TCL

TCL older owners screwed as profit rise

November 2, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Trinidad Cement achieved a 135 percent jump in profit after tax due to shareholders for the quarter to September, but the data showed that the most of the minority shareholders have suffered a massive dilution in their earnings.
The company reports $74 million for the 2015 third quarter, compared with $30 million for the same period last year, year to date profit after tax leapt 558 percent to $395 million above the $60 million reported for similar period for 2014. All shareholders get 16 cents per share for the September quarter for each share they hold, the year to date results show them entitled to $1.18 or 7.65 times the September quarters’ earnings. The year to date profit is 6.8 times the prior year’s nine months figure, a difference of 12.5 percent.
The company through a rights issue increased the share capital which diluted the earnings per share. Instead of increased earnings after the company’s debt was restructured, leading to lower debt servicing cost, the majority of shareholders will see lower earnings per share going forward even as the company prevented some shareholders from participating in the issue and withheld pertinent information from most shareholders. As a result the earning per share for 2016 is likely to be no more than 70 cents compared to 96 cents in 2015 from continuing operations, even as profit is likely to rise.
Earnings per share from continuing operations amount to 15.5 cents for the quarter and $1.186 for the nine months. Full year earnings should end up around $1.40 but this includes approximately 44 cents relating to the one off restructuring credit, thus reducing the ongoing earnings to 96 cents per share.

Caribbean Cement factory- majority controlled by TCL

Revenue in third quarter 2015 rose 7 percent to $550 million compared to $514 million in third quarter 2014, due mainly to a 13 percent increase in cement sales volume in the domestic markets and higher clinker export sales. For the nine months sales revenue amount to $1.64 billion versus $1.59 billion in 2014.
“This performance was largely driven by higher domestic sales volumes, and lower fuel and electricity costs at CCCL and ACCL” Wilfred Espinet Group Chairman and Nigel Edwards, a Director of the company told shareholders in a statement accompanying the interim financials. The company enjoyed a $206 million credit which is reflected mainly in the year to date results for 2015 as a result of restructuring the heavy debt in had incurred previously.
Finance cost for third quarter was $12.5 million lower than third quarter 2014 and ended at $35 million due both to the reduced interest rates from the new loans and a reduction of the principal loan balance from US$245 million to US$200 million. For the year to date finance cost fell to $145 million compared to $214 million in 2014.
Cash flow from operations amounts to $65 million I the quarter and $677 million of the nine months leading to cash at the end of the period at $302 million. The working capital moved to $340 million with current assets of $978 million and current liabilities of $633 million at the end of September. Non-current liabilities stand at $1.4 billion and equity at $1 billion.
The company shares are listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE), it manufactures and distributes cement in the eastern Caribbean and Jamaica. The stock last traded at $3.50 on the TTSE on Friday October 30.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: TCL, Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange

Something stinks in Trinidad

June 25, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Something stinks in the land of calypso and it has nothing to do with football. Trinidad Cement offered rights to purchase shares in the company early this year but only some shareholders were invited. No one has done anything about this stinking thing. One investors in the twin island state made a stink about the issue but not really about the salient point.
They are of the view that with Cemex controlling a large block of the shares by way of the rights issue made it tantamount to a takeover, hence they ought to have made an offer to the other shareholders to buy their shares. With officially less than 50 percent of the shareholdings that seems a bit farfetched.
What is of far greater import are two issues that go to the heart of good corporate governance, equitable treatment of shareholders and proper disclosure. The first issue is that all shareholders were not treated equally as is the norm for all holders of the same class of shares.
TCL directors found it convenient to deprive shareholders who reside overseas except for a select few from participating in the offer. It is interesting that when Guardian Holdings had a rights issue it was open to all shareholders whether residing in Trinidad or not. TCL had lots of time to have prepared themselves and others for the rights.
“TCL has advised that at a meeting of the Board of Directors of TCL held on Thursday, February 26, 2015, the board confirmed a decision to offer the shares in the Rights Issue of 124,882,568 new shares in Trinidad and Tobago only, and to exclude all other jurisdictions in which TCL`s shares are listed – including Jamaica. This decision was based on the following: (1) The complexities involved in satisfying the requirements of the various regulatory bodies in all jurisdictions in which the Company is listed and its effects on the stringent timeframe for the Rights Issue, especially having regard to the fact that the condition imposed by TCL`s Lenders; and (2) the de minimis shareholding and trading activity in the other jurisdictions (including Jamaica).”
The second and even more serious concern has to do with disclosure or lack of it. One would hardly be regarded as foolish as to think that the deal was hatched to get Cemex controlling interest by the back door.
First overseas based shareholders were excluded from the issue, no shareholder was allowed to subscribe to more than their allotment and the scheme provided for Cemex to have their required holding whether the rights was successful or not by the agreement to issue added shares if the amounts from the rights did not allow them at least 35 percent ownership.
The offer document stated “If Sierra Trading has not achieved a shareholding in TCL of 35%, then subject to receiving all required approvals, including Shareholder approval, a private placement of TCL shares will be issued in favour of Sierra Trading in an amount that will permit Sierra Trading to achieve a shareholding of 35% of TCL’s outstanding shares”

