In today’s briefing:
- GAPack (468 HK): Mengniu & Bi Weigh Options On Shandong Xinjufeng’s VGO
- TPL: Watering for the Next Phase
- Ecolab Inc.: Internal Innovation and Acquisition Potential Driving Ecolab’s Healthcare Business! – Major Drivers
- Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. – Solid Start to the Year and Progress on Asset Transformation
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GAPack (468 HK): Mengniu & Bi Weigh Options On Shandong Xinjufeng’s VGO
- Back in September 2023, Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP) sold its 28.22% stake in Greatview Aseptic Packaging (468 HK) to Shandong Xinjufeng Technology Packaging (301296 CH) (XJF).
- Then in November, XJF requisitioned an EGM to spill the board. At the EGM on the 26th January, not one of XJF’s five new proposed appointments were successful.
- XJF has now made a pre-conditional (various PRC approvals) voluntary general Offer at $2.65/share (best & final), contingent on a 50% acceptance hurdle. Final/special dividends to be added.
TPL: Watering for the Next Phase
- TPL reported first quarter results with a higher than expected revenue figure from water sales to go along with the Company’s disclosure of a new desalination technology
- TPL’s quarterly results were better than we had projected due to the performance in water sales. Unlike second quarter 2023 results, TPL’s management referred to a pipeline of sales
- TPL used the first quarter results to disclose a new method of desalination of produced water
Ecolab Inc.: Internal Innovation and Acquisition Potential Driving Ecolab’s Healthcare Business! – Major Drivers
- Ecolab Inc.’s first-quarter 2024 earnings showcased strong progress with adjusted earnings per share increasing by 52%.
- This impressive outcome can be attributed to a 5% growth in organic sales and the expansion of organic operating income margin by 400 basis points.
- The company is also expected to maintain its long-term earnings growth of 12% to 15%.The CEO, Christophe Beck, expressed satisfaction with the level of dedication and the results obtained from Ecolab’s workforce.
Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. – Solid Start to the Year and Progress on Asset Transformation
- 1Q24 performance ahead of expectations. RYAM reported 1Q24 results that included EPS of ($0.02) versus consensus of ($0.10) and our estimate of ($0.19).
- While sales of $388 million fell short of our estimate of $402 million and consensus of $430 million, tight cost controls, lower raw material and transportation costs, and improved operating efficiencies drove EBITDA of $52 million versus our estimate of $39 million and consensus of $49 million.
EBITDA guidance maintained, FCF guidance increased. With market fundamentals stabilizing and most of customer inventory work-downs winding down, management reiterated its EBITDA guidance of $180-200 million and raised its FCF guidance for the year from $20- 40 million to $80-100 million on a higher working capital benefit and $39 million in cash to be realized from the sale of softwood duty refund rights to OCP Lumber LLC.