Eppley Carib Property considers JSE listing

March 11, 2019 by

Eppley Caribbean Property Fund is now being managed by Eppley, a Jamaican listed company

Eppley Caribbean Property Fund SCC announced its intention to cross-list the cellular shares of the Value Fund (“the Value Fund Shares”) on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The Value Fund Shares are currently listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange and the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and the believes that cross-listing the Value Fund Shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange will enhance liquidity and make them available to wider universe of investors.
The Board of Directors has authorized ECPF’s fund managers, Eppley Fund Managers Limited, to evaluate the process of cross-listing the Value Fund Shares with the support of ECPF’s attorneys, investment bankers and other professional advisors.
If a decision is made by the Board of Directors to cross list the Value Fund Shares, Eppley expects that the cross-listing is likely to take place by the end of the second quarter of 2019 subject to any relevant regulatory approvals.
Eppley Caribbean Property Fund SCC (“ECPF”) is a closed-end mutual fund that invests in real estate across the Caribbean. ECPF has two segregated cells, namely the Value Fund and the Development Fund both of which are listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange and the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange

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

Guardian Holdings profit jumps 31%

March 7, 2019 by

Guardian Holdings jumps $1 to new 52 weeks’ high.

Profits at the Trinidad based Guardian Holdings, jumped an attractive 31 percent to TT$534 million above the TT$407 million reported for 2017 that is due to shareholders of the group.
The results translate to earnings per share of $2.30 versus $1.75 in the prior year. “Insurance underwriting activities drove the performance led by the Life, Health and Pension business segment which had a stellar performance achieved primarily from improved persistency, expense management and improved product mix,” Henry Peter Ganteaume, the company’s Deputy Chairman, disclosed to shareholders in his commentary accompanying the results.
Net Written Premiums by 6 percent to reach $4.16 billion but gross written premium rose by 7 percent to $5.86 billion. Net income from underwriting activities more than doubled from $403 million to $863 million. The deputy chairman went on to state, “The Property and Casualty business segment returned a satisfactory performance as it was spared major catastrophic events during the year. However, the persistent soft market conditions led to a marginal increase to Net Written Premiums. Also of note were the not-insignificant profits made by our Asset Management and Brokerage businesses. These two ‘segments’ hold promise to become important and non-risk exposed elements of our overall Group earnings profile over the relatively short term. NCB shareholders will be big winners in a successful Guardian acquisition. Net income from investing activities fell from $1,191 million to $982 million, driven primarily by volatility in Global equity markets, which resulted in a Net fair value loss of $12 million in 2018 compared to an exceptional gain of $246 million in 2017”.
Operating expenses increased by 7 percent to just under $1.05 billion. Based on the 2018 performance, the directors propose a final dividend of 48 cents, which will bring the total dividend to 71 cents, an increase of 4 cents or 6 percent over 2017. Shareholders’ equity grew to $3.4 billion at the end December and total assets at $27.3 billion.
Guardian stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $19 on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Wednesday at a low PE ratio of 8.2 times last year’s earnings and no doubt even lower than 2019 earnings. If NCB financial gets approval for the acquisition of majority shares in the company, they would have picked up a gem at a very low price making the NCB’s investors the winners and the Guardian sellers, big losers.

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

Major capital increase for Barita?

March 4, 2019 by

If one of the resolutions to be put to shareholders of Barita Investments at the upcoming Annual General Meeting set for March 21 is anything to go by, the company is set for some major changes.
According to the notice of meeting, shareholders are being asked, to approve a major increase in the authorized capital of the brokerage house, to 15 billion units up from 1 billion currently. The increase will result in the creation of 13.5 billion new ordinary shares and 500 Million preference shares.
The meeting is being asked to give Directors authority to dispose of the newly created shares in such manner as they think most beneficial to the Company. The company did not state the purpose of the added shares.
The company by the end of March, will be issuing new shares to existing shareholders, following the approval of a right issue, 10 new share for 17 existing ones at $15.50 each. The proceeds of the rights issue will take the issued capital up by 262.28 million units to 708 million shares. At this level the shares will not be very liquid and the company will need to split the stock to help improve liquidity.
The rights issue seems to be just one of a series of moves by the company to increase the number of issued shares. In 2018, IC Insider.com suggested that the company was set to issue rights to existing shareholders as well as the likelihood of splitting the stock. The move to increase the authorised capital seems poised to fulfill the splitting of the stock. The odds favour a stock bonus that could well result in issued shares moving to between 2.1 billion and 2.8 billion units. Such a move would result in more liquidity for the closely held stock and not the most liquid on the market. A stock split that

Barita Investments shareholders seem poised to get a stock split sooner than later.


would use of just 2 billion of the increased share capital, suggests that there is much more to the move than the annual report speaks to. This publication is of the view that one or more major regional financial institutions are likely to buy into Barita well ahead of the final quarter of 2019. The move would result in Conerstone, the current major shareholders reducing their percentage holdings. Barita could well go back to the market to garner funds from a wider cross section of investors and thereby increasing the number of investors in the company.
At the end of December, Barita shareholder’s capital was $3.05 billion with total assets of $19 billion. The company reported profit of $108 million after foreign exchange and trading gains of $156 million up from a loss of $39 million in 2017.

