Nanogate — Adapting to market conditions

Nanogate — Adapting to market conditions

Nanogate’s order book of over €600m for delivery during FY19–21, we estimate a third of which relates to the industrial sector, shows the benefits of its long-term strategy of diversification from the European automotive sector. Moreover, while uncertainty in the European automotive sector has depressed H119 revenues and profits, Nanogate’s technologies for manufacturing light-weight components that look like metal or glass put it in a good position, as the transportation sector globally seeks to reduce carbon emissions.

Analyst avatar placeholder

Written by

Nanogate

Adapting to market conditions

Industrials

Scale research report - Update

8 October 2019

Price

€14.0m

Market cap

€76m

Share price graph

Share details

Code

N7G

Listing

Deutsche Börse Scale

Shares in issue

5.4m

Last reported net debt at end June 2019

€97.0m

Business description

Nanogate is a leading global specialist for design-oriented, high-tech surfaces and components of very high optical quality. Nanogate develops and produces design-oriented surfaces and components and enhances them with additional properties, eg non-stick, scratch-proof, anti-corrosive.

Bull

Diversity of applications gives access to emerging growth applications.

Vertical integration aids customer retention.

Increasingly global footprint.

Bear

Short-term margin drag of NXI programme.

Capital cost of succession of acquisitions.

High concentration of customers in automotive industry, though this is reducing.

Analyst

Anne Margaret Crow

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Nanogate’s order book of over €600m for delivery during FY19–21, we estimate a third of which relates to the industrial sector, shows the benefits of its long-term strategy of diversification from the European automotive sector. Moreover, while uncertainty in the European automotive sector has depressed H119 revenues and profits, Nanogate’s technologies for manufacturing light-weight components that look like metal or glass put it in a good position, as the transportation sector globally seeks to reduce carbon emissions.

Uncertainty in automotive sector hits H119 profits

In H119 group revenues rose by 2% year-on-year to €122.2m, partly because the increasing uncertainty of customers in the automotive sector resulted in behaviour such as delays in commencing projects. However, indirect costs grew more quickly than sales because of a full six months of costs from FY19 acquisitions, additional staff engaged ahead of major new contract starts and the cost of the NXI programme intended to improve margins in the medium term. EBITDA declined by 37% to €8.0m and the group moved from €2.6m profit before tax in H118 to a €2.4m loss. Net debt increased by €5.4m during H119 to €97.0m at end June, maintaining gearing (net debt/equity) at 81%. Free cash outflow of €13.4m was partly offset by an oversubscribed placing raising €10.3m (gross) at €22.80/share.

Management reduces FY19 guidance

Management’s response to the challenging market conditions is to intensify the NXI programme incurring additional costs during H219. Management has therefore revised FY19 guidance from €250m+ revenues generating c €24.2m EBITDA and a low single-digit negative consolidated result, to €245–250m revenues generating €14–17m EBITDA and a consolidated net loss in the high single-digit million range.

Valuation: Waiting on NXI delivering margin growth

Nanogate’s share price has halved from a peak of €37.10 a year ago reflecting concerns about profitability and the automotive sector more generally. At current levels the shares are trading at a modest premium to our sample mean of year one EV/EBITDA multiples and a modest discount to the mean for year two EV/EBITDA multiples, which is when the benefit of the NXI programme on EBITDA margin starts to take effect. We note that the strong order book is expected to deliver revenue growth that is towards the top end of our sample. We see scope for share price appreciation as the NXI programme starts to deliver margin improvement.

Consensus estimates

Year
end

Revenue
(€m)

PBT
(€m)

EPS
(€)

DPS
(€)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/17

186.2

3.9

0.64

0.11

21.9

0.8

12/18

239.2

1.7

0.29

0.11

48.3

0.8

12/19e

246.6

(13.5)

(2.00)

0.11

N/A

0.8

12/20e

261.0

(3.6)

(0.71)

0.11

N/A

0.8

Source: Nanogate data, Refinitiv

Edison Investment Research provides qualitative research coverage on companies in the Deutsche Börse Scale segment in accordance with section 36 subsection 3 of the General Terms and Conditions of Deutsche Börse AG for the Regulated Unofficial Market (Freiverkehr) on Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (as of 1 March 2017). Two to three research reports will be produced per year. Research reports do not contain Edison analyst financial forecasts.

