Archives for November 2013

Eppley preference shares over

November 30, 2013 by IC Insider.com

30th November, 2013 | Eppley Limited announced that a total of 303 applications were received for the recent public offer of 50 million preference shares valued at approximately J$361.95 million.

As the Invitation was oversubscribed, the Company intends to exercise its right to issue further preference shares by allotting 60,325,600 to all applicants who will receive 100% of the amount of the Shares they applied for.

28th November, 2013 | Eppley’s Invitation for Subscription to 50 million Cumulative Redeemable 9.5% Preference Shares at J$6.00 each has been oversubscribed the company reported today.

The offer opened on Wednesday, 13th November 2013 and was closed on the closing date, Wednesday, 27 November 2013.

The Company had reserved the right to make available further Preference Shares prior to the Closing Date but IC Insider understands that this option was not exercised.

Related posts | Profit up 92% for Eppley

Honey Bun’s profit falters

November 29, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Honey Bun’s last quarter profit got burnt with a $10.5 million loss compared to a small profit of $490,000 for the same period in 2012.

For the full year to August this year, profit fell from $41.5 million to $35.3 million with sales revenues climbing to $712 million from $611 million in 2012. For the quarter, sales rose from $154 million to $163 million hardly enough to cover increased cost. Rising cost and inability to price the products to recover increases in expenses is at the heart of Honey Bun’s 2013 problems that lead to lower profits. For while revenues climbed 14.8 percent for the year, direct cost climbed even faster at 18.8 percent. The increased cost meant $28 million of potential profit just evaporated as a result of not being able to pass on the full cost to customers. Compounding the problem, administrative and other cost rose much faster than revenues by 20 percent to $174 million and selling and distribution cost was contained to an increase of only 8 percent to $90 million. Finance cost at $2.9 million was almost flat.

Image courtesy of dplanet/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The company may be able to recover some, if not all of the cost increase, during the coming year. Movement in the local currency which would have had a major impact on cost in the 2013 fiscal year should moderate going forward and with signs of stability in the economy and some green shoots of growth showing, the next twelve months should be better for them.

IC Insider is forecasting earnings of $39 million or 42 cents per share for 2014 and 65 cents per share in 2015.

Historical | Gross profit for 2013 increased by 9.7 percent and is the lowest since 2008 when it grew by 12 percent. The gross profit margin for the latest year is not the worst; it is only 2 percentage points below 2011 and well above 66 percent in 2010 and is in line with 2006 and 2007. Profit performance has been less than predictable. In 2007, pretax profit came out at $23 million and decreased to $18.7 million generated in 2008, climbed to $45 million in 2009 but fell to $26 million in 2010 with 2011 enjoying an increase to $37 million; then it was up to $42 million in 2012 only to fall back in 2013.

Finances | Notwithstanding the lowered profited out turn, the company’s finances improved during the year. Shareholders equity improved by $20 million to reach $291 million and borrowed funds was $26 million up from $20 million in 2012. Net working capital increased from $61 million to $98 with cash and bank balances reaching $78 million. Receivables climbed by 40 percent to $78 million and payables by 87 percent to $75 million.

IC Insider outlook | The stock is priced at $3 with a PE of 8 times earnings and is in line with a number of other junior market companies. At best, Honey Bun is currently a stock to watch. It will need increased sales volume to make it to our Buy Rated stock list when compared to others with a better potential for gains.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Honey Bun, JSE Company

Blue Power profits continue up

November 29, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Blue Power recorded 33 percent increase in sale revenues to $275 million for the October quarter this year compared to $208 million for the same period last year. The Lumber Depot division achieved sales of $191 million versus $135 million the previous year, an improvement of 42 percent while the Blue Power Soap Division saw sales moving up from $73 million to $84 million for an increase of 15 percent.

Profits for the quarter came in at just over $25 million compared to a shade under $19 million in the same period last year, an increase of 34 percent. The contribution of Lumber Depot contributed over $11 million, improving by 80 percent over the same period in the previous year while Blue Power division added $14 million which was an improvement of 10 percent over the second quarter of 2012. Earnings per stock unit improved from 33 cents to 45 cents in the quarter, an improvement of 36 percent.

