AksharChem (I)
Q4 FY20 Earnings Call Analysis
Chemicals & Petrochemicals
fundraise: No informationcapex: Yesrevenue: Category 3margin: Category 3orderbook: No information
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- Current ongoing projects:
- Specialty chemical product precipitated silica at Dahej, capacity 10,000 metric tonnes per annum, commercial production expected from Q2 FY2020.
- Pigment Green expansion completed; further expansion planned depending on market demand.
- Future capex plans:
- No firm investment plans beyond current projects for FY2020, except for Pigment Green expansion.
- Potential for Greenfield expansion of H-acid capacity estimated to cost around Rs. 55-60 Crores.
- Strategy:
- Focus on expanding H-acid capacity if market demand stabilizes.
- Gradual capacity utilization expected for CPC Green expansion over four quarters.
- Emphasis on preserving funds for business expansion rather than major tax-saving investments.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- Volumes showed growth with Q3 FY2019 at 2,355 MT versus 1,843 MT in Q3 FY2018, indicating sustained demand.
- CPC Green capacity expanded from 1,920 MT to 2,400 MT; full utilization expected by end of FY2020.
- Precipitated silica product commercialization expected from Q2 FY2020, with revenues starting from Q3 FY2020 in the local market.
- H-acid capacity utilization aimed to stabilize above 50%-60% in the current quarter with further market acceptance in export markets expected over next 2-3 quarters.
- Pigment Green expansion planned, dependent on market conditions, targeting approx. 20-25% capacity addition quarterly.
- Overall company sales growth driven by higher volumes and better realizations; raw material prices expected to stabilize.
- Long-term potential for increased market share from China's controlled capacity and environmental constraints.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- H-acid production issues have been resolved; normalized production and quality expected from Q4 FY2019, leading to improved margins and profits.
- Normal EBITDA margins for core chemical business (Vinyl Sulphone and Pigment Green) expected in range of 12%-15%.
- H-acid expected to contribute positively to both topline and bottomline from next quarter, likely breakeven at PBT level soon.
- Capacity expansions underway:
- CPC Green capacity increased; full utilization expected by end of FY2020.
- Precipitated silica commercial production expected from Q2 FY2020 with revenue contribution starting Q3 FY2020.
- Potential further expansion in Pigment Green subject to market demand.
- Effective tax rate higher due to new capital gains tax norms; tax rate expected to be sustainable.
- Focus on preserving cash for business expansion, no major tax-saving investments planned.
- Demand showing slight improvement starting February; overall cautious outlook but volume growth anticipated.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
The transcript and presentation from the AksharChem (India) Limited Q3 and 9M FY2019 earnings call does not explicitly mention current or expected order book or pending orders details. However, relevant insights include:
- Demand showed some improvement starting February, with the product beginning to "sell itself" compared to previous quarter efforts.
- The company anticipates ramping up capacity utilization, especially for H-acid (expected above 50%-60% capacity utilization in Q3) and CPC Green (around 80% utilization of new capacity expected next year).
- Expansion plans are on track with new capacities added (H-acid 1,200 MT/annum; CPC Green increased to 2,400 MT/annum).
- Demand currently is seasonal and somewhat sluggish due to external market factors like Chinese New Year and overall industry slowdown, but expected to recover.
- The company expects operating leverage to improve as capacity ramps up, implying a positive outlook on future orders.
No direct orderbook or pending order numbers were disclosed.
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- There is no mention of any current or future fundraising through debt or equity in the provided transcript.
- The company is focusing on preserving money within the company for business expansion rather than major investments aimed at tax savings.
- Capex plans are primarily related to Greenfield expansion of the H-acid plant (costing around Rs. 55-60 Crores) and further expansion of Pigment Green, depending on market demand.
- No firm investment plans beyond existing ongoing projects for FY2020 were indicated.
- No explicit references to raising funds via debt or equity were discussed during the call.
