A reader asked about why
Kim Heng price is not moving much after the IPO. I decide to spend some time to
look at the company.
Kim Heng price is not moving much after the IPO. I decide to spend some time to
look at the company.
Honestly, I am familiar
with Kim Heng years before its IPO, but I had not done any very detail financial
research on the company. My following post is based from historical, industry and
Rolf’s sentiments. You probably need to go beyond that into the detail FA and
decide for yourself.
with Kim Heng years before its IPO, but I had not done any very detail financial
research on the company. My following post is based from historical, industry and
Rolf’s sentiments. You probably need to go beyond that into the detail FA and
decide for yourself.
Source: IPO prospectus
Management
If you love family
business, you are going to love Kim Heng! It is not difficult to find many “Tans”
holding high positions within the company. Hopefully salary increment year
after year will justify the performance of the management for the fairness of
shareholders.
business, you are going to love Kim Heng! It is not difficult to find many “Tans”
holding high positions within the company. Hopefully salary increment year
after year will justify the performance of the management for the fairness of
shareholders.
The elder Tan (SK) and
his younger brother Thomas Tan are inheritors of the 40 years old businesses
from their father. Thomas Tan is the current CEO and major shareholder at 54%.
The elder Tan had since retired from the business after public listing. Having
said that, the elder Tan will still receive S$300k per year as honorarium
payment of retirement benefits for the next three years. That is not too bad! One
important question is also which of the Tans contribute more to the success of
the business before IPO?
his younger brother Thomas Tan are inheritors of the 40 years old businesses
from their father. Thomas Tan is the current CEO and major shareholder at 54%.
The elder Tan had since retired from the business after public listing. Having
said that, the elder Tan will still receive S$300k per year as honorarium
payment of retirement benefits for the next three years. That is not too bad! One
important question is also which of the Tans contribute more to the success of
the business before IPO?
In my opinion, family
business normally has good survivability quality during bad times and can ride the
uptrend during good times. One thing that may seems eluding compared to
professional run companies, is the ability to grow. This is probably due to the
increasing difficulty to attract talents into family run business, and the more
conservative nature over the risk appetite for growth.
business normally has good survivability quality during bad times and can ride the
uptrend during good times. One thing that may seems eluding compared to
professional run companies, is the ability to grow. This is probably due to the
increasing difficulty to attract talents into family run business, and the more
conservative nature over the risk appetite for growth.
Business Model
The understanding of
Kim Heng core businesses is critical in our decision to invest.
Kim Heng core businesses is critical in our decision to invest.
We can do it all
Kim Heng businesses include
ad-hoc shipbuilding and repair, rig services, fabrication of rig or offshore
related structures, heavy lifting, vessel chartering, vessel sale, land
transport, stockist of pipes, engineering design of offshore piping
installations, warehousing, shipping, crew management, freight forwarding and
many other services. It is quite a typical “we can do everything” company,
without a specific niche. This is something I am not impressed!
ad-hoc shipbuilding and repair, rig services, fabrication of rig or offshore
related structures, heavy lifting, vessel chartering, vessel sale, land
transport, stockist of pipes, engineering design of offshore piping
installations, warehousing, shipping, crew management, freight forwarding and
many other services. It is quite a typical “we can do everything” company,
without a specific niche. This is something I am not impressed!
Rig servicing – Fantastic
business with good margins
business with good margins
The service and repair
business for International Rig or Offshore vessel owners such as Transocean,
Seadrill, Saipem, Mcdermott etc is a lucrative one with high margins. The high
margins normally arise from the urgent client requirements, which often place
more emphasis on delivery time than pricing. This is definitely beneficial for
Kim Heng business which also one of the reasons why majority of IPO proceeds
will go into enhancing yard facilities for Rigs to come alongside.
business for International Rig or Offshore vessel owners such as Transocean,
Seadrill, Saipem, Mcdermott etc is a lucrative one with high margins. The high
margins normally arise from the urgent client requirements, which often place
more emphasis on delivery time than pricing. This is definitely beneficial for
Kim Heng business which also one of the reasons why majority of IPO proceeds
will go into enhancing yard facilities for Rigs to come alongside.
Favourable O&M
outlook
outlook
Being located in
Singapore-offshore hub is beneficial for Kim Heng with many Rig and Offshore
companies having base here. The favourable outlook of the offshore and marine
industry is also one of the reasons why Credence Capital founded by Koh Boon
Hwee – former Singtel, SIA & DBS and current Yeo Hiap Seng, Far East
Orchard chairman is investing into the company and own 22.7% after IPO.
Singapore-offshore hub is beneficial for Kim Heng with many Rig and Offshore
companies having base here. The favourable outlook of the offshore and marine
industry is also one of the reasons why Credence Capital founded by Koh Boon
Hwee – former Singtel, SIA & DBS and current Yeo Hiap Seng, Far East
Orchard chairman is investing into the company and own 22.7% after IPO.
