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Fluidomat

The company is in the business of manufacturing ‘fluid couplings’, which are power transmission devices used in various basic industries such as thermal power plants, steel, cement, and other infrastructure-related businesses.

The company has shown reasonable growth in revenues and profits in the recent past with no net debt as at 31st March, 2011.  It generated about 2.5 crores in net profits on revenues of 18 crores in the last financial year.  The company was, however, a victim of financial restructuring several years ago as a result of severe losses (pre-2000) and erosion of reserves.  It has now recovered its former losses and built up its net worth as a result of the recent good performance.

Management has deployed retained earnings at reasonably attractive rates of return in the past and recently declared a dividend of INR 1/share on its equity shares.

The company has apparently expended efforts to build its brand in the Australian and New Zealand markets apart from the domestic market.

The business is exposed to the risk of adverse price spikes in aluminium and other input components.   Moreover, it is a cyclical business fluctuating with the capital investment cycle in the country resulting in lumpy revenues and hard knocks during recessionary conditions.  It is also relatively capital intensive with investments required in CNC machines, testing facilities etc. to capitalise on future growth; and indirectly reliant on government policies for the various customer industries (primarily in the manner it impacts the volume of new projects) including the effects of changes in taxes, expenditures etc.
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