Sales grew 18 percent for the six months ended October to $521 million compared to $440 million for the same period last year of which the Lumber Depot division contributed $367 million versus $289 million the previous year, an improvement of 27 percent while the soap division moved up from $152 million to $154 million, an increase of only 2 percent.

Profits increased by 26 percent for the six months to $55 million compared to $44 million in the same period last year. $29 million of the profit for the half year came from the Lumber division for a strong 49 percent increase over the same period in 2012 while Blue Power contributed $26 million which was an improvement of 8 percent. Earnings per stock unit moved from 77 cents to 98 cents in the period, an increase of 27 percent. IC Insider is forecasting earnings for the full year to April 2014 at $2.30 per share and $2.85 for the 2015 fiscal year. The stock remains BUY RATED.

Cost | The group has been able to keep administrative cost under control with figures for the six months showing a slight fall of $1.4 million to end at $62.3 million, while the latest quarter saw a rise of $3.8 million to $34.3 million, a 12 percent increase.

With the shift of increased sales to lumber division, margins shanked in the October quarter to 26.3 percent from 30.3 percent in 2012 and for the year to date 27.3 percent versus 31.2 percent in 2012.

Finances | The group was in a strong position at the end of October with cash funds $126 million, which is down from April’s $145 million, but more funds are now reflected in receivables and inventories which are up by $30 million and $22 million respectively. At the same time payables declined by $11 million. Shareholder’s equity rose to $392 million at the end of the latest quarter.

Blue Power is an IC Insider Buy Rated Stock

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Blue Power, JSE Company

Teas profit up 32 percent

November 27, 2013 by IC Insider.com

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Jamaican Teas just reported a 32 percent rise in profit for the year to September from a 49 percent jump in sales. The company earned profit attributable to the group’s shareholders of $99 million for the year versus $75 million in 2012.

For the last quarter, the group reported profit of $23 million compared $6.2 million in the similar quarter in 2012. The results for the quarter reflect the booking of revenues resulting from the completion of the real estate development and sales of all but two of the units. The 2012 last quarter figures were negatively affected by an adjustment for impairment to an investment amounting to $9 million.

Sales up | The Group recorded improvement in sales for the year increasing by 49 percent to $1.23 billion versus $824.5 million in the prior year. This was due to mainly increased supermarket sales, a strong 46 percent growth in export sales and income from sale of units in the real estate development.

While sales for the manufacturing division were up 26 percent for the year they were only up 5 percent for the latest quarter partially due to flat exports, which was affected by the termination of the sale of coffee that was included in last year’s figure while there were none in the latest quarter.

Image from Behance.net

The sales performance was also helped by Caribbean Dreams’ Jamaica Blue Spring Water, which was introduced shortly before the commencement of the start of the fiscal year.

Sales at the Kingston supermarket in last quarter were up on the similar quarter in 2012 by 15.8 percent and up by 20 percent for the financial year.

Investments | The group holds $140 million including stocks and bonds and generated income of more than $30 million from them during the year. The amount is a part of other income which amounted to $40 million versus $23 million in 2012.

The group absorbed losses of $4.8 million in the latest quarter for the associated company that operates a supermarket in Montego Bay and a loss of $11.3 million versus $8.4 million for 2012. The company made $2.5 million adjustments to differed tax assets during the year based on the change in tax rate to 25 percent thus increasing the loss for 2013 by that amount.

Cost increase | Administrative cost rose by 20 percent to $86.5 million and distribution and marketing cost rose 69 percent to $30.4 million. The admin cost rise is partially due to the booking of the full year’s cost for the supermarket in Savannah La Mar versus only part year cost in 2012 and increased labour cost. Finance cost rose from $8.36 million to $11.3 million due in part to increased borrowings to fund the real estate development and the acquisition of the new factory building.

Statement of Financial Position | Inventories increased mainly as a result of increased cost of inputs and the cost of inventories at the supermarkets due to rising local cost flowing primarily from the devaluation of the Jamaican Dollar. The receivables rose sharply due to pending completion of sales for the apartments sold and increased export sales, especially the last two months of the financial year, causing in the total due from overseas’ customers to rise.

