November 02, (THEWILL) – Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Nigeria’s engineering construction market leader, has held its investor relations forum event.
The event, which was co-anchored by the company’s managing director, Engr. Dr Lars Richter and Financial Director, Mr Christian Hausemann, also had shareholders and investors in attendance.
According to Engr. (Dr) Lars Richter, the purpose of the company’s Investor Relations Forum is to highlight Julius Berger’s “business, operations, financial highlights and key investment considerations to investors, as a compelling investment opportunity in the construction industry.”
Dr Richter commenced proceedings at the investors’ forum with an executive summary of the company’s current profile.
He stated, “The Company, today, is endowed with the largest market share, limited competition of similar scale, quality and financial capacity. We have a strong brand equity, a seasoned management, an experienced and diverse Board of Directors, and a well-defined Diversification Strategy; all projecting for a strongly-rooted and positive business outlook further strengthened by a favourable operating environment…”
Julius Berger, said Dr Richter, “is synonymous with the best quality infrastructure in Nigeria, and the company is assigned a National Scale Rating of A- with a Stable Outlook assigned a National Scale rating of A.”
He emphasised the over 50 years presence and leadership of the company in the construction industry in Nigeria, during which period Julius Berger completed 600 building projects, over 20 industrial facilities and 130 infrastructure projects Nationwide.”
The Company, he added, is structured along three key segments – Civil works, Building Works and Services and with 7 subsidiaries, specialising in executing complex works that require the highest level of technical expertise and Nigeria-specific know-how.
Core competencies of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, said Richter, “cover all project phases, including planning, design, engineering, construction, maintenance and operation, for infrastructure, industry and building projects.”
The Financial Director, Mr Christian Hausemann, thereafter, spoke to the financial highlights saying on a healthy note that Julius Berger’s cash balances exceed total borrowings for most of the review period implying a negative Net Debt position.”
Mr Hausemann added that “sustained and improving interest coverage ratios provide adequate buffers for interest expenses.”
Two concerned shareholders, Mr Oladele Akande and Mr Kayode, later asked questions about the company’s receivables, and how the illiquidity of foreign exchange is affecting the company’s business.
Both enquiries were essentially about what steps the executive management is taking to mitigate those challenges.
The Financial Director responded, saying that there has been growth in receivables in the period under review (2022).
He added, however, that Management keeps monitoring the situation with a view to proactively mitigating any potentially negative headwinds.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
