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Showing posts with label Stock Watch 3/14. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stock Watch 3/14. Show all posts

Thursday, March 27, 2014

整顿后业绩三位数飙涨 置地通用能否成黑马?(Nanyang)

 2014-03-24 12:44

经历过经济风暴,也曾被白武士拯救,置地通用(L&G,3174,主板产业股)多年前从高空掉进谷底,但它却不曾被击倒。
如今,置地通用不但还清了债务,且手持大笔现金,因而被视为中小型产业股的黑马。
《南洋商报》为读者专访了在2008年以白武士身分加入公司的董事经理刘毅德,娓娓道来公司的过去、现在和未来。

置地通用维持高赚幅挑战大
置地通用(L&G,3174,主板产业股)在经历1997/98年亚洲金融风暴后,因为母子公司欠下逾10亿令吉债务,加上产业发展计划停滞不前,导致股价在短短一年内,从6令吉平均水平,重挫至1令吉以下。
虽然该公司成功撑过难关,但往后10年的股价和业绩表现却时好时坏,始终唤不回投资者和市场的信心。
直至2007年,白武士———马来西亚置地(Mayland),购入置地通用显著股权,崛起成为大股东,并进行了大规模的整顿改革,该公司才逐渐走出阴影。
置地通用董事经理刘毅德告诉《南洋商报》,过去的低调,就是为了让置地通用再次活跃于市场时,就有令人有眼前一亮的感觉。
“近这几年来,我们的业绩表现总算稳定增长。未来,我们会更活跃于市场,多与券商和媒体接触,让投资者看见脱胎换骨的我们。”
置地通用截至2013年3月底的2013财年营业额,较2012财年全年的1亿3079万9000令吉,增长65.36%至2亿1629万3000令吉,净利按年也增长72.6%,录得5717万7000令吉。
相较于刘毅德刚被委任加入置地通用的2009财年时,营业额和净利在5个财年内,分别飙涨了475%和273%,而在这5年内的增长率,平均每年都以双位数跳跃。
来到2014财年前3季,其净利和营业额增长率,更是以亮眼的三位数年增长率———140.8%和178.8%,飙涨至5851万7000令吉和3亿7117万4000令吉。

白武士接手大刀阔斧 最大任务发掘优势还债转盈
尽管如此,刘毅德从不认为这是个人功劳,并坦言在接手管理之前,上一任管理层已付出了很大的努力重整业务,而所剩的债务也已经不多。所以,他才可以专心于未来发展。
然而,他不否认该“跳跃式”的业绩增长,归功于领导层的各项改革,包括了厘清未来发展定位、狠下心肠内部整顿,包括脱售非核心业务、开始产业发展计划和重燃员工对工作的热忱。
刘毅德坦言,被马来西亚置地委任加入置地通用,最大的任务是发掘和凸显该公司的优势,从中协助公司还清负债,最终达到转亏为盈的目的。
“置地通用拥有许多很有潜力的土地,但却未好好的加以规划及发展。而我认为,当时最欠缺的就是重点产业发展计划。”
事实上,置地通用是大马老牌产业发展公司,早年就持有许多土地,这这些土地目前的价值已经今非昔比,例如斯里白沙罗(Sri Damansara)和双溪遮尼(Sungai Jernih)等区域的地段。
无奈当时的置地通用以还清债务为主,而忽略了产业发展业务。因此,在刘毅德接手管理后,第一件事就是停止脱售土地,并改变作业方针,开始规划旗下土地的产业发展项目。

带领团队走出阴霾 上任首年推动大型产业项目
动手规划发展项目后,刘毅德下一个任务,就是点燃管理层和员工的工作热忱,让公司上下意识未来公司已蓄势待发。
刘毅德表示:“毕竟公司陷入了财困那么久,很多员工对发展产业项目并不积极。我知道,要让他们看见公司真的要转变了,就得要让他们看见实际的东西,例如管理层全心投入发展一项大规模的产业项目。”
他以行动带领团队走出阴霾,上任首年即规划斯里白沙罗8trium办公楼兼购物广场,以及同区的Foresta高级公寓计划,并在一两年后逐一推介,让其产业发展业务逐渐恢复生机与动力。
2010年,置地通用宣告已还清所有债务,而手中的资金也越来越多。
自此,公司也开始迈向事业的另一里程碑。
如今,该公司不但是一家手持2亿令吉现金的高档产业发展公司,也是负债率低至0.2倍的产业投资公司。

