BDT 490.00 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd Price-Volume Graph Volume Price 01-Jan-06 28-Feb-06 27-Apr-06 25-Jun-06 20-Aug-06 16-Oct-06 19-Dec-06 18-Feb-07 12-Apr-07 11-Jun-07 01-Aug-07 25-Sep-07 22-Nov-07 22-Jan-08 13-Mar-08 08-May-08 02-Jul-08 25-Aug-08 22-Oct-08 21-Dec-08 LAFARGE SURMA CEMENT BD (LAFSURCEML) Ordinary Shares (mn) Free Float 12 mth High/Low (BDT) Market Capitalization(BDT mn) Average Daily Volume (Shares) Price Performance Farzana Hoque farzana@lbsbd.com LankaBangla Securities Ltd DSE Annex building (1st Floor) 9/E, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh. Tel: 880 29561868, 880 27174256 880 27174315, 880 29570496 Fax: 880 29555384 Email: lbsldhk@accesstel.net John Keells Stock Brokers (Pvt) Ltd Company No. PV 89 130, Glennie Street, Col. 2 Sri Lanka. Tel: 941 244 6694/5, 941 234 2066/7, Fax: 941 2342 068 Email: jkstock@keells.com February 2009 450,000 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 1 mth 6 mth 12 mth DSI 13.19% -10.77% -8.94% LAFSURCEML 11.40% -1.91% 6.71% - 58.07 15.40% 639.00 / 419.75 28,454 58,640 Bangladesh Equities LAFARGE SURMA CEMENT LTD Financial Revenue NPAT EPS EPS EV/Sales EV / P/E(x) Year (Dec) BDT' mn BDT' mn BDT' mn Growth (x) EBITDA (x) P/BV 2006 153 (580) (9.99) (49.03) -43% 248.95 (1977.7) 6.60 2007 2,400 (1,096) (18.88) (25.95) 89% 15.60 200.2 8.74 2008E 6,383 770 13.26 36.95 170% 5.54 13.5 7.04 2009E 9,534 1,586 27.32 17.94 106% 3.58 9.5 5.04 2010E 10,804 2,024 34.85 14.06 28% 3.05 8.1 3.70 Lafarge Surma Cement (LSC), incorporated in January 2003 is the first multinational cement manufacturer in the country with a fully integrated cement plant set up at a cost of US$ 225mn at Sunamgong in the North East of the country. The company is promoted by Lafarge of France and Cementos Molins the concrete & construction aggregates manufacturer in Spain. The company commenced commercial production in October of 2006 and has a 10% market share of the domestic cement market excluding its supply of clinker to other local manufacturers. Lafarge Surma Cement Limited s (LSC) integrated cement manufacturing plant has an annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of grey cement and 1.15 million tonnes of clinker. The Company extracts and processes the basic raw materials like limestone & shale from its own quarry in Meghalaya, India. A 17km cross-border conveyor belt links the quarry with the cement plant for transportation of raw materials. A separate 30 MW gas engine power generation plant has been setup to supply uninterrupted power to the cement plant. The company is now operating at full capacity after a court injunction in India resulted in a temporary halt to the production of clinker in 2007. Legal proceedings are however ongoing over a dispute over quarrying on forest land. The annual per capita consumption of cement in Bangladesh is around 55.75 kg, with an installed capacity of 15 million tonnes per year and a cement demand of 8 million tonnes per year. Local producers account for as much as 60% of current cement production in the country while foreign manufacturers account for 40% of market share. Consumption of cement in Bangladesh is expected to increase further in the coming years following a newly elected government that is likely to oversee a roll out of government infrastructure projects along with an upturn in private sector led construction activity. We expect a volume growth rate of around 8% per year for the sector over the next few years The company benefits from higher gross margins on account of having its own supply source for clinker and is presently operating at full capacity. The company s sales revenue is expected to rise during 2008-2010 at a CAGR of 30.1% with total grey cement sales volume growth at a CAGR of 30.25% and surplus clinker sales volume growth at a CAGR of 19.52% in the same period. EBITDA margins are expected to be maintained at 41.18% to 37.79%. for the years 2008 and 2009 respectively. Expected earnings growth of 170% and 106% for the year 2008 and 2009 correspond to a P/E 36.95x and 17.94x for 2008E and 2009E. respectively. An LBSL / JKSB Research Publication Page 1 of 5
