Australian Equity Research

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1 19 October 2015 Australian Equity Research OCTOBER 2015 RESEARCH TEAM Nicolas Burgess Head of Research nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley Analyst Industrials ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Luke Macnab Analyst Industrials lmacnab@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis Analyst Industrials jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Warren Edney Analyst Resources wedney@baillieuholst.com.au Mathan Somasundaram Analyst Equity Strategy, Quant mathan@baillieuholst.com.au Piers Flanagan Associate Analyst pflanagan@baillieuholst.com.au Top Stock Picks Overall: We select the top picks across our 71 mid and small cap stock universe, as well as the outlook for the economy and equity market. We also provide our key insights from our listed investment company (LIC) coverage. Equity market outlook: We maintain a bullish long term view on the Australian equity market with a 12 month index target level of Recent profit taking by global investors on currency worries has lowered the market to a fair value level of 5000 with no premium being paid for the substantially high dividend yield. We maintain our positive long term view on the yield trade (i.e. Banks, Div Financials and Telcos) while health care looks the best growth/currency story. We continue to favour the new economy (i.e. MITCH Universe Media, Information, Telecom, Consumer and Health) over the old economy on a long term view. We expect short term profit taking with US reporting season risk, while China releases long term growth plans and the US Fed pushes back rate rise plans to help drive markets higher for a Christmas rally. Key trends in stock picks: The top stock picks are shown in the table below (alphabetical order). Although Baillieu Holst employs a bottom-up, fundamental approach to stock analysis and valuation, there are some key themes common across the top picks. These include offshore earnings and upside to ongoing AUD weakness, technology and telecommunications, professional services, and, in resources, gold. Listed Investment Companies (LICs): Baillieu Holst provides performance reporting and insights across a universe of 46 listed investment companies. Based on that analysis, our top picks include Diversified United Investments (DUI) in large caps, Future Generation Fund (FGX) in small caps, PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund (PGF) and Magellan Flagship Fund (MFF) in international, and Acorn Capital Investment Fund (ACQ) in the specialty sector. Rating System: The Baillieu Holst stock rating system is based on BUY (stock s total return is expected to increase by at least 10-15% from the current share price over the next 12 months), HOLD (total return is expected to trade within a range of ±10-15%) and SELL (total return is expected to decrease by at least 10-15%). Each stock is also assigned a risk rating of Low, Medium, High or Speculative. SUMMARY OF TOP PICKS Share Price Stock Code Rating Risk Price Target Analyst Donaco International DNA BUY High Nick Caley Empired EPD BUY High Josh Kannourakis Henderson Group HGG BUY Medium Nicolas Burgess M2 Group MTU BUY Medium Luke Macnab Mantra Group MTR BUY Low Nick Caley Northern Star NST BUY High Warren Edney QMS Media QMS BUY High Nicolas Burgess Saracen Minerals SAR BUY High Warren Edney Shine Corporate SHJ BUY Medium Nick Caley Speedcast International SDA BUY High Luke Macnab Steadfast Group SDF BUY Medium Nicolas Burgess Vita Group VTG BUY Medium Josh Kannourakis Page 1

2 Coverage Universe Mid and Small Caps Mkt EPS EPS PE PE DPS DPS DY DY Company Name Code Analyst P Rec TP Cap '15 '16 '15 '16 '15 '16 '15 '16 Industrials Collection House CLH Nick Caley 2.20 HOLD Credit Corp Group Ltd CCP Nick Caley 9.84 HOLD Hughes Drilling HDX Josh Kannourakis 0.13 BUY IPH Limited IPH Nick Caley 6.66 HOLD Logicamms LCM Josh Kannourakis 0.70 BUY MaxiTRANS Industries MXI Josh Kannourakis 0.51 BUY Monadelphous Group MND Josh Kannourakis 7.32 HOLD Silver Chef SIV Nick Caley 8.85 HOLD Tox Free Solutions TOX Josh Kannourakis 2.74 HOLD Wellcom Group Ltd WLL Nicolas Burgess 4.57 BUY Consumer Discretionary Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd AGI Nick Caley 2.95 BUY Amalgamated Holdings AHD Nick Caley HOLD APN Outdoor Group APO Nicolas Burgess 4.13 BUY Ardent Leisure Group AAD Nick Caley 2.70 BUY Aristocrat Leisure Ltd ALL Nick Caley 9.03 BUY Cash Converters CCV Nick Caley 0.52 HOLD Collins Foods Ltd CKF Josh Kannourakis 3.35 BUY Dominos Pizza Enterprises Ltd DMP Josh Kannourakis HOLD Donaco International DNA Nick Caley 0.80 BUY icar Asia Ltd ICQ Nick Caley 0.83 BUY iselect ISU Nick Caley 1.77 BUY Jumbo Interactive Ltd JIN Nick Caley 1.05 BUY Mantra Group MTR Nick Caley 4.11 BUY QMS Media QMS Nicolas Burgess 0.92 BUY Retail Food Group RFG Josh Kannourakis 4.62 BUY Shine Corporate SHJ Nick Caley 2.01 BUY Slater & Gordon Ltd SGH Nick Caley 2.88 BUY Village Roadshow Ltd VRL Nick Caley 7.32 BUY Vita Group VTG Josh Kannourakis 1.67 BUY Consumer Staple Bega Cheese BGA Josh Kannourakis 4.67 HOLD Patties Foods Ltd PFL Josh Kannourakis 1.18 HOLD Select Harvests SHV Josh Kannourakis HOLD Health Care 1300 Smiles ONT Nick Caley 7.17 BUY Greencross Ltd GXL Josh Kannourakis 6.52 BUY Medibio Ltd MEB Nicolas Burgess 0.40 BUY Pacific Smiles Group PSQ Nick Caley 2.15 HOLD Rhinomed RNO Josh Kannourakis 0.03 BUY Financials Austbrokers Holdings Ltd AUB Nicolas Burgess 8.80 BUY Auswide Bank ABA Nick Caley 5.32 BUY Bentham IMF IMF Nick Caley 1.53 BUY BT Investment Management Ltd BTT Nicolas Burgess 9.80 BUY Emerchants EML Nick Caley 0.75 BUY Equity Trustees Ltd EQT Nicolas Burgess BUY Henderson Group HGG Nicolas Burgess 5.65 BUY IOOF Holdings Ltd IFL Nicolas Burgess 8.94 HOLD Mortgage Choice Ltd MOC Nick Caley 1.69 HOLD MyState Ltd MYS Nick Caley 4.35 BUY Perpetual Ltd PPT Nicolas Burgess HOLD Steadfast Group SDF Nicolas Burgess 1.48 BUY Information Technology Aconex ACX Luke Macnab 4.57 BUY Altium ALU Nicolas Burgess 4.44 BUY Catapult Group CAT Nicolas Burgess 1.47 HOLD Computershare Ltd CPU Nicolas Burgess HOLD DTI Group DTI Nick Caley 0.26 BUY Empired EPD Josh Kannourakis 0.85 BUY GBST Holdings GBT Nicolas Burgess 3.81 HOLD Hansen Technologies HSN Nicolas Burgess 2.90 BUY Infomedia IFM Nicolas Burgess 0.78 BUY IProperty Group Ltd IPP Nick Caley 3.41 BUY Legend Corporation LGD Nicolas Burgess 0.26 HOLD Mitula Group MUA Josh Kannourakis 0.96 BUY Smart Parking SPZ Nick Caley 0.15 BUY Telecommunication Services BigAir Group BGL Luke Macnab 0.89 BUY M2 Group MTU Luke Macnab 9.50 BUY SpeedCast International SDA Luke Macnab 4.55 BUY Vocus Communications VOC Luke Macnab 6.33 BUY Materials Hillgrove Resources HGO Warren Edney 0.20 BUY Northern Star NST Warren Edney 3.09 BUY Panoramic Resources PAN Warren Edney 0.35 HOLD Saracen Mineral Holdings SAR Warren Edney 0.58 BUY Silver Lake Resource SLR Warren Edney 0.25 BUY Page 2

3 Table of Contents Coverage universe 2 Equity market view and strategy 5 Top Stock Picks: Donaco International (DNA) 11 Empired (EPD) 14 Henderson Group (HGG) 18 M2 Group (MTU) 22 Mantra Group (MTR) 25 Northern Star (NST) 29 QMS Media (QMS) 33 Saracen Minerals (SAR) 36 Shine Corporate (SHJ) 41 Speedcast International (SDA) 44 Steadfast Group (SDF) 48 Vita Group (VTG) 53 Listed Investment Companies (LICs) 56 Baillieu Holst Research Team 58 Disclaimer 60 Page 3

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5 BAILLIEU HOLST QUANT RESEARCH INTERNAL ONLY RESEARCH ANALYST Mathan Somasundaram Equity Engineer October 2015 EQUITY STRATEGY Christmas rally to start after US reporting season profit taking quantstrategy Global market outlook: Declining global growth has sparked a currency war amongst major economies in a bid for a bigger slice of the shrinking growth pie. Markets are getting used to a slowing China, stabilising Euro, risky Japan and a slowing US heading towards below trend growth. Global markets had a decent recovery in early October, while the US reporting season will continue to test recent optimism. The US Fed continues to support a rate rise in 2015, but the exact timing, magnitude and future moves are likely to be heavily linked to domestic economic recovery and global growth slowdown. We expect the US Fed to push back the rate rise timetable to allow for global economies to absorb and recover from the China slowdown and the Euro refugee issues. We continue to expect the Chinese government to deliver more stimulus and currency devaluation in order to improve manufacturing and domestic spending. We also assume small targeted stimulus in Japan, while substantial QE and refugee spending will be stimulatory for Europe. We continue to see low global growth outlook and a falling domestic currency to support our equity market recovery on the chase for yield. Local market outlook: Equities will continue to benefit from global demand for better than bond yield income streams from the rising older global demographic. A tidal wave of unemployment, falling real wages, falling living standards, falling disposable income, and a government in survival mode are factors expected to see an ongoing decrease in local consumer sentiment and business capex. The mining boom to manufacturing doom has left Australia with asset bubbles that can t be sustained without employment and wages growth. The big global consumer bases are the US, Europe and Asia. Global manufacturing will always gravitate towards big consumer bases and low cost regions. Manufacturing will only survive in Australia with government support due to the relative wage cost to FTA partners. Major regions in the currency war are delivering lower cost of production and cost to the market than what Australia can deliver. Australia will continue to attract recession fears as the country sleep walks past a low growth global economy in transition. Corporates are expected to protect their balance sheets, cut costs, buy back shares, drive industry consolidation and maintain yield to drive share price performance. We expect global investors to buy into Australian equity dividend yield as the currency sees support in the high 60s. Market view: We maintain a bullish long term view on the Australian equity market with a 12 month index target level of The RBA move in February and May has enabled equities to become the preferred risk/return option for investors wanting better than bond yield return in a rising cost environment. Recent profit taking by global investors on currency worries has lowered the market to a fair value level of 5000 with no premium being paid for the substantially high dividend yield. We maintain our positive long term view on the yield trade (i.e. Banks, Div Financials and Telecommunication services) while health care looks the best growth/currency story. We continue to favour the new economy (i.e. MITCH Universe Media, Information, Telecom, Consumer and Health) over the old economy on a long term view. We expect short term profit taking with US reporting season risk; while China releases long term growth plans and the US Fed pushes back rate rise plans to help drive markets higher for a Christmas rally. Page 5

6 BAILLIEU HOLST QUANT RESEARCH Macro summary global FIG.1: GLOBAL EQUITY MARKET PERFORMANCE IN USD (COMMON BASE = 1000) Mar-2009 Jun-2009 Sep-2009 Dec-2009 Mar-2010 Jun-2010 Sep-2010 Dec-2010 Mar-2011 Jun-2011 Sep-2011 Dec-2011 Mar-2012 Jun-2012 Sep-2012 Dec-2012 Mar-2013 Jun-2013 Sep-2013 Dec-2013 Mar-2014 Jun-2014 Sep-2014 Dec-2014 Mar-2015 Jun-2015 Sep-2015 MSCI Euro Index (US$) MSCI World Index (US$) MSCI China Index (US$) MSCI Australia Index (US$) MSCI US Index (US$) MSCI India Index (US$) MSCI Japan Index (US$) Source: IRESS US: The US economy is in a stable economic recovery trend albeit in low growth. We continue to believe that global growth downgrades, the European refugee crisis, China slowdown, strong USD and benign inflation will give it enough scope to delay raising rates until the end of Q4. Euro: The ECB has stepped up QE and we expect there will be a few more stages of QE similar to the US to see substantial recovery. Austerity gang will continue to re-adjust debt payment deals to help keep recovery plans in check, while Russia is expected to fall into recession in 2015 and remain a drag on Euro. The Middle East unrest remains another growth killer, while the Iran deal could flood the commodity markets further. The UK is the next exit candidate to rock the Euro boat and this is unlikely to get resolved quickly. The refugee crisis could deliver spending stimulus despite political road blocks. China: Chinese leadership continues to manage the transition with measured stimulus while easing the economy out of the credit issues. The older demographic and the lack of innovation will be long term issues for growth in China. China is trending down towards a lower (i.e. 4-5%) steady growth rate in the next two to three years, like most developed countries. China has moved from a property bubble to an equity bubble and will be forced to support and manage both down in the short to medium term. We continue to expect China to deliver multiple layers of stimulus and devaluate the Yuan as the economy slows down. Japan: Easy steps in regards to stimulus have driven spending and boosted the share market. The government will have to move on the structural changes after the snap election. Doubts remain if the economy is strong enough to withstand the changes and maintain the recovery path. Page 6

7 BAILLIEU HOLST QUANT RESEARCH India: The sleeping giant seems to be moving with new leadership, but unlike China, every step is slow with a myriad of historical, political and structural impediments. The lower average age compared to China offers huge upside to growth while the historical rate of change suggests this will take time and risk remain high. Commodities: We expect iron ore to average below US$60 over the next few years with rising supply and falling demand, while Energy prices are likely to average high to mid US$50 in the short to medium term with OPEC holding oversupply and more supply likely from Iraq and Iran. Longer term outlook for the fossil fuel and utilities sectors are likely to be challenged by improving battery technology supporting alternative clean energy sources in a five to 10 year time frame. The next commodity up cycle will require a large emerging country like India or Indonesia to ramp up a substantial building-up phase like China. We struggle to see that in the next five years. Macro summary local Unemployment outlook: The accumulated unemployment tidal wave from technological improvement, car industry, airline industry, ship building industry, telco industry, finance industry, manufacturing industry, energy industry, M&A job cuts, outsourcing to emerging markets, government job cuts and the ever shrinking mining industry cuts will create a vacuum for jobs and drive unemployment close to 7% in the next 12 months. We do not see any government policy adjustments or global macro changes that can create jobs in the next months to limit this damage. Infrastructure job creation is slow and still more than 12 months away. It is expected to deliver jobs that will pay much less than the jobs being lost over the past few years. We expect unemployment to stay above 6% in 2016 and early Similar to the US, the jobs we are losing are high paid, high skilled full time jobs while the majority of the jobs being created are low paid, low skilled part time jobs. FTAs will further hinder new industry build up or an old industry recovery process, given the competition from mature technological and manufacturing giants like South Korea, Japan and China. The recent view to relax 457 visa rules to allow foreign cheap labour to flood an already struggling employment market will drive unemployment even higher. The employment market outlook has held up better than expected due to sample testing limitations, lower population growth and short term government subsidies to that have supported industries from falling over until the next federal election. Consumer confidence: Tidal waves of unemployment coming in the next few years, rising cost of living pressures, falling real wages, continued budget worries and lack of growth agenda from the government have slammed consumer confidence down to multi year low. We continue to be negative on local cyclicals and consumer spending related sectors with a slowing domestic economy. Continued lack of long term planning, real policy reform and party politics will keep sentiment low well into The government leadership change has improved outlook in the short term, but without structural reform, sentiment will trend down again. Infrastructure outlook: The technological advancement in infrastructure projects, FTA allowance of global cheap labour and loosening of 457 visa will limit any substantial job creation to cover the unemployment tidal wave that is expected domestically. The government preference to spend on roads with toll gates over railways continues to hurt overall economic growth. History shows domestic road infrastructure projects always bites the majority and benefits the minority. Developers will be the main beneficiaries while the large scale job creation and multiplier effects are unlikely to live up to expectations. State elections over the past few months have put asset recycling program on ice in number of states. Federal leadership change has the potential to move the infrastructure agenda forwards but the market is waiting to see action over slogans. Corporate outlook: Businesses with strong cash flow and solid balance sheets in a falling consumer sentiment and low interest rate environment are choosing to chase growth through cost cutting, share buy backs and M&A. The cost cutting cycle is coming to an end with further improvements requiring wage reduction or M&A. Wage cuts will take time to work through structurally and politically. The most likely path for corporates in 2015 will be either buying back shares or consolidating industries to drive better earnings per share growth. Private equity is sitting on the side lines with substantial war chests built up by a floating number of stocks over the past 12 months. The lack of capex growth shows that Page 7

