I$P Finance hits a new high recently.
ISP Finance earned $40 million for 2016 or earnings per share of 46 cents based on an average of 87 million shares in issue for the year, but the audited statement reported only 32 cents based on a non-existence average of 126.5 million.
The company only issued 105 million shares hence it is not possible for the average to be greater.
The above error along with glaring errors elsewhere in the financial system at large raise the question about the investing public being adequately protected, in spite of regulators in place to do police the system?
Auditors are required to use care and due diligence in undertaking their duties to ensure that the companies they audit maintain proper records that will give a fair view of a company’s profit and financial position. Users of audited statement is not expected to see glaring errors in them. It raises questions about the quality of the audit and the management of the company as well.
Knutsford Express’ audited reports for 2014 and 2015, were filled with errors or questionable treatment of transactions, raising questions about the accuracy of the entire reports.
The earnings per share for 2014 was overstated due to inaccurate computation of the average number of shares issued in 2013, while showing earnings per share of $1.07 for 2014. The income statement erroneously stated by way of note, that “using the weighted average number of shares at end of 2015 would result in earnings being 50 cents for 2014.” Since no new share were issued in 2015 there can be no there is no need for a computation of an average and there can be no change to the earnings for 2014 if the correct average was computed for 2014 in the first place.
The report had further stated “During January 2014, the company raised additional capital of $99,862,700 from its initial public offering of 99,999,003 shares for its enlistment on the
Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market”. The company in fact issued 26 million bonus shares in 2013 while the public offering was for 20,000,000 ordinary shares, only 4,867,338 new shares were offered by the company while 15,132,662 shares existing shares were sold to the public in the IPO by shareholders. At the time the IPO, 95,132,662 ordinary shares were already issued, the average number of shares should be approximately 60 million rather than 46.8 million used to compute the 2014 EPS, which would have worked out around 83 cents.According to ISP Finance prospectus, 1n January 2007 the company was incorporated with an authorised share capital of 10,000 ordinary shares at J$1 per share. In June 2007 the company’s authorised share capital was increased to 5,000,000 ordinary shares with all being subscribed for at $1 each.
On February 11, 2016 the company’s authorised share capital was increased to 105,000,000 ordinary shares. Of the 100,000,000 ordinary share increase, 51,017,500 shares were allotted to Gencorp Limited at J$2 per each being the same price at which shares were offered in the IPO. Of the balance just over 48.98 million units were offered to the general public in the IPO.
compared to 16,207 units for an average value of $296,096 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 137,459 units and $1,313,411. On the immediate preceding trading day, the average volume and value for the month to date, were 138,835 units and $1,338,271 with the value of trading ending close to the level for February and well ahead of the averages in January of 165,547 units with an average value of $884,749. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Dolphin Cove lost $1 and ended at $18 with 40,000 shares changing hands, General Accident gained 35 cents and closed trading with 7,075 shares at $3.15, Honey Bun had 26,764 shares changing hands, rose 20 cents and closed at $7.50. I$P Finance traded 5,681 shares to end at $12.50, Jamaican Teas traded 27,505 shares to close with a fall of 24 cents at $7.75, Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 2,100 shares being exchanged, to end at $11, Lasco Distributors ended with 1,418,780 units trading at $6.70, Main Event closed with a loss of 10 cents at $4.90 with 3,400 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading had 20,100 shares changing hands, to close at $3.80. tTech traded just 1,000 units but rose $1.23 to close at $7.50 and Eppley 10% preference share traded a mere 100 units at $6.80.
The main market ended trading with an average of 106,584 units compared to an average of 1,670,779 units on Thursday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 549,909 units versus 571,020 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
NCB Financial Group gained 80 cents to close at $61.80, after exchanging 88,020 shares, Pan Jamaican gained 48 cents, closing at $35 with 24,845 shares changing hands. Sagicor Group closed at $34.10, with a 9 cent gain and trades of 507,637 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund gained 9 cents, closing at $10.59 with 66,809 shares exchanged, Salada Foods closed at $8, for a loss of $1 trading 3,560 units, Scotia Group added $1.02 to close at $39 with trades of 239,965 units, Seprod closed at $39, after adding $1 and exchanging 10,000 shares, Supreme Ventures added 9 cents, closing at $6.08 while trading 79,472 shares. Proven Investments traded 218,885 ordinary shares at 30 US cents, JMMB 7.25% preference share closed at $2 with an exchange of 92,740 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with 102 units changing owners.
Trading on the junior market fell off sharply on Thursday from Wednesday’s levels, as demand declined below the previous day leaving the market index inching up by just 1.16 points to end at 2,991.64.
On the immediate preceding trading day, the average volume and value for the month to date, were 144,675 units and $1,385,643. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Jetcon Corporation dropped $1 and closed trading with 21,970 shares being exchanged, to end at $11, Knutsford Express lost 11 cents to end at $42 with 80,146 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors ended with 22,522 units trading at $6.70, Lasco Financial fell 40 cents, with 20,000 shares changing hands, to end at $3.60, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 2,420 units changing hands at $5, after falling 5 cents, Main Event closed at $5 with 11,724 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables climbed 75 cents to $6 with 4,808 units trading and Paramount Trading had 3,100 shares changing hands, to close with a rise of 20 cents at $3.80.
