Allegheny Petroleum and junior market listed company, Paramount Trading joined forces to establish their jointly owned lubricant plant to be housed at 39 Waltham Park Road the same site as Paramount other operating facility.
The plant for which ground was broken in July, is expected to replace imports amounting to approximately US$4 million now being supplied directly by Allegheny Petroleum, according to Hugh Graham, Managing director of Paramount.
Establishing operations in Jamaica, adds more value and will allow for a greater customer reach and create greater margins than that which applies to imports. The initial investment is US$4 million and includes the warehouse, equipment, software and lab testing equipment. The venture will have the capability to test lubricants in use for customers in Jamaica rather having to send samples overseas for testing. There are plans to expand product range in the future and provide products for exports. The plant is expected to start production in January next, Graham confirmed with IC Insider.
According to Graham in 2012, when they listed on the junior market, Paramount had 36 workers and now has 76 employees and the number will increase to 100 employees, with the latest expansion.
The ground breaking ceremony was addressed by Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, who indicated that this venture vindicated the decision of the government to provide the tax incentive for the junior market as well as the economic policies being pursued that is geared to encourage more production of goods in Jamaica as opposed to relying on direct imports.
Robin Levy, assistant general manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange indicated that the company has done well since it has listed and said “since listing in 2012 the company has gone on record higher revenues and tripled profit with the stock price rising from $2.45 to just under $11.” Since the ground breaking, the stock traded at $11.50 and now has a bid at $12.
In the year to May, the company posted an 18.5 percent increase in profit, to reach $173 million, from sales revenues of $1.02 billion with other income accounting for $39 million for the year, up from $869 million versus $16 million in 2015, respectively. Administrative, selling & distribution cost rose sharply by 34 percent to $181 million as the wage bill and rental expenses grew appreciably.
While profit grew in the year, segment results show mix out turn for each division. For 2016, Chemicals grew revenues by 12 percent and gross profit by 19 percent over 2015, for Construction and Adhesives, for the same periods, revenues grew by 59 percent and gross profit by just 6 percent. Manufacturing sales fell by 16 percent with profits remaining unchanged, while Transport enjoyed a 16 percent growth in sales leading to a 61 percent rise in profit and Lubricants sales climbed 403 percent with profits jumping 127 percent. Graham indicated to IC Insider that the fall in manufacturing sales is due to a customer reorganising their business. The data suggests that the new lubricant plant is likely to be the area of growth for Paramount.
In 2015, Graham indicated that a rights issue was likely, asked about that source of funding for the expansion, Graham stated “I can’t talk about that now,” he however, stated that “some other revenue announcement should be made soon.”
Expansion for Paramount
August 15, 2016 by
Sagicor Group flat Q2 profit
August 15, 2016 by
Sagicor Group HQ – the stock closed at $21.45 on Friday.
Total Comprehensive Income jumped sharply in the quarter to $5.7 billion from $1.9 billion at June 2015 and for the six months it stood at an impressive $8 billion versus $3 billion in 2015.
Expenses climbed 13 percent to $12.28 billion including administrative cost that rose 16.4 percent to $3.88 billion. Segment results show mixed fortunes, with Individual Lines slipping 9 percent to $800 million, down from $875 million, Employee Benefits jumped sharply by 49 percent to $1.87 billion, while Investment Banking grew by 6 percent, to $850 million. Commercial Banking fell 28 percent or $228 million to $585 million as write down of tax recoverable, took $250 million out of profits, in 2015 the group indicated that results for this segment was boosted by higher than expected recoveries on delinquent loans. Other segment jumped $220 million or 148 percent to $368 million while the company share of Sagicor Real Estate Fund contributed $153 million in the quarter and $329 million for the six months against no earnings in 2015.
Sagicor’s main focus is on the sale of personal insurance related products and banking, its success will be its ability to manage funds it receives and use in investment.
The group reported earnings of $2.51 for 2015 and with the performance this year to June, full year earnings should end up around $2.90, suggesting the stock should rise in the months ahead with the PE ratio at 7 times 2016 earnings versus an average of 9 for the main market. The stock last traded on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $21.45.
At the end of June, equity attributable to stockholders climbed to $51.69 billion up from $46.57 billion, while total assets climbed 7.3 percent to $322.4 billion from $300.4 billion at the end of December 2015.