8 BAILLIEU HOLST QUANT RESEARCH corporates are not planning to increase employment substantially in the next year to buffer the rising unemployment. Property prices: We continue to expect areas of substantial unemployment, concentrated middle to low income earners and over-supplied high density dwellings will experience property price decline in the next 6-12 month time frame. The top end should continue to rise with overseas investors from Europe and Asia continuing to look at Australia as a safer location to park wealth at low currency despite housing bubble worries. Recent housing finance data is beginning to show signs of affordability and consumer confidence taking effect. In a longer term thematic, we expect future generations to prefer renting than buying property and also choosing apartment living to houses. Oversupply of units being built in major cities in the next months will drive down unit prices and force the new home buyers with middle to low incomes to high density living due to the unaffordability of standalone house prices. We likely expect the London/UK property price paradigm to come to Sydney and Melbourne. We expect inner suburbs in major cities like Melbourne and Sydney to support stretched house prices with China inflow, while the outer suburbs will suffer with affordability and unemployment worries. Rising unemployment, falling real wages, rising costs and an oversupply of units are headwinds the RBA can t avoid whilst stimulating the economy, but they can buffer the risk to banks. The real structural solution is to limit negative gearing to new dwellings only or limiting number of negative geared properties to take the heat off low income and first home buyers. Taxation outlook: Due to the current fiscal policy of the government, we expect overall taxation to increase in the next few years to cater to falling tax revenue at federal and state levels. The structural decline in the budget has not been addressed as it is mainly a revenue problem. The current policy solutions are no more than nipping at the edges with minor spending cuts. The federal government has started to talk changes to the federation to clear the path for a GST rise. The majority of the balanced views would suggest some form of income tax cut to balance out the effects on low incomes. Given the track record of the budget in the last 12 months, the public is unlikely to support the GST hike without details. The $80b cuts to education and health will starve the states into doing a deal with the federal government on tax changes. Recent history does not hold well for middle to low income earners and consumer sentiment as a whole. Federal government backflips alongside leadership challenges do not offer us any confidence and we are likely to endure an ineffectual government until the 2016 election. Currency outlook: We maintain our view that AUDUSD will track down to mid-60s in the medium term with global growth worries, a sliding domestic economy, domestic government inaction, RBA rate cuts and commodity price falls. US rate rise risk, China downgrades, China devaluating the Yuan, emerging market risks and falling commodities will help the devaluation. Substantial rate rise outlook for US or substantial devaluation of the Yuan can move the AUDUSD towards low 60 s to high 50s as it overshoots. Interest rate outlook: We expect another 50 bps cut in the next 12 months to support the sliding economy. We see very little chance of any rate rise until late The RBA has made it clear that they also now see the risk to growth and unemployment and want to keep the currency and interest rates low. The surprise rate cut in February and expected rate cut in May have been proven to be wasted cuts on all fronts due to bigger global macro factors in play. The RBA is likely to stay unchanged until US Fed moves. Page 8

9 BAILLIEU HOLST QUANT RESEARCH Market (S&P 300) FIG.2: INDEX WITH PE BANDS FIG.3: INDEX WITH PB BANDS FIG.4: EARNINGS YIELD TO BOND YIELD GAP AND INDEX FIG.5: DIV YIELD AND BOND YIELD Earnings Yield to Bond Yiled Gap (%) - LHS Price Index - RHS Forward Dividend Yield 10Year Bond Yield Average DY Average BY FIG.6: EARNINGS GROWTH FIG.7: ROE FIG.8: PE FIG.9: EARNINGS REVISION AND PRICE MOMENTUM mth Avg Earnings Revision 3mth Price Momentum Source: ASX, Baillieu Holst, Bloomberg, IRESS, Thomson Source: ASX, Baillieu Holst, Bloomberg, IRESS, Thomson Page 9

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11 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk High Price Target $1.15 Share Price $0.80 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $14.8mn Market Cap $636mn Shares Issued 831.2mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $0.54 Sector Consumer Discretionary BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Donaco International Limited (DNA) owns and operates the Aristo International Hotel & Casino in Lao Cao in northern Vietnam. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME Donaco International (DNA) COMPANY REPORT Looking to chip in History: In 2012 Donaco International (DNA) listed on the ASX through a back door listing after its assets were acquired by the former ASX listed, Two Way Ltd. As a result of the listing the majority shareholders of DNA became Lim, Keong Yew and Lim, Keong Hoe (the grandsons of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who was also the founder of the Genting). The business: DNA has two principal assets: 1) a 95% stake in the Aristo Hotel and Casino in Lao Cai Vietnam on the Chinese border which opened in 2014 after replacing a more dated asset in the same town; and 2) 100% ownership of the Star Vegas Resort and Club located in Poipet Cambodia on the border of Thailand the asset was acquired in mid-2015 and will account for over 70% of group revenue from FY16. Investment attractions: 1) recent trading data from Aristo in Vietnam suggests that DNA is not suffering from the same downturn as the Macau market; 2) the acquisition of Star Vegas in Cambodia is transformational given its scale; 3) Star Vegas is well established, profitable and is of high quality as confirmed by a site visit; 4) DNA is well credentialed in border style gaming and the use of junket operators Star Vegas recently signed a major deal with junket operator Heng Sheng; 5) acquisition significantly reduces the reliance upon Chinese patronage which has been problematic due to travel warnings and anti-corruption crackdowns; 6) Star Vegas has capacity for more gaming tables and has a high percentage of more stable revenue streams from slot machines; and 7) very strong cash generation. Key risks: Risks are clearly political in terms of: 1) the licencing and taxation arrangements of both properties remain at the discretion of respective Governments; 2) the DNA model relies upon good relationships between bordering countries; and 3) gambling remaining illegal in mainland China and Thailand. RESEARCH ANALYST Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in DNA. Investment view: BUY call with a price target of A$1.15. The DNA share price remains weak (single digit FY16 P/E based on our forecasts and consensus) which we attribute to: 1) the global de-rating of casino stocks that are exposed to Chinese patronage; 2) the protracted time in which it has taken DNA to undertake an acquisition after first raising capital in March 2014; and 3) the market s general lack of familiarity with the Cambodian casino market we view these factors as an opportunity for investors where the returns greatly outweigh the risks in our view. Valuation: Our DCF valuation of A$1.16 is based upon: 1) risk discount rate of 13%; 2) terminal growth rate of 4%; 3) long-term revenue growth of 10% per annum; and 4) long-term EBITDA margin of 65%. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % N/A PER (Reported) x 36.8 N/A PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 11

12 Financial summary Donaco International Ltd Analyst: Nick Caley Rating: BUY Date: 19-October-2015 Price Target: $1.15 Share Price ($A): $0.80 Valuation: $1.16 Year End: 30 June Upside/(Downside): Mkt Cap $636m Risk: NORM PROFIT & LOSS (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Operating Revenue EPS - Reported Other Revenue EPS - Normalised Interest Revenue EPS Growth (%) 24% -44% 531% 14% 12% Total Revenue DPS Cost of Goods Sold Franking (%) Gross Profit Payout Ratio (%) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Operating Expenses VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Casino Minority Interests P/E (x) EBITDA EV/EBIT (x) Depreciation & Amortisation EV/EBITDA (x) EBIT Dividend Yield (%) 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Net Interest Expense Price/Book (x) Net Profit Before Tax Price/NTA (x) Income Tax Expense Price/Cash/Flow per Share (x) R & D Tax Offset GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Net Profit After Tax - Norm Op. Rev. Growth (% pcp) 30% 51% 412% 12% 11% Star Vegas Vendor Guarantee Cash Op. Exp. Growth (% pcp) 39% 83% 135% 7% 11% Casino Win Rate Adjustment EBITDA Growth (% pcp) 41% 40% 645% 14% 11% Net Profit After Tax - Reported EBIT Growth (% pcp) 42% -7% 980% 14% 11% NPBT Growth (% pcp) 30% -13% 939% 14% 12% BALANCE SHEET (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E NPAT Growth (% pcp) 37% 0% 853% 14% 12% Assets MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Cash Gross Profit Margin % 94% 93% 90% 90% 90% Receivables EBITDA Margin (%) 46% 42% 63% 64% 64% Inventories EBIT Margin (%) 44% 27% 59% 60% 60% Short Term Investments NPBT Margin (%) 50% 28% 59% 60% 60% Other ROIC (%) 9% 4% 35% 32% 26% Total Current Assets ROE (%) 8% 4% 23% 20% 19% Property, Plant & Equipment ROA (%) 6% 3% 16% 14% 14% Construction In Progress Effective Tax Rate (%) 29% 30% 25% 25% 25% Intangibles GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Other Net Debt (A$mn) Total Non Current Assets Net Debt/Equity (%) -58% -70% -9% -28% -41% Total Assets Int. Cover (x) - EBITDA/Net Int Liabilities Segmental FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Payables Revenue Loans & Borrowings Aristo Current Tax Star Vegas Provisions Other Revenue Total Current Liabilities Interest Revenue Loans & Borrowings Total Revenue Provisions Total Non Current Laibilities Total Liabilities Contributed Capital Reserves Retained Earnings Minority Interests Total Equity CASH FLOW (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Cash at Start Cash Flow from Ops Cash Flow From Investing Cash Flow From Financing Net Cash Flow Cash At End % High Page 12

13 FIG.1: STAR VEGAS RESORT & CLUB Source: DNA FIG.2: ARISTO INTERNATIONAL HOTEL Source: DNA Page 13

14 RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk High Price Target $1.20 Share Price $0.85 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $4.2mn Market Cap $99mn Shares Issued 116.9mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $0.58 Sector Information Technology BUSINESS DESCRIPTION EPD is an IT services provider with a diverse range of capabilities aimed at delivering complete (end-to-end) IT solutions for clients in order for them to reach their business objectives. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in EPD. Empired (EPD) COMPANY REPORT Rise of the Empired Investment view: We believe EPD is undervalued in light of its strong growth outlook, high proportion of contracted revenue, positive industry tail-winds driven by market trends and track record of execution. On a relative basis, EPD is trading at substantial discounts to listed peers and we expect this valuation gap to narrow over time. We have a BUY recommendation with a $1.20 price target. High growth stock: We expect EPD to continue its growth momentum with FY15A to FY18F sales, EBITDA and NPAT CAGRs of 18%, 29% and 37% respectively. Growth will be underpinned by consolidating and extracting value from its recent acquisitions as well as capitalising on positive industry trends which are strongly aligned to EPD s offering. High proportion of contracted revenue: EPD has guided to FY16F revenue in the range of $155m to $175m, up 21% to 36% on the pcp. (Our estimate is $165m). Approximately 67% of this estimate is already covered by contracted infrastructure and application managed services, contracted project work and other work in hand. 50% of EPD s FY16F revenue is on multi-year managed service or project contracts. These contracts have an average weighted contract length of four years. Positive industry trends: We observe positive industry tail-winds and data supporting the IT services market. This is driven by companies modernizing or replacing older business systems with cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS). We expect this trend to support growth across EPD s core capabilities in cloud services, application development and integration (incl. ERP, CRM and ECM), data analytics, internet of things and mobility solutions for enterprise. We also observe indications of a cyclical upswing, including growth in IT Professional vacancies (a proxy for labour demand) and material earnings revisions from listed peers. Valuation and price target: Our blended valuation and price target is $1.20 ($1.19 DCF, $1.22 EV/EBITDA), using a blended EV/EBITDA (10% discount to market and comparable peers) and DCF methodology. Key investment risks: The key risks to our investment thesis and price target include: 1) contract execution with regard to delivery and quality of work and contract renewal risks from counterparties; 2) loss of key personnel within particular business segments; 3) acquisitions not delivering expected returns; and 4) downturn in economic conditions restricting capital allocated to IT spend. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 14

15 Financial summary Empired Code: EPD Rating: BUY Analyst: Josh Kannourakis Price Target: $1.20 Date: 19/10/2015 Upside/downside: 41.7% Share Price: $0.85 Valuation: $1.20 Market Capitalisation: $99m Valuation method: DCF / EV/EBITDA Year End: 30-June Risk: High PROFIT & LOSS (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Revenue EPS - Underling cash (diluted) Operating costs EPS Growth - underlying 92.9% 12.7% 67.9% 22.9% 18.5% Gross profit EPS - Reported (diluted) Other income Diluted shares (m) Corporate costs DPS (cps) EBITDA Payout Ratio 23.5% 0.0% 24.8% 30.3% 34.1% Depreciation & Amortisation Franking 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Impairment EBIT VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Net interest Underlying cash P/E (x) NPBT PEG Tax Price/FCF Minorities EV/EBITDA (x) Reported NPAT EV/EBIT (x) Dividend Yield (%) 1.2% 0.0% 2.4% 3.5% 4.7% Non-recurring items (net tax) Price/Book (x) Underlying cash profit Price/NTA (x) BALANCE SHEET (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Assets Revenue growth 48.0% 86.5% 28.6% 15.2% 10.5% Cash Operating cost growth 36.5% 83.6% 28.5% 14.9% 10.2% Receivables EBITDA growth 94.5% 59.5% 62.4% 17.8% 12.3% PPE PBT growth 118.6% 39.0% 108.3% 22.9% 18.5% Intangibles Underlying NPAT growth 144.8% 37.9% 79.5% 22.9% 18.5% Other assets Reported NPAT growth 144.8% 39.0% 78.1% 22.9% 18.5% Total Assets MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Liabilities Gross profit margin 30.5% 34.5% 34.5% 34.6% 34.8% Payables EBITDA Margin 10.2% 8.7% 11.0% 11.3% 11.4% Finanical liabilities EBIT Margin 7.3% 5.7% 8.3% 8.6% 8.9% Provisions NPBT Margin 6.3% 4.7% 7.6% 8.1% 8.7% Tax liabilities ROIC 14.8% 12.1% 15.0% 16.1% 17.4% Other liabilities ROE 15.3% 12.0% 16.7% 18.1% 18.9% Total Liabilities ROA 10.3% 7.8% 11.1% 12.6% 13.6% Equity Effective Tax Rate 12.3% 12.3% 25.0% 25.0% 25.0% Share capital GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Retained earnings Net Debt / (cash) (A$m) Other equity Enterprise value Total shareholders equity Net Debt/Equity (%) 17.4% 24.1% 20.0% 18.4% 5.0% EBITDA/Net interest BV per share (cps) Net Debt/EBITDA NTA per share (cps) Operational Data FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E CASH FLOW (A$M) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Group Revenue Cash at Start Application Services Cash from from ops Infrastructure Services Capex Group Gross Profit Free cash flow Application Services na Free cash flow per share (cps) Infrastructure Services na Cash flow from investing Group Gross Profit margin 31.4% 34.5% 34.5% 34.6% 34.8% Cash flow from financing Application Services na 36.0% 36.0% 36.0% 36.0% Cash at end Infrastructure Services na 30.3% 30.0% 30.0% 30.0% Page 15

