Investing Reflections On India

Goodricke Group is in the business of supplying premium and instant tea to domestic as well as export customers.  It owns 17 tea estates in 3 locations – Darjeeling, Assam and Dooars (North West Bengal). The company has reported consistent growth in revenues and profits over the last five years – reporting about 75cr in operating profits on revenues of over 400cr in the last financial year (ended 31 st December, 2010).  It operated with modest net debt of about 30cr as at 30 th June, 2011. The business is monsoon-dependent and cyclical – based on supplies of tea stocks in Sri Lanka as well as Kenya.  It is also subject to price competition for lower quality teas and faces increasing competition in packet teas.

Hi-Tech Gears is in the business of manufacturing Gear Box/Transmission Equipment and supplies them to two and four-wheelers.   60% of its sales are to Hero Honda and it consistently receives good quality audit scores.   The company has reported consistent growth in revenues and profits over the last five years – generating about 75cr of operating profits on revenues of about 430cr in the last financial year.   It operated with modest net borrowings of about 45cr. The business is exposed to the risks of steel price rises, interest rate rises (vehicle financing), adverse currency exchange rate movements (exports) and risks of technological obsolescence.   It is also exposed to customer concentration risk with such a high proportion of revenues generated from a single customer – any breakdown in that relationship will have a substantial impact on the company’s revenues and profits.

Kabra Extrusion is in the business of manufacturing plastic extrusion machines. It is a dominant player in this industry and claims to have almost 100% repeat business from its customers.  It has a technological tie-up with Battenfield Extrusion Technik in Germany. The company has reported consistent growth in revenues and profits over the last five years although it has taken a recent dive in the latest (June) quarter as a result of low capital expenditure by Indian companies.  It generated operating profits of 33cr on revenues of about 220cr and operated with minimal external debt in the last financial year. The business is exposed to risks of technological obsolescence of its products, import competition, and foreign exchange risks (on exports).  Moreover, the capital nature of its products renders it vulnerable to the capital investment cycle resulting in lumpy revenues in boom times and sub-normal business in recessionary conditions.

Vikas WSP is in the business of producing guar gum powder, which is used primarily in food products and also for oil drilling activities.   It claims to be the leading producer of guar gum polymers in the world with customers such as Nestle, Mars, Heinz, Sara Lee, Unilever and CSM. The company has shown consistent growth in profitability and revenues over the years with 145 crores in operating profits on 550 crores in revenues in the last 12 months.  It also sports modest debt on its balance sheet. It hasn’t, however, generated free cash flows (operating cash flows – investing cash flows) over the last seven years due to excessive capital expenditure and expansion programmes.  This has been financed by debt financing and a particularly large preferential allotment of equity to promoters in 2008. The business is subject to risks of inadequate monsoon and water supply for the principal raw material (guar).  It is also exposed to risks of adverse regulatory changes in the food and