Borrowings | Borrowings jumped from $113 million in 2012 to $245 million at the end of 2013 financial year but this was effectively $162 million as $83 million represented a loan that was kept as a bank deposit for a short time after the year end. The increased borrowings related to the development of the apartment complex and funding of the purchase of the property to house the factory for the manufacturing operation. Subsequent to the year end, most of the short term borrowings were either paid off or converted into long term loans. The amounts used in the funding the construction of the apartment complex were fully liquidated after the year end. Jamaican Teas issued 5 year bonds amounting to $105 million, fixed at 8.5 percent for two years after the balance sheet date. The funds will be mostly used to fund the company’s next real estate development. At the end of the year, shareholder’s equity stood at $596 million, a $85 million increase over 2012.

Outlook | “We expect to build on the foundation created to date. New lines were recently added that will positively impact sales and profit in the new fiscal year. We expect that our latest real estate development planned for St Thomas will contribute positively to profit during the year. Our expectations are that export sales should continue to perform well and so far the local market seems to have stabilized.” Management stated in their release to shareholders.

If the company successfully executes the new real estate development and sales in the other segment continues to grow at close to that of the last year, then the group should go on to see another record year of profit in 2014.

Jamaican Teas is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Jamaican Teas, JSE Company

Remittances keeps growing

November 26, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Net remittances for August this year increased by US$7.6 million or 5.2 percent to US$155.5 million relative to August 2012. The growth reflected an increase in gross remittance inflows as outflows remained flat at US$22.3 million.

Gross remittance inflows for the month were US$178 million, an increase of US$7.6 million or 4.5 percent versus the same month last year. Inflows were above the average of US$164 million for the previous five corresponding periods. The rise in total remittance inflows reflected an increase of US$8.3 million in inflows through Remittance Companies and a decrease of US$0.7 million from other inflows.

Image courtesy of Marcus/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Net remittances for January to August 2013 were US$1.2 billion, which represented a growth of US$18.8 million or 1.6 percent relative to 2012. The out-turn for the 8 months period reflects an increase in gross remittance inflows and a contraction outflows.

For the year to August, total remittance inflows were US$1.37 billion, an increase of US$2.8 million and was were marginally above the corresponding pre-crisis (2008) out-turn.

The increase in total remittance inflows reflected a US$10.0 million or 5.1 percent growth in inflows through Other Remittances, which was partly offset by a US$7.3 million or 0.6 percent reduction in flows through the Remittances Companies.

Image courtesy of Marcus/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Economy, FX Market, Stock Market Tagged With: BOJ, Economy, Remittances

Derrimon Trading, high risk low returns

November 26, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Derrimon Trading Company is a name not known to the vast majority of Jamaicans but that may change if the company succeeds in raising just over $150 million from a public issue of shares in December.

A cursory look at the company’s finances quickly indicates why it needs the infusion of funds; margins are low at around 10 percent and working capital is weak with the current assets ratio at 1.2:1, which is considered very weak and well below a 2:1 ratio. Unfortunately, the new capital while it will improve the ratio, will not be enough to lift it to where it should be.

Cost continues to grow sharply with Admin up 30 percent to August this year and selling and distribution up 25 percent. These compare with revenue growth of just 13 percent. Quite a bit of profit is coming from other income including investment and rental amounting to $21.8 million in 2013 and $24 million in 2012 to August and $36 million for the 2012 calendar year to December. Before interest cost, the main operations reported a $9 million profit. Admittedly, this is after making provisions for inventory loss of $18 million and doubtful debt provision of $9 million.

In 2012, the supermarkets had gross profit around 20 percent but the distribution margin was only 7 percent and wholesale 11 percent. Revenues with low margins make up 92 percent of sales in 2012. The average number of persons employed full-time by the Company during the year was 135 (2011 – 96), while part time employees averaged 17 (2011 – 14). Cost relating to staff rose from $96.76 million in 2011 to $146.5 million an increase of 51 percent with the staff numbers going up by 38 percent.

Profits | Financial statements to August show profit of $51 million pretax and $35.7 million post tax or 18 cents per share, annualized around 25 cents. Gross profit margin is just over 10 percent for 2013 up from 8 percent in 2013 for similar period and 9.5 percent for all of 2012.

