Have a look at the share price on RGS-LON. The price and volume look like stake-building. That might be good news because this company appears to be horribly run - is there an opportunity here? It should be a relatively attractive business and it certainly looks cheap but the're seem to be some some very good reasons for its dog status over the last three years:
Normalised EBIT has gone nowhere from £5.8m in 2008 for four years and is forecast to stay flat in 2011 at £5.9m.
This is despite the TRS acquisition which diluted shareholders by 37.5% adding less than 10% to the consolidated EBIT this year.
This has led to a shocking EPS decline on Adj EPS of 60% from 16p in 2008 to 10p this year.
The words and the numbers in this business just don't match. We are told, and I believe, the end markets are attractive smartphones are growing by 20% pa, set top boxes by 30%, tablets/netbooks by 50%pa and yet the company broker is showing sales growth at 4% pa for the next two years?!!!
How is that possible?
Well the three guys running the business are accountants. Don't get me wrong the world needs accountants but this little business doesn't need 3 of them (sorry 4 out of 5 of the board!). Hewitt was FD of electrocomponents, Stokes was FD of Atkins and Wilson an FD at DHL (I think David Holland was also an accountant but this may be a bit unfair!). So my guess is that's why there's no sales growth! viz:
I notice one of the other contributors has spotted the potential of set top boxes which falls in their media division. I agree. But sales this year in that division are forecast to decline slightly and profit to barely improve over the next two years.
On the other hand you'd expect a group of accountants to at least be able to manage working capital properly? Nope. The company broker forcasts £8.6m of cash outflow this year and next year on working capital. How's that possible? its almost a £1 of working capital for every £1 of sales! To put it in a context that's c35-40% of the market capitalisation -ugh add that back into your EV value and the multiples don't look so good!!
We've been told that the enviromental services had negative working capital, so whilst sales decline this is an adverse working capital movement but also the strong suggestion is that that negative movement is done. The best I can glean is that as products are increasingly complex, the components are more expensive and therefore inventory carry is higher...but why doesn't this generate higher sales or the potential for greater profits?
And finally:
What do we pay these guys for this appalling record. The CEO this year had comp of £411k and the CEO c.£300k having been paid significant bonuses in both the last two years of value destruction. This is an enormous amount for a small company like this c25% of net income to be exact!
I am afraid this is a potentially decent business being run appallingly by guys whose incentives are not remotely aligned with shareholders. is this a bid target - see its main European comp Teleplan just got taken out by Private equity at 6.5x EBITDA - Teleplan was delivering twice the operating margins of RGS - the buyer stated their objective isconsolidating the sector??!! M
Disclaimer:
As per our Terms of Use, Stockopedia is a financial news & data site, discussion forum and content aggregator. Our site should be used for educational & informational purposes only. We do not provide investment advice, recommendations or views as to whether an investment or strategy is suited to the investment needs of a specific individual. You should make your own decisions and seek independent professional advice before doing so. The author may own shares in any companies discussed, all opinions are his/her own & are general/impersonal. Remember: Shares can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance & investors may not get back the amount invested.
Regenersis plc is an outsourcing partner to the global consumer technology companies. The Company specializes in a range of after-sales services, which include product repair enabling its clients to deliver service to their customers. Its depot services consist of same day warranty, non warranty repair and refurbishment, together with returns management and warranty claim management. Its associated services include information technology (IT)/ systems integration, supply chain management, reporting and analysis and warranty provider compliance. Its aftermarket services consist of screening, diagnostic, automated testing, contact centre services, vendor management and insured device servicing. It operates in three segments: Emerging Markets, Western Europe and Advanced Solutions. The Company is a repairer of electronic consumer products in Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Germany. In August 2012, it acquired HDM Group of Companies. more »
