Lascelles Chin

Profit climbs at Lasco Manufacturing

November 6, 2022 by IC Insider.com

Profit rose 23 percent at Lasco Manufacturing for the three months to September to $469 million from $380 million in 2021 and 13 percent from $782 million in the six months to September 2021 to $883 million in 2022.
Gross profit margin fell in the first quarter to just 34 percent but rebounded to 37 percent in the second quarter to September this year, similar to what obtained in 2021 and brought the year to date margin to 36 percent compared to 37 percent the previous year, suggesting the company has now restored the margins to 2020 levels.
Revenues rose 22.6 percent in the quarter to $2.87 billion from $2.33 billion in 2021 and up 17.5 percent for the six months to $5.47 billion from $4.66 billion. Gross profit rose 18.4 percent to $1.07 billion in the quarter, from $870 million in 2021 and climbed 15.3 percent to $1.97 billion for the six months compared to $1.71 billion in 2021.
Operating expenses rose 18.5 percent to $378 million in the 2022 September quarter versus $319 million in the comparable quarter in 2021. They increased 10.75 percent to $690 million for the six months to September 2022 versus $623 million last year.
Finance cost fell to $7 million in the September quarter versus $13 million in the three months in 2021 and $15 million to the half year to September versus $29 million in the prior year, with taxation jumping to $210 million in the quarter versus $173 million in 2021 and to $361 million in the half year to September 2022 versus $327 million last year.

Some of Lasco’s products

Cash Flow generated inflows of $1.38 billion to September. Dividend absorbed $413 million and loan repayment $109 million while working capital took up $720 and $436 million went into short term investments and purchase of fixed assets, resulting in net outflows of $312 million.
Shareholders’ equity of $9.9 billion, up from $8.4 billion at the end of 2021. Long term borrowing is down to just $48 million, with the current portion due to be repaid over the next twelve months being $207 million, other current liabilities amount to $1.5 billion, leading to net existing assets of $5.8 billion after taking into account current assets of $7.5 billion that includes cash and equivalent of $2.9 billion.
Earnings per share was 11 cents for the quarter and 21 cents for the half year, with ICInsider.com projecting 60 cents for the entire year, giving it a PE of 6.5 at the stock price of $3.85 it closed at on Friday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and earnings of 80 cents per shares for the fiscal year 2024 that could see the stock hitting $15 by then.
According to executive chairman Lascelles Chin, the outlook is that they “remain cautiously optimistic for continued growth in the forthcoming quarters as we have seen an easing of supply chain bottlenecks and material cost inflation seems to have stabilized. With the ongoing geopolitical conflict in Europe, headwinds are, however, possible. Whatever may arise, we will remain focused and proactive in executing our business plan to deliver growth and margin progression.”

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Emerging markets, IC Insider BUY RATED, Jamaica Stock Exchange, junior market, Lascelles Chin, Lasco Manufacturing

Mayberry takes 20% of Lasco Financial

May 26, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Mayberry buys 20% of Lasco Financial Services on Tuesday.

Mayberry Investments bought 244,505,426 shares in Lasco Investments over the stock exchange floor today to be the dominant trade on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Lascelles Chin was the major seller with 218,797,608 units, leaving approximately 160 million units directly in his name.
Joel Izquierrdo Gonzalez who had 14,515,000 shares seems to have disposed of his holdings as well, Mayberry crossed another 10 million units to cement the major part of the trade for the day. Chin confirmed the sale and indicated that Mayberry now has 20 percent and it’s a win, win proposition for both entities. Lasco Financial has 1,228,102,990 Ordinary shares of no par value that are issued. Lasco just reported full year reulsts with profit of $189.5 million just up from $178.2 million in 2014, the company reported just $10 million profit in the last quarter to March versus $41 million in the same period in 2014.Mayberry previously owned around 39 percent of Access Financial Services which they divested last year for approximately $1 billion. Some of the funds are being invested in this and other entities. It could well be that Mayberry will eventually buy more shares in the company.
Elsewhere in trading pick on the Junior Market with 11 securities trading, and ended with 245,363,622 units changing hands valued at $315,546,759. The JSE Junior Market Index declined 21.64 points to close at 856.43, with the price of 2 stocks advancing and 6 declining.
At the close of the market, there were only 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 9 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Access Financial Services ending

