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Business

Hydrogen CEO Kemi Okusanya Unveils Strategy Behind N966 Million Profit Surge in H1 2025

  • dollaers
  • November 11, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Hydrogen Payment Services Limited, a fast-growing fintech subsidiary of Access Holdings, has reported a remarkable N966 million profit before tax for the first half of 2025 — representing a 306% year-on-year increase from N238 million recorded in the same period of 2024.

According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Kemi Okusanya, this impressive performance is not accidental but the result of strategic operational restructuring, disciplined financial management, and client-focused innovation.

Speaking exclusively to Nairametrics on the sidelines of the Africa Retail Congress, Okusanya reflected on the company’s evolution from a young fintech startup into a key player in Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem.

“The previous year was still one of the early stages of the business,” she explained. “We made deliberate changes to our backend operations and invested time in understanding what our financial institution clients really needed. That clarity helped us grow faster and smarter.”

Strong Financial Performance Driven by Operational Discipline

Hydrogen’s operating income climbed from N3.1 billion in June 2024 to N4.1 billion in June 2025, while operating expenses rose modestly by 9.5%, from N2.94 billion to N3.22 billion. The company’s ability to expand revenues faster than costs highlights its growing efficiency and operational maturity.

Okusanya attributed this growth to the company’s strategic decision to focus on core service excellence, digital infrastructure optimization, and innovation driven by customer needs rather than industry trends.

“Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem is full of bright, innovative people,” she said. “But innovation alone isn’t enough. Long-term success requires pairing creativity with strong business fundamentals. We’ve focused on building a sustainable business that delivers value not just to customers, but to investors as well.”

Balancing Innovation with Investor Expectations

Okusanya underscored that fintech founders and executives must understand the financial expectations of their investors, especially in an environment where early profitability and scalability are becoming key performance benchmarks.

“You have to understand who is funding your business,” she noted. “If your investor is focused on near-term returns, you can’t afford to wait twenty years to break even. That perspective has influenced how we make strategic decisions at Hydrogen.”

Bank-Backed Fintechs and Competitive Advantage

As part of Access Holdings, Hydrogen benefits from the institutional knowledge, scale, and risk management expertise of one of Nigeria’s largest banking groups. However, Okusanya maintained that success for bank-backed fintechs still depends on execution.

“It’s too early to say it’s going to be an easy ride for bank fintechs,” she said. “But if they get it right, they have a lot to gain. Banks have operated in the financial space for decades—they’ve made mistakes we can learn from. That market experience is an advantage, but only if used wisely.”

Post-Grey List Opportunities in Cross-Border Payments

Following Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, Okusanya believes the country’s fintech sector is now positioned for significant expansion in cross-border trade and remittances.

“Being on the grey list created barriers for international financial interactions,” she recalled. “Now that we’re off it, we expect to see more innovation, investment, and cross-border opportunities—and Hydrogen is already preparing to lead in that space.”

She added that events like the Africa Retail Congress reflect growing confidence in African digital trade and financial inclusion, themes central to Hydrogen’s long-term strategy.

Regulation as a Catalyst for Innovation

Looking ahead, Okusanya expects 2026 to be a pivotal year for regulatory evolution in Nigeria’s fintech industry. Rather than viewing regulation as a constraint, she sees it as a launchpad for innovation.

“Every policy comes with opportunities,” she explained. “Regulations are designed to solve problems, but they also reveal new ones—and that’s where true innovation happens.”

Hydrogen is already fully ISO 20022-compliant, aligning with global financial messaging standards. Okusanya said the company is leveraging this compliance not just as a technical requirement but as a springboard for new product development and interoperability across Africa’s fragmented payment systems.

“Interoperability has always been one of my biggest priorities,” she said. “Now, with standardized payment messaging formats, we can build solutions that make it easier for banks, fintechs, and customers to transact seamlessly across borders.”

A Future Built on Scale, Discipline, and Innovation

While remaining discreet about upcoming product launches, Okusanya confirmed that Hydrogen is actively working on cross-border interoperability tools and enterprise payment infrastructure, designed to position the company as a leading enabler of digital financial services in Africa.

“We’re blending innovation with operational discipline,” she concluded. “Our goal is to create solutions that outlive trends and deliver lasting value for our clients and the Nigerian economy.”

Hydrogen’s exceptional first-half results demonstrate that its growth strategy—anchored on innovation, prudence, and client focus—is positioning it as one of Nigeria’s most resilient fintech success stories.

Veritas Kapital Swings to ₦1.8 Billion Profit in Q3 2025, Surpasses Forecast Expectations

  • dollaers
  • November 8, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc has reported a profit before tax of ₦1.8 billion for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, marking a sharp turnaround from a ₦2.8 billion loss recorded in the same period last year. The performance also exceeded the company’s internal forecast of ₦867 million, underscoring a significant rebound in profitability and operational efficiency.

For the nine-month period ended September 2025, Veritas Kapital posted a ₦4.88 billion pre-tax profit, representing a 64% increase from the ₦2.97 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.

While the company’s insurance revenue fell 40% year-on-year to ₦3.73 billion, its strong cost management and favorable reinsurance arrangements helped deliver a much-improved bottom line.

Key Highlights (Q3 2025 vs Q3 2024)

Insurance Revenue: ₦3.73 billion, down 40% from ₦6.19 billion
Insurance Service Expenses: ₦6.02 billion, down 44% from ₦10.75 billion
Net Investment Income: ₦717.1 million, marginally down 0.5% from ₦720.4 million
Net Insurance & Investment Result: ₦2.54 billion, compared to a ₦3.05 billion loss in Q3 2024
Other Operating Income: ₦180.8 million, compared to ₦1.47 billion in Q3 2024
Other Operating Expenses: ₦1.54 billion, up from ₦1.23 billion
Profit for the Period: ₦526.4 million, versus a ₦2.3 billion loss last year
Basic EPS: ₦0.08, up from a negative ₦0.33
Total Assets: ₦36.36 billion, down 3.2% year-on-year
Total Equity: ₦19.47 billion, up 27% from ₦15.29 billion in December 2024

Management Commentary

Dr. Adaobi Nwakuche, Managing Director and CEO of Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, described the company’s performance as a “reflection of purpose translated into progress.”