业绩虽亮丽 股价被低估
置地通用过去5个财年的业绩表现,固然令人惊艳,但更值得注意的是其他财务增长实力。
根据置地通用的资料,其资产总值从2009财年的3亿5157万2000令吉,增加至5亿4965万7000令吉,相等于56.3%;每股净资产则是55仙,较5年前33仙几乎倍增。
若将其每股净资产和其目前平均49仙的股价相比,意味着该股还有增长空间。
刘毅德表示:“从我们的账面和各方面财务实力来看,我们的股价的确是被低估的。”
他将该情况归咎于置地通用多年来的低调,但却不为此过度担心,暂时也没有进行企业活动,以增加散户注意力或股票流通量的打算。

5年投资回酬翻倍
“我相信,只要公司的业绩表现和账目强稳,终会有人注意到我们。除了增加曝光率,我们不打算提高股价来进行任何企业活。”
从2009至2013财年,置地通用的每股盈利,也从3仙倍增至7仙;同期的投资回酬率(ROE),也从7.65仙,增长超过一倍至16.36仙。
不过,无论置地通用的资产、现金和每股盈利实力如何雄厚,它却未受到应有的市场瞩目。
在截至3月12日,置地通用的平均股价水平是49仙左右,52周最高只有54.5仙,最低则是30.5仙,过去一个月的每日平均成交量,也只有区区的几十万股。
若将置地通用与其他规模相仿的中小型产业发展公司,如柏年控股(BREM,8761,主板建筑股)和华阳(HUAYANG,5062,主板产业股)比较,前者的交投量和股价都比后两者低,但业绩实力和投资回酬率(ROE)都是前者领先。


券商:实力渐获注意 只差投资信心
正如刘毅德说所,置地通用股价和实力被市场低估,因为这些年来的低调行事,鲜少获得券商、媒体和投资者的注意,主要是因为其市值规模小,而且过去业务表现不稳定。
尽管如此,JP Apex研究主管李忠正告诉《南洋商报》,置地通用在这两年内业绩逐渐走强,并开始引起市场和券商的注意。
“从其交投量和本益比逐渐回升来看,就知道有些投资者已开始注意该股了。”
他认为,虽然置地通用已展露实力,但仍然无法引起投资者的买兴,很大原因是信心问题。

股价曾飙上9令吉
“置地通用曾经是一家极具规模的产业发展公司,股价在十多年前,曾一度飙涨至8、9令吉,如今至剩下1令吉不到,可想而知很多人因为这股摔了一跤。”
尽管李忠正认为,该股还有一定的增长空间,但相信不会在短时间内出现令人惊喜的成绩。
“置地通用除了需要维持业绩表现,还得要持续推出新产业和宣布正面的消息,如买地发展等,唤回投资者的信心,而这些,都是需要时间的。”

 
隐忧1:高赚幅只能维持5年
有鉴于此,李忠正认为投资者可开始观察,甚至小量累计该股。不过,他也坦言,该股并非领域同规模股项的首选。
“我们对其保持‘中和’的看法。虽然说它的表现向好,但也不可忽略其表现是否可保持目前水准。要知道,该公司之前业绩大增,很大原因是因为手上土地是在多年前以低价买入的,所以现在的赚幅才会如此庞大。”
目前,置地通用税前盈利赚幅达37%,但李忠正认为,该赚幅仅可维持5年,因为该公司手上所剩的黄金地段土地已寥寥无几。
“耗完手上地库后,就算公司日后收购新地库,也会因为目前市场土地价格高昂,而导致赚幅减少。”
他指出,目前公司旗下发展总值中,土地成本仅占6%,这也是推高赚幅的最主要因素。

