Unilever Nigeria Plc has released its unaudited financial statement for the half year ended 30 June 2022, recording profit after tax of N1.906 billion for the half year, from N714.780 million the previous year, representing a growth of 167%.
This was on the back of N66.659 million arising from transitional service agreement income.
According to the company, subsequent to the disposal of the Tea business in October 2021, Unilever entered into a Transitional Service Agreement with the new owner, Unilever Tea MSO Nigeria Limited. The Agreement will be in place for a period of 15 months, during which time Unilever would provide production and sales support to Unilever Tea MSO Nigeria Limited in exchange for a fee.
Revenue grew by 35.12% to N43,806 billion during the period under review from N32,420 billion reported in 2021.
However, the cost of sales rose by 22% to N29.605 billion in 2022 as against N24.204 billion.
The increase in the exchange rate has forced manufacturers to borrow at a high rate, thereby increasing the cost of production, made worse by the infrastructure deficiency which has inevitably transferred the high production cost to consumers. This has made manufacturers less competitive, shrinking their profit margins, as the naira’s devaluation takes its toll on imported raw materials.
Aside increased cost of raw materials, some manufacturers, especially multinational consumer goods companies that have taken up foreign currency liabilities are also groaning under the pressure of the increased cost of the dollar.
The company finished 2021 year ended December 31 with a profit for the year of N3.409 billion as against a loss of N3.965 billion recorded in 2020. Revenue grew to N73.523 billion from N52.211 billion, a growth of 35.07 per cent from the previous year. Cost of sales stood at N50.161 billion in 2021 in contrast to N41.136 recorded a year earlier.
Based on the result, the Directors recommend to the shareholders the payment of a dividend in respect of year ended 31 December, 2021 of N2.873 billion, that is, 50 kobo gross per share which is payable on Friday, May 6, 2022 subject to the deduction of appropriate withholding tax.
Sell pressure witnessed on the shares of Nestle Nigeria Plc since the beginning of the year has resulted in investors of the company losing about N124.05 billion at the close of trading on 13th July.