Rising Overheads
Due to aging rigs, we
also will see more rig servicing jobs required. However availability of skilled
workers and rising cost of labour can be a concern. Aside from Keppel and Sembcorp,
smaller players operating shipyards are often at risk of shortage of skilled labour and extremely high fixed yard overheads . This is also one of the reasons why I am not a fan
of companies with shipyards. Competitors of Kim Heng include Global One, ASL
Marine, Crystal Offshore etc who are also eyeing a “bite” in the very “sweet”
rig service business.
also will see more rig servicing jobs required. However availability of skilled
workers and rising cost of labour can be a concern. Aside from Keppel and Sembcorp,
smaller players operating shipyards are often at risk of shortage of skilled labour and extremely high fixed yard overheads . This is also one of the reasons why I am not a fan
of companies with shipyards. Competitors of Kim Heng include Global One, ASL
Marine, Crystal Offshore etc who are also eyeing a “bite” in the very “sweet”
rig service business.
Financials
As mention, I had not
gone into the very details but below you can find the financial for the past
years.
gone into the very details but below you can find the financial for the past
years.
Source: IPO Prospectus
The S$9mil losses in 2010 are worrying and it is good to know
the reasons behind it. On the contrary, I adores the impressive gross and net profit
margins of >40 and 20% respectively.
the reasons behind it. On the contrary, I adores the impressive gross and net profit
margins of >40 and 20% respectively.
Source: 1Q2014 results
Cash and equivalent
before IPO at S$3.5mil is relatively low considering the high overheads of shipyards,
salary, and other project expenses! This may lead to many unhappy suppliers of
Kim Heng not being paid on time, affecting the quality and progress of projects.
before IPO at S$3.5mil is relatively low considering the high overheads of shipyards,
salary, and other project expenses! This may lead to many unhappy suppliers of
Kim Heng not being paid on time, affecting the quality and progress of projects.
Improved cash
position shown in 1Q14 result, is also primarily due to the S$36mil of IPO cash
proceeds raised. Subtracting the IPO proceeds of S$36mil, total equity is S$63mil
(99 minus 36). With a market capitalisation of 177mil, price to book is 2.8.
This is reasonably high. PE ratio is 10 (annualised 1Q EPS) which is close to
sector norm, leaving investors with possibly better options elsewhere.
position shown in 1Q14 result, is also primarily due to the S$36mil of IPO cash
proceeds raised. Subtracting the IPO proceeds of S$36mil, total equity is S$63mil
(99 minus 36). With a market capitalisation of 177mil, price to book is 2.8.
This is reasonably high. PE ratio is 10 (annualised 1Q EPS) which is close to
sector norm, leaving investors with possibly better options elsewhere.
Rolf’s View
In a nutshell, I cannot
find any obvious strategy that Kim Heng is employing to create growth, other
than being a beneficiary within the bright O&G sector – just like her
competitors.
find any obvious strategy that Kim Heng is employing to create growth, other
than being a beneficiary within the bright O&G sector – just like her
competitors.
Its growth strategy
utilising IPO proceeds to enhance yard facilities and expand fleet of vessels, and ad-hoc shipbuilding is not attracting me. Personally, I prefer companies that have found niche in these offshore business activities. For
instance, vessel owners have core business as vessel chartering, and shipbuilders
have core business as shipbuilding etc. Even within these two activities, there
are niche of owning/ building specific vessels. Offshore business requires lots
of experience and knowledge which I am afraid you cannot do well without years
of repetitive experiences to mitigate cost and risk. Covering all areas without “cutting edge” expertise makes it difficult to produce competitive advantages!
utilising IPO proceeds to enhance yard facilities and expand fleet of vessels, and ad-hoc shipbuilding is not attracting me. Personally, I prefer companies that have found niche in these offshore business activities. For
instance, vessel owners have core business as vessel chartering, and shipbuilders
have core business as shipbuilding etc. Even within these two activities, there
are niche of owning/ building specific vessels. Offshore business requires lots
of experience and knowledge which I am afraid you cannot do well without years
of repetitive experiences to mitigate cost and risk. Covering all areas without “cutting edge” expertise makes it difficult to produce competitive advantages!
I am however bullish
on the Rig refurbishment and servicing business. The Group also announced strong
forward business and had secured commitments with estimated revenue of S$40.0
million (over and above
1Q2014 revenue) as at May 2014 and excluding ad-hoc and other projects that the Group may
secure for the rest of 2014”.
on the Rig refurbishment and servicing business. The Group also announced strong
forward business and had secured commitments with estimated revenue of S$40.0
million (over and above
1Q2014 revenue) as at May 2014 and excluding ad-hoc and other projects that the Group may
secure for the rest of 2014”.
For now I think Kim
Heng may be just another company riding the upward wave of the offshore cycle.
Considering the general business model and the substantial losses in 2010, it pays to scour
through more offshore companies listed in SGX before making your investment
decision.
Heng may be just another company riding the upward wave of the offshore cycle.
Considering the general business model and the substantial losses in 2010, it pays to scour
through more offshore companies listed in SGX before making your investment
decision.
Related
Posts:
Posts:
Thanks for your detailed analysis! Yeah this company reminds me of ASL Marine, another family-run offshore marine business..
Hi Jane,
Indeed ASL and KH has so many similarity. Both are family run and ASL founder Ang Sin Liu still go to the office and his four sons-directors are 2nd gen in the co. KH already consist of 3rd gen. ASL business model is more focus in my own opinion – Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and owning of vessels normally simpler ones. Both has huge overheads from workers and yard facilities, project base non-recurring businesses imply cash flow for both companies is always the biggest challenge!
Thanks Rolf.