Carib Cement a subsidiary of TCL

The grave error is that the company withheld important and extremely relevant information from shareholders. In fact they got noted auditors to issue report that is questionable in one critical area for what it did not disclose that was a part of the offer document. Why did PriceWaterhouse (PW) signed off on it and leaving out one of the most critical bit of information on the profit in 2015 and thus giving great validity to the numbers is a mystery? The information would have led any reasonable reviewer to the conclusion that the group made no profit for the March quarter, the hiding of this critical information is very unfortunate. If TCL who would have been in a good position to know what the profit for the quarter was likely to be had disclose same to investors many more would probably have taken a more positive view of the company as the numbers showed a vastly better picture than was released to the investing public.
According to the offer document TCL made no profit between December and March this year and this was critically false information. Yet the company posted a huge improvement in profit in the March quarter. That is odd, so hear what PW said in their report about the financial position and forecast prepared by management of TCL. Extract from the PW report states, ”in our opinion the projection has been properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions set out in note 1 and the basis of accounting used is consistent with the accounting policies of the group.” It goes on to suggest that actual results may vary materially from forecast. That is fine for projection somewhere down the road but can’t be good for information that has already been known.
Retained earnings at December 2014 is included in the balance sheet at $64.257 million and the same figure of $64.257 million on April 1, 2015, the conclusion here is that there was no profit nor loss in the quarter and if so many would consider the price of $2.90 too high. On April 23 the TCL directors signed off on the first quarter results showing a big jump in profit to $43 million up from $11 million in 2014. Was all the profit made in March alone ahead of the rights issue document and if not, why was it not disclosed in the report? Certainly for the months or the period that they had information investors should have been provided with it and with some guidance for the rest of the months for the quarter and for the full year as well. The numbers for the quarter puts full year’s earnings around 64 cents without any savings from debt restructuring that makes the $2.90 rights issue price extremely cheap, few would have known what the numbers were likely to be based on the silence of the company’s “dumb” directors.
Why hasn’t the FSC of Trinidad and the stock exchanges on which the stock is listed not taken up the matter in the interest of the investing public? Caribbean investors deserve far better treatment than this shabby approach.

Filed Under: Company News, Feature Stories, General Business News Tagged With: Jamaica Stock Exchange, Sierra Trading, TCL, Trinidad Cement, TTSE

TCL likely to lose shareholder’s battle

December 13, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) has been in a battle with some local shareholders who want representation on the company’s board of directors. This group of minority shareholders requested that the annual general meeting (AGM), which should have been held on Friday, July 12, 2013, to be put off pending a court hearing as to whether a resolution to nominate them should be put on the agenda for consideration.

The request by the minority shareholders to seek to nominate directors and have their names included as such on the notice calling the annual general meeting is reasonable, but that would have to be done ahead of the notice period, which is usually 21 days ahead of the meeting. Information from the Guardian suggest that the company was formally informed of the request well ahead of the deadline date and the shareholders seem well within their right to prevent the AGM from going ahead. In all probability, the minority shareholders will win their initial battle with the company but it’s left to be seen if they will succeed at the AGM which now seems likely to be held in 2014 instead.

