source :
https://www.theedges...coming-fruition
Restructuring efforts for this tech manufacturer coming to fruition
By:
Michelle Zhu
10/01/18, 12:30 pm
SINGAPORE (Jan 10): CIMB Research is highlighting precision metal components manufacturer InnoTek as a potential stock to watch as the group’s financials improve on the back of restructuring efforts in recent years.
The group has been restructuring since FY12, during which it slipped into a net loss of $18.4 million due to a combination of lower revenue arising from political tensions between China and Japan, as well as the commencement of its restructuring and consolidating efforts.
In a Tuesday non-rated report, analyst William Tng notes that the move, along with a change in management, has led to the return to positive net profit since 2Q16, with the company resuming payment of dividends in FY16.
“As at end-Sep 2017, InnoTek was in a net cash position of $31.9 million [or 37% of its market cap]. InnoTek did not pay any dividends in FY14 and FY15 but paid a dividend per share (DPS) of 0.5 cents in FY16. The company has not announced any formal dividend policy. In FY12 and FY13, it paid DPS of 1 cent,” comments the analyst on the group’s balance sheet.
The group’s book value of equity per share (BVPS) as at end-9M17 was 57.5 cents, with a historical price to book value (P/BV) of 66 times based on its share price of 38.5 cents at the close of last Friday.
Tng also highlights the significant experience of the group’s new CEO Lou Yiliang in the customer electronics sand home appliances business in Asia.
“On 1 Mar 2017, Mr Lou was appointed CEO of InnoTek. Mr Lou has been purchasing shares from the open market over April to July 2016,” notes the analyst.
“Mr Lou’s strategy was: to further drive cost efficiencies; to improve the group’s skill sets and use of technology, noting that the group had fallen behind peers in capabilities such as mould making, machining and line management skills; and to personally drive customer engagement efforts,” he adds.
Looking ahead, InnoTek expects its Mansfield Weihai subsidiary in the printing & imaging segment to benefit from the printer business of Hewlett-Packard via its Samsung printer business acquisition.
The group’s new Thailand plant under the office automation business is anticipated by its management to commence production in 2H18 and gather momentum in FY19F onwards – while it also intends to pursue more programmes and orders for car seat moulds and stamped products under the automotive segment.
“In the TV segment, InnoTek reported that the market response for its aluminium heat sink for TVs has been positive. InnoTek expects the TV segment to remain a significant revenue contributor given growing consumer demand for high-definition TV panels with thin but strong bezels,” says Tng.
My own thoughts on Innotek:
The new management team comprising of Lou and Kuang has quickily turnaround Innotek, if they can be retained by Innotek to run it for the next 3-5 years I feel that we are in good hands. It is good to know that Lou owns > 5%, he has adequate skin in the game.
The next important thing to note for me is Innotek (which previously has no relationship with HP) has been selected to be HP supplier after HP acquired the Samsung printer operations. Based on my own research, HP is acquiring this business to help them gain market share in the A3 Multi function printer segment (think the big office copier/printer), HP will likely be able to retain in the foreseeable future the market share in Korea as they have licensed the "Samsung" brand for sale in Korea, the optimistic case will be HP able to use this platform to break into the A3 MFP market into other geographical region.
For Innotek apart fm new business for a new customer HP, it will hope to ride on HP growth in its A3 MFP market and at the same time, due to how Koreans work, it is likely that Samsung is using Korean metal stampers previously, hence HP seek out non Korean metal stampers to provide alternative supply, in the optimistic case, Innotek may be able to garner more allocation at the expense of existing Korean suppliers.
On a separate note, it is interesting to note that Innotek is chosen as a non Korean supplier to diversify HP newly acquired printer business' suppliers, it could be chosen due to Innotek's strong track record with its Japanese A3 MFP customers like Canon, Ricoh and Kyocera and its competitive pricing versus the korean suppliers. I personally will see it as some form of testament of Innotek's capabilities in this business segment!