PM Bolt-On: Sinclair Williams (SNCL), compost! & Kingfisher (KGF)

Good Afternoon,

Continuing on from EMC: Composting Sinclair Williams (SNCL) Share Certs; as quoted here by one irate reader that isn't happy (in quotes). 

"Sinclair Williams (SNCL) continue their historic trend of disappointment with the CEO falling on his sword today. As asked last year about SNCL, my flippant comment that I hope you aren't composting your share certs created upset. Perhaps now they'll have a group hug! Over to SNCL to sum up trading above their "poor start to the season."

William Sinclair has had a difficult season so far. While some progress has been made in the ramp up of production, we are not as well developed as we had expected to be at this stage. We have also seen a slow start to the season with sales to retail and professional customers below last year. There has been margin pressure in both professional and retail sectors. Consequently the Board expects that the result for the year on an underlying basis will be materially worse than last year.

Allowing for debt, SNCL will have to pass the cap around soon, the read across to B&Q (Kingfisher/KGF) might not be as favourable if one measures compost against KGF sales. It would be very unwise to bet against KGF with the current buyback in progress. [*] With a few savvy investors spotting the money for old rope long. SNCL benefited with the hope value in the recessionary grow your own that failed to materialise. With the younger generations avoiding any form of home horticulture and DIY, the future isn't so rosy, quite how they’ll turn around this business remains to be seen. Price perception of compost and gardening materialise is amazingly difficult with older generations being the driver rather than the youth of today."

In May SNCL announced a funding shortfall that came with a good indication of the results coming out today. The unaudited interim results won't assist those negotiating an equity investment in the company or for that matter a sale. More so, should there have been a trading update? 

Strangely without knee-jerking immediately to buy, there's some potential for SNCL. If the "turnaround" crew (Directors) see potential value, most shareholders would have their hand bitten off circa, 20 pence but there's potentially more even allowing for liabilities (Debt near £24M). To start such an enterprise and get a consistent quality it would now be more expensive than buying SNCL for £7.5M and assuming all liabilities.

Just to cheer Mr Irate and his composting chums whom are fearing the worst , its wise to consider the possibility of there being greater upside from here, but from a highly speculative / risky viewpoint. 

For those thinking of spreadbetting or CFD'ing SNCL, its virtually impossible now save for those any current positions. The market capitalisation has gone from £30m to £1.5m ish. Equity longs only need apply, but not for widows nor orphans, as there's a significant risk of a capital raising of around £6M or total wipe out. One could be accused of losing my marbles but...! 

*Since March, there's been a significant change in the support and sentiment of Kingfisher (KGF), breaking 354 pence, despite KGF being in the market (share buyback) for near 40% of volume the price is now at a key support stage, watch the volumes! 

With FX woes in France and margins being key. 2nd Quarter trading update due in near three weeks, 23rd of July (perhaps 24th) without checking. Can there be an improvement in trading?!? Last years was not great, blamed in part to a tough comparative "strong Q2 in 2013. Summer is key, one hopes they don't blame the weather but with headwinds needed from Q2. France, Poland and Britain? LFLs. 

Atb Fraser

Morning Mumble: China's rebalancing, ISAT, VED, Lex bemusement, SXX, GENL and SNCL read across to KGF? + BofE

Good Morning,

For some reason or other certain entities prefer to call EMC commentary as negative rather than realistic on Chinese growth. We'll ignore how numbers are reported and 'massaged' within the Chinese GDP focal-points. China's premier Li Keqiang (FT) has reiterated a more relaxed approach to growth with the terminology of 'around 7%.' 

China and those better versed in the politics and industry know full well there's significant wastage, which is symbolically represented by the housing slump in China. With industries reliant on stimulus for growth, when in reality, after such a sustained period of growth consolidation would be wiser. 

The emphasis is on the 'around' terminology. China are logically accepting a slowdown/cooling in specific sectors and resetting expectations. Investors would be wise to consider this a cautionary note of things to come. The contradictions are already there, with such measures as increasing financial liquidity of mortgages but cunningly increasing the down-payment requirements for home purchases. 

Li (EMC not the direct line to the premier) has concerns for how resilient Shanghai and Beijing house prices and rental yields are, as they are already showing a larger housing price decline than expected. This is solely in part due to the exponential demands on house price to wage ratios, the latter being 50% above any other city in China, at circa 15 and 22% respectively. Raising questions about growth in the cities when balanced against affordability and wages which are slowing. China has surpassed western economies with an emphasis on home-ownership, with the lovely term fangnu meaning 'house slave'. In essence working just to keep the house.

