Transcorp in 2013: Ughelli power plant tops achievements list

THE Transnational Corporation of Nigeria plc (Transcorp) has demonstrated its transformational ability over ailing businesses as it presented laudable achievements of 2013 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Monday afternoon, reports NaijaAgroNet with investment on Ughelli Power Plant topping list, while food processing subsidiary, Teragro, enjoying new investments.
Management officials visited the NSE for a ‘facts behind the figures’ presentation to the Exchange, stockbrokers and analysts, highlighting key fundamentals of the company’s business dynamics that have driven its recent impressive performance on the stock market.
NaijaAgroNet notes that key accomplishments for Transcorp in 2013 include the acquisition of the 1000MW Ughelli Power Plant in November, after paying a bid price of $300m. Earlier this year, Heirs Holdings committed $2.5b to power investments throughout Africa under the Power Africa initiative; the Ughelli purchase is the first major transaction under the programme.
Transcorp’s strategy of seeking synergistic investments across the value chain in Nigeria, with the power purchase complementing existing investments in oil and gas, has been welcomed by investors, who are beginning to appreciate the strong strategic direction Heirs Holdings brings to the conglomerate.
Chairman of Transcorp, Tony O. Elumelu, who doubles as chairman, Heirs Holdings, was quoted in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet as saying, “Transcorp represents the new Nigeria—dynamic, globally competitive, transparent and founded on good governance. We promised our investors that they would reap the rewards of their patience, and now we have built a company that is not only sharing the tangible fruits of our labour, it is also a vehicle for all Nigerians to gain access to the opportunities that our country offers.”
NaijaAgroNet notes that Transcorp’s presentation showed the company’s investments benefiting key sectors across the Nigerian economy.
In the agribusiness space, the company is making new investments in food processing subsidiary Teragro, following its recent attainment of global certifications in international safety standards for its juice concentrate products. In the hospitality sector, Transcorp has commenced the refurbishment and expansion of the award-winning Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. In oil and gas, the company expects to see production start on oil block OPL 281 next year.
“Transcorp is one of the few ways through which institutional investors can obtain diversified access to Nigeria’s key economic sectors, from power and hospitality to oil and gas and agriculture. Our long term, sustainable investment philosophy reflects Heirs Holdings’ ability to create value, just as we did with the United Bank for Africa, which started as a national bank and is now one a pan-African institutionm” he said.
Transcorp’s CEO, Obinna Ufudo also said, they were delighted to be able to come to the Exchange having delivered on promises.
“We believe the Transcorp transformation is only the beginning and we look forward to recording further success for our shareholders, stakeholders and staff. We also pay tribute to the critical role leading shareholder Heirs Holdings has played in catalyzing change,” Ufudo said.
NaijaAgroNet recalls that Transcorp’s performance has been transformed from a loss of N8.88 billion loss in 2007, to a profit after tax (PAT) of N1.257 billion in 2011. This was further improved in 2012 with a PAT of N2.527 billion, and by the end of September 2013, Transcorp recorded a profit before tax of N5.1 billion for the first three quarters of the year.


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