TCL latest advisory | TCL has just advised that, further to its Notice to Shareholders and Employees dated October 22, 2013 in relation to TCL v. Wilnet Holdings Limited & Ors., the injunction, which restricted TCL from holding its 2012 Annual Meeting, was upheld by the Court of Appeal on November 20, 2013. The Case Management Conference for the substantive matter was held on December 2, 2013 and has been put to January 20, 2014 for directions.

Prior to this latest release, Trinidad Cement stated in a June release to the T&T Stock Exchange that “On 14th June, 2013 TCL received a Shareholders’ Proposal from a group of eleven shareholders holding 5.68% of TCL, and includes Wilnet Holdings Limited, Stephen Espinet, MASA Investments Limited, Brimont Limited, Kamal Ali, Alescon Readymix Limited, Bourne Investment Inc., Tatil Life Assurance Limited, Nicholas Development Limited, Helen Bhagwansingh and Issa Nicholas Holdings.”

The matter went to court and was put off for hearing to Friday, 4th October, 2013 in spite of various representations made to the court for a speedier hearing of the matter by both sides.

TCL stated that “Based on facts that have come to light in this matter including the statements and admissions made by Wilfred Espinet in his affidavit filed in Court, and having regard to the circumstances surrounding the involvement of Republic Bank, Ian De Souza and Wilfred Espinet in the orchestration of the Shareholders’ Proposal, TCL has lodged the following:

A complaint to the Central Bank, requesting that De Souza be disqualified from the status of being a fit and proper person to be concerned with the management of a financial institution, under the Financial Institutions Act, 2008; and
A complaint to the SEC against Republic Bank, Ian De Souza and Wilfred Espinet pursuant to Section 92 (b) of the Securities Act, 2012;
A request that the SEC undertake an investigation pursuant to Section 150 of the Securities Act into whether or not Messrs. De Souza and Espinet have contravened the insider trading provisions contained in Sections 100 to 101 of the Securities Act.”

There is no indication that any action have been taken against the persons mentioned above. The TCL board has been opposed to adding directors to the existing ones.

What happened | From information gleaned from the Guardian Newspaper, “According to their fix date claim form, which was obtained by the T&T Guardian, the group is challenging a decision by TCL directors to refuse to attach the group’s proposal and statement to the management proxy circular which accompanied the notice of the annual meeting. The proposal and statement related to the group’s proposed nomination of five directors to TCL’s board that were submitted on June 14. In the lawsuit, the group is seeking a declaration, which would render the board’s June 24 decision unlawful, null, void and of no effect. Before filing the lawsuit, it wrote to the board members on June 20, asking them to reconsider their decision. The group informed the board it was the perogative of the shareholders to decide and vote on the composition of the board. “Our nominees would have to be elected at the annual meeting by the shareholders and they are not automatic of the directors, who may wish to put themselves up for re-election and therefore the suggestion with respect to proportionality of board representation and contest for directorships seems misplaced,” the group said.

Included in the lawsuit, is a 12-page affidavit, sworn by Espinet, in which he detailed the dealings between the two parties which led to the legal action being filed. Espinet said he became concerned over TCL’s financial position after the company failed to declare a dividend between 2008 and 2012. “As a result of my concerns and the fact that I held investment in TCL as a shareholder, I had conversations with a number of people about the state of affairs at TCL,” Espinet said. He said the group joined together this year in an attempt to nominate five experienced persons to the board to replace five current board members whose terms were due to expire at the meeting. Espinet said after the meeting was first announced on May 18, the group submitted its proposal to TCL’s corporate secretary on June 14. He claimed that ten days later, TCL’s chairman Andy Bhajan communicated with the group and informed them of the board’s decision to refuse its proposal”.

Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) is a IC Insider Buy Rated stock

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News Tagged With: Shareholders, TCL, TTSE

PE Ratios: Trinidad still has good buys

November 15, 2013 by IC Insider.com

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Friday, 15th November 2013 | The prices of a number of Trinidad stocks have been inching up ever since the First Citizens issue was listed on the exchange in September. However, even as the prices of several stocks have moved up, there are still a number of securities that are highly undervalued.

