Displaying items by tag: Finance

Canada: Votorantim Cimentos subsidiary St Marys Cement has entered redemption of all its outstanding 2027 senior notes, at a value of US$229m. The company notified the holders of the notes accordingly.

India: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has declined to stay insolvency proceedings against Jaiprakash Associates, following a challenge by its board. The board has been suspended since the NCLAT admitted an insolvency plea against the company on 3 June 2024. Press Trust of India News has reported that ICICI Bank first initiated proceedings over outstanding debts in September 2018.

The board of Jaiprakash Associates submitted that it will remain ‘asset-rich,’ even after it sells cement plants to repay loans. It attributed its present ‘liquidity crunch’ to delayed government approvals, ‘prolonged’ litigation and policy changes. The NCLAT stated that it must admit insolvency pleas in cases of defaulted debt repayment, saying that a judicial resolution will prevent further depletion of Jaiprakash Associates’ assets.

Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has announced leadership changes following the retirement of Adebode Adefioye as its chair. Adefioye served as a board member since 2012 and as chair since June 2020. Gbenga Oyebode succeeds Adefioye in the role of chair. Oyebode has 42 years’ legal, corporate governance and business operational experience. He currently also chairs Okomu Oil Palm Company, Nestle Nigeria and CFAO Nigeria. Upon his accession to chair, Oyebode will step down from all Lafarge Africa board committees.

Lafarge Africa appointed Puneet Sharma as chief financial officer. Sharma brings 30 years’ corporate experience, including management roles at Tropical General Investment Nigeria and GSK Nigeria. He is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a graduate of Panjabi University, Patiala, India.

Adebode Adefioye said "My tenure on the board is filled with good memories. The company has witnessed significant transformation in the last four years and I am happy that this is attributable to the efforts of every member of the board. I feel fulfilled in retiring as chair knowing fully well that I will be leaving the leadership of the board in good hands. I am grateful for the support of the entire board and the confidence reposed in me.”

China: Tianshan Cement, the main basic building materials subsidiary of China National Building Material, has announced an impairment compensation of US$2.77bn following restructuring. Reuters has reported that the compensation will take the form of shares.

India: Aditya Birla subsidiary UltraTech Cement and JSW Cement are among companies in contention to acquire Vadraj Cement, the Economic Times newspaper has reported. To this end, companies have reportedly raised US$959m-worth of new finances through loans.

India: Dalmia Bharat expects to conclude its acquisition of Jaypee Cement by the end of September 2024, six months later than previously anticipated. The Hindu Business Line newspaper has reported that the group attributed the postponement to ‘procedural delays,’ including pending approvals from banks, on-going arbitration between Jaiprakash Associates and UltraTech Cement and some ‘lack of clarity’ around existing joint ventures between Jaiprakash Associates and state-owned Steel Authority of India.

Dalmia Bharat said “We are progressing in the right direction. These are procedural delays over which we have no control.”

Philippines: Cemex has agreed to sell its business in the Philippines to DACON Corporation, DMCI Holdings and Seminara Mining & Power Corporation. The buyers will acquire assets including Cemex Asian South East Corporation, which holds an 89% majority stake in Cemex Holdings Philippines. The parties will derive a purchase price for Cemex Holdings Philippines by deducting net debt and minority interests from an enterprise value of US$660m. Also included in the sale is a 40% indirect equity interest in both APO Land & Quarry Corporation and Island Quarry and Aggregates Corporation. Both mining companies have a combined enterprise value of US$140m.

Cemex says that it will complete the deal later in 2024, until which time its operations will continue in the ordinary course of attending to all clients, suppliers and other stakeholders. It plans to use the proceeds from the divestment to fund bolt-on acquisitions in key markets, to reduce debt and for other corporate purposes.

Kenya: Savannah Cement’s creditors voted in favour of administrator Peter Kahi’s debt reduction plan for the company on 16 April 2024. Kahi’s plan involves leasing out the site of the company’s Kitui plant, while also seeking a buyer for it.

Business Daily has reported that the Office of the Attorney General has declared Kahi's reappointment as administrator of Savannah Cement on 24 January 2024 as invalid.

India: Adani Group has enlarged its stake in Ambuja Cements from 67% to 70%. The Telegraph newspaper has reported that the group converted warrants into shares in the producer. As a result, it will invest an additional US$1bn in funding for Ambuja Cements, having previously infused funding worth US$2.4bn.

Ambuja Cements director and CEO Ajay Kapur said “This infusion of funds provides Ambuja flexibility for fast-track growth, capital management initiatives and best-in-class balance sheet strength.”

China: Shares of China Tianrui Group Cement plummeted by 99% in just 15 minutes before Hong Kong’s stock market closed on 9 April 2024, according to Reuters. This led to a decrease in the market value of the company, to US$17m from US$1.86bn. The cause of the sudden drop remains unknown and trading in Tianrui shares is suspended pending an announcement on ‘inside information’.

In the 2023 financial year, the company recorded a net loss of US$45.8m, compared to its US$62m net profit in 2022. This downturn is partly attributed to the struggles in China's property sector.