C&W Caribbean still restructuring

May 22, 2013 by

The Caribbean contributed revenue of US$1,120 million to Cable & Wireless Worldwide revenues in the year ending March 2013. The revenues for the region were down 4% on the prior year.

Mobile revenue of US$527 million was down 1% on the prior year driven principally by lower average rate per unit (ARPU). Subscriber numbers were broadly flat on the prior period with a 16 percent growth in Jamaica following regulatory changes which enabled improved competitive positioning, stimulating subscriber and usage growth offset by churn in the Eastern Caribbean. There has been sustained growth in mobile data usage following the launch of high-speed networks in a number of islands during the year and the Company plans to expand on this where commercially viable.

Broadband & TV | Revenue fell by 2% to US$120 million for broadband & TV operations. LIME TV was launched in Barbados during the year and over 3,000 customers have signed up subscriptions to date with plans to roll out IP based TV services to a number of islands in the coming year.

cable-and-wireless-cables150x150Fixed voice revenue at US$290 million was 10% down compared to the prior year. Voice substitution continued across the region, although the ARPU and revenue decline this year was mainly influenced by Jamaica where regulatory changes and the introduction of a special telecommunications tax led to lower revenues. Enterprise, data and other revenue at US$183 million was down 7% on last year due principally to a lower level of cable capacity sales in the period.

Gross margin | Operating costs were 5% down compared to the prior year at US$578 million. Across the Caribbean, the Company has embarked on targeted cost reduction programmes to improve efficiency and build a sustainable operating base. During this year, staffing headcount has reduced by 12% to 3,421 and there was further outsourcing of field force technician services in Jamaica. Much of the improvement came from the Bahamas business which has seen a full year’s benefit of the restructuring undertaken following acquisition of the company in 2011.

What about C&W Jamaica? | Read IC Insider’s ‘C&W: Less jobs, more capital spend‘

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

FX gains boost Kingston Wharves

May 22, 2013 by

Revenues for Kingston Wharves were up 42 percent for the quarter ended March to $1.17 billion. The amount includes $148.86 million or a 91 percent increase in interest income and a large amount of foreign exchange gains flowing from changes in the Jamaican dollar value for assets denominated in United States dollars, as well as a 38 percent increase in transshipment and domestic container movements.

Port revenues | Increased revenue and cost saving initiatives implemented by the group contributed to positively to the profit performance for the quarter. Revenues for port activities were $999 million up from $804 million for the similar period in 2012, an increase of $195 million or 24 percent. A combination of volume increases and the impact of the declining value of the Jamaican dollar are factors that contributed in a major way to the results.

Profit | Operating Profit increased 142 percent for the first quarter, moving from $155 million in 2012 to $374 million. Profit attributable to stockholders was $153 million compared to $65 million for the same period in 2012. Earnings per stock for the first three months was 10.63 cents compared to 5.90 cents for the corresponding period in 2012.

KingstonWharves150x150Without the gain from the movement of the local currency, profits for the quarter would have been much lower, which is something for investors to bear in mind in considering the company’s stock as an investment. The stock is now selling for more than 17 times this year’s likely earnings, well ahead of other companies on the market presently.

Management stated the group will be making substantial long term investments in order to participate fully in the Kingston port expansion. During the quarter, the first phase of the initiative aimed at the expansion and improvement of the range of services offered was implemented. These include steps to acquire container handling equipment and provide stevedoring services for a new client.

Financial strength | Kingston Wharves is in a healthy financial position with borrowings of $2 billion and equity of $12 billion. The group has $3 billion in cash which will be used in the expansion and modernization of the operations in preparation for increased business when the expanded Panama canal opens.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

Seprod’s dividend consideration

May 22, 2013 by

The Board of Directors of Seprod Limited will meet to consider the payment of a dividend at a meeting scheduled for June 3, 2013. The company last paid a dividend amounting to $0.30 per share on November 9, 2012. Prior to the November payment the company paid a dividend of $0.53 per share on August 7, 2012.

