Simplex Realty is engaged in the business of real estate
construction and similar activities.
The company appears to have one residential/commercial
project running currently in Mumbai on a revenue-sharing basis with the land
owner. The plans for the project appear
to be approved and the commercial certificate is pending.
The company reported negative reserves and net worth in 2006
and 2007 and restored it in subsequent years with apparently large net profits,
which weren’t backed by cash flows – although over 40cr of loans were wiped out
as a result. The performance has been
highly erratic and there are currently no revenues (see above) until the
project is completed.
Management appear optimistic about the medium to long-term
outlook of real estate activities primarily due to the demand/supply gap
primarily as a result of government thrust on infrastructure development
including housing and retail as well as commercial demand from the IT and
Financial Services industries.
The business is primarily exposed to high competition
particularly in the major cities where small construction companies supply the
majority of residential construction output in a highly fragmented market
The business is at least equally, if not more, impacted by the
interest rate cycle, which dampens demand and crimps profitability in high
interest environments. Moreover, it is
affected by RBI policies on real estate lending and other regulations such as
clamping down on ‘teaser’ rates, which perversely benefits this industry.
This business, like most businesses in the country, is
exposed to input cost inflation at every level.
It is also exposed to myriad execution risks from the grant of
government permits and levy of taxes to the availability of labour/materials
and suitability of weather conditions.
The company’s equity is largely constituted by loans and
advances including advances for property development of 44cr (see project
description above) and inter-corporate deposits of 38cr (recoverability
unknown). Management has also made an
investment in a renewable energy business – presumably to assist in
constructing ‘green’ buildings. The
economic viability of this investment is also not ascertainable based on the
information provided.
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