Economy

Lafarge Africa Vows to Sustain Cost Optimisation Initiatives

Published

5 years ago

13/04/2020

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

**Anticipates Slow Down in Growth Momentum

The management of Lafarge Africa Plc has said it expects the growth momentum witnessed in the cement industry in Nigeria lately to slow down this year.

The company said this anticipated decline will be caused by the coronavirus pandemic the globe is battling with at the moment. The virus has made many sectors to be on a standstill.

However, Lafarge Africa said it is mapping out strategies to ensure a minimal impact on its business in the 2020 financial year.

One of the key ways the firm said it considering is the implementation of its cost optimisation initiatives, which proved effective in the 2019 fiscal year.

Last year, the company cut down its administrative expenses 29.3 percent to N17.6 billion from N24.9 billion in 2018, due to a significant reduction in the directors’ costs to N35.5 million from N176.0 million, insurance from N331.2 million to N6.8 million, other supplies & spare parts from N1.0 billion to N156.9 million, rent from N836.2 million to N62.5 million, consultancy fees from N3.1 billion to N847.9 million, repair and maintenance from n736.8 million to N17.9 million, security cost from N414.7 million to N187.8 million, and travel from N875.7 million to N591.1 million.

Also, technical service fees were pruned to N3.9 billion from N6.3 billion and according to the note given by the company, Lafarge Africa is in the process of finalising a technical service agreement with Holcim Technology Limited, a related party which relates to Industrial Franchise.

This agreement, according to the cement firm, is awaiting registration with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in Nigeria and the provision is computed as 5 percent of Earnings before interest and tax (EBITDA) for both group and company subject to maximum of 2 percent of net sales.

Lafarge Africa promised to maintain these cost optimisation initiatives for a better 2020 despite the anticipated negative impact of the virus in the global space.

“As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic now impacts Nigeria, Lafarge Africa has taken the necessary measures to protect the health of its employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

“The construction sector and construction sites are generally more resilient than other sectors and Lafarge Africa has a strengthened balance sheet and is well equipped to weather the storm.

“However, we are closely monitoring the evolving situation and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian market.

“The Nigerian cement industry growth momentum is expected to slow down in FY 2020 compared to 2019 on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenging global macro-economic environment.

“We have launched an action plan Health, Cost & Cash and will continue to focus on the implementation of our cost optimisation initiatives during this period to minimise the impact on the business,” the company stated.

In the 2019 financial year, Lafarge Africa recorded a turnaround, which the CCEO, Khaled El Dokani, attributed to “cost-reduction strategy and the divestment of the South African business.”

El Dokani noted that, “The decrease in net debt has significantly strengthened our balance sheet and has placed us in a vantage position to face the future.”

Economy

Equity Market Gains 0.75% as Investors Mop up MTN, Others

Published

3 hours ago

22/01/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

Transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited rallied on Tuesday by 0.75 per cent after investors intensified their demand for local stocks.

It was a tough battle between the bulls and the bears during the session, but the former overcame by a whisker after the bourse recorded 29 appreciating equities and 28 depreciating equities, indicating a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.

The growth posted by Customs Street yesterday could be attributed to the appetite for MTN Nigeria shares, which chalked up 10.00 per cent to settle at N256.30.

SCOA Nigeria appreciated by 9.93 per cent to N2.99, Omatek grew by 9.88 per cent to 89 Kobo, Universal Insurance rose by 8.70 per cent to 75 Kobo, and CAP gained 8.52 per cent to trade at N47.75.

Conversely, Secure Electronic Technology lost 9.88 per cent to quote at 73 Kobo, Abbey Mortgage Bank declined by 9.09 per cent to N3.30, Sunu Assurances tumbled by 8.21 per cent to N6.15, Deap Capital slumped by 7.08 per cent to N1.05, and C&I Leasing depreciated by 6.82 per cent to N4.10.

A total of 440.3 million equities valued at N12.0 billion exchanged hands in 13,087 deals compared with the 1.3 billion equities worth N17.7 billion transacted in 13,891 deals on Monday, representing a decline in the trading volume, value and number of deals by 66.79 per cent, 32.20 per cent and 5.79 per cent, respectively.

