ISP Finance is an unsecure loan company that is seeking to list on the junior market of the Jamaica stock Exchange with the raising just over $97 million from directors staff and the general public.
The company is now offering 48,982,500 ordinary shares to the public of which 45,900,000 are reserved for directors and employees, at $2 per share. Only a small amount, 3 million units will be available for the general public unless the reserved shares are not fully taken up. Opening Date of the offer is March 21, 2016.
ISP started operating in 2007 and has a number of years of profitability but is yet to wipe out accumulated losses. Currently there are 56 million shares issued to the Chief executive Dennis Smith and his wife. In 2015 the company reported audited profit of $30.7 million before tax but benefited from a refund of captive insurance premium of $12.3 million, excluding this, the company made profit of just $6 million. Additionally, salaries cost fell to $62.5 million from $77.6 million. While 2014 showed a loss of $4.5 million before tax after booking insurance premium of $41.7 million, excluding this amount would result in profit of just over $36 million or earnings per share of 65 cents. The earnings based on 2015 results, adjusted for the one off income, would be 10.7 cents and 65 cents for 2014. The PE based on pretax profit would be 18.7 times 2015 earnings and just 3 times 2014 numbers.
In the first four years of operation the Company’s customers were primarily employees from the security services sector. The Company has since expanded its customer base to other private and public sector workers as well as to micro and small entrepreneurs in the manufacturing, services and distribution sectors.
ISP Finance intends to strategically expand its reach geographically to other areas where there is a concentration of employed individuals and business development, including Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Mandeville, Spanish Town, Portmore and May Pen.
The Company utilizes cash generated by the business and loans from a variety of sources to fund loans to customers. Indebtedness to banks, financial institutions and other lenders amounts to $218 million as of February 11, 2016.
Since commencing business in February 2007, the Company’s Loan portfolio has grown from approximately $2.5 million to $304 million in 2015 before provision for loan losses. Loan loss provision stood at $62 million at the end of 2015 compared with $44.5 million at the end of 2014. Loan loss expense for 2015 amounted to $18.6 or 7.75 percent of net loans and is favorable compared with Access Financial at 8.9 percent. Interest rates on loans ranges from 50 to 65 percent.
Clifton Cameron is an Independent, Non-executive Director and Chairman of the Board. He was a major owner of Manufacturers Merchant Bank that was acquired by Sagicor Bank.
The results for 2015 looks disappointing with just a small profit but results for 2014 when adjusted for the high level of insurance cost looks very promising. The company is involved in high risk business with loan provisioning amounting to 20 percent of overall loan portfolio an increase from 15.7 percent at the end of 2014. Expansion if not managed well can be costly but they will face strong competition in the market with much bigger companies than themselves.
At the end of 2015 equity capital was negative $7 million with accumulated deficit of $12 million, down from a deficit of $39 million at the end of 2014.
ISP is not the last company slated fro the junior market as IC Insider gathers that Key Insurance Company is also set to offer shares to the public to try and make the junior listing before the end of March.
ISP Finance – next junior listing
Sharp fall for JSE – Tuesday
Iron Rock Insurance traded for the first time since it went public earlier in March with 1,000 shares changing hands at $3.51 and is up from $3 per share it was offered to the public at.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange has gotten off to a rocky start on Tuesday big losses the main market indices in early trading but the junior market enjoyed moderate gain. Fall in the prices of some big capitalization stocks rock the indices. Falling are Cable & Wireless with a loss of 5 cents to $1.37, National Commercial at $40.5o down 50 cents, 
Sagicor Group lost 95 cents to be trading at $22.05, Scotia Group lost $54 cents to be at $30.46 and Scotia Investments trades at $26.30 down from $28.
After 75 minutes of the market’s opening, 29 securities traded, accounting for 11,795,810 shares changing hands. A total of 5 stocks gained and 13 declined.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 2,026.54 points to 168,402.89, the JSE Market Index slipped 1,813.37 points to 151,622.41, the JSE combined index ended with a fall of 1,532.81 points to 160,439 but the junior market index rose gained 19.26 points to 1,934.03.
