listing on Customs Street.

In a statement today, NGX RegCo urged investors to avoid speculative trading based on unverified information and to consult licensed intermediaries such as stockbrokers or investment advisers when needed.

It explained that its advisory is part of its standard market surveillance functions, as it serves as a measured reminder for investors to prioritise informed and disciplined decision-making.

The notice emphasised that the Exchange will continue to monitor market activities closely in line with its mandate to ensure a fair, orderly, and transparent market.

“NGX RegCo encourages all investors to base their decisions on publicly available information, including a thorough assessment of company fundamentals, financial performance, and risk profile,” a part of the disclosure said.

It reassured all stakeholders that the NGX remains stable, well-regulated, and resilient, saying the platform continues to foster an environment where investors can participate with confidence, supported by robust oversight and transparent market operations.

“Our primary responsibility is to maintain a level playing field where market participants can trade with confidence, backed by timely and accurate information.

“This advisory is a routine communication, reinforcing that sound fundamentals, not speculation, remain the foundation for sustainable investment outcomes. We are fully committed to preserving the integrity and stability of our market,” the chief executive of NGX RegCo, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, stated.

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Economy

Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, has tasked the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to measure the success of the new tax laws by higher voluntary compliance rates, lower administrative costs, fewer disputes, faster resolution cycles, and stronger taxpayer confidence.

Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the agency, Mr Tegbe said, “Sustainable revenue performance is built on trust and efficiency, not enforcement intensity,” emphasising that the legitimacy and predictability of the system are more critical than punitive measures.

He underscored that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical juncture where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.

The NTPIC chief stressed that tax policy must serve as an enabler of governance, and should embody simplicity, equity, predictability, and administrability at scale.

These principles, he explained, foster voluntary compliance, reduce operational friction, and strengthen investor confidence. He warned that ad-hoc adjustments or policy drift could undermine reform momentum, unsettle businesses, and deter investment, which thrives on predictable rules rather than shifting announcements. Structured sequencing, clear transition mechanisms, and continuous feedback between policymakers and administrators are therefore critical to sustaining reform credibility.

Mr Tegbe further argued that revenue reform cannot succeed in isolation. Achieving sustainable gains requires a whole-of-government approach, leveraging robust taxpayer identification systems, integrated financial data, efficient dispute resolution, and harmonised coordination across federal and sub-national levels. This approach, he said, reduces leakages, eliminates multiple taxation, and reinforces confidence in the system.

He noted that the passage of four new tax laws marks only the beginning of a broader reform agenda, describing the initiative as a systemic recalibration of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, rather than a routine policy update.

He further asserted that the true measure of success will be the credibility of implementation, not the design of the laws themselves.

The NRS, he noted, functions as the nation’s “Revenue System Integrator,” with outcomes reflecting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem that encompasses policy clarity, enforcement consistency, digital infrastructure, dispute resolution efficiency, and intergovernmental coordination.

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Economy

NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order

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NUPENG

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Union of Natural and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep concern over the Executive Order by President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to remit directly to the federation account.

In a statement signed by its president, Mr William Akporeha, over the weekend in Lagos, the union noted that the absence of detailed public engagement had naturally generated tension within the sector and heightened restiveness among workers, who are anxious to know how the new directive may affect their employment, welfare and job security, especially as it affects NNPC and other major operations in the oil and gas sector.

It pointed out that the industry remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and employment.

The NUPENG president affirmed that any policy shift, particularly one introduced through an Executive Order, has far-reaching consequences for regulatory frameworks, Investment decisions, operational standards, and labour relations within the sector.

According to him, “there is an urgent need for clarity on the scope and objectives of the Executive Order -What precise reforms or adjustments does it introduce? “Its implications for the Petroleum Industry Act -Does the Order amend, interpret, or expand existing provisions under PIA?

“Impact on workers and existing labour agreements-Will it affect job security, conditions of service, Collective Bargaining agreements or ongoing restructuring processes within the industry? “Effects on indigenous participation and local content development -How will it affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens?”

He warned that without proper consultation and explanation, misinterpretations of the Executive Order may spread across the industry, potentially destabilising operations and undermining industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked hard to sustain.

“Though our union remains committed to constructive engagement, national development and stability of the oil and gas sector, however, we are duty-bound and constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on a clear, fair and predictable policy framework,” Mr Akporeha further stated.

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