16 Investment overview High proportion of contracted revenue and robust pipeline Strong revenue guidance: EPD has guided to FY16 revenue in the range of $155m to $175m, up 21% to 36% on the pcp. We have adopted the mid-point of guidance, $165m. Around 67% of this estimate is already covered from contracted infrastructure and application managed services, project work related to managed contracts and other work in hand. Therefore, we are comfortable with this estimate despite it being declared at an early stage in the year. Managed services and work in hand: EPD has ~50% of our FY16F revenue estimate contracted on multi-year managed service and application contracts. We estimate 70-75% of the contracted revenue base (or % of total revenue) is base contracted infrastructure and application managed services, with the remaining 25-30% being from contracted project specific work, generally for managed service clients. Additional work in hand for the beginning of FY16 was ~$30m, with almost all of this from existing clients. FIG.1: EBITDA GROWTH: ACQUISITION VERSUS ORGANIC ESTIMATES Weighted average contract length of ~4 years We assume a revenue pipeline conversion rate of ~22% Mid-point of guidance $55M $165M $M 100 $20M $30M $60M 50 0 Base contracted revenue Contracted project work Work in hand Work to be won FY16 Revenue Source: Company Reports, Baillieu Holst forecasts Project pipeline: The Company expects the tangible FY16 revenue pipeline to be ~$250m in FY16. We see this growing over coming years as EPD leverages its strength in Microsoft business solutions and its own Cohesion records management software (which is one of three on a panel to upgrade NZ government records management). We currently forecast a 22% conversion rate on the FY16 pipeline ($55m). However, we note historical conversion rates have been between 30% to 50%, albeit on a smaller pipeline of work. EPD has seen strong momentum in conversion rates on contested multi-year contracts. In 2H15, EPD won $65m of the $100m it contested in multi-year managed infrastructure and application services contracts. Weighted average contract length: We understand ~$50m in long-term contracted revenue were renewed in FY15. Thus, the current weighted average contract length is approximately four years, the longest it has ever been. Compares favourably to peers: We provide a snapshot of EPD s comparable companies and their respective revenue analyses looking into contracted and managed services. ASG Group (ASZ) is more or less a pure managed services business and ranks highest in terms of managed services. EPD is clear second, with UXC and SMS Management and Technology (SMX) following in third and fourth respectively. Whilst EPD does deserve to trade at a discount due to its size; ASZ, SMX and UXC are trading on 36%, 57% and 73% EV/EBITDA premiums respectively. Different companies refer to these revenue streams with different wording so the analysis below may not be a completely accurate on a like for like basis. However, it does demonstrate the strength of EPD s contracted revenue relative to its peers and its attractive valuation differential. We note larger players such as UXC and SMX have managed and contracted services (annuities) as a core strategic growth focus. Page 16

17 FIG.2: COMPARISION OF CONTRACTED AND MANAGED SERVICES EPD ASZ UXC SMX FY16 Revenue ($m) Contracted Revenue 48% 89% Increasing - Managed Services 36% 89% - Increasing FY16 Revenue Growth 29% 10% 5.3% 4% FY15 Revenue ($m) Contracted Revenue 50% 85% 29% - Managed Services 35% 85% - 10% FY15 Revenue Growth 29% 3% 7.0% 13% Mkt Cap ($m) FY16 PE FY16 EV/EBITDA FY15 Net debt Source: Company Reports, Baillieu Holst forecasts for EPD, Bloomberg consensus for other companies Strong track record of earnings growth to continue We expect EPD to continue its growth momentum with FY15A to FY18F sales, EBITDA and NPAT CAGRs of 18%, 29% and 37% respectively. Growth will be underpinned by consolidating and extracting value from its recent acquisitions as well as capitalising on positive industry trends (in IT spend) which are strongly aligned to EPD s service offering. Margin improvement: We expect EBITDA margin expansion of 230bps to drive an FY16F margin of 11.0% (8.7% pcp) and EBITDA growth of 62%. In FY14 EPD s margins were 10.2%, however they declined in FY15 as the company digested the significant New Zealand based acquisition, Intergen (370 people, $60m revenue), and wore start-up costs for long-term managed contracts. We have only modelled in a modest increase in margins medium-term (FY15-FY18F) to reflect the acknowledgement that EPD has grown exceptionally fast. As with many service based businesses, it may see challenges in continuing to execute at the same level with a substantially higher headcount. Having said that, tailwinds are supportive of margin expansion with scale benefits post acquisitions as well as a higher proportion of application and consulting revenue (which the company expects to contribute 36% GMs versus 30% for infrastructure services). Thus margin risks are weighted to the upside, in our view. FIG.3: SEGMENT REVENUE SPLIT 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 73% 75% 53% 24% FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16F Application and consulting services Infrastructure services Source: Company Reports, Baillieu Holst forecasts Page 17

18 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk Medium Price Target $7.00 Share Price $5.65 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $447.5mn Market Cap $3,513mn Shares Issued 629.5mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $3.40 Sector Financials BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Henderson Group (HGG) is an international, UK-based fund manager listed on the ASX and LSE. HGG provides investment management services throughout Europe, North America and Asia. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in HGG. Henderson Group (HGG) COMPANY REPORT Top of the world Overall: Recent equity market volatility provides an opportunity for investors to look again at HGG. In our view, the company remains well placed to benefit from global fund flows and ongoing declines in the AUD. It remains our key pick in the wealth management sector. Key attractions: We view the key attractions of the HGG investment case as follows. Firstly, the company has a strong capital position, with surplus of 113m over regulatory requirements at 30 June, The company recently announced a 25m share buyback to be executed in 2H15. Although modest in size (this should reduce issued capital by around 0.8% by our estimates) it nonetheless signals confidence in the outlook. We believe capital management may be an ongoing theme for HGG. Secondly, HGG has an enviable distribution footprint across the key northern hemisphere markets, including the UK (~45% of management fees), Europe (~30% of management fees) and the US (~12% of management fees). This ensures fund flows are diversified across a variety of channels, asset classes and investment capabilities. Lastly, investment performance of flagship funds remains strong, with 83% of funds outperforming their respective benchmarks over three years (slightly less over one year at 76%). Investment view: We have a BUY rating on the stock. We expect positive capital and fund flow trends to persist. Over the last three years, HGG has transformed its fund flow position from being net outflow to strong net inflow. The company reported fund flows worth 11% of FUM in FY14 and we expect 14% in FY15. As we show overleaf, industry conditions remains generally supportive on ongoing funds flows. Based on our forecasts, we view the price to growth metrics as compelling: FY15F PE of 15.3x offering two year EPS CAGR of 16.4% with a 4.1% dividend yield. Price target and valuation: Our $7.00 valuation and price target is derived using a blended PE and DCF methodology in GBP, which is then translated into AUD. The assumptions in the DCF include a WACC of 9.7%, a risk free rate of 5.0%, an expected return on the market of 6.0%, a terminal growth rate of 3.0% and a beta of 1.2. For the PE, we value HGG in line with the market (forward PE of 15.5x). Key risks: Equity market downside, unexpected interruption in fund flows, particularly in the US, UK and European markets, and a material deterioration of investment performance across key funds. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 31 December 2013 (A) 2014 (A) 2015 (E) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) Revenue mn EBITDA mn EBIT mn Reported Profit mn Adjusted Profit mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend A Yield % Franking % Page 18

19 Financial summary Code: HGG Rating: BUY Analyst: Nicolas Burgess Price Target: $7.00 Date: 19 October, 2015 Upside/downside: 23.9% Share Price: $5.65 Valuation: $7.00 Market Capitalisation: $6424m Valuation method: DCF / PE blend Year End: 31 December Risk: Medium PROFIT & LOSS (GBPm) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E EARNINGS FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Total fee income EPS - Underling cash (diluted) Investment/interest income EPS Growth - underlying 5.2% 13.0% 18.4% 14.4% 8.5% Total revenue EPS - Reported (diluted) Operating expenses Diluted shares (m) Underlying EBITDA DPS (pps) Depreciation Payout Ratio 62% 61% 63% 63% 60% Underlying EBITA Franking 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Interest cost VALUATION FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Underlying PBT P/E (x) Tax EV/EBITA (x) Minorities EV/EBITDA (x) Underlying cash NPAT Dividend Yield (%) 3.0% 3.4% 4.1% 4.7% 4.9% Amortisation Price/Book (x) Non-recurring items (net tax) Price/NTA (x) Reported profit Price/FCF per Share (x) GROWTH FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E BALANCE SHEET (GBPm) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Revenue growth 24.2% 12.5% 14.7% 12.8% 6.7% Assets Operating cost growth 21.3% 12.4% 13.5% 9.6% 4.4% Cash EBITDA growth 25.1% 13.5% 18.4% 12.6% 9.7% Receivables EBITA growth 25.3% 12.9% 18.6% 12.8% 9.9% Other current assets PBT growth 8.2% 13.5% 19.8% 17.4% 11.1% Fixed Assets Underlying NPAT growth 10.6% 13.3% 15.7% 16.0% 8.5% Intangibles Reported NPAT growth 17.6% 106.6% -43.2% 26.2% 15.1% Other non-current assets MARGINS & RETURNS FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Total Assets EBITDA Margin 39.0% 39.3% 40.6% 40.5% 41.7% Liabilities EBITA Margin 38.3% 38.4% 39.8% 39.8% 41.0% Debt NPBT Margin 35.9% 36.2% 37.8% 39.3% 41.0% Payables ROIC 19.4% 19.8% 20.8% 22.9% 24.2% Current tax liabilities ROE 18.3% 18.1% 18.7% 20.8% 21.5% Provisions ROA 12.7% 13.6% 14.6% 17.5% 19.8% Other liabilities Effective Tax Rate 10.8% 11.0% 14.0% 15.0% 17.0% Total Liabilities GEARING FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Equity Net Debt / (cash) (GBPm) Share capital Enterprise value (GBPm) Retained earnings Net Debt/Equity (%) -8.1% -8.4% -11.0% -12.8% -16.8% Other equity EBITDA/Net interest Total shareholders equity OPERATIONAL DATA FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Group Fees BV per share (pps) Management fees NTA per share (pps) Transaction fees Performance fees CASH FLOW (GBPm) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Management fees Cash at start Retail Cash flow from Ops Institutional Capex Free cash flow Flows Free cash flow per share (pps) Retail Cash flow from investing Institutional Cash flow from financing Cash at end FUM Retail GOCF / EBITDA 132% 116% 100% 104% 104% Institutional FCF / Underlying cash NPAT 117% 73% 64% 69% 81% Page 19

20 Operating environment Overall: Despite some volatility in recent months, the UK and European wealth management markets have been reasonably resilient in terms of aggregate fund flows, which is positive for HGG. UK market (~45% of HGG group management fees): After peaking in July, fund flows moderated in August given global equity markets volatility. Interestingly, bond funds suffered net outflows but equity and mixed asset funds were solid. FIG.1: UK RETAIL WEALTH MANAGEMENT FUND FLOWS BY MONTH ( BN) Jan-09 Mar-09 May-09 Jul-09 Sep-09 Nov-09 Jan-10 Mar-10 May-10 Jul-10 Sep-10 Nov-10 Jan-11 Mar-11 May-11 Source: Investment Management Association Jul-11 Sep-11 Nov-11 Jan-12 Mar-12 May-12 Jul-12 Sep-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13 Nov-13 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 Jul-15 FIG.2: UK RETAIL WEALTH MANAGEMENT FUND FLOWS BY ASSET CLASS ( M) Jan-10 Mar-10 May-10 Jul-10 Sep-10 Nov-10 Jan-11 Mar-11 May-11 Jul-11 Sep-11 Nov-11 Jan-12 Mar-12 May-12 Jul-12 Sep-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13 Nov-13 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 Jul-15 Source: Investment Management Association Equities Bonds Mixed asset Page 20

21 Europe market (~30% of HGG group management fees): The overall industry posted net outflows in August, given market volatility, as shown in the chart below. Mixed asset funds remained in positive territory, but bond and equity funds suffered outflows. FIG.3: EUROPEAN RETAIL WEALTH MANAGEMENT FUND FLOWS BY MONTH ( BN) Jan-09 Mar-09 May-09 Jul-09 Sep-09 Nov-09 Jan-10 Mar-10 May-10 Jul-10 Sep-10 Nov-10 Jan-11 Mar-11 May-11 Jul-11 Sep-11 Nov-11 Jan-12 Mar-12 May-12 Jul-12 Sep-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13 Nov-13 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 Jul-15 Source: Lipper FIG.4: EUROPEAN RETAIL WEALTH MANAGEMENT FUND FLOWS BY ASSET CLASS ( BN) Jan-09 Mar-09 May-09 Jul-09 Sep-09 Nov-09 Jan-10 Mar-10 May-10 Jul-10 Sep-10 Nov-10 Jan-11 Mar-11 May-11 Jul-11 Sep-11 Nov-11 Jan-12 Mar-12 May-12 Jul-12 Sep-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13 Nov-13 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 Jul-15 Source: Lipper Mixed asset Bonds Equities Page 21

22 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk Medium Price Target $10.88 Share Price $9.50 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $327.9mn Market Cap $1,742mn Shares Issued 183.4mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $7.64 Sector Telecommunication Services BUSINESS DESCRIPTION M2 is an emerging Australian telco that has grown strong over the last ten years both through acquisition as well as organically. The company s key strengths are in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, targeted primarily through the Commander brand, and consumer, primarily through the Dodo brand. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Luke Macnab, CFA lmacnab@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in MTU. M2 Group (MTU) COMPANY REPORT Merger win-win for MTU and VOC VOC/MTU merger creates 4 th integrated telco: The two companies are set to join forces under a Scheme of Arrangement whereby MTU holders will receive VOC shares for each MTU share. The notional market cap of the Merged Company (MergeCo) will be just over $3bn, with 529m shares on issue. MergeCo will have FY16E revenue of $1.78bn, EBITDA of $367m and Underlying NPAT of $187m, based on adding our previous forecasts for the two companies, excluding any synergy benefits. MTU represents a discounted entry point: As the notional acquirer, VOC will absorb MTU. As such, to purchase MergeCo today, you can either (1) Buy VOC, or (2) Buy MTU and get VOC stock when the merger is executed in 4-5 months. At current prices, Method (2) means you get an effective 7% discount on the price of VOC. This reflects the risk that the deal does not reach completion (we believe it will proceed). The risk is mitigated by the fact that we had a stand-alone valuation and price target of $11.50 for MTU, so it is still good value if the deal does not proceed. Strategies are complementary: VOC s investment in infrastructure and focus on the enterprise and wholesale markets dovetails nicely with MTU s infrastructure-light model that focuses on the consumer and SME markets. Total cost synergies are estimated at $40m pa (fully realised by the end of FY18), with a one-off cost of $20m. Additional unspecified revenue synergies are also expected to be realised. Investment view: We rate MTU as a BUY. We believe that MTU/MergeCo is well positioned to increase its market share as the NBN rollout reaches critical mass in the next two to three years. Its marketing teams should also increase VOC/MergeCo s penetration into the SME market. Using VOC s infrastructure for backhaul should mean increased margins for MergeCo. Price target and valuation: Our valuation and price target is $10.88, based on the combined valuation of MergeCo (ie: adding our valuations of VOC and MTU and dividing by the number of shares on issue postmerger). Standalone, we value MTU at $ This is based on a DCF model with a beta of 1.1 and a WACC of 9.5%. Key risks: The key risk to our investment thesis is that the VOC/MTU merger doesn t proceed. This may be due to a regulatory decision (by the ACCC) or corporate action by a third party. However, we believe this is unlikely. There is also a risk that MTU/MergeCo is not able to grow its business at forecast rates as competition in the retail market increases as the NBN rollout ramps up. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014A 2015A 2016E 2017E 2018E Revenue $mn 1,023 1,114 1,403 1,473 1,546 EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 22