Jamaica Stock Exchange traded nearly 37 million shares one day after the Stock Exchange advised Sagicor Group that their holdings exceeded the limit of 10 percent stipulated in the company’s bye laws. The group bought nearly 36 million units in early March. 
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
NCB Financial Group slid 90 cents to close at $61, after exchanging 12,137 shares, 138 Student Living traded 60,146 shares at $4.50, Pan Jamaican gained 2 cents, closing at $34.52 while trading 5,240 shares. Pulse Investments traded 1,150 shares at $8.40, Sagicor Group closed at $34.01 with trades of 118,881 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 5 cents, closing at $10.50 with 13,000 shares, Salada Foods closed at $9 trading 23,000 units, Scotia Group closed 77 cents lower to $37.98 with trades of 47,148 units, Scotia Investments traded at $39.50 with a mere 194 units changing hands, Seprod exchanged 7,245 shares at $38, Supreme Ventures lost 1 cent to close at $5.99 trading 27,155 shares. Proven fell 0.95 cent and closed at 30 US cents, with an exchange of 4,000 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with trades of 1,327,000 units.
The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Jamaican Teas rose 74 cents in trading 9,259 shares to close at $7.99, Jetcon Corporation gained 15 cents and closed trading with 27,870 shares being exchanged, to end at $12, Knutsford Express rose 11 cents to end at $42.11 with 424 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors added 10 cents and ended with 50,572 units trading at $6.70, Lasco Financial regained the 50 cents lost on Tuesday, with 18,201 shares changing hands, to end at $4, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 146,851 units changing hands at $5.05, after rising 26 cents, Main Event closed at $5 with 385,051 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading had 15,136 shares changing hands, to close with a loss of 5 cents at $3.60 and tTech ended with 7,000 units changing hands at $6.27.
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with moderate gains in the indices at the close on Wednesday as 22 securities changed hands with 1 trading in the US dollar market. A total of 10 stocks advanced and 7 declined in the two markets.
The average volume for the month to date ended at 108,879 units versus 136,817 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Mayberry Investments closed 5 cents higher to $4.65 with trades of 18,436 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $61.90, after exchanging 70,854 shares, Pan Jamaican lost 50 cents, closing at $34.50 trading 35,938 shares. Radio Jamaica traded 80,000 shares at $1.90, Sagicor Group gained 51 cents to close at $34.01 with trades of 703,794 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund closed at $10.55 with gains of 5 cents and 2,422 shares being exchanged, Scotia Group added 74 cents, closing at $38.75 trading 36,800 units, Scotia Investments traded 50 cents lower to $39.50 with 50,000 units changing hands, Seprod exchanged 152 shares at $38, Supreme Ventures lost 35 cents to close at $6 trading 340,569 shares. Proven closed at 30.95 US cents, gaining 0.95 cent with an exchange of 89,820 ordinary shares, JMMB 7.25% preference share rose 2 cents in trading 56,000 units at $2.41, JMMB 7.5% preference share exchanged 27,810 units at $2, and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with trades of 1,041,520 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
1834 Investments closed at $1.50, losing 10 cents trading 24,112 units, Palace traded 900 units at $200, Pan Jamaican closed at $35, with a loss of 1 cent trading 59,159 shares. Pulse Investments closed at $8.40, losing 5 cents with an exchange of 2,654 units, Radio Jamaica gained 30 cents to close at $1.90 exchanging 30,300 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $33.50 trading 151,851 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 6 cents to close at $10.50 with 184,285 shares traded, Scotia Group was down 99 cents, to close at $38.01, with 513,417 units exchanged, Scotia Investments traded $1.95 higher to $40 with a mere 1,000 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures advanced 35 cents to $6.35 trading 4,710 shares. Proven closed at 30 US cents, gaining 1 cent with an exchange of 375,830 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent to close at $1.08 with trades of 2,730,333 units.
Trading ended with 5 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 ended with lower offers, than the last sale.
Jetcon Corporation lost 15 cents and closed trading with 62,090 shares being exchanged, to end at $11.85, Key Insurance lost 51 cents to end at $2.99 with 1,000 shares changing hands, KLE Group ended at $3.05 with 145,856 shares changing hands after rising by 25 cents, Lasco Distributors lost 40 cents and ended with 1,014,970 units trading at $6.60, Lasco Financial lost 50 cents with 209,152 shares changing hands, to end at $3.50, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 1,403,493 units changing hands at $4.79, after losing 21 cents, Main Event gained 1 cents and closed at $5 with 31,565 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables lost 75 cents in trading 27,800 shares to close at $5.25, Paramount Trading had 17,000 shares changing hands, to close with a loss of 15 cents at $3.65 and tTech fell 48 cents and ended with 118,000 units changing hands at $6.27.
Lasco Distributors lost 30 cents and ended with 216,050 units trading at $7, Lasco Financial rose 30 cents with 16,016 shares changing hands, to end at $4, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 227,140 units changing hands at $5, after losing 8 cents, Main Event gained 48 cents and closed at $4.99 with 27,861 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 4,229, shares to close at $6, Paramount Trading had 13,132 shares changing hands, to close with a rise of 10 cents at $3.80, tTech fell 26 cents and ended with 15,000 units changing hands at $6.75. Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 3,970 units changing hands at $2, Eppley 10% preference share closed trading with 150 units at $6 and Eppley 8.25% preference share closed trading with 7,900 units at $6.
