In a report presented to the council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange last week, its audited result for the year ended April 30, 2009, showed a gross earnings of N108.9 billion higher than N60.4 billion recorded in 2008. The company's profit after tax stood at N5.2 billion, compared with N12.8 billion in 2008.

Based on the result, the company's Board of Directors recommended a dividend of N0.09 per share. The date of closure of register for members is stated as September 14, 2009 while payment is due for September 28, 2009.

Similarly, audited result of NEM Insurance Plc for the year ended December 31, 2008 showed gross premium of N$ billion as against N2.55 billion in 2007. Its profit after tax stood at N461.5 million, up from N399.81 million in 2007. The company's directors, however, recommended a dividend of N0.04 per share. The date of closure of register for members is stated at September, 2009 while payment is due for October 39, 2009.

Unaudited result of Associated Bus Company Plc (ABC) for the half-year ended June 30, 2009 showed a turnover of N1.97 billion as against N1.8 billion in the comparable period of 2008. Its profit after tax stood at N114.74 million, compared with N117.02 million in 2008.

For Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, its unaudited result for the third quarter ended June 20, 2009 showed a turnover of N7.2 billion, higher than N5.9 billion in the comparable period of 2008 while its profit after tax stood at N358.6 million compared with N394.5 million in 2008.

Diamond Bank Plc's unaudited result for the first quarter ended July 31, 2009 showed gross earnings of N21.8 billion over N21.8 billion in the comparable period of 2008. The company profit after tax stood at N1.6 billion compared with N4.7 billion in 2008.

Unaudited result of Presco Nigeria Plc for the half-year ended June 30, 2009 showed a turnover of N2.02 billion, as against N1.68 billion in the comparable period of 2008 while its profit after tax stood at N300.11 million compared with N565.1 million in 2008.

Deap Capital Management & Trust Plc's unaudited result for the half year ended March 31, 2009 showed a turnover of N203.62 million as against N755.93 million in the comparable period of 2008. Its loss after tax stood at N344.11 million compared with profit after tax of N422.32 million in 2008.

Unaudited result of University Press Plc for the first quarter ended June 30, 2009 showed a turnover of N159.9 million, as against N95.2 million in the comparable period of 2008. While its loss after tax stood at N37 million compared with N18.85 million in 2008.

Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc has projected a gross premium of N4.3 billion and a profit after tax of N1.5 billion during the third quarter ending September 30, 2009 while law union and rock insurance Plc projected "Gross premium of N5 billion and profit after tax of N816.21 million during the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2009.

The Guardian Newspaper, Monday August 31, 2009.