ACL Cables explained

ACL Cables PLC
Type:Public
Industry:Building materials
Hq Location City:Colombo
Hq Location Country:Sri Lanka
Revenue: LKR30.146 billion
Revenue Year:2023
Operating Income: LKR9.079 billion
Income Year:2023
Net Income: LKR7.013 billion
Net Income Year:2023
Assets: LKR36.111 billion
Assets Year:2023
Equity: LKR27.458 billion
Equity Year:2023
Subsid:See text
Num Employees:1,641
Num Employees Year:2023
Footnotes:[1]

ACL Cables PLC is a cable manufacturing company in Sri Lanka. It manufactures and sells power cables, conductors, armoured cables and telephone cables. The company was established in 1962 as Associated Cables, a subsidiary of Associated Motorways. It was publicly quoted in 1976. In 1980, the company moved out of the Associated Motorways Group and was renamed ACL Cables in 1990. ACL Cables is one of the LMD 100 companies in Sri Lanka.[2]

History

In 1962, Associated Cables Ltd was incorporated as a subsidiary of Associated Motorways (AMW).[3] Manufacturing of electric cables commenced in the following year in the AMW industrial park in Kalutara.[4] Associated Cables was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1976.[5] The company moved out of the Associated Motorways Group in 1980 and was renamed ACL Cables to establish an independent identity from Associated Motorways in 1990. The company started manufacturing armoured cables in 1986. ACL Cables began a technical collaboration with Nokia Cables in 1988. In 1995, the company started exporting to Bangladesh and the Maldives.

ACL Cables acquired Kelani Cables in 1999.[6] The acquisition raised monopolistic concerns by the small players in the market. Even though the acquisition fueled speculations of triggering anti-monopoly legislation, since cables were not one of the 46 items that have been gazetted which cannot be monopolised, the Fair Trading Commission did not interfere in the matter.[7] A consortium of companies consisting of ACL Cables, National Development Bank and Trydan Partners acquired Hemas Power from Hemas Holdings.[8] ACL Cables introduced its new logo in 2015.[9] The company acquired 51% of Cable Solutions (Pvt) Ltd for LKR480.7 million in 2019.[10]

Operations

ACL Cables was ranked the most valuable building material and 37th overall brand in Sri Lanka in 2022 by Brand Finance. The company controls 70% of the market share of the cable market.[11] ICRA Lanka upgraded its credit rating of ACL Cables to [SL]AA- from [SL]A+ in January 2022. The credit outlook is adjudged as Stable. The company's financial position and market share are cited as the rationale for the rating.[12] ACL Cables' main export markets are India, Australia, Maldives, Bangladesh and Africa.

With the shortage of foreign exchange reserves due to the Sri Lankan economic crisis, the company faced difficulties in importing raw materials.[13] ACL ceiling fans received Sri Lanka Standard Institute's certification for energy efficiency and safety features. The company moved to the ceiling fans market in 2016.[14] Percy Abeysekera, the superfan of the Sri Lanka national cricket team is an employee of the company. Abeysekera joined the company in 1962 as a factory foreman and rose to a factory manager position during his career.[15]

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary Group holding
Kelani Cables PLC 79.30%
ACL Plastics PLC 65.20%
Ceylon Bulbs & Electricals Ltd 95.30%
Lanka Olex Cables (Pvt) Ltd 100%
ACL Kelani Magnet Wire (Pvt) Ltd 93.79%
ACL Polymers (Pvt) Ltd 65.20%
ACL Metals & Alloys (Pvt) Ltd 100%
Ceylon Copper (Pvt) Ltd 100%
ACL Electric (Pvt) Ltd 100%
Cable Solutions (Pvt) Ltd 51%
RESUS Energy PLC 32.53%
Source: Annual Report, 2020/21

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Report 2022/23 . cse.lk . ACL Cables PLC . 31 October 2023.
  2. News: ACL Cables ascends LMD 100, showcasing market dominance . 31 August 2022 . Daily FT . Wijeya Newspapers . 5 January 2019.
  3. News: Kangaraarachchi . Ramani . ACL 'powers' Lanka's energy sector . 30 August 2022 . . . 30 May 2006.
  4. Web site: Annual Report 2021/22 . cse.lk . ACL Cables PLC . 30 August 2022.
  5. Book: Samarawickreme . Navaratna Dissanayake . Industrial Accumulation in Sri Lanka: impact of policy shifts . 2005 . Gyan Pub. House . New Delhi . 978-8-12120-855-0 . 277 . 30 August 2022.
  6. Dissanayake . D. M. R. . Munasinghe . A. . Strategic Synergy of Post-Acquisition: A Case Story on ACL Cables PLC vs Kelani Cables PLC & Key Insights of Brand Positioning of "Kelani Brand" . Sri Lanka Journal of Marketing . January 2017 . 3 . 1 . 59–71 . 31 August 2022 . . 1800-4989.
  7. News: Goonewardene . Dinali . ACL takeover triggers monopoly issues here . 31 August 2022 . . Wijeya Newspapers . 19 September 1999.
  8. News: Hemas Holdings sells Hemas Power to Sri Lankan consortium . 31 August 2022 . adaderana.lk . . 5 December 2014.
  9. News: ACL Cables goes for share subdivision . 31 August 2022 . Daily FT . Wijeya Newspapers . 6 July 2015.
  10. News: ACL Cables to acquire 51% of Cable Solutions for Rs.481mn . 31 August 2022 . dailymirror.lk . Wijeya Newspapers . 27 November 2019.
  11. News: ACL Cables crowned as the Most Valuable Consumer Brand . 31 August 2022 . adaderana.lk . Ada Derana . 2 May 2022.
  12. Web site: ICRA Lanka upgrades issuer the rating of ACL Cables PLC . icralanka.com . ICRA Lanka . 31 August 2022.
  13. News: Sri Lanka money printing hits cable maker raw materials . 31 August 2022 . Economy Next . Echelon Media . 20 September 2021.
  14. News: ACL Ceiling Fans awarded star rating in compliance with energy efficiency and safety standards . 31 August 2022 . Daily FT . Wijeya Newspapers . 1 June 2020.
  15. News: ACL Cables celebrates birthday of Lanka’s much-loved cheerleader Percy Abeysekera . 31 August 2022 . Daily FT . Wijeya Newspapers . 3 August 2018.