Habesha Cement S.C is confronted with an uncertain future after incurring losses of 2.4 billion Br over two consecutive years, despite attempts to address its management turmoil and substantial demand for cement in the market. Habesha's management and shareholders are in a bind, unable to agree on the way forward.

Established in 2008 with a capital of 150 million Br raised from 16,500 shareholders, Habesha was one of the pioneer private sector initiatives in industrial-scale investment, mobilising resources from the public. Its downward spiral is in stark contrast to the supply shortfall seen in the cement market, which is yet to welcome three new plants under development. The 13 cement plants in operation produce around 8.5 million tonnes a year, representing a shortfall of 2.5 million tonnes in aggregate demand.

Despite a massive appetite for cement in the market, Habesha Cement S.C. continued to suffer devastating losses over the past couple of years. In 2019, the company saw losses of 938.8 million Br, compounded by a further 1.47 billion Br loss the following year.

The loans the company took in foreign currency and its depreciated value in Birr over the past years have caused much of the vexation for the management and shareholders.

Four years into the company's incorporation, the Pretoria Portland Cement Company (PPC) and the South African state-led Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) invested 12 million dollars and nine million dollars, acquiring 38pc and 22pc stakes in Habesha Cement. They brought in new management in February last year in a bid to salvage the company. As part of the shake-up, Ghassan Broummana, a German national with 30 years of experience in the cement industry, took over the helm from his predecessor.

"When I joined, Habesha was in very bad shape," the CEO, who had formerly served in senior executive positions in Germany, India and Sudan, told Fortune.

Broummana admitted he embarked on a nearly impossible mission.

The factory had not serviced its debts from the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) and the Eastern & Southern African Trade & Development Bank (TDB). The latter had extended 80 million dollars while the DBE had provided an equivalent of 40 million dollars. Of the total, only seven million dollars (six percent) was repaid last year. The company had to negotiate loan restructuring on three occasions.

"We're supposed to show some level of commitment for our lenders to request another restructuring, which we have already begun," said the CEO.

Attempts to check the status of the loans restructuring with the two financial institutions were to no avail.

The new management sought to convert loans taken out in dollars to Birr in the hope that most of the swelled losses were caused by the depreciation of the Birr against the Dollar. The loans, which amounted to 2.7 billion Br at the time of borrowing, are now valued at 5.6 billion Br.

Still, experts caution that banks will be resistant to the notion of converting the loans.

"Nobody would be willing to convert foreign currency dominated loans into Birr, especially in times of fast depreciation," says Abdulmenan Mohammed, a financial analyst based in London.

In a business with thin margins and a volatile market, loan financing is not optimal, says the expert, cautioning those in the cement business to stick to raising equity from shareholders.