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.