Alufluoride Limited-conversion of waste into wealth

About Company: Alufluoride Ltd (AL) is the only Company in Andhra Pradesh producing high purity Aluminium Fluoride (AlF3) with technology developed by Alusuisse, Switzerland. This technology facilitates conversion of Fluorine effluents from Phosphatic Fertilizer Complex into Hydrofluosilicic Acid and then to Aluminium Fluoride. The project ensues pollution abatement, import substitution, conservation of natural resources like Fluorspar & Sulphur, cost effective production, conversion of waste into wealth and earning valuable foreign exchange to the Nation. AlF3 is used as flux in reducing the melting point of Alumina during the electrolytic process of producing Aluminium. Many Aluminium Smelters in India and abroad are using the Company’s product with repeat orders for increased quantities due to its quality and service.

Fundamentals of the Company:

Share Holding Pattern :

Aluminium fluoride(ALF3) :

Aluminium fluoride is the chemical compound with the formula AlF3. It has the consistency of a white powder. AlF3 is refractory, in strong contrast to the other halides of aluminium. Adding aluminium fluoride to the production process of primary aluminium lowers the consumption of electricity required in the smelting process and thereby considerably contributes to the reduction of production costs of aluminium. Aluminium producers (smelters) are the main users of aluminium fluoride.
Aluminium fluoride is used in many industrial processes. It is one of the minor constituents added to the electrolytic cells during the production of metallic aluminium. Aluminium fluoride is used in turning alumina into aluminium.

Few Indian Major Players are as under:

· Alufluoride Ltd.
· Mafatlal Fine Spg. & Mfg. Co. Ltd.
· Navin Fluorine Intl. Ltd.
· Southern Petrochemical Inds. Corpn. Ltd.
· Tanfac Industries Ltd.

Market Outlook:

Aluminum fluoride is white colored or colorless solid powder that can be produced synthetically and is also found in nature with minerals such as rosenbergite. Alumina and hexafluorosilicic acid are among the vital raw materials that go into the production of aluminum fluoride.

China is the leading manufacturer of aluminum fluoride across the globe and constitutes significant portion of the global market share. Moreover owing to over exploitation of major raw material sources in China, the production is anticipated to decline in the near future. High GDP growth and increasing disposable income in India and China have led to high growth in several end user industries including automobiles, pharmaceutical, packaging, aerospace, construction among others. High growth in end user industries is expected to be among foremost factors driving demand for aluminum fluoride in the region.

Demand for aluminum fluoride in North America and Europe is anticipated to grow at a sluggish rate during the forecast period. Underutilized fluorspar reserves in South Africa coupled with increasing government support to invest in the reserves is expected to drive market growth for aluminum fluoride in the Row region. Moreover, increasing demand for aluminum fluoride driven by high growth in several end user industries in the rapidly industrializing economies of South America and Africa will likely present massive growth opportunities for players in the aluminum fluoride market.

From http://www.niir.org/blog/blog/455/production-aluminium-fluoride-manufacturing-plant-detailed-project-report-profile-business-plan-industry-trends-market-research-survey-manufacturing-process-machinery-raw-materials-feasibility-study-investment-opportunities.html

Advantages for company:

• location advantage of 10 kilometers to the Port of Visakhapatnam allows company to adhere to prompt delivery commitment.

• Around 25kg of Aluminum Fluoride is needed per ton of aluminum production. According to CARE Rating research the aluminum production in India is going to touch 3.33 million tons by FY 19-20. The demand for Aluminum Fluoride should increase proportionally and benefit the company.

• According to company annual report there is an agreement between AluFluoride(AL) and Coromandel Fertilizers Ltd (CFL).As per the agreement, CFL is to supply 4,000 TPA of Hydrofluosilicic Acid (Acid) exclusively to AL. However, since inception CFL was unable to supply the contracted quantity and the supplies from them were deteriorating. Consequently, AL’s financial results were adversely affected. Now the Company is pursuing long term acid supply contracts with the adjacent Fertilizer complex as well with Paradeep, Odisha, Fertilizer complexes for assured Acid supplies. Relying on these contracts, the Company is planning to expand the Aluminium Fluoride production facilities and hope to post better financial results.

Risks :

• Like any other commodity the price is cyclical in nature. When aluminum cycle goes down the demand will go down.
• Company is relying on fertilizer complex for acid supply, the profitability depends on, the on time availability of Hydrofluosilicic Acid

Investment Opportunity :
The fundamentals of the company is consistent in the last five years and it is improving every quarter. The company is trading at discount compared to its peers having high debt to equity ratio. Promoters are increasing their holdings, which shows their confidence in the company and in the outlook for aluminum fluoride market. With zero debt in the books , new capex plan and increasing demand for aluminum because of India story, the company should perform well at least for next 2 to 3 years.