23 Financial summary M2 GROUP Code MTU Rating BUY Analyst Luke Macnab Price target $10.88 Date October, 2015 Upside/downside 15% Share price $9.50 Valuation method DCF Market capitalisation $1742m Risk Medium Year end 30 June PROFIT AND LOSS (A$m) EARNINGS (A$m) Y/e June 30 (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Y/e June 30 FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Revenue 1,023 1,114 1,403 1,473 1,546 Underlying Net profit ($m) EBITDA EPS (c) D&A EPS growth (%) 45% 5% 21% 19% 8% EBIT P/E ratio (x) Net interest CFPS (c) Pre-tax profit Price/CF (x) Tax DPS ( c ) NPAT Yield (%) 2.7% 3.4% 3.9% 4.5% 5.2% Minority interests Franking (%) 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Net profit after minorities EV/EBITDA Underlying EV/EBIT BALANCE SHEET (A$m) Y/e June 30 FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E PROFITABILITY RATIOS Cash Y/e June 30 FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Current receivables EBITDA/revenue (%) 15.5% 15.2% 16.8% 17.4% 17.7% Inventories EBIT/revenue (%) 11.0% 10.8% 11.7% 13.4% 13.7% Other current assets Return on assets (%) 7.8% 5.8% 10.7% 13.3% 14.3% Current assets Return on equity (%) 20.2% 20.6% 21.0% 23.1% 22.7% Return on funds empl d (%) 10.7% 7.9% 10.1% 12.6% 13.5% PPE Dividend cover (x) Intangible assets Effective tax rate (%) 29.1% 31.4% 32.7% 32.5% 32.3% Other non-current assets Non-current assets 692 1, LIQUIDITY AND LEVERAGE RATIOS Y/e June 30 FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Total assets 862 1, Net debt/(cash) ($m) Net debt/equity (%) 76.5% 135.9% 95.9% 74.7% 57.7% Payables Net interest cover (x) Debt Net debt/ EBITDA (x) Other liabilities Total liabilities Shareholders equity Minorities Total shareholders funds Total funds employed 862 1,276 1,278 1,280 1,302 W/A shares on issue CASH FLOW (A$m) Y/e June 30 FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E NPAT plus discontinued ops Non-cash items Working capital Other operating cash flow Operating cashflow Capex Investments Other investing cash flow Investing cashflow Change in borrowings Equity raised Dividends paid Other financing cash flow Financing cashflow Net change in cash Cash at end of period Page 23

24 NBN rollout is key for MTU growth The ramp-up of the NBN rollout over the next few years will be a key driver of MTU/MergeCo s revenue and earnings growth. This is because it essentially turns all fixed broadband providers into resellers as they all have to use the NBN to deliver their product. As they will all have roughly the same cost base, MTU s lower cost to serve and cost to acquire customers means they are well placed to increase their market share. To date, MTU has been maintaining its share of the consumer broadband market (around 6-8%) amongst premises which have had the NBN rolled out. This has been achieved through low-cost, targeted marketing in areas where rollout has occurred. In recent months, MTU has stepped up its marketing to include broader campaigns aimed at increasing overall awareness of their brands (both consumer and corporate). FIG.1: NBN ROLLOUT TO AUSTRALIAN PREMISES (M) 12 Ready For Service Service Activated 10 FIG.2: AUSTRALIAN FIXED LINE BROADBAND TRAFFIC FY12A FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16F FY17F FY18F FY19E FY20E FY21E Source: NBN Corporate Plan 2016 (A,F), BH estimates (E) Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, NBN Corporate Plan 2016 As the NBN rollout reaches critical mass over the next few years (with completion currently forecast for CY20), we believe MTU/MergeCo will push strongly to increase their market share into double digits and with VOC infrastructure potentially lowering their backhaul cost, margins should improve as well. The upwards trend in data downloaded will also drive growth as Netflix and similar services increase penetration. In FY15, MTU maintained momentum with 1,671k SIO at 30 June (+6%). This was driven by increases in Broadband (+10%) and Fixed Voice (+4%). Bundling continues to be a feature in both the consumer and business segments, with 93% of new Broadband sales being bundled with Fixed Voice. Energy was a strong contributor (+25%) but mobile was weak (-2%). Further growth in energy is expected in FY16 as MTU believes the discounting by bigger players is creating churn. Mobile has been treading water for the past couple of years, but management believes it is poised for a return to growth in the near future. We understand that Telstra is likely to begin wholesaling its market-leading mobile network in CY16 and this could provide the catalyst. This would provide some bidding tension when MTU s current contract with Optus expires and allow MTU to improve its offering. FIG.3: SERVICES IN OPERATION SPLIT Source: MTU Page 24

25 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk Low Price Target $4.40 Share Price $4.11 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $129.4mn Market Cap $1,100mn Shares Issued 267.7mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $2.25 Sector Consumer Discretionary BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Mantra Group Limited (MTR) is an Australian accommodation operator. MTR's portfolio consists of over 110 properties using the Mantra, Peppers and BreakFree brands across Australia, New Zealand and in Indonesia. Currently, MTR operates in three main business divisions which are CBD, Resorts and Central Revenue and Distribution. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in MTR. Mantra Group (MTR) COMPANY REPORT No room at the inn Investment view: BUY call with a DCF valuation of A$4.40 and price target of A$4.40. History: MTR was established in 2005 upon the acquisition of the BreakFree and Peppers hotel businesses and subsequently grew by the acquisition of further hotel portfolio management rights. In June 2014, MTR undertook an ASX listing via the issuance of 141.5m new shares at A$1.80 per share to raise A$255m with the pre-existing private equity owners selling down to a 43% equity stake this stake has been totally sold since the IPO. Businesses: MTR is the second largest hotel operator in Australia and has 119 properties with over 13k rooms in Australia, New Zealand and more recently Bali. It operates three brands: 1) Mantra (premium star); 2) Peppers (luxury 4-5 star) and 3) BreakFree (economy 3-4 star). All three brands operate across MTR s three divisions which it uses for segmental reporting namely: 1) CBD; 2) Resorts; and 3) Central Revenue and Distribution. Revenue models: MTR employs a range of operating models such as: 1) Lease (MTR leases a property and retains 100% of revenue); 2) Management Letting Rights (MTR acts as operator in exchange for a letting fee with costs shared with the property owner); 3) Management Agreements (MTR manages a property in exchange for a range of base fees and incentives); and 4) Marketing Services Agreement (property owner retains operator rights under a MTR branded property in exchange for a fee). Key investment attractions: 1) growth strategy underpinned by an objective of adding six to 10 properties with rooms per annum; 2) attractive industry fundamentals where domestic demand consistently exceeds supply; 3) business has low capital intensity with a focus on property ownership/management rights rather than property/ownership; 4) lower A$ to fuel increased occupancy due to an expected increase in both domestic and international tourism; and 5) an additional eight new properties have already been locked-in post FY15. Key risks: 1) portfolio is heavily weighted by capital city CBD business which makes MTR vulnerable to a material business slow-down; and 2) financial leverage also needs to consider off balance sheet lease commitments related to leased properties. Valuation: Our DCF valuation is based upon: 1) risk discount rate of 10%; 2) terminal growth rate of 3%; 3) long-term revenue growth of 10% per annum; and 4) long-term EBITDA margin of 22%. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % N/A PER (Reported) x N/A PER (Adjusted) x Dividend n/a Yield % Franking % Page 25

26 Financial summary Mantra Group Ltd Rating: BUY Analyst: Nick Caley Price Target: $4.40 Date: 19-October-2015 Valuation: $4.40 Share Price ($A): $4.11 Upside/(Downside): 7% Year End: 30 June Risk: Low * = Pro-forma * * PROFIT & LOSS (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Operating Revenue EPS - Diluted - Statutory Other Income EPS - Diluted - Normalised Total Revenue EPS Growth (%) n/a 22% 10% 11% 11% Total Cash Operating Expenses DPS n/a EBITDAI Franking (%) n/a 100% 100% 100% 100% Depreciation Payout Ratio (%) n/a 65% 71% 72% 73% Amortisation (Ex Lease Rights) VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Movement in Impariments P/E (x) n/a EBITA EV/EBIT (x) Amortisation of Lease Rights EV/EBITDA (x) EBIT Dividend Yield (%) n/a 2.4% 2.9% 3.3% 3.6% Net Interest Expense Price/Book (x) Net Profit Before Tax Price/NTA (x) Income Tax Expense Price/Cash/Flow per Share (x) Statutory NPAT GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E NPAT Ex Lease Rights (NPATA) Revenue Growth (% pcp) 5% 10% 15% 8% 7% Cash Op.Exp.Growth (% pcp) 6% 8% 15% 8% 7% BALANCE SHEET (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EBITDAI Growth (% pcp) 1% 19% 15% 10% 9% Current Assets EBIT Growth (% pcp) -2% 22% 17% 10% 11% Cash NPBT Growth (% pcp) n/a n/a 18% 11% 11% Receivables NPAT Growth (% pcp) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Inventories NPATA Growth (% pcp) 14% 25% 16% 11% 11% Current Tax Assets MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Other Current Assets EBITDAI Margin % 13% 15% 15% 15% 15% Total Current Assets EBIT Margin % 10% 11% 11% 11% 12% Non Current Assets NPBT Margin % 0% 10% 10% 11% 11% Receivables ROE % 32% 13% 13% 14% 15% Property, Plant & Equipment ROA % 6% 7% 7% 8% 8% Intangibles Effective Tax Rate % 27% 29% 30% 30% 30% Other Non Current Assets Total Non Current Assets GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Total Assets Net Debt (A$mn) Current Liabilities Net Debt/Equity (%) 134% 574% 31% 6% 4% Payables Int. Cover (x) - EBITDA/Net Int Loans & Borrowings SEGMENTAL (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Current Tax Liability Revenue By Division Other CBD Total Current Liabilities Resorts Non Current Liabilities Central Revenue & Distribution Loans & Borrowings Corporate Financial Instruments Total Operating Revenue Deferred Tax Liability EBITDAI Revenue By Division Other CBD Total Non Current Liabilities Resorts Total Liabilities Central Revenue & Distribution Equity Corporate Contributed Capital Total EBITDAI Reserves CBD Retained Earnings Total Rooms Available (000) 1,446 1,629 1,765 1,865 1,965 Total Equity Paid Rooms Sold (000) 1,216 1,376 1,438 1,520 1,601 Occupancy % 84% 84% 81% 81% 81% CASH FLOW (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Average Room Rate A$ $174 $176 $178 $180 $182 Cash at Start Resorts Cash Flow from Ops Total Rooms Available (000) 1,922 1,906 2,850 3,050 3,250 Cash Flow From Investing Paid Rooms Sold (000) 1,260 1,325 1,838 1,967 2,096 Cash Flow From Financing Occupancy % 66% 70% 64% 64% 64% Net Cash Flow Average Room Rate A$ $152 $152 $153 $154 $156 Cash At End Page 26

27 FIG.1: MANTRA GROUP LOCATIONS Source: MTR FIG.2: MANTRA GROUP OVERVIEW Source: Company prospectus Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 27

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29 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk High Price Target $3.57 Share Price $3.09 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $434.8mn Market Cap $1,890mn Shares Issued 600.0mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $0.92 Sector Materials BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Northern Star Resources Ltd (NST) is a gold production and exploration company. NST s WA assets include: the Paulsens Gold Mine; Plutonic; Kundana (50/51% int.); Kanowna Belle and Jundee gold mines. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Warren Edney wedney@baillieuholst.com.au Northern Star (NST) COMPANY REPORT Another deal done Overview: Northern Star is successfully adding to its production base through acquisition and exploration. The inclusion of the Central Tanami project into NST s portfolio has led management to increase its production guidance for FY18 to ~700,000 ounces. We have now also included it in our production and cost forecasts with what we believe are relatively conservative cost and capital targets. The other major change has been to the production profile for the Kanowna Belle mill. We have augmented mill feed from the non-kundana feed sources with open pit ore leaving out the potential high grade Velvet mineralisation until the company can put a resource/reserve around it. Investment view: Northern Star is our preferred Australian gold miner. It has a diverse production base and a near mill exploration portfolio which is adding to mine lives. While much of the growth over the last couple of years has been through acquisition, we believe that management will now focus on maximising the return from the acquisitions and the brownfields growth options. Our earnings estimates include our recent revision to our forecast for the US$ gold price and the A$, and as such, have fallen 7% to $172m in FY16 but risen 3% and then 11% in FY18 to $231m, after also revision of our production forecasts. Price target & valuation: Our valuation of NST now includes 100% of the project NPV for the company s equity in Tanami, the revised A$ gold price forecasts and the changes in production discussed herein. Our valuation has risen from A$2.72ps to A$3.57ps. Our target price of $3.57ps is based on our valuation. Key risks: Key risks for Northern Star are the A$ exchange rate, the gold price and operational performance. Having five mills and six production centres does mitigate some of the operating risk, as does the small amount of hedging in place to underwrite capital commitments. We forecast AISC costs of A$1,000-1,100/oz versus the current spot price of A$1,631/oz and our A$1,620-1,760/oz forecast range over the next five years. Another potential risk is that management will try to grow through riskier, lower return acquisitions rather than consolidate the company s position. Disclosure The author owns no shares in NST. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn ,006 1,120 EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 29

30 Financial summary Northern Star Analyst: Warren Edney Rating: Buy Date: 19-Oct-15 Price Target: $3.57 Share Price ($A): $3.09 Valuation: $3.57 Market Cap (A$m): $1,811 Upside/(Downside): 15% Enterprise (A$m) $1,646 Risk: High Year End: 30 June VALUATION SUMMARY A$m A$/Share WACC A$/Share 9.83% WACC 5% 4.44 KEY RATIOS FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Paulsens % 3.95 Reported NPAT Jundee % 3.57 Attributable NPAT Kanowna Belle % 3.20 EPS Kundana % 2.92 EPS Growth (%) 0% -29% 225% 88% 31% 5% Plutonic P/E (x) Tanami CFPS (A Cents) Sub-Total 1, P/CF (x) Corporate (39) DPS (A Cents) Exploration/other Franking (%) 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Net Cash / (Debt) Payout Ratio (%) 66% 73% 27% 31% 32% 30% Sub-Total Dividend Yield (%) 1.1% 1.1% 1.6% 2.9% 3.9% 3.9% Total Valuation 2, EV/EBIT (x) EV/EBITDA (x) VALUATION SENSITIVITY ASSUMPTIONS FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Australian Dollar (AUD/USD) Gold Price (US$/oz) 1,605 1,299 1,224 1,150 1,194 1,200 Gold Price (A$/oz) 1,570 1,403 1,458 1,617 1,711 1,672 NPV A$/share PRODUCTION FORECASTS (koz) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Paulsens Kundana Kanowna Belle Plutonic Jundee Tanami Total Production (Equity share) Operating cost (A$/oz) AISC (A$/oz) 559 1,078 1,070 1,122 1,107 1, % -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Change in assumption Gold (US$/oz) AUD/USD PROFIT & LOSS (A$m) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Operating Revenue ,006 1,120 PRODUCTION Other Revenue Total Revenue ,006 1, Operating Expenses Corporate/Other Expenses EBITDA Tanami Depreciation & Amortisation EBIT Jundee Net Interest / (Expense) Plutonic NPBT Kanowna Belle 300 Income Tax Expense Kundana NPAT - Reported Paulsens Significant Items NPAT - Attributable CASH FLOW (A$m) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Operating cash flow Capex - Development & Sustaining Cash Flow From Investing RESERVE & RESOURCE SUMMARY Cash Flow From Financing RESERVE RESOURCE Net Cash Flow (incl. FX Impact) kt g/t Au Koz kt g/t Au Koz Paulsens , BALANCE SHEET (A$m) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Kundana 1, , ,608 Cash Kanowna Belle 1, , ,206 PP&E/Development/Exploration Plutonic , ,694 Assets ,050 Jundee 3, , ,350 Debts Ashburton , ,668 Liabilities Tanami (60%) 16, ,603 Equity Total 8, ,500 78, ,570 Net Debt / (Cash) (45) (76) (151) (293) (480) (693) ROE (%) - Adj. NPAT / Equity 20% 10% 34% 38% 37% 30% EV/Reserve (A$/oz) 1,097 EV/Resource (A$/oz) ROA (%) - Adj. NPAT / Assets 15% 6% 18% 24% 26% 23% Gearing (%) - Net Debt / (Net Debt + Equity) -68% -46% -88% -182% -357% -793% Page 30

