Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Standard Group shelves dividend as losses bite




A woman flips through a newspaper at a vendor stand in Lagos. February polls are seen as litmus test of how the campaign period will play out. Photo/REUTERS
A woman flips through a newspaper at a vendor stand. Standard Media Group’s Sh289.6 million worth of assets went up in smoke in the year ended December 2015 compared to a profit of Sh220 the previous year. Photo/REUTERS 
By NATION REPORTER
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Standard Group Limited made losses amounting to Sh289.6 million worth of assets in the year ended December 2015 compared to a profit of Sh220 million the previous year.
The company attributed the loss to increased costs, bad debts, one off restructuring costs and accelerated depreciation of equipment.
The group’s revenue slipped to Sh4.5 billion from Sh4.8 billion in 2014 even as operating costs boiled over to Sh4.7 billion from Sh4.4 billion in the period under review.
The performance in print division declined 11 per cent on contracting industry-wide print newspaper circulation. The company's cashflow situation deteriorated with more money going out than coming in reflecting its challenges in meeting short term obligations.
The group’s board however said it is optimistic the cost cutting initiatives such as automation and restructuring will return the firm to profitability.
“The board is optimistic that the group will return to profitability in 2016 as the benefits of automation and reorganization of the workforce begin to be felt this year,” the listed media house said in statement to the bourse.
The company did not declare a dividend for the year, compared to Sh0.50 in the previous year.

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