The company reports profit for 2008 to 2013 rising from $8.4 million pretax profit in 2008 to $8.1 million in 2009; $17.5 million in 2010; $36 million in 2011 and $25.3 million in 2012. While there was big foreign exchange gain in 2011 there was a big loss in 2012. Revenues have moved rapidly upwards from $807 million in 2008; it reached $1.48 billion in 2009; $2.46 billion in 2010; $3.35 billion in 2011 and $4.76 billion in 2012. The rapid rate of growth seems to have slowed in 2013 with sales of $3.756 billion to August, versus $3.32 billion for the same period in 2012, a 13 percent increase compared with 43 percent in 2012 and 36 percent in 2011.

Tax free | As a junior market prospect, profit will be tax free for 5 years if listed. Hence, the valuation should be based on pretax profits. For 2013 excluding tax, earnings would be in the order of 32 cents per share assuming no major negative development occurs in the last 4 months of the year to reduce the level of profitability. Using Lasco Distributors with a PE ratio around 7 as a guide, we would price the stock around $2 each, just about the issue price to the public. Paramount Trading may even be a better guide with a PE of 5 times earnings, which would place Derrimon stock price value at $1.80. These numbers suggest that investors should not be running for this one looking for any potential gains in the short term. At best, it will be in the future.

The 73,336,067 ordinary shares that are available will not see much going into the public’s hands with an allocation of just 8,568,486 shares. Board Reserved Shares amount to 25,693,590, which has been effectively taken up by the conversion of loans made to the Company amounting to $52.67 million. Others include Employee Reserved Shares: 4,878,049; Key Partners Reserved Shares: 12,195,122 and Mayberry Clients Reserved Shares: 22,000,820. The Invitation will open at 9:00am on Monday, 2nd December and is slated to close at 4:00pm on Monday 9th December 2013. Applications from the general public must request a minimum of 2,000 shares and be made in multiples of 1,000.

About the company | Derrimon Trading was founded in 1998 by Derrick and Monique Cotterell. The business began to grow in earnest in 2002, when the Company was appointed as a regional co-distributor of Nestlé Jamaica for Kingston & St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas. In 2009, the Company acquired the business of Sampars Cash and Carry, one of the largest wholesale businesses in Kingston in order to increase the portfolio of products and to extend its market reach. More recently, the Company has introduced a line of exclusive branded products under the ‘Delect’ name. The new range includes rice, canned mackerel, tomato ketchup, vegetable oil, cornmeal and other products.

Since 2009, the Company’s operations have been based at its principal premises at 235 Marcus Garvey Drive. This location provides the Company with 100,000 square feet of warehouse facilities including cold storage over some 3.5 acres of property, which is strategically located close to both Kingston Wharves and key distribution routes to the Company’s various markets. In support of its operations, the Company engages a contracted fleet of over 60 delivery trucks to deliver the Company’s products to customers.

Use of proceeds | The company says it intends to use the proceeds of the Invitation for the following purposes:

Expansion of Sampars business, with further wholesale and retail outlets;
Enhancement of the Company’s wholesale/retail business software platform;
Provision of working capital support to the Company’s distribution business;
Retirement of a portion of the Company’s debt, including certain Directors’ loan;
Pay the expenses of the Invitation out of the proceeds, estimated not exceed $9.5 million.

Directors | Executive Directors: Derek Cotterell (Chairman), I. Kelly (Finance), W. Thomas (General Manager). Non-Executive Directors: Monique Cotterell, Earl. A. Richards, Alexander Williams.

A number of the directors has had several years’ experience with Grace Kennedy in the distribution business.

IC Insider outlook | At the current state of the local stock market, this one seems to be better watched from the side lines than on the field of play.

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News, Initial Public Offers, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Derrimon Trading, Sampars

Jamaican Teas lists corporate bond

November 25, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Monday, 25th November 2013 | Tanisha Samuels, Assistant to CEO John Mahfood, inserts the Jamaican Teas fixed & variable rate banner in the slot on the Jamaica Stock Exchange board prior to the start of trading today. To her left is the John Mahfood, the company’s CEO.
In today’s trading 1,000 units traded at $99.50 per 100 units.

Related posts | Jamaican Teas raises over $100m

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Jamaican Teas, JSE Company

TTSE: Light trading day

November 25, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Monday, 25th November, 2013 | Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange resulted in 8 securities changing hands, no stocks recorded gains during the day, 4 declined and 4 traded firm as a total of 240,905 shares traded for a value of $1,708,018.