Seprod recently reported profits for the first quarter of this year that was down on the similar quarter in 2012. Profit after tax profit slipped to $231 million compared to $292 million in the 2012 first quarter.

For the last IC Insider report ‘What’s really up at Seprod‘, Click here

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: ,

Consolidated Bakeries’ Q1 Profits Up

May 22, 2013 by

Consolidated Bakeries, producers of the well-known Purity brand of baked products, reported profit before tax for the March quarter of $14.2 million, 58 percent more than the corresponding period last year. Profit after tax jumped by 216 percent but the company is unlikely to be paying any taxes for the next five years under the junior market tax incentive. Revenues grew to $172 million, an increase of $32 million or 23 percent over the same period last year.

Management indicated, in a release with the quarterly results, that all key product lines grew during the quarter. Whilst revenues climbed 23 percent gross profit of 38 percent in 2012 fell to 37 percent in the quarter, and the growth in gross profit, was up 18 percent year over year. Operating expenses grew by just under 12 percent. Going forward, the company says they will accelerate operational improvements to combat increased input costs.

These developments sound great. The concerns that investors must be having is that last year’s results for the first half looked good and then, what seemed like a sudden shock, the company announced earnings of a mere $3.7 million, well below the amount reported for the 2012 first half and lower as well than the full 2011 earnings of $12.8 million. Will the market get another surprise? That is difficult to say. Management did indicate that they took a deliberate decision last year to slow production whilst attempting to get their processes right.

Consolidated_Purity150x150The company was listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in December 2012 with the stock price trading as high as $2.05 but declined to 90 cents after the poor 2012 results were released in March.

The company completed the conversion of the tracking of routes to a computerized hand-held system which facilitates better tracking, monitoring and management of the company’s distribution process, thereby reducing costs and improving sales. Their efforts to improve operations continued with additional adjustments to the  processes and plant organization, including the appointment of both an experienced warehouse and loading manager. As a consequence, the first quarter saw significant improvements in quality and products.

The company continued exports to three overseas markets, and gained additional listings and space with independent retailers, and significantly, a major retail chain in the North America.

Current assets increased to $202 million from $96.8 million over the same period last year, primarily due to the growth in receivables of $32 million and investments and other cash equivalents by $64 million. Current liabilities increased from $69 million to $89 million at a slower pace than current assets due to the capital injection from the IPO in December last year. Consolidated has equity of $485 million, well in excess of loan funding of $48.5 million.

Management stated, “In the coming months we will build on and continue the internal changes of the first quarter, starting with additional branding and our route to market programs. We will be adjusting and or replacing equipment to our production line of single serve and bread products, at the same time increasing exposure and awareness of our brand.”

PurityFinDetails

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

JPS to raise capital in Jamaica

May 22, 2013 by

Jamaica Public Service Company is to raise more long term capital on the local market. The proposal is to increase the share capital by the addition thereto of 3,500,000 Class “F” and 1,500,000 Class “G” Preference Shares. It is proposed to list the shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Accordingly, a resolution to this effect is also to be considered by directors.

The company has called an extraordinary meeting to approve the issue of two new preference shares and for shareholders to give authority to the directors or a committee of the directors to determine the terms that the shares are to be issued at. The meeting will be held at the Head Offices of Limited, 6 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston on June 5, 2013, at 10 am.

The resolutions to be considered by the meeting are as follows:

1. RESOLVED as an ordinary resolution that the authorized share capital of the Company comprised of:

– 30,315,733,190 ordinary stock units; and – 567,000 7% Cumulative Preference Shares “B” ; and – 66,500 5% Cumulative Preference Shares “C” ; and – 1,049,000 5% Cumulative Preference Shares “D” ; and – 514,000 6% Cumulative Preference shares “E” be and hereby is increased by the addition thereto of 3,500,000 Class “F” Preference Shares and 1,500,000 Class “G” Preference Shares so that the share capital of the Company will be comprised as follows:

– 30,315,733,190 ordinary stock units; and – 567,000 7% Cumulative Preference Shares “B” ; and – 66,500 5% Cumulative Preference Shares “C”; and – 1,049,000 5% Cumulative Preference Shares “D”; and

