Peter Matlare

Tiger Brands cutting loose its expensive Nigerian venture

Tiger Brands said yesterday it would cut funding to its struggling Nigerian venture after nearly R1bn in write-downs.

Three years ago, it bought a two-thirds stake in Dangote Flour Mills from renowned businessman Aliko Dangote for about R1.6bn. But the venture proved costly as competition grew in that market and the naira was devalued due to plunging oil prices, Nigeria’s main export.

Tiger Brands said it was “exploring various alternatives” for its shareholding in the business — now called Tiger Branded Consumer Goods — but this did not apply to other companies in which it held stakes in Nigeria, or the rest of Africa.

On Monday, Dangote, the chairman of the business, and three other directors resigned from the company.

Tiger Brand’s share closed up 5.47% on the news.

CEO Peter Matlare is set to quit his position at the end of next month, saying new leadership was needed after acknowledging his misstep in Nigeria.

Tiger Brands had not said whether it would dilute its stake in Dangote Flour Mills, or whether it would sell the business.

Tiger Brands said it would comment further at its results presentation on Thursday.

Matlare said last year that he took “full responsibility” for the write-downs. He also said that Tiger Brands should have been “more circumspect” in its approach to buying up the Nigerian assets.

Source: BDLive.co.za