The Composite Index declined by 2.98 points to close at 1,181.36. The All T&T Index declined by 5.89 points to close at 1,970.46. The Cross Listed Index declined by 0.02 points to close at 51.41.

Trading was in Angostura Holdings 1,129 shares as the price closed at $13, down 14 cents; Guardian Holdings 2,334 units to close at $14.70, down 13 cents; Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 125,000 shares changing hands with a value of $63,750 closed firm at 51 cents; Jamaica’s National Commercial Bank had a volume of 30,000 shares for $34,500 as the price closed unchanged at $1.15; National Enterprises contributed 13,687 shares with a value of $240,932 as the price declined by 37 cents to close at $17.60, while Sagicor Financial Corporation added 12,000 shares valued at $86,400 as the price closed at $7.20 down 2 cents.

Clico Investment Fund exchanged 56,460 shares valued at $1,213,890 as the price remained unchanged at $21.50.

IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is pointing to a fluid situation between advancing and declining stocks with bids for 4 stocks higher and 3 stocks with offers lower than their last selling price.

Filed Under: Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: Daily Trading, Trading Activity, TTSE

GSE: Stocks up for week

November 25, 2013 by IC Insider.com

The Ghana Stock Market is up 77.71 percent so far this year to the week ending November 22, a marginal increase over the 77.36 percent gained registered up to the week before with the market index moving up to 2,132.01 points at the end of the week from the prior week’s 2,127.79 points. The financial index that closed at 1,778.22 points at the end of November 15, is now up to 1,782.43 for a 71.41 percent gain for the year to date.

During the week, 8 stocks rose versus 4 that recorded declines a much improved position compared to the prior week when there were 6 declining stocks to 2 that advanced.

Cocoa Processing Company gained 50 percent to end the week at Gina Harrison¢0.02; Ecobank Transnational gained 6 percent to close at Gina Harrison¢0.18; HFC Bank Ltd, the bank that Trinidad’s Republic Bank has 40 percent ownership in, which gained 6.4 percent during the week ending November 15 gained a further 8 percent to close at Gina Harrison¢0.90. The week before it gained 13 percent and is now up 100 percent for the year to date. Mechanical Lloyd Company that sells and services BMW cars and motor cycles, Ford vehicles, Massey Ferguson agricultural machinery and Delphi products gained 5 percent to be up 153 percent year to date. Ayrton Drugs Manufacturing Company recorded a 6 percent gain.

Aluworksm an aluminium continuous casting and cold rolling company, lost 20 percent of its value during the week to close at GH¢0.05 and Benso Oil Palm Plantation lost 19 percent to close at GH¢3.20.

Filed Under: Global Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Ghana, Ghana Stock Exchange, Trading Activity

New additions to Buy Rated stocks

November 25, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Monday, 25th November 2013 | There are two additions to the Buy Rated and Market Watch list for the coming week. Added to the Buy Rated stock list is Jamaican Teas due to a 30 percent gain in profits for the year ended in September flowing from a 46 percent jump in export sales, sales of apartments in its first real estate development and expectation of further growth in 2014.

Carreras is added to the Market Watch list based on IC Insider’s assessment for earnings around $5 per share for the current fiscal year and dividend yield above 10 percent. Trading in the mid $30’s, this stock has a very good chance to head back into the mid $40 range.

Performance tracking | During the past week, a few of the Jamaican stocks made some recovery with JMMB breaking even in Jamaica but has retreated in Trinidad. Access Financial is up 15 percent so far but Lasco Financial and Manufacturing are still off by good margins. The selections in the main market remain mostly under water, but the ideal time to buy may be slipping away as prices seem to be at their bottom. More importantly, there are indicators that a year-end market rally will happen again in December.

While Jamaica has disappointed, the same can’t be said about Trinidad. There are only two losers so far; Guardian Holdings and Scotia Investments. During the past week Neal & Massy, that had declined below the price at the time of selection, has bounced back from its low to be just slightly ahead at the close on Friday.

What seems clear, is that the focus ought to be on longer term performance rather than just short term gains. The Trinidad market performance of slow price movements illustrates this very well. There are also signs in the Jamaican market suggesting the same, the major difference being the Jamaican market is more aggressive with price movements.