A look at the chart or graph below shows where the best opportunities lie. However, we must point out that Republic Bank selling at a PE of 16 is a very compelling buy, versus First Citizens’ 24 or Scotia Bank’s 23.

Trinidad Cement, in spite of climbing well over 100 percent since it hit bottom earlier this year and the reporting of below par third quarter numbers, is another compelling buy that we highly recommend to investors.

Image courtesy of Tungphoto/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Company News, Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: PE Ratios, Republic Bank, TCL, TTSE

T&T PEs: Better buys ahead

September 6, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Friday, 6th September 2013 | The PE Ratio chart for stocks trading on the Trinidad stock market has two movements to note for the week just ended.

Trinidad Cement fell sharply during the week to below $2 but the stock has become a more attractive buy with a potential return of 567% versus 350% last week. However, based on the closing bids and offers this stock could drop some more before reversing the recent decline.

Guardian Holdings fell to $14 this week, moving the potential gain from 250% last week to 270% this week and remains an attractive buy. Elsewhere in the market, not much has changed from this past week as prices remained fairly stable.

Below are charts that graphically show how TTSE stocks are ranked by PE Ratio potential.

Filed Under: Company News, Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: Guardian Holdings, PE Ratios, TCL, TTSE

TCL up 209% in two months

August 30, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Update to our post of Aug 27th, 2013 | In early July we told our readers “Cement was good for your pocket“. While we don’t know many took our advice seriously, we do know is that there has been quite a bit of buying of this Trinidad based company’s shares driving the price from 94 cents up to $2.94 at the close of trading on Friday. Not bad for a two months investment!

The good news is that our estimates suggest that it not over with prospects for more gains to come as the stock rallies to better align its value with the overall market.

Original post dated 27th August 2013 | We called it! TCL stock gains 115%

You read right! Trinidad Cement Limited stock price has gained 115% since IC Insider made to call out to buy at the beginning of July when the price was at 95 cents. It has since risen to $2.05 in almost 2 months. Not a bad pay day at all!

It’s not too late for you to make money on this fast moving stock! From all indications the stock still has lots of room to grow with the price on Monday, August 26 at $2.06 and the bid at $2.13 on the Trinidad Stock Exchange.

The main objective of IC Insider is to provide readers with opportunities not only make money, but to earn above average returns and avoid losses. To view our latest Buy Rated stocks, click here.

Filed Under: Company News, Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: TCL, Trading Activity, TTSE

TTSE: PE Ratio green lights TCL

August 16, 2013 by IC Insider.com

When we highlighted the stocks with the best potential for gains in the Trinidad Stock Market for the week ending June 28th, Trinidad Cement showed a potential to gain 900% with a PE of 3.17. and a stock price of 95 cents.

Since then, the stock has appreciated to $1.76 at August 16th,reducing the potential gain to 650%. Since July 1st, the stock is up 85% from when it traded at 95 cents. No other stock has appreciated close to that of TCL and the potential gains remain the same as was projected last week. TCL looks as if it will continue to increase in price over the coming week as the bid at the close on Friday was a bit higher than the last selling price of the stock.

The PE Chart continues to reflect good buying opportunities for a number of the stocks apart from TCL.

Filed Under: Company News, Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: PE Ratios, TCL, TTSE

Cement could be good for your pocket

July 8, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Last year, Trinidad Cement reported a huge loss of $390 million including a loss of $64 million due to minority shareholders in its subsidiaries. Compare that to results of the first quarter of this year, when the company was able to turn around their fortunes and recorded a surplus.

The Group recorded Earnings before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) of $114.2 million, a 74 percent improvement over the results for the same quarter in 2012. Revenue for the quarter, increased by $117 million compared with the prior year as a result of higher cement sales volumes in Trinidad and Tobago by 52 percent, in Jamaica by 7 percent, and in export markets by 29 percent, coupled with higher selling prices in most markets. Concrete volumes from Ready Mix, a partially owned subsidiary, also exceeded the prior year period by 10 percent. As a result of the significant expenditure made in the latter part of last year, plant performance has been more reliable and efficient with clinker production exceeding prior year by 32 percent, which is partially due to the TCL strike in 2012, and cement production up by 21 percent.