Outlook – “Our Group continued to produce good results in all areas. We are seeing the benefits of our business growth, digital and service-oriented strategies. We expect the second half year to be even better than the first,” Chairman, Danny Williams and CEO, Richard Byles, told shareholders, in the report of directors accompanying the financials.
Sagicor paid an interim dividend of $2.58 billion to stockholders or 66 cents per share, in April this year which is 69 percent higher than the $1.52 billion or 39 cents per share for the similar period in 2015. A second dividend is expected before the end of 2016. An interim dividend of 34 cents per share was paid to shareholders in November 2015.
Scotia drops to $26.50 on JSE – Friday
August 12, 2016 by
Scotia Group dropped $2.95 to close at $27.10 on Friday.
The highlight for the day was a decline in Scotia Group that decline as low as $26.50 after trading as high as $30.50 earlier in the day and a new closing high For Grace Kennedy at $46.50.
Trading closed with a volume of 8,091,772 units valued at $189,128,218 changing hands, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 1,111,273 units traded, valued at $85,439,536 of all trades.
The JSE Market Index slipped by 47.45 points to end at 160,085.33, the all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 53.06 points to close at 177,865.70 and the JSE combined index gained 241.72 points, to end at 171,437.37.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Barita Investments gained 30 cents and ended trading with 10,000 units, to close at $3, Berger Paints climbed 25 cents in trading 6,200 units, to close at $4.80. Cable & Wireless traded 3,489,351 shares but lost 15 cents to close at $1.15, after the company posted a higher loss, in the first quarter to June, compared with the 2015 quarter. Caribbean Cement jumped $1.99 and traded 40,612 shares to close at $27.99. Carreras climbed $1.27, in trading 4,658 shares to end at $66.27, the price of 1834 Investments fell 1 cent, in trading 11,417 shares, to end at $1.35, Grace Kennedy jump $3.50 and ended at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $46.50 with 1,444,035 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers gained 54 cents in trading 80,032 shares to end at $15.54, Jamaica Producers gained 1 cent to close at $8.20 with 34,372 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 50 cents with 107,756 units changing hands to close at $21.50, JMMB Group traded 4,701 units and rose 1 cent to end at $9.86. Mayberry Investments ended with 8,863 shares trading to close at $3.95 for a gain of 35 cents,
National Commercial Bank had 319,018 units changing hands, to close at $42 after falling 2 cents. Pan Jamaican Investments lost 20 cents and closed at $25.30 after trading 4,659 shares, Radio Jamaica rose 1 cent to close at $1.57 after 2,321 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group rose 45 cents with 45,612 shares changing hands at $21.45, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 15,000 shares but fell 22 cents to close at $10. Scotia Group traded 356,705 shares to end at $27.10 after dropping sharply by $2.95, Supreme Ventures loss 10 cents to $4.80 with 174,506 shares changing hands, JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 780,800 units at $1.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 22,063 units at $2.40.
C&W dominates JSE trading – Friday
August 12, 2016 by
Cable & Wireless has traded 3.44 million units in the early morning session of the Jamaica Stock Exchange 
in response to the company’s first quarter results with a rise of 11 percent in revenues but a slippage in net profit as outpayments, depreciation and interest cost rose thus negating the improved revenues. The stock traded between $1.20 and $1.30 so far.
Lasco Distributors was the next largest trade after C&W with 577,869 units at $7.15 followed by JMMB Group 7.50% preference share with 300,000 units and Grace Kennedy with 119,225 units trading at $44.01. The major market indices all rose in the main and junior markets, with 12 stocks gaining versus 10 that fell.
At 10:45 am 30 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 5,015,512 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 167,184 units compared to 246,145 units on Thursday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 686.22 points to 178,604.98 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 613.60 points to 160,746.38 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index climbed 823.73 points to close at 172,019.38 points and the junior market index rose 20.94 points to 2,229.56.
Trading picks up on JSE – Thursday
August 11, 2016 by
Grace Kennedy shares ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Trading closed with a volume of 16,218,913 units valued at $102,627,645 changing hands, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 10,281,786 units traded, valued at $56,990,702 of all trades.