– 514,000 6% Cumulative Preference shares “E” ; and – 3,500,000 Cumulative Non-redeemable  preference Shares “F” – 1,500,000 Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares “G”

JPS_logo150x1502. FURTHER RESOLVED as an ordinary resolution that the Company be authorized to issue and/or allot Cumulative Non-redeemable Preference Shares “F” and/or Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares “G” with rights/restrictions as to Voting, Dividends and Winding up and/or otherwise as may be determined by the Directors of the Company or a Committee of the Directors appointed for such purpose, subject always to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, and that the Directors of the Company or such Committee be and are hereby authorised to determine all such rights and restrictions and the Directors be and are hereby authorized to allot such Cumulative Non-redeemable Preference Shares “F” Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares “G” at such subscription price per Preference Share “F” and Preference Share “G” as the Directors of the Company or such Committee may deem fit, the same to investors accepting an invitation to subscribe for such Preference Shares “F” by way of private placement(s) of such Preference Shares “F” and/or Preference Shares “G”, or otherwise and on terms and conditions determined by the Directors of the Company, subject always to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News Tagged With: , ,

Profits up 19% at Jamaican Teas

May 20, 2013 by

Jamaican Teas recorded a profit of $51.2 million for the 6 months of its fiscal year ending March. Last year for the same period, the group made $43.2 million, an increase of 18.6%.  Profit in the March quarter this year amounted to $25.7 million versus $22.2 million in the comparative period in 2012, an increase of 15.9%. Return on equity rose to 20 percent. The improved results came from growth in sales by 44% to $528.2 million, versus $365.9 million in the prior year to march. This was due to healthy increases in both export and retail supermarket sales including a supermarket in Savannah La Mar which contributed $36 million for the second quarter, compared to $12.6 million in 2012. However, during 2012 period investments sold contributed more to profits than for this year. As a result the core business contributed more profits than the reported figures suggest. According to management’s report, sale of investments in the March quarter resulted in a loss of $3 million.

Sales at the Kingston supermarket were up on the similar quarter in 2012 and the store in Savannah La Mar enjoyed steady sales during the period. It recorded its first profit in March. Management is hopeful to build on the second quarter performance, effectively wiping out, or reducing the losses experienced in the first half.

Despite tightness in the local and regional economies, the company was able to generate improved sales in the manufacturing business and more importantly in domestic manufacturing sales that contribute proportionately more to profits than either export or retail sales.

The jointly-owned supermarket in Montego Bay continues to show improvement but has not shown profit to date.  Sales in the six months rose 16 percent above the similar period of 2012. As per management, “We enjoyed an encouraging improvement in sales since the start of the quarter, pushing us closer to a break”. The group’s share of the loss is $1.6 million in the latest quarter.

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Apartment complex | An apartment complex developed by the group on Kingsway will be completed by the end of May or very early in June.  Sale of the units attracted solid buying interest with more than 90 percent having written commitments. The sale of the units is expected to be booked before the end of the financial year in September when ownership would be transferred to the new owners.  The group has plans for more developments now that the first was successfully executed.

Financial strength | The group continues to maintain a healthy financial position with working capital and investments of $388 million and this position should improve when the apartments are fully sold.  Equity was $550 million and will continue to rise.

Image from Behance.net

Image from Behance.net

Borrowings are up to $145 million from $75 million in March 2012, most of the increase relates to loans to partially fund the building of the apartment complex and is expected to be repaid from the sale proceeds. In addition, the group acquired the supermarket building in Kingston and is carrying a medium term loan on it, which was booked last year after the March quarter. The proceeds from the sale of the apartments is more than adequate to cover the total loans on the books.  The group is acquiring a property to house Jamaican Teas operations which will result in discontinuation of rent but there will be interest cost relating to loan-funding for the acquisition.

Outlook | Management says they will continue to see buoyancy in sales after the end of the quarter at all locations. “The equity portion of the investment portfolio has fluctuated with recent market volatility but in recent weeks we have seen some improvement in the prices of some of our investments. There are signs that the local stock market is picking up life and if that continues, the valuation of the investment portfolio should rise in the months ahead, thus improving the equity base of the group.”

