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EAPCC_Annual_Report_.. - Investing In Africa

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2010/2011<br />

EAST AFRICAN PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY LIMITED<br />

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS<br />

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT (continued)<br />

10<br />

Performance<br />

East <strong>Africa</strong>n Portland Cement Company Ltd. experienced<br />

many challenges and opportunities over the<br />

past year, but returned back to profitability. The Economic<br />

climate affected our business in several major<br />

ways as did new entrants and cement imports into<br />

the country. Due to inflationary pressure, increase<br />

in global oil prices, significant decline in the Kenya<br />

Shilling against all major currencies and food shortages;<br />

raw materials, fuel oil, coal and electricity costs<br />

went up. However, <strong>EAPCC</strong> responded by becoming a<br />

more flexible and responsive organization. Our aim<br />

is to maintain our margins in the long-term given the<br />

restructuring of the distribution system and continued<br />

focus on cost containment initiatives. <strong>EAPCC</strong> has<br />

a strong management team that continues to deliver<br />

value to its shareholders.<br />

Due to stiff competition, net sales revenue increased<br />

by 8% to Sh. 10.2 billion from Sh 9.4 billion from the<br />

previous year. Although profitability was affected by<br />

increased cost of sales (by 7%), going forward we<br />

will focus our energies on minimizing our production<br />

cost, improve operational efficiencies, stream line<br />

our procurement processes and implement a wide<br />

range of costs containment measures.<br />

To build a sustainable basis for future operations for<br />

the company, substantial capital commitments were<br />

undertaken and others will be initiated to address<br />

operational inefficiencies, waste and increase capacity<br />

utilization. I am confident that these initiatives<br />

will translate into future suitable value for you in the<br />

foreseeable future.<br />

Dividends<br />

Our overall cash position at the end of June 2011 was<br />

563million from Sh 952million in prior year. <strong>In</strong> line<br />

with its expansion and modernization programme<br />

in the corporate strategy, the Company invested Sh<br />

0.5 billion during the year. The focus of the Board and<br />

Management is to use internally generated funds to<br />

finance the contracted and planned heavy capital<br />

commitments to enable the company gain market<br />

share and competitive edge. During the year the<br />

Company returned to profitability in light of measures<br />

taken to curb operational inefficiencies and<br />

cost containment. As a result the Board is pleased to<br />

recommend a first and final dividend of Sh 0.50 per<br />

share.<br />

EAST AFRICAN PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY LIMITED<br />

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2010/2011<br />

Our Focus<br />

Due to inflationary pressures and Economic Challenges,<br />

consumers have become more price conscious.<br />

Pricing has emerged as a weapon for a market share<br />

in the cement sector. <strong>In</strong>creased cement stocks in the<br />

market due to fresh capacity from the new entrants<br />

and production enhancements by existing players<br />

has set the stage for price wars giving rise to eroded<br />

market share for every cement player. As <strong>EAPCC</strong> we<br />

will continue to aggressively focus on value addition<br />

activities, grow and restructure our business model<br />

in our regional market frontiers. <strong>In</strong> this regard to consolidate<br />

our position as a regional player, the Company<br />

established a subsidiary company in Uganda from 1 st<br />

July 2011.<br />

We will also continue to focus on strong cash management<br />

position and diversification of our revenue<br />

base in line with our vision and mission.<br />

Taxation<br />

As a good corporate citizen, <strong>EAPCC</strong> is committed to<br />

paying taxes promptly as required by law. During<br />

the year under review, the company paid in excess<br />

of Sh 1.34 billion in both direct and indirect taxes to<br />

the exchequer.<br />

HIV/Aids<br />

We are committed to undertake programmes and<br />

activities that shall create awareness amongst<br />

staff and community, to embrace positive behavior<br />

change so as to reduce the negative impact of the<br />

HIV pandemic on our society. We have strengthened<br />

the Peer Educators team so that we can roll out our<br />

HIV/AIDs initiatives to our key third party suppliers<br />

and contractors.<br />

Corporate Social Responsibility<br />

<strong>EAPCC</strong> recognizes the fact that good corporate citizenship<br />

is not only putting in place sound business strategies,<br />

making impressive profits, paying good salaries<br />

and making tax returns. It is about creating partnership<br />

with the community and ensuring both parties<br />

benefit from the co-operation.<br />

We therefore have put in place a comprehensive Corporate<br />

Social Responsibility programme, through which<br />

we share our gains with communities that make operations<br />

possible by being good neighbors and customers.<br />

By devoting more resources annually to CSR, we<br />

powerfully demonstrate our commitment to building a<br />

strong partnership with local communities. Our social<br />

agenda is evident in our involvement in projects, such<br />

as education, sports, water, famine relief and environmental<br />

conservation.

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