The JSE Market Index moved up 262.45 points to end at 160,132.78, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 293.50 points to close at 177,918.76 and the JSE combined index gained 153.96 points, to end at 171,195.65.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.At the end of market activities, Barita Investments regained 15 cents and ended with 253,650 units traded, to close at $2.70, Berger Paints fell 1 cent and ended with 71,099 units traded, to close at $4.55, Cable & Wireless traded 242,363 shares to close at $1.30, Caribbean Cement traded 40,674 shares to close at $26. Carreras lost $1, in exchanging 519 shares to end at $65. The price of 1834 Investments rose 1 cent, in trading 118,820 shares, to end at $1.36, Grace Kennedy rose $1.33 and ended at a new 52 weeks’ high of $43 with 309,186 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers traded 14,851 shares to end at $15, Jamaica Producers gained 59 cents to close at $8.19 with 29,843 units trading. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1.50 with 12,310 units changing hands at the closed, at $22, JMMB Group traded 510,704 units and fell 5 cents to end at $9.85, Mayberry Investments ended with 298,808 shares trading to close at $3.60 for a fall of 40 cents, National Commercial Bank had 59,409 units changing hands, to close at $42.02 after gaining 2 cents.
138 Student Living ordinary share traded at $4.60 while 10,450 shares changed hands with a rise of 1 cent, Portland JSX traded 12,050 units at $12, Radio Jamaica lost 9 cents to close at $1.56 after 320,389 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group lost 25 cents with 23,472 shares changing hands at $21. Scotia Group traded 278,313 shares to end at $30.02 after rising by 3 cents. Seprod jumped $1.85 while trading 11,253 shares to close at $19, Sterling Investments ended trading 395,000 units to close at $13 after rising by 49 cents, Supreme Ventures gained 10 cents to $4.90 with 72,500 shares changing hands and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 2,842,800 units at $1.10.
Flat results, increased profit at tTech
August 11, 2016 by
tTech closed at $4.50 on Thursday.
Profit after tax, is up to $16 million from $12.4 million for the six months and $9.2 million versus $7.6 million in 2015, but for tax expense saved in 2016, profit for the year to date would be flat. Profit for 2015 was subject to $1.4 million in taxes and for the six months, $3 million. A sharp rise in operating expenses due to a 50 percent rise in staffing, pushed the spend by 54 percent to $50 million for the quarter and 36.4 percent to $91 million for the half year.
Earnings per share ended at 9 cents for the quarter and 15 cents for the half year and should end up around the 35 to 40 cents range for the full year based on the results to date. The strong revenue gain is a signal for growth going forward for the company.
Management stated that “the increase in revenue was due to growth in all areas of our services including the Consulting Division. Increase in expenses was driven primarily by increases in our workforce to increase capacity to meet the growth in demand. At June 30, 2016 the company had 31 full-time employees compared to 21 at the same date in 2015.”
From Left: Mr. Hugh Allen, Resolution Manager and Executive Director; Mrs. Natalya Petrekin, Service Desk
opportunities for automation will be explored to facilitate increased efficiencies and improved service delivery.”
The company ended with cash and investments amounting to $115 million at June, up from $67 million at the end of December last year with net current assets ending at $130 million with payables at $34 million, while shareholders’ equity is at $146 million.
The stock traded as high as $5 on the JSE junior market today but fell back before the close to $4.50 for a PE of just over 11 times projected 2016 earnings. For investors will the strong growth continue and deliver increasing profit for them to buy and hold at these prices for long term gains.
Volume up sharply on JSE – Thursday
August 11, 2016 by
The Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground in early Thursday morning trading with a number of stocks trading high volumes. Leading with volume are Lasco 
Manufacturing that traded 4,046,000 units at $5, Medical Disposables with 157,858 units at $3.50. Barita Investments traded 213,650 down to $2.50, Grace Kennedy had 303,578 shares trading at $41.68, Sterling Investments traded 395,000 units at $13 and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 2,842,800 units at $1.10.
The market indices all fell in the main but inched up for junior markets, with 14 stocks gaining versus 11 that fell.
The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 690.47 points to 176,934.79 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index dropped 617.40 points to 159,252.93 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 538.03 points to close at 170,503.66 points and the junior market index rose 3.37 points to 2,220.72.
At 11 am 23 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 8,615,067 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 246,145 units compared to 29,387 units on Wednesday.
