FY12 pay out 110% (14 sen) of profit, payout ratio should max out at 70-80% so that there's money left for the company to expand or for working capital
Yes good stable recurring income from road maintenance and construction for dividend payout. Income from property and oil & gas should provide additional income for more payouts
Protasco going back to Libya, seeking compensation from Libyan Govt
KAJANG: Undeterred by previous losses, Protasco Bhd, a mid-sized integrated infrastructure company, is returning to Libya after halting operations there due to a revolution.
Group managing director Datuk Chong Ket Pen said the company was restarting business in Libya at end-June after exiting the country two years ago.
“We have written off RM20mil in provision in the past two years for our halted operations in Libya.
“Our machines are still there. We've been asked to start work by the government and our team has gone back a few times,” Chong told StarBiz.
He said Protasco's operations in Libya had been profitable until the revolution interrupted its business. Libya is currently undergoing political reconstruction.
“We tend to gain than lose, given that we have written off all our provisions in the past two years. There will be no more losses,” Chong said, adding that it was also seeking compensation from the Libyan government.
He said the firm still had some RM60mil worth of jobs from two contracts in Libya to be done.
“It will be good if we can get some compensation. We are seeking compensation for loss of income and depreciation of machines,” Chong said.
In the past, analysts have pointed out that Libya was a promising market for Protasco. Libya was once touted as the next gold mine for Protasco to strengthen its order-book before the revolution happened.
On Protasco's overseas projects, Chong said the group would continue to seek opportunities in other countries to sustain growth.
“We will focus on countries within a four-hour flight zone. It is easier for us to manage,” he said.
Chong also said Protasco was working on the second phase of its property development, De Centrum City, bidding for some infrastructure projects as well as conducting due diligence to venture into the oil and gas business in Indonesia.
Protasco had announced earlier that it was buying 75% of oil and gas outfit PT Anglo Slavic Indonesia (ASI Group) from PT Anglo Slavic Utama for US$55mil (RM168mil).
“We're still awaiting the due diligence report. If it is favourable then we will call for an EGM to put forward the proposal to shareholders,” Chong said.
If the takeover is successful, the move into the energy sector will enable Protasco to diversify its earnings.
ASI Group operates 30 oil wells in the KST Field, located in Aceh Tamiang Regency of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province. It is part of a bigger Rantau Block, which has a total 600 production wells.
On the second phase of De Centrum City, Chong said the gross development value (GDV) was about RM400mil. “We will launch it in mid-2014.”
He said the phase two would be a mixed development consisting of residences, offices, convention centre and a four-star hotel.
Chong also disclosed that the company was negotiating with potential clients for en-block purchase.
De Centrum City is a 87-acre property development with a GDV of RM6.6bil. The GDV of the first phase was RM250mil and shops built in that phase are fully sold.
Going forward, its property division is expected to contribute some 15% to its earnings.
Chong said Protasco's earnings visibility was “positive”. He explained that based on its RM1.7bil order-book, it would translate into some RM400mil a year.
For the first quarter ended March 31, Protasco posted a net profit of RM4.9mil on revenue of RM134.7mil.
Over the past five years, Protasco has been paying consistent dividend. In the financial year ended Dec 31, 2012, the company paid a total 14 sen net dividend per share.
Chong said the group had no dividend policy at the moment but was comfortable distributing 50%60% of its net profit to shareholders. The Star
the key word "De Centrum City is a 87-acre property development with a GDV of RM6.6bil. The GDV of the first phase was RM250mil and shops built in that phase are fully sold."
Given that first phase is completely sold, that should contribute to earnings this year. Hopefully the the earnings would have converted into cash flow to be distributed.
I think Protsco profit is definitely higher this year. I guess easily more than 10% net than last yr
From property development and write back from Libya project. Conservatively 50% write back from RM20m written off in Libya (based on yesterday Star report) is RM10m. RM10m is 28% of last year net profit.
Oil effect brings the price from 1.00 to 1.25, breaking resistance could be 1.35-1.50 anytime. Oil PE is 25x-30x means could be double the value. Watch the price when oil project is completed.