Management concluded their report by stating that with the performance for the first 6 months, the pending sale of the apartment complex, as well as sales performance subsequent to the March quarter, suggest that results for the 2013 fiscal year should exceed the 2012 fiscal year barring unforeseen developments. At the annual general meeting, the range for profit given by the company was $125-140 million for the year to September, which works out at earnings per share of 80-83 cents.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

Gleaner profits face major challenges

May 20, 2013 by

The Gleaner Company was able to hold down administrative, distribution and other operating expenses the first quarter of 2012 and yet the operations still ended up with a loss of $16 million, after benefiting from a tax credit of $4 million. In 2012, the company that is involved primarily in the production of newspapers, made a small profit of $25 million. To be fair, the March quarter is not the company’s best period for making a profit as that usually happens in the last half of the year and particularly in the third quarter.

That said, the profit for the full 12 months of last year was made based on investment income as there was an operating loss before investment income. That is not a good signal going forward. The company raised rates for advertising by effectively modifying the discount levels granted to advertisers. How much more revenue that will generate is left to be seen. The reality is that they need to raise revenues without alienating customers in order to boost the bottom-line. That is not easily done in a tough and tight economy.

GleanerLogo150x150Revenues in the quarter were flat coming out at $774.7 million compared to $774.4 million in 2012. Gross profit fell $39 million, down to $360 million thus ensuring there would have been nothing left to cover other costs.

The reality is that the Gleaner is having a torrid time. First, with the exit of one telecom carrier from the local market which resulted in less competition, there was a reduction of advertising revenue for all media houses. Secondly, Internet access has reduced the desire and in many cases, the need to purchase newspapers. Not to be forgotten is the variety of media outlets that dilutes advertising revenues for each media house.

Financial status | The Gleaner is in a healthy financial position with a fair amount of cash and short term investments and little debt. A few years ago they sold off the subsidiary Sangster’s Book Store. That decision seems like a smart move as the sale gave them cash inflows to help through a difficult period including some recent years of losses.

Stock outlook | The company’s stock price has fallen to a low of $1.10 recently and has enjoyed a small bounce since to reach $1.20. It will be difficult to see wide spread interest, though the price could be considered cheap based on likely earnings. The only problem is these earnings are not likely to be sustainable. Sooner than later, the core business needs to start delivering profits.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

What’s really up at Seprod?

May 20, 2013 by

Revenues are down to $3.6 billion for the March quarter for Seprod, who manufactures and processes oils, fats, cornmeal, soaps, milk, sugar and run a cattle farm. In the 2012 period, the group recorded revenues of $3.7 billion. Profit followed in the path of revenues slipping to after tax profit of $231 million compared to $292 million in the 2012 first quarter. While sales declined, cost of sales moved up, resulting in just over $100 million less gross profit. Costs in other areas were kept well within the amounts for the previous year. Had it not been for a significant foreign exchange gains, the decline in profits would have been far worse than reported.

It was the cash generated from operations that is eye catching with nearly $500 million generated in the first quarter this year. Those figures translate to $2 billion per annum. However, these numbers include income from the sugar operations and for the rest of the year this operation will provide no sales for fresh inflows. The company also benefited from $95 million in FX gains which is unlikely to recur this year. Hence, the cash inflows will be much less and more likely to be just over a billion dollars for the full year. Loan payment of $330 million has to be made in the next 12 months and could reduce the net cash inflows along with the payment of dividends which would use up more than $400 million.

Seprodlogo150x150Seprod has $3.7 billion in cash and investments plus $253 million to be collected from short term receivable in the next 12 months from March. The big question is, what are the funds being piled up for?

Sugar operations | Long term loans increased by $977 million in the quarter primarily for use in the sugar operations. The target for sugar production is based on processing 300,000 tonnes of cane that should work out to around 25,000 tonnes of sugar and that all depends on the sucrose contents of the canes. Added to that, St Thomas, where the operations are, has heavy rainfall close to the beginning and the end of the crop each year. The timing to reap is critical in maximizing the quantity of sugar that is extracted from the canes.