隐忧2:中高档产业有瓶颈
截至目前,置地通用的发展计划皆是中高价位,例如Foresta和TheElements高级公寓等。
李忠正表示:“你可以注意到,置地通用目前的住宅计划是公寓,而且是中高档为主。虽然这个市场还是有买气,但围篱或附属保安城镇计划的需求却更高。”
他因而担忧,目前专注于中高档产业发展的置地通用,或会在不久的未来面临业绩增长的瓶颈。
尽管如此,他基于该公司拥有超过8000万令吉的未入账销售额,以及拥有充裕资金收购更多地库而认为,维持未来数年业绩和赚幅应不成问题。

不畏房市放缓 置地通用续专注中高档
针对置地通用未来的发展方针,刘毅德表示,仍会专注于中高档发展计划。
“在产业发展领域中,地点就是决定一切的关键。”
他举例,之所以把Foresta定为中高档和有主题(森林公寓)的公寓,因为斯里白沙罗和周边城镇是发展很成熟的社区,而且当地居民拥有强劲购买能力。
“该地库拥有这个条件,如果只做低中价产业发展,是在浪费它的潜力和价值。就如位于吉隆坡核心地带的The Elements高级公寓般,买下这块土地,就是需要通过产品,将其价值表露无疑。”
来到2014年,刘毅德披露,将继续推出3项中高档的产业计划,分别是Foresta第二期单位、TheElements2,以及森州的端姑惹法度假村高级有地住宅区。
他也披露,中短期内还是以中高档产业发展为主,并不担忧国内产业发展放缓的冲击。
“把目光拉远,我们看看亚洲区域,大马房价还是属于便宜的国家。所以,我认为房价还有上扬的空间”

大马人购屋能力仍强劲
尽管如此,刘毅德并不否认从去年开始,取消订购单位的案例增加了,最主要是因为贷款申请不顺利。
无论如何,旗下两项主要公寓发展计划的认购率,皆达到了90%以上。
“很多人只看我国家庭债务对国内生产总值(GDP)达80%以上的比例,却忽略了我国家庭存款对国内生产总值的比例,其实是100%的。”
他续称:“这就是说明了,大马人还有很强购买能力的证明,而我也相信,只要在对的地点做对的产业发展,并满足目标买家的需求,无论该计划的定价多少,终会有它的买家。”
针对业绩增长无法持久的评论,刘毅德回应道:“过去数年,我们都是以双位数快速增长,内部的目标也是保持这个增长记录。我们会通过增购地库以推出更多产业计划,以及增加产业投资盈收来达到这个目标。”
根据资料,2013财年全年营业额录得2亿1630万令吉,而2014财年首9个月的营业额,已达4亿2100万令吉,不但超越了上财年全年,更是增长了一倍。
至于2014财年首9个月的5851万7000令吉净利,已成功超越2013财年全年的4396万9000令吉。


续增购资产 为产托铺路
除了产业发展业务,刘毅德在接手置地通用后,先在斯里白沙罗兴建8trium办公大楼(也是置地通用的新总部)兼零售广场,并将零售广场租给英国国际电子和家具零售商———Courts,作为其亚洲规模最大的大卖场。
后来,刘毅德通过发行价值7777万9589令吉的不可赎回可转换无担保债券(ICULS),筹资7248万5000令吉的部分资金(6704万8625令吉),向Mayland Avenue私人有限公司购置并接手还在兴建当中的布城办公楼,作为其投资的新产业。
除了上述两项产业,置地通用的投资产业,还有位于斯里白沙罗的旧公司大楼。
放眼未来,刘毅德披露还在物色更多合适的产业,包括办公楼、零售广场、酒店等产业,以巩固旗下产业投资的组合。
“我们希望能够逐渐增加更多的产业投资项目,目前,我们也不断物色有潜力的产业。”
他并不否认这是为发展产业投资信托(Reits)而铺路:“我们不抗拒任何发展可能,但可以肯定的是,只要是有潜力的业务,我们都不会抗拒研究其利益潜能。”

