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Institutions Promoters,
63.47%
• Compelling valuations.
, 4.98%
Business Overview
Aegis Logistics is engaged in the business of handling of liquid petroleum products/chemicals and gas
storage/distribution.
The company manages the entire integrated supply chain of petroleum and chemical
companies. Most of the big oil and chemical companies such as IOC, Bharat Petroleum,
Hindustan Petroleum, Reliance and Supreme Petrochemicals are their clients. The main products
handled by company are Naptha, Diesel, Caustic Soda, Motor Spirit and EDC etc.
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Strategic location of Mumbai facility
The company is the largest private sector port terminal operator in the Mumbai port in terms of
capacity as well as volume of traffic handled. The terminal is strategically located in an area
surrounded by two of the largest refineries (HPCL & BPCL). The terminal has long distance
(25km to 70km) pipeline evacuation and receiving facilities to/from actual consumers. The
terminal is one of the only terminal directly connected to the clients (BPCL, HPCL refineries)
thorough dedicated pipelines, which insulates it from any competition. Recent CAPEX in
BPCL, HPCL refineries would lead to increased demand of company’s facilties. To meet this
demand, the company has been increasing its capacity by about 50% by acquiring majority stake
(75% stake) in Sealord Containers, which owns liquid terminal at 17 acres of land at Mumbai.
In FY07 the company acquired a controlling stake (75%) in Adani group’s Sealord Containers
Limited located at Trombay with a storage capacity of 75,000 KL. In FY07 it also acquired Konkan
Storage Private Limited, Kochi (storage capacity of 51000 KL) making it a 100% subsidiary of the
company. With the commencement of operations at these two sites, the liquid volumes are
expected to go up higher in coming years.
The company is setting up a third terminal in Mumbai (56,000 KL) which is slated to commence
operations by FY10. It is acquiring land at Haldia and Mangalore ports which are likely to
operational by FY11. It is also eyeing the other port sites such as Chennai, JNPT, Vizag and
Kandla. So it is on way to build a national network of liquid terminals.
In the direct marketing model, the company has been storing and markets the gas to variety of
industrial users. However the margins in industrial segment has been low given the huge illegal
diversion of subsidized domestic LPG to industrial segment. Couple of years back the company
started marketing of LPG to retail users through auto LPG stations. The company views this
business as a huge business opportunity. Auto LPG retailing is presently at the take-off stage
with vehicles being increasingly converted into gas-based vehicles. The profit margins in this
segment are very lucrative as compared to industrial segment.
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Auto LPG:- Big profitable opportunity
The company has huge ambitions in the auto LPG retailing segment. However in order to keep
the capital intensity on the lower side, the company plans to set up around 90% of the stations
under the dealer owned dealer operated (DODO) model, with only 10% under the company
owned dealer operated (CODO) model. In the DODO model, each dealer will build and operate
the LPG Dispensing station under the “Aegis Autogas” brand name with the company (Aegis)
holding the operating licence in its own name. However, the company would also extend other
ancillary activities like marketing and brand building, in order to augment the sales. In the DODO
model, the dealer gets a fixed margin of around 5% from the company.
Currently 27 Auto LPG stations are under operation. The company is targeting 100 such stations
to be operational by end of FY09 and 150 stations by FY10. The 101 DODO agreements have
already been signed. However the bureaucratic delays may slow down the planned expansion of
auto LPG stations.
Till now the company has been using the LPG facilities of Hindustan Aegis LPG for its gas
division. The company used to pay tankage charges to Hindustan Aegis LPG for usage of their
facilities. Hindustan Aegis LPG is a joint venture between the promoters of Aegis, Vitol SA and
others.
Given the huge growth expected in volumes of gas division, the company has entered into a
scheme of arrangement for the takeover of Hindustan Aegis LPG, by issuing of 3.6 million equity
shares to the shareholders of Hindustan Aegis LPG and also taking Rs 30.64 crores of the debt
on its books.
After the merger, Vitol SA has become a strategic investor (with 4.18% stake) in the company.
Vitol SA is an oil marketing firm with worldwide coverage, whose experience in the industry will
help the company in its future plans.
Other developments
It has recently forayed into third party O&M service contracts with oil marketing companies such
as Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and Bharat Petroleum Corporation. Though currently
not much in terms of revenue contribution, this segment can turn significant in next few years.
Aegis is also exploring the possibility of expanding its business into propylene gas storage and
logistics. If it sets up a propylene tank, it will be India's first propylene storage facility.