Jamaica Broilers traded 3,268,865 shares at $14.50, JMMB Group 7.50% traded 8,000,000 units but fell 13 cents to $1.07. Cargo Handlers traded at a new high of $43 with only 126 units changing hands and Lasco Manufacturing traded 8,450 units at $3.90 versus $3.50 it closed at on Monday.
JSE closes with minor loss – Monday
Main market stocks collectively barely moved forward on Monday, with declining stocks being out-numbered by advancing ones 2 to1 with 10 stocks rising in the main market versus 5 declining. For the overall market, 32 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 14 rising and 5 declining.
The market closed with 3,842,543 units valued at $52,963,264 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 811,127 units changing hands, valued at $3,604,853.
The JSE Market Index fell 177.07 points to 153,435.78, the all Jamaica Composite Index fell 197.89 points to end at 170,429.43 and the JSE combined index gained 83.78 points to close at 161,971.41.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints lost 5 cents and ended with 18,799 shares trading at $3.95, Cable & Wireless closed with a gain of 2 cents at $1.42 with 248,300 units changing hands, Caribbean Cement fell $1 to end at $19 with 49,597 shares trading. Carreras rose 49 cents to close at $64.99, while trading 120 units, Gleaner added 19 cents to close at $2.20 with 47,582 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed with 2,474 shares trading with a gain of 50 cents at $83.50, well below the $97 equivalent, it traded at in Trinidad on Monday. Jamaica Broilers traded 717,457 units to close at $14.50, Jamaica Producers traded 29,000 units to close at $30.50 after gaining 22 cents, 
JMMB Group had 852,261 units changing hands but fell 9 cents in closing at $10.40, Margaritaville Turks had 45,000 shares trading at 13 US cents. National Commercial Bank lost 3 cents with 388,750 shares changing hands, to close at $41, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 223,936 units and gained 2 US cents in closing at 22 US cents, Radio Jamaica ended with 13,883 units changing hands to close at $3.95. Sagicor Group lost 20 cents with 153,610 shares changing hands at $23, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost $1 in trading 2,200 shares to close at $10. Scotia Group had only 10,750 shares changing hands to close at $31 and Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 10 cents at $4.60 with 224,418 units changing hands.
J$ holds firm v US on Monday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market resulted in the Jamaican dollar holding value against the US dollar on Monday but falling against the Pound and rising versus Canadian. The market ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$55,938,398 and selling US$42,243,409, in contrast to US$43,527,882 purchased and US$36,684,327 sold on Friday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$52,402,992 compared to US$39,284,534 on Friday, with the buying rate for the US dollar falling 2 cents to $121.46. A total of US$40,586,538 was sold versus US$34,523,089 on Friday as the selling rate remained unchanged at $122.03. The Canadian dollar buying rate lost 35 cents to end at $88.38 with dealers buying C$1,376,828 and selling C$587,689, at an average rate that fell 87 cents to $90.82. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 85 cents to $170.89 for the purchase of £1,685,921, while £723,740 was sold, the rate rose 83 cents to $173.04. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, climbed 18 cents to close at J$136.17, from Friday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.53 for a rise of 32 cents on Friday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies 
traded, amounts to US$161,443 being bought, while US$193,250 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at on Monday are, a fall of $18.22 in the lowest selling rate of the US dollarto end at $99.78 a fall of $1 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar that closed at $86.20 and a fall of $1 in the highest buying rate of the British Pound that landed at $174.70 and a rise of $1.10 in the lowest selling rate to $167.
TTSE stocks closed down – Monday
Grace Kennedy closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Monday
The slide on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange continued on Monday with trading ended with 271,900 shares valued at $5,178,918 changing hands. A total of 12 securities traded with 3 falling, one gaining while 8 remained unchanged. A total of 1 stock closed at a 52 weeks’ low and one at a 52 weeks’ high.