with 61,836 shares changing hands 10 cents lower at $17, Blue Power closed with 1,700 shares trading at $9.50, in losing 30 cents. Caribbean Cream finished with 81,200 units with a loss of 11 cents at $1.08, Caribbean Producers with 51,724 shares trading, was unchanged at $3, General Accident Insurance concluded trading with 187,684 shares changing hands to close 7 cents lower at $2. Honey Bun finished trading with just 500 shares to close 11 cents higher, at $2.62, Knutsford Express Services ended with 3,437 shares unchanged at $6. Lasco Distributors traded 289,032 shares, 15 cents lower, at $1.55, Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 244508476 units in total between $1.28 and $1.45 to settle at $1.30, there were 170,033 shares of Lasco Manufacturing traded to close lower by 5 cent at $1.25 and 8,000 Paramount Trading shares traded at $3.80 for a 4 cents gain.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Blue Power, Caribbean Producers, General Accident Insurance, Honey Bun, Knutsford Express, Lascelles Chin, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Financial Services, Lasco Manufacturing, Paramount Trading

Eileen Chin resigns from Lasco

March 5, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Eileen Chin has resigned as the Managing Director of LASM with effect from March 2, 2015 a release from LASCO Manufacturing Limited (LASM) announced.
The company advised that Robert Parkins has been employed with effect from March 3, 2015 as the General Manager of the company with responsibility for the day to day operations, reporting directly to the Executive Chairman. The resignation appears sudden has there was no prior notification of her intention to step down from the position she had held for several years.
Lascelles Chin, Executive Chairman informed IC Insider that Eileen Chin was taking a break from the operations but will be back before long. The company has been on a long period of expansion of the plant, costing more than $3 billion. Last year the liquid plant started the production of water and juices. The plant for powdered products is to be operational in 2015.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Company News, General Business News Tagged With: Eileen chin, Lascelles Chin, Lasco Manufacturing

Lasco Distributors disappoints, major expansion coming

August 5, 2014 by IC Insider.com

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Lasco Distributors reported disappointing results for the first quarter, for the 2015 financial year to June, with revenues crawling up 4 percent to $2.4 billion and profit dropping 45 percent to $91 million from $164 million in 2013.
Lascelles Chin Chairman of the company however, indicated to IC Insider that the company will be embarking on a major expansion which will include increased warehouse space to accommodate distribution of new products. Chin indicated that “the funds from winning the legal case against Pfizer Limited, will play an important role in funding the expansion”. The proceeds is expected to exceed well over J$1 billion. Already “Lasco have acquired a warehouse at a reduced price to what it originally cost to be assembled in Jamaica” Chin Indicated.
This June quarter performance is after the company took on the Salada Foods distribution. Margins on goods sold declined badly to 22.67 percent from 25 percent, while operating cost climbed by 20 percent from $302 million to $361 million. Earnings per share came in at 0.27 cents versus 0.49 cents in 2013.
“We planned for increased staff strength and marketing activities in preparation for pending new product rollouts. The current business environment with a devaluing dollar impacts the trade as there are continuous increases in prices and lower consumer spending power. The company continues to deploy measures to mitigate effects of the volatile market conditions and at the same time maintain its market positioning to provide overall value for consumers.
We continue to build our core portfolio and have several new products in the pipeline to ensure long term growth and profitability,” Peter M. Chin, Managing Director reported to shareholders.
Chin went on to state “total assets grew by 30 percent to $4.288 billion compared to $3.308 billion in the corresponding period last year. Property, plant and equipment grew by 59.7 percent to $313 million. This is primarily due to increased capacity and improvements in work flow processes in the distribution centres in preparation for new product launches.
Inventories increased by $331 million to $1.31 billion and this is mainly due additional inventory from new business agreements. Short Term Deposits increased by $80 million to $552 million and Cash and Bank Balances decreased to $285 million from $496 million. Trade and Other Receivables was at $1.598 billion, an increase of $400 million over the prior year. We continued with the arrangements to extend credit terms to our key institutions. There was also a related increase in Trade and Other Payables, an increase of $570 million to $1.76 billion.”
The company may have had a bad quarter but with plans for expansion and new products to be launched investors may want to be taking a look at the stock now that it’s been hit down to a low level with a view of benefitting when the profits rebound with additional sales to come from new products.