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External Opportunity
Logistics
India at present spends nearly 13% of its GDP on logistics which is far higher than the other
countries. The biggest hurdles in achieving logistics efficiency at par with global level are
infrastructure (e.g. roads, ports, etc) related bottlenecks. The logistics industry can reach same
efficiency as seen in the other countries if infrastructure issues problems are settled. The
government thrust on infrastructure and implementation of VAT is generally positive for
overall logistics industry in India.
With the economy growing at a fast pace, there has been a significant increase in the volumes of
imports and exports of bulk liquid chemicals, oil and petroleum products in India. The liquid
sector, which is presently constrained by capacity and certain entry barriers, is expected to grow
at 20%.
Moreover in India, a chemical company has to deal with half a dozen different service providers,
e.g. Shipping Agent, Surveyor, CHA Agent, Octroi Agent, Port based bulk liquid terminal operator
and transporters to manage its supply chain. In Europe, North America and Far East, bulk liquid
logistics companies including Vopak Logistics (the world largest Chemical Logistics Company)
provide total logistics service. Many of the chemicals handled are hazardous and toxic and if not
handled, stored or transported in a right way, will pose substantial hazard. This provides huge
untapped opportunity to integrated logistics players like Aegis.
With approximately one million vehicles presently running on LPG in India, the auto LPG
consumption in India is very small(around 1.7%) as compared to the world average of around
8.3%. With more and more automotive OEMs increasingly launching LPG variants of their
vehicles, the demand for auto LPG is going to boom in coming years.
Operational Performance
Liquid
Gas
Terminal,
Division,
20.30%
27.20%
Liquid
Gas
Terminal,
Division,
72.80%
79.70%
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The gas division contributes the major portion of the overall revenues, where as the liquid division
contributes the major portion of the PBIT. This is because the margins in liquid division are very
high as compared to the gas division. Liquid division contributed 20.3% of overall topline in FY07
where as it contributed 72.8% to the overall PBIT.
Liquid Logistics
The company handles the complete supply chain for import/export of the liquid petroleum and
specialty chemicals. The company does not undertake any direct marketing of liquid petroleum
and chemicals. The margins in this business are pretty high (PBIT margins in range of 50-60%).
Overall the last couple of years, the revenues of this division has been stable at about Rs 45-50
crore annual contribution.
The company is expanding this division by putting in the facilties at multiple port sites and also
expanding the current facility at Mumbai port. The company expects to have an operational
capacity of 350000 KL at four different sites in FY10 as compared to 165000 KL in FY07. This
division is expected to grow significantly in next couple of years.
Gas Division
In Gas division the company also undertakes the direct marketing of LPG to industrial and retail
users. In Gas marketing as the company first imports the LPG and then sells into domestic
market and hence in case of increasing prices the profit rises sharply and in case of decreasing
prices, the profit margins dips substantially.
However with the increasing contribution from auto LPG segment (which has higher margins than
industrial segment), the margins in gas division are likely to pick up. Over the last couple of years
the gas division has been the volume driver of the company (62% revenue contribution in FY05 to
79.80% in FY07). With expected roll out of auto LPG stations in the future, the volume growth of
this segment is expected to remain strong.
100 7
90 6
80
70 5
60 4
50
40 3
30 2
20
10 1
0 0
Revenues Quarterly Results
Q1FY07
Q2FY07
Q3FY07
Q4FY07
Q1FY08
Q2FY08
Q3FY08
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INVESTMENT RATIONALE
• Great opportunity in logistics space:- In India currently the amount of logistics
outsourcing is very low as compared to other countries and this represents the
tremendous opportunity for companies like Aegis Logistics. To grab the opportunity, it is
becoming a national player by creating chemical and gas terminal infrastructure in a
phased manner.
• Entry barriers in the business:- In Liquid/Gas logistics, many of the chemicals handled
are hazardous and toxic and if not handled, stored or transported in a right way, will pose
substantial hazard. This presents significant entry barriers for a new player entering the
market.
• Low client risk:- The company has impressive list of customers such as BPCL, HPCL,
HLL, Tata Power, IOC, Reliance, IPCL, Deepak Fertilizers, IPCL, BHEL, TISCO, M&M
Ltd, Bajaj Electricals and Crompton Greaves. The company is directly connected to its
major clients through dedicated pipelines which mitigates the risk of new competition.
Moreover, no single customer accounts for more than 10% of total revenues.
