Business

Published: Thursday July 12, 2012 MYT 11:29:00 AM

Jaya Tiasa extends losses, hits low of RM8.81


KUALA LUMPUR: Jaya Tiasa Holdings Bhd's share price fell to a low of RM8.81 on Thursday, the second day of decline after it announced plans to raise about RM332mil from a share placement exercise which could lead to a dilution in earnings.

At 11.33am, it was down 13 sen to RM8.86. There were 53,400 shares done at prices ranging from RM8.81 to RM8.96.

AmResearch said it was maintaining a HOLD on Jaya Tiasa, but with a lower fair value of RM8.12/share (versus RM8.82 a share previously), to account for the dilution in earnings stemming from the placement of 42 million shares.

"The valuation is now based on an unchanged 13x against a downward revised FY13F EPS of 62.5 sen versus 67.8 sen previously," it said.

AmResearch said the proposed private placement at RM7.90 a share, an 11% discount to the five-day VWAMP up to July 10 of RM8.87 was fair, notwithstanding the further benefit of the impending two-for-one bonus issue for the placees.

"While slightly below our expected amount of at least RM7.94/share (based on a 10% discount to our previous fair value of RM8.82/share), the finalisation of the exercise bodes well for the company," it said.

The research house said this was in view of the dim prospects and reduced cashflow of the timber sector, and the need to sustain the growth of its oil palm division at lower costs.

Of the RM332mil in proceeds, Jaya Tiasa would use RM100mil to pay off its borrowings within the next six months, interest expense, and another RM226mil for the construction of CPO mills within the next 24 months. Expenses, including for the proposed bonus issue, will amount to RM6.3mil.

"Simultaneously, we have tweaked upwards the oil palm division's PAT forecast by 13% to RM158mil for FY13F from RM140mil previously, partly on lower interest cost as well as lower expenses.

"We maintain our stance that Jaya Tiasa's prospects centre on the oil palm division, which is expected to account for about 80% of its FY13F and FY14F earnings. But for now, catalysts are lacking," it said.

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