Financial performance

Profits depressed by uncertainty in European automotive sector

During H119 group revenues rose by 2% year-on-year to €122.2m. This was at the lower end of management’s internal targets because of delayed production starts on new major projects associated with changes in specification. In addition, increasing uncertainty of customers in the automotive sector resulted in delays in commencing projects, reduced drawdowns and premature conclusion of late-phase projects, which are typically higher margin.

Gross margin declined by 1.6pp to 52.9% reflecting costs associated with starting multiple new projects in parallel, the expiration of late-phase high-margin projects, and the growing proportion of revenues from the components segment, where materials account for a higher proportion of sales. Personnel costs grew more quickly than sales (ie by 15%), partly because of a full six months of costs associated with the sites in Austria and Slovakia and Design Studio heT design bureau, partly because of the addition of staff ahead of major new orders and, under the Nanogate Excellence Initiative (NXI) programme, in roles such as supply chain management, which will result in cost-savings in the longer term. Other operating costs reduced by €0.7m as a €2.6m decrease associated with the adoption of IFRS 16 was partly offset by one-off costs related to the NXI programme (see below for details). The costs associated with this programme totalled €1.6m, around one-third of which were attributable to personnel costs, and the remainder to ‘other operating expenses’. EBITDA declined by 37% to €8.0m and the EBITDA margin declined by 4.1pp to 6.5%. The combination of reduced gross margin, higher personnel costs, the cost of the NXI programme and higher depreciation, some of which relates to prior year investment in production capacity and acquisitions, some the adoption of IFRS 16, resulted in the group moving from €2.6m profit before tax in H118 to a €2.4m loss.

Adverse impact of major new contracts on debt and gearing

Net debt increased by €5.4m during H119 to €97.0m at the end of June, maintaining gearing (net debt/equity) at 81%. Net bank liabilities/EBITDA increased from 3.8x at end FY18 to 5.0x at end H119. Although the group remained fully compliant with its banking covenants, management is focused on reducing this ratio. Free cash outflow totalled €13.4m. Key elements of this increase were an €8.8m increase in working capital, part of which was attributable to a build of inventories for new orders and the purchase of tooling for these new projects, €2.5m interest payments and €6.6m investment in capex. Most of this was for new machines at the Slovakian site to boost capacity and a new technology centre in the US. Both of these investments will support growth in FY20. The cash outflow was offset by a placing in June 2019, which was oversubscribed and raised €10.3m (gross) at €22.80 per share, ie without any placement discount.

Outlook: Guidance reduced

Management had always anticipated that FY19 profitability would be adversely affected by the start-up costs associated with major new orders commencing production, the costs of completing the integration of the sites in Austria and Slovakia and the initial implementation of the NXI programme and increased depreciation costs. Consequently, in April 2019 management guidance was for revenues to exceed €250m, ie a modest increase compared to €239.2m in FY18, with EBITDA remaining at FY18 levels (€24.2m) and a low single-digit negative consolidated result. Since management has intensified the NXI programme, particularly the site restructuring activity in response to the weak market environment in Europe, the costs of the programme will increase while sales are expected to be slightly lower because of project delays and similar customer behaviours caused by pessimism in the European automotive industry. Management has therefore revised FY19 guidance to €245–250m revenues generating €14–17m EBITDA and a consolidated net loss in the high single-digit million range. This includes expenses for the NXI programme and consulting costs in connection with restructuring measures, which are estimated to be over €3m.

With regards to the prevailing sentiment in the European automotive industry, Nanogate notes that market participants currently anticipate a decline in global car sales of 4–5%. This is causing its European automotive customers to delay new projects and call-off lower numbers of parts on active projects. Its US automotive customers appear less affected. This highlights the benefits of the strategic decision to diversify into the industrials sector and into North America. We note that some manufacturers of automotive components, for example those making parts for internal combustion engines, will be seriously affected by the decarbonisation of transport and shift to electric vehicles. We see this trend as positive for Nanogate, as its N-Glaze and N-metals technologies offer a route for light-weighting conventional vehicles, thus improving fuel efficiency and for electric vehicles, where the weight of batteries means that reducing the weight of other components is essential. Nanogate is producing plastic components for a new electric car from a German manufacturer that is scheduled for launch in 2020. Moreover, Nanogate’s integrated smart surfaces offer supports the rapidly increasing numbers of sensors being deployed in vehicles as the industry moves towards fully autonomous vehicles with new models of ownership.

