Dangote Cement’s management said it has proposed an increase in the dividend payout to the shareholders, by 50 per cent, to N30 per share for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The proposed increase, the company said was in line with the promise of its Chairman, Aliko Dangote at the company’s 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM), of an enhanced return on Investments to all the shareholders and other stakeholders in Dangote Cement, Plc.
According to the statement by the company, the proposed increase in dividend is subject to ratification by the shareholders at the forthcoming, Annual General Meeting (AGM).
“Proposing a dividend of N30 per share at a period when many firms are declaring losses is an indication of the resilience of Dangote Cement and the prospects it holds for investors,” a statement by the company read.
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A breakdown of the results indicated that Africa’s largest cement manufacturer recorded an improvement in all performance measurement indicators with group revenue rising by 36.4 per cent to N2,208.1 billion while Profit after tax (PAT) was up by 19.2 per cent to N455.6 billion. Earnings per share went up by 18.8 per cent at N26.47.
Dangote Cement is garnering more market share across the continent with pan-Africa volumes going up by 12.7 percent to 11.3Mt.
Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement, Arvind Pathak, speaking on the results said: “This positive full-year outcome is a combination of the strength in the diversity of our operations across Africa and our sustained drive to contain cost amidst an accelerating inflationary environment. The group achieved double-digit growth in revenue at ₦2,208.1 billion, while Group EBITDA reached a record high, increasing 25.1 per cent to ₦886.0 billion.
“Despite the challenging macroeconomic conditions, 2023 was yet another testament to the effectiveness of our diversification strategy. Our diverse operations acted as a cushion, providing resilience to country-specific risks. Pan-African volumes were up 12.7 per cent and now account for 41.2 per cent of Group volume. Consequently, pan-African revenue increased by a record 123.2 per cent to N925.9 billion, while EBITDA surged by over four-fold to N263.7 billion.”
He added, “In response to the heightened inflationary environment, we implemented new and innovative business strategies that helped to drive up revenues, contain costs, and protect margins. These initiatives included fuel mix optimisation, propelling the use of alternative fuels to replace more expensive fossil fuels. We also began the phased transition from diesel power trucks to full Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks.
Looking ahead, following the commissioning of our 0.45Mta grinding plant in Takoradi, we are focusing on our “export to import” strategy in West and Central Africa, while concurrently optimising assets in Eastern Africa. Our strategy remains centred on enhancing our value proposition through the production of high-quality cement and delivering sustainable value to our stakeholders.”