JF Apex Securities Bhd in its "Trading Idea" investment research report has placed a RM1.31 target price on Protasco Bhd -- a road construction company.
"Protasco is an under-researched and low profile small-cap contractor which has not attracted much investor attention. The lack of investor interest on the stock is due to the fact that the Group has not been involved in much construction works especially on the high-profile mega projects which were awarded in the past few years although the Group is consistently rewarding shareholders with decent dividend yield of over 6 per cent.
"However, we reckon that market perception on the stock could be changed as Protasco is riding on the current property boom, banking on its project in Kajang, the next hotspot since MRT was announced, and its maiden venture into Oil & Gas segment," said JF Apex Securities.
Protasco currently has an outstanding order book of over RM1.7 billion, comprising five road maintenance jobs that will last the company until 2016-2019 -- thus guaranteeing recurring income of some RM350 million a year.
"Our fair value for Protasco is RM1.31, pegged at 10.5x FY2014F PE, which is in line with our mid-to-upcycle valuation for small-cap construction stocks under coverage. Our target price indicates an upside of 13 per cent against the closing price of RM1.17, together with the estimated dividend yield of 7 per cent, bringing the potential upside close to 20 per cent.
"We favour the stock for its: 1) strategically located property project in Kajang; 2) attractive dividend yields of close to 7%; 3) consistent recurring income with road maintenance concessions; and 4) further diversification into the burgeoning O&G sector," it said in its report on June 14.
Hi. There are 2 reasons for the general downward market trend.
1.) Foreign funds pulling out of emerging markets due to the strengthening of the US dollar and the unwinding of the US dollar carry trade - a result of expectations of Fed tapering the stimulus.
2.) Tightening of credit in China which results in expectations of a slowdown in growth of China, which could possibly affect the rest of Asia and the global economy.
In response to 1.), the majority of the shareholders are the domestic shareholders (Up to 96.78%). We therefore expect any selling from 1.) to be extremely limited, in light of the pull-out of foreign funds. Public shareholding spread of the Company is 44.30%. Assuming that the substantial shareholders do not liquidate their holdings (which is a reasonable assumption given prospects of company), any selling would be further limited.
In response to 2.), we can expect counters with exposure to China directly/indirectly to be affected. Protasco derives its earnings from infrastructure development in Malaysia and possibly Libya in the near future. It's earnings are independent of economic situation in China, USA, EU or any other countries. It is also for this reason that any impact on Protasco's earnings from the financial crisis in 2008-09 were limited. Perhaps earnings from property development may be affected but Malaysia is currently experiencing a boom in property after the elections, which bode well for the company. The Malaysian government has also planned to increase infrastructure spending under the 10th Malaysian Plan as evidenced by increased public borrowing by the Malaysian government.
Conclusion: Despite strong fundamentals, share price can still tank as we have seen from 2008-09 where earnings were relatively stable and dividend payouts were high and consistent. In that period, Protasco fell by more than 50% to RM 0.60. If I had researched on Protasco during that period, I would certainly have swept up the shares. However, the current situation is nothing like 2008-09 and I would expect earnings to strengthen year-on-year given recent developments for Protasco. I cannot say for certain if the price will hit RM 1.15 but I am optimistic about the prospects of Protasco and would not sell out at this point in time.
To Caiyi: To ans your question, I would buy at 1.16 if it ever reaches that price but that's just me. I wouldn't want to be responsible for your gains or losses so it would be ideal if you could do some research and make an informed and independent decision.
sephiroth protaso director, tey por yee keep buying weird companies like nextnation and maemode 26/06/2013 11:42
tonylim Sephi... probably a soh chee wen of this decade. If you know what I mean. Meanwhile I hope he keep the money in protasco intact and not to f around 26/06/2013 11:46
last year net profit RM35.88m or 12.1 sen per share if 10% growth profit RM39.47m or 13.3 per share if 15% growth profit RM41.26m or 13.9 sen per share
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
Alex Lim
588 posts
Posted by Alex Lim > 2013-06-11 21:15 | Report Abuse
slow slow up better...steady.......