publity - Termination of coverage

Edison Investment Research is terminating coverage on: • 2G Energy (2GB) • Apontis Pharma (APPH) • Artec technologies (A6T) • Beta Systems (BSSA) • Blue Cap (B7E) • Cyan (CYR) • Consus Real Estate (CC1) • Daldrup & Soehne (4DS) • DATAGROUP (D6H) • Datron (DAR) • Delignit (DLX) • Deutsche Börse (DB1) • Deutsche Grundstücksauktionen (DGR) • Deutsche Rohstoff (DR0) • DVS Technology (DIS) • Edel (EDL) • Ernst Russ (HXCK) • Exasol (EXL) • expert.ai (EXAI/EXSY) • Fashionette (FSNT) • Formycon (FYB)

publity - Changes to group structure on the horizon

On 19 October 2021, publity announced a European consortium led by a Luxemburg investment company has signed a Letter of Intent to become the new majority shareholder of PREOS (publity’s property investment subsidiary) in exchange for contributing a Luxemburg property portfolio to GORE (PREOS’s subsidiary) and measures to finance PREOS’s portfolio expansion. publity will continue to serve as an asset manager for PREOS, with management targeting PREOS portfolio growing by at least €3bn by 2023 (c

publity - Lower transaction activity in FY20

While publity continues to pursue its two-pillar strategy based on real estate asset management and own investments, it is in discussions with a large Asian conglomerate to sell a majority stake in PREOS, which (through publity Investor and GORE German Office Real Estate) holds the group’s investment properties. The parties are also negotiating the provision of an additional three-digit million euro in funding to PREOS (on the successful closure of the deal) to fuel its international portfolio e

publity - Strengthening the second business pillar

As publity shifts towards a two-pillar business model, focused on real estate asset management and investment, its portfolio of fully owned properties (held by PREOS) expanded to €1.5bn, with €8.0bn targeted by 2024. The company aims for both domestic and international expansion, focused on large metropolitan areas in Europe. Prospective growth is planned to be fuelled by a €400m bond issue already announced by PREOS to replace its 2019/2024 convertible, which will be followed by issuing new cap

publity - Focusing on its portfolio

In FY19, publity focused on expanding beyond its pure-play asset management profile through direct office real estate investment activities. This was driven by property acquisitions executed by publity investor, as well as obtaining a controlling stake in PREOS. As a result, the company moved to a more asset-heavy business model fuelled by debt financing. The company expects to continue the expansion, and considers the economic slowdown related to the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity for a

publity - Developing both as asset manager and owner

publity is evolving from a pure asset manager and is building its own portfolio of German office properties (valued at €243.3m at end-June 2019) through its subsidiary, publity Investor (Investor). The next strategic step is combining Investor with PREOS Real Estate (an asset owner also controlled by publity’s main shareholder, Thomas Olek). We believe that the parent company will now devote part of its capacity to managing its subsidiary’s portfolio (apart from third-party assets). However, thi

publity - Creating a new real estate investment group

publity plans to transfer up to 94.9% of its stake in subsidiary publity Investor (Investor) to PREOS Real Estate (PREOS), a listed real estate investor controlled by publity’s main shareholder. The transaction is structured as a capital increase for PREOS in exchange for a contribution in kind, implying a valuation for Investor of €400m. The deal will create a real estate investment group led by publity and valued at c €574m, according to company own estimates. We believe this will also solve a

publity - Back on track

In FY18, publity managed to post a rebound from the weak FY17, with an almost 50% y-o-y increase in revenues, PBT and net income (close to record-high FY16 figures). The company has also been moving closer to resolving its dispute with convertible bondholders, with a new share issue and partial bond repurchase that will continue in FY19. As the covenant limiting the increase in financial liabilities beyond €5m was recently waived, publity continues to review options for a potential new bond issu

publity - Stable AUM despite asset disposals

After being able to considerably grow its assets under management (AUM) in 2017 (albeit below initial management guidance), publity’s focus in 2018 is on retaining the asset base in line with the prior year. Despite the disposal of several office projects covering 100,000 sqm of lettable office space in H118, AUM remained stable at €4.6bn. publity is confident the current advanced-stage discussions around asset purchases should allow it to maintain the AUM level at the end of 2018 despite anothe

publity - Slower AUM growth and delayed disposals

The recent selling pressure on publity’s shares (price down 48% ytd) was accompanied by negative newsflow in January, including a profit warning and missed AUM guidance for FY17. The negative sentiment might have also resulted from the ongoing discussions with bondholders around the modification of convertibles’ terms and conditions. Management now guides to FY18 net profit in the range of €15-20m (implying c 34-80% y-o-y growth) based on a cautious assumption of no AUM growth this year (vs prev