She stated, “We see these results as validation that when an organization aligns its strategy with its values, growth becomes inevitable. Every milestone we achieve is built on trust — the trust of our customers, brokers, partners, and employees, who continue to give their best every day.”

Dr. Nwakuche attributed the strong recovery to effective cost optimization, risk-sharing through reinsurance, and operational discipline, which collectively helped offset the impact of weaker revenue.

Performance Drivers

The biggest contributor to the company’s turnaround was the substantial improvement in its net insurance and investment result, which rose to ₦2.54 billion from a ₦3.05 billion loss in Q3 2024.

A major factor behind this improvement was the 62% reduction in insurance service expenses, falling from ₦10.75 billion to ₦6.02 billion. This sharp decline resulted from streamlined operations, improved claims management, and better cost control across underwriting and administration functions.

In addition, Veritas Kapital benefited from a positive net reinsurance result — meaning the firm received more from reinsurers than it paid in premiums. This helped cushion the effect of claims and boosted cash flow.

By effectively sharing risk with reinsurers, the company reduced its exposure to large claims, strengthened liquidity, and maintained a more stable earnings outlook.

Balance Sheet and Financial Stability

As of September 2025, total assets stood at ₦36.36 billion, slightly lower than the ₦37.54 billion reported in 2024, reflecting a modest dip in cash and cash equivalents. However, Veritas Kapital remains financially sound, with substantial assets supporting its underwriting capacity.

More notably, total equity climbed 27% year-on-year, rising to ₦19.47 billion from ₦15.29 billion in December 2024. The improvement was primarily driven by retained earnings, which improved to ₦2.1 billion from a ₦1.2 billion deficit a year earlier.

Dr. Nwakuche emphasized that this growth in shareholders’ funds demonstrates the company’s strengthened balance sheet and renewed investor confidence. She said, “Our equity growth reflects the strength of our strategies and the trust our investors place in us. With a solid capital base, we are well-positioned to continue investing in innovation, customer experience, and sustainable growth.”

Market Performance and Capital Plans

Veritas Kapital’s share price has mirrored its improving fundamentals. Beginning the year at ₦1.36, the stock has appreciated to ₦1.85 as of November 7, 2025, representing a 36% year-to-date increase.

In addition, the company recently announced plans to raise ₦15 billion in fresh capital through a private placement, a move aimed at strengthening its solvency margin, expanding underwriting capacity, and positioning the firm for future growth opportunities in the Nigerian insurance market.

Bottom Line

Despite a significant decline in insurance revenue, Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc’s Q3 2025 results underscore a successful turnaround driven by disciplined cost management, positive reinsurance recoveries, and improved investment performance.

The return to profitability — and the strong nine-month performance — demonstrates that Veritas Kapital’s ongoing transformation strategy is yielding measurable results. With a strengthened balance sheet, improved equity, and renewed investor confidence, the insurer appears well-positioned for sustained growth heading into 2026.

Berger Paints Declares 40 Kobo Interim Dividend as Profit Surges 373% in Nine Months

  • dollaers
  • November 7, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Berger Paints Nigeria Plc has announced an interim dividend of 40 kobo per 50 kobo ordinary share, rewarding shareholders for a strong financial performance in the first nine months of 2025. The dividend will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the company’s register as of November 11, 2025, with electronic payments scheduled for November 19, 2025.

The announcement, contained in a statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), follows the release of Berger Paints’ nine-month unaudited financial results, which showed a pre-tax profit of ₦1.46 billion, representing a remarkable 373% year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2024. The company said the dividend payment is subject to withholding tax and regulatory approval in line with standard practice.

This interim dividend represents a 100% increase over the 20 kobo paid during the same period last year, signaling management’s growing confidence in the company’s earnings momentum and liquidity strength.

Dividend and Market Metrics

The declared dividend of 40 kobo per share amounts to a total payout of approximately ₦115.92 million. Based on the company’s market price of ₦41 per share, the interim dividend translates to a yield of 0.97% and a dividend payout ratio of 11.98%.

Berger Paints also advised all shareholders to complete their e-dividend registration to ensure prompt payment on the scheduled date. The company reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining efficient shareholder communication and transparency in corporate governance.

Robust Financial Performance

Berger Paints’ financial statement for the period ended September 30, 2025, revealed strong earnings growth across all key performance indicators.

Profit before tax (PBT) for the third quarter rose 138% to ₦518.6 million, compared to ₦218.1 million recorded in the same period of 2024.
Profit after tax (PAT) also more than doubled to ₦343 million, up from ₦148 million last year.
For the nine-month period, PBT reached ₦1.46 billion, while PAT jumped to ₦968 million, up from ₦202 million in 2024.

The company attributed the outstanding performance to higher paint sales volumes, effective cost control, and enhanced operational efficiency, which helped cushion the impact of inflationary pressures and rising input costs.

Revenue performance was equally impressive. Q3 2025 revenue rose 20.5% year-on-year to ₦3.1 billion, while cumulative revenue for the nine-month period climbed 24% to ₦9.3 billion, compared to ₦7.4 billion in the same period of 2024.

The company’s paints and allied products business segment remained its largest revenue contributor, accounting for 97% of total turnover (₦9.04 billion), while contract services contributed ₦271.6 million.

