Over the weekend, the Receiver/Manager team of Uchumi Supermarkets (under receivership) published their six month accounts for the ½ year to December 2008
- P&L: Sales Kshs. 4.43 billion ($55 million - up 30%), gross profit 845 million (up 20%), operating expenses 676m (up 24%), financial 99m (unchanged), pre tax profit 69 million (up 10% from 63m in December 07)
- Balance sheet: fixed asset 706 million (down 7%), current assets 1,123 million (up 20%), current liabilities 1,742 million (up 57%), net current assets (-619 million), total assets 87 million (down 85% from 589m in December 07).
Liabilities: capital 900 million, reserves -1,835 million, loans 1,021 million (down 36%), total liabilities 86 million
The attached notes state that cash & equivalents were 130 million, debenture holders were paid 23m, and principal banks have received 346m to date (including 16m in the last 6 months).
However, despite increased sales, basket size, customer numbers and product ranges, the statement notes the urgent need to address the technical solvency challenges in the balance sheet through
- restructuring of some secured obligations (bank loans)
- increased equity from shareholders,
- or failure to that, (imminent) invitation to third parties (search for strategic investor is ongoing ).
The ultimate objective of Uchumi receivership plan (URP) is re-listing at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE)