Finance costs for the quarter increased by $13.9 million largely as a result of foreign exchange losses of $11.3 million arising from the 6.2 percent depreciation of the Jamaican dollar in the quarter. As a consequence of the above factors, the Group is reporting a Net Profit after Taxes for the first quarter of $14 million compared with a loss of $75 million in the prior year quarter. This translates to Earnings per Share attributable to shareholders of the parent of 7 cents compared with a Loss per Share of 25 cents in the prior year.
For the first quarter of 2013, the Group generated net cash from operations of $104 million and made principal and interest payments of $71 million on the restructured loans following the first payment of $51 million made in December last year. Additionally, as at March 31 2013, the Group is said to have met the three financial ratio covenants contained in the loan restructuring agreement.

Finances | TCL is carrying interest bearing debt of $2 billion at the end of March. The debt overwhelms equity of $695 million — not a very good position to be in. The principal repayment amounts to $100 million this year, which saves $10 million in interest payments per annum. In 2014, the amount of loan payment is $171 million. The cash flow so far seems adequate to meet the payments but there is not much wiggle room.

The company directors stated in the 2012 annual report that the Group ended 2012 in full compliance with the loan Agreement. The Board and Management continued to express concerns to the Lenders about several aspects of the debt restructuring that will be burdensome to the Group going forward. These concerns are the extent of interest costs, excessive legal fees, ongoing costs of financial and technical monitoring, costly overseas directors and the requirement for an additional and expensive foreign executive, the statement concluded.

Concern | Of major concern to the Group, must be the nearly 10 percent cost of funds plus the foreign exchange exposure on elements of it, in a country where interest rates are well below 10 percent per annum. Loans amounting to $385 million at the end of December are at variable rates, which means that interest cost could rise before the loans are scheduled to be fully liquidated. In 2018 a balloon payment amounting 43 percent of the restructure debt or approximately $860 million is due for repayment.

Outlook | Management stated that the Trinidad and Tobago market has recorded very strong demand and it is anticipated this will continue. While there was declining demand in Jamaica and Barbados, it is hoped that with the post-IMF agreement in the former, and general elections in the latter, growth will return to these markets. In addition, the growth being experienced in Guyana and Suriname and the initiatives by the Group in the pursuit of additional export markets, plant efficiency and cost containment, are likely to contribute to the continuation of the good results for the coming months.

The Jamaican operation will benefit from a series of price adjustments and the removal of one importer as a competitor. These two developments should bring that operation closer to a break-even position and help improve cash flow.

Risk | Investing in the stock could pay off richly if the company maintains the current trajectory. The PE is around 2 times estimated 2013 earnings at the price of $1 on the TT Stock Exchange on Friday. With the massive debt, an investment in the stock is not without risk should something go wrong that could negatively affect earnings. The capital structure suggests that both the Trinidad and the Jamaican company should be heading to the stock market when conditions improve to raise additional equity capital from the markets and to speed up debt repayment.

Speak your mind | Will you take the leap and invest in TCL?

Read the 9th May 2013 report about Trinidad Cement Ltd, TT Cement huge turnaround but…

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

Carib Cement profit mired in concrete

May 10, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Badly financially structured, the lone Jamaican producer of cement and gypsum, Caribbean Cement Company continues to be under concrete with huge losses weighing it down and in spite of recent price increases, the company is still reporting losses as shown by the 1st quarter 2013 results. Unfortunately, when analyzed, the interim results do not shed any light as to when its fortunes will not only change for the better but when will it start making returns to its owners.

Although local sales are up from 143,316 tonnes last year to 151,862 tonnes this year, export sales was down and revenues were up to $2.646 billion aided by recent price adjustments. In 2012, revenues came in at $2.3 billion. The improved revenues helped to turn around the profit, before depreciation interest and devaluation losses, to $184.25 million up from a loss of $377 million in 2012. Even without any foreign exchange loss the company needs another 10 percent increase in revenues, net of expenses, to be somewhat safe.