New mandates secure future growth

publity’s H117 earnings momentum reflects both the ability to leverage its asset management expertise (AUM increased to €3.8bn from €3.2bn at end-2016) and its good cost discipline (OPEX down 11.2% y-o-y). New institutional mandates received ytd, coupled with a solid project acquisition pipeline should assist the company in achieving the AUM targets set for FY17e and FY18e at €5.2bn and €7.0bn, respectively. The stock currently trades at a FY17e P/E ratio of 6.1x, implying a 62% discount to the

An experienced investor in German real estate

publity is an asset manager with long-term experience of investing in German office buildings. It is the largest servicer of non-performing loans (NPLs) in Germany and is able to acquire assets from restructuring German banks. It focuses entirely on asset management and is not distracted by property and facility management. It evaluates and analyses more than 1,000 assets per year, acquiring individual assets for its clients, rather than making portfolio acquisitions. It currently has AUM of €3b

LIBERUM: Plus500: Strategic progress pays dividends

Tatton Asset Management (TAM LN) - Record net inflows

Tatton, the leading on-platform discretionary fund manager (DFM) and IFA support services Group has released a trading update ahead of its results to 31 March 2024, due on 18 June 2024.

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

Ondo InsurTech FY24 Trading Update

Ondo InsurTech has released a brief post-YE update revealing its good progress continued through 2H24 and consequently FY24 will be in line with market expectations.

Foxtons Group (FOXT LN) - 1Q24 IMS shows real momentum

Foxtons Group plc first quarter revenue rose 9% to £35.7m (1Q23: £32.9m) with growth delivered across all business segments. Trading is in line with management's expectations.

BlackRock World Mining

BRWM’s managers: we see all the classic signs of high commodity prices...

Morning Note – 18 April 2024

NextEnergy Solar Fund - Attractive Refinancing

The refinancing of a £135m revolving credit facility and the extension of a similar £70m facility gives NESF firepower as development opportunities for new solar are especially attractive thanks to lower module prices in Europe. They give the fund key financial flexibility at a critical time as it pursues its capital recycling programme.

Foxtons Group - FY24 underpinned by market share gains

Foxtons Group’s Q1 revenue grew by 9%, supported by growth in all three divisions as the strategic initiatives continue to gain significant momentum, driven by investment in staff, best-in-class bespoke IT and data platforms. This implies that Foxtons’ medium-term targets are now coming into focus. Market share is being gained in all divisions, which puts Foxtons in a good position as the sales market stabilises. We maintain our valuation of 132p/share and believe that if interest rates stabilis

The Hardman & Co Monthly: April 2024

Feature article: Steady as she goes, but could be better: A review of investment company liquidity since 2016 Liquidity is the lifeblood of equity markets. The measurement of liquid asset availability to a market or company is a way of gauging a market’s health. This article builds on our previous work, which analysed the liquidity data for non-financial trading companies, by applying the same analytical techniques to the investment companies (IC) space. We analyse liquidity for ICs as a whol

Initial Equity Trading Comments - 19 February 2024

M Winkworth+ (WINK, House Stock at 163p) - Solid FY23A results, well placed to grow

Hybridan Research: Sector Review: Artificial intelligence in UK cybersecurity: the human uplift 17/04/2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. Whilst new AI models, architectures, and innovations are emerging to protect the security posture of organisations, attackers are also benefiting from deepfakes, sophisticated phishing, and automation of malicious codes. To ensure the impact of AI on cybersecurity to be a net-positive, we need to pit good AI against bad AI. Point solutions enhanced with machine learning: Global cybersecurity has been built with point soluti

Resilient FY24, confident long-term outlook

Vp’s full year update highlights sector-leading results, once again benefiting from the diversity of its end markets and the quality of its specialist businesses. With results expected to be broadly in line with expectations, we trim our FY24 PBT forecast by c.5% to £39.0m, a shade below the FY23 outturn (£40.2m). We consider this an impressively resilient performance set against a mixed market backdrop. Under new leadership, a strategic refresh is underway and management is confident in long

AUM up 30% in FY24, record flows, forecasts raised

AUM jumped £3.8bn or +30% in FY24, reaching £16.6bn on 31 Mar 24, 12% above our previous forecast of £14.7bn. Including 50%-owned 8AM Global, Assets Under Influence hit £17.6bn. Investment performance provided a tailwind, adding £1.5bn to AUM. But our key takeaway from Tatton’s hugely impressive last few years, is that it has designed and implemented a superior offering in platform-MPS with net flows consistently far higher than peers. That leadership looks even more pronounced in H2-24 with net