Manaksia Ltd. is entering the capital market on 17^th December 07, with a public issue of 1.55 crore equity shares of Rs.2 each in the band of Rs.140 to Rs.160 per share. The shares of the company are presently listed on Kolkata exchange but not traded as the company has just 143 shareholders as on date.

The company is a multi-product multi-divisional company with 15 manufacturing units in India and 3 abroad with 2 in Nigeria and one in Ghana. The company is into metal products, packaging products, mosquito coils and engineering and other goods. The financial performance of the company has been robust and consistent for the last over five years with good growth having posted by the company, over the years. For FY 07 the total income of the company was at Rs.835 crores with EBITDA of Rs.178 crores (21.32%). PBT of Rs.101 crores and PAT of Rs.92 crores, on consolidated basis, on tiny equity of Rs.10.80 crores. This translated into an EPS of Rs.17 for FY 07.

For five months ending 31^st August 07, topline was at Rs.454 crores with EBITDA of Rs.89 croes (19.60%) PBT of Rs.54 crores and PAT of Rs.51 crores. Though, EBITDA fell by about 1.72%, PAT shown an increase of 16 bps. The company should be able to post an EPS in excess of Rs.20 for FY 08, considering the present trend of working.

Post issue, paid-up equity of the company would rise from Rs.10.80 crores to Rs.13.90 crores, which is definitely low, compared to the volume and profitability of the company, which is likely to be Rs.1,000 crore and Rs.100 crore plus, respectively. Promoters would be holding about 58% of the expanded equity while public float would be about 42%. As stated earlier, of this, 25% is held by about 125 shareholders who seems to be more group associates or loyal shareholders. This results into an effective float of about 17%.

The company now proposes to expand its metal business with an outlay of Rs.116 crores for debottlenecking of Aluminium Rolling Mill, certain equipment for speciality Alloy Plant and additional machinery for Steel Cold Rolling Plant at Haldia. Rs.60 crore has been earmarked for repayment of debt, which is now placed at about Rs.285 crores, used largely to finance net current assets of close to Rs.200 crore.

The present product mix of the company is about 72% in Metals of which 25% is for Ferrous and 47% for non-Ferrous, especially Aluminium. Packaging contributes about 14% while 9% is from Mosquito Coil. In its Aluminium Alloy business, the company has 60% raw material input as scrap while 40% as primary metal which give better conversion margin to the company. Due to this, raw material constitutes about 53% of manufactured product sales, which is considered quite low by any standards, thus giving good profit margins to the company.

The company with its metal management skills is able to manufacture advanced metal packaging products like ROPP Caps, Crowns, Metal Containers, Mosquite Coil stands and are supplying to companies like Coke, Reckitt Benckiser, Shiva Distilleries etc. Due to huge demand of the existing clients and better margins, the focus of the company has been in this segment.

Considering the expected profitability of Rs.20 EPS for FY 08, share is being issued at a PE of about 8 times. Future expansion in the capacity of the company would improve the profitability. Consistent growth in the financial performance of the company, for the last five years, as also low equity base of Rs.13.90 crores are positive features of the issue.

Investment is advised in the issue, which would be profitable in the short and medium term.