Duty Free International (formerly: Esmart Holding)

[Sincerity]

This company looks decent. With high yields (seem to be sustainable) and healthy balance sheet (7% net debt while global players like Dufry and World Duty Free have 89% and 217% net debt). Malaysia is one of the most visited countries in Asia and they have a dominant position in the country. Southeast Asia is promoting their tourism aggressively and the Chinese don't seem to stop travelling.. this can be a huge growth opportunity if they can partner with other global players to expand regionally (their 30 years of experience should help).

corporate governance (which so far I havent found anything wrong) and liquidity aside, this doesnt look like a bad company.

Just touched 30 cents again yesterday, hope this is the breakout

[Sincerity]

This company looks decent. With high yields (seem to be sustainable) and healthy balance sheet (7% net debt while global players like Dufry and World Duty Free have 89% and 217% net debt). Malaysia is one of the most visited countries in Asia and they have a dominant position in the country. Southeast Asia is promoting their tourism aggressively and the Chinese don't seem to stop travelling.. this can be a huge growth opportunity if they can partner with other global players to expand regionally (their 30 years of experience should help).

corporate governance (which so far I havent found anything wrong) and liquidity aside, this doesnt look like a bad company.

Just touched 30 cents again yesterday, hope this is the breakout

something brewing I think

[Sincerity]

30.5 cents reached.. breakout?

[CityFarmer]

Dual-list proposal, after a good 1Q result...

(not vested)

Duty Free mulls dual listing in Hong Kong

SINGAPORE (July 15): Singapore-listed Duty Free International ( Financial Dashboard) is contemplating seeking a dual primary listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK).

It is currently listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange.

The distributor of duty free goods and non-dutiable merchandise believes it is “desirable” and beneficial” to have dual primary listing status here and in Hong Kong, it said in a filing.

Duty Free said the dual listing will widen its investor base, hence, gaining exposure to a wider range of private and institutional investors.

It is also expected to increase trading liquidity of the ordinary issued shares in the capital of the company, Duty Free added.

Thus far, the company has not submitted any application to the SEHK for the dual listing, but it has commenced “preparatory work” for the exercise.

“Whilst the proposed Hong Kong dual listing promises to be an exciting new milestone for the company, shareholders should note that there is no certainty nor assurance that it will materialise,” the statement read.

Duty Free ended up 0.5 cent or 1.8% to 29 cents, giving it a market capitalisation of about $319 million.
http://www.theedgemarkets.com/sg/article...-hong-kong

[CityFarmer]

The company current free-float is around 17.5%. A dilution is expected, after the dual-listing...

(not vested)

----------
The Board wishes to inform that, subsequent to the Announcement, the Company has been
notified by its controlling shareholder, Atlan Holdings Bhd, that it does not intend to sell any of
its existing shares in the Company in order for the Company to fulfil the 25% public float
requirement pursuant to the Main Board Listing Rules of the SEHK.
As such, for purposes of the Proposed HK Dual Listing, the Company will fulfil the 25% public
float requirement by placing out new shares in the capital of the Company in due course.
http://infopub.sgx.com/FileOpen/DFI%20-%...eID=360542

[cyclone]

Transfer of Listing from Catalist to The Mainboard of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited

Trading of the Company's shares on the Mainboard of the SGX-ST will commence at 9.00 a.m. on 5 October 2016.

[sunview]

Coffeeshop chat:

 

• Duty Free reported RM9.6m forex gain (versus RM2.2m loss in 2Q16) that helped to boost 3Q17 net profit by 32.9% yoy. Excluding that, pre-tax profit would have dropped by 30%. 3Q17 revenue actually fell 15% qoq and 13% yoy.  
   
  
• The poor sales figures were mainly attributed to slow-down in Malaysia-Thai border town business and DFI post a cautious note and expect business environment to remain challenging and competitive.
   
   
  
• As such, 4Q17 may be difficult. Incidentally analysts at both CIMB and UOBKH have reduced their target price to $0.55.
   
