Companies
Focus on this small-cap company and its very ‘salty’ business
The small-cap company, with its authorised share capital of N300 million, is based in Lagos where it operates at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Phase 2.

Published
2 years agoon

There are several companies in Nigeria which many people do not even know are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The reason for this situation is because some smaller securities are simply overshadowed by the pre-eminence of the bigger ones, especially the NSE 30. Moreover, these smaller securities are seldom in the news, thereby making it almost impossible for people to know what they are about and the investment opportunities available therein. A typical example of such companies is Union Dicon Salt Plc, which is the focus of Nairametrics’ company profile this week.
Corporate Information about Union Dicon Salt Plc
This Nigerian company’s business model entails the processing, packaging and merchandising of iodised salt. The small-cap company, with its authorised share capital of N300 million, is based in Lagos where it operates at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Phase 2.
The company was initially incorporated in 1991 as a limited liability company. Soon afterwards, it was converted into a publicly-traded company and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1993.
Meanwhile, the actual history of the company prior to 1991 can be traced back to the 1984 joint venture partnership between the Brazilian firm AIMS Limited, and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). This partnership resulted in the establishment of Dicon Salt Limited. Note that this joint venture was 60% owned by the Nigerian entity and 40% owned by the Brazilian firm, which also served as the technical partner.
The company engaged in the processing and packaging of bulk, raw salt until 1988 when it was temporarily shut down. By the year 1991, a unanimous decision was reached by the stakeholders to merge with a separate salt processing company known as Union Salt Limited. This is how Union Dicon Salt Plc came to be.
The company’s target market
As one of the leading salt processing companies in Nigeria today, Union Dicon Salt Plc’s main target market is basically comprised of Nigerians who consume salt on a daily basis.
About the company’s ownership structure
The current nature of the company’s ownership structure is such that it is majority-owned by Nigerian entities/Nigerian investors, even though AIMS still has a considerable amount of holdings. As a matter of fact, AIMS Limited single-handedly owns the highest percentage of shares in Union Dicon Salt Plc.
According to information disclosed by the company, substantial shareholders in the company include the following entities:
- AIMS Limited holds 64,000,000 units of shares, which amounts to 27.5%.
- The Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria holds a total of 44,000,000 units, which accounts for 18.9%.
- General T.Y Danjuma: owns 33,473,291 units which represents about 14.4% of the total shareholding.
- T.Y Holdings holds a total of 18,928,000 units which amounts to 8.1%.
- Taraba Fisheries Limited holds some 18,282,386 units, representing 7.9%.
- UDS Plc Staff Trust Fund holds 9,600,370 units of shares, which is 4.1%.
- Danjuma Grace Elizabeth holds 1,870,843. This represents 0.8%.
- Finally, the investing Nigerian public hold a combined total of 42,186,636 which represents 18.2% of total shareholding.
Some notable members of the company’s board of directors
One of the most prominent members of this company’s board is Retired Lt. General T.Y Danjuma. He serves in the capacity of the Chairman, a position he also currently holds in some other notable companies, including May & Baker Plc, Friesland Food WAMPCO Plc, and South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, to mention just a few.
Mr. Danjuma was a professional soldier who trained in military schools in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. His name has been etched in the history of Nigeria as one of the greatest Generals and businessmen the country has ever produced.
Retired Col. Henry I. Mgbemena serves as the company’s current Managing Director. Much like the Chairman, he too is a retired military personnel, having enlisted into service in 1979. Meanwhile, prior to joining the army, Mr. Mgbemena obtained a degree in Chemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1977. In 2002, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar.
Other notable members of the company’s board of directors are:
- Engineer Kayode M. Erikitola: Director
- Retired Lieutenant Col. Miri Dashe: Director
- Major General B.O Ogunkale: Director
Is the company faced with competition?
Most definitely, Union Dicon Salt Plc is not the only company operating in the Nigerian salt market. As a matter of fact, there are other companies struggling for market share. One of these companies is Nascon Allied Industries Plc, the makers of Dangote Salt. Others are Royal Salt Limited, Covenant Salt Company Limited, Bayswater Industries Limited, etc.
A look at the company’s recent financial report
Last month, the Nigerian Stock Exchange suspended the shares of Union Dicon Salt Plc and those of several others, due to their failure to submit their audited financial reports on time. Note that Union Salt has become a perennial offender in this regard, having flouted the NSE post-listing requirement in the past couple of years. This is happening just as the company experiences financial difficulties and dormancy, which could eventually lead to bankruptcy.
Note that the company’s external auditors had, in 2016, raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern. According to the auditors, BDO Professional Services, the company was suffering financially despite the purported profit of N398.96 million which the company made in 2016. This was because “the subsisting negative shareholders’ funds and working capital raised material uncertainty on the going concern status of the company.”
Following the recent suspension of the company’s shares, the management and board were prompted to release the most recent results which show a loss after tax of N49.4 million during the third quarter period ended September 31st, 2018.
In conclusion…
Despite the challenges it might be having, one fact remains that Union Dicon Salt Plc is one company with lots of potentials. It is, therefore, important that the board take swift actions towards remedying the challenges facing it before it is too late.
Emmanuel is a professional writer and business journalist, with interests covering Banking & Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Profiles, Brand Communication, Fintech, and MSMEs.He initially joined Nairametrics as an all-round Business Analyst, but later began focusing on and covering the financial services sector. He has also held various leadership roles, including Senior Editor, QAQC Lead, and Deputy Managing Editor.Emmanuel holds an M.Sc in International Relations from the University of Ibadan, graduating with Distinction. He also graduated with a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from the Department of Philosophy & Logic, University of Ibadan.If you have a scoop for him, you may contact him via his email- [email protected] You may also contact him through various social media platforms, preferably LinkedIn and Twitter.


