Subscribe to Dhanus Tech for listing gains: Keynote
Dhanus Technologies, a rapidly growing communication services company, is open for subscription with a public issue of 38,35,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each through 100% book building process. The price band has been fixed at Rs 280 to Rs 295 per equity share of Rs 10 each.
The company is going to raise Rs 113.13 crore in the higher end of band and Rs 107.38 at lower band.
Keynote Capitals report on Dhanus Technologies IPO
Recommendation - Subscribe for listing gains
Dhanus Technologies (DTL) offers various services in the telecommunications, BPO and vehicle tracking system segments. Its products include V-Tel (global calling cards) and FleeTrac System (vehicle tracking system).
DTL entered the BPO segment by acquiring a small size BPO unit in Chennai in FY06. The unit has a capacity of 85 seats, which the company proposes to increase up to 500 seats by end-2007.
The stupendous growth in topline and bottomline (310% and 371% CAGR respectively during FY03-07) can however be attributed to the base effect.
The global calling cards market is dependent on the growth in the telecommunications market and number of overseas travellers, while the growth of vehicle tracking system market is dependent on the adaptability and awareness within the truck and CV owner community.
We see a huge potential for FleeTrac, given the population of trucks and CVs running on Indian roads, which may become a major growth driver for the company.
We note concerns like a short track record and low entry barriers in its business verticals. However, as these verticals are at nascent stages in India, they hold growth potential. Also, as is typical in a number of IPOs, pre-IPO placements were made to promoters, VC funds and others @ Rs75 per share in December 2006, which is at a discount of 74.5% to the cap price. Recent placements (in August, 2007) were @ Rs275 / 300 / 340, the last reflecting a premium of 15% on the cap price of the IPO.
While growth momentum may taper off going forward, we expect DTL’s topline and bottomline to grow at a healthy CAGR of 64.3% and 50.8% respectively, during FY07-09. Closest peer in vehicle tracking systems, viz., Micro Technologies trades at just 7.2x trailing earnings. However, given DTL’s presence in diversified, high growth businesses and the attractive valuation of 15.1x FY08E and 10.5x FY09E, we are of the view that investors may subscribe for listing gains.
Investment View
Growing telecommunications industry (addition of 6mn subscribers per month)
Ever increasing number of global travellers: While an estimated 19mn persons undertook overseas travel during the last 3 years, DTL sold around 0.862mn calling cards. Given that 35mn persons are expected to undertake overseas travel in FY10, DTL has just about scratched the surface of this huge market.
Huge opportunities in the BPO industry
Market for vehicle tracking system is estimated to grow from USD 6.4mn in 2005 to USD 78.2mn in 2011. This market is still in the infancy stages in India and is likely to start its growth trajectory in 2008.
Concerns include
Low entry barriers
The segments wherein DTL operates (telecards, FleeTrac) have huge growth potential but low entry barriers which are also limited to the adapting the technologies required and setting up distribution network. This can attract more players in the respective segments which may impact revenue growth and EBITDA margins.
Short track record
All its businesses have been launched during the last 3 years (telecards in 2004, BPO in 2006 and vehicle tracking systems in 2007).
While in the telecards segment, the company has much larger competitors like Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel, and an active competitor like Matrix Cellular Services, we believe the growth of the market will leave ample room for players like DTL. As regards the BPO segment, in our view its operations will remain small-sized even after increasing the capacity from 85 seats to 500.
However, we are quite bullish on the prospects of its Fleet Tracking system which has a huge potential market from the truck and commercial vehicle owners.
Historical growth due to base effect and may taper off
Topline and bottomline grew at 310% and 371% CAGR respectively during FY03-07. We expect topline growth to taper off as the base grows, going forward.