JSE stocks close down – Wednesday
August 10, 2016 by
Barita fell 23% to $2.55 on Wednesday.
The market closed with a volume of 6,620,191 units valued at $189,128,218 changing hands, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 496,276 units traded, valued at $3,940,720 of all trades.
The JSE Market Index fell 857.54 points to end at 159,870.33, the all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 959.02 points to close at 177,625.26 and the JSE combined index declined by 577.97 points, to end at 171,041.69.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.At the end of market activities, Barita Investments dropped 75 cents and ended with 260,923 units traded, to close at $2.55, but the bid is at $2.70 to buy 50,000 units at the close. Cable & Wireless rose 4 cents in trading just 58,240 shares to close at $1.30, Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents in trading 28,605 shares to close at $26. Carreras lost 45 cents, in exchanging 11,755 shares to end at $66, Grace Kennedy closed at $41.67 with 104,170 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers traded 30,190 shares to end 1 cent higher at $15. Kingston Wharves lost 45 cents with 6,500 units changing hands and closed at $15.55, Mayberry Investments ended with 37,620 shares trading to close at $4 for a rise of 77 cents, National Commercial Bank had 2,001,602 units changing hands, to close at $42.
Pan Jamaican traded 4,440 shares to end at $25.50, Radio Jamaica gained 5 cents to close at $1.65 after 20,800 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group rose 15 cents with 5,521 shares changing hands at $20.75, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 28 cents in trading 325,920 shares to close at $10.22. Scotia Group traded 2,909,713 shares to end at $30.02 after falling by 88 cents, Scotia Investments declined by 50 cents with 62,232 units changing hands at $26, Seprod traded 14,954 shares to gain 5 cents and close at $17.15, Supreme Ventures fell 30 cents to $4.80 with 42,771 shares changing hands. Proven Investments ended trading only 111 units to close at 15.10 US cents, down from 19.96 US cents and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 184,000 units at $1.10.
Prices mostly down on JSE – Wednesday
August 10, 2016 by
The Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground in early Wednesday morning trading as stocks traded mostly 
in low volumes, but Barita Investments traded 260,923 units but fell 75 cents to trade at $2.55.
Scotia Group had 143,139 shares changing hands but the price fell back to $30.10 from yesterday’s close of $30.90, Grace Kennedy with its 3 for 1 stock split has traded 52,754 units at yesterday’s close of $41.67, but has more than 250,000 units on offer at the current traded price bids are at $41.50.
The market indices all fell in the main and junior markets, with 6 stocks gaining versus 9 that fell.
The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 236.95 points to 178,347.33 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index declined by 211.88 points to 160,515.99 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 397.21 points to close at 171,222.45 points and the junior market index dropped 19.56 points to 2,176.59.
At 10:45 am 23 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 675,902 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 29,387 units compared to 25,083 units on Tuesday.
Mitchell packs in CFF chair for FSC
The question still arises though and it has to do with a matter where an investor has complained to the FSC about certain matters pertaining to CFF and its shareholdings and treatment pertaining to control of CFF by Derrimon Trading. How will the FSC handle this matter, to ensure that no one accuses it of an unfair ruling.
Back in 2008, I was approached to sit on the board of Financial Services Commission, it did not take me long to turn it down as I saw the potential for conflict. I was recently talking to two senior brokers and the issue of my recent appointment to the FSC came up. I advised them that I was not a member due to conflicts. But they indicated that they were of that view too and wondered why I was listed as a member, they never indicated if they accepted what I said but we never went much further with the issue. Suffice to say, that is indicated once I understood that I was to be appointed that is could not accept same, due to possible conflicts.
I was concerned about the late Emile George being chairman of a number of listed company boards and also chairman of the FSC. I wrote about it hoping that good sense would prevail but that was never the case.
I am aware that the issue of conflict or perceived conflict has been raised about the present FSC chair. I now note that Howard Mitchell has advised the Jamaica Stock Exchange that he resigned from the Board of Directors and as Chairman effective August 11, 2016 of Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances Limited (CFF) because of his appointment as Chairman of the Financial Services Commission and the possibility for there to be perceived a conflict of interest.
As a country we need to move to a place where such appointments should be seriously consider by both those who proposed and those of us who are asked to serve and so ensure a higher standard of governance.