Low & Bonar - Suspension of estimates

For the purposes of the Takeover Code, Edison Investment Research is deemed to be connected with Low & Bonar. Under Rule 20.1 Edison must not include any profit forecast, quantified financial benefits statement, asset valuation or estimate of other figures key to the offer, except to the extent that such forecasts, statements, valuations or estimates have been published prior to the offer period (as defined in the Takeover Code) by an offeror or the offeree company (as appropriate) in accordance

Low & Bonar - Slow trading start to FY19, disposals underway

May trading newsflow causes us to lower earnings estimates significantly. Improvements to operational performance and further de-leveraging are firmly on management’s agenda and the disposal of the construction fibres operation will help in the latter regard. Metrics point to attractions for deep-value investors.

Low & Bonar - Better funded for core strategy execution

Low & Bonar announced a fully underwritten £54m placing and open offer (c £50m net) alongside FY18 results. The new equity funding goes a long way towards resolving balance sheet net debt constraints and allows the relatively new management team to execute its updated strategic plan. Our revised estimates incorporate the funding effects, more gradual EBIT margin recovery and reset dividends in line with the stated policy.

Low & Bonar - Re-set dividend expectations, targeting recovery

Improving operating and financial performance and lower net debt are key management objectives. FY18 results should provide some evidence of progress here, although our revised estimates now contain lower margin and dividend expectations in all three forecast years. Balance sheet clarity and margin recovery will be key share price catalysts, in our view.

Low & Bonar - Tough conditions persisting in H2

While volume growth is being achieved in several divisions, some of the factors that affected H1 trading – most notably higher input costs – have not receded as quickly as anticipated. Underlying operational improvements are happening but have not been enough to offset these pressures to date. We have lowered FY18 earnings expectations sharply – slowing the rate of net debt reduction a little – with a flat DPS profile now.

Low & Bonar - H1 profits disappoint but change is underway

The new management team has a clear focus on improving financial and operational performance across the group and individual business units. H1 results bear testament to a number of challenges faced in the period but also showed signs that actions are beginning to take effect. We have reduced our EPS estimates (by c 20% this year, c 10% in the following two) to reflect more conservative margin assumptions.

Morning Song

Burford Capital (BUR LN) Petersen v Argentina positive developments | Low & Bonar (LWB LN) Tough H1 | ReNeuron Group (RENE LN) Exclusivity deal in ophthalmology, licensing deal expected in 2018 | Safestyle UK (SFE LN) Turnaround well underway but additional hit to profits and cash | Summit Therapeutics (SUMM LN) Grant award from CARB-X to support gonorrhoea programme | Swallowfield (SWL LN) Strong growth in Brands mitigates Manufacturing

Small Cap Breakfast

Ovoca Gold (to be renamed Ovoca Bio PLC) - RTO of IVIX, a Russian company developing a drug candidate for the treatment of female sexual dysfunctions. No monies to be raised, market cap of £8.5m, due 30 July Nucleus Financial—independent wrap platform provider . FYDec17 revs £40.36m and PBT of £5.1m. Offer TBA. Due late July. Kropz PLC-Intention to float by the emerging plant nutrient producer with an advanced stage phosphate mining project in South Africa and exploration assets in West Africa

Low & Bonar - Transition year

A new senior management team is in place with a clear agenda to improve operational and financial performance. FY18 is going to be a transition year but investors will still want to see evidence of progress from the two strongest business units and in addressing specific issues in the other two. We have not changed estimates at this stage, but note the increased H2 bias flagged by management. The attraction of the current valuation will depend on the level of investor confidence in underlying pr

Low & Bonar - Final Results Review

Low & Bonar unveiled a measured action plan to deal with the issues demonstrated by its results. Management is reviewing the status of Civil Engineering and has restructured some of the business. It has identified production opportunities in CTT while acting to ensure that growth in B&I and I&T is sustainable. Critically, the company has committed to greater cash discipline, pointing to a significant reduction in net debt in the current year. While we have modestly reduced our forecasts for 2018

Low & Bonar - Mixed trading, change underway

A period of stability following management change and delivery on some flagged FY18 group projects would see a good return of interest to the fundamental Low & Bonar investment case, in our view. There are clear markers for tracking progress and, in the near term, a 3.3% yield with the expected final dividend payment is a clear attraction.

Morning Song

Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH LN) Acquisition of Le Vet to drive next leg of growth | Low & Bonar (LWB LN) Significant change | PCI-PAL (PCIP LN) Secure payments offers exciting growth potential | Sigma Capital Group (SGM LN) The PRS REIT launches placing programme to raise up to c.£250m

Significant change

Not for the first time Low & Bonar is subject to significant change. The Civil Engineering division is being reorganised, a cost reduction programme is underway, a defined plan to reduce debt by £15m is also underway and Philip de Klerk has been promoted from FD to Chief Executive. We now expect a flat year in FY18, having previously expected good growth. We see the management change as positive and if the debt can be successfully managed down, we continue to see value within the Group. However,

Supreme (SUP LN) - Record performance, EBITDA ~doubled

Supreme’s FY24 trading update confirms a record performance in the 12 months to 31 March 2024. Organic revenue and profit growth across all four divisions has driven Group revenue +45% YOY to £225m, with FY24 adj. EBITDA almost doubling to ‘at least £38m’, driving record levels of cash generation. Supreme is actively exploring complementary M&A, supported by a debt free balance sheet. Trading on an undemanding FY25 PE of just 6.7x, with a 3.4% yield, we believe downside risks are more than price

Morning Note – 22 April 2024

Supreme+ (SUP, House Stock at 125p) - Supreme, Supreme!

SP Angel Spec Sits: FY Trading Update (LTHM)

Headlam Group - Strategy for growth in tougher market

Headlam Group has laid out an ambitious long-term revenue target of between £900m and £1bn, as it seeks to grow its share of the UK floor coverings distributor market. Despite a challenging backdrop due to the low level of residential housing transactions, management is seeking to expand each of its sales channels: Trade Counters, Larger Customers, Regional Distribution and Europe & Other. The FY23 results reflected the more challenging environment and the group trades at a discount to its long-

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

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Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 24 April 24

24th April 2024 * A corporate client of Hybridan LLP ** Arranged by type of listing and date of announcement *** Alphabetically arranged **** Potential means Intention to Float (ITF) has been announced Dish of the day Admissions: Delistings: What’s baking in the oven? ** Potential**** Initial Public Offerings: Reverse Takeovers: 16 April 2024: Electric Guitar (ELEG.L) Concurrent with its Admission to trading on AIM, Electric Guitar is proposing to acquire the entire issued share capital of 3radi

Morning Note – 25 April 2024

Vianet - FY24 ahead, strategic forecourt customer win

Vianet’s FY24 trading update shows FY24 revenue +1% ahead of our previous forecast, adjusted EBITA +2% ahead, EFCF and net debt +£0.6m ahead, and a strategic new customer win with prominent forecourt operator Wilcomatic. A robust FY25 pipeline and outlook leads us to reiterate our FY25E forecasts at this point, with the update highlighting: strong progress renewing and winning new customers on 3-5 year contracts as they migrate from 3G to Vianet’s advanced 4G LTE solutions; the successful integr

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