31 Production, growth and cash Central Tanami has been modelled using data based on the 2011 PFS done by Tanami Gold and as such is still subject to change. CTP was partially included in our previous valuation but not in earnings due to the uncertainty over the timing of the finalisation of the JV. Our estimates for the other projects have been modified slightly to take into account the latest guidance and resource/reserve statement. The key changes were to reduce production from Paulsens by 30koz pa over the next three years (combination of head grade and tonnage) and increase production at Kanowna Belle by 100kozpa by supplementing feed with additional resources (we previously had it ceasing operations). FIG.1: GOLD PRODUCTION BY MINE 800 koz A$/oz 1, , FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E FY19E FY20E Paulsens Jundee Kanowna Belle Kundana Plutonic Tanami Operating cost - RHS AISC - RHS 0 Source: Company data, Baillieu Holst estimates FIG.2: UNDISCOUNTED AFTER TAX CASH FLOW BY MINE & COMBINED CASH FLOW A$m FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E FY19E FY20E Paulsens Jundee Kanowna Belle Kundana Plutonic Tanami Net FCF Source: Company data, Baillieu Holst estimates Page 31

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33 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk High Price Target $1.10 Share Price $0.92 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $4.4mn Market Cap $234mn Shares Issued 251.6mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $0.68 Sector Consumer Discretionary BUSINESS DESCRIPTION QMS Media Limited is an outdoor advertising company, with assets across digital, static billboard, retail, street furniture and transit categories. The business has operations in Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia, and is the culmination of a number of recent business and asset acquisitions. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in QMS. Baillieu Holst Ltd has raised capital for QMS Media Limited and earned fees in relation to that activity in the past 12 months. QMS Media (QMS) COMPANY REPORT Sign language Overall: QMS operates in the outdoor advertising market in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Key attributes of our positive investment thesis include asset quality, asset tenure, digital exposure and balance sheet strength. Investment view: We rate QMS a BUY. A key plank of our positive investment thesis is the upside from digital large format billboards. We expect QMS to generate 38% of its media revenue (28% total revenue) from large format digital billboards by FY17F. The company is targeting 33 signs around Australia by Jun-16 (22 operational at Jun-15, the remaining 11 are permitted) and we forecast an additional five signs per year to enhance earnings growth over the forecast period. Given the higher margins available through digital, we expect QMS to have a sector-leading EBITDA margin of 25% by FY17F. Other positive attributes: QMS has a strong balance sheet with net cash of $16m at 30 June, which positions it well to pursue further acquisitions. Meanwhile, the company s average contract tenure is more than 13 years across its asset portfolio, reducing renewal risk for the company. We also note the company s recent successful track record with contract tenders. Two significant contract wins have been in the Transit segment, being Auckland Transport and Bali Airport. We expect these two contracts to contribute around 30% of the revenue growth in FY16F. Valuation and price target: Our blended valuation and price target is $1.10 ($1.23 DCF, $0.98 EV/EBITDA), using a blended EV/EBITDA (benchmarked against listed peers) and DCF methodology. The assumptions in the DCF include a WACC of 11.0%, a risk free rate of 5.0%, an expected return on the market of 6.0%, a terminal growth rate of 3.0% and a beta of 1.0. Investment risks: The key risk is execution. QMS is ramping up two significant contracts in Transit as well as managing digital sign construction and conversions. That said, we note at its recent FY15 result the company beat its Prospectus forecast EBITDA and profit, suggesting plans are on track. Elsewhere, risks include: 1) an unexpected downturn in the advertising market; 2) non-renewal of the leases on the outdoor media assets; and 3) competition to find and develop new outdoor sites. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % - nm nm PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 33

34 Financial summary Code: QMS Rating: BUY Analyst: Nicolas Burgess Price Target: $1.10 Date: 19 October, 2015 Upside/downside: 20.0% Share Price: $0.92 Valuation: $1.10 Market Capitalisation: $232m Valuation method: DCF / EV/EBITDA Year End: 30 June Risk: High PROFIT & LOSS (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Revenue EPS - Underling cash (diluted) COGS EPS Growth - underlying % 7.0% Gross profit EPS - Reported (diluted) Operating costs Diluted shares (m) EBITDA DPS (cps) Depreciation Payout Ratio % 50% 53% EBITA Franking % 100% 100% Amortisation EBIT VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Net interest Underlying P/E (x) Other EV/EBITDA (x) PBT EV/EBITA (x) Tax Dividend Yield (%) % 3.8% 4.3% Minorities Price/Book (x) Reported NPAT Price/NTA (x) Price/FCF Amortisation of intangibles Non-recurring items (net tax) GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Underlying profit Revenue growth 27.1% 35.1% 71.9% 9.3% 4.7% Operating cost growth 16.4% 26.3% 15.5% 5.0% 5.0% BALANCE SHEET (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EBITDA growth -11.9% 24.3% 421.1% 17.8% 4.9% Assets PBT growth % % % 28.9% 5.6% Cash Underlying NPAT growth % % % 26.8% 6.2% Receivables Reported NPAT growth -28.6% 160.0% na 19.8% 7.0% PPE MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Intangibles Gross margin 43.8% 40.8% 45.6% 46.5% 46.6% Tax assets EBITDA Margin 8.4% 7.7% 23.4% 25.2% 25.3% Goodwill EBITA Margin 3.9% 4.5% 21.4% 22.8% 22.7% Other assets NPBT Margin 2.9% -8.4% 18.2% 21.4% 21.6% Total Assets ROIC - 2.4% 14.0% 14.9% 14.9% Liabilities ROE - 2.3% 12.7% 14.0% 14.0% Payables ROA - 3.5% 13.9% 15.7% 15.8% Borrowings Effective Tax Rate % 32.0% 30.0% 30.0% Provisions GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Tax liabilities Net Debt / (cash) (A$m) Deferred consideration Enterprise value Other liabilities Net Debt/Equity (%) % -3.7% -6.4% -8.8% Total Liabilities EBITDA/Net interest Equity Share capital OPERATIONAL DATA (A$M) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Retained earnings Revenue by type: Other equity Digital Total shareholders equity Static Street BV per share (cps) Transit NTA per share (cps) Retail CASH FLOW (A$M) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Media Cash at Start Production Cash from from ops Group Capex Free cash flow Revenue growth % 27.1% 35.1% 71.9% 9.3% 4.7% Free cash flow per share (cps) Digital 76.5% 136.7% 242.3% 28.7% 5.8% Cash flow from investing Static 43.2% 64.0% 28.3% 0.6% 3.0% Cash flow from financing Other 69.0% 65.3% 175.6% 4.8% 5.0% Cash at end Production 9.7% -2.2% 23.0% 5.0% 5.0% GOCF / EBITDA 95% 95% 95% 95% Number of digital billboards FCF / Underlying cash NPAT 59% -4% 105% 107% Number of static billboards Page 34

35 QMS Media Group, BUY rating and $1.10 Target Price Positive industry data: The most recent industry data, sourced from the Outdoor Media Association (OMA), shows total outdoor advertising expenditure in Australia increased 17% to $463m in the nine months to September over the pcp, as shown in the chart below. Growth rates have been moderating over the course of the year, from 24% in March to 6% in August, but the recent September results saw growth of 23%. Digital outdoor advertising accounts for 25% of the total for the year to date, up from 16% in the pcp. In the context of moderate economic growth in Australia, we regard outdoor advertising as a high growth market. FIG.1: AUSTRALIAN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING EXPENDITURE ANNUAL GROWTH BY MONTH 30% 25% 24% 24% 23% 20% 19% 20% 17% 17% 15% 13% 10% 10% 6% 5% 0% Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 CY15 - YTD Source: Outdoor Media Association Digital strategy: Digital outdoor advertising is a key part of the QMS growth strategy. It plans to erect new digit billboards as well as convert static billboards to digital over time. Sites which are candidates for conversion are assessed on location and suitability, the planning and permit environment, and financial viability. QMS is targeting 33 digital billboards by the end of FY16F, up from 3 at December, 2014 (22 installed as at August, 2015). FIG.2: QMS DIGITAL EVOLUTION Source: Company reports Forecast financial impact: Based on our forecasts, 40% of the revenue uplift between FY15A and FY16F is from digital assets, including the development of 12 sites (conversions and new sites). We expect the company to generate 32% of its media revenue (24% overall) from digital assets by FY16F, increasing to 38% in FY17F (28% overall). More broadly, the company has identified 62 current static sites which would be suitable for conversion over the next few years. Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 35

36 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk High Price Target $0.64 Share Price $0.58 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $35.5mn Market Cap $464mn Shares Issued 792.8mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $0.20 Sector Materials BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited (SAR) is a mineral exploration and development company focusing on gold. The company s main assets are its Carosue Dam Operations and the Thunderbox development project which will be in production in late FY16, both in Western Australia. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Warren Edney wedney@baillieuholst.com.au Saracen Mineral (SAR) COMPANY REPORT Early Delivery Overview: Saracen s management has built up a strong production base around its 2.4Mtpa Carosue Dam mill. The acquisition of Thunderbox and its subsequent redevelopment is due to be completed in the June Quarter 2016, adding another mill (2.5Mtpa), open pit and underground resources to the group. Having two production hubs running at kozpa and 125kozpa respectively, will move SAR into the mid-tier of Australian Gold producers. Investment view: We are forecasting that SAR s production will reach management s 300koz production target in This would deliver a compound production growth rate of 15% since We believe that it is reasonable to expect that SAR will be able to maintain this level of production for at least two years. Beyond that, exploration success is required to extend the life of Deep South and/or Carosue Dam open pit feed. However, given the cash flow being generated, exploration expenditure targeted at increase reserve life will not be a constraint. Price target & valuation: Since our last earnings and valuation update we have reviewed our A$, gold, production and cost forecasts. The decline in our A$ gold price forecasts only had a minor adverse impact due to the company s hedging and the small increase in its gold production to take production to the 300koz mark versus our previous 28koz forecast. This has resulted in an upgrade to earnings and valuation. Our NPV has increased from 55cps to 64cps. We have upgraded our target price which is based on our NPV forecast to 64cps and we retain our BUY recommendation. Key risks: Over the next three years, 20-30% of production is hedged at A$1,500-1,700/oz; the balance of its revenue stream is exposed to currency and commodity risk. Our FY16 A$ gold price forecast is close to the current spot price, thereafter our earnings and valuation are predicated on an improvement in the gold price and the level of production and costs. The completion of the Thunderbox mill refurbishment and commencement of mining will mitigate some of the operating risk as SAR will be less reliant on Carosue Dam; and marginally higher risk underground production makes up over 60% of production base in FY16. Disclosure The author owns no shares in SAR. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % N/A PER (Reported) x N/A N/A PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 36

37 Financial summary Saracen Mineral Holdings Analyst: Warren Edney Rating: BUY Date: 19-Oct-15 Price Target: $0.64 Share Price ($A): $0.58 Valuation: $0.64 Market Cap (A$m): $456 Upside/(Downside): 11% EV $419 Risk: High Year End: 30 June KEY RATIOS FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E VALUATION SUMMARY NPAT - Reported WACC 12.7% A$m A$/Share NPAT - Attributable Carosue Dam Complex EPS - Adjusted (3.9) (0.9) (0.3) Thunderbox EPS Growth (%) (77%) (65%) (1,463%) 144% 2% Operations P/E (x) (14.9) (65.9) (189.0) Corporate (40) (0.05) CFPS (A Cents) Exploration (included in projects) - P/CF (x) Net Cash / (Debt) DPS (A Cents) Total Valuation Franking (%) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Dividend Yield (%) % 7.0% Payout Ratio (%) % 39% FCF Yield (%) -5% -5% 6% 7% 26% 26% VALUATION SENSITIVITY EV/EBIT (x) EV/EBITDA (x) NPV A$/share 1.20 ASSUMPTIONS FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Australian Dollar (AUD/USD) Gold Price (US$/oz) 1,605 1,299 1,224 1,150 1,194 1,200 Gold Price (A$/oz) 1,570 1,403 1,458 1,617 1,711 1,672 PRODUCTION & COSTS FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Production Carosue Dam Complex Thunderbox Total Production (Equity share) AISC Carosue Dam Complex 1,459 1,516 1,140 1,122 1,123 1,230 Thunderbox ,470 1,315 1,024 AISC (A$/oz) 1,459 1,516 1,140 1,170 1,203 1,134 PROFIT & LOSS (A$M) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Operating Revenue Other Revenue Total Revenue Operating Expenses (146) (159) (174) (190) (294) (307) Corporate/Other Expenses (23) (11) (10) (11) (13) (13) EBITDA Depreciation & Amortisation (62) (32) (50) (50) (67) (67) Exploration/write-offs - (0) (0) (5) (5) (5) EBIT (20) Net Interest / (Expense) (1) (2) (0) NPBT (21) Income Tax Expense 13 (2) (5) (14) (34) (35) NPAT - Adjusted (7) Significant Items (23) (13) (14) NPAT - Reported (31) (7) (2) CASH FLOW (A$M) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Cash Flow from Ops Capex - Development & Sustaining (95) (71) (38) (70) (33) (33) Free Cash Flow (22) (22) Cash Flow From Investing (104) (70) (49) (83) (43) (43) Cash Flow From Financing (14) (2) (2) (26) Net Cash Flow (12) BALANCE SHEET (A$M) FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E PRODUCTION AND COSTS Cash PP&E/Development/Exploration Assets Debts EV/Reserve (A$/Oz) Liabilities EV/Resource (A$/Oz) 29.8 Equity Net Debt / (Cash) Gearing (%) - Net Debt / (Net Debt + Equity) -10% -19% -26% -89% -159% Koz -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% AUD/USD Gold (US$/oz) FY12A FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E FY19E FY20E FY21E FY22E Carosue Dam Thunderbox AISC A$/oz - RHS RESERVES & RESOURCES RESERVE RESOURCE Mt g/t Au Koz Mt g/t Au Koz Thunderbox ,464 Bannockburn ,058 Carosue Dam ,711 Porphyry ,231 Safari Bore Red October Stockpiles Total , ,627 1,600 1,400 1,200 1, ROIC (%) - (Adj. NPAT - Div.) / Equity -36% -23% 6% 1% 9% ROE (%) - Adj. NPAT / Equity -3% -1% 13% 23% 20% ROA (%) - Adj. NPAT / Assets -2% -1% 10% 19% 17% Page 37

38 Project delivery is not priced in SAR s exploration targets lie predominantly around existing operations and involve open pit and underground infill drilling. We would classify them as relatively low risk and having a high probability of conversion into reserves. We are therefore comfortable in including resources in our production forecasts. Management has shown a consistent approach to project development and exploration. It has not lived beyond its means and growth in production has been consistent with only one equity raising subsequent to listing which funded the purchase of Thunderbox. Exploration and development has been largely funded from cash generated from operations (rather than calling on shareholders). FIG.1: KARARI EXTENSIONS DOWN PLUNGE FIG.2: THUNDERBOX OPEN PIT & EXTENSIONS DOWN PLUNGE Source: SAR Source: SAR The development of Thunderbox in FY16 provides SAR with another production hub. Resources have increased from 1.6Moz to 2.0Moz over the last 12 months. Following the recent announcement of earlier than budgeted production from Thunderbox and improved mining fleet performance, we believe that there may be some upside in production and downside in operating costs (SAR s target of ~125kozpa for 10+years is not unrealistic). In addition, Carosue Dam which has been operating since 2010 has many years of life left in it. Red October ore zones appear to continue at depth and while costs will rise over time, it does offer a high grade feed. Karari and Deep South will replace Red October as the main production sources and could also provide some excitement from an exploration perspective. The exploration component has a good chance of being replaced with production which we have not yet included in our production or costs forecasts. FIG.3: 300,000OZPA ACHIEVABLE LONG TERM FIG.4: HEALTHY AISC MARGINS Koz 350 1, ,400 1,200 1, FY12A FY13A FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E FY19E FY20E FY21E FY22E Carosue Dam Thunderbox Margin (A$/oz) Gold price (A$/oz) Exploration AISC A$/oz - RHS Gold price (US$/oz) Realised gold price (A$/oz) Source: Baillieu Holst, SAR Source: Baillieu Holst, SAR Page 38

