400_alphonsus_chiaAlphonsus Chia, deputy CEO of XMH Holdings. NextInsight file photoXMH HOLDINGS has endured its second quarter of business slowdown in its key market, Indonesia, but is looking forward to a release of pent-up demand for its marine diesel engines after the country's presidential elections in July.

Then, uncertainties perceived by its potential customers would be removed and business should rebound, according to XMH management in a FY13 results briefing this week.

In the meantime, XMH has reported that its recent 100% acquisition in Singapore, Mech Power Generator (MPG), has contributed strongly in 3Q ended 31 Jan 2014.

MPG pulled in S$15.1 million of revenue in 3Q to enable the group to report a 71.4% jump in 3Q revenue to S$33.1 million.

mech-power_setsMech-Power's product offering is targeted at buildings and, especially, data centres. Photos: CompanyWithout MPG, XMH's revenue would have declined 7% instead.

Net profit attributable to shareholders in 3Q rose 47.9% to S$3.2 million.

For 9MFY14, net profit stood at S$7.9 million, virtually unchanged from the previous corresponding period.

Aside from bolstering the group's financials, MPG has reduced XMH's reliance on Indonesia, where it distributes mainly diesel engines chiefly for tugs and barges that transport coal from inland mines to ships.

Thus, instead of 70% in the last financial year, Indonesia accounted for about 40% in 3QFY14 of XMH's revenue.

And Singapore has emerged as a major contributor (around 46%) because virtually all of MPG's sales are in Singapore.

MPG assembles (in its Johor plant) and installs power generator sets in a wide range of buildings such as hospitals and data
centres.
(See its past projects here) 

clive.sign9.13Cliff Loke (left), MD and co-owner of Mech-Power, with Elvin Tan, chairman of XMH, signing a sale and purchase agreement for Mech-Power last year. On the right is Alphonsus Chia, deputy CEO of XMH. NextInsight file photo Data centres are sprouting up in Singapore and the region, providing significant business potential for MPG, according to XMH deputy CEO Alphonsus Chia.

MPG's product range also enables XMH to reduce its exposure to marine diesel engines, its mainstay all these years.

The Group would be further diversified if and when more acquisitions are concluded, said Mr Chia.

XMH is exploring acquisitions, given the encouraging results from MPG.

"Look at the profits coming in from MPG, other numbers coming in, and the synergies from doing things together," he said.


johnsonyap3.14Johnson Yap, financial controller of XMH. NextInsight photo

XMH shares

The MPG acquisition was priced at S$17.4-million payable in cash and XMH shares.


It comes with a warranty from Mech-Power that its net profit shall not be less than $6.9 million over FY2014 and FY2015. 

XMH's acquisition of Mech-Power is its first M&A milestone since its IPO in 2011 and since Credence Capital subscribed to 36 million new XMH shares at 27.74 cents in May 2013 to become its first institutional investor.

Subsequently, in August, Credence exercised options to buy a further 47.6 million shares at 31.5 cents apiece from the substantial shareholding Tan family, thus raising its stake to 19.87%.  

Well-known corporate honcho Koh Boon Hwee is one of the founders of Credence Partners which manages Credence Capital.

OSK-DMG, considering the slowdown in XMH's business in Indonesia, has trimmed its target price for XMH shares from 50 cents to 45 cents.

In the year to date, XMH traded between 28.5 and 35.5 cents, levels at which XMH bought shares which could be used for settling an outstanding payment of its MPG acquisition when it comes due in March 2015.


Interestingly, buying at that price range, XMH has made significant savings because it would be issuing shares to MPG vendors at 39.6 cents a share, a level that the stock traded at during the time of the acquisition agreement. 

OSK-DMG maintained its 'buy' call and highlighted the potential for upgrading the stock's target price if and when attractive acquisitions are sealed by XMH, possibly within this calendar year. 


OSK_xmh3.14



For more information, download XMH's 9M2014 financial statement at the SGX website.




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