With a surge of 235 per cent in profit in the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc merger with Kalambaina Cement Company Limited has started yielding positive fruits, writes Goddy Egene
The new, enlarged Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) is a stronger platform to capture significant synergies and create value for the benefit of the shareholders in the form of stronger competitive position, economies of scale, enhanced operations and administrative efficiencies which are expected to accrue.
The above were the words of assurance by the Chairman of BUA Group and CCNN, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu after shareholders of CCNN and Kalambaina Cement Company Limited approved the merger of both companies last year. Both firms have BAU Group as parent company but were operating separately before they decided to merge their operations last year.
Rabiu had assured stakeholders of improved benefits post merger. And going by the first quarter(Q1) financial results of CCNN ended March 31, 2019, the shareholders are in for better days.
First financial performance
A look at the performance of CCNN three months after its merger has shown that revenue jumped by 213 per cent from N5.394 billion in the corresponding period of 2018 to N16.886 billion in 2019. This was the highest in the history of the company and it reflected the impact of the increased combined capacity and the gradual realisation of the synergies following the successful completion of the merger with Kalambaina Cement Company Limited.
Volumeincreased by 233 per cent to 411,945 metric tons(mt). Increase in volume sold based on the increased plant capacity from 500,000MT 000metric tonsto 2,000,000mt and improved capacity utilization of the new plant, showing a combined capacity utilisation of 82 per cent.
Also, a strong domestic demand and a ready growing export market to neighbouring countries remain a positive driver for the increase in sales volume experienced in Q1.
Gross profit rose by 239 per cent to N7.689 billion, from N2.263 billion in 2018. In the past four years, CCNN has been spending less on input cost to produce each unit of products. This was maintained in Q1 of 2019 as cost of sales ratio fell to 54.45 percent in March 2019 from 58 percent in the corresponding period of 2018, and 62.50 percent in 2017.
Equally, the improvement in operating performance is due to the new cement plant for which energy costs is cheaper due to coal usage.
CCNN recorded a surge of 255 per cent in profit before tax (PBT) to N5.348 billion in 2019, compared with N1.504 billion in 2018, while profit tax followed same growth trajectory, rising by 235 per cent to N3.636 billion, from N1.083 billion in 2018.
In last five years, CCNN’s profit has been growing steadily with some little slowdown. For instance, between 2015 and 2016,profit after tax fell to N632.04 million to N242.52 million. However, profit began to rise after the country. Hence, CCNN has recorded a surge 236 per cent to N3.636 billion in Q1 of 2019, as against N1.08 billion the previous year.
A further analysis of the performance indicated that the cement firm has been able to turn each Naira invested in sales into higher profit as net margin increased to 21.50 per cent in March 2019 from 20.10 per cent in March 2018, 11.80 percent in 2017, and 6.80 percent in 2016.
Pre-tax profit margin also followed the similar pattern, increasing to 31.70 percent in March 2019, from 27.90 percent in 2018, 15.70 percent in 2017, and 9.40 percent in 2016.
Operating profit margin increased to 31.90 per cent in March 2019 from 26.30 per cent in March 2018, 16.40 percent in 2017, and 10.60 percent in 2016.
CCNN is liquid and it can easily pay off its current liabilities as current ratio improved to 1.5 7 times in March 2019 from 1.50 times the previous year. This implies that CCNN has 1.57 more current assets than current liabilities.
Besides, CCNN has reduced debt in its capital structure as total debt (long and short term) fell by 33.90 percent to N348.61 billion in March 2019 from N52.43 billion the previous year.
Also, the company has CCNN has enough cash to pay debts, reward shareholders in form of dividend, and fund future expansion plans as net cash flow from operating activities surged by 1,881 per cent to N7.31 billion a year ago.
Bright future outlook
Many market analysts have expressed high optimism that CCNN has huge potential to deliver sustainable growth and increase shareholders’ wealth going forward. According to them, there many benefits the manager has brought.
Before now, Rabiu had said the expanded CCNN would remain the market leader in its regional market of North West Nigeria, which is the third largest market for cement in Nigeria by consumption, whilst continuing to explore the huge opportunities that exist in the export markets of Niger, Burkina Faso and the west African region.
“Traditionally, the huge cost of transportation to CCNN’s home region from other cement plants in Nigeria – the nearest being about 900km away – has always given us a strategic advantage in that region over competing cement companies and brands. The expanded entity will leverage on the cost and energy efficiency of the newly commissioned Kalambaina Plant whilst providing additional value through its products in terms of better quality, higher yields and a stronger cement than competing premium cement brands,” he said.
The merger brought the total installed capacity of the new firm to two million metric tonnes per annum(mtpa) and is expected to bring the total capacity of BUA’s cement operations to eight million mtpa as the group has completed its three million metric tonnes per annum Obu II Cement Plant in Okpella, Edo State.
The merger also provides the company other energy sources and broadens its energy mix. CCNN is the only cement plant in Nigeria that relies solely on LPFO and diesel.
Also, merger has provided opportunities for CCNN to expand into new markets, some with export potential such as Burkina Faso, and the Republics of Niger and Benin.
Rabiu had assured that the company’s commitment towards Nigerian economy remains strong, noting that the merger would further boost that commitment.
He said: “Our commitment towards the Nigerian economy remains strong and this new entity further deepens the capital market and is a pointer to the continued resurgence of the Nigerian economy. We remain committed to delivering exceptional value to stakeholders at all times. Innovation, efficiency and best-in-class technology will continue to be the key drivers of our cement business.”