39 Gold price outlook In the near-term, we expect support for gold on seasonal pickup (Asian buying - Diwali 18 Nov and the Indian wedding season 22 Nov- 14 Dec) muted by headwinds of the first Fed rate hike rate since 2006, and a potential further strengthening in the USD. Steady ETF liquidation ~ tpa to reflect the stronger USD is predicted rather than a massive outflow. We estimate gold supply will peak in 2015 and decline thereafter in the current price environment. It will likely take until 1Q-16 for the impact of supply constraints (lack of new projects and depletion, and longer term, ultimate impact of high grading near term) to become apparent. We forecast steady jewellery and bar & coin investment demand from India as increased consumer wealth creates more ability to purchase, and in China, flight to safety and wealth preservation (as we saw in 2013 in India) become the key drivers of investment demand. We see positive fundamentals in the gold market and we forecast a small deficit by 2016, thus we are forecasting a price above current spot. Our long term estimate is US$1,200/oz (our long term A$US$ exchange rate is 75c A$1600/oz). FIG.5: GOLD PRICE FORECASTS Q-15 2Q-15 3Q-15 4Q E 1Q-16 2Q-16 3Q-16 4Q E 2017E 2018E 2019E E New US$/oz 1,266 1,218 1,194 1,125 1,150 1,172 1,175 1,150 1,175 1,200 1,175 1,200 1,200 1,200 Old US$/oz 1,266 1,218 1,194 1,225 1,250 1,222 1,250 1,225 1,250 1,275 1,250 1,250 1,250 1,250 Chg % 0% 0% 0% -8% -8% -4% -6% -6% -6% -6% -6% -4% -4% -4% Source: Baillieu Holst Page 39

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41 ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk Medium Price Target $3.50 Share Price $2.01 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $5.3mn Market Cap $347mn Shares Issued 172.8mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $1.90 Sector Consumer Discretionary BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Shine Corporate Ltd (SHJ) is an Australian law firm that focuses on plaintiff litigation with a focus on the personal injury market in addition to range of emerging practice areas. SHJ is based in Queensland but has grown a national footprint through a series of acquisitions. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in SHJ. Shine Corporate (SHJ) COMPANY REPORT Little brother sitting in the corner History: Shine Corporate (SHJ) was initially established as generalist law firm, KG Shine in 1976 in Toowoomba, QLD. In 1995 a strategic decision was made to specialise in personal injury litigation. SHJ has since grown through a combination of establishing greenfield offices and the acquisition of 20 legal firms. SHJ now has a strong, geographic presence on the Australian eastern seaboard. In May 2013, SHF undertook a share market listing on the ASX via the issuance of 45m shares (including 30m vendor shares) at A$1.00 each which equated to a free float of 29% post the IPO. The business: Australia s third largest plaintiff litigation firm behind market leaders, Slater & Gordon (ASX listed) and Maurice Blackburn (private). SHJ operates on a no-win/no-fee basis in the personal injury market. Main areas of focus are: 1) workers compensation; 2) motor vehicle accidents; 3) medical negligence; 4) public liability; 5) insolvency; and 6) specialist law. Investment attractions: 1) track record of execution since IPO included the acquisition of a number of legal firms - Emanates/Stephen Browne Legal (August 2014), Sciaccas Legal (October 2014) and Bradley Bayly Legal (August 2015); 2) ongoing growth from acquisitions and file purchases; 3) potential upside from tort reform wind-back in NSW and QLD. Investment risks: 1) acquisition risk, particularly if SHJ decides to diversify into offshore markets such as the UK; and 2) adverse legislative changes that have a negative impact on state-based statutory awards related to personal injury. Investment view: BUY call with DCF valuation of A$3.51 and price target of A$3.50. In the absence of any negative earnings revisions or legislative changes we attribute the de-rating of the SHJ share price to current negative market sentiment related to listed peer, Slater & Gordon (ASX:SGH) the market is concerned that: 1) ASIC review of SGH may negatively impact personal injury legal firms such as SHJ and SGH; and 2) earnings guidance for SGH s recent acquisition in the UK (PSD) may not be realised. We view the release of FY15 audited accounts without material revision as major confidence point for SHJ. Other concerns about the value of UK acquisitions for SGH are un-related to SHJ. Valuation: Our DCF valuation is based upon: 1) risk discount rate of 10%; 2) terminal growth rate of 3%; 3) long-term revenue growth of 7% per annum; and 4) long-term EBITDA margin of 30%. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 41

42 Financial summary Analyst: Nick Caley Rating: BUY Date: 19-October-2015 Price Target: $3.50 Share Price ($A): $2.01 Valuation: $3.51 Year End: 30 June Risk: Medium PROFIT & LOSS (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Market Capitalisation: $343 Fee Revenue EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Total Operating Cash Expenses EPS - Diluted EBITDA EPS - Normalised Depreciation & Amortisation EPS Growth (%) 16% 20% 14% 12% 10% EBIT DPS Finance Costs Franking (%) Net Interest Payout Ratio (%) 24% 22% 24% 26% 29% Net Profit Before Tax Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Net Profit After Tax P/E (x) BALANCE SHEET (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EV/EBIT (x) Assets EV/EBITDA (x) Cash Dividend Yield (%) 1.7% 1.9% 2.4% 2.9% 3.5% Receivables Price/Book (x) Work In Progress Price/NTA (x) Unbilled Disbursements Other Assets Total Current Assets GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Property, Plant & Equipment Total Rev. Growth (% pcp) 10% 30% 18% 11% 10% Work In Progress Cash Op. Exp. Growth (% pcp) 5% 31% 18% 11% 10% Intangible Assets EBITDA Growth (% pcp) 24% 29% 19% 11% 10% Unbilled Disbursements EBIT Growth (% pcp) 24% 29% 19% 11% 10% Other Assets NPBT Growth (% pcp) 25% 27% 20% 12% 10% Total Non Current Assets Total Assets MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Liabilities EBITDA Margin (%) 30% 29% 30% 30% 30% Payables EBIT Margin (%) 28% 28% 28% 28% 28% Borrowings NPBT Margin (%) 27% 27% 27% 27% 27% Current Tax Liabilities ROIC (%) 22% 24% 23% 23% 22% Provisions ROE (%) 20% 19% 18% 17% 17% Other Liabilities ROA (%) 11% 11% 10% 10% 10% Total Current Liabilities Effective Tax Rate (%) 30% 26% 30% 30% 30% Payables Borrowings GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Deferred Tax Liabilities Net Debt (A$mn) Provisions Net Debt/Equity (%) 5% 7% 8% 7% 3% Total Non Current Liabilities Int. Cover (x) - EBITDA/Net Int. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Total Liabilities Equity OPERATING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Contributed Capital Work In Progress A$m Reserves Retained Earnings Minority Interests Total Equity Book Value Per Share (cps) NTA Per Share (cps) CASH FLOW (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Cash at Start Cash Flow from Operations Cash Flow from Investing Cash Flow from Financing Net Cash Flow Cash At End Page 42

43 FIG.1: ACQUISITIONAL TIMELINE FOR SHJ VERSUS SHARE PRICE (AUD/SHARE) $3.50 $3.00 $2.50 Acquisition of Sciaccas Personal Injury and Family Law Practice Acquisition of Emanate Legal and Stephen Browne Personal Injury Lawyers Acquisition of Bradley Bayly $2.00 $1.50 $ Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct-15 Source: IRESS, company announcements FIG.2: SLATER & GORDON SHARE PRICE VERSUS SHINE CORPORATE (AUD/SHARE) $8.50 $8.00 $7.50 $7.00 $6.50 $6.00 $5.50 $5.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.50 $3.00 $2.50 $2.00 $1.50 $1.00 $0.50 $- 1/01/2014 1/04/2014 1/07/2014 1/10/2014 1/01/2015 1/04/2015 1/07/2015 1/10/2015 Slater & Gordon (SGH) Shine Corporate Source: IRESS Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 43

44 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk High Price Target $5.01 Share Price $4.55 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $15.3mn Market Cap $549mn Shares Issued 120.7mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $1.69 Sector Telecommunication Services BUSINESS DESCRIPTION SpeedCast is a leading global provider of satellite-based communication networks and services. It operates predominantly with Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks and has a dominant presence in the Asia- Pacific region. Key customer segments are maritime, natural resources, government and NGO, telecom and enterprise. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Luke Macnab, CFA lmacnab@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in SDA. SpeedCast International (SDA) COMPANY REPORT Oil + water = growth Maritime sector is a key growth driver: Maritime is a fast-growing sector for SDA, being driven by the upgrading of older satellite systems to VSAT technologies and rising demand for bandwidth. SDA recorded US$16m in revenue for this sector 1H15, up 38% on the pcp. This was driven by contract wins with Gearbulk and Vroon Netherlands, as well as the impact of prior acquisitions. We are forecasting strong organic growth in this sector of 15% pa for the next three years. Energy sector is also expanding rapidly: SDA s growth in the Natural Resources sector is being driven by its expanding Energy division. This has been built through the addition of key personnel in late CY14 and the acquisitions of Geolink and Hermes Datacomms in CY15. SDA recorded US$15m in revenue for the Natural Resources sector in 1H15, up by over 100% on the pcp. This was driven by the aforementioned acquisitions, and growth is expected to be strong in FY16 due to the full year impact of Hermes (CY14 revenue of US$30m) and additional contract wins in recent months. We are forecasting 10% pa organic revenue growth. Telecoms sector has potential upside: SDA recorded US$12m in revenue for the Telecom services sector, flat on the pcp. This was due to the mining slowdown, but is expected to grow in 2H15 as contract wins in the Pacific Islands and Myanmar kick in. We are currently forecasting 6% pa organic revenue growth for the sector, but with mobile usage growing strongly in Asia, this could turn out to be conservative. Investment view: We rate SDA a BUY as we believe strong organic growth will be achieved over the next months, driven by tender wins in Energy and the conversion to VSAT in Maritime. Any acquisitions would provide further upside to our target price. Price target and valuation: Our new valuation and target price is $5.01 (previously $4.48). The upgrade is due to rolling forward our valuation model, updated exchange rates and more conservative assumptions on acquisition integration. The valuation is blended, using a DCF model (riskfree rate of 5%, risk premium of 6% and beta of 1.1) and an EV/EBITA multiple of 14.6x (average of large telcos and small industrials multiples). Key risks: In our view, the key risks to SDA s growth plans are (1) key personnel risk and (2) competitors consolidating the industry. The first is mitigated by the fact that many key personnel are shareholders in SDA. The second is mitigated somewhat by the fact that many of the other large players in these segments are dealing with other issues at the moment. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 31 December 2013A 2014A 2015E 2016E 2017E Revenue US$mn EBITDA US$mn EBIT US$mn Reported Profit US$mn Adjusted Profit US$mn EPS (Reported) US EPS (Adjusted) US EPS Growth % N/A PER (Reported) x N/A N/A PER (Adjusted) x Dividend A Yield % Franking % Page 44

45 Financial summary SPEEDCAST INTERNATIONAL Code: Analyst: Date: Share Price: Market Capitalisation: Financial Year End: SDA Rating: BUY Luke Macnab Price Target: $ October, 2015 Upside/downside: 10% $4.55 Valuation: $5.01 $548m Valuation method: DCF December Risk: High PROFIT & LOSS (US$m) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E EARNINGS FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Operating revenue AUD/USD Exchange rate COGS EPS - Underlying NPATA (US ) Gross profit EPS - Underlying NPATA (A ) Expenses EPS Growth - Underlying NPATA 2% 33% 50% 27% 23% EBITDA EPS - Reported NPAT (US ) Depreciation Diluted shares (m) EBITA DPS (US ) Amortisation DPS (A ) EBIT Dividend Yield (%) 0.0% 0.8% 1.6% 2.4% 3.3% Net Interest expense Payout Ratio 0% 36% 40% 45% 50% Minorities Franking 0% 100% 100% 100% 100% Underlying PBT Tax VALUATION FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Underlying NPAT P/E (x) Underlying NPATA PEG (x) EV/EBIT (x) Significant items (net of tax) EV/EBITA (x) Reported profit EV/EBITDA (x) Price/Book (x) BALANCE SHEET (US$m) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Price/NTA (x) Assets Price/FCF Cash Receivables GROWTH FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E PPE Revenue growth 8% 9% 48% 27% 8% Goodwill & Intangibles COGS growth 6% 9% 51% 26% 7% Investments Expenses growth 13% 2% 35% 21% 3% Other assets EBITDA growth 10% 18% 55% 34% 17% Total Assets PBT growth 27% 41% 37% 33% 42% Liabilities Underlying NPAT growth 6% 80% 41% 28% 42% Payables Reported NPAT growth 207% 80% 41% 28% 42% Debt Provisions MARGINS & RETURNS FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Tax payable EBITDA Margin 15.7% 17.1% 17.8% 18.9% 20.3% Deferred Tax Liability EBITA Margin 12.4% 13.4% 13.4% 14.9% 16.3% Other liabilities NPBT Margin 5.5% 7.1% 6.6% 6.9% 9.0% Total Liabilities ROIC 12.7% 19.2% 18.3% 18.5% 21.5% Equity ROE 13.8% 25.6% 29.5% 31.2% 35.3% Share capital ROA 15.9% 15.4% 16.1% 16.8% 18.6% Retained earnings Effective Tax Rate 40.7% 24.3% 25.0% 25.0% 25.0% Other equity Total shareholders equity GEARING FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Net Debt (US$m) BV per share (cps) Net Debt (A$m) NTA per share (cps) Enterprise value (A$m) Net Debt/EV (%) 6.3% 6.0% 19.0% 19.3% 17.1% CASH FLOW (US$m) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Net Debt/EBITDA (x) Cash at Start EBITDA/Net Interest (x) Cash from operations Capex SEGMENT REVENUES (US$m) FY13A FY14A FY15E FY16E FY17E Free cash flow Service Cash flow from investing Equipment Cash flow from financing VOIP Cash at end Free cash flow per share (cps) GOCF / EBITDA 107% 100% 100% 100% 101% FCF / Underlying cash NPAT 189% 103% 186% 161% 144% Page 45

46 Strong growth expected in key sectors Maritime driven by upgrading to VSAT and increasing demand: Growth in Maritime is being driven by the upgrading of older MSS-based systems to VSAT networks. This is because vessels IT systems require greater bandwidth to monitor and control, along with increasing data demands for crew welfare. VSAT services are usually more cost-effective as they offer a fixed bandwidth for a fixed price, rather than the pay-per-usage model typical of MSS networks. Growth in VSAT terminals and bandwidth demands are illustrated below. FIG.1: MARITIME BANDWIDTH DEMAND FIG.2: ACTIVE MARITIME VSAT TERMINALS Source: Euroconsult, Maritime Telecom Solutions by Satellite, 3rd edition (2014) Source: Source: Euroconsult, Maritime Telecom Solutions by Satellite, 3rd edition (2014) Natural resources driven by expanding Energy market share: Rising demand is again driven by an increasing bandwidth requirements for operational and recreational purposes. However, SDA s growth will be driven primarily by increasing their share of the Energy market. There exists an opportunity for SDA to become the No.3 player in the market and two recent tender wins against strong competition demonstrate that it is competitive. FIG.3: MINING VSAT UNITS FIG.4: ONSHORE ENERGY VSAT UNITS Source: NSR, Energy Markets via Satellite, 4 th ed. (2014) Source: NSR, Energy Markets via Satellite, 4 th ed. (2014) Telecom industry also has potential: Telecom industry research forecasts that the number of backhaul sites in Asia will grow by 5% pa to 2022 and backhaul bandwidth requirements will grow by 13% pa over the same period. This means that the revenue for satellite backhaul providers will grow from around US$200m to over US$400m between 2012 and 2022, a CAGR of around 7% pa, which we have used as our forecast growth rate. FIG.5: MOBILE DATA TRAFFIC FIG.6: ASIAN SMARTPHONES PENETRATION Source: Cisco, Visual Networking Index: Forecast and Methodology, , (2014) Source: AC Nielsen, The Asian Mobile Consumer Decoded, (2013) Page 46

