Safaricom jobs & other business

Jobs

Safaricom: Kenya’s most profitable company is hiring various positions in information technology, information security, networks, marketing, finance, human resource and risk management. No word yet on the expected vacancy of managing director.

AAR: are recruiting management trainees. Apply to recruit@aar.co.ke.

Fairmont Hotels which has assumed management of the Norfolk, Mt. Kenya Safari Club, Aberdare Country Club, the Ark and Mara Safari Club is hiring group director - sales & marketing, group director – finance, human resource manager, conference service manager and catering services manager. Apply to nayima.sadique@fairmont.com.

Higher Education Loans Board is hiring an account relationship assistant. Apply to helb@helb.co.ke by March 28.

Corporate briefs

Bamburi Cement: Turnover increased from 12.3b in ’04 to 15 billion shillings in 2005, resulting in increased after tax profit up from 1.9b to 2.2 billion shillings.

BOC Gases: An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders will be held on April 3 to approve the acquisition of Carbacid Kenya.

Equity bank: Loans doubled from 2,874, to 5,524 million shillings in 2005, but NPA likewise doubled from 246m to 519m. The Bank returned a pre tax profit of 501 million, which translated to an EPS of 3.77, up, from 2.51 the year before. (Dividend will be 2 sh per share, same as in 2004)

Nation Media Group: Crossed the 1 billion shilling mark for in pre tax profit (1.01b) which was up from 895 m in 2004, on increased turnover of 5.6 billion shillings (up from 4.9b in ’04).

Serena: Turnover increased by 18% to 1.97 billion shillings and after tax profit increased by 47% to 192 million. The company, which paid 256m in various taxes and 81m to local authorities during the year, will pay shareholders a dividend of 1.25 sh per share. AGM to be held on April 26, and following 93% acceptance by shareholders, shares of the new Serena will begin trading on March 15 at the NSE.

Tea slump: Sister tea companies, Limuru Tea, and Unilever Tea, reported much poorer results in 2005. turnover at Unilever was flat at 4.6b while Limuru dropped by 34% to 37m. Limuru went from a 2004 profit of 9.7m to a loss of 3.1m while Unilever's after tax profit dropped by 81% to 68m. Both companies will still pay out dividend despite the bad year; Limuru will pay 5 sh per share out of EPS of –5.27, while Unilever will pay 2 sh per share out of EPS of 1.41. Limuru’s AGM will be held on May 4, while Unilever’s will be held on May 5.

Housing: Elan Park will put up 240 maisonettes in Mlolongo area, Athi River which is about 15km from Nairobi.