放眼大吉隆坡槟柔地库
目前,置地通用在全马共拥有2803英亩土地。
不过,当中有259.3英亩土地已正在发展(Foresta、The Elements和端姑惹法度假村),2494英亩土地则是位于双溪遮尼(Sungai Jernih)的种植地,剩余两块土地分别位于柔佛地不佬和吉打双溪大年。
这也意味着,置地通用手上的黄金地点的地库几乎已经耗尽。
刘毅德说:“我们并不会停在这里,我们会继续收购有潜力的地皮,特别是在大吉隆坡、槟城和柔佛。”
尽管如此,他拒绝透露搜寻新地皮的进度,仅表示会适时公布已确实详情。
迈向纯产业公司 渐退出种植业
截至2013财年,置地通用88.5%的营业额贡献是来自产业发展,教育和其他业务则分别贡献5.5%和6%。
刘毅德表示:“我们已经过了2014财年的首9个月,相信现在的产业营业额贡献已突破90%。”
他坦言,日后会朝向“纯产业公司”的方向发展,并逐步退出种植领域。
目前,置地通用在双溪遮尼拥有2494英亩种植地,主要栽种油棕和橡胶树。
“我从来都不把公司定位在‘种植公司’上,这片种植地也是以前管理层留下来的资产。我们选择继续营运,因为时机还未成熟。一旦时机成熟,我们就会把这片土地转为产业发展土地。”
尽管如此,他表示种植业务向来都是赚钱的业务,只不过贡献率只有区区的几巴仙。
“我们在等待那个地区的社区发展成熟,一旦时机到了,我们就会逐步将该种植地转为产业发展地。只不过,这计划料不会在短期内实践。”

教育业务维持营运不拓展
此外,置地通用的教育业务———斯里白沙罗Sri Bestari私人学校,虽每年都为公司贡献稳定盈利,但刘毅德也不打算积极拓展。
“我们会维持这所学校的营运,同时不断提升里面的设施,但没有扩展或增加学校的计划。”
这整体发展策略,也显示了刘毅德不畏依靠单一业务的风险,而决心带领置地通用迈向“纯产业公司”的决心。
“就如我所说,产业发展讲求的是地段和对的产业。”
他续称:“我更相信‘做你所熟悉’的事情。与其分散专注力在不熟悉的业务上,不如把全部专注力放在自己擅长的业务上,这样风险更低。”
虽然刘毅德也不否认,多元化业务可有效分散风险,但他也指出,市场不乏成功且单纯的产业公司。
“虽然本地很多发展商都有副业,但是也有更多成功的产业公司只靠单一业务就屹立不倒,香港就有不少类似的公司。”

刘毅德将心比心经营
刘毅德在2008年,从马来西亚置地转来置地通用接手董事经理职务,至今已踏入了第7个年头。
“当初没有想那么多,既然公司信任并委于任务,我只一心把它做好,不要令人失望而已。”
凭着果断和眼光,让他在上任的两年内,就结束了超过10年的漫长还债之路,也带领着公司从谷底反弹。
问及其一直以来的经营理念,刘毅德顿了一顿,歪头思考了好一下子,说:“将心比心。”
“对很多人来说,买房子是一件大事,更是一项重大的投资。我们要是定出这个售价,我们就应该给予相等的品质价值。”
他续称:“就当着是自己要买房子,并希望发展商除了给我一间房子外,也给我一些什么……可能是日后升值的潜能、一个舒适的家、规划良好的环境,而这些,就是我们在规划每一项计划时的核心和出发点。”

置地通用背景
亚洲金融风暴中摔倒老牌产业股浴火重生

置地通用的前身,是南洋控股私人有限公司,成立于1964年5月21日,后来改名为通用木料控股,并在1991年再次易名为置地通用,以更突显其从木材种植领域,逐渐转型至产业发展公司的方向。
置地通用在1968年上市吉隆坡新加坡交易所,直至大马在1989年杪更改上市要求,才从新加坡股市除牌,并从那个时候开始,维持马交所上市资格至今。
置地通用在1997和1998年亚洲金融风暴中摔了一跤,一夜间欠下巨款。
该公司业绩表现至此浮浮沉沉,直至香港产业大亨丹斯里邱达昌在2007年宣布,通过旗下马来西亚置地私人有限公司收购其5000万股(或相等于8.35%),崛起成为大股东之一后,才有突破性的发展。
在2008年,马来西亚置地委任了两位新董事———莫哈末凯伦和其董事经理刘毅德,以白武士的身分,加入董事部拯救业务,并在接手两年后,成功通过重组债务、脱售海内外非核心业务,以及开始规划一连串重点产业项目来还清所有债务。
截至2014年2月杪,置地通用持有约2亿令吉现金,欠债率仅0.2倍。
目前,该公司的核心业务兼营业额最大贡献者(约90%)为产业发展业务,教育、种植和其他业务则贡献约10%的营业额。
报道: 周颖珊