With oil in decline, and commodities significantly lower, China will feel the benefits in the short-term, but deflation is a significant risk in China. Along with excess capacity, wage-stagnation and limited FDI. It's wise to ignore the recent jump in China inflows of FDI, on the basis of the lunar cycle being near one month earlier for the Chinese New Year. With China very much in the throes of Japan's 1980's models. Its becoming more evident that China are wary of excessive stimulation save for a populous of discontent that may force the Government to 'keep their comrades happy.' Those Chinese mega-bulls might be wise to revisit their expectations. 

Inmarsat plc (ISAT) updating the market that they're out of fashion with Government spending, down a whopping 20+%. ISAT will benefit from a trend in flight tracking and the Global Xpress system (specifically from London.) With a fairly decent run since October it would be sensible to take profits. Results likely to suggest a few downgrades to circa 850 pence. 

Vedanta have given some Cairn India guidance. We will save the debate on what proactive means, as Cairn recently updated us with Q3FY15 and "in light of the current oil price environment, Cairn is taking a proactive approach to capital allocation and shareholder returns." With an element of sarcasm, its positive that VED acknowledge they have "a" shareholder. I'm sure Anil Agarwal knows there's a few others on the register. 

Its with bemusement that the LEX column couldn't have been further off the market with their coverage of Glencore. One is resisting the urge to educate them some more, as Roger Bade rightly points out, "net income before extraordinary items might have fallen only 7% to US$4.3bn last year, but net income was only $2.44bn, after the significant items." LEX need educating about bottom and top line (Glencore: Trading Place) and what to allow for in deductions. It’s easy to spot crap, GLEN's results were crap and with some hope of a recovery in oil trading, GLEN might get some respite. 

Sirius Minerals (SXX) holders need to learn to avoid becoming the eternal short on their own stock. Holders simply won't learn nor will the management if they continue to utilise this type of funding in future. Near 40% of the fall (aided by impatience and an idiotic understanding of the planning process) is as a result of warrants and the flipping of said stock. 

Genel (GENL) full year results, suffice to say GENL expect significant growth in the future. Perhaps aided with an all share purchase? Despite exploration costs being just shy of $500M, depreciation being $141M, GENL remain bullish for the future with revenues even at $50/bbl being positive for the bottom line. As such, GENL can potential leverage or alternatively, take on leveraged assets. Is it enough to stop the rot in the SP? In the short-term yes.

Sinclair Williams (SNCL) continue their historic trend of disappointment with the CEO falling on his sword today. As asked last year about SNCL, my flippant comment that I hope you aren't composting your share certs created upset. Perhaps now they'll have a group hug! Over to SNCL to sum up trading above their "poor start to the season." 

William Sinclair has had a difficult season so far. While some progress has been made in the ramp up of production, we are not as well developed as we had expected to be at this stage. We have also seen a slow start to the season with sales to retail and professional customers below last year. There has been margin pressure in both professional and retail sectors. Consequently the Board expects that the result for the year on an underlying basis will be materially worse than last year.

Allowing for debt, SNCL will have to pass the cap around soon, the read across to B&Q (Kingfisher/KGF) might not be as favourable if one measures compost against KGF sales. It would be very unwise to bet against KGF with the current buyback in progress. With a few savvy investors spotting the money for old rope long. SNCL benefited with the hope value in the recessionary grow your own that failed to materialise. With the younger generations avoiding any form of home horticulture and DIY, the future isn't so rosy, quite how they’ll turn around this business remains to be seen. Price perception of compost and gardening materialise is amazingly difficult with older generations being the driver rather than the youth of today. 

Daily Mail + Cyprus Mortgages. Talk about reactive reporting, wasn't yours truly reporting on this in FTML a few months ago pre-CHF debacle? What the article does not say is the lengths the Cypriot banks will go to seek recovery of their money. With UK holders with property in the UK potential having to sell / lose their homes to repay their potential obligations. For those with potential obligations over there, they'd be wise to contact Christofi Law, who are conducting a class action.

We have the excitement of the Bank of England rate decision today, which I'm sure will thrill people with no change!

Atb Fraser

N.B Avoiding Oxus commentary at the moment on the basis a) trading, b) potential misinformation is in the public domain about the size of any award and c) holders should have made considerable monies already.