Investing Reflections On India

HB Estate Developers operates in the real estate industry – constructing hotels, shopping malls and residential properties; and renting commercial space. It is currently involved in hotel construction for Taj Vivanta in Gurgaon.  It also has a 57% interest in a real estate project with Parsvanth Developers costing about 30cr.  The project is currently loss making but is backed by equivalent net assets. Since the company is primarily an investment company, the balance sheet would be more significant to understanding the financial aspects of its operations than the income statement.  The company had over 300cr invested in its main project.  It financed this with 240cr of external debt net of 24cr in cash and liquid assets as at the end of the last financial year. The construction business is subject to the risk of rising material costs (steel, cement etc.).  It is also adversely impacted by crude oil price rises, which impact hotels’ tourism revenues.  Furthermore, the

Ponni Sugars operates in the sugar industry producing sugar from sugarcane. The company has access to relatively low cost cane supplies that provides it with some buffer during the industry’s persistent cyclical downturns. The company has reported moderate growth in revenues over the last five years but operating profits (and losses) have been erratic.  It reported 15cr of operating profits on revenues of about 270cr under depressed operating conditions (see below).  It operated with a moderate net debt load of about 15cr but this is set to increase substantially over the next few years (see below). The company intends to invest 110cr in increasing capacity via debt funding in 2012, which may increase its financial risk profile.   It also intends to invest heavily in a power co-generation project.  These additional capital expenditures will reduce free cash flows, at least over the medium term. The business is exposed to the myriad problems of the sugar industry.  Su

Alphageo is in the business of executing seismic surveys for oil exploration majors such as ONGC, Essar etc. The company has reported reasonably stable revenues and operating profits over the last five years except for a dip in profitability in the last financial year as well as last quarter.   It operated average operating profits of about 30cr in the last five years on revenues of about 75cr.   It employed no net debt as at 31 st March, 2011. The business is subject to risks of international competition from reputed players, crude oil price drops, technological obsolescence, manpower retention, government policies on oil exploration, highly lumpy revenues including periods of significant revenue and earnings downturns in lean times, cost underestimation on long-term projects, legal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations, etc.

JK Paper is in the business of manufacturing paper/paper boards. It holds a leading competitive position in the copier, coated and packaging board segments. The company has reported consistent growth in revenues and operating profits over the last five years – reporting 260cr in operating profits on revenues of about 1,400cr in the last financial year while operating with moderate net debt of about 500cr. The business is subject to the risks of wood and pulp availability as well as their price rises.  It is also exposed to the risks of cyclicality (periods of industry oversupply), Chinese dumping, poor infrastructure and therefore imports from nations with well-developed infrastructure, lack of corporate farming in the country, lack of experienced personnel, interest rate rises (affecting loan costs) and GST (tax) increases.

Vinati Organics is in the business of supplying chemicals – specifically it supplies IBB (intermediate) for manufacturing Ibuprofen and ATBS (monomers) used in oil-field recovery, water treatment, acrylics manufacturing etc. The company holds leading competitive positions in its industries – it’s the largest supplier of IBB in the world and second largest supplier of ATBS in the world. The company has reported consistent growth in revenues and operating profits over the last five years – reporting 64cr in operating profits on revenues of over 315cr in the last financial year while operating with modest net debt of about 75cr. The business is exposed to the risks of economic downturns, crude oil price declines, weakening of US$ and lack of skilled labour.

Super Sales is in the business of of manufacturing and supplying cotton yarn, textile and CNC machines via direct marketing.   The company has reported reasonable growth in revenues and operating profits over the last five years – reporting 50cr of operating profits on revenues of about 180cr in the last financial year.   However, it operated with a relatively high debt load of 100cr when considering the nature of its business. The business’ fortunes are tied with the user industries.   Therefore, it is exposed to the risks of cotton price spikes, labour shortage, foreign exchange risks, government policies on imports/exports/subsidies etc.   It is also exposed to heavy domestic and international competition and to frequent power shortages.