47 Valuation and target price upgraded to $5.01: We have rolled forward our valuation model to the end of FY16 and also updated some key currency assumptions. We have also adopted a more conservative forecast for the ramp up of margins on previously acquired businesses, which has led to minor reductions in near term earnings as outlined below. However, we believe that there is upside to our numbers from further acquisitions and/or contract wins, particularly in the Energy sector. FIG.7: FORECAST CHANGES Dec yr end FY15 FY16 FY17 Item OLD NEW Chg OLD NEW Chg OLD NEW Chg Revenue US$m % % % EBITDA US$m % % % EBITA US$m % % % EBIT US$m % % % Underlying US$m % % % NPAT Underlying US$m % % % NPATA Underlying A % % % EPS DPS A % % % Source: Baillieu Holst forecasts Page 47

48 RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk Medium Price Target $1.80 Share Price $1.48 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $50.9mn Market Cap $1,093mn Shares Issued 743.4mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $1.33 Sector Financials BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Steadfast (SDF) was founded in 1996 and listed in It is a general insurance buying group with equity stakes in a number of SME insurance broking firms across Australia and New Zealand. The company has interests in underwriting agencies and a premium funding JV. SDF has a stated strategy to further consolidate the insurance broking market. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME RESEARCH ANALYST Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in SDF. Steadfast Group (SDF) COMPANY REPORT General appeal Investment view: We provide a number of key reasons to support our positive investment thesis on SDF. Downside factored in: We correlate underwriter profitability with broker valuations through the general insurance cycle. Based on this analysis, we believe industry profitability is unlikely to fall further. In fact, it should improve over the next two years. We believe the current state of profitability has been factored into broker valuations and, therefore, these are also unlikely to contract further. On that basis, SDF has found a support level and the share price outlook is more positive. Premium rates: Feedback from insurance brokers during the recent reporting season was that premium rate reductions were moderating. This assertion is supported by industry data, which shows declines in industry premium volumes (as a proxy for rates) have moderated recently from the negative results seen over the previous four quarters. We believe the outlook is now more stable. Potential outperformance up and down: We believe SDF could outperform the overall Australian equity market, regardless of whether it moves up or down over the next year. We base this assertion on Austbrokers (code: AUB, a key comparable) share price performance during and post the last bear market (GFC) as well as the underlying nature of the SDF business. Relative valuation: Aside from sector dynamics, we believe SDF looks appealing on basic fundamentals. SDF is trading on a PE of 12.9x and forecast to achieve 14% EPS growth in FY16F (upper end of guidance) and a CAGR of 11% over the next two years. This compares favourably to the broader market on a PE of 15.5x and 1% EPS growth. Valuation and price target: Our $1.80 valuation and price target is derived using a blended PE and DCF methodology. The assumptions in the DCF include a WACC of 10.5%, a risk free rate of 5.0%, an expected return on the market of 6.0%, a terminal growth rate of 3.0% and a beta of 1.1. For the PE, we value SDF in line with the market (forward PE of 15.5x). Key risks: The risk to our call is that we have gone positive too early on SDF and that industry profitability, and broker valuations, remain at or around these levels over the next 6-12 months. This remains a possibility, but the chance of a deterioration from here is unlikely, in our view. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 48

49 Financial summary Steadfast (SDF) Code: SDF Rating: BUY Analyst: Nicolas Burgess Price Target: $1.80 Date: 19 October, 2015 Upside/downside: 21.8% Share Price: $1.48 Valuation: $1.80 Market Capitalisation: $1102m Valuation method: DCF / PE blend Year End: 30 June Risk: Medium PROFIT & LOSS (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Consolidated EBITA EPS - Underling cash (diluted) Associates EBITA EPS Growth - underlying 17.2% 22.8% 13.9% 7.9% 6.0% EBITA pre corporate costs EPS - Reported (diluted) Net corporate costs Diluted shares (m) EBITA post corporate costs DPS (cps) Net interest Payout Ratio 57% 51% 55% 55% 55% Amortisation Franking 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% PBT Tax VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Minorities P/E (x) NPAT EV/EBITA (x) Dividend Yield (%) 3.0% 3.4% 4.1% 4.5% 4.7% Add back: Price/Book (x) Amortisation Price/NTA (x) Abnormals Price/FCF per Share (x) Underlying cash NPAT GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E BALANCE SHEET (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EBITA growth 15.2% 40.3% 40.5% 7.4% 5.9% Assets PBT growth 9.6% 33.7% 49.5% 10.1% 7.5% Cash Underlying NPAT growth 17.3% 37.3% 45.9% 7.9% 6.0% Cash - Trust Reported NPAT growth 15.7% 29.5% 54.7% 10.1% 7.5% Receivables PPE MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Intangibles Operating margin - consol 26.0% 24.3% 24.4% 24.6% 24.9% Goodwill ROIC 14.3% 8.2% 9.0% 9.5% 9.8% Other Assets ROE 15.7% 8.5% 9.8% 10.1% 10.3% Total Assets ROA 13.6% 7.4% 7.8% 8.1% 8.4% Liabilities Effective Tax Rate 31.2% 30.0% 30.0% 30.0% 30.0% Payables Loans & Borrowings GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Provisions Net Debt (A$m) Other Liabilities Enterprise value 1,084 1,196 1,195 1,176 1,156 Total Liabilities Net Debt/Equity (%) % 10.5% 8.0% 5.5% Equity EBITDA/Gross interest Contributed Capital Retained Earnings Minority Interests OPERATIONAL DATA FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Total Equity Consolidated brokers Equity accounted brokers BV per share (cps) Underwriting agencies NTA per Share (cps) Ancillary CASH FLOW (A$m) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E MPF Cash at Start Steadfast Cash Flow from Ops Total EBITA Capex Less Associate EBITA Free cash flow Consolidated EBITA Free cash per share (cps) Cash Flow from Investing Associate EBITA Cash Flow from Financing Group EBITA pre corporate Cash At End Page 49

50 General appeal We provide key reasons to support our positive investment thesis on Steadfast (SDF). We rate SDF a BUY with a $1.80 price target. 1. Downside factored in: broker PEs have contracted significantly We chart IAG s commercial lines insurance margin as an indicator of the general insurance cycle, as shown below. IAG is the largest market share holder in Australia and the insurance margin is a key indicator of profitability. We overlay this with the broker (AUB and SDF) forward PE ratios. In our view, the broker PEs correlate well with IAG s insurance margin because the insurance margin is an indicator of industry conditions generally, and organic growth for the brokers specifically. In other words, as premium rates increase, industry profitability improves, organic growth rates for brokers increases and PEs expand. FIG.1: IAG INSURANCE MARGIN VERSUS BROKER PEs Peak cycle: WES acquires OMP, AUB lists GFC Peak cycle: WES divests insurance, SDF lists 24% 22% 20% 18 18% 16 16% 14% 14 12% 12 10% 8% 10 6% 8 4% 2% 6 Jan-06 Apr-06 Jul-06 Oct-06 Jan-07 Apr-07 Jul-07 Oct-07 Jan-08 Apr-08 Jul-08 Oct-08 Jan-09 Apr-09 Jul-09 Oct-09 Jan-10 Apr-10 Jul-10 Oct-10 Jan-11 Apr-11 Jul-11 Oct-11 Jan-12 Apr-12 Jul-12 Oct-12 Jan-13 Apr-13 Jul-13 Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 SDF one year forward PE - LHS Source: Thomson Reuters, Company Reports, Baillieu Holst estimates AUB one year forward PE - LHS IAG commercial lines insurance margin - RHS 0% It is interesting to note that both peaks of the cycle shown in the chart above were marked by corporate activity. In 2005 and 2006, Wesfarmers acquired OAMPS and AUB listed. In 2013 Wesfarmers divested its insurance business and SDF listed. Going by the chart, industry profitability is now close to trough levels, with IAG s reported commercial lines insurance margin falling from over 18% historically to just 3% recently, reflecting a deteriorating claims environment, lower investment returns, increased competition and lower premium rates. Meanwhile, broker PEs have contracted in line with industry profitability. Within the last two years AUB and SDF were trading at a premium to the overall market with PEs of 18-20x. They are now trading at a discount at around 13-14x. At the bottom of the last cycle, AUB s PE contracted to around 10x. But this includes the GFC and was part of a substantial market de-rating. This time the global environment whilst volatile is more buoyant. We wouldn t expect broker valuations to fall to the same extent and believe 13-14x is a fair representation of a trough PE ratio. Our conclusion from the chart is that industry profitability is unlikely to fall further. In fact, it should improve over the next two years. The current state of profitability has been factored into broker valuations and, therefore, these are also unlikely to contract further. On that basis, both AUB and SDF have found a support level and the share price outlook is positive. Page 50

51 The risk is that we have upgraded our call too early on SDF and that industry profitability, and broker valuations, remain at or around these levels over the next 6-12 months. This remains a possibility, but the chance of a deterioration from here is unlikely, in our view. 2. Premium rates: declines moderating Feedback from both AUB and SDF during the recent reporting season was that premium rate reductions were moderating. This assertion is supported by industry data, which shows declines in industry premium volumes (as a proxy for rates) have moderated recently from the negative results seen over the previous four quarters, as shown in the chart below. FIG.2: ANNUAL CHANGE IN COMMERCIAL GENERAL INSURANCE PREMIUM VOLUME 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15% Sep-11 Dec-11 Mar-12 Jun-12 Sep-12 Dec-12 Mar-13 Jun-13 Sep-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 Jun-14 Sep-14 Dec-14 Mar-15 Jun-15 Total market Commercial property Source: APRA Taking account of SDF s and AUB s exposure to various classes of general insurance, we estimate their premium rate experience would have been as shown in the chart below. FIG.3: ANNUAL CHANGE IN COMMERCIAL GENERAL INSURANCE PREMIUM VOLUME 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% Sep-11 Dec-11 Mar-12 Jun-12 Sep-12 Dec-12 Mar-13 Jun-13 Sep-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 Jun-14 Sep-14 Dec-14 Mar-15 Jun-15 SDF estimated exposure AUB estimated exposure Source: APRA Page 51

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53 INTERNAL ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS Rating BUY Risk Medium Price Target $2.10 Share Price $1.67 SNAPSHOT Monthly Turnover $7.1mn Market Cap $253mn Shares Issued 151.4mn 52-Week High $ Week Low $1.03 Sector Consumer Discretionary BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Vita Group Limited (VTG) is an Australian electronics and telecommunications retailer, comprising six brands: Fone Zone, One Zero, Next Byte, iconcierge, Vita Networks and Sprout Accessories along with selected Telstra Shops and Telstra Business Centres. 12-MONTH PRICE & VOLUME Vita Group (VTG) COMPANY REPORT Dialling growth and yield Investment view: We upgraded to BUY post VTG s strong FY15 result and our increased confidence in its medium-term outlook. We expect VTG to deliver 13% EPS CAGR across FY15-FY18F and it is trading on an attractive FY16F PE of 11.9x, a ~20% discount to the broader market. Its dividend yield is also a key attribute, at 5.5% fully franked with upside risks through the resumption of special dividends with an aim of extracting its 30cps of franking credits. We are very confident about our FY16 earnings estimates which are largely driven by store acquisitions and continued momentum in VTG s retail network optimisation program. High confidence in FY16 growth: Our FY16 EPS growth forecast of 14% (EBITDA growth of 12%) is underpinned by confidence due to the expected impact from acquisitions during FY15 and in early FY16. Acquisitions during FY15 contributed to EBITDA of $4.1m (with an incremental $1m expected to flow through in FY16). We expect the FY16 acquisitions in the year to date to contribute ~$1.9m and see upside risk to this from additional acquisition opportunities. Retail optimisation continues: Whilst VTG has reached its limit of 100 retail stores; we continue to expect strong earnings growth from this segment. A strategy to replace the bottom performing 20% of its network with higher performing stores could lead to a potential EBITDA uplift of $10m over the next three years, by our estimates. Business segment to materialise: The business segment remains immature relative to the retail segment and we estimate Telstra Business Centres (TBCs) contributed ~$4m in EBITDA in FY15, corresponding to an average EBITDA per store of ~$0.3m. Mature TBCs are expected to reach $0.7m to $0.8m per store, and we believe this is achievable over the next three years. Therefore we see a potential $6.4m to $8m uplift from existing stores over the medium-term. The uplift from YTD acquired stores is ~$1.9m and there is a high likelihood of further TBC acquisitions in FY16. RESEARCH ANALYST Josh Kannourakis jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au Nick Caley ncaley@baillieuholst.com.au Nicolas Burgess, CFA nburgess@baillieuholst.com.au Disclosure The author owns no shares in VTG. Valuation and price target: Our blended valuation and price target is $2.10 ($2.05 DCF, $2.16 EV/EBITDA), using a blended EV/EBITDA (15% discount to market) and DCF methodology. Key investment risks: The key risks to our investment thesis and price target include: 1) unfavourable changes to VTG s Telstra Master Licence Agreement upon renewal; 2.) a material reduction in Telstra s market share driving lower foot traffic to Telstra stores; and 3) a greater shift to online sales of Telstra s products detracting from foot traffic into its stores. INVESTMENT SUMMARY Year End: 30 June 2014 (A) 2015 (A) 2016 (E) 2017 (E) 2018 (E) Revenue $mn EBITDA $mn EBIT $mn Reported Profit $mn Adjusted Profit $mn EPS (Reported) EPS (Adjusted) EPS Growth % PER (Reported) x N/A PER (Adjusted) x Dividend Yield % Franking % Page 53

54 Financial summary Analyst: Date: Share Price ($A): Year End: Josh Kanourakis Rating: 19-October-2015 Price Target: $2.10 $1.67 Upside/(Downside): 26% 30 June Risk: Medium PROFIT & LOSS (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E EARNINGS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Total Revenue EPS - Basic (Underlying) Total Cash Operating Expenses EPS - Diluted (Underlying) Underlying EBITDA EPS - Reported Depreciation & Amortisation EPS Growth (%) 66% 72% 14% 11% 14% Underlying EBIT DPS (ordinary) Net Interest Expense DPS (including special) Underlying NPBT Franking (%) Income Tax Expense Payout Ratio (%) 64% 64% 65% 65% 65% Underlying NPAT Non-recurring items (incl. ESP) VALUATION FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Reported NPAT P/E (x) BALANCE SHEET (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E PEG Ratio Cash Price/ FCF Receivables EV/EBIT (x) Inventories EV/EBITDA (x) Total Current Assets Dividend Yield (%) 2.8% 4.8% 5.5% 6.1% 6.9% Property, Plant & Equipment Dividend Yield (including special) (%) 2.8% 8.4% 5.5% 6.1% 6.9% Deferred Tax Franking credits returned (cps) Intangibles Price/Book (x) Total Non Current Assets GROWTH FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Total Assets Total Rev. Growth (% pcp) 4% 34% 6% 4% 9% Payables Cash Op. Exp. Growth (% pcp) 3% 33% 5% 3% 8% Loans & Borrowings EBITDA Growth (% pcp) 22% 45% 12% 9% 11% Other EBIT Growth (% pcp) 49% 69% 16% 10% 13% Total Current Liabilities NPBT Growth (% pcp) 67% 77% 17% 11% 14% Loans & Borrowings NPAT Growth (% pcp) 66% 76% 18% 11% 14% Other Reported NPAT Growth (% pcp) -175% n/a -8% 1% 14% Total Non Current Liabilities Total Liabilities MARGINS & RETURNS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Contributed Capital EBITDA Margin (%) 6.0% 6.5% 6.9% 7.2% 7.4% Reserves EBIT Margin (%) 3.6% 4.6% 5.0% 5.3% 5.6% Retained Earnings NPBT Margin (%) 3.2% 4.3% 4.8% 5.1% 5.4% Total Equity ROE (%) 34% 37% 37% 35% 35% CASH FLOW (A$mn) FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E ROA (%) 8% 13% 13% 14% 15% Cash at Start Effective Tax Rate (%) 30% 30% 30% 30% 30% EBITDA Working Capital GEARING FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Interest Paid Net Debt (A$mn) Income Tax Paid Net Debt/Equity (%) 33% -4% n/a n/a n/a Other Int. Cover (x) - EBITDA/Net Int Cash Flow From Operating Cash Flow From Investing SEGMENTALS FY14A FY15A FY16E FY17E FY18E Cash Flow From Financing Revenue Movement In Cash Flow Telecommunications Cash At End Of Period Computing Total EBITDA BUY Telecommunications Computing Total Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 54