Balance Sheet Strength and Market Performance

Berger Paints also demonstrated improved balance sheet resilience, with total assets rising to ₦8.01 billion and shareholders’ equity increasing to ₦4.51 billion, representing an 18% year-on-year growth. This strong financial base provides the company with the flexibility to invest in capacity expansion, product innovation, and distribution network upgrades.

On the capital market front, Berger Paints’ share price has appreciated by 95% year-to-date, one of the best performances among industrial goods stocks on the NGX in 2025. The stock is currently trading around ₦39–₦41, supported by consistent earnings growth and a stable dividend policy.

Strategic Focus and Outlook

Analysts view Berger Paints’ latest results as a reflection of its successful cost optimization strategies and product diversification efforts, which have helped the company maintain profitability despite macroeconomic headwinds. The company’s management has continued to invest in automation, distribution, and sustainability initiatives to improve competitiveness and market share.

Berger Paints’ continued focus on innovation, customer satisfaction, and value creation has positioned it as one of the most resilient brands in Nigeria’s industrial goods sector. The decision to double the interim dividend demonstrates the company’s strong financial health and its commitment to delivering consistent returns to investors.

“We are pleased to reward our shareholders for their continued support,” a company representative noted. “The strong financial results reflect our disciplined execution, efficient operations, and commitment to delivering value despite a challenging economic environment.”

With sustained growth in revenue, profit, and equity, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc is poised to maintain its trajectory of steady earnings and shareholder value creation as it approaches the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

Airtel Africa’s Dual Listing Gap Widens as Illiquidity Stifles NGX Price Discovery

  • dollaers
  • November 4, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Airtel Africa Plc, one of Nigeria’s largest listed firms and a major telecommunications player on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), is facing a widening valuation gap between its London and Lagos listings. Despite strong financial performance and rising investor confidence abroad, the company’s share price on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) has remained largely stagnant due to persistent market illiquidity and weak trading dynamics.

As of November 3, 2025, Airtel Africa’s LSE share price has surged from £1.17 to £2.80, representing an impressive 139% year-to-date (YTD) increase. In contrast, the company’s NGX-listed shares have inched up only modestly—from N2,156.90 to N2,310.50, a mere 7.1% rise over the same period. When converted at the prevailing exchange rate of N1,903.5 per pound, Airtel’s London valuation translates to roughly N5,329.9 per share, more than double its Nigerian price. This means the NGX listing trades at a 58% discount compared to its LSE counterpart.

The disparity highlights the growing structural divide between Nigeria’s domestic capital market and international exchanges. Airtel Africa, a member of the Stocks Worth Over One Trillion (SWOOT) category with a market capitalization exceeding N8.68 trillion, has seen its NGX price stagnate since mid-June 2025 despite strong financial results and positive investor sentiment globally.

Analysts Link Gap to Market Liquidity Deficit

Experts attribute the valuation gap primarily to liquidity constraints on the Nigerian Exchange. According to David Adonri, Chief Executive Officer of Highcap Securities Limited, limited trading volume on the NGX hinders price discovery even for fundamentally sound stocks.

“The movement of stock prices depends heavily on liquidity,” Adonri explained. “On the London Stock Exchange, the market is deep and dynamic, allowing price changes to reflect investor sentiment quickly. But on the NGX, moving a stock like Airtel Africa significantly would require buying about 100,000 shares—worth over N230 million at current prices. That’s far beyond the reach of most retail investors.”

Adonri further noted that while Airtel’s London valuation reflects future growth expectations and institutional optimism, its Nigerian price is constrained by market structure rather than fundamentals. “The NGX price tells you about liquidity limits, not value,” he said.

Cross-Market Frictions and Regulatory Barriers

Although the wide price differential might seem to present arbitrage opportunities, analysts say cross-border trading frictions make such opportunities impractical. Tajudeen Olayinka, CEO of Wyoming Capital & Securities Limited, explained that Airtel’s dual-listed shares are held in separate depository systems that lack real-time transfer mechanisms.

“You can’t just buy Airtel in Lagos and sell it in London,” Olayinka said. “Transferring holdings between depositories involves slow, expensive administrative procedures, access to scarce foreign exchange, and multiple layers of regulatory approval.”

He added that capital controls, FX scarcity, and a lack of cross-listing infrastructure effectively block arbitrage, keeping prices disconnected. “It’s not just sentiment,” Olayinka said. “It’s structural — a reflection of two entirely different market ecosystems.”

Institutional Dominance and Retail Inactivity

The imbalance in liquidity is further worsened by institutional dominance on the NGX. Large pension funds and asset managers hold significant portions of Airtel’s shares but typically maintain long-term positions, reducing day-to-day trading activity. Retail investors, who might have added vibrancy to the market, lack the capital base to influence price direction meaningfully.

“Only institutional players have the volume to move Airtel’s price,” Olayinka added. “Since most of them are buy-and-hold investors, the stock barely trades. Retail traders simply don’t have the financial muscle to make a difference.”

This has left Airtel’s local price largely static even as the company’s LSE-listed shares rallied on strong earnings, robust cash flow, and consistent dividend growth.

Strong Fundamentals, Weak Market Depth

Despite price stagnation on the NGX, Airtel Africa’s fundamentals remain outstanding. For the first half of 2025, the company posted a 29% revenue increase to $2.98 billion, a 35.9% rise in operating profit, and a 375% surge in profit after tax to $376 million. Its earnings per share (EPS) grew ninefold to 8.3 cents, and EBITDA margins improved from 45.8% to 48.5%.

The company also maintained disciplined financial management, reducing leverage from 2.3x to 2.1x and delivering operating cash flow of $1.13 billion, up 46.5% year-on-year. It declared an interim dividend of 2.84 cents per share, reflecting confidence in its earnings sustainability.