PDZ may consider a fundraising exercise (CIMB)

Tan Sri Robert Tan Hua Choon, a major shareholder of PDZ Holdings, may consider a fundraising exercise to help finance the acquisition of oil and gas (O&G) assets, sources said. The fundraising exercise may include a private placement, rights with warrants issuance or convertible bonds, they said. Tan owns 19.13% of PDZ and has been a shareholder of the shipping firm since November 2000. He plans to venture into the O&G sector to diversify earnings and boost profitability. PDZ currently operates six vessels in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Myanmar. (BT)

Friday, March 21, 2014

XOX signed agreement with e-horizon (Edge)

XOX Berhad, a local mobile operator, has signed an agreement with e-horizon, a Swedish developer of mobile soft devices, to market globally the Voopee mobile soft device.

Voopee was jointly developed by XOX Berhad and e-horizon. It is an innovative mobile service application that allows smartphone users to have a second mobile number, minus the need for an additional phone or SIM card.

It was unveiled in January 2014 and has quickly garnered a growing user base.

The Voopee service is currently available in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, UK, Australia, Thailand, China, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Mr. Pekka Peltola, Chairman of e-horizon also present at the signing ceremony said: “With the formation of the joint venture Company based in Sweden, we will take on the role of marketing Voopee to the American and European markets.”

“Our exploratory meetings with mobile operators in these regions have been very positive, with much interest in offering Voopee as a revenue-generating service to their user base,” he added.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Handal Resources Bhd (Jupiter)

Briefing Note
Handal Resources Bhd

Period: 4QFY13 / FY14

Dividend: No dividend was declared for FY13. Dividend in FY12 amounted to 2 sen/share.

Actual versus expectations: No consensus was available but a lower net profit vis-à-vis FY12 was not within expectations.

Highlights: Handal registered a pretax of RM6.5m in FY13 vis-à-vis RM4.2m due to improved performance from its various divisions and FY12 was affected by provision for losses for certain projects. Profit after tax however was lower due to tax expenses arising from accounting for deferred tax for tax allowance enjoyed on the Intellectual Property Rights. Handal recognised RM2.1m of deferred tax.

1) Integrated crane business
The revenue of this business segment increased from RM53m to RM68.2m due to increased activities in crane maintenance but gross profit margin was lower (FY13:44%: FY12:46%) due to higher operation costs.




2) Fabrication of cranes business
Revenue was reduced from RM17.6m to RM7.84m and gross profit margin has marginally decreased due to higher operation cost.

3) Work over Project business
Revenue was reduced from RM10.7m to RM7.5m due to decrease in the work scope & activities. Similarly gross profit margin decreased due to higher operation cost. However, management expects business activities will resume during the first quarter of 2014.

4) Supply, fabrication & servicing industrial equipments & tank
Revenue increased from RM12.3m to RM14.9m due to increased work activities helping gross profit margin (FY13:18%: FY12:6%) improved.

5) Supply of telecommunication & broadcasting system business
Revenue decreased from RM384,000 to RM291,000 due to decrease in the work activities but gross profit margin improved (YE13:52% vs YE12:22%) due to lower staff costs.


Other updates
1. Telok Kalong fabrication yard is in the midst of applying for API certification (to enable the fabrication of cranes that complies with API standards). Target date to obtain certification is end of the year. Some repair and maintenance work that is carried out at Kemaman Supply base will be transferred to Telok Kalong to free up space for crane fabrication at the Supply Base.