Sources :

  1. https://trendlyne.com/
  2. https://www.marketsmojo.com
  3. http://www.alufluoride.com/
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you didn’t provide the sources of pasted images.

The images are taken from https://trendlyne.com/ and https://www.marketsmojo.com

This complete para occurred in every AR of last 4-5 years, without any tangible action, hence I gave it a pass when I was researching it few months back

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http://www.investmentguruindia.com/StockMarket/Alufluoride-Q2-net-profit-jumps-8529-at-Rs-189-cr

http://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/0a026708-25b9-4740-8157-e5acf6b14114.pdf

Decent set of numbers by Aluflouride ltd.

Disc: Invested little amount to track

As per my studies, results have nothing to cheer much but just the average. It is because the turnover is less than the June/17 quarter (11.72 Cr. VS 14.56 Cr.), though the NPM margins have increased.

http://www.alufluoride.com/images/Alufluoride_EGM_Notice_2017.pdf

Does anybody know the warrant conversion price??

Hi does anyone have any idea about the exports by the company and impact on Chinese shutdown on products manufactured by the company ?

Hi Guys,

I have gone thru last 8 years Annual Report of the company viz. from 2010 to 2017. In all the 8 years, the management says that they are exploring options to have LT tie up for hydrofluorosilicic acid (main raw material for producing AlF3) in view of the fact that Coromandel International with whom Aluforide had tie up for supply upto 4000 MTA per annum never adhered to the agreement. The management has also indicated to shift the plant to a location like Paradip, Odisha or other suitable place from where this acid can be easily procured. They do not want to give any dividend so as to conserve cash for this capex.

But surprisingly its just the talk for the last 8 years with no action. In few ARs, the company also informed that they are on the verge of closure of the deal for LT supply of this acid. But subsequent AR doesnt mention of any such deal. And most of the MD&A, Industry / Business outlook and Director’s report is just copy paste for the last 8 years (except for no.). Further exports have dropped from Rs 8 cr in FY13 to 0/1 cr in FY18 and the AR claims to have repeat export orders (Quite surprising).
Those who are tracking this company, kindly share if u r in sync with my views. Also share any info on LT supply of acid / shifting of plant for securing this raw material.

THanks.

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What kind of capex are they talking about? One of the purpose is to meet the bank’s debt equity norms? Surprising to know that banks covenants the D/E even for zero debt companies…

ALUFLUORIDE AFTER RESULT

Return on equity =EPS /Book value

EPS:13.16

Book value : 53.43

ROE: (13.16/53.43) *100

ROE =24.63
P/E: 13.16

Means ALUFLUORIDE growing @24% but trading half of the growth.
Huge upside possible
(Twitter : atulsinghasan)

What I don’t understand is that after every quarter result at every Annual report for the last 3-4 years the company mention the same thing - “Silicic Acid supply from adjacent Fertilizer Complex continues to be a problem. However, to meet the commitments of customers, efforts are being made to procure Silicic Acid though expensive from other sources”

Are they copy paste the Silicic acid problem in every annual report?

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Capex for plant expansion at Visakhapatnam. 8,20,082 warrants will be converted to equity shares at 86.60 by the end of June’19 quarter.

Good Q1 2020 result: PAT of c.3.4crores
Looks like price of their product increased or problem of raw material resolved (As Gross margin has gone up)

Also announced to enter into JV to se up greenfiels Alu Fluoride plant in Jordan

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Company has been fined for non submission of Corporate governanace report for quarter ending Dec, 2018 as well as June 2019 on time.

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took small position in this company today after doing basic researching in it… i dont want to type information again which has been given above .

what i liked about this company? its continuous growth , pricing looks reasonable and company product which is niche is a great demand ( very less competitors in India) …but hold on this is not what attracted me

It has a capital work in progress of 35cr and given its strong internal accrual it only needed to borrow 14cr while it was able to finance this via internal accrual

This is almost like 2x expansion of asset base. I wanted to know more details on this and it seems below are the details i can gather

image

i know its not too wise to take decisions without clarity . even without this expansion the company was looking enough attractive and with this its looking even more now.

With good growth in past, good profit and decent D/E and 2x expansion…this surely looks exciting to invest my time.

Anyone actively invested and tracking this company? would like to know more details in this Capital work in progress and breakup

Since i am now a shareholder i can ask company this but incase anyone already knows?