Nevertheless, analysts warn that without deeper liquidity, regulatory harmonization, and improved FX flexibility, Nigerian investors may continue missing out on the company’s true valuation upside. “The fundamentals are strong,” Adonri reiterated, “but until our markets deepen and cost of capital falls, premium stocks like Airtel will keep trading at artificial discounts.”

Outlook

Airtel Africa’s dual-listing divergence underscores a broader challenge for Nigeria’s capital markets — limited depth, weak foreign participation, and systemic barriers to cross-border capital mobility. Unless these frictions are addressed, Nigerian investors risk remaining spectators to value creation that is fully captured offshore.

In the meantime, Airtel Africa continues to reward long-term investors globally, even as its local share price remains trapped under the weight of illiquidity — a reminder that strong corporate fundamentals alone cannot overcome structural inefficiencies in fragmented markets.

BUA Foods Surpasses Dangote Cement and MTN Nigeria to Become NGX’s Most Valuable Company

  • dollaers
  • November 3, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

In a remarkable turn of events on the Nigerian capital market, BUA Foods Plc has overtaken Dangote Cement Plc and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc to become the most valuable listed company on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), achieving a market capitalization of ₦12.5 trillion. This development marks a defining moment for Nigeria’s consumer goods industry, highlighting the growing dominance of the food and beverages sector over traditional market leaders in industrial and telecommunications segments.

The achievement positions BUA Foods at the pinnacle of the Stocks Worth Over One Trillion Naira (SWOOT) group—an exclusive collection of heavyweight stocks whose combined valuation now stands at an impressive ₦78.92 trillion. Other notable members of this elite group include GTCO Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Holdings Plc, UBA, Fidelity Bank, Seplat Energy, Geregu Power, Presco Plc, and Transcorp Power, among others.

A New Leader Emerges in Market Capitalization

BUA Foods’ meteoric rise underscores its transformation from a recent market entrant to a dominant force. Since its listing on January 5, 2022, the company’s share price has soared from its initial levels to ₦692.50 per share as of October 31, 2025, representing a 66.9% year-to-date (YTD) gain. This growth has not only outpaced most consumer stocks but also propelled the company to account for 12.7% of the entire NGX market capitalization.

Despite its relatively low public float, with nearly 90% of shares held by core investors, BUA Foods continues to attract substantial market valuation. Limited share float tends to reduce liquidity and amplify price sensitivity, yet investor demand has remained consistently strong—driven by confidence in the company’s solid fundamentals, diversified product portfolio, and consistent earnings growth.

In the last quarter alone, BUA Foods traded 7.33 million shares across 27,459 deals, valued at over ₦4.24 billion, averaging 116,000 shares per trading session. Analysts attribute the stock’s recent price consolidation to temporary profit-taking following its sharp rally and increasing investor rotation within the consumer goods sector.

Diversified Operations Powering Growth

BUA Foods’ business model spans five major segments—Sugar, Flour, Pasta, Rice, and Edible Oils—making it one of the most diversified players in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. As a subsidiary of the BUA Group, the company benefits from strong backward integration, extensive distribution networks, and economies of scale that enhance cost efficiency and profitability.

Its recent nine-month financial results for 2025 showed stellar performance:

  • Revenue: ₦1.42 trillion (+32.7% YoY)

  • Gross Profit: ₦520.65 billion (+56.0% YoY)

  • Operating Profit: ₦437.58 billion (+38.9% YoY)

  • Earnings Per Share (EPS): ₦22.52 (+101.3% YoY)

  • Shareholders’ Funds: ₦600.33 billion (+40% YoY)

These figures reflect strong consumer demand and operational efficiency despite Nigeria’s inflationary pressures and volatile exchange rates.

Dangote Cement and MTN Hold Their Ground

Former market leader Dangote Cement Plc now ranks second with a market capitalization of ₦11.1 trillion and a share price of ₦660 as of October 31. The cement giant remains the largest company by production output in Nigeria’s industrial sector. Its shares have appreciated by 37.8% YTD, underpinned by robust domestic demand, sustained export volumes, and resilient margins.

Trading activity for Dangote Cement remains solid, with over 112 million shares exchanged across 49,921 deals, valued at ₦61.6 billion during the past quarter. Despite the minor dip in rankings, analysts describe the company’s fundamentals as “rock solid,” noting that its stability makes it a core holding for institutional investors.

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc occupies the third position with a ₦10.9 trillion market cap and a share price of ₦520.10. The telecommunications leader has posted a 160% YTD gain, rebounding strongly from 2024’s FX-related setbacks. Improved foreign exchange stability, a government-approved 50% tariff hike, and higher data service revenue have all contributed to MTN’s recovery.

Between August and October, MTN traded 149 million shares across 91,923 deals, worth ₦66.4 billion, reflecting growing investor confidence in the telecoms sector’s earnings resilience.

Consumer Stocks Take Center Stage

BUA Foods’ ascendancy reflects a larger structural shift in the Nigerian stock market—toward consumer-driven growth. The Consumer Goods Index has outperformed most other sectors in 2025, driven by strong earnings from food producers and beverage companies.

Among the standout performers are Champion Breweries (+294%), NASCON (+251%), Honeywell Flour (+217%), Presco (+212%), and Guinness Nigeria (+146%). The rally is being fueled by steady domestic consumption, improved operating efficiencies, and rising foreign portfolio inflows targeting Nigeria’s resilient consumer market.

Outlook: BUA Foods Positioned for Sustained Leadership

Analysts forecast that BUA Foods could maintain its top position on the NGX through year-end, supported by sustained demand for essential food products and expanding production capacity. While Dangote Cement and MTN Nigeria remain formidable competitors, BUA’s earnings growth, diversified operations, and investor confidence have positioned it as a long-term market leader.

