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Thursday, June 9, 2011

A strategic investor to buy Blue Diamonds at Rs.7 per share?

09-June-2011

In the light of strong gold prices and Jewellery prices in the world, Sri Lanka’s only Diamond exporter The Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide PLC (BLUE) a controlling stake of Blue Diamonds is going to be acquired by an investor at Rs.7 per share.It was earlier reported in that Blue Diamonds is eyed by an Indian Investor according to market sources.

The Lanka Business News reliably learns from market sources that the recent interest for Blue Diamonds shares (BLUE) by investors in Colombo Stock Exchange was rallied in the midst of the new investor eyeing to buy a majority stake in the company. Company’s major shareholder to date is Ceylinco Insurance PLC having 4.6% stake whilst the other related Ceylinco entities have another 3.8% as at 31 December 2010.

However, when asked from Blue Diamonds Managing Director and Chairman, Bandula Ranaweera he denied divulging any details adding that although there had been several occasions in the market which outlined several new investors are eyeing Blue Diamonds they never became reality.

After facing challenging years of operation from 2008 to 2009, in the latter part of 2010 The Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide PLC raised Rs.300 million in a rights issue at a time company’s traditional buyers had cancelled orders and some others had reduced order quantities.

It was informed to Blue Diamonds shareholders in last annual report that even the largest buyer of Blue Diamonds Jewellery who covers most of the Middle East region experienced major difficulties in their business with the United Arab Emirates stock exchange authorities having to re-shuffle the entire board of directors of Damas LLC, Dubai and appoint new member for the board. Damas LLC has to settle still a sum of Rs.14 million to Blue Diamonds as at 31 March 2010 whilst A.G.I. (Singapore) Ltd.has to settle Rs.21.8 million for sales as at same date.

However the lately published quarterly results of Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide PLC outline that company has reported a positive net profit of Rs.1.74 million in quarter ended 31 December 2010 compared to a loss of Rs.8.5 million in the same quarter of 2009. Consequently company’s Earnings Per Share (EPS) had also reached positive 1 cents from a loss of 10 cents reported in 2009 as result of increased turnover from Rs.9.5 million in 2009 to Rs.15.6 million as at end of December 2010. Company net asset value per share had also shot up from Rs.1.47 to Rs.2.14.

source - www.lankabusinessnews.com