Business
May & Baker Doubles Net Earnings To N418m
May & Baker Nigeria Plc recorded significant growths in sales and profitability in 2008 with net earnings rising by 101 percent to N418 million.
Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of May & Baker Nigeria for the year ended December 30, 2008 released at the weekend showed that turnover rose by 40 per cent to N5.44 billion in 2008 as against N3.86 billion in 2007.
The report showed that net earnings doubled from N208.3 million in 2007 to N418 million in 2008. The board of the company has however decided to distribute N280 million as cash dividends for the 2008 business year. The company however had dipped into reserves to partly finance payouts for the 2007 business year.
Directors of the healthcare company said they have recommended a dividend per share of 40 kobo for the 2008 business year. May & Baker had increased cash payout by 33 per cent from 30 kobo per share distributed for 2006 business year to 40 kobo for the 2007 business year.
Mr Joseph Odumodu, managing director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, recently said the company has adopted a new vision to be among the top 10 conglomerates in Nigeria by 2020.
He said the company has decided to grow its pharmaceutical business significantly with a turnover target of 3.4 billion in order to ensure t hat its various businesses are in good positions to contribute maximally to the overall turnover.
Segmental profit analysis showed that the pharmaceutical business was the highest contributor to profitability.
Gross profit margin in the pharmaceutical business stood at about 49 per cent in 2007. Compared with 19 per cent and 27 per cent in the food business and water business respectively.
He noted that although the top 10 vision might be challenging, the company would work with all stakeholders to achieve this top position.
May & Baker had also witnessed major jump in sales in 2007 as the gains of recent diversification begin to impact on the overall performance of the company.
Audited report and accounts of May & Baker Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2007 showed substantial growths in sales and profitability, which trickled into better returns to shareholders.
However, high cost of operations has continued to moderate strong growth in the top-line. This has also undermined the company’s underlying performance strength, with last audited report showing key indices of the downside.
Total turnover rose by 71 per cent in 2007 to N3.86 billion as against an increase of 13 per cent to N2.25 billion in 2006. Profit before tax stood at N398.1 million in 2007 compared with N266.2 million in 2006, representing an increase of about 50 per cent.
However with 24.7 per cent rise in tax provisions from N54.72 million in 2006 to N189.76 million in 2007, net earning melted to N208.32 million in 2007 compared with N211.47 million in 2006.
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