Capital Market

 

BASF India

 

BASF India, 71.8% subsidiary of Euro 50 billion German Chemical giant BASF Ag, has diversified business profile comprising of agrochemicals (contributing > 50% of PBIT), performance products (leather, textile, paper, water treatment, specialty and dispersion chemicals) and plastics.

 

BASF Ag plans to grow faster than the market in Asia Pacific. India and China will be the key markets driving this growth. Hence, Parent company has consolidated its assets and turnover base in India by merging its two 100% subsidiaries viz BASF Coatings and BASF Construction with BASF India w.e.f April 1, 2010.

 

BASF Coatings is one of the top automotive coating players in the country and BASF Construction supplies products to construction industry for use in making concrete, industrial flooring, tile adhesives and other specialized applications.  Merger of these two companies would add over Rs.400 crore to BASF revenue.

 

The merger clearly demonstrates that BASF India is going to be the main vehicle for driving growth in India. Besides, BASF India’s 100% subsidiary BASF Polyurethanes (engaged in manufacture of polyurethanes for application in white goods, automotive & footwear segment) will also be merged with itself. All these mergers would further strengthen BASF India’s position in the industry and add new growth segments to its existing product portfolio. Post merger, parent company’s stake will go up to 73.3%.

 

Agrochemical business will be major growth driver in view of :-

 

Global alliance with Monsanto, USA to help BASF India to penetrate deeper in higher-yielding and stress-tolerant crops.

 

Continuous introduction of new products (thanks to strong parentage) -  plans to launch 7 products (herbicides & fungicides) over next 3 years, thereby sustaining strong position in soyabean, fruit & vegetable market and foray in cereals & commodity segments. 

 

Excellent demand– Due to natural disasters i.e. heat waves, draught & excess rains in major food producing countries, there is fall in food output; while demand for food is rising at brisk pace particularly from growing middle class from emerging markets. 

 

With acquisition of Ciba and now Cognis, parent company is strategically focusing more on high margin specialty chemical products for driving future growth. This augurs well for BASF India’s performance product business (contributes ~ 40% of consolidated PBIT).

 

Plastics business comprises of Expandable Polystyrene (Styropor) and Performance Polymers (Engineering Plastics), which are in growth phase. Key sectors driving plastics business growth are consumer durables, automotive, electrical & electronics, construction and packaging. Overall outlook for Plastics business is favourable.

Thus, topline is expected to grow @ CAGR of > 25% for next 2-3 years on back of growing domestic demand for agrochemicals as well as performance products. With improved profitability, bottomline will be growing at faster pace for next few years.

 

Company is cash rich (net surplus cash of Rs 170 crore on March 31, 2010). Moreover, its capex requirements are also moderate and hence, it will keep on augmenting surplus cash. “Excellent BUY” at CMP from long term perspective. 

 

 

Mahindra Lifespace Development Ltd (MLDL)

 

Mahindra Lifespaces, the real estate development arm of $6 billion Mahindra Group is a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited. Formerly known as Mahindra Gesco Developers Ltd, it has been in the forefront of Urban Development in the country.

 

A part of $6.3 billion Mahindra Group, the company enjoys a reputation of being a pioneer in the development of integrated business cities & delivering quality living spaces. The company has developed premium residential & commercial properties in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai & the Mahindra World Cities at Chennai & Jaipur.

 

Mahindra Lifespace Development Ltd (MLDL) has reported total revenue of Rs.350 crore and net profit of Rs.79 crore for FY10. EPS is at Rs.19. For the second quarter FY11, revenue is at Rs.100 crore with net profit of Rs.24.66 crore, an increase of 42% over the same quarter of the previous year. Quarterly EPS is at Rs.6.

 

The company’s current projects in Mahindra Eminente at Goregaon-Mumbai, Mahindra Splendour at Bhandup-Mumbai, Mahindra Royale at Pune & Mahindra Chloris at Faridabad are progressing as per schedule. Sylvan County at Mahindra World City-Chennai has been completed during the year while approvals have been received for starting construction on

 

Mahindra Aura at Gurgaon NCR.

 

Construction of Phase I of Aqualily, a premium residential development at Mahindra World City-Chennai launched in Nov’09 was initiated.

 

Mahindra Lifespace Development Ltd (MLDL) has completed 10 residential & 8 commercial projects in Mumbai/ Pune/ Chennai/ Bangalore/ Delhi/ Gurgaon.

Upcoming projects are Mahindra Aura Phase II in Gurgaon & a project in MIHAN SEZ Nagpur.

 

At current valuation the stock looks attractive for investment with a time horizon of 1 year or more. The near term concern could be surplus in commercial & residential premises, but this could be short term negative as the projects of MLDL are at locations where there is land shortfall for development.

