Business

Govt backtracks from its decision to acquire 40% stake in Laugfs Terminal

Published

2 years ago

2021/06/10

The government has reached a decision to withdraw from a joint memo presented to the Cabinet of Ministers to acquire 40 percent stake in Laugfs Terminal Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Laugfs Gas PLC.

The Minister of Finance jointly with the Minister of Trade earlier submitted a Cabinet memo to acquire 40 percent stake in Laugfs Terminal, which owns and operates an LPG storage terminal in Hambantota Port to jointly procure LP Gas with a view to maintaining LPG prices at current levels through possible cost benefits.

Sri Lanka Insurance and Litro Gas were expected to acquire 40 percent stake under this proposed PPP venture. However, several issues were raised against this venture including limitations in achieving cost benefits that would enable the LPG prices to be maintained at current levels.

At the Cabinet meeting held on 17th of last month, the Cabinet of Ministers pointed out that it’s not viable to retain the current LPG prices under the current market environment where LPG prices are on a rising trend.Further, concerns over supply risks in procuring LPG from the same source were also raised.

The State-owned Litro Gas commands over 70 percent share in the country’s duopoly LPG market while Laugfs Gas serves the remainder of the market.

Laugfs Gas commissioned the largest storage terminal in May 2019, with an investment of Rs.11.9 billion mostly financed through borrowings.

However, the facility operated below its capacity of 40 percent in 2019/2020 financial year.

“In consideration of the existing excess storage capacity of the LPG terminal located at the Hambantota International Port, owned by Laugfs Terminals Limited, which is a subsidiary of Laugfs Gas PLC, the government has recognised the possible cost benefits to the country derived from the economies of the scale of operations, by way of joint procurement of LP Gas through the formation of a private public partnership between State owned Litro Gas Lanka Limited and Laugfs Terminal Limited,” Laugfs Gas stated in a stock market disclosure. Although, the operating profit of Laugfs Terminals improved to Rs.58 million in the 2019/2020, the company still remains in red as it made a loss of Rs.162 million due to high finance costs.

Further, it hasn’t been able to increase its LPG market share in the country significantly.

The Cabinet paper also included a proposal to remove Port and Airport Levy to maintain current market price on 12.5 kg LPG cylinder. Accordingly, all seven proposals presented in the Cabinet paper are expected to be withdrawn through a note to the Cabinet of Ministers.

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Business

Once again, AIA ran for their lives – Proud sponsor for the 3rd consecutive year.

Published

2 hours ago

2023/04/2

Thilina Walpola

AIA Insurance was humbled to be a part of Run For Their Lives 2023, in raising funds for the Apeksha Cancer Hospital. The charity run aligns with AIA’s brand purpose of helping people live healthier, longer, better lives with focus on the prevention and management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka. The company will continue its commitment to fight NCDs and actively engage in creating awareness on leading NCDs in the country, AIA said in a news release.

“With AIA’s goal of making a positive impact on one billion lives by 2030, participants at RFTL were encouraged to make a pledge for a healthy habit that could help prevent illness and remain healthy in the long run. The participants also took part in a real-time survey that measured their unhealthy habits and recommended healthy lifestyle habits. Participants were also instantly rewarded for taking part in the wellness games and the free BMI sessions organised by one of AIA’s wellness partner Vida Medical Clinic,” it said.

Business

Exterminators PLC records 48% in capital gains and dividend payout of Rs. 31.5 M one year after listing

Published

2 hours ago

2023/04/2

Thilina Walpola

Managing Director of Exterminators PLC Marlon Ferreira and the team

Exterminators PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier pest tech and environmental enhancement technology company, celebrates one year on March 30th, 2023, upon its listing on the ‘Colombo Stock Exchange’. Founded with an initial investment of Rs. 75,000 way back in 1998, today’s market capitalization is over Rs. 470 million and the company also created history by becoming the first pest management company in South Asia and emerging and developing markets to be listed on the stock exchange. During the first nine months of the FY22-23, the revenue increased by 37%, the gross profit by 29%, the operating profit by 29%, the profit before tax by 63% and the net profit by 62%. The GP margin is 73%, the NP margin is 27% and the capital gain is 48% as of March 28, 2023. The company’s dividend payout in 2022 was LKR 31.5 million, which included a cash dividend of LKR 14 million and a scrip dividend amounting to LKR 17.4 million.

Marlon Ferreira, Managing Director of Exterminators PLC said: “We anticipate that the pest management and agricultural sectors will have significant growth in the mid- to long-term in Sri Lanka and the emerging developing markets. The company is expecting to reduce operational and administration costs due to the creation of synergies within divisions, which would have a positive impact on the bottom line and in turn create value for all stakeholders Operating from four locations in Colombo, Kandy, Malabe, and Dambulla, the company has set in place the necessary groundwork to expand to several key cities on the island and has plans to setup the global business expansion project in the first quarter of the financial year 23/24.

Business

Fcode Labs wins two awards at e-Swabhimani

Published

2 hours ago

2023/04/2

Thilina Walpola

Flingo and CarromBot, two products by Fcode Labs (Pvt) Ltd, a leading software development and digital solutions company, were adjudged winners at the e-Swabhimani Awards, an initiative of the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka aimed at recognizing excellence in digital applications. This gala event was held recently in Colombo for the 11th consecutive time. CarromBot, an AI-based robot that can play a carrom game on its own, was awarded as a Winner in the Digital Entertainment category. The robot identifies the correct piece to shoot, the power, and the angle to shoot.

Flingo, a mobile application where you can draw art and chat in real time with your friends and loved ones, won a Merit award at the ceremony. Flingo provides a sophisticated set of drawing features and a smooth user experience for the users. Fcode Labs (Pvt) Ltd is a company based in Sri Lanka and Singapore that focuses on Digital Transformation, Digital Product engineering, AI, and Blockchain services.

Founded in 2018, it now comprises 60-members that work on developing high-quality Software products. Further details of the company can be accessed on their website www.fcodelabs.com. This is not the first time that Fcode Labs has won e-Swabhimani awards. The company was awarded in 2018 and 2019 for their innovative products. Recently it was also recognized as the 35th best workplace to work in Asia (Small to medium category) by Great Place to Work.