Business
Julius Berger targets 25% surge in 2018 revenue
Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Wolfgang Goetsch says the company forecasts a 45 percent jump in 2018 revenue as the country recovers from a 2016 contraction and as the foreign-exchange market stabilizes.
The construction company says it expects revenue to grow to ₦210 billion, to be spurred by government contracts valued at ₦500 billion ($1.4 billion)
Projects currently being undertaken by the company include building access roads in Abuja’s central business district, roads and civil works at Dangote Group’s oil refinery now under construction in Lagos and the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge.
The company saw its earnings reduced as Nigeria suffered its worst economic contraction in 25 years in 2016 as a slump in the price of oil, its main export, caused foreign-currency shortages.
After a ₦2.4 billion loss in 2016, the company made a profit of ₦2.57 billion in 2017, and revenue stayed at ₦141.9 billion. Also, results for the first quarter ended March 2018 show the company reported revenue of ₦35.32 billion for the period ended March 2018 compared to ₦34.15 billion reported for the period ended March 2017.
Profit before tax was ₦2.21 billion for the period ended March 2018, as against a ₦17.1 million loss before tax recorded in the corresponding period of last year.
According to the Managing Director, losses were incurred by the company as it bought foreign exchange in a volatile market, and since the exchange rate stabilized, the cost element of foreign-exchange losses is getting smaller and this has helped the company’s overall profitability.
He further revealed that the company is in talks with the government, its main debtor, as part of an effort to recover outstanding payments of about ₦60 billion.
“The government will raise bonds and these bonds will be given to the contractors and we can sell the bonds and generate cash.”
He also revealed plans to diversify its operations into the energy industry, where it has formed a partnership with petralon oil and gas firm to explore an oil field.
Julius Berger started operations in Nigeria in 1965, and it is Nigeria’s largest construction company by market value with two-thirds of its earnings from government contracts.
Its share price as at close of trading yesterday was 27.55 on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange while its one year return is down by 30.88%.
Business
Shoprite Nigeria is worth at least N25 billion
N25.6 billion price tag is only reflective of what Shoprite Nigeria’s operations is worth on paper.
Africa’s largest retail chain, Shoprite, announced on Monday that it is has decided to divest from its Nigerian retail entity, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria, the owners of Shoprite Supermarket Nigeria.
Going by several media reports and social media accounts, the sale is close to being consummated and a buyer is already in line to purchase the company. Getting information on the purchase consideration for this deal can be difficult especially if there are non-disclosure clauses.
For example, then Zinnox purchased Konga from Naspers (another South African firm) and AB Kinnevik two years ago, though the purchase consideration was not disclosed. However, we do not know what Shoprite Nigeria is worth on paper.
What is it worth on paper? Going by the company’s most recent annual report published in June 2019, Shoprite values its equity in its Nigerian subsidiary, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Ltd at R 1.164 billion (1.1 billion rands). This translates to about N25.6 billion using the official exchange rate. This is also an equivalent of $67.7 million. The exchange rates are modest and will certainly be higher if the transaction was to be at this valuation.
However, the N25.6 billion price tag is only reflective of what Shoprite Nigeria’s operations is worth on paper, what accountant’s callbook value. It could be more or even less depending on how the negotiation goes.
Shoprite Nigeria business is also its second-largest, based on book value and next only to Angola.
How will it be funded? The potential investors will likely fund this transaction via debt or equity or a combination of both. Deals like this also take time to be completed even if an agreement is announced and will also be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria and possibly South Africa.
We will keep you updated as we get more information.
Business
Social clubs, recreational centres to reopen August 14
The closure of all spas, bars, lounges, night clubs, cinemas, and game arcades remains in place.
The Lagos State Government has announced that social clubs and recreational centres will be allowed to reopen operations starting from Friday 14 August 2020.
Earlier today, the government released a statement via its official Twitter handle, in which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was quoted to have said that the reopening would be subject to clearance and possession of the Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate. This clearance certification can be gotten right here.
The Governor also added that at the moment, the safety clearance certificates are only being issued to social clubs with registered trustees.
READ MORE: Update: Lagos to reopen worship centres on August 7
*COVID-19* : Measures announced by the Lagos State Government to further relax the lockdown. @jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat #LASG #LagosAgainstCovid19 #CovidLASG #ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/3Mqz1o9dC7
— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) August 3, 2020
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In the meantime, however, the closure of all spas, bars, lounges, night clubs, cinemas, and game arcades remains in place. Any of the listed businesses that reopen prior to the set date and without meeting the set guidelines will be shut down. A monitoring and enforcement team will be at work to ensure that the “guidelines and directives are complied with to the letter”.
The Backstory
As part of moves towards a complete easing up of the lockdown, the Lagos State recently announced the reopening of schools. The government also announced that the reopening of religious houses and places of worship would take effect from August 7.
However, this is subject to strict adherence to standard precautions that have been put in place. All schools are expected to provide hand-washing facilities and ensure physical distancing within their premises. The Lagos State government will make available face mask 200 schools to which this reopening exemption applies for the duration of the reopening.
Relevant agencies have been directed to carry out spot checks and random inspections of schools and defaulters will be sanctioned appropriately.
Business
FG announces reopening of 104 unity schools tomorrow
The outcome of the meeting was disclosed in a press statement.
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has announced that all the 104 Unity Colleges are ready to open for exit classes tomorrow, August 4, 2020.
The Minister revealed the preparedness of the Unity Colleges during a Zoom meeting with the Commissioners of Education of the 36 States of the Federation on Monday morning.
The outcome of the meeting was disclosed in a press statement by the Federal Ministry of Education. The statement was signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong.
READ MORE: World Bank approves $500 million to help keep 6 million Nigerian girls in school
While announcing the formal opening of exit classes for the unity schools, Nwajiuba expressed his delight at the level of comprehensive preparation that has been put in place by the principals of the Unity Colleges.
During the meeting, the various state commissioners reported varying degrees of preparation and readiness for reopening between August 4 and August 10, 2020, for virtually all schools within their jurisdictions.
READ MORE: FG earmarks $1.6 billion for sea-port construction
The press statement from the ministry says, ‘’Ahead of August 4th, 2020, Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has announced that all the 104 Unity Colleges are ready to open their gates to exit classes tomorrow.’’
‘’From today, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Permanent Secretary and Directors will embark on an assessment tour of all Unity Colleges to ascertain and confirm the reports they have received from the Principals of Unity Colleges.’’
‘’Similarly, Federal Education Quality Assurance Directors deployed to the States have been directed to monitor compliance in their respective states.’’
READ MORE: Unity Bank’s H1 2019 results indicate 96% growth in profit
The Commissioners of Education from the states were asked to embark on assessment tours in their areas of coverage to ascertain the level of preparations for reopening. While most of the schools will be reopening tomorrow, others will continue to fine-tune their preparations in the coming days for reopening.
Emeka Nwajiuba asked all schools to communicate their specific reopening dates to their parents and students in order to avoid chaos in the system. The statement also noted that all returning students are to undergo temperature checks among other protocols before being admitted into their schools.
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