As one analyst put it:

“BUA Foods’ rise to the top reflects more than market sentiment—it represents a structural realignment of Nigeria’s economy toward value-added manufacturing and consumer-driven growth.”

With consumer goods now driving stock market momentum and SWOOT stocks hitting record valuations, BUA Foods’ dominance marks the dawn of a new era in the Nigerian capital market—one where food, not cement or telecoms, sits at the very top.

Veritas Kapital Shareholders Elect Babatunde Irukera as Chairman, Pledge New Era of Accountability and Growth

  • dollaers
  • November 3, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc has announced the election of Mr. Babatunde Ayokunle Irukera as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, following a unanimous vote by shareholders during the company’s 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday, October 31, 2025, in Abuja. Irukera, the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), brings to the board a wealth of experience in corporate governance, consumer protection, and regulatory leadership.

The election of Irukera, which was met with overwhelming shareholder approval, signals a renewed commitment by Veritas Kapital to transparency, integrity, and sound governance. His emergence also marks a pivotal moment in the company’s history as it positions itself for sustainable growth and competitiveness amid ongoing recapitalization in Nigeria’s insurance sector.

A Promise of Fairness, Accountability, and Renewed Growth

In his acceptance speech, Irukera thanked shareholders for their trust and confidence, pledging to lead a board that will be guided by fairness, inclusiveness, and accountability. He assured investors that under his leadership, “every shareholder will be treated with equity and respect,” emphasizing that transparency and ethical conduct would define board operations moving forward.

Irukera also reaffirmed Veritas Kapital’s dedication to Nigeria’s insurance industry recapitalization drive, stating that the process will be managed prudently to protect shareholders’ interests. He expressed optimism that the company’s recapitalization will enhance financial stability, expand underwriting capacity, and position the firm for leadership in the insurance market.

Addressing concerns about dividend payments, Irukera assured shareholders that the company is on track to resume distributions soon.

“Even prior to recapitalization, we have been on a high-speed train towards paying dividends. We are working up to the point that you will receive your dividends,” he said confidently.

Shareholders React Positively, Call for Dividend Resumption

Shareholders at the AGM commended the company’s direction under the current management, particularly praising improvements in governance, gender inclusion, and claims settlement. They expressed satisfaction with the growing representation of women on the company’s board and acknowledged the firm’s strong record in settling insurance claims promptly.

However, investors urged the new leadership to restore consistent dividend payments, a tradition they said had been interrupted in recent years.
Chief Essien Peters, one of the company’s long-term investors, lauded Veritas Kapital’s earning potential and called for a revival of dividend distribution to sustain investor confidence.
Another shareholder, Mr. Patrick Ajudua, praised the company’s operational improvements and predicted that Veritas Kapital could emerge among Nigeria’s top five insurers following successful recapitalization.

AGM Approves N15 Billion Capital Raise

In a major resolution, shareholders authorized the board to raise up to N15 billion through private placement to strengthen the company’s capital base and meet regulatory recapitalization requirements. The approval empowers the board to determine the offer’s structure, appoint transaction advisers, and amend the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association as needed.

The move is expected to significantly bolster Veritas Kapital’s solvency position, enabling it to expand market share and deepen penetration across Nigeria’s insurance landscape.

Financial Performance: Growth Amid Headwinds

Presenting the company’s performance report, Dr. Adaobi Nwakuche, Managing Director of Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, disclosed that the company recorded a 228% surge in revenue to N23.3 billion in 2024, compared to N7.1 billion in 2023. Total assets also climbed 60% to N33 billion, while gross premium income soared 225% to N23.69 billion.

Despite these impressive topline gains, the company experienced a 161% decline in profit before tax (PBT) and a 170% drop in profit after tax (PAT), largely due to elevated claims from its special risk portfolio. Dr. Nwakuche, however, maintained that these challenges were temporary and reflected the company’s robust underwriting commitment.

“As a going concern, Veritas Kapital remains steadfast in its mission to be the underwriter of choice in Nigeria’s insurance market,” she affirmed.

The company’s nine-month unaudited results for 2025 further underline its recovery trajectory, with profit before tax rising 64% year-on-year to N4.88 billion and profit after tax increasing 44% to N4.12 billion. Shareholders’ equity also strengthened by 27% to N19.47 billion, while insurance service expenses dropped by 62%, boosting profitability.

A Strong Market Outlook

Veritas Kapital, formerly UnityKapital Assurance Plc, has maintained steady growth in its market performance. Its share price has appreciated 47.8% year-to-date, closing at N2.01 per share as of October 2025—placing it among the top 100 performers on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

With Irukera at the helm, supported by a reform-driven board and resilient management team, Veritas Kapital appears poised to consolidate its standing as one of Nigeria’s foremost insurance companies. The renewed focus on governance, prudent capital management, and shareholder engagement suggests that the company is entering a new era of accountability, profitability, and growth.

Conoil Plc Reports Sharp 85.5% Profit Decline Amid Revenue Drop in Q3 2025

  • dollaers
  • November 2, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Conoil Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading downstream petroleum companies, has reported a significant downturn in its financial performance for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025. According to its unaudited financial statements released on November 1, 2025, the company’s profit before tax (PBT) dropped sharply by 85.5% year-on-year to ₦728 million, compared to ₦5.02 billion in Q3 2024.

This weak quarterly result contributed to a steep 88% decline in Conoil’s nine-month pre-tax profit, which fell to ₦1.88 billion from ₦15.24 billion in the corresponding period last year. The company also suffered a double-digit decline in revenue, underscoring the impact of lower product sales, rising costs, and macroeconomic headwinds on its operations.

Revenue and Profit Decline

Conoil’s Q3 2025 revenue stood at ₦60.18 billion, representing a 12.22% decline from ₦68.56 billion recorded in the same quarter of 2024. The drop in sales volume, particularly in the company’s flagship White Products segment — which includes petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and kerosene (DPK) — weighed heavily on overall revenue performance.