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Alufluoride did start the capex for expansion in FY19 for Aluminium fluoride project

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However they are also doing capex for other projects

News - 09 Jan 2020

The Jordanian Chemicals Company, which is owned by Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) alongside India’s Andhra Pradesh-based Alufluoride Limited will build an aluminum fluoride plant, as part of an agreement signed by the two companies.

Valued at $25m, Stage 1 of the plant will be built to produce aluminum fluoride in the Eshidiya region in Ma’an Governorate. Additionally, the companies will also carry out modernisation activities at JPMC’s aluminum fluoride plant in Aqaba, which will help the firm produce the chemical at the same cost.

Construction work on the new factory will commence in the beginning of February 2020 and will be carried for a 15-month period. According to Jordan news agency Petra , the factory will create neary 100 employment opportunities.

As part of the deal, JPMC will supply 18,143.7 tonnes (t) of fluosilic acid each year to the new plant in Eshidiya. Fluosilic acid is one of the side products derived from the extraction of phosphate in the Eshidiya mines.

Chairman of JPMC, Dr. Mohamed Thunaibat said that the project supports its move towards conversion industries and diversification of its income sources. The agreement was signed between Thunaibat and chairman of the board of directors of Alufluoride Limited, Venkat Narayanan.

Excerpt from 2019 AR -
image

Solar plant capex

image

Check march 2020 results of Alufluoride, borrowings are even lesser at ~8cr, screener shows incorrect borrowings

When checking the quantum of expansion always compare it with the gross block rather than the net block, then CWIP is ~1x of asset base

thanks @Prasad_H

this company is super exciting…i was doing research on this stock and its indeed very interesting… below is my views… i have few questions if you can answer?

So below is the rough estimate of the 35cr massive CWIP i can do based upon various information online although i am asking company on this point ( which should also be part of next annual report so waiting for that)

Cr Particulars Expected date Profit/Cost Saving per year
5.33 1.4MW Solar plant 2020-21 probably Q2 1.6cr cost saving in full capacity
14 Production expansion from 9000 to 13500MT 2020-21 probably Q2-Q3 8cr profit to be added if sales realisation is good?
15.67 Jordan project 2021-22 No idea at the moment

Lets take 1 items at time and what i have noticed till now

Point 1: 1.4M Solar Plant

image

Company currently spend 1.76cr on purchase of electricity and its roughly 1.76cr for 2019FY

its new solar plant should give it 1000KWH24252= 60,48,000KWH on annual basis
Company new production will also consumer additional roughly 12,00,000 KWH vs its existing 24,50,792 thus making it 35,00,000KHW. Do we know why so much additional then is required? could company have done away with just say 40,00,000KHW? given these are large one time cost so maybe for future expansion?

anyway even taking current expansion and new capacity into account, it can nearly save 36,00,000*(5.79 cost of purchase - 3.03 disel cost ) which is roughly 1cr /yr and it can go upto 1.6cr per year once maybe they further expand in future for which they require this additional spare capacity.

my view, very good investment with break even potential in 5yr

Point 2: Production capacity of 4500MT to be operation by Q2-20

so below i can find from annual report and also tried to imply the sales realization / unit. Noticed company did well in both last 3yrs. I dont have details on 2019-20 but seems company benefited due to china situation and china strict laws on environment is giving company good advantage

refer below article : New contract cycle and raw material sourcing holds promise for re-rating of Alufluoride

so once annual report comes we will have more clarity on why it posted good sales this year .

now interesting part is it currently has 8800MT capacity and new expansion will increase it by 4500mt further thus potentially with same 20% operating profit and sales realization, it can add massive 8cr to operating profit

Can you check and see if this make sense to you? so overall under normal scenario we cna expect comnpany operating profit to jump from 16 to 24 cr with same margin. I think this year due to lockdown sales and margin might be impacted so maybe close to 20cr? still quite good upside

Point 3: Jordan project

As per my rough estimate for CWIP , it seems they might have spended 15cr on this, I cannot find details anywhere online on how much it can generate as revenue etc but looking at investment vs its expanded production capacity it seems massive investment? does it have the potential to generate further 10-20 cr and that could be a game changer then?

I am getting more clarify on cost and expected revenue from this project as this is where the future of this company lies in my view.

Conclusion so overall this year profit was 10cr

2020FY : it seems with expanded capacity and cost saving on power …it can add on a prudent basis maybe 4-5 more cr on a conservative basis it seems

2021FY : Jordan project should be a game changer. Need to dig more information on this

would be great to have your views and details on the missing pieces if you have, I will keep digging - super exciting stock

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