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News

iCreate now listed

February 25, 2019 by

The latest Initial Public offer for 2019 was listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange today.

Atempts were made to trade the stock at $2 but that price is beyong the 30 percent one day limitation. It subsequently traded at $1.30, leaving two bids for the stock at $1.20 to buy 66,000 units and 1,000 units at 70 cents. There are 777,400 units on offer from $1.96 to $2.25. The stock was sold to the market in the IPO at $1.01 each.

Filed Under: Company News

Flat profits at Jamaican Teas

February 22, 2019 by

Jamaican Teas

Domestic sales at Jamaican Teas was robust for the first quarter to December last year, with a 16 percent increase in both the manufacturing operation and at the company’s sole supermarket. Exports fell sharply and pulled down overall sales.
JTL’s first quarter revenues from manufacturing operations declined by 10 percent, due mainly to a stock reduction exercise at the main USA distributer, resulting from export sales declining 40 percent, following a very strong 67 percent increase in the first quarter of 2018 fiscal year and a 24 percent increase for the full fiscal year. The group had no sales of houses in the period as the sole scheme that was developed was completed. Sales generated from the property development in the 2017 quarter of $48 million.
The decline in export sales in the December quarter negatively affected results for the quarter for the group. Nevertheless, the Group’s first quarter net profit attributable to the owners slipped 4 percent, from $52 million to $50 million.
The Company is reporting pick up in exports following the closure of quarter, as well as local sales in both the manufacturing and supermarket operations. With the prices of certain stocks rising since December, the group should be enjoying gains in their equity portfolio.
Earnings per share per share from continuing operations finished at 7.3 cents, down from 7.7 cents in 2017.
For financial year commencing, October 2018, the Group adopt the new accounting standard IFRS 9, resulting in all realized and unrealized gains on listed equities becoming part of the profit and loss account.
The Group continues to enjoy improving financial health with equity capital of $1.4 billion and borrowed funds of just $178 million. The quarter ended with combined quoted investments at $454 million, up from $319 million in the previous year and net cash on hand equaled $132 million.
Jamaican Teas is listed on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $4.
Persons connected with IC Insider.com are associated to the company.

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

Inflation drops again in Jamaica

February 15, 2019 by

The inflation rate declined further in January, according to data released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).
All Jamaica Consumer Price Index recorded a decline of 0.2 percent for January 2019, the Consumer Price Index compiled by Statin shows.The decline in January follows fall in November and December last year as well as declines for the first 5 months of 2018.
According to Statin, the movement was mainly attributable to a fall of 0.5 percent in the index for the heaviest weighted division Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, a 0.1 percent decline in the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels division and a fall of 0.6 percent for the Transport division.
Prices trended downwards by 2.5 percent for the group Vegetables and Starchy Foods. Electricity, water and sewage rates fell and led to the groups Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services related to the Dwelling and Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels registering declines of 0.3 and 0.1 percent respectively. Lower costs for petrol resulted in the 0.6 percent fall recorded for Transport. Increased tuition fees contributed to the 1.5 per upward movement recorded for Education while the index for Miscellaneous Goods and Services went upwards by 0.3 per cent.
Inflation for the past twelve months comes out at 2.3 percent the fiscal year-to-date shows a 2.5 percent rise in prices, well down on the country’s central bank’s original forecast of 4 to 6 percent.

Filed Under: Company News Tagged With: ,

Everything Fresh picks up Meat company

February 12, 2019 by

Everything Fresh traded at $1.61 on Monday.

Everything Fresh completed the purchase and takeover of Meat Experts for a consideration of $50 million, the company reported to the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The company expects to spend an additional $30 million for upgrades, the release stated. “Meat Experts is a widely integrated manufacturing operation located in Bog Walk, St. Catherine. It has its own abattoir, cutting, processing, packaging and cold storage facilities and logistics network. This acquisition will add several new products to the Everything Fresh lineup, promote the support of local livestock and produce farmers and reduce costs. Everything Fresh will be serving both its bulk and retail clients with additional products that will be launched under the Meat Experts and Everything Fresh brands. Everything Fresh continues to pursue other salient opportunities which exist,” the company stated.
The acquisition provides diversification for Everything Fresh that was previously a purely a distributor of edible goods including fruits and meats.

Everything Fresh two major owners and directors, Mr. & Mrs. Pullen.


Everything Fresh is listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the stock closing at $1.61 on Monday.
The suffered a reduction in revenues in the September 2018 quarter from $450 million to $422 million but the nine months period enjoyed a rise from $1.365 billion to $1.39 billion. A loss of $17.5 million was realized in the September quarter versus a profit of $11 before tax in 2017 and for the nine months, profit declined to $27 million before tax from $35 million in 2017. The acquisition could add between $20 to $30 million in profit for the group, based on the capital involved in acquisition and the upgrade to take place.

