CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Dangote Cement Withdraws Bid for South African Cement Firm
Goddy Egene
Dangote Cement Plc(DCP), which is the most capitalised  company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last Friday  announced the withdrawal of its interest   to acquire the entire share capital of PPC Limited, South Africa’s leading cement firm.
Dangote Cement had last month confirmed that it communicated its   interest to acquire the entire share capital of PPC to the board of directors of the South Africa’s firm.
But DCP had explained, though, that the acquisition talks were  still at the preliminary stage and the transaction remained a potential transaction.
“Further details will be published subsequently, as appropriate,†the company had stated last month.
However, in a notification to the NSE on Friday, DCP said its board  of directors had on October 5,  formerly notified the board of directors of PPC that it(DCP) no longer  had an interest in acquiring the entire  share capital of  PPC.
Before now, analysts had said the acquisition of the South African firm would fit into DCP’s expansion strategy and boost its future performance.
DCP had embarked on expansion of its operations to other African countries. And the Chairman of the Dangote Cement, Alhaji Aliko Dangote last May told shareholders that the Pan-African diversification programme provided the  essential foreign currency and streams of cash to operate  the company despite the challenges that characterised 2016.
According to him, the Nigerian economy fell into recession in 2016, inflation peaked  at 18.6 per cent, while resurgence in attacks on oil and gas pipelines in South left Ibese and Obajana factories short of fuel.
He, however, noted that the results of  strategic decisions taken a years ago  enabled  Dangote Cement to strengthen its  business and consolidate its  position in a year when many others in Nigeria and across the rest of Africa have struggled against economic downturn.
“Our Pan-African diversification has provided cash streams from countries such as Senegal, Cameroon and Zambia, which have provided us with essential foreign currency as foreign exchange controls made it difficult for us to obtain dollars for operations. Furthermore, we were able to borrow money in these countries’ local currencies, thus reducing our exposure to foreign currency shortages in Nigeria. In addition, we began to generate foreign currency sales from exports of cement from Nigeria to Ghana,†Dangote said.
Having delivered improved full-year results for 2016, Dangote Cement Plc recorded another improved performance for half year ended June 30, 2017, sending positive signals to investors to expect another bounteous harvest at the end of the year.
