UPDC Board Seeks Loan from Majority Shareholders

By Goddy Egene

Shareholders of UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc have authorised its board of directors to enter into loan agreement with its majority shareholders – Custodian Investment Plc and UAC of Nigeria Plc – to discharge its outstanding debt obligations.

UPDC, which used to be a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria Plc, became a subsidiary of Custodian Investment Plc when the investment firm acquired 51 per cent stake last November.

The company was recording losses in recent time until it strengthened its capital structure with completion of the N16 billion rights issue, leading to an 80 per cent reduction its debt from N21 billion to N6 billion.

But in order to discharge its outstanding debt obligations, the board of UPDC requested that the shareholders approve that the firm be allowed to enter into a loan agreement with its majority shareholders.

The shareholders approved the special resolution at the annual general meeting (AGM), held recently. They authorised the company, “to enter into a shareholder loan agreement with Custodian Investment PLC and UAC of Nigeria Plc for the provision of a shareholder loan required by the company for the discharge of its outstanding debt obligations;that in furtherance of the foregoing resolution, the company be and is hereby authorised to create a charge over such asset(s) of the company as the directors may determine, in favour of the majority shareholders as security for the shareholder loan.”
The company was equally authorised to create a charge over such its asset(s) as the directors may determine, in favour of the majority shareholders as security for the shareholder loan.

The shareholders also authorised the directors to raise additional capital via the issue of debt instruments, preference shares or ordinary shares or a combination of any of these options whether by way of private placements, rights to existing shareholders or offer for subscription at a quantum and price upon such other terms and conditions to be determined at the discretion of the directors and subject to any requisite regulatory approvals.

They also authorised the directors, “to do all such acts as the board may deem necessary or incidental to effect the above resolutions, including without limitation, entering into the necessary agreements and complying with directives of any regulatory authority.”

UPDC recorded a revenue of N1.662 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, down from N2.157 billion and reduced its loss from N15.883 billion to N439 million.

Founded in 1997, UPDC Plc is the first real estate company to have been listed on the Nigerian stock exchange, and offers the most diversified portfolio of residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality assets.