PROFILE Lafarge Surma Cement Limited (LSC) is the first multinational cement manufacturer in the country with a fully integrated cement plant where cement and the basic raw material clinker are manufactured in the same facilities at Chhatak, Sunamganj in the North East of Bangladesh. Major shareholders of the company include Lafarge of France and Spanish cement producer Cementos Molins. Lafarge Group with years of experience in the production of construction materials is one of the leading cement producers worldwide while Cementos Molins is renowned in concrete, aggregates, mortar and pre-cast product production in Spain. Lafarge Surma Cement Limited (LSC) is the only integrated clinker and cement producer in Bangladesh incorporated in January 2003 as a public limited company in Bangladesh, starting its commercial operations in 2006. Its only cement brand Supercrete currently holds a market share of 10%. CEMENT INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESH The annual per capita consumption of cement in Bangladesh is around 55.75 kg, which ranks as one of the lowest in the world with its neighbor India having a per capital cement consumption estimated at 150 kg. The dominant type of cement used in the country is Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), with a 95% to 5% mix of clinker and gypsum. Clinker, is primarily imported from countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and China and is therefore susceptible to fluctuating global raw material costs. The country lacks cement plants that are integrated with clinker production and as a result is forced to import clinker for its entire cement production. Lafarge Cement is currently the only integrated cement producer in Bangladesh with a clinker production capacity of 1.15mn MT that is sourced via a cross border conveyer belt originating from the Indian State Meghalaya. The country has an installed capacity of 15 million tonnes per year and a cement demand of 8 million tonnes per year, with a wide gap in capacity and demand fueling severe competition in the market. This has resulted in an increase in consolidation in the sector among local producers. Local producers account for as much as 60% of current cement production in the country while foreign manufacturers like Lafarge, HCBL, Cemex and Holcim accounting for 40% of the market. Among the local manufacturers Shah Cement, Fresh Crown, Seven Circle, Royal and Aramit are the main players, many of whom lost market share initially but subsequently enhanced their supply chain management and their marketing and distribution capability in order to remain competitive. Shah Cement was the market leader in 2007 with a market share of 22% A slowdown in the local construction sector seen over the last year as a result of political uncertainty, the recent anti-corruption drives as well as a downturn in large government infrastructure projects has led to widening of the installed capacity to demand gap. Consumption of cement in Bangladesh has however seen an increase in the last quarter and is expected to increase further in coming years following a newly elected government that is likely to oversee a roll out of government infrastructure projects along with an upturn in private sector lead construction activity. We expect a volume growth rate of around 8% per year for the sector over the next few years. Page 2 of 5
PLANT AND PRODUCTION Lafarge Surma Cement Limiteds (LSC) integrated cement manufacturing plant of US$ 255m has an annual installed capacity of 1.5 million tones of Grey cement and 1.15 million tones of clinker at Chhatak under the Sunamganj district. The Company extracts and processes the basic raw materials like limestone & shale from its own quarry in Meghalaya. A 17km cross-border conveyor belt links the quarry with the cement plant for transportation of raw materials. A separate 30 MW gas engine power generation plant has been setup to supply uninterrupted power to the plant. The Lafarge Surma Cement Limited (LSC) project encompasses quarrying, crushing and marketing activities through its subsidiaries, Lum Mawshun Minerals Private Limited (LMMPL) in Meghalaya and Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited (LUMPL) in Bangladesh with a 74% and 100% ownership by LSC respectively. The Company started its production from October 2006 but failed to operate at full capacity in 2007 due to disruptions in the supply of limestone. Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited (LUMPL), a subsidiary of LSC owning the quarry was charged of environmental degradation as the sites of the quarries were allegedly on forestland and not wasteland as claimed. This resulted in a disruption of mining activities following a court directive in India. During this period, the company continued its Grey cement production in a limited scale importing its requirement of clinker. However, in September 2007, the closure order was lifted temporarily by the court and the company started to produce cement from its own clinker since December 2007. Production now continues unhindered although the legal dispute is still ongoing. The company may end up having to pay compensation as settlement of the issue. Currently, the Company has an annual installed capacity 1.5 million tones of grey cement and 1.15 million tones of clinker but it could utilize only 22% and 23% of its capacity of grey cement and clinker production in 2007, but is expected to have increased its capacity utilization to 55% in grey cement production and 70% in clinker production in 2008. With consumption of cement expected to increase in the coming years for large infrastructure development plans by the newly elected government, in addition to fresh private sector lead projects we expect the company to utilize 100% capacity of clinker production and between 90%-100% capacity in grey cement production in the coming years being the main contributor to a sharp rise in expected earnings in 2009. The company has not disclosed any plans to enhance capacity in the short to medium term. While the necessity for capacity expansion is on the cards in 2010 we have not factored any enhancement in capacity in our forecasts. COST STRUCTURE Lafarge Cement has the distinct advantage of being the only integrated cement manufacturer in the country with competitors forced to import its raw materials for production thus contributing to wider gross margins. Lafarge Surma Cement Limited (LSC) produces its own clinker for its cement production with the surplus clinker being sold to local cement manufacturers in the country. Import dependency of major cement manufacturers in Bangladesh for the supply of clinker is not only expensive due to high freight cost, duties, handling/re-handling charges but sourcing a consistent quality and uninterrupted supply of clinker is also a challenge. The control over costs, quality and uninterrupted supply of clinker ensures Page 3 of 5
a competitive advantage over other local and multi-national cement manufacturers in the country. The company benefits from superior advantages over its cost of clinker which is significantly lower than other local manufacturers. The gross margin for the year 2007 does not represent a true reflection of its profitability as the company produced a limited scale of grey cement by importing clinker from the international market due to the interruption in supply of limestone from India as a result of litigation against the company. With business operations expected to stabilize fully in the current and subsequent years, the company is expected to retain healthy gross margins Gross margins for 2008 are expected to amount to 39% declining to 37% in 2009 as a result of a reduction in clinker and gery cement prices in line with a decline in market prices. The decline in imported clinker prices have forced a reduction in prices of clinker sold by La Frage Surma Cement Ltd thus reducing margins. Margins would further moderate as a result of an expected reduction in retail grey cement prices in line with a reduction in prices witnessed in the market that has resulted from delcien in raw material costs for the industry. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE The Company s sales revenue includes sales revenue from grey cement and the sale of surplus clinker to local cement manufacturers. The sales revenue is expected to rise during 2008-2010 at a CAGR of 30.1% with total grey cement sales volume growth at a CAGR of 30.25% and surplus clinker sales volume growth at a CAGR of 19.52% in the same period. An increasing trend in capacity utilization with a stable cost structure is expected to result in earnings growth of 106% and 28% for years 2009 and 2010. EBITDA of BDT 3.06bn for the year 2009 is an expected increase of 37% over 2008, with EBITDA margins declining from 41.18% to 37.79%. ROE is expected at 20.54% and 38.25% for the years 2008 and 2009 respectively. The company has an accumulated loss of BDT 2.71bn in 2007 and is expected to be reversed to a surplus by 2009. VALUATIONS Full capacity utilization is expected to result in a stable growth in earnings over the next few years also enhanced by a decline in finance expense. Healthy earnings in 2008 and a 106% earnings growth expected in 2009 correspond to a P/E of 36.95x and 17.94x respectively at a market price of BDT 490/-. Income Statement 2006 2007 2008E 2009E 2010E For the year ended 31st December BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn Revenue 153 2,400 6,383 9,534 10,804 Cost of Sales 111 2,372 3,880 5,999 6,756 Gross Profit 42 28 2,503 3,535 4,048 General and administrative expenses (164) (264) (303) (349) (401) Selling and distribution expenses (35) (109) (125) (125) (125) Operating (Loss)/Profit (158) (344) 2,074 3,062 3,522 Exchange gain/(loss) in foreign currency translation (363) 110 (50) (4) (5) Finance Expenses (165) (1,138) (917) (773) (625) Other (expense)/income 1 (5) 8 12 37 Contribution to WPPF - - (53) (108) (138) Net Profit/(Loss) before tax (685) (1,378) 1,062 2,188 2,791 Income tax income / (expense) 105 281 (292) (602) (768) Net Profit/(Loss) after tax (580) (1,096) 770 1,586 2,024 Page 4 of 5
Balance Sheet 2006 2007 2008E 2009E 2010E As at 31st December BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn Assets Non-Current Assets Property, plant and equipment 15,224 15,494 15,090 14,708 14,345 Intangible assets 172 178 178 178 178 Deffered income tax assets 106 394 394 394 394 15,502 16,066 15,662 15,280 14,916 Current Assets Inventories 990 851 764 650 600 Trade Receivables 74 56 448 284 519 Advances,deposits and prepayments 669 728 511 763 702 Cash and cash equivalents 18 30 218 385 618 1,751 1,665 1,940 2,082 2,439 Total Assets 17,253 17,730 17,602 17,361 17,356 Share Capital 5,807 5,807 5,807 5,807 5,807 Foreign currency translation 113 155 170 187 206 Accumulated loss (1,612) (2,708) (1,938) (352) 1,672 Shareholders' Equity 4,308 3,254 4,039 5,643 7,685 Non-Current Liabilities Long-term debt 8,292 8,113 5,724 4,530 3,056 8,292 8,113 5,724 4,530 3,056 Current Liabilities Trade payables 595 340 957 1,430 972 Other payables 318 415 766 1,144 648 Bank overdrafts 2,348 4,720 4,920 3,420 3,520 Current portion of long term debt 1,392 888 1,194 1,194 1,474 4,653 6,364 7,838 7,189 6,615 Total Liabilities 12,945 14,476 13,562 11,719 9,671 Total Equity and Liabilities 17,253 17,730 17,602 17,362 17,356 Cash Fow Statement 2006 2007 2008E 2009E 2010E As at 31st December BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn BDT 'mn Cash Flows from Operating Activities (946) (1,199) 2,203 3,012 1,487 Cash Flows from Investing Activities Acquisition of property,plant and equipement (2,258) (605) (150) (160) (170) Intangible assets (11) (25) - - - (2,269) (630) (150) (160) (170) Cash Flows from Financing Activities Long term debt 268 (574) (2,075) (1,194) (1,194) Short term debt 1,882 2,415 210 (1,490) 110 Dividend Paid - - - - - Share capital & deposits for shares - - - - - 2,150 1,840 (1,865) (2,684) (1,084) Net Increase/(Decrease) in cash & cash equivalents (1,065) 12 188 167 233 Cash & Cash Equivalents at Beginning of the Year 1,082 17 29 217 384 Cash & Cash Equivalents at End of the Year 17 29 217 384 617 This document is published by LankaBangla Securities Ltd and John Keells Stock Brokers (Pvt) Ltd for the exclusive use of their clients. All information has been compiled from available documentation and LBSL's and JKSB s own research material. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this document, neither LBSL or JKSB nor its employees can accept responsibility for any decisions made by investors based on information herein. Page 5 of 5