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

Big leap in BUY RATED Wisynco profit

February 9, 2019 by

Profit at Wisynco attributable to shareholders, rose a strong 36 percent to $776 million for the December quarter and 30 percent for the half year, to $1.54 billion.
Profit for the period would have been even better had the company not picked up a foreign exchange loss of $128 million in the December quarter. Profit before Taxation increased 24 percent to $942 million over the $760 million realized in 2017. The company earned of 21 cents per share for the quarter and 41 cents per share for the six months.
Revenues for the December quarter rose 16 percent to $7.1 billion over the $6.1 billion achieved in the corresponding quarter of 2017, while revenues rose 14 percent to $13.9 billion in the half year period.
Gross profit increased 18.3 percent, to $2.8 billion over the $2.4 billion achieved in the same quarter of 2017, for the half-year gross profit grew 18 percent to $5.4 billion. The company is eking out greater operational efficiencies with gross profit margin of 39.8 percent bettering the 39 percent for the 2017 second quarter. For the six months, gross profit margin grew to 38.8 percent from just 37.4 percent in 2017.

Sugar canes from which sugar is made.

Selling and distribution cost rose at a much slower pace than revenues, with a 12 percent increase for the quarter to $1.47 billion and 11 percent for the half year to $2.94 billion. Administrative Expenses increased 21 percent for the quarter to $284 million and grew by a sharp 79 percent to $544 million for the six months.
“Sales of Worthy Park spirit brands which include Rum-Bar Rums, Rum Cream and Vodka, commenced in November. The distribution of the Worthy Park packaged sugar commenced at the beginning of January,” Wisynco stated. The expanded products range, will lead to increased sales and profit, this fiscal year.
The company closed out the calendar year, with healthy looking financials, with just under $10 billion in equity capital, borrowing of $2.3 billion, cash funds of $3.63 billion and net current assets at $5 billion.
Wisynco is an IC Insider.com BUY RATED stock with the potential to earn around $1.10 per share in 2019 and $1.55 for the next fiscal year that starts in July, with the stock price hitting at least $15 by the end of this year.  Usally reliable reports is suggesting that the company could land the distribution rights for another major local brand that would ahve a big impact on revenues and sales. The stock traded on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at the close on Friday at $10.40 for a PE of less than 10 times this year earnings compared with an average of 16 based on earnings for the market at the end of 2018.

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

Twice a year dividend for Wisynco

February 8, 2019 by

Shareholders at Wisynco 2018 AGM.

Wisynco declared a dividend of 7 cents per share payable on February 26, 2019 to shareholders on record at February 12, 2019.
The company in its report to shareholders accompanying the half results, states, that “going forward dividends will be declared semi-annually, with the first interim dividend being in January and the final dividend in July of each year.”
Wisynco reported a 36 percent rise in net profit for the December quarter to $776 million and 30 percent for the half year to $1.54 billion.

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

JSE main market drops – Thursday

February 7, 2019 by

Trading picked up over that on Wednesday on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Thursday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index falling by 1,009.17 points to 407,175.49 and the JSE Index declining by 918.47 points to 370,989.95.
Main market activity ended with, 4,986,769 units valued at $74,552,633, in contrast with 2,541,810 units valued at $57,485,785 on Wednesday.
The main and US markets traded a total of 31 securities, with prices of 13 rising, 9 declining with 9 remaining unchanged, compared to 34 securities trading on Wednesday.
JMMB Group 7.5% preference share led trading with 2,001,000 units for 40 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Jamaica Broilers with 1,531,165 shares and accounting for 21 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Wisynco Group with 589,188 stock units for 12 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 closing with lower offers.
An average of 184,695 units valued at $2,761,209, in contrast to 42,483 units valued at $1,358,497 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 523,805 units valued $16,891,062 and previously, 523,805 units valued $16,891,062. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments fell $1.52 to close at $49.48, with 5,691 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement shed 95 cents to finish at $42.05, trading 15,476 shares, Jamaica Broilers dropped $3.51 in trading of 1,531,165 units, to close at $29. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading with 35,508 units changing hands, with a rise of 45 cents to a record close of $13.95. JMMB Group concluded trading with 12,319 shares but rose 80 cents to $32.80, Kingston Wharves lost $1.10 and settled at $68.90, with 6,557 units changing hands, 138 Student Living rose 41 cents to $3.40, in trading 1,000 units, PanJam Investment rose $1 to end at $75 with 11,974 units changing hands. Sagicor Group fell by 20 cents in trading 30,407 stock units, to close at $38.55, Scotia Group climbed $2.94 and finished trading of 59,319 shares at $53.99 and Seprod lose $1.41 to end at $34.92 with an exchange of 13,581 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 10,022 units valued at US$4,728 changing hands. JMMB Group 6% preference share concluded trading with a gain of 2 cents to settle at $1.06 with 950 units, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share finished with a rise of 1 cent to $2 with 486 shares trading, JMMB Group 5.5% preference share settled ended at $2 with 486 shares and Proven Investments traded 8,100 units and rose 1 cent to close at 22 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index was unchanged at the close at 169.42.

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