Adapting to changing market conditions

Other than intensifying the NXI initiative to improve efficiency across the group in response to the market environment, management is sticking with its stated market focus of preferentially growing business with industrial customers and with customers in North America and Asia. This strategy has already generated an order book of over €600m (see Exhibit 1) for delivery during FY19–21. Through adherence to the strategy management intends to generate over €500m annual revenues and €75m EBITDA by 2025. €200m of these revenues will be attributable to industrial applications, ie aviation, home appliances and medical devices.

Exhibit 1: Selected major new orders in FY18 and FY19

Announcement

Project

Volume

Start

2 July 2019

Components for interior and exterior of US SUV

Over US$10m over three years

July 2019

14 June 2019

N-metals chrome replacement components for premium coffee machines

Over €10m over five years

Q319

29 May 2019

N-Glaze components for kitchen appliances (second project for existing US customer)

US$50m over up to eight years

2020

4 April 2019

N-Glaze components (interior) for a new premium vehicle

C €50m over seven years

Summer 2019

19 Feb 2019

N-Glaze components for high-demand SUVs

C €50m over six to eight years

Summer 2020

14 Nov 2018

N-Metals in the US for SUV / pickup

C €15m over four years

Summer 2020

8 Nov 2018

Order for N-Mobility for components for new electric vehicle in Europe

€35m over seven years

Autumn2019

26 June 2018

N-Metals replacement for stainless steel components in kitchen appliances for US manufacturer

Up to US$100m over eight years

August 2019

19 April 2018

Several new orders in the US, including the first project of a German OEM in Ohio

Low double-digit million range over several years

-

15 March 2018

N-Glaze components for new mobility applications (eg sensors)

Multi-year projects with sales volumes in the millions range

-

Source: Nanogate data

NXI programme defines next phase of growth

Management launched the NXI programme in January 2019. The major difference between this and the preceding Phase 5 strategy is that now management has created a vertically integrated, international platform it intends to drive increased revenues and margins and to generate cash from this existing platform rather than seeking further expansion through acquisition. The NXI programme includes the following initiatives:

Simplified corporate structure: Where appropriate, subsidiaries will be merged or placed under a single management team to focus responsibilities and accelerate decision making. For example, in May 2019 Nanogate purchased the outstanding 25% stake in Nanogate Goletz Systems a year earlier than planned. (The consideration, for an undisclosed sum, was settled partly through the issue of shares in Q319, the remainder in cash in FY20.) This was in advance of the announcement in June 2019 that the group’s sites in North Rhine-Westphalia, which include Nanogate Goletz Systems, would be combined operationally and strategically, focusing on more profitable orders, optimising existing production and purchasing processes, streamlining management and personnel structures and centralising and realigning engineering capacities. This action will potentially realise annual savings in the millions while incurring one-off restructuring costs in the low single-digit million range.

Optimisation of processes: Procurement and purchasing will be organised centrally. The finance and control functions will be expanded to manage the group more effectively.

Optimisation of capacity: Use of capacity across the group will be reviewed, relocating work and terminating low-margin activity where necessary so that recent major orders can be executed efficiently. For example, Nanogate is working closely with ERBIWA, a German specialist in the development of complex plastic components and sophisticated manufacturing processes. ERBIWA develops, constructs and procures key production resources and tools and manufactures small batches, prototypes and special parts for mass production. ERBIWA works with Nanogate heT Engineering, on the design and production of components during the product development stage to improve efficiency when parts enter volume production.

Marketing focus: The group will focus on two brands: N-Glaze and N-Metals; and on three growth areas: new mobility, metallisation and integrated smart surfaces. Exhibit 1 illustrates how previous investment in the N-Metals replacement for stainless steel launched in early 2018 has resulted in substantial orders. Management estimates that the global market for this technology is worth thousands of millions of euros. Market development will be independent of location. International marketing activities will be strengthened, although focused on key markets such as stainless steel applications for bathrooms and kitchens. The group will increasingly address potential customers in Asia as well as North America.

Valuation

We continue to use a sample of European companies involved in the manufacture of speciality chemicals for comparison, since Nanogate has no competitors offering the same range of capabilities. As Nanogate captures a higher proportion of the value chain than a typical speciality chemical company, has a more diverse skill set and is engaged in multiple markets, this is not entirely satisfactory, so we have extended our sample to include companies that use specialist chemical processes to provide a service, such as Bodycote.

