EPC INDUSTRIE Ltd - BUY

Even if the potential  of Micro Irrigation is very vast in a

country like India, listed Companies other than

Jain Irrigation in this sector is ignored by investors  mainly

because of their inability to scale up the business.

EPC INDUSTRIE is the second largest pure listed player

in this space. This Nasik based company having an installed

capacity of 8100 Mt per annum Micro Irrigation Systems.

Company was in pathetic situation and a BIFR case  for

past many years mainly because of severe working capital.

crunch . Later in 2007, UK based PE player  Schroder

Credit Renaissance Fund  interested in EPC and invested

about Rs.18 crore to revive the company .

 The same fund again invested

in EPC and raised its stake upto the current level of  52.3 %.

In these preferential allotments ,  Schroder Credit took stake

at a price higher than the then prevailing market price of EPC ,

which indicates their confidence in this company. Meanwhile

promoters also hiked their stake through a preferential allotment.

Even there is fund infusion , turnover of the company was not

improving earlier. But now there is some  earlier signs of

improvement in this company. By effective use of working

capital , company is now started to improve capacity utilization

and margins . For the three months ended June qtr, Company

posted a turnover of Rs.23 Crore and a net profit of Rs.81 Lac

which is  higher than 50% and 300% respectively over  same

period last year. EPC is an approved supplier to the Micro

irrigation projects initiated by Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh 

State governments  which ensures a ready market for its

products. Along with this ,due to high food inflation many state

governments and Central government  taking active steps to

increase the penetration of MIS in our country .As part of this,

recently central government upgraded its micro irrigation  scheme

to a national mission with an outlay of Rs 8032.90 crore ,which

is very positive for companies like EPC. When we look through

another angle , seeing the potential here ,many world leaders are

interested to enter into the Indian MIS market .Since ,controlling

stake held by a P/E player with world wide operation ,EPC

Industries is a potential take over target for these biggies going

forward. So, those who are willing to take risk and ready to

wait, this may turn as a multibagger .CMP is Rs.61 /-