2. Modular rig is still waiting for a charter. Rig is currently under assessment by Petronas Group Supply Chain Management, Petronas Carigali and other operators in the EOR (enhanced oil recovery) space. Management expressed confidence of getting the rig employed by year-end given more EOR projects will be carried out by Petronas or its RSCs (risk service contracts).

3. Handal is tendering for new crane orders in Indonesia and in Brunei, a crane maintenance job valued at RM20m. In Malaysia, Handal expressed confidence that more jobs will be forthcoming given Petronas capex program of RM300bn from 2011 – 2015.

4. Gering has improved to 0.4x, debtors turnover days is 121 while creditors turnover days is 91.


Recommendation & valuation
Handal is currently trading at 0.73x its net asset value and at 35.5x PER of its FY13 EPS of 1.3sen. Any upside to the share price will come via improvement in earnings prospects. The improved earnings will be via new orders i.e. both crane fabrication jobs and crane maintenance jobs. The main earning catalyst will be the employment of its modular rig, which can also set Handal on the road to owning more rigs.

We have a NON RATED rating on the stock for now.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

AZRB expecting RM700-750m in revenue this year (CIMB)

Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd (AZRB) is expecting RM700-750m in revenue this year, driven by its construction division, said COO Datuk Roslan Jaffar. He said construction projects including the Klang Valley mass rapid transit (MRT), the International Islamic University Malaysia's teaching hospital in Kuantan, Pahang and Permodalan Nasional Bhd's hotel and office tower project in Kuala Lumpur will contribute to its projected higher revenue. Roslan said this year the group is eyeing two projects, one of which is the Langat 2 water treatment plant project in Selangor. (Financial Daily)

Monday, March 17, 2014

Borneo Oil wins MMC Pahang gold mining contract (Edge)

Borneo Oil Bhd announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Borneo Oil & Gas Corp Sdn Bhd (BOG), has been appointed by Chapmark Sdn Bhd (CSB) as a sub-contractor for gold mining in Pahang.

According to Borneo Oil's statement to the exchange today, BOG will carry out gold prospecting and mining on a 400 acre (about 160ha ) area in Mukim Batu Yon in Lipis district for five years.

Upon expiry, the contract is renewable for another five years, according to Borneo Oil.

Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang had leased the mining area to MMC Corp Bhd which in turn contracted the area to CSB for mineral   prospecting and mining.

Borneo Oil said : “This sub-contract is expected to contribute positively to the future earnings and enhance the net assets of the group."

EA Holdings plans 1-for-1 rights issue, free warrants (Edge)

ACE-listed EA Holdings Berhad (EAH) announced a renounceable 1:1 rights issue, with 2:1 free warrants C.

The company said this would “further reward shareholders while strengthening its already impressive fundamentals as it moves boldly into its next chapter of growth”.

Under this plan, up to 635,910,916 rights shares would be issued on the basis of one rights share for every one EAH share held, together with up to 317,955,458 free detachable Warrants C on the basis of one free warrant for every two rights shares subscribed.

The issue price of the rights shares will be fixed at the par value of EAH Shares of RM0.10 each.

The company said EAH Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Sobri bin Saad, who owns 80 million shares in the company, has provided his irrevocable undertaking to subscribe in full for his entitlement under this exercise.

In the same announcement, EAH is also proposing to increase its authorised share capital from RM100 million to RM250 million.

“EAH is also actively looking out for potential companies under its stringent Merger & Acquisitions plan to diversify its portfolio of businesses and develop new streams of revenue,” said Sobri.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Infortech ties up with SWT of China (Star)

Infortech Alliance Bhd has tied up with China-based SWT International Sdn Bhd to undertake the development, management, operation and implementation of medical waste in Malaysia.

Citing a Frost & Sullivan in 2010, Infortech said the medical waste management industry was expected to hit double-digit growth of 12.8% annually and triple its revenue base to RM2.1bil by 2015.

Frost & Sullivan has also estimated that the total load of hospital waste in Malaysia may soon reach 33,000 tonnes per annum by 2020. However, the current incinerators’ design and capacity can only support incineration of up to 18,000 tonnes of waste annually and there is an urgent need for new incinerators.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Second round of changes at Astral Supreme (Edge)

Astral Supreme Bhd announced a slew of boardroom changes yesterday.