Exhibit 2: Prospective multiples of listed peers

Name

Market cap (€m)

EV/sales 1FY (x)

EV/sales 2FY (x)

EV/EBITDA 1FY (x)

EV/EBITDA 2FY (x)

P/E 1FY
(x)

P/E 2FY
(x)

Revenue CAGR* (%)

Akzo Nobel

18,396

2.0

1.9

14.1

12.5

26.0

19.6

2.3%

Bodycote

1,508

1.9

1.9

6.9

6.6

13.0

12.3

2.9%

Croda International

7,018

4.8

4.6

16.6

15.5

25.3

23.4

3.2%

Elementis

975

1.8

1.7

8.4

8.0

11.6

10.9

5.8%

Johnson Matthey

6,554

1.5

1.5

8.6

8.0

12.6

11.7

-23.7%

Kemira Oyj

2,008

1.1

1.1

7.2

7.0

13.8

13.4

2.9%

Koninklijke DSM

19,245

2.2

2.1

11.7

11.0

21.3

18.8

3.2%

LANXESS

4,617

0.9

0.9

6.3

6.0

12.9

12.1

1.7%

Nabaltec

308

1.7

1.6

8.7

7.9

19.1

16.8

9.3%

Symrise

12,017

3.9

3.5

18.6

16.4

36.4

31.1

8.1%

Umicore

8,671

2.9

2.6

13.5

11.7

27.2

22.8

-32.2%

Victrex

2,100

6.1

5.8

14.6

13.6

19.6

18.5

-0.1%

Wacker Chemie

3,239

0.8

0.8

5.3

4.9

19.1

14.7

3.0%

Mean

2.1

2.0

10.8

10.0

19.8

17.4

Nanogate

148

0.7

0.7

12.5

7.2

(7.8)

(22.1)

5.7%

Source: Refinitiv. Note: Prices at 26 September 2019. Grey shading indicates exclusion from mean. *Year 0–3.

Nanogate’s share price has halved from a peak of €37.10 a year ago. reflecting company-specific concerns about the impact of the NXI programme on profitability and industry-specific concerns about the impact of the transition to electric vehicles on European manufacturers of automotive components. The current market cap is substantially below net asset value (€119.5m). At current levels the shares are trading at a large discount to the mean of our sample with respect to consensus EV/sales multiples. They are trading at a modest premium to our sample mean of year 1 EV/EBITDA multiples and a modest discount to the mean for year 2 EV/EBITDA multiples, which is when the benefit of the NXI programme on EBITDA margin starts to take effect. We note that the strong order book, which has been secured through earlier investment in technology development and capacity, is expected to result in revenue growth that is towards the top end of our sample. We see scope for share price appreciation as the NXI programme starts to deliver margin improvement. Consensus estimates show EBITDA margin falling from 10.0% in FY18 to 5.8% in FY19 before partly recovering to 9.5% in FY20 and reaching 11.5% in FY21, delivering a return to profit at pre-tax level in FY21 (PBT €5.9m).

General disclaimer and copyright

Any Information, data, analysis and opinions contained in this report do not constitute investment advice by Deutsche Börse AG or the Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse. Any investment decision should be solely based on a securities offering document or another document containing all information required to make such an investment decision, including risk factors. This report has been commissioned by Deutsche Börse AG and prepared and issued by Edison for publication globally.

Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2019 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison). All rights reserved FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) © FTSE 2019. “FTSE®” is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE International Limited under license. All rights in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings or underlying data. No further distribution of FTSE Data is permitted without FTSE’s express written consent.

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

The Investment Research is a publication distributed in the United States by Edison Investment Research, Inc. Edison Investment Research, Inc. is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1,185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1,185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Research: Investment Companies

EJF Investments — Encouraging 2019 interims

EJF Investments (EJFI) delivered a 9.5% total return in H119. Despite the recent US rate cut receiving much attention, conditions remain supportive for US community and regional banks and insurance, whose subordinated securities support the US securitisation risk-retention investments that, along with related securities, account for 72% of EJFI’s portfolio. Management remains optimistic on this asset class. In April EJFI redeemed a collateralised debt obligation (CDO) netting £8.9m in total, having earlier purchased one in March (forecast IRR 10–11%) and completed a further $11m investment in September.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to Edison

Get access to the very latest content matched to your personal investment style.

Sign up for free