For the nine-month period, revenue decreased by 18.18% to ₦203.83 billion, compared to ₦249.18 billion recorded last year. This decline reflects a challenging operating environment marked by weaker consumer demand, higher fuel importation costs, and volatility in foreign exchange rates.

Despite a 9.42% drop in the cost of sales to ₦54.86 billion, Conoil’s gross profit fell sharply by 33.8% year-on-year to ₦5.31 billion, from ₦8.02 billion a year earlier. The company’s gross profit margin narrowed from 11.7% in Q3 2024 to 8.8% in Q3 2025, indicating reduced profitability per unit sold.

Operating Performance Under Pressure

Operating profit for the quarter slumped 35.8% year-on-year to ₦1.64 billion, as inflationary pressures and rising administrative costs continued to erode margins. Administrative expenses climbed by 24%, largely driven by higher staff-related costs, energy expenses, and increased logistics spending amid a persistent rise in general price levels.

The company’s performance was further strained by escalating finance costs, which soared by an alarming 744% year-on-year to ₦2.13 billion, up from ₦252 million in Q3 2024. This spike was primarily attributed to increased borrowing costs, as the company’s total loans and borrowings expanded to ₦39.69 billion, compared to ₦28.68 billion in the previous year.

With the surge in financing costs outpacing revenue growth, profit after tax (PAT) plummeted 86.8% to ₦564 million, from ₦4.28 billion in Q3 2024. Consequently, earnings per share (EPS) dropped to ₦0.81, representing an 86.3% decline year-on-year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity Position

Despite its profitability challenges, Conoil’s balance sheet showed moderate growth. Total assets rose 9.78% to ₦126.19 billion, up from ₦114.9 billion a year earlier. The increase was largely driven by a rise in trade receivables and inventories, which together reflect the company’s efforts to maintain supply despite sluggish demand.

However, the sharp 82% increase in trade receivables to ₦76.21 billion signals growing difficulties in collecting payments from customers, posing potential liquidity risks in the near term. On the liabilities side, higher borrowings added to pressure on the company’s cash flow and balance sheet flexibility.

Shareholders’ funds grew modestly by 3.71% to ₦40.96 billion, supported by retained earnings and asset revaluation gains. Yet, analysts warn that the sustained erosion in profit margins and mounting debt could weigh on shareholder value if the trend continues into Q4 2025.

Market Performance and Investor Sentiment

Conoil’s share price has mirrored its declining fundamentals in 2025. The stock, which opened the year at ₦387.20, has shed 50.8% of its value, closing at ₦190.70 as of October 31, 2025. The share price has remained flat since October 21, suggesting limited investor confidence and weak trading sentiment around the company’s short-term recovery prospects.

Market analysts attribute the decline in Conoil’s valuation to investor concerns over falling profitability, high debt exposure, and the company’s vulnerability to macroeconomic pressures — particularly fuel price volatility, rising interest rates, and FX scarcity.

Outlook

Conoil Plc faces significant challenges heading into the final quarter of 2025. While management continues to focus on operational efficiency and cost control, the company’s earnings outlook remains clouded by persistent macroeconomic instability, high borrowing costs, and reduced consumer purchasing power.

Industry watchers suggest that unless the company can strengthen its receivables management, diversify its revenue base, and mitigate rising finance expenses, profitability recovery may remain slow. Nevertheless, Conoil’s resilient balance sheet and established market presence in the downstream petroleum sector provide some cushion against short-term shocks.

Dangote Sugar Rebounds with N13.3 Billion Q3 Profit, Reduces Nine-Month Loss to N8.7 Billion

  • dollaers
  • November 1, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) has reported a remarkable turnaround in its financial performance for the third quarter of 2025, swinging to a pre-tax profit of N13.38 billion, compared to a staggering N64.16 billion loss in the same period last year. This performance marks one of the company’s strongest quarterly recoveries in recent years, signaling a firm step toward returning to full-year profitability after a turbulent 2024.

The Q3 rebound substantially narrowed the refinery’s nine-month loss to N8.7 billion, a dramatic improvement from the N275.5 billion loss posted during the same period in 2024, according to the company’s unaudited financial results. Analysts attribute this positive swing to stronger operating efficiencies, improved cost control, and a steep reduction in finance expenses, even as revenue growth remained modest.

Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion

Dangote Sugar reported a 3.8% increase in revenue, rising to N196.02 billion in Q3 2025 from N188.80 billion in Q3 2024. Although the topline expansion was modest, the company’s profitability benefited from significant cost optimization efforts. The cost of sales dropped sharply by 15.8% to N157.64 billion, down from N187.12 billion in the previous year’s quarter.

This cost discipline propelled gross profit to N38.38 billion, compared to a marginal N1.68 billion a year earlier—representing a more than 20-fold increase. Consequently, gross margin improved dramatically to 19.6%, from just 0.9% in Q3 2024.

The performance underscores the company’s successful focus on operational efficiency and cost containment. Despite a relatively flat revenue environment, the ability to extract higher value from sales and streamline production costs has become a major driver of profitability.

Operating Profit Returns to Positive Territory

Following the gross margin improvement, Dangote Sugar posted an operating profit of N43.02 billion in Q3 2025, a major turnaround from an operating loss of N2.16 billion in the same quarter last year. The significant improvement was aided by higher other income, which surged to N12.49 billion, compared to N461 million in Q3 2024.

The spike in other income was largely attributed to foreign exchange gains, reflecting improved FX management strategies during the quarter.

However, the company also recorded higher administrative expenses, which rose to N7.57 billion from N4.08 billion in 2024, driven by inflationary pressures and increased personnel costs. Impairment charges also edged up to N134.4 million, compared to N47.6 million a year earlier.

