ZAM23 Jun 2011 23:09
Overview
Zambeef is one of the largest agri-businesses in Zambia.
The Group is principally involved in the production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, milk, dairy products, eggs, edible oils, stock feed, flour and bread. The Group also has large row cropping operations (principally maize, soya beans and wheat), with approximately 5,000 Hectares ("Ha") of row crops under irrigation and 1,500 Ha of rain-fed/dry-land crops available for planting each year. The Group is also in the process of rolling out its West Africa expansion in Nigeria and Ghana, in addition to a palm plantation project within Zambia.
The Company was incorporated in June 1994, and listed on the LuSE in February 2003. Since its incorporation as a small scale start-up business, the Company has, through organic growth and acquisitions, become one of Zambia's largest agri-businesses with annual revenues of ZMK770.5 billion (approximately US$162 million) for the financial year ended 30 September 2010.
Zambeef has one of the leading distribution and retail footprints in Zambia. The Group currently operates 87 stores under the "Zambeef" banner and 20 in-house butcheries in Shoprite outlets in Zambia, under a concessionary agreement. In addition, the Group has seven of its own fast food outlets under the brand "Zamchick Inn". The Group also operates two in-house butcheries in Shoprite outlets and three of its own stores in Nigeria and a further two in-house butcheries in Shoprite outlets in Ghana.
On 8 February 2011, the Group announced that it had entered into an acquisition agreement to acquire the ETC assets (the "Acquisition"), subject to shareholder approval. Together, the ETC assets extend to approximately 46,876 Ha, of which 2,994 Ha is irrigated and 7,667 Ha is dry-land farming (excluding a 2,137 Ha jatropha plantation), and will significantly expand the Group's cropping operations in Zambia. These assets will provide the Group with the agricultural throughput for its processing operations which the Board believes should generate additional value and higher margins whilst reducing the impact of the volatility of commodity price fluctuations and an erratic supply chain on the Group. Shareholder approval for the Acquisition was obtained at an extraordinary general meeting of the Group on 19 May 2011. The Company intends to fund this acquisition using the funds raised through the Rights Issue and Placing in addition to various existing and newly agreed debt facilities.