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Rakon impatient shareholders anticipate 5G payoff

A group of Rakon shareholders are getting impatient with its undervaluation and want directors to put the company on the block.

In Tech company shareholders frustrated at low value RNZ reports:

A group representing 14 percent has written to the board asking it to immediately market the company to international investors through a tender, amid reports that some Australian investment funds have been showing interest.

“[We] believe the company is significantly undervalued and the company is failing to highlight this value to outside investors,” the letter said.

The story doesn’t carry a byline.

Rakon’s disgruntled shareholders want the company sold to international investors as a way of unlocking their investment. They make it clear they don’t think they will get a big payout from what should be a boom as the 5G mobile telephony market gathers momentum.

Waiting for 5G acceleration

RNZ goes on to quote Rakon chief executive and managing director Brent Robinson. He says:

“As 5G accelerates, so will Rakon and its financial position will be more attractive.

“Be patient, it’s early days for 5G and I believe Rakon’s performance should improve a lot, as far as profits are concerned over the next few years.”

Rakon is a 50 year old New Zealand technology company. It makes frequency control components including quartz crystals. Telecommunication accounts for over half the company’s revenue.

On paper, Rakon is well placed to profit from the worldwide 5G roll out. It appears to be the kind of company New Zealand’s economy needs.

Mobile carriers are spending billions building 5G networks and will continue spending vast sums for the best part of a decade as they build out 5G further and further. Rakon sells its components to 5G equipment makers like Huawei and Nokia. It should be a bonanza.

Not fast enough

The problem is that despite the huge investments in 5G, the roll-outs are not proceeding at the predicted speed. Asia is moving fast. Vodafone has already built a network here, Spark is about to follow. Other countries are not moving as quickly.

It doesn’t help that Rakon’s customers are caught up in a trade war, possibly an espionage row, between the US and China. It is possible that Rakon can supply one team, but not the other. That would hurt its market.

Rakon’s share price has languished to the point where it is a possible takeover target. The shareholder letter suggests at least some of Rakon’s owners want out.