Despite these cost increases, the overall operating environment improved substantially, aided by strong revenue-to-cost alignment and efficient capital utilization.

Finance Costs Halved, Supporting Profitability

A major factor behind the rebound in profitability was the 53.6% reduction in finance costs, which fell to N30.61 billion in Q3 2025 from N65.98 billion in Q3 2024. This decline reflects the company’s successful efforts to manage its debt exposure and optimize financing arrangements.

Meanwhile, finance income declined to N480.1 million from N2.69 billion, leading to a net finance cost of N30.13 billion, significantly below last year’s N63.30 billion.

Additionally, Dangote Sugar reported a fair value gain of N497.8 million, slightly below N1.29 billion in Q3 2024. These combined factors contributed to the company’s strong bottom-line rebound.

The result was a pre-tax profit of N13.38 billion, reversing a N64.16 billion loss in Q3 2024. After-tax figures also improved significantly, with the company reporting a profit after tax of N13.68 billion, compared to a N40.34 billion loss in the same quarter of the previous year.

Balance Sheet Growth and Financial Stability

Dangote Sugar’s balance sheet expanded across several key categories, reflecting improved asset utilization and revaluation gains. Total assets climbed by 52% year-on-year to N1.01 trillion, with property, plant, and equipment (PPE) accounting for the majority at N615.6 billion.

On the liabilities side, total obligations rose by 6% to N817.15 billion, primarily due to higher trade payables and lease liabilities. Importantly, the company’s shareholders’ equity recovered strongly, moving from a negative N105.11 billion in 2024 to a positive N198.46 billion in 2025—a reflection of the improved profitability and asset revaluation gains during the year.

Market Confidence and Outlook

Investor sentiment toward Dangote Sugar has strengthened significantly following the release of its Q3 results. As of October 31, 2025, the company’s stock traded at N60.50 per share, representing a year-to-date gain of 86%.

The rebound in profitability, coupled with improving balance sheet metrics, has bolstered investor confidence that the company is successfully stabilizing after a difficult 2024 marred by foreign exchange volatility, input cost inflation, and supply chain disruptions.

Looking forward, market analysts expect Dangote Sugar to maintain its recovery trajectory as cost efficiencies deepen and local sugar production capacity continues to expand under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP).

With its renewed focus on vertical integration, import substitution, and operational efficiency, Dangote Sugar appears poised to close 2025 on a stronger note, moving steadily toward restoring sustainable profitability and shareholder value.

TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Reports N11.92 Billion Pre-Tax Loss Amid Downstream Sector Strain

  • dollaers
  • October 31, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc has reported a pre-tax loss of N11.92 billion for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2025 — a stark reversal from the N41.85 billion profit recorded in the same period of 2024. This represents a 128% year-on-year decline, underscoring the growing financial pressure within Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector.

The company’s third-quarter (Q3) results painted an even bleaker picture, with a loss before tax of N10.23 billion, compared to a profit of N11.28 billion in Q3 2024 and N3.31 billion in Q2 2025. This marks the second consecutive quarterly loss, signaling a sustained decline in profitability and intensifying operational headwinds.

Notably, TotalEnergies’ Q3 results fell well short of expectations. The company had earlier projected a pre-tax profit of N1.43 billion for the quarter, but the actual performance was substantially weaker, deepening investor concerns over its near-term outlook.

Key Financial Highlights

Revenue: N587.59 billion (↓26% YoY from N793.90 billion)
Gross Profit: N65.76 billion (↓30% YoY from N93.70 billion)
Operating Profit: N5.65 billion (↓89% YoY from N52.89 billion)
Pre-Tax Profit: N(11.92) billion (↓128% YoY from N41.85 billion)
Earnings Per Share (EPS): N(41.54) (↓151% YoY from N80.77)
Total External Debt: N90.97 billion (↓21% from N115.70 billion at FY 2024)
Total Assets: N400.84 billion (↓15% from N471.12 billion at FY 2024)
Cash Balance: N63.84 billion (↓30% from N91.31 billion at FY 2024)

Performance Drivers and Sector Pressures

The company’s downturn was primarily driven by weaker revenue performance, which declined 26% year-on-year. This suggests that both sales volume and product pricing came under pressure — a trend reflective of broader challenges in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.

Revenue for Q3 2025 came in at N163.69 billion, significantly below N263.96 billion recorded in Q3 2024 and also beneath the forecast of N177.10 billion. The drop signals ongoing pricing pressures, reduced market demand, and supply disruptions, likely influenced by the high cost of imported refined products and foreign exchange volatility.

Despite lower cost of sales, TotalEnergies’ gross profit contracted sharply, reflecting tighter margins and reduced profitability across its product lines. Operating profit plunged 89% year-on-year to N5.65 billion, dragged down by persistent administrative expenses (N60.2 billion year-to-date) and selling and distribution costs (N6.7 billion). These expenses, though slightly lower than 2024 levels, remain high relative to revenue, suggesting limited cost flexibility amid falling sales.

The company also suffered net finance costs of N17.57 billion, up 59% from 2024. This increase came despite a reduction in total external debt, highlighting the burden of high interest rates and rising bank overdraft costs.

Inventory levels dropped from N152.02 billion in December 2024 to N107.96 billion, possibly reflecting deliberate inventory optimization or constrained product supply. On the balance sheet, total assets fell 15%, while liabilities dropped by only 11%, resulting in a 37% erosion of shareholders’ equity.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

TotalEnergies managed to sustain positive cash flow from operations at N23.61 billion, suggesting that its core business remains operationally viable. However, heavy financing outflows — including N20.4 billion in interest payments and N14.18 billion in dividends — offset these gains, leading to a net cash decrease of N15.99 billion during the nine-month period.

