WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN LOGISTICS From conservative to investment WWL just announced the acquisition of Keen Transport, operating High & Heavy Equipment processing centres in the US, expanding the landbased annual EBITDA by 10% at an attractive earnings multiple of 6.4x. WWL says it is a unique opportunity to capitalize on the improving fundamentals in the mining and construction sector in the US, which in our view is a more upbeat commentary on the H&H outlook than recent guidance.
Expanding in land-based at 6.4x EBITDA. WWL just announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Keen Transport for an equity value of USD64m (debt-free basis), which yields a 6.4x multiple based on the company’s USD10m EBITDA for 2016. Keen Transport reported revenues of USD82m in 2016 resulting in a 12% EBITDA margin, which compares to WWL’s land-based EBITDA margin YTD of 12.8%, hence we find the EV/EBITDA multiple attractive at 6.4x. The acquisition would expand land-based EBITDA by 10%.
Increases footprint to capitalize on improving fundamentals in H&H. Keen operates 14 High and Heavy Equipment Processing Centers and specialty trucking entity in the US, and WWL says that it would become the clear market leader in the US High & Heavy Equipment processing space, positioning the company for forecast growth in this segment. The increased footprint represents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the improving fundamentals in the mining and construction sector in the US, according to WWL.
From being conservative to investing for growth. WWL’s share price rise post Q3 in November had only been seen twice in the past, showing the gap between earnings capacity at a cycle low and market expectations. The main feedback and our impression post Q2 in August was that the CEO’s guidance on H&H was too conservative; thus, the company now putting money on the table and positioning itself for increased land-based traffic on the H&H side is a positive signal. It has been widely communicated that growth would take place in land-based over Ocean, but we were positively surprised that the growth came first in H&H, which should also have a positive read across to the company’s seaborne H&H outlook.
BUY TP: NOK67.0
WWL versus OSEBX (12m)

Source: Factset




EQUITY RESEARCH 7 December 2017 Research report prepared by DNB Markets, a division of DNB Bank ASA Industrials Bulletin This report was completed and disseminated at 15:31 CET on 07 December 2017