Lasaco Assurance ended the session as the most traded stock after it sold 108.1 million units valued at N338.7 million, Access Holdings traded 44.0 million units for N1.1 billion, UBA exchanged 27.9 million units worth N945.7 million, Zenith Bank transacted 26.7 million units for N1.3 billion, and Universal Insurance traded 22.7 million units valued at N16.7 million.

On Tuesday, the insurance, banking and industrial goods sectors jumped by 1.03 per cent, 0.30 per cent, and 0.03 per cent, respectively, and the consumer goods and energy counters lost 0.38 per cent and 0.36 per cent apiece.

The All-Share Index (ASI) went up yesterday by 767.63 points to 103,137.99 points from 102,370.36 points and the market capitalisation increased by N472 billion to N63.333 trillion from N62.861 trillion.

Economy

Nigeria Led Africa’s Upstream Oil, Gas Investments in 2024

Published

19 hours ago

21/01/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria ranked as Africa’s leading destination for upstream oil and gas investment in 2024, new research from market intelligence firm, Wood Mackenzie, has shown, accounting for three out of four Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) announced by global oil and gas majors, totaling $13.5 billion.

The FIDs announced within the Nigerian market included Shell’s $122 million investment in the Iseni Gas Project, TotalEnergies’ $566 million commitment to the Ubeta Gas Project and Shell’s approval of the Bonga North Tranche 1 project valued at around $5 billion.

According to the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Ms Olu Verheijen, these investments reflected Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to unlock its hydrocarbon potential through investor-friendly policies and strategic global partnerships.

Last year, Nigeria introduced several initiatives to create a conducive environment for oil and gas investors, including new tax incentives aimed at attracting up to $10 billion in natural gas investments.

Nigeria, which is Africa’s largest oil producer, also offered tax relief for gas investors, reducing corporate income tax and extending capital allowance benefits – for deepwater gas projects.

Other policies include the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements 2024 to address the reduction in oil and gas investments caused by high operating costs compared to global markets.

Also, the Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines 2024 reduces the time spent to award contracts for oil and gas projects.

In addition to the directives, Nigeria also launched its 2024 oil and gas licensing round, offering 19 blocks for exploration, demonstrating its commitment to continued collaboration with local, regional and international partners.

Market analysts note that with this momentum, further FIDs are anticipated, including TotalEnergies’ expected $750 million commitment to the Ima Shallow Gas Project in 2025.

Economy

UBN Property Triggers 0.22% Loss at NASD OTC Exchange

Published

23 hours ago

21/01/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange recorded a 0.22 per cent decline on Monday, January 20, with the market capitalisation shedding N2.35 billion to close at N1.073 trillion compared with the preceding session’s N1.075 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) going down by 6.79 points to wrap the session at 3,105.12 points compared with 3,111.91 points recorded in the previous session.

It was observed that the loss recorded on the first trading day of the week was triggered by UBN Property Plc, which crashed by 20 Kobo to trade at N2.00 per share versus last Friday’s N2.20 per share.

However, the share price of Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc went up by 4 Kobo to 40 Kobo per unit from 36 Kobo per unit, it could not stop the bourse from going down at the close of transactions.

The activity chart showed that on Monday, the volume of securities traded by investors increased by 57.9 per cent to 767,610 units from the 486,215 units traded in the preceding session, while the value of shares traded yesterday slumped by 17.7 per cent to N2.3 million from the N2.8 million recorded in the preceding trading day, as the number of deals declined by 14.3 per cent to 12 deals from the 14 deals carried out in the previous trading day.

At the close of transactions, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with the sale of 4.1 million units worth N162.9 million, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with a turnover of 9.1 million units valued at N44.0 million, and 11 Plc with the sale of 55,358 for N14.5 million.

Also, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc closed the day as the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 25.3 million units sold for N5.9 million, Geo-Fluids Plc came next with 9.1 million units valued at N44.0 million, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 4.1 million units worth N162.9 million.