The market closed with the Composite Index falling 1.07 points to close at 1,159.44, the All T&T Index dropping 1.62 points to close at 1,865.06 and the Cross Listed Index declined by 0.07 points to close at 60.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 10 with offers that were lower. More telling is the fact that about a third of the listings have no bids to buy.
Gains| Grace Kennedy gained 2 cents to close with 500 units changing hands to close at $5.15.
Losses| JMMB Group traded 15,406 shares to close with a loss of 2 cents at 58 cents. Massy Holdings ended with 60,200 shares with a value of $3,426,958 changing hands as the price dropped $1.04 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $56.75 and Scotia Investments closed with a loss of 5 cents at $1.75 while trading 98,856 shares.
Firm Trades|Clico Investments traded 26,975 shares with a value of $608,779 to close at $22.55, First Citizens traded 16,000 shares at $34.99, Firstcaribbean International Bank closed with 19,723 units changing hands at $6.50, National Commercial Bank had 25,000 shares changing hands to close at $2.40, National Flour closed with 3,400 shares changing hands at $1.95. Point Lisas closed with 5,000 shares trading to close at $4, Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 6,569 shares changing hands to close at $7 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL ended trading 7,677 shares to close at $19.
Juniors inch higher – Monday
The junior market rose Monday but with declining stocks being just ahead of advancing ones. The market ended with a gain of 27.76 points to close at 1,914.73 on Monday.
The market ended with 11 securities trading, 5 of which declined and 4 advancing and 811,127 units changing hands, valued at $3,604,853.
The decline in the market seems over with IC bid offer indicator pointing to rising prices ahead on Monday. At the close, 1 security ended with no bid and only 6 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. There were 4 stocks closing with bids that were higher than their last selling prices and 1 ended with lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging lost 35 cents with 14,101 units changing hands, to close at $11.15, Caribbean Cream traded 117,959 shares, the price slipped by 4 cents and ended at $4.06, Caribbean Producers lost 35 cents to end with 102,139 shares trading at $4.15. General Accident 
closed with only 9,000 shares being active but gained 1 cent to end at $2.70, Honey Bun traded 13,054 units at $14 after shedding 61 cents. Jamaican Teas gained 20 cents in closing at $7.70 with 2,801 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors closed with 121,420 units trading to end at $6, Lasco Financial fell by 9 cents to end at $3.01 with 90,849 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing ended with 223,804 shares changing hands to close at $3.50. Sweet River ended with 11,000 units changing hands at $4.02 after rising 2 cents for a 52 weeks’ high and tTech closed with a gain of 25 cents at $4.50 with 105,000 units changing hands.
Gains for JSE – Monday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange has gotten off to a slow start for the week but with gains in all the main market indices in early trading.
After 75 minutes of the market’s opening, the volume of stocks traded is low with only 17 securities traded, accounting for 1,129,060 shares changing hands. A total of 5 stocks recorded gains and 4 declined.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 392.08 points to 171,019.40, the JSE Market Index added 350.84 points to 153,963.69, the JSE combined index ended with a rise of 595.72 points to 162,483.35 but the junior market index rose gained 29.33 points to 1916.30.
Jetcon IPO over the top
Interest in the initial public offer by Jetcon Corporation of 44.5 million shares up to $2.25 each to the public, has attracted much investors’ interest. Officially, the issue was closed at 9.01 am shortly after opening at 9 am on Monday. Applications received up to late Thursday, last week exceeded the amount on offer, information reaching IC Insider.com indicated.
The offer which officially opened on March 14 was slated to close a few days later, on the 17th.
The offer is slated to raise $95.66 million for use by the company to fund the cost of listing and for working capital and expansion purposes. Jetcon started operation 1994 to import used cars from Japan for resale in Jamaica and enjoyed years of successful operation.