The company said it was appointing Datuk Mohd Shokri Abdullah, Chong Leong Men, Andrew Lim Piow Teng and Datuk Ng Aun Hooi as independent and non-executive directors. Andrew Lim was also appointed as part of the company’s audit committee.

Wong Keo Rou was appointed joint company secretary on March 7.

In terms of redesignations, Wong Kwai Wah was repositioned to the role of executive director, from non-executive director. He also relinquished his position as part of the company’s audit committee.

More notably, Datuk Chai Woon Chet, son of timber tycoon Chai Kin Kong, has taken on the role of managing director, moving up from executive director.

There was one resignation — that of Lee Heng Khen, one of Astral Supreme’s non-executive and non-independent directors. Lee cited other business commitments as the reason for leaving.

Astral is also moving from its current location in Menara Milenium in Pusat Bandar Damansara, to an office in Sri Hartamas.

This round of changes come on the back of the company’s erroneous filing with Bursa Malaysia last Wednesday, saying that executive director Cherng Chin Guan had resigned. It later came out with a separate statement saying that the announcement was “erroneously released and it should be ignored or discarded”.

Last Wednesday also saw the exit of former managing director Ong Tai Chin @ Wong Tai Chin, who was redesignated as non-executive director in January.

Astral’s counter closed 0.005 sen down yesterday, at 22 sen.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Maybank IB downgrades aviation, AirAsia, AirAsia X still Buys (extr.Star)

Maybank IB Research is downgrading the outlook on the aviation sector to Neutral from Overweight, but is maintaining its Buy call for AirAsia and AirAsia X, while recommending a Sell on MAHB.

Surprisingly, perhaps, the research house is upgrading MAS to Hold from Sell.

According to the research house, AirAsia fought a tough battle in 2013 and has proven that it can hold its ground better than its competitors.

“When the operating environment starts to improve, which we think it will in 2014, AirAsia is best positioned to take advantage of this,” it said, maintain the BUY call but lowering the target price to RM2.65 from RM2.80.

AAX also retains the Buy call with a lower target price of RM1.06 from RM1.20.

“AAX’s FY13 results unnerved the market and the stock is now trading at a 34% discount to its IPO price of RM1.25. We acknowledge that 2013 was a disappointment, but the basis of investing in AAX was always premised on 2014’s earnings. We think the market has overreacted and over-punished the stock, which is now trading at deep value territory....

HOVID - Hale and hearty after 2Q bug (CIMB)

Target Price: 0.43
We hosted a small group investor meeting with Hovid’s CFO, Mr. Andrew Goh last Tuesday. The key takeaways are 1) the slow revenue growth in 2Q was due to unscheduled downtime of two weeks for its high-volume blister packaging machine, which delayed the production of about RM4m worth of drugs, 2) it raised its wages in Sep last year but only started to pass through the higher cost to its customers this year, and 3) it remains confident of maintaining 10-15% revenue and earnings growth annually.
 
What We Think
We are cutting our FY14 EPS by 6% to account for the lost production due to outage of its blister packaging machine in 2Q. However, we continue to anticipate stronger earnings in 2H as the machine has been restored. The products that were supposed to be delivered in 2Q were shipped out in Jan 14. We also expect better profit margins in 2H as higher production will lower its unit production cost. On top of that, Hovid typically revises its selling prices in 2H to account for operating cost inflation. Higher selling prices should further boost its profit margin. Higher electricity tariffs from the start of this year will have minimal impact on Hovid’s earnings as electricity accounts for only 2-3% of its total operating cost. Overall, we expect earnings in 2H to be stronger.

What You Should Do
Hovid's recent share price weakness provides a good opportunity for investors to accumulate the stock, in our view. We continue to like its strong earnings growth prospects stemming from fast-growing pharmaceutical spending in its key markets. Potential re-rating catalysts are stronger 2H earnings and increased product registrations in its export markets.

Daya mulls fund raising proposals (Star)

Daya Materials Bhd has said it is considering various fund raising proposals, which include the combination of private placement, rights with warrants issuance, convertible bonds and senior debt financing which could come up to RM950mil.

