SATS - Better Operating Leverage; Likely No Strategic Investor
SATS LTD. (SGX:S58)
- 2QFY23 (Jul to Sep 2022) revenue came in at S$429m (+14%), suggesting that SATS (SGX:S58) is benefitting from the reopening of borders. Food solutions revenue rose 13% q-o-q to S$186m while gateway revenue rose 40% q-o-q to S$189m (including the consolidationf of AAT). Flights and passengers handled in 2Q were at 62%/56% of pre-COVID-19 levels of 1HFY20.
- SATS's 2QFY23 operating loss narrowed to S$8m (1Q23: S$34m) vs our S$25m loss forecast.
- The key positive variance in 2Q was lower-than-expected staff cost (+3% q-o-q), as the hiring momentum to prepare for the reopening of borders has tapered. Total staff strength grew 6.8% q-o-q to 15.6k at end-Mar. Note that staff costs rose at a pace of ~22% q-o-q in the preceding two quarters.
- Raw materials costs declined to 37.8% of food solutions revenue in 2QFY23, vs above 40% in the past quarters, on the back of better operating leverage.
- Share of associates and JVs contribution also surpassed our expectations at S$10.7m (+55% q-o-q), with food solutions posting S$3.4m net profit, its first since COVID hit.
- Excluding grant (S$9.8m) and M&A expenses (~S$15m), SATS's 2QFY23 net loss would have been at ~S$6m, closer to break-even.
- There will still be more M&A expenses to be incurred in 2HFY23F (quantum undisclosed), but we project a profitable 2HFY23F as management expects Changi aviation volume to reach 80% by end-FY23.
- SATS shared that the optimal funding structure to fund its acquisition of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) would likely be a rights issue for ~S$800m, ~S$700m from 3-5-year term loans, and ~S$300m cash. As at end-Sep, SATS's cash balance stood at S$689m, net cash at S$174m.
- We keep our target price for SATS unchanged, pending a definitive funding structure for its WFS acquisition. Our target price is based on 18x CY24F SATS’s business-as-usual net profit as well as WFS profit post refinancing. 18x is 0.5 standard deviation below its 2013-2018 pre-COVID average.
- SATS's share price has shrunk ~29% since it announced its proposed acquisition of WFS, pricing in worst-case funding structure of S$1.7bn rights issue (at S$2.79/share). Long-term investors should stay invested, in our view.
Above is the excerpt from research report by CGS-CIMB.
Clients of CGS-CIMB may access the full report in PDF @ https://www.itradecimb.com.sg/.
TAY Wee Kuang CGS-CIMB Research | LIM Siew Khee CGS-CIMB Research | https://www.cgs-cimb.com 2022-11-10
SGX Stock
Analyst Report
3.450
SAME
3.450
Previous report by CGS-CIMB:
2022-10-05 SATS - Exploring Funding Options For WFS Acquisition
Target prices by 3 other brokers at SATS Target Prices.
Listing of broker reports at SATS Analyst Report.
Relevant links:
SATS Share Price History,
SATS Announcements,
SATS Dividends & Corp Actions,
SATS News Articles