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Vitrified tiles are relatively low-cost substitutes for marble.

Vidya Bala

Investors can subscribe to the initial public offer of Asian Granito India, a maker of vitrified tiles. Invest with a two-year perspective to gain from earnings growth arising out of increased capacities.

Strong financials, a track record of quickly ramping up capacities, and presence in the fast growing vitrified tile business are the positives. The offer price of Rs 85-102 also appears attractive with a price earnings multiple of 5-6 times the company’s earnings for 2008-09, when all its planned capacities are likely to be fully operational.

The company’s market cap (at the offer price) is about Rs 200 crore; the small market cap may subject the stock to high volatility.

Asian Granito manufactures a range of vitrified tiles at different price levels. Vitrified tile offers an ideal substitute for high-cost marble and granite. It is also superior to ceramic tiles in that it is less porous and therefore absorbs less water. The company has a fully-owned subsidiary — Asian Tiles —which makes ceramic tiles, relatively low-end.

Asian Granito plans to raise Rs 60-70 crore through this IPO that will expand its share capital by 40 per cent. The proceeds are to be used to increase its vitrified tile capacity by 2,000 sq.m per day to 16,000 sq. m. per day, to be operational by October 2007.

The company also plans to set up a new capacity for wall tile manufacturing using imported Italian machinery. This unit is expected to go on stream by January 2008.

Asian Granito enjoys 10.5 per cent of the organised vitrified tile capacity, according to the Indian Council of Ceramic Tiles and Sanitaryware. This share appears healthy, given that the vitrified tile market is fast growing and new players are entering the market, apart from Chinese imports.

The company’s range of products and its ability to offer tiles of various sizes are likely to provide it with a competitive edge in a market where the pricing pressure is likely to continue. The planned entry into the wall tiles segment also appears well-timed as there are not too many established players in this space.

This may provide the company an early mover advantage and derive superior realisation for a few years.

The company’s operating profit margins at about 24 per cent, though superior to a number of other tile companies, is less than leading players such as Murudeshwar Ceramics.

Superior realisation by the latter, as a result of better brand recognition and market share, appears to be the reason.

A smaller player such as Asian Granito may continue to face pressure on the realisation front; higher volumes in vitrified tiles post-expansion and possible superior realisation from wall tiles may provide some support to operating profit margins.

The company has enjoyed superior return on equity at over 30 per cent over the past three years. While the current equity expansion may dent this return in the short term, ramp-up in capacities is likely to get the returns back on track.

On the cost angle, the company’s facility is close to raw materials; it has moved to LNG (instead of LPG) over the past one year, thus reducing its power and fuel costs. Cost efficiency would also be key to buttressing margins.

Asian Granito appears to enjoy a pan-India presence as can be seen from the well-diversified geographical distribution of its revenues.

Increased competition from unorganised players and slump in real-estate leading to poor capacity utilisation are major risks for this tile maker.

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