Price increases | In January the company increased cement prices by 16.5 percent on average and 3 percent in April as well. Interestingly, in spite of the January increase and a 9.2 percent increase in July last year and increased volume of local sales, revenue for cement is up only 15 percent over that of 2012, well below the price adjustments. Admittedly, the decline in exports would have impacted income growth.

As stated by management in a release, total sales volumes declined when comparing first quarter of 2013 with the first quarter of 2012. However, domestic sales volumes, which are essential to the company’s viability, increased by 6.7%. The improvement in domestic sales was entirely due to increased market share as the overall domestic market declined. This increase in domestic sales, along with increases in selling prices and further improvements in clinker production have resulted in a $561 million improvement in Earnings before Interest, Depreciation and Tax [EBITDA] over the corresponding period for 2012.

Management went on to further state, that the negative Group equity increased to $3.44 billion and with the significant build up in clinker inventory during this first quarter as production exceeded sales, the Group could not continue to operate without the financial support of the parent company, Trinidad Cement Ltd. Management is pursuing various strategies to improve both domestic and export sales and it is proposed that a significant portion of the debt due to the parent company be converted into equity during the second quarter.

Messed up | Caribbean Cement has messed up so many times in recent years that it will take a massive change in its financial fortunes to restore investors’ confidence. The first error is that the company totally mistimed the plant expansion by not anticipating the increased in demand in the mid-2000s. As a result, they missed most of the increased demand and the expanded plant only caught the tail end of it. Secondly, the company missed a glorious opportunity in 2004, when the stock price was sky high, to raise added capital in the local market to help fund the expansion. Finally, there is no evidence that they forged the right political connections or presented a viable plan to ensure continuity in cement supply, thus opening the market to unneeded imports which severely hurt them and from which they continue to reel.

Minority shareholder to be battered | The contemplation to convert debt to equity by the parent company, could negatively affect shareholders’ value if the conversion is to ordinary shares. If the conversion is to redeemable preference shares that would be a far different proposition, as preference are quasi debt and equity.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Caribbean Cement, JSE Company, TCL

TT Cement huge turnaround but…

May 9, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Trinidad Cement is reporting a huge turn around in its fortunes in a release to the stock exchange. Revenues jumped to T$482 million up from $365 million in the first quarter of last year. Profit before tax climbed to $16.657 million from a big $85 million loss in 2012. Profit after tax amounted to $14 million versus a loss of $74.9 million before minority interest. The group has been saddled with problems which led to financial restructuring that took quite a while. Last year the Trinidad operation was closed as workers went on strike. Cement was imported from Jamaica to help fill the gap. Jamaica with its loss remains a big drag on the parent company’s operation. Last year total losses amounted to $390 million. (All currency is the TT$)

The company stated in its quarterly report that revenue for the quarter, increased by $117 million compared with the prior year as a result of higher cement sales volumes (in Trinidad and Tobago by 52 percent, in Jamaica by 7 percent and in export markets by 29 percent) and higher selling prices in most markets. Concrete volumes have also exceeded the prior year period by 10 percent. As a result of the significant expenditure made in the latter part of last year, plant performance has been more reliable and efficient with clinker production exceeding prior year by 32 percent (partially due to the TCL strike in 2012) and cement production by 21 percent.

TCL equity remains strong with nearly TT$700 million, working capital is tight with it being a little more than one to one.

Management concluded their statement as follows: The Trinidad and Tobago market has recorded very strong demand and it is anticipated this will continue. While there was declining demand in Jamaica and Barbados, it is hoped that with a post IMF agreement in the former, and general elections in the latter, growth will return to these markets. In addition, growth being experienced in Guyana and Suriname and the initiatives by the Group in the pursuit of additional export markets, plant efficiency and cost containment are likely to contribute to the continuation of the good results for the coming months.

Stock outlook | The group is still loaded with debt with finance charges of $65 million in the quarter, an increase over the $51 million paid in 2012. With such cost and principal repayment there is little room to slip as debt servicing is a large part of income. The debt to equity ratio seems well out of line and the call ought to be for them to go to the stock market for fresh long term capital.