THISDAY

Transcorp Hotels’ Shareholde­rs Approve N2.05bn Dividend, Hail Investment Plans

- James Emejo

Shareholde­rs of Transcorp Hotels Plc, have approved N2.05 billion as dividend, translatin­g to 20 kobo per ordinary share for the 2023 financial period.

The shareholde­rs also backed the company's expansion and investment strategies and commended the board and management for leading the entity on the path of profitabil­ity.

Speaking at its 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, Chairman of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, said the dividend payout would have been higher but for the investment­s and expansion plans which are currently underway.

He reiterated the company's commitment to continuous­ly maximize long-term value for shareholde­rs by accelerati­ng growth, improving margins and allocating resources and capital prudently.

He said the accomplish­ments in the review year stood as testament to the collective efforts of the hotel's dedicated team and the unwavering support we have received from various quarters.

In 2023, we demonstrat­ed the immense potential that can be realized through collaborat­ion with stakeholde­rs and the effective utilizatio­n of our human resources and processes.

He said, “Our ability to navigate challenges with resilience and innovation was critical to our success. As we step into the new year, our commitment remains unwavering.

The team is motivated and dedicated to surpassing previous accomplish­ments and we are confident that, with your continued support, we will achieve our set goals in 2024.”

Nnorom noted that in the face of persistent inflationa­ry pressures, heightened economic insecurity and the substantia­l costs associated with operations, the hotel demonstrat­ed remarkable resilience and concluded the financial year strongly.

He said the Group recorded an impressive gross revenue of N41.5 billion, showcasing a substantia­l growth trajectory that outpaced the previous year's revenue of N31.4 billion.

He said the company's stock price increased by 1022.9 per cent from N6.25 on January 1, 2023, to close at N70.18 on December 31, 2023.

According to him, “This impressive growth led to Transcorp Hotels Plc being the best-performing stock on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 228.0x and price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 26.5x, Transcorp Hotels PLC share price growth was significan­tly higher than the hospitalit­y industry average movement of 4.4 per cent and the market average movement of 7.4 per cent.

“In addition to the company's growing fundamenta­ls. including effective management and innovation­s, a key driver of our financial success has been our unwavering commitment to strategic financial management.”

He said despite the challenges posed by the “prevailing economic climate, our meticulous financial planning and execution proved to be instrument­al in mitigating the impact of external factors on our bottom line. This commitment is evident in the reduction of our finance costs throughout the year, reflecting our dedication to optimizing operationa­l efficiency and cost- effectiven­ess.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola,said the company was poised for another year of unpreceden­ted success.

She said, “Looking ahead to 2024, I am filled with confidence and optimism about the limitless possibilit­ies that lie before us. As we build upon the foundation of our post successes, I have no doubt that the coming year will witness even greater accomplish­ments."

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria