A Waste Management Services Star |
SCORPEX: THE BUSINESS MODEL Summary Scorpex, Inc. is positioned to become the dominant provider of integrated waste management services in a regional market in Mexico that represents billions in annual revenue. The Company has already received an offer to provide waste disposal services of up to 800 tons worth of waste per day. This contract alone is worth hundreds of million in revenue annually. Overview A number of years ago, Scorpex management identified the Baja, Mexico region near Ensenada as a problem area screaming for a solution. Due to an increase in manufacturing, industry (due to the NAFTA treaty) and an increase in the local population, the demand for waste management, including storage, recycling, and handling of hazardous and toxic waste, far exceeds capacity. Furthermore, the primary methods of waste disposal were the costly ground transportation of waste into the U.S., Monterrey, Mexico, or the even costlier marine transport on barges to Japan (on one coast) and France and Holland (on the other.) After several years of working on the project and spending more than $3 million, Scorpex will emerge as the owner and operator of the only industrial waste processing and disposal facility of its kind in the heavily populated Baja region of Mexico in 3Q12. Management, along with its Mexican partner Tratamientos Ambientales Scorpion (TAS), has overseen the initiation and execution of environmental studies, application submission, permit acquisition and funding commitments, and local business development. TAS will provide an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative for the transfer and disposal of this waste. Today, Scorpex’s first facility is located near the existing Scorpex property located in the Ensenada, Mexico region. This strategic location is less than three miles from the current landfill in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico. Scorpex has received approval to build ten hazardous and industrial waste storage structures on its Ensenada property and to date Scorpex has nearly completed construction of the first storage facility. These structures are specially designed with concrete flooring and special catch drainage systems, along with an emergency fire sprinkler system.
In recent months, the Company has contracted with International Environmental Technologies, Inc. (“IET”) to build its state of the art waste gasification/thermal oxidation plant on site. The patented technology employed by the plant is capable of processing municipal waste, medical waste and hazardous waste simultaneously without presorting for maximum efficiency. Other features of the technology include:
Not only will the plant be environmentally friendly, which is a major plus to government officials and customers, but the IET plant will also be capable of processing 800 tons per day of hazardous and industrial waste. The estimated equipment-related cost for IET is $30M and management has already secured financial commitments for $35M in funding, which we expect will close in the coming weeks. In the interim, we believe that the timeline of key events includes:
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES Scorpex has a series of advantages over existing and future competition. In our view, the barriers to entry are significant. Scorpex likely owns at least a three-year advantage over any new, prospective players in the market.
RISK FACTORS In our view, the biggest risks to success for Scorpex relates to delays and volume. Delays in securing funding, construction completion, or lower waste tonnage volumes are certainly possible risks. Any changes in permitting or labor issues are also not uncommon, although we do not believe that these risks would materially impact Scorpex. Although the barriers to entry are great, slower penetration as a result of competition from larger or domestic firms or even from newer entrants is a typical, but unlikely concern. MANAGEMENT Joseph Caywood, Joseph Caywood is an entrepreneur with a history of success in the recycling, waste management and disposal industries, among a host of others. Mr. Caywood has successfully owned and operated many businesses since 1989, including an extremely profitable classic car business. Mr. Caywood has invested substantial funds into various business enterprises including Scorpex, Inc., where he has spent the last several years developing a toxic and hazardous waste storage, recycling, and disposal site on the perimeter of Ensenada, Mexico. Chene Gardner In addition to his duties as interim CFO of Scorpex, Chene Gardner currently serves Alto Group Holdings, Inc., a filer of reports pursuant to requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Chief Financial Officer. He is also an executive officer and director of Nano Dimensions, Inc. and an executive officer and director of Secure Netwerks, Inc. Mr. Gardner previously served Fuelstream, Inc. as the Financial Controller and has auditing and accounting experience with the firm Deloitte & Touche LLP, serving clients in the banking, manufacturing, and retail industries. Kenneth I. Denos, Board Member FINANCIALS Our pro forma projected income statement is largely based upon the near-term receipt of $35 million in equipment financing and the first facility running at full capacity by early 3Q12. For FY12, we estimate $60M in revenue and net income of $17.7M, or EPS of $0.09. Our forecast assumes $15M in Q3 revenue and $45M in Q4, with revenue of $1200 per ton. For FY13, which will be the first full-year of operations for Scorpex, we project $280M in revenue and $84.4M in net income, or $0.41 in EPS. We have initiated preliminary estimates of $490M in revenue and $0.72 in EPS for 2014. We should note that estimates are subject to variability based upon volume, particularly early on, as it is likely that the Company will be awarded additional contracts in 1H12. Furthermore, we have utilized gross margin and other metrics that could prove to be conservative, so we deem it likely that if volume is on track with our forecasts, profitability could actually be meaningfully higher than our estimates. VALUATION AND CONCLUSION In our view, Scorpex, Inc provides investors with a very unusual opportunity: a company in the waste disposal space that is positioned to generate substantial top-line and bottom-line growth. In addition, investors benefit from the fact that the stock is trading at a puny multiple. We strongly believe that Scorpex will reward investors and command a premium valuation given its dominant market share in a high growth market and its high profitability due to its model. Most companies in the space are generating slow growth in revenue and focused to a large degree on operating efficiency. Nonetheless, stocks in this peer group, such as U.S. Ecology (NASDAQ – ECOL) and Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE – CLH) currently and historically trade between 16 – 22x forward 12-month EPS. Our 6-month price target of $4.00 is based on roughly 40x our FY12 EPS forecast, which is reasonable given the expected financial performance and dominant status. As the Company gets closer to launching, the stock should begin a sharp upward trajectory toward our target. Moreover, we project that SRPX will reach $8.00 in the next 12 months. Twelve months from now the stock will be valued based upon forward-12 month EPS, or FY13 EPS estimates. One year from now, $8 will equate to 20x FY13 EPS projections, which is the average historical forward 12-month P/E for the peer group. Given its much higher growth rate, the stock could even approach $10, depending upon volume and net margin. We rate SRPX Speculative Buy.
 
Analyst: Robert Goldman Rob Goldman has over 20 years of investment and company research experience as a senior research analyst and as a portfolio and mutual fund manager. During his tenure as a sell-side analyst, Rob was a senior member of Piper Jaffray's Technology and Communications teams. Prior to joining Piper, Rob led Josephthal & Co.'s Washington-based Emerging Growth Research Group. In addition to his sell-side experience Rob served as Chief Investment Officer of a boutique investment management firm and Blue and White Investment Management, where he managed Small Cap Growth portfolios and The Blue and White Fund. Analyst Certification I, Robert Goldman, hereby certify that the view expressed in this research report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities and issuers. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the recommendations or views expressed in this research report. Disclaimer This Opportunity Research report was prepared for informational purposes only. Goldman Small Cap Research, (a division of Two Triangle Consulting Group, LLC) produces research via two formats: Goldman Select Research and Goldman Opportunity Research. The Select product reflects the Firm’s internally generated stock ideas while the Opportunity product reflects sponsored research reports. It is important to note that while we may track performance separately, we utilize the same coverage criteria in determining coverage of all stocks in both research formats. While stocks in the Opportunity format may have a higher risk profile, they typically offer greater upside as well. Goldman Small Cap Research has been compensated by a third party in the amount of $8,000 for a three month research subscription service. The Firm does not accept any equity compensation. All information contained in this report was provided by the Company. Our analysts are responsible only to the public, and are paid in advance to eliminate pecuniary interests, retain editorial control, and ensure independence. Analysts are compensated on a per report basis and not on the basis of his/her recommendations. The information used and statements of fact made have been obtained from sources considered reliable but we neither guarantee nor represent the completeness or accuracy. Goldman Small Cap Research did not make an independent investigation or inquiry as to the accuracy of any information provided by the Company, or other firms. Goldman Small Cap Research relied solely upon information provided by the Company through its filings, press releases, presentations, and through its own internal due diligence for accuracy and completeness. Such information and the opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. A Goldman Small Cap Research report or note is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed. This report does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any particular person. This report does not provide all information material to an investor’s decision about whether or not to make any investment. Any discussion of risks in this presentation is not a disclosure of all risks or a complete discussion of the risks mentioned. Neither Goldman Small Cap Research, nor its parent, is registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or with any state securities regulatory authority. ALL INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TWO TRIANGLE CONSULTING GROUP, LLC WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE QUALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY OR TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION, OR FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES THAT MAY ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION BY YOU OR ANYONE ELSE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF OPPORTUNITIES, TRADING LOSSES, AND DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM ANY INACCURACY OR INCOMPLETENESS OF THIS INFORMATION). TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TWO TRIANGLE CONSULTING GROUP, LLC WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE UNDER ANY TORT, CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, PRODUCTS LIABILITY, OR OTHER THEORY WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION. For more information, visit our Disclaimer: www.goldmanresearch.com. |
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