In 2015, the company enjoyed a strong 49.9 percent growth in revenues of $523 million up from $349 million in 2014. Revenues since the end of 2015 continued to grow, increasing by 45 percent to the end of February. The company recorded profit before tax of $50.6 million in 2015, with a net profit of $40 million.
Completion of the issue will bring the total number of junior market ordinary share listings to 27 and the total listings to 31 securities, with Iron Rock having successfully completed their public offering, earlier in March and expected to be listed for trading on Tuesday March 15.
Listing on the junior market will cut its tax cost for 5 years but importantly, lead to increased exposure for the company that should redound to the benefit of the company with increased exposure and sales.
J$ slips v US on Friday
Trading in the Jamaican foreign exchange market resulted in the Jamaican dollar slipping slightly against the US dollar on Friday but rising against the Pound and Canadian. The market ended with dealers buying the equivalent of US$43,527,882 and selling US$36,684,327, in contrast to US$30,209,395 purchased and US$32,885,951 sold on Thursday.
In US dollars trading, dealers bought US$39,284,534 compared to US$27,859,338 on Thursday, with the buying rate for the US dollar rising 15 cents to $121.48. A total of US$34,523,089 was sold versus US$30,893,426 on Thursday as the selling rate climbed 2 cents to $122.03. The Canadian dollar buying rate gained 77 cents to end at $88.73 with dealers buying C$1,158,202 and selling C$1,229,514, at an average rate that fell 57 cents to $91.69. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 42 cents to $170.04 for the purchase of £2,250,064, while £558,147 was sold, the rate fell 15 cents to $172.22. At the end of trading, the selling rate for Euro, climbed $1.70 to close at J$135.99, from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.21 for a rise of $170 on Thursday’s rate. 
The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$247,992 being bought, while US$449,658 was sold.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates the currencies traded at on Friday are, a rise of $1.10 in the lowest selling rate of the Canadian dollar that closed at $87.20 and a rise of $1.50 in the highest buying rate of the British Pound that landed at $175.60.
JSE closes almost flat – Friday
Main market stocks collectively barely moved forward on Friday, with declining stocks being out-numbered by advancing ones 2 to1 with 10 stocks rising in the main market versus 5 declining. For the overall market, 29 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 14 rising and 5 declining.
The market closed with 11,607,440 units valued at $57,615,849 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 8,492,562 units changing hands, valued at $27,397,677.
The JSE Market Index gained just 7.60 points to 153,612.85 the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 8.50 points to end at 170,627.32 and the JSE combined index fell 215.80 points to close at 161,887.63.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints ended with 28,300 shares trading at $4, Cable & Wireless closed with a loss of 1 cent at $1.40 with 802,055 units changing hands, Caribbean Cement added 80 cents to end at $20 with 151,107 shares trading. Carreras lost 49 cents to close at $64.50, while trading 11,000 units, Gleaner added just 1 cent to close at $2.01 with 184,073 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed with 15,092 shares trading at $83, well below the $97 equivalent, it traded at, in Trinidad on Friday. Jamaica Broilers traded 33,000 units to close at $14.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 31,000 shares to end with a gain of 50 cents at $22.50, JMMB Group had 25,490 units changing hands but fell 11 cents in closing at $10.49, Kingston Wharves traded 214,520 shares to close at $11.50 after rising 5 cents. 
Mayberry Investments had 27,938 shares trading at $4.40 for a rise of 35 cents, National Commercial Bank rose 3 cents with 102,600 shares changing hands, to close at $41.03, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 714,100 units at 20 US cents, down from 22 US cents, Pulse Investments added 36 cents to close at $2.91 with 77,000 units changing hands. Radio Jamaica ended with 25,862 units changing hands to gain 10 cents and close at $3.95, Sagicor Group gained 5 cents with 548,431 shares changing hands at $23.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 11,087 shares at $11. Scotia Group had 63,275 shares changing hands to close 50 cents higher at $31 and Supreme Ventures closed at $4.70 with 33,725 units changing hands.