This is to finance the purchase of two offshore sub-sea construction vessels, it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia. Further information on the potential funds raising exercise will be made at the appropriate time, Daya added.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Newly-appointed Chai hopes to make impact at Astral Supreme (extr.Star)

Newly-appointed executive director of Astral Supreme Bhd Datuk Eddie Chai Woon Chet has denied he has any shares in the company but lays out plans to turn around the company with a focus on construction activities.

“I don’t have any stake in Astral Supreme, I was invited by board members to come in,” he told a press conference called by the company.

Another new director to the company is Wong Kwai Wah, who is an executive director of Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, the company that is reportedly the developer of the proposed RM6.3bil undersea tunnel in Penang.

Chai, the son of Sabah timber tycoon Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, said Astral Supreme’s construction unit had been invited to submit a tender for a RM600mil project by the government under the latter’s Project Perumahaan Rakyat (PPR) plans.
He added that the company was confident of winning the project.

“We have a short deadline to submit our tender, and we are confident of turning around the company via the construction arm,” he said.

Chai said the project would entail the construction of 40,000 units of apartments in Sabah, Malacca, Kelantan and Johor.

It isn’t clear on what basis Astral Supreme has been identified by the Government for this PPR project.

But last August its construction unit, Astral Supreme Construction Sdn Bhd teamed up with Zenith PMC Sdn Bhd to manage, perform and carry out feasibility studies and detailed designs for certain roadworks and the undersea tunnel between Penang island and Seberang Prai.

Astral Supreme reported a net loss of RM10.1mil for its year ended Dec 31, 2013. The company’s main business is in electronic component manufacturing.


Chai made news earlier this year when he surfaced in telecommunications company XOX Bhd. He was made managing director of XOX in January and one report speculated that the Chai family had gained control of the loss-making XOX.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Bio Osmo plans share placement (Edge)

Bio Osmo Bhd plans to place out up to 48 million new shares, to raise funds which will finance the firm's working capital needs. Bio Osmo processes and sells drinking water.

In a statement to the exchange today, Bio Osmo said it planned to place out the shares, constituting up to 10% of its issued base, to third-party investors.

"The proposed private placement will enable Bio Osmo to raise funds for the Bio Osmo group’s working capital requirements.

"The proposed private placement is expected to provide additional capital to the Bio Osmo group, for its business operations, and at the same time, increase the flexibility of the Bio Osmo group’s cash-flow management," Bio Osmo said.

Bio Osmo said, it had however, not fixed the price for the placement shares. The firm said that it would not price the shares below the stock's par value of 20 sen each.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Alliance: TH Heavy may double EPS with RM400m record orderbook (Edge)

TH Heavy Engineering Bhd may double its earnings per share (EPS) in anticipation that the usage of its fabrication yard will rise to 90%, according to Alliance Research.

In a note today, Alliance analyst Arhnue Tan said "TH Heavy could see EPS growth of 70-110% per annum over FY14-FY15. Further yard expansion, and securing a FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading) contract, would further improve earnings visibility for the group over the longer term."
According to Tan, TH Heavy which fabricates offshore oil and gas facilities, will enter FY14 with a RM400 million record order book. TH Heavy's financial year ends on December 31.

Tan said the RM400 million was a record high for TH Heavy since its Practice Note 17 regularisation plan in 2011. In addition to the RM400 million orderbook, Tan expects another RM300 million of new jobs to be added.

She said : “With expanded workforce and yard space as well as a record high orderbook of RM400 million , we expect earnings will normalise starting 1QFY14.“

Alliance had reiterated its “buy” call for TH Heavy shares with a target price of RM1.24. This was despite weaker earnings in 4QFY13.

At 10.56am, TH Heavy shares fell three sen or 3.16% to 92 sen.

"We expect that the group will add on more fabrication contracts this year. Management highlights that they are tendering for up to 9 projects currently, comprising large scale central processing type projects (with partner McDermott) worth RM1-2bn as well as smaller well head platform / topside projects on their own".

Alliance maintained its FY14 estimates for TH Heavy with the view that the expanded orderbook, workforce and yard space would see the group achieving strong growth in FY14.