THE GREAT REASON TO INVEST INTO AAA!!!! Yara International ASA (YAR-OL 284.82kr)
Five Reasons We Think Yara Could Buy Allana
Potash
Ben Isaacson, MBA, CFA - (416) 945-5310
(Scotia Capital Inc. - Canada)
ben.isaacson@scotiabank.com
Dean Groff - (416) 863-7178
(Scotia Capital Inc. - Canada)
Shawn Siddiqui, MBA - (416) 863-5907
(Scotia Capital Inc. - Canada)
Div. (NTM) 8.62kr
Div. (Curr.) 8.62kr
Yield (Curr.) 3.0%
Rating: Sector Perform Target 1-Yr: 315.00kr ROR 1-Yr: 13.6%
Risk Ranking: High
Valuation: 5.5x 2014E EBITDA, 10x 2014E EPS, DCF @ 12.4%, 55% RCN
Key Risks to Target: Fertilizer supply/demand, crop and energy prices, weather
Event
¦ We discuss five brief reasons why we think Yara could consider
acquiring Allana Potash Inc. (AAA:T; not covered).
Implications
¦ Yara is short up to 2.5M mt of potash annually.
¦ Yara + Allana effectively share the same property.
¦ Yara continues to show appetite for potash in Ethiopia.
¦ Yara has capital to spend, while Allana needs a financial partner.
¦ Yara has a solid distribution network already established in India.
Recommendation
¦ We don't cover the stock, have completed limited due diligence, and are
therefore unable to give a formal opinion on Allana. However, we have
tested Allana's Feasibility Study assumptions and agree with its NPV
math of $1.3B, or over $4.25/sh of long-term value.
¦ The more time we spend assessing Allana's project, including the real vs.
perceived geopolitical risk of investing in Ethiopia, as well as on Yara's
potash needs, the more it seems to us that Yara ultimately operates what
Allana has successfully developed to date. We are unaware as to whether
Yara has ever spoken with Allana.
Qtly Adj. EPS (FD) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year P/E
2011A 9.15kr A 7.82kr A 9.13kr A 8.82kr A 34.92kr 6.9x
2012A 8.36kr A 10.84kr A 9.05kr A 7.72kr A 35.99kr 7.6x
2013E 8.92kr 7.55kr 6.88kr 5.50kr 28.85kr 9.9x
2014E 7.49kr 6.47kr 6.49kr 5.76kr 26.21kr 10.9x
(FY-Dec.) 2010A 2011A 2012A 2013E 2014E
Adj Earnings/Share 20.69kr 34.92kr 35.99kr 28.85kr 26.21kr
Cash Flow/Share 30.48kr 43.00kr 41.02kr 39.69kr 36.88kr
Price/Earnings 16.3x 6.9x 7.6x 9.9x 10.9x
Relative P/E 0.9x 0.5x 0.5x 0.6x 0.7x
Revenues (M) 64,007kr 77,725kr 83,997kr 93,129kr 88,193kr
EBITDA (M) 15,244kr 18,114kr 16,957kr 14,585kr 13,666kr
Current Ratio 1.9x 2.5x 2.3x 2.0x 2.6x
EBITDA/Int. Exp 16.1x 22.1x 19.3x 17.6x 16.5x
BVPS13E 196.89kr
ROE13E 15.45%
Historical price multiple calculations use FYE prices. Source: Reuters; company reports; Scotiabank GBM estimates.
All values in NOK unless otherwise indicated.
Capitalization
Shares O/S (M) 280.6
Market Cap (M) 79,912kr
Float O/S (M) 179.0
Float Value (M) 50,975kr
ScotiaView Analyst Link
74
Exhibit 1 – Yara + Allana Effectively Share the Same Property
Source: Allana Potash; Scotiabank GBM.
Five Brief Reasons We Think Yara Could Buy Allana Potash
¦ Yara is short up to 2.5M mt of potash annually. In fact,
we believe this number could grow to 3M mt over time, as
Yara continues to focus its investment capital on NPK
blends. Yara made a partial hedge to its potash deficit by
taking a $40M position in IC Potash for a 30% off-take in
ICP’s SOP project, not for traditional potash (MOP) that
Yara requires. Allana intends to produce 1M mt, with a
potential increase to 2M+ mt once rail capacity is in place.
¦ Yara + Allana effectively share the same property.
Exhibit 1 shows that Yara’s existing three potash properities
are either 100% within, or 75% surrounded by, Allana
Potash land. Note that Allana consolidated the Nova assets
in September 2012. In fact, if Yara plans to bring
infrastructure to its two concessions within Allana’s
property (especially water), some type of agreement or
partnership will likely be required.
¦ Yara continues to show appetite for potash in Ethiopia.
Despite global potash demand turbulence, especially from
India, Yara increased its ownership interest in the project to
51% from less than 17% in April 2012. Sainik Potash, a
subsidiary of India’s Sainik Coal, is Yara’s minority partner.
¦ Yara has capital to spend, while Allana needs a financial
partner. We don’t cover Allana, but we understand from
management that Allana has soft debt financing
commitments of $600M to $800M. Based on capex of
$795M, the equity component required to fund Allana’s
project could be in the $300M area. Yara’s Belle Plaine
nitrogen expansion in Canada is going to require $2B, and
its recent Bunge acquisition was $750M – so you can see
that a portion of the $300M of equity is more than “a drop in
the bucket” for Yara, but should not be a game changer.
$300M is about 10% of Yara’s annual EBITDA.
¦ Yara has a solid distribution network already established
in India. In addition to Yara’s relationship with Saintik,
Yara distributes more complex NPK fertilizer to India than
any other producer. So, the disbtribution channels already
exist for a combined project – especially considering that the
final product is likely going to the same place. Also on the
table are economies of scale in mine-to-port transportation,
as well as in other logistics.
¦ So what could Yara pay for Allana? We don’t cover the
stock, have completed limited due diligence, and are
therefore unable to give a formal opinion. However, we have
tested Allana’s Feasibility Study assumptions and agree with
its NPV math of $1.3B, or over $4.25/sh of long-term value.
¦ Bottom line. The more time we spend assessing Allana’s
project, including the real vs. perceived geopolitical risk of
investing in Ethiopia, as well as on Yara’s potash needs, the
more it seems to us that Yara ultimately operates what
Allana has successfully developed to date. We are unaware
as to whether Yara has ever spoken with Allana.
75