KUALA LUMPUR: Tek Seng Holdings Bhd ( Valuation: 0.80, Fundamental: 0.60), a Penang-based polyvinyl chloride (PVC) product manufacturer, which is ramping up its solar energy business, expects the segment to drive earnings growth as the world shifts further towards energy efficiency and sustainability.
Interest in solar products should see rising interest after the Paris Climate Conference last month, as nearly 200 countries have agreed to limit temperature rises by cutting down fossil consumption in power generation.
Tek Seng, which derived most of its earnings from PVC flooring and packaging product business, ventured into the solar energy business when it became clear that the segment would not be able to generate double-digit growth in years to come.
“Earlier, we projected that [the] PVC business may continue to post double-digit growth in the next three years, but given the current market situation, we think it is not realistic anymore,” its executive chairman Loh Kok Beng told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview recently.
But it is not all doom and gloom for the group. Its solar segment has started to gain a stronger foothold and reversed its losses in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2015 (3QFY15).
“Based on the segment’s track record, we expect the revenue contribution of the solar segment to grow to 60% from 40% currently in the current financial year ending Dec 31, 2016 (FY16), while the PVC segment’s contribution may fall to 40% from 60% presently,” Loh said.
With the strong performance of the solar segment, Loh is optimistic that the group is likely to achieve double-digit growth in revenue in FY15 and FY16.
“The order book for this year and [the] first quarter of 2017 has been filled up,” Loh said, expecting more orders to continue to flow in as China, the world’s second-largest economy, plans to increase solar power capacity to reduce environmental pollution.
“Further, we are not bound to the anti-dumping duties and this could further boost our sales,” he added.
Tek Seng’s solar cells are sold mainly to Taiwan, China and Eastern Europe. Taiwan and China accounted for 80% of the total sales.
In view of rising demand, Loh said the group had set aside RM200 million in FY16 to boost its production capacity to capture growth of the multibillion business.
According to him, the funds will be utilised for the installation of four additional new production lines, which would boost its total production capacity to 490mw from 210mw currently.
“One of the new lines is expected to start operation by early next month, while the other three, which will be housed in the new plant, will commence operation in phases towards the end of the year,” he said.
Currently, Tek Seng has three solar production lines at its solar energy plant in Penang, which gives it a total manufacturing capacity of 210mw per annum or 70mw per line.
“According to our internal estimation, each of the production line has the potential to generate about RM100 million in revenue per year, should it run at an average utilisation rate of 97%,” Loh added.
Claiming it as the only solar cell maker in the country, Tek Seng is in the midst of constructing its second solar energy plant, which can house approximately 10 new manufacturing lines, bringing its total production capacity to 680mw.
“The construction work is expected to be completed by [the] third quarter of this year,” Loh said.
Tek Seng’s solar segment swung back to profitability in 3QFY15 with a profit of RM7.53 million from a loss of RM3.65 million in 2QFY15. It registered revenue of RM55.77 million in 3QFY15, accounting for 56% of the group’s total turnover.
On its PVC business, Loh is hopeful that the segment could maintain its performance in FY16 as production costs come down amid low commodity prices.
“Last year, the segment’s orders declined as much as 20%, mainly impacted by a stronger US dollar against all major currencies. But orders normalised after we slashed our prices by about 10%,” he said.
“Our products are mainly exported to emerging countries, such as Indonesia, [the] Middle East and Africa, and a strong [US] dollar will erode our clients’ purchasing power,” he explained.
Although currency volatility has hurt the company’s performance, it has no plan to hedge itself.
Instead, Loh said the group plans to offer various options, for example, a client can choose to pay according to the exchange rate on the invoice date or goods delivery date, whichever deemed best for them.
“We are also considering to bill our clients in other currencies that would benefit them,” he added.
Tek Seng posted a net profit of RM5.04 million in 3QFY15, a 183% jum
Highlight!!! “The order book for this year and [the] first quarter of 2017 has been filled up,” Loh said, expecting more orders to continue to flow in as China, the world’s second-largest economy, plans to increase solar power capacity to reduce environmental pollution.
Solarworld AG won a bid to have European Union tariffs on Chinese solar panels extended to Malaysia and Taiwan, after the EU found that China’s exporters used the two other countries to evade the levies.
l. The decision, which is due to take effect on Saturday and exempts some Malaysian and Taiwanese producers, is the outcome of a probe that the commission opened in May 2015, as a result of a request by Bonn, Germany-based Solarworld.
Ah Seng is Malaysia real production factory. Ah Seng will be exempted mean no levies TAX lah
JNG and chickmonk,,, some readers shared some news because they hv interest in solar like ah seng. Otherwise, they dont bother to search, read, copy and share here. Maybe they hv good intention. Maybe they want to buy ah seng in low price. But anyway, believe in your own assessment. Im with you with vested interest. Lets wait for coming quarter earnings. Huat ah!!
Solarworld AG won a bid to have European Union tariffs on Chinese solar panels extended to Malaysia and Taiwan, after the EU found that China’s exporters used the two other countries to evade the levies.
The recent EDGE report mentioned that 80% of Tekseng's solar cell sales are to Taiwan and China. Hence not so much implication from the EU anti-dumping extension. But Tekseng may be exempted anyway.
Hi! Chikmonk, GongXi GongXi In Monkey 2016 Hope u don't mind, I'm updating u the following, u might chk it out while u want a diversified portfolio.
☆★☆ 10 Reasons to own this nice litter ...Monkey King ;-
1) share floating very small , compared to Mmsv/Elsoft/D&O. 1)JHM in the most robustly niche segment (Auto HB ext. Led) amongst the Led industries. 3) Ceo is very positive to their fortcoming Led biz. 4) Rm $ is strengthening. 5) It is still not under major fund coverage yet. Very Important to my Selection criterior, to buy at low entry. 6) Market sentiment juz abt to soar again. 7) Jhm is in ICon8888 goodies in 2016. 8) JHM , mean Jing Heng Monkeys. Hahaha 9) This qtr results to be announced on 26/2/16 expected an improvement. 10) Corporate Exercise to be approved for the Special Right Issues, to furthurt boost buying interest. Decision is yours , Good luck & may d monkey king return for 2016.
Noobnnew n Chickmonk, congratulation to all of us ! We collect at low price! EPS up 100% up from EPS 2 cent to 4 cent ! Three week ago I only estimated EPS 3 cent in Q4.
With Q4, 4 cents, the solar contributed 14.4M, Long story short, with JNG's today calculate Ah Seng production solar capacity to exit 2016, next 4 qtrs, exponential/explosive growth
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....
Ven Felix
2,182 posts
Posted by Ven Felix > 2016-02-03 20:42 | Report Abuse
Hi! Chickmonk , JHM Very Strong Bullish engulfing signal. No harm to check this Little Joe monkey up. Wish both Seng & Joe growwwww toward 2020. :)