Petra Energy Bhd is understood to be close to securing a six month extension till year end for its RM1.1 billion hook-up, construction and commissioning (HUCC) and major maintenance services awarded by Sarawak Shell Bhd and Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd in September 2008.
The contact was for a four year term ending December 2012, with an option for another year extension—broken down to two six month terms.
“They (Petra Energy) are on the verge of securing the extension till year end,” an industry official familiar with the matter said, declining to comment further.
Petra Energy officials declined comment.
Taking the RM1.1 billion job over the span of four years, back of the envelope calculations indicate that the extension could work out to about RM22.9 million a month or RM137.5 million for the six month extension, which could be a boon to Petra Energy.
What is more interesting is that the contract was supposed to be awarded as a five year RM2.8 billion job, in early June— after Petra Energy’s first six month extension expired. The new RM2.8 billion contract has been lumped up as part of the RM8 billion Pan Malaysian cluster of awards, slated to be announced in June this year.
So the question is does this six month extension ensure Petra Energy the RM2.8 billion five year job?
Opinions are divided.
“Why would they get the six month extension if they were not going to be awarded the larger RM2.8 million contract…It doesn’t make sense for them to award it to anyone else now…It’s like they have a foot in the door already,” an oil and gas official said.
However an analyst from a local brokerage begs to differ. He says that it would take time for Petra Energy the incumbent to wind down, if they don’t get the five year contract, and about the same time frame for a new winner to mobilise, and commence work on the contract.
While the analyst says that it is not etched in stone that Petra Energy will bag the RM2.8 billion five-year job, he does view the company’s prospects in a positive light and has a buy call on the company’s stock.
He said that Petra Energy has an orderbook of about RM400 million— indicating that the six month extension itself is a much needed boost for the company. Petra Energy’s tender book meanwhile is understood to be in excess of RM2 billion.
Petra Energy for its year ended December 2012 posted paltry net profits of RM7.44 million from RM654.89 million in revenue. Earnings were dragged down by a RM13.91 million net loss in the fourth quarter of the year, brought about by the recognition of losses at a civil engineering services arm.
As at end last year Petra Energy had RM100.70 million in cash and bank balances, while on the other side of the balance sheet the company had short term debt commitments of RM181.99 million and long term borrowings of RM9.79 million.
Nevertheless the company’s prospects could get better with the award of the jobs under the Pan Malaysia Cluster, and the award of a risk service contract (RSC) partnering Coastal Energy.
Petra Energy and Coastal Energy joint venture secured the RSC on a 30:70 basis, in September last year for the Kapal, Banang and Meranti cluster of fields off the coast of Terengganu. According to industry sources the mobile production offshore unit is being mobilised for the job.
However Petra Energy’s strength is its strong set of shareholders, such as East Malaysian businessman Bustari Yusoff controlling 27.5% equity interest, Wah Seong Corp Bhd with 26.9% shareholding, and Mohamed Nizam Abdul Razak brother of current premier Najib Abdul Razak, owning a 9.09% stake.
Both Petra Energy and Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd are the two largest HUCC players in the country, and both are expected to walk away with substantial portions of the contracts under the Pan Malaysia Cluster.
However both companies have been tight lipped about the possible awards under the Pan Malaysia Cluster.
Other significant players in the mix include Sarku Resources Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned unit of oil and gas giants SapuraKencana Bhd, and Shapadu Corp Sdn Bhd, where wholly owned unit Shapadu Energy & Engineering Sdn Bhd handles HUCC jobs.
Petra Energy’s stock ended trading at RM1.49 on Friday giving it a market capitalisation of RM479.41 million.
Petra got the sko Huc.. 2bn.. I guess won't announce this week.. Anyway, looking at the research above, it seems negative.. Maybe wait for the next research result only enter hahaha
RHB CIMB or whatever if tomorrow announce new projects they will revise it again la. trust ur own judgement..if u want to play safe,just wait for next market crash. easy
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....
ST
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Posted by ST > 2012-04-09 15:36 | Report Abuse
any insight???