  Do also take note that there is a new requirement by Bank Negara (introduced on 27.12.2016 and effective immediately) to convert 75% of foreign currency proceeds into ringgit. As 50 – 60% of DFI’s purchases are made in US$, the new measure may affect profit margin. We have yet to see how this would affect bill settlements. My bet is that huge translational currency gains will not be seen in the coming quarters. This Bank Negara measure will affect all Malaysian exporter companies.
   
  
• The 2nd interim dividend of 1.25 Singapore cents springs a surprise, bringing year-to-date dividends to 2.5 cents, translating to a yield of 6.4%.
   
  
• DFI also proposed a 2- for-5 bonus warrant issue with an exercise price of S$0.43/share, which represents a 7.5% premium to the closing price of $0.40 on 11.1.2017. The warrants have a life span of 5 years and can be converted to ordinary shares any time 6 months after listing.  If the up to 477,740,157 bonus warrants are fully converted, it could raise gross proceeds of S$205m and brings the total no of shares up to 1,672m shares.
  

 

• Its net cash is slowing building up. As of end-November, DFI has net cash of RM227.2m (~16% of market capitalisation). As the conversion price is well within reach, the bonus issue becomes a potential fund-raising exercise. With the enlarged war chest, a potential M & A is possible.  
   
  On 17 March, 2016, DFI sold 10% of DFZ Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of DFI, to Heinemann Asia Pacific. With Heinemann’s global travel-related experience, bulk purchasing power and strong network in Indochina, the strategic partnership may help to improve DFI’s competitive edge and profitability as well as to expand its footprint. DFI has also granted Heinemann two options to acquire up to an additional 15% DFZ shares for €32.5m in FY18F. Future price performance is a function of (1) potential M & A, (2) EPS dilution from potential warrant conversion and (3) operational improvement from partnership with Heinemann.
  

 

• DFI are tightly held, with a free float of only about 20%. As at 16 May 2016, Atlan Holdings Bhd, listed in Bursa Malaysia, controls 79.09% of DFI. (As at 31 May 2016, Dato Sri Adam Sani Bin Abduuah holds 51.35% and Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun holds 23.93% deemed interests respectively in Atlan Holdings).
   
  

[ZZF]

took a quick look at this bombed out counter near all time lows:


pros:
1. net cash about 43% of equity, though mostly from previous share placements
2. captive biz. long history of profitability
3. strong cashflows and hardly any major capex
4. improved inventory management after tie up with Heinemann

cons:
1. unexplained shortage of key products causing revenue and profit plunge to new lows in recent years
2. law suit over alleged non payment of tax - penalty about 1+ cents of EPS
3. p/b at around 1.33. is this high for such a biz?
4. loan to related co on books for many years, though being paid 9% on it.
5. worsening USD MYR fx


anyone else care to share?

[cyclone]

The Proposed Capital Reduction and Cash Distribution

Duty Free International Limited announced that the Company intends to undertake a capital reduction exercise pursuant to Sections 78A and 78C of the Companies Act, Chapter 50 of Singapore to return to the shareholders of the Company surplus capital in excess of the Company’s immediate needs by way of a cash distribution of S$0.035 for each ordinary share in the share capital of the Company held by Shareholders.

As at the date of this announcement, the Company has an issued and paid-up share capital of approximately S$410,216,198.44. Upon completion of the Capital Reduction, the Company will have an issued and paid-up share capital of S$368,279,230.18.

More details in https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/DFI_Propo...eID=587684

Duty Free International today closed at 0.145.

[random85]

My two cents worth:

1. Buyout
- As highlighted above, the company is tightly held 
- The share price has dropped from about 40 cents to about 15 cents over the past 3 years 
- Is a buyout a possibility?

2. Long Term Sustainability
- What would be the long term sustainability of duty free shops? 
- After 38 years of selling liquor and tobacco at Changi Airport, the DFS Group will soon be pulling out (https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/d...-next-june)
- The NTU professor in the above article suggested that online retail has eroded the advantage of duty free shops

3. Consumer Sentiment
- In the SGX announcements, worsening consumer sentiment is often cited by the management as the cause for declining profits
- I have not done such an analysis yet but would be curious to see a chart of Malaysia Consumer Confidence Index against DFI Profitability
- Also wondering whether the Consumer Confidence Index of major visiting countries should be included

Please feel free to disagree and add on. Cheers.

Disclaimer: Vested