Management indicates that the expanded cane farms are already planted and the increased production should be coming in the 2014 crop. The group acquired Bowden Estates with 3,000 acres and another property in the area plus lands that were in bananas are now planted out in cane. For the current year’s crop 18,000 tonnes of sugar were produced at about a break even level. If the important things go well and they make close to next year’s target, the operations should end with a profit.

SeprodCaneFactory150x150Management states that the sugar company is critical to them as a foreign exchange earner for the group. The sugar factory can be pushed up to grind 400,000 of cane but no decision has been taken on that. It would require major capital injection to get to that level of production. The cost of energy for the group is an important area of focus and thought has been given to increase the generation of power at the sugar factory and wheel it to others in the group. The estimate for such a project would be in the order of US$15 million, which would allow for the installation of new broilers to power the factory using bagasse, the byproduct of cane milling, to generate heat and steam for electricity thus cutting the overall energy cost for the group.

The company indicates that they are always on the lookout for acquisition. The funds being built up are to allow for acquisitions when suitable ones arise as well as for capital spend. But the main focus is to fully turn around the Duckenfield sugar operations. That objective is important since Seprod profits have been stagnated subsequent to their investment in sugar production. It has proven much more difficult than most of the directors first thought possible. At the first annual general meeting, one shareholder warned them of the challenges they were going to meet. Three to four years later and after more capital injection than originally contemplated, management has had enough time and experience to appreciate the unsolicited advice.

Notwithstanding the challenges faced, the group is in a very healthy financial state with $9 billion in equity and a relatively small amount of debt. Working capital is also in good nick as well.

Stock outlook | The company’s stock last traded at $15 and seems fully valued based on current market conditions. Investors will need to bear in mind the softening in the price of sugar on the world market and commodity prices in general which could push up the breakeven level and continue to have a drag on profits as well as eat up more capital. These risk factors need to be factored in when considering the investment in this stock.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

Yes and no to dividends

May 17, 2013 by

It has come as no surprise that Pan Jamaican Investment Trust has decided to forgo the payment of a dividend, a decision made at the board meeting held on the 16th of May. The group has been making payments of 50 cents per quarter but upped it to $1.10 in March. The directors stated “having paid $1.10 in March 2013, the Directors agreed that it would not be prudent to pay another dividend at this time and will consider another dividend in the third quarter”. The increased amount was apparently due to a decision by government to increase withholding tax from 5 percent to 15 percent.

SVL to pay 8 cents | The Board of Directors of Supreme Ventures Limited declared a dividend of $0.08 per share payable on June 17, 2013 to shareholders on record as at June 3, 2013. The ex-dividend date is May 30, 2013.

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: , ,

JMMB to acquire 100% of IBL

May 17, 2013 by

Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited (JMMB) has advised of its intention to acquire 100% of the shareholdings in Intercommercial Banking Group Limited (IBL Group). JMMB currently owns 50% of the shares of IBL Group which comprises Intercommercial Bank Limited and Intercommercial Trust and Merchant Bank Limited. The IBL Group is based in Trinidad and Tobago.

jmmb150x150Last year JMMB acquired all the shares of Capital & Credit Financial Group which increased the assets and profits of JMMB. The full acquisition of IBL was slated from as far back as 2012, when the selling shareholder indicated their desire to sell. This acquisition is in line with JMMB’s plans to be a dominant player in a number of the Caribbean countries. The group has acquired entities in the Dominican Republic and could well make further inroads there in the future. It is felt that there are many opportunities in that country for expansion by acquisition for the group.

JMMB is expected to report full year’s profit by the end of this month. At the end of December 2012, JMMB made a net profit of J$3.19 billion and earnings per share of J$1.95 for the nine month period ended 31 December 2012. The results include a one-off gain of J$1.61 billion from acquisition of Capital & Credit Financial Group. JMMB will likely be hit with a big charge for the debt swap of government bonds thus negating the gains made from the CCFG acquisition.

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News Tagged With: , ,