• Auto LPG at tipping point:- Auto LPG is presently at the take-off stage with vehicles
being increasingly converted into gas-based vehicles. The company is now aggressively
looking at this segment and recent takeover of Hindustan Aegis LPG indicates that the
huge ambitions that the company has in the auto LPG space.
OTHER TRIGGERS
The company is expected to post strong growth in coming years. In addition to strong earnings
growth, the following characteristics of the scrip can lead to further upside in the stock prices.
• Only listed player in the liquid/gas logistics space:- In a growing economy, the
logistics sector is a direct proxy to the economic growth. Aegis is the only listed
player in the liquid/gas logistics space. Other players in this sector such as Indian
Molasses, Indian Oil Tanking are not listed. Thus it provides unique opportunity for
exposure to Indian liquid/gas logistics space.
• Low institution holding:- Currently the financial institutions holds a very small stake
(4.98%) in the company. As the company attains size by expanding its logistics
terminal infrastructure and auto LPG division, it can lead to significant interest from
the institutions which can lead to substantial re-rating of the stock.
• Vitol SA as strategic investor:- After the merger of Hindustan Aegis LPG with the
company, Vitol SA has become a strategic investor (with 4.18% stake) in the
company. Vitol SA is an oil marketing firm with worldwide coverage, whose
experience in the industry will help the company in its future plans. Though currently
Vitol has not indicated any intentions to increase stake in the company, but in the
long run the stake increase by Vitol in the company can not be ruled out.
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RISKS/CONCERNS
• The company plans to set up liquid/gas terminals at multiple port sites. The performance
of the stock will be linked to the execution of these plans by the management.
• In storage terminal business, the competition from any new facilities at nearby ports may
lead to shrinkage of margins. However as its terminals are directly connected to its key
clients, hence it is relatively insulated from competition.
• Currently the operations of the company are mainly concentrated around Mumbai port.
Most of its revenues comes from two Pir Pau jetties. Though new chemical berth
(expected to be open in 2009) will alleviate this concern, but still any negative
development with respect to its operations at Mumbai port can severely impact the
overall business.
• In Gas marketing as the company first imports and then sells into domestic market
(import gas for one month and sell it the next month) and hence in case of increasing
prices, the profits may rise sharply and vice-versa. This may lead to some lumpiness in
the quarterly earnings of gas division. However over the long term, the gas division
should post good earnings growth given the changing mix in favor of auto LPG.
VALUATIONS
The company is expected to post strong earnings growth in coming years. The company expects
the revenues to grow from Rs 240 crores in FY07 to 825-850 crores in FY10 (CAGR 50-52%).
Though any delay in implementation of planned expansions may slow down the expected growth,
the company still looks set for good growth in the coming years.
The company is expected to post an EPS of around 22 in FY08. The stock is currently trading at
less than 9.5 times its trailing earnings. Though it is difficult to pin down the exact numbers for
FY09 and FY10 (since the business can be analyzed only over a period of time and it is virtually
impossible to predict the next quarter and next year earnings with accurate precsion), it can easily
post approximate EPS of more than Rs 30-35 in FY10, which makes it available at less than 6-7
times FY10 earnings. With the expected strong growth in next couple of years and unique
nature of the business, the stock can give significant upside in coming years.
SUMMARY
The currently low level of outsourcing in liquid/chemical logistics represents tremendous
opportunity for Aegis Logistics. The company is planning to become a national player by creating
chemical and gas terminal across major ports in the country. The management has been quiet
prudent in its expansion plans and has been mainly funding it through internal accruals and
marginal debt. The management is also expanding its auto LPG retailing business mainly under
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franchisee model to contain the capital intensity, which mitigates the risk of any aggressive equity
dilutions.
With the strong growth expected in coming years combined with low institutional holding and
compelling valuations the stock provides the potential for windfall gains from current levels. A
STRONG BUY is recommended at current levels with time horizon of next couple of years over
which it can really turn out to be potential multibagger from current levels.
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APPENDIX-FINANCIALS
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DISCLOSURE
This report is based on information obtained from public sources and sources believed to be
reliable, but no independent verification has been made nor is its accuracy or completeness
guaranteed. The securities discussed and opinions expressed in this report may not be suitable
for all investors, who must make their own investment decisions, based on their own investment
objectives, financial positions and needs of specific recipient. The author and his family members
may hold positions in the above-mentioned companies from time to time. The views expressed
may change. The author does not accept any liability arising out of use of the above information/
article. The recipient should independently evaluate the investment risks.
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