Thursday, February 23, 2012

>SELAN EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY: Robust realisation; await ramp-up in production volumes


Result highlights
Strong results driven by realisation; volume growth unimpressive though: In Q3FY2012, the net revenues (adjusted for the petroleum profit) of Selan Exploration Technology (Selan) grew by 54% year on year (YoY), as a 76% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) improvement in the realisation over-compensated for the 6% decline in the volume during the quarter. Though sequentially the volume improved by 14% to 41,853 barrels of oil, but the realisation supported 6% growth QoQ taking the sequential sales growth to 20%.


PAT records 65% growth YoY: The operating profit grew by 77% YoY and 5% quarter on quarter (QoQ) to Rs14.7 crore. Following the trend, the profit before tax (PBT) grew by 80% YoY and 5% QoQ to Rs16.7 crore in Q3FY2012. However, there was an extraordinary item to the tune of Rs2.4 crore pertaining to foreign currency variation in Q3FY2012. Therefore, the reported profit after tax (PAT) recorded a growth of 65% YoY and 17% QoQ to Rs10.5 crore. Excluding this extraordinary item, the adjusted PAT seems to jump by 100% YoY and 12% QoQ to Rs12.9 crore.


Volume estimate revised down; consequently profit estimate trimmed: Given the delay in obtaining regulatory approvals for further exploration & development of the company’s oil fields, we are fine-tuning our assumptions for the production volume in FY2012 and FY2013. However, the impact of the delay on the net revenue will be limited by the higher than expected blended realisation. We are also introducing our FY2014 estimates for the company in this note. We remain positive about the field development programme and the potential ramp-up in the volume from the same in the coming years. Thus, we maintain our Buy recommendation on Selan with a price target of Rs500.


Other updates: Last week, Andrew Wenk, President & CEO, Selan, resigned from the company for personal reasons. Mr Wenk's resignation is effective from February 15, 2012. He had joined Selan during July 2011.


The company has declared an interim dividend of 30% (ie Rs3/- per equity share) for the financial year 2011-12.




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