The shareholders of leading Nigerian food and agro allied company, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, have approved the N6.76 billion recommended by the company as final dividend for the year ended 31st of March, 2021. This amount translates into a final pay out of N1.65 per share to shareholders.
A notice sent to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) today, acknowledged by the company’s secretary, Umolu Joseph, said the decision was made during the recently concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company which held at Eko Hotels & Suites, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Recall that Nairametrics reported that the company announced in August that it intends to pay a dividend of N1.65k per 50 kobo share for the period ended March 31st 2021. Initially, the company had erroneously exempted the dividend from applicable withholding tax on the notion that the dividend will be paid from accumulated pioneer profit. However, in response to this error, the firm swiftly and subsequently sent another notice to the NGX and the investing public, stating: ‘’The correction is that the dividend shall be paid from the Company’s accumulated profit and therefore subject to withholding tax.’’
In addition, the company confirmed the appointment of Mrs. Juliet Anammah and Mr. Muhammad Ahmad, as Independent Non-Executive Directors of the company. It also re-elected Mr. John G. Coumantaros, Prof. Jerry Gana and Mr. Alfonso Garate, as its Directors during the AGM.
Note that the board of the company had earlier in its last AGM recommended Mrs. Juliet Anammah and Mr. Muhammad Ahmad for the aforementioned positions.
Other resolutions the company made in the course of the meeting were;
- Non-Executive Directors remuneration for the year ending March 31, 2022 were fixed at N39 million. In addition, sitting allowances will be paid at standard agreed rates for each meeting attended.
- Directors were authorized to fix the remuneration of the independent auditors of the company- KPMG Professional Services.
- The following individuals were elected into the Statutory Audit Committee; Mr. Adeshina Olalekan Oladebo, Mr. Sekoni Nurudeen Adebayo and Mr. Adeshina Tajudeen Imram (representing the Shareholders) and Mr. Foluso Philips and Alhaji Olalekan A. Saliu (representing the Board).
Highlights of the firm’s Full Year Result
Recall that Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc had reported a profit after tax of N25.7 billion for the year ended 31st of March, 2021, indicating a surge of 126% YoY. The firm’s revenue also grew by 34% to N771.6 billion, while earnings per share printed N6.38, compared to N2.25 posted in corresponding period of last year. Consequently, the firm declared a dividend of N1.65 per share, which is up by 18% YoY.
It is pertinent to note that the impressive topline growth for the year was aided by gains from the firm’s Agro-allied turnaround strategy. The expansion of the firm’s backward integration program across all value chains, including strategic partnerships with smallholder farmers were all pivotal in achieving a revenue growth of 34%.
Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc is currently trading at N29.35 on the floor of the NGX