55 Investment view High confidence in FY16 growth: Below we provide an EBITDA bridge between FY15 and our FY16 EBITDA estimate. We forecast EBITDA growth of 12% and have a high level of confidence in this estimate due to the expected impact from acquisitions during FY15 and in early FY16. We also estimate ~$1m in non-recurring costs out of the ~$3m investment in the business segment across the period. We do think it will be difficult to cycle such strong comps in retail (due to a strong iphone 6 launch). However, we do expect VTG to continue to optimise its retail and business footprint in FY16 to drive further earnings per store uplift. Thus, we see earnings risks weighted to the upside at this point. FIG.1: EBITDA BRIDGE (FY15 TO FY16F) $0.8M $43.9M 43 $1.0M 42 $1.9M $M $1.0M 39 $39.2M 38 FY15 EBITDA Annualised acquisition impact Acquired TBCs Non-recurring expenses Organic growth required FY16F EBITDA Source: Baillieu Holst estimates Attractive relative to sector: Comparing VTG to the speciality retail sector, we note that VTG is at a 20% and 30% discount to the sector on a PE and EV/EBITDA respectively. In addition to this, VTG s dividend yield is ~20% above the sector and we note upside risks from the resumption of special dividends. In our opinion, its earnings are defensive relative to most other sector participants given its leverage to the telecommunications sector and specifically Telstra s dominant market positioning and superior network coverage in regional Australia, where ~55% of VTG s stores are located. FIG.2: SPECIALTY RETAIL SECTOR Company Code Price Mkt Cap Net Debt P/E (x) EV/EBITDA (x) 2 yr EPS CAGR PEG Dividend Yield ($) ($m) ($m) FY16F FY17F FY16F FY17F VITA GROUP LTD VTG % % PREMIER INVESTMENTS LTD PMV , % % JB HI-FI LTD JBH , % % SUPER RETAIL GROUP LTD SUL , % % GREENCROSS LTD GXL % % RCG CORP LTD RCG % % ADAIRS LTD ADH % % BEACON LIGHTING GROUP LTD BLX % % DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LTD DSH % % NICK SCALI LTD NCK % % GODFREYS GROUP LTD GFY % % SPECIALTY FASHION GROUP LTD SFH % OROTONGROUP LTD ORL % % Average % % VTG relative to sector -22% -18% -30% -30% -16% -32% 18% Source: Bloomberg consensus estimates, Baillieu Holst estimates Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 55

56 Listed Investment Companies (LICs) RESEARCH ANALYST Piers Flanagan) v. Co. (AUI) pflanagan@baillieuholst.com.au Josh Kannourakis Australian jkannourakis@baillieuholst.com.au SECTOR REPORT LIC update top picks Top picks: Our top picks refer to preferred exposures within each sector based on numerous quantitative and qualitative factors. However, they should not be treated as official stock recommendations but merely as a guide to where we would apportion funds at this particular point in time. Large capitalisation: The performance of a number of our traditional large cap LICs continue to move broadly in-line with the market and this has resulted in the recent premium to Net Tangible Assets (NTA) trading trend, holding true. While the trading premiums of a number of the traditional large cap LICs have decreased significantly from the highs seen in August, we do note that LICs such as Australian Foundation Investment Company (AFI) and Argo Investments (ARG) continue to trade at elevated premiums to NTA. Milton Corporation (MLT) with ~35% of its portfolio invested in banks is currently trading at an estimated 1.4% premium to NTA with a 4.3% fully franked (FF) dividend yield; Milton offers investors an attractive entry point relative to its three month and one year historical (premium/discount) trading levels (5.5 % and 2.7% premium to NTA respectively). Our top value pick within the large cap space is Diversified United Investments (DUI). On a relative basis, DUI currently trades at a discount to its peers as well as a discount to its underlying NTA. DUI is currently trading at an estimated 1.4% discount to NTA with a 4.0% dividend yield (FF). Small capitalisation: Future Generation Fund (FGX) remains our top pick within this space. We continue to look favourably upon the unique proposition FGX offers investors looking for exposure to domestic small cap equities. The current 4.1% discount to NTA of FGX provides investors an attractive entry point to invest with a number of Australia s top Fund Managers. We are also positively predisposed to Perpetual Equity Investment (PIC), now that management has reached its full deployment threshold. PIC utilises a concentrated, mid-cap investment strategy, with the option for an international allocation (currently 23% of the portfolio). PIC is currently trading at an estimated 4.7% discount to NTA. International: PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund (PGF) remains a preferred exposure within the international space; we continue to look favourably upon PGF s investment themes, in particular, its current holdings within the global brewery industry (~9.5% of the overall portfolio). Magellan Flagship Fund (MFF) is also a preferred exposure within the international space. MFF employs a high conviction strategy predominately investing in blue-chip American corporations (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, Bank of America). PGF and MFF are currently trading at an estimated 13.4% and 9.4% discount to NTA respectively. We have increased our international coverage list with the inclusion of Ellerston Asia Investment (EAI), Future Generation Global Investment (FGG) and Platinum Asia Investments (PAI), all of which commenced trading on the ASX in September. Specialty: Acorn Capital Investment Fund (ACQ) commenced its share buy-back on 24 September 2015 and since then has seen a marked decrease in its discount to NTA from ~23.0% to our current estimate of 19.2%. The positive capital management initiative to address the discount of ACQ s share price to NTA has stabilised the share price with ACQ up 4.1% since 24 September. In our view we continue to see upside to ACQ s portfolio positioning within the micro-cap sector as well a number of its unlisted holdings (i.e. Carbon Revolution). Baillieu Holst Ltd acted as sub-underwriter for PGF and in a corporate advisory role for FGX and earned fees in relation to those activities in the past 12 months. Please refer to the table overleaf for an update on current dividend yields, September NTAs and our current NTA estimates for selected LICs ahead of the upcoming NTA releases for October. Page 56

57 Sector snapshot Figures as at: 19 October 2015 BAILLIEU HOLST - EQUITY RESEARCH Listed Investment Companies Coverage by Sector Large Capitalisation Code Share Price Market Cap. ($m) Dividend (cents) Dividend Yield Grossed Up Yield TSR since Sept 1 Current Est. NTA Current Estimated Disc/Prem September NTA Sept Disc/Prem 3 Mth Ave Disc/Prem 1 Yr Ave Disc/Prem 3 Yr Ave Disc/Prem Australian Foundat. AFI % 5.6% -0.2% % % 6.5% 3.3% 3.2% Argo Investments ARG % 5.4% -1.6% % % 8.7% 5.0% 1.2% Australian United In AUI % 6.3% -2.1% % % -1.5% -5.2% -6.6% BKI Investment Ltd BKI % 6.3% -1.2% % % 4.5% -0.1% -2.0% Djerriwarrh DJW % 8.9% -4.6% % % 35.3% 28.6% 23.7% Diversified United DUI % 5.7% 6.2% % % -3.0% -6.3% -7.6% Milton Corporation MLT % 6.2% -1.8% % % 5.5% 2.7% -0.4% Small Capitalisation Code Share Price Market Cap. ($m) Dividend (cents) Dividend Yield Grossed Up Yield TSR since Sept 1 Current Est. NTA Current Estimated Disc/Prem September NTA Sept Disc/Prem 3 Mth Ave Disc/Prem 1 Yr Ave Disc/Prem 3 Yr Ave Disc/Prem Australian Leaders ALF % 10.2% 5.5% n/a n/a % 1.1% 4.9% 6.2% Aberdeen Leaders ALR % 6.7% 2.4% % % -8.0% -7.0% 2.5% AMCIL Limited AMH % 6.6% 4.2% % % -3.6% -1.9% -2.3% Clime Capital CAM % 7.7% 1.4% n/a n/a % -7.1% -6.6% -8.5% Cadence Capital CDM % 4.8% 4.2% % % 2.9% 2.2% 2.4% Contango Inc Gen Ltd CIE n/a n/a n/a -2.5% % % n/a n/a n/a Carlton Investments CIN % 5.1% 0.2% % % -9.8% -10.3% -12.5% Contango Microcap CTN % 9.6% 1.9% % % -5.8% -6.3% -10.2% Century Australia CYA % 5.7% 2.1% % % -8.7% -8.0% -7.6% Glennon SML Co Ltd GC n/a n/a n/a 0.0% % % n/a n/a n/a Future Gen Ltd FGX n/a n/a n/a 0.9% n/a n/a % -3.0% n/a n/a Mirrabooka Invest. MIR % 9.8% 0.0% % % 14.3% 12.6% 11.1% Naos Emerg Opp NCC % 8.9% 2.0% n/a n/a % -8.0% -9.7% -10.0% Ozgrowth Limited OZG % 15.3% 7.7% % % -12.1% -10.3% -16.6% Perpetual Equity Ltd PIC % 0.7% 0.0% % % n/a n/a n/a Qv Equities Limited QVE % 0.7% 2.0% n/a n/a % -1.7% 0.2% n/a Sandon Capital Ltd SNC % 7.9% -4.4% n/a n/a % -7.3% -6.7% n/a Thorney Opp Ltd TOP n/a n/a n/a 3.3% n/a n/a % -12.0% -10.0% -3.4% Whitefield Ltd WHF % 5.7% -0.2% % % -5.9% -6.1% -6.6% WAM Capital Limited WAM % 9.8% 3.3% % % 5.1% 8.0% 4.0% WAM Research Ltd WAX % 9.1% 2.0% % % 5.7% 5.2% 2.8% Wealth Def Equ Ltd WDE n/a n/a n/a -9.4% % % n/a n/a n/a Westoz Inv Ltd WIC % 15.3% 2.4% % % -11.7% -7.6% -12.4% Watermark Fund Ltd WMK % 6.8% 3.1% n/a n/a % -11.0% -9.1% n/a International Code Share Price Market Cap. ($m) Dividend (cents) Dividend Yield Grossed Up Yield TSR since Sept 1 Current Est. NTA Current Estimated Disc/Prem September NTA Sept Disc/Prem 3 Mth Ave Disc/Prem 1 Yr Ave Disc/Prem 3 Yr Ave Disc/Prem Amp Capital China AGF % 2.9% 12.2% % % -22.8% -23.0% -21.6% Argo Global Ltd ALI n/a n/a n/a -2.8% % % n/a n/a n/a Ellerston Asian EAI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a % n/a n/a n/a Ellerston Global Inv EGI n/a n/a n/a -6.4% n/a n/a % -0.8% n/a n/a Future Glb Invest Co FGG n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a % n/a n/a n/a Global Value Fnd Ltd GVF % 2.8% 2.5% n/a n/a % -14.3% n/a n/a Hunter Hall Global HHV % 10.7% 3.6% % % -13.9% -11.0% -13.4% Magellan Flagship MFF % 1.1% -0.8% % % -10.6% -9.8% -3.3% Pm Capital Asian Ops PAF n/a n/a n/a 6.3% % % -14.8% -11.8% n/a Platinum Asia Ltd PAI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a % n/a -11.8% n/a Pm Capital Fund PGF n/a n/a n/a -1.9% % % -12.9% -11.8% n/a Platinum Capital Ltd PMC % 8.6% -4.9% % % 14.4% 9.7% 4.2% Templeton Global TGG % 4.5% 1.2% % % -9.6% -6.7% -8.6% Specialist Code Share Price Market Cap. ($m) Dividend (cents) Dividend Yield Grossed Up Yield TSR since Sept 1 Current Est. NTA Current Estimated Disc/Prem September NTA Sept Disc/Prem 3 Mth Ave Disc/Prem 1 Yr Ave Disc/Prem 3 Yr Ave Disc/Prem Acorn Cap Inv Fund ACQ n/a n/a n/a 7.8% % % -19.3% -16.1% n/a Lion Selection Grp LSX n/a n/a n/a -1.7% n/a n/a % -31.7% -38.5% -26.0% Source: IRESS, Bloomberg, Baillieu Holst estimates Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 57

58 Baillieu Holst Research Team Nicolas Burgess, CFA Nick Caley Josh Kannourakis Luke Macnab, CFA Head of Research Research Analyst Industrials Research Analyst Industrials Research Analyst Industrials Nicolas joined Baillieu Holst in September He has been an equity analyst since 2003, when he started with ABN AMRO in the insurance sector. In 2005 he joined the Small and Mid Cap team, covering a wide variety of industrial stocks, and later led that team to Top 3 ratings in client surveys (East Coles, Peter Lee) between Nicolas then spent a period in London as the European Diversified Financials Analyst for RBS Equities from 2010 to Nicolas holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney and is a CFA charterholder. Nick joined Baillieu Holst in December He has been an equity analyst since 1996, prior to which he had a sixteen year career with Westpac Banking Corporation. Nick was Head of Insurance and Gaming Research for ABN AMRO between Between 2008 and joining Baillieu Holst in 2011, Nick was Chairman of Greyhound Racing Victoria and Director of Greyhounds Australasia. Josh joined Baillieu Holst in October 2009 and has been an equity analyst since He has a Bachelor of Commerce (Double Major in Accounting and Finance) from the University of Melbourne. Luke joined Baillieu Holst in March 2015 and has been an equity analyst since Luke previously was at ABN AMRO/RBS and covered the Infrastructure and Utilities sectors between ; there he achieved consistent Top 3 rankings in client surveys (Peter Lee, East Coles/BRW) over that time. Prior to that, Luke was an Associate Director and Analyst at Macquarie Bank ( ) and a Credit Analyst at ANZ Investment Bank ( ). Luke holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney, and is a CFA charterholder. Years in the market: 13 Years in the market: 19 Years in the market: 6 Years in the market: 16 Sectors: Software Services, Wealth Management, Insurance Services, Diversified Industrials Sectors: Gaming & Leisure, Consumer Finance, Banks, Professional Services, Online, Diversified Industrials Sectors: Consumer Discretionary & Staples, Agriculture, Mining Services, Technology, Industrials, Listed Investment Companies Sectors: Infrastructure, Utilities, Telecommunications, Diversified Industrials Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 58

59 Warren Edney Mathan Somasundaram Piers Flanagan Research Analyst Resources Analyst Equity Strategy,Quant Associate Analyst Warren joined Baillieu Holst in April Previously he was Director of Equities (Commodity Strategy) at RBS, with global responsibility for Iron Ore, Coal and Uranium. In the period , he was Director Australia Equities at RBS / ABN AMRO, analysing companies ranging from BHP and Rio Tinto to Kingsgate and Newcrest, during that time he received awards from Starmine as most accurate analyst and best stock picker. From , Warren was an investment analyst and portfolio manager at Colonial Investment Management. Warren holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Geology) from RMIT and a Master of Science (Earth Science Modern Volcanics) from Monash University. Warren is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mathan joined Baillieu Holst in April 2012 and has been a macro equity analyst since He was previously a Director of Macro Research (Strategy, Quantitative and Data) at CitiBank between , followed by two years as Head of Global Equity Products at LIM (Global IT firm based in Austin, Texas, US) from 2007 to Mathan was also Head of Quantitative and Data in Macro Research at Bell Potter between Mathan holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Sydney University and an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (University of NSW). Piers joined Baillieu Holst in January 2014 and has been a research associate since November Prior to this he worked at Avestra Capital. Piers is currently completing his final year of a Bachelor of Business degree (Double Major in Banking and Finance) from Monash University. Years in the market: 30 Sectors: Base Metals, Gold & Precious Metals, Coal, Oil & Gas, Bulk Commodities. Years in the market: 19 Sectors: Mathan produces a range of research across Equity Strategy, Economics, Quantitative Analytics and Asset Allocation. Years in the market: 1 Sectors: Listed Investment Companies. Baillieu Holst Ltd ABN Page 59