Etteplan - Seeking big leap in growth story
Cash offer for Swedish technology company Semcon
Etteplan announced a recommended cash offer of SEK 149 per Semcon’s share, for a total value of approx. SEK 2,699m. The Board of Directors of Semcon has unanimously recommended that the shareholders of Semcon accept the offer. The offer is conditional among other things upon the offer being accepted to more than 90 percent and approval from the Swedish Competition Authority. Semcon is an international technology company with more than 2,000 employees and 2021 revenue of SEK 1,711.3m and operating profit of SEK 175.1m. The combined entity would on consensus estimates have a combined 2022e revenue of over EUR 500m and have a strong market position in particular in the Nordics. Synergy effects are estimated to amount to EUR 5m on an annual basis.
Financing secured, planning EUR 110-125m rights issue
The completion of the offer is not subject to any financing condition and Etteplan is furthermore planning a rights issue of EUR 110-125m. Both the offer and rights issue appear to have good support from existing shareholders of Both Semcon and Etteplan. We see that the transaction would benefit both Etteplan as a company as well as shareholders.
BUY (HOLD) with a target price of EUR 18 (16)
Considering consensus estimates for Etteplan and Semcon along with valuation considerations and the impact of the transaction on net debt and nr. of shares, we see a potential of some 10-20% in the coming years depending on realization of synergy effects. Despite uncertainty, the offer appears favourable for shareholders and with the size and geographic presences of both companies and geographic presences the likelihood of regulatory obstacles appears limited. We adjust our TP to EUR 18 (16), rating upgraded to BUY (HOLD). Our estimates remain intact for now.