Economy
Flour Mills Grows Stronger Despite Vast Macroeconomic Challenges
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
It was a remarkable 2016/17 financial year for Flour Mills of Nigeria despite its overwhelming macroeconomic challenges, which included fallout of some global political and economic developments leading to foreign exchange volatility, business uncertainties and a significant weakening of the Naira which negatively impacted its business.
The firm stood tall in spite of the formidable challenges and the unfavourable operating environment, achieving a solid performance, majorly influenced by its resilience and managerial capabilities.
During the period, FMN Group achieved an increase in turnover which rose by an impressive 53 percent to N524 billion. The growth was driven by a combination of volume increase, enhanced operational efficiencies coupled with commensurate increases in prices of its products.
However, the Group’s financial performance was adversely affected by the impact of over 40 percent devaluation of the Naira together with the uncertainties associated with persistent foreign exchange scarcity and sharp fluctuations in rates which it successfully hedge.
Despite those external financial issues, the Group posted an After Tax Profit of N8.8 billion, a substantial improvement over the previous year.
It is important to point out that compared with the last two financial years and put in proper perspective, the performance was very impressive.
In 2014/15 the Group recorded an operational loss of N6.2 billion only made good by the profit on sale of 50 percent of its equity in UNICEM amounting to N13.9 billion which ensured a final profit before tax of N7.7 billion.
In 2015/16, the Group also returned an operational loss of N12.7 billion but with sale of investment gain of N23.7 billion of the remaining 50 percent of its equity in UNICEM, giving a profit Before Tax of N11.5 billion.
“Our company was able to navigate through the difficult waters leveraging on the Strength and quality of our brand- ‘Golden Penny’. The company achieved a remarkable growth in Revenue but due to the aforementioned unfavourable external factors and conditions, it recorded a marginal decrease in the bottom line,” the firm said in a statement.
Revenue grew by 51 percent from N248 b1llion to N375 billion.
After adjusting for the full Impact of the exceptional foreign exchange loss of N6 billion, the company posted an After Tax Profit of N9.8 billion compared with N10.4 billion recorded last year.
“Despite the challenges encountered, our directors will be proposing to our shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), the declaration of a total of N2.62 billion representing dividend payment of N1.00 per ordinary share of 50 kobo each consistent with payment made in 2016.
“This is in line with our resolve to maintain consistency in annual payment of dividends to our esteemed shareholders,” the statement noted.
During the year, FMN through substantial investment in its Agro Allied businesses, continued its evolution from being primarily a food processing company to a fully integrated consumer foods business supported by a strong Internal agro-allied supply chain in the following food value chains – oils and fats, sweeteners, feeds and proteins, starches and agro distribution.
“We believe that this is the most viable and sustainable thing to do to safeguard our future and ensure the sustainability of our business.
“The emerging macro-economic environment and government initiatives have necessitated a strong ‘local’ input and output drive and FMN is determined to be a part and major contributor to the Government’s backward Integration policy.
“As we strive to further restructure our operations, streamline our business operations to focus on core businesses, constantly monitor and manage our costs optimally, improve and re-engineer our existing product range, we will focus on innovation and develop new strategies for the market making our products more visible and available at points of sale while we continue to improve our sales, merchandising, redistribution personnel and activities, all geared at maintaining our promises in delivering sustainable gains to all stakeholders,” the firm concluded in the statement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its stay in the south for the fourth consecutive session after it shed 1.18 per cent on Friday, March 13.
The unlisted securities market recorded a loss despite closing without a price decliner, and ending with two price gainers led by Geo Fluids Plc, which gained 1o Kobo to sell at N3.10 per share compared with the previous day’s N3.00 per share. Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc appreciated during the session by 2 Kobo to trade at 54 Kobo per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of 52 Kobo per unit.
When the market closed for the day, the market capitalisation lost N29.83 billion to close at N2.489 trillion compared with the N2.519 trillion it finished a day earlier, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) crashed by 49.84 points to 4,160.46 points from 4,210.31 points.
Market activity improved yesterday, as the volume of transactions rose 179.5 per cent to 10.4 million units from 3.7 million units, but the value of trades declined by 68.4 per cent to N29.9 million from N95.0 million, while the number of deals weakened by 11.5 per cent to 46 deals from 52 deals.
Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 38.4 million units worth N2.4 billion, Okitipupa Plc followed with 6.4 million units traded at N1.1 billion, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc transacted 6.3 million units for N584.3 million.
Resourcery Plc ended the trading session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.6 million, trailed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 130.8 million units valued at N504.5 million, and CSCS Plc with 38.4 million units worth N2.4 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira continued to claw back some gains against the Dollar in the different segments of the foreign exchange (FX) market, as its value was strengthened on Friday.
In the black market, it gained N10 against the United States Dollar yesterday to close at N1,400/$1 compared with the preceding day’s rate of N1,410/$1, and at the GTBank forex counter, it chalked up N6 to close at N1,385/$1, in contrast to the N1,391/$1 it was traded a day earlier.
Similarly, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), it appreciated against the greenback during the session by N5.28 or 0.38 per cent to quote at N1,366.23/$1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,371.51/$1.
It also improved its value against the Pound Sterling in the official market on Friday by N21.81 to settle at N1,812.99/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,834.80/£1, and gained N13.86 against the Euro to sell at N1,568.03/€1 versus N1,581.89/€1.
Pressure eased further on the FX market as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continued interventionist operations this week, selling Dollars to banks to boost liquidity after a $500 million boost last week.
This was complemented by inflows from foreign investors, exporters and non-bank corporates, among others, while Nigeria’s gross external reserves remained above $50 billion, the highest since 2009.
The Governor of the apex bank, Mr Yemi Cardoso, also eased fears of a Naira devaluation, saying the country’s financial system has been strengthened by reforms.
Regardless, external pressure looms as the US Dollar strengthened globally due to its war with Iran, now ongoing for three weeks.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was largely down as traders and investors continue to align with current realities.
The market is adapting to the conflict in real time. Early in the war, every headline produced an outsized reaction because nobody could price the tail risk. Now, traders have a framework where strikes happen, oil spikes and bitcoin dips only to recover again.
Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 3.8 per cent to $0.2623, Dogecoin (DOGE) lost 1.7 per cent to finish at $0.0948, Ripple (XRP) slumped 1.5 per cent to $1.39, Solana (SOL) dropped 1.4 per cent to sell for $87.33, Binance Coin (BNB) went down by 1.3 per cent to $653.58, Bitcoin (BTC) declined by 1.1 per cent to $70,670.63, and Ethereum (ETH) decreased by 0.9 per cent to $2,078.78.
However, TRON (TRX) appreciated by 1.7 per cent to $0.2941, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 apiece.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The price of the major crude oil grade, Brent crude oil, closed above $100 on Friday for the second consecutive session, as the Iran war heads toward its third week, with oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still effectively at a standstill.
It gained 2.67 per cent or $2.68 during the trading day to close at $103.14 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil grade appreciated by 3.11 per cent or $2.98 to settle at $98.71 per barrel.
Brent futures were up about 10 per cent for the week following the 27 per cent rise seen last week, which marked the biggest weekly gain in oil prices since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. WTI futures, which saw their best week since 1983 last week, ended the week more than 8 per cent higher.
US President Donald Trump said American forces launched a major bombing raid on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, targeting military facilities on the key Persian Gulf outpost while warning Iran that its vital oil infrastructure could be destroyed if shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
The terminal accounts for roughly 90 per cent of Iranian crude shipments, loading millions of barrels per day onto tankers bound largely for Asian markets.
The US and Israel’s strikes in the conflict have largely targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Oil facilities elsewhere in Iran have been hit, but Kharg’s massive storage tanks, jetties, and pipelines had remained untouched until the latest strike.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep fighting in a message delivered via state television.
There have been a number of attacks on foreign ships in or near the Strait, feeding into concerns that a prolonged war could translate to a global economic shock.
Prices are rising despite the US and its allies rolling out some measures to keep a lid on energy costs.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has agreed to release 400 million stockpiled barrels, the largest such action in history.
The US has issued a 30-day waiver for India to purchase sanctioned oil from Russia. President Donald Trump is considering loosening rules under the Jones Act that require American ships to transport goods between domestic ports, including oil and gas, in an effort to lower costs.
Traders are continuing to monitor developments in the Middle East.
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