 

The demand for commercial & residential premises in metros is likely to see an uptick with revival in the economy in both domestic & global, more and more foreign firms setting up offices and improving demand for residential property for expats.

 

Merck India Limited (MIL)

 

Merck India, 51.8% subsidiary of US $ 27.4 billion Merck KGgA, Germany, is structured in two segments – Pharmaceuticals (contributing 72% of sales and 67% of PBIT in CY 2009) and Specialty Chemicals (Vitamin E bulk, Oxynex, Thiamine Disulphide &  Guaiazulene accounting for 28% of sales and 33% of PBIT). It is the only manufacturer of Vitamin E (prices controlled by Government) and Guaiazulene (cosmetic colour additive) in India.

 

Pharma business is expected to grow in line with or better than pharma industry growth of 13-14% for next few years because of :-

 

           Enhanced thrust on faster growing life style related therapeutic segments like Cardiovascular (Concor brand), Metabolic (Metformin brand), CNS and Oncology.

           Continuous launch of new products (either from parent’s basket or through in-licensing agreement) to enrich product portfolio.

           Pursuing aggressive marketing strategy, company is focussing on fast growing rural market with franchise field force (~ 450) catering only to this market.

           Switching over from DPCO (60% of sales is still under DPCO) to non-DPCO products is expected to improve profitability. For eg. Company is promoting Vitamins (Polybion,

 

Neurobion, which is under DPCO) through combination products (i.e. plus brands), which place them out of DPCO and also have better margins.

Accordingly, company has set up ambitious target of achieving Pharma Sales of Rs. 700-800 crore (Rs. 352.55 crore in CY 2009) in next 4-5 years @ CAGR of 15-18%.

Merck India has good potential to grow its chemical business as well. Main drivers are:-

 

           Increasing domestic demand from segments like auto, metal, paints, mining, etc.

           Plans to launch “Candurin” pigment used for colour coating of food & pharmaceuticals. While focus is on decorative effect in food sector, pharmaceutical coatings are used to help patients better identify medications and prevent counterfeiting of drugs.

           Parent company is looking at shifting production from USA / Europe to India and to develop Indian unit (Goa) as the manufacturing hub for global requirements.

MIL is a debt free company having surplus cash of approx. Rs. 220 crore and is looking for acquisition. In a nutshell, the company is concentrating on profitable growth and the stock is an excellent long term investment.

 

TVS Srichakra Tyre

 

TVS Srichakra, one of the largest suppliers of two & three wheeler tyres in India and part of the US $ 2.2 billion Auto Ancillary group TVS, is poised for accelerated growth in the next few years in view of impressive off take from OEMs, coupled with increased demand from replacement market and expected recovery in overseas markets.

Company manufactures complete range of two and three wheeler tyres & tubes for domestic OEMs such as TVS Motors, Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, Yamaha Motors etc. It also manufactures Industrial Pneumatic Tyres, Flotation, Motorgrader, Farm & Implement Tyres, Skid Steer Tyres, Multipurpose Tyres, Vintage Tyres and off-the-highway tyres.

 

Demand for tyres is going to remain buoyant in view of

 

           Strong volume growth of ~20-25% in 2 wheeler industry (led by sustained economic growth and stepped up investment in road infrastructure) as evident from the fact that all OEMs are on expansion spree.

           Rural and semi-urban market is expected to become new growth engine for not only vehicles but also for farm inputs.

 

Company, with continued thrust on retaining respective share of business with major OEs and making further in-roads in new OEs through continued thrust on innovation in new product development, is expected to garner larger share of this growing market. 

2 wheeler tyres come up for replacement within 2-3 years. After Sales / Replacement segment will witness high growth (in view of continuously growing 2/3 wheeler population) and lucrative market, as profit margin is better. Company derives as much as 65% of its revenue from this segment. With massive brand building exercise and continued focus on enhancing dealer network (> 2,050 dealers and 23 depots across the country), company is well set to capitalize on the opportunities provided by sustained growth in replacement demand.

 

TVS Srichakra exports large tyres meant for off-the-highway vehicles to companies like Caterpillar, John Deere, etc. In fact, it is a global player exporting to USA, Europe, Africa, South America and South East Asia. Export (contributing 13% of revenues) are expected to grow at > 25% as:

 

           TVS is looking at introducing new technologies including radialisation of two wheeler tyres, tubeless tyres, and newer segments in off-road tyres, exclusively targeted at export market.

           Since trade stocks have come down during the recession period, there will be buying spree in the next few quarters.

 

Buoyed by impressive off take from all segments, company is augmenting its capacity further by 25%. EPS is expected at Rs.52 for FY11 and is expected to grow to Rs.61 in FY12. In view of excellent future prospects, we recommend to “BUY” the share at CMP.