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Companies
Africa Prudential proposes dividend of N1 billion for shareholders
Africa Prudential Plc has proposed a sum of N1 billion as dividend for shareholders.

Published
1 day agoon
March 3, 2021
The Board of Directors of Africa Prudential Plc has proposed a sum of N1 billion as dividend to shareholders for the period ended 31st of December 2020.
This is according to a disclosure signed by the firm’s secretary, Joseph Jibunoh and sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, as seen by Nairametrics.
According to the notification, the proposed dividend will be paid electronically to qualified shareholders on the 26th of March, 2021, subject to appropriate withholding tax and approval from the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled a day earlier.
The breakdown of the proposed dividend shows that a sum of 50 kobo will be paid for each outstanding 2,000,000,000 ordinary shares of the company, held by its shareholders, totalling N1 billion. The proposed dividend is 28.6% lower than the 2019 figures of N1.4 billion.
The comparative decline in the company’s proposed dividend for the year might be attributed to a recent dip in profit and other key metrics recorded by the firm in its latest audited financial statement for 2020. For example, the firm posted a profit of N1.45 billion for the year, indicating a decline of 13.98% YoY. In addition, its earnings per share declined by 14.29% to print at 72 kobo.
What you should know
- Africa Prudential had recently announced the appointment of Mrs Zubaida Rasheed as Director.
- Africa Prudential Plc, formerly known as UBA Registrars Ltd, was incorporated as a private limited liability company on 23rd March 2006. It was listed in the NSE on 17th of January, 2013.
Companies
Dangote Sugar proposes N18.2 billion as final dividend for 2020
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has proposed a sum of N18.2 billion as the final dividend for shareholders.
Published
2 days agoon
March 2, 2021
The Board of Directors of Nigeria, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has proposed a sum of N18.2 billion as the final dividend for shareholders for the period ended 31st December 2020.
This announcement was contained in the audited financial statement of the leading integrated sugar company.
In line with the statement of the Board of DSR, the approval of this proposed dividend at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting will see Dangote Sugar pay out a final dividend of N1.50 for each of the outstanding 12,146,878,241 ordinary shares of the company, held by its shareholders.
The proposed dividend is 36.36% higher than the final dividend of N1.1 per share (N13.36 billion) the sugar company paid its shareholders in 2019.
What you should know
- Dangote Sugar Refinery declared in its audited statement for the period ended 31st December 2020 that its profit for the year climbed to N29.8 billion, from N22.4 billion in 2019.
- According to these figures, DSR’s earnings per share for 2020 are pegged at N2.45. Hence, with a dividend of N1.50 per share, Dangote Sugar is set to payout 61.2% of its profits for 2020.
- At the close of trading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange today, shares in Dangote Sugar Refinery declined by 0.83% to close lower at N17.85.
- At this price, the dividend yield of Dangote Sugar shares is 8.40%.
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Anonymous
November 14, 2018 at 10:53 am
you should just have said, a T.Y. Danjuma company.
Akpos
January 2, 2019 at 5:01 am
Well done!
Can you write on McNichols PLC?