May&baker targets N50 billion turnover in 2023
Says rights issue will boost investment in new projects
AS key investments begin to reflect in its operations, May&baker Nigeria Plc has announced plans to hit N50 billion in turnover by the Year 2023.
Specifically, the pharmaceutical firm explained that new investments in vac - cines, sickle cell drugs, and herbal medicines are expected to enhance its bottomline in the nearest future.
Furthermore, the firm’s optimism is also hinged on the N2.5 billion rights issue, which it said, would boost these strategic investments, and make it more profitable.
In a chat with journalists on Monday, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okafor, said May&baker remains focused on improving its financial structure through injection of additional equity fund. He added that stronger balance sheet and streamlining the com- pany’s activities along its core area of healthcare will put it in a position to deliver higher profits in the future.
He explained that the company’s new strategic focus since 2017, is to build an international brand within the sub-sahara African market.
According to him, May &Baker is poised to achieving this target by vigorously pursuing the vision through strategic partnership, and possibly acquiring existing companies and brands within the sub-region.
“Our plan is to invest the proceeds from the rights issue in some key projects, for example, over N400 million of the expected N2.45 billion will be used to finance part of our equity in Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, the joint venture company for local vaccine production.
“We are also going to invest over N500 million on capaci- ty expansion for one of our cash-cow products, Paracetamol, for which we are building a dedicated plant. Marketing and brand building is expected to take over N500 million.
“The rights issue will strengthen these investments, and make the company more profitable. The impact of the rights will be felt this year, because we are putting the proceeds into activities that would give us immediate result.
He continued: “The offer, which opened on October 22, is expected to close on November 28. Already, rights circulars and subscription forms have been dispatched directly to shareholders.” He added that the impending commencement of operations of Biovaccines Nigeria, and ongoing efforts to turn the company’s world-class manufacturing facility in Ota, Ogun State, into a hub of pharmaceutical manufacturing in West Africa, hold great prospects for the group.