The company’s cash reserves consequently declined to N63.84 billion, reflecting tighter liquidity conditions even as it continues to navigate a challenging cost environment.

Market Reaction and Outlook

Despite the poor results, investor reaction was muted. The company’s stock closed flat at N640 per share, maintaining the same level it has traded at for much of 2025. Market observers interpret this as a sign of investor caution or a “wait-and-see” approach, pending clearer signals on whether TotalEnergies can stabilize margins in the coming quarters.

Year-to-date, the company’s share performance remains largely flat, with little movement even after the earnings release. While TotalEnergies declared a final dividend of N13.58 billion earlier in the year, no interim dividend accompanied the Q3 results — a decision likely aimed at preserving cash amid tightening profit margins and rising financing costs.

As Nigeria’s downstream sector continues to grapple with exchange rate volatility, import challenges, and regulatory uncertainty, TotalEnergies faces the dual task of defending market share while improving operational efficiency. The next quarter’s results will be pivotal in determining whether the company can reverse this downward trend or if sustained losses will mark the rest of its 2025 financial year.

UAC of Nigeria Reports Q3 2025 Pre-Tax Loss, Cites CHI Acquisition Costs and Weak Animal Feeds Segment

  • dollaers
  • October 31, 2025
  • Business
  • 0 comments

UAC of Nigeria Plc (UACN) has reported a pre-tax profit of N10.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, marking a 50.1% decline compared to N20.8 billion recorded in the same period of 2024. The company’s latest financial report highlights a turbulent third quarter, marked by acquisition-related expenses and underperformance in key business segments.

When adjusted for non-recurring acquisition costs and foreign exchange impacts, underlying profit before tax stood at N12.2 billion, compared to N10.6 billion in 2024—indicating that the company’s core operations remained profitable despite the temporary financial drag.

However, for Q3 2025, UACN reported a loss before tax of N703 million, a stark reversal from the N5.9 billion profit posted in Q3 2024 and a decline from the N6.1 billion profit reported in Q2 2025. This represents the company’s first quarterly pre-tax loss in recent years, underscoring the financial strain caused by its latest acquisition and rising costs across operations.

Financial Performance Overview

Key highlights from UACN’s unaudited financial results include:

  • Revenue: N159.6 billion (up 19.8% YoY from N133.2 billion)

  • Gross Profit: N39.4 billion (up 28.1% YoY from N30.7 billion)

  • Operating Profit: N13.4 billion (up 9.1% YoY from N12.3 billion)

  • Profit Before Tax: N10.4 billion (down 50.1% YoY from N20.8 billion)

  • Profit for the Period: N5.4 billion (down 60.6% YoY from N13.7 billion)

  • Earnings Per Share (EPS): 179 kobo (down from 426 kobo in 2024)

  • Total Assets: N161.5 billion (up from N157.7 billion in December 2024)

  • Total External Debt: N43.3 billion (up from N41.5 billion in December 2024)

  • Cash Balance: N46.8 billion (up from N40.6 billion in December 2024)

Despite revenue growth and solid performance in some business lines, profitability was eroded by one-off charges and sectoral weakness.

Acquisition of CHI Limited and One-Off Costs

Group Managing Director Fola Aiyesimoju attributed the Q3 loss primarily to acquisition-related costs, higher finance expenses, and weakness in the Animal Feeds segment. The company recently completed the 100% acquisition of Chivita | Hollandia (CHI Limited) on October 3, 2025, following regulatory approval by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

This acquisition marks a major milestone for UACN, expanding its footprint in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector and giving it full control of one of the country’s leading juice and dairy brands. However, the immediate financial impact has been negative due to acquisition-related transaction costs and integration expenses.

The company recorded a N19.1 billion “deposit for investment” in its financial statements, believed to be linked to the CHI Limited transaction. UACN clarified that full accounting for the business combination was still underway, with complete details expected in the next quarterly report.

Segmental Performance

Revenue growth was driven largely by UACN’s Paints segment, which grew 27% year-on-year to N10.2 billion, and Packaged Foods and Beverages, up 25% to N17 billion. Both segments benefited from volume growth and effective pricing strategies.

Conversely, the Animal Feeds and Edibles division was a major drag on group performance. Segment revenue fell 25% year-on-year to N21.4 billion, as global commodity price declines—particularly in maize and soya—led to high-cost inventory and reduced selling prices.

Operating expenses surged 56% in Q3 2025, driven by N2.3 billion in one-off acquisition costs, alongside increases in distribution, travel, and personnel expenses. Rising interest rates and the absence of last year’s foreign exchange gains pushed finance costs higher, ultimately contributing to the pre-tax loss.

Despite the quarterly loss, cash flow from operations remained robust at N18.5 billion, while cash reserves grew to N46.8 billion. UACN’s gearing improved slightly to 60% from 62%, and its quick ratio strengthened to 1.0x from 0.7x, reflecting improved liquidity. However, net debt to EBITDA rose to 0.6x due to higher debt and lower earnings in Q3.

Market Reaction and Outlook

The market responded negatively to the earnings announcement, with UACN’s share price falling 6.47% to close at N66.50 on the day of release. Nevertheless, the company remains among the top-performing stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in 2025, up 207% year-to-date, though below its peak of N81 in May.

The company did not declare an interim dividend for the third quarter.

Looking ahead, analysts believe UACN’s short-term profitability pressures are transitional, tied mainly to the CHI acquisition and restructuring costs. The long-term outlook remains positive, given the company’s strengthened position in the FMCG space, diversified revenue streams, and sustained operational cash flow.

With strategic integration and cost discipline, UACN appears poised to restore profitability in subsequent quarters, as it consolidates CHI Limited and leverages its expanded portfolio to drive growth.

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