Monday 4 June 2012

Ann Joo Resources - Transitioning to better 2H and beyond BUY


- Maintain BUY on Ann Joo Resources with fair value adjusted downwards by ~11% to RM2.43/share. We have also lowered our target PE by one multiple to 11x on a rollover of valuation base to FY13F amid a weaker-thanexpected 1Q. Our lower target multiple reflects increasing volatility in global commodity cycles.  

- Stripping off unrealised forex gains of RM20mil in 1QFY12, Ann Joo would have made a net loss of ~RM21mil (4QFY11: +RM11mil). The losses largely stemmed from continued start-up losses from its blast furnace and legacy coke supplies bought at higher prices during the precommissioning stage of its blast furnace (BF). As such, we have conservatively cut our FY12F net profit forecast by 45% (FY13F-14F: 18% and 24%). 

- But, we expect Ann Joo’s prospects to perk up from 2H onwards on a ramp-up in multi-year domestic infrastructure jobs (e.g. Klang Valley MRT). In fact, local sales rose 13% QoQ whilst exports nearly doubled. 

- To be sure, our channel checks indicate that domestic bar prices have inched up between 9%-14% at ~RM2,400/tonne-RM2,500/tonne compared with the start of 2012. Regionally, the billet/scrap spread has also improved for the third consecutive month to US$197/tonne in April.

- Operationally, management expects its various costimprovement measures for the BF to start bearing fruits by July/August 2012 via improved plant optimisation and procurement policies (e.g. higher mix of local iron ore). 

- Despite a tough market enviroment, Ann Joo’s trading division chalked up a commendable 57% QoQ growth in profits on an EBIT margin of 8%. Further out, the division could receive a major boost from a potential vendor contract for high-grade steel under PETRONAS’s massive five-year capex programme. We gather that the value of these contracts could exceed RM200mil annually. 

- Ann Joo stands a good chance to land the PETRONAS deal, as it is the sole local stockist that specialises in highgrade steel plates, we believe. We have yet to account for this new venture into our model.

- Even on revised earnings, Ann Joo is still trading below its 5-year historical PE average of 14x (FY12F-14F FD PE: 9x-11x vs EPS CAGR of 29%) on 0.8x FY12F P/B value. 

- After a transitional 2012, we foresee Ann Joo’s net profit rising to RM134mil in FY13F (+74% YoY) on higher demand and lower cost of production – as value from its BFemerges. This is augmented by a ramp-up of its steelmaking capacity to 1 mil tonnes (utilization rate: ~80%).

Source: AmeSecurities

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