More BUA Group Companies To Be Listed On Stock Exchange -Rabiu
Business mogul and Chairman of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), Alhaji AbdulSamad Rabiu, on Wednesday said that plans were underway to ensure the listing of more companies in the BUA Group on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Rabiu stated this at a bell ringing ceremony in commemoration of the merger and acquisition between CCNN and Kalambaina Cement Company (KCC) Limited at the NSE in Lagos. CCNN, which is a member of the BUA Group, recently had a successful merger with KCC.
Rabiu said the group was in discussion with the Exchange to ensure listing of other companies from the BUA Group on the nation’s bourse.
“As you know, BUA Group has other companies apart from CCNN that is already listed. We are discussing with the NSE so that we can list some of the companies on the exchange as well,” Rabiu said.
He lauded the management of the NSE and stockbrokers for their support during the merger of CCNN with KCC.
Rabiu noted that the new entity was now stronger to produce more products and deliver enhanced returns to investors and all stakeholders.
He said that the merger had increased CCNN’s total issues and fully paid shares from 1.257 billion shares to 13.144 billion shares.
Speaking on the merger, Rabiu said the expanded CCNN would remain the market leader in its regional market of North West Nigeria, the third largest market for cement in Nigeria by consumption.
He said that the company would continue to explore the huge opportunities that exist in the export markets of Niger, Burkina Faso and the West African sub region to increase market share.
“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 would 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,” Rabiu said.
He said that with the merger, the total installed capacity of the merged entity would be two million metric tonnes per annum.
According to him, this is expected to bring the total capacity of BUA’s cement operations to eight million MTPA with the completion of three million MTP Obu II Cement Plant in Okpella, Edo.
CCNN in 2018 led other 24 stocks on NSE to emerge as the best performing stock in percentage terms.
NSE in its listing had lifted CCNN to the 12th most capitalized company at the stock market, with a market value of N254.98 billion at the close of trading on December 31, 2018. The CCNN has also listed 11.887 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each on the Daily Official List of the Exchange, raising the cement company’s total issued and fully paid up shares from 1.257 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to 13.143 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.
BUA Group’s current cement assets in Sokoto State includes the 2million MTPA CCNN plants with over 90% stake and is widely acclaimed for its high capacity utilization, efficiency and quality of its products.