Gemfields Group |
Strong November emerald auction |
Quarterly update |
Metals & mining |
3 December 2019 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analyst
Gemfields Group is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
Gemfields’ November high-quality emerald auction sale of US$27.2m reflects strong demand for Kagem’s emeralds and, more broadly, points to continued strength in the coloured gemstone market. Completion of the buyback of 143m shares is the key driver of an increase in our sum-of-the-parts valuation to ZAR5.65 per share (from R5.27/share previously).
Year end |
Revenue (US$m) |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
12/17 |
81.7 |
55.8 |
3.9 |
0.0 |
2.9 |
N/A |
12/18 |
206.1 |
(22.5) |
(2.3) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/19e |
195.3 |
25.4 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
22.7 |
7.1 |
12/20e |
216.2 |
28.9 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
37.8 |
N/A |
Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
Latest HQ emerald auction achieved record price
Gemfields high-quality (HQ) emerald auction held in November in Singapore achieved the highest price per carat to date of US$85.26/ct. Total sales of US$27.2m came in well ahead of our US$23m forecast and we have adjusted our 2019 forecasts accordingly. In our last note, Coloured gemstones outperforming diamonds, published on 26 September 2019, we highlighted the strength of the coloured gemstone market, and this latest positive auction result continues to underline the positive trend. The next ruby auction will take place in December.
Change of chairman improves board independence
On 25 November, board director Martin Tolcher took over from Brian Gilbertson as chairman of Gemfields. This move aims to address any concerns about the father-son relationship between the former chairman and CEO Sean Gilbertson ahead of a potential AIM listing.
Share buyback has a positive impact on valuation
The buyback of 143m shares (at an average price of ZAR1.50/share) has a positive impact of approximately 9% on our per-share valuation. Our updated valuation of ZAR5.65/share also takes into account the (relatively minor) positive impact of higher 2019 auction revenues at Kagem and the (negative) impact on the per-share valuation of the stronger rand (currently ZAR14.73/US$ vs ZAR14.99/US$ previously).
Latest emerald auction pricing strong
Sales of US$27.2m at Gemfields’ November HQ emerald auction were well ahead of our US$23m forecast. The auction saw 0.32m carats sold at average price of US$85.26/ct – an all-time record for a Gemfields’ emerald auction. The strength of the emerald market is further indicated by the fact that a record 48 companies placed bids in the auction, with Chinese and Israeli buyers playing a significant role in addition to Gemfields stalwart clients from India (Gemfields Company Announcement, 22 November 2019).
Exhibit 1 below clearly illustrates the strong upward trend in pricing at Kagem’s HQ auctions over the past 10 years. We believe this reflects not only the growth of world demand for high-quality emeralds, but also the success of Gemfields’ sales strategy, providing a consistent supply to the market that cutters and polishers have come to trust. The same positive trend in emerald pricing is evident in commercial-quality (CQ) auction results (Exhibit 2). Our forecasts assume a price of US$64.63/ct for HQ emeralds and US$4.19/ct for CQ emeralds, with both held constant over the life of mine. While our HQ price forecast (which was based on the average price achieved in the four years to 2018) may appear conservative in relation to the two most recent HQ auctions, we await confirmation on whether those higher prices will be sustained as the volume of HQ sales increases significantly (we forecast HQ sales growing to 930kcts in 2021 from 630kcts in 2019).
Exhibit 1: HQ emerald auction prices (US$/ct) and total sales (US$m) |
Exhibit 2: CQ emerald auction prices (US$/ct) and total sales (US$m) |
Source: Gemfields |
Source: Gemfields |
Exhibit 1: HQ emerald auction prices (US$/ct) and total sales (US$m) |
Source: Gemfields |
Exhibit 2: CQ emerald auction prices (US$/ct) and total sales (US$m) |
Source: Gemfields |
Although Kagem has seen a lower level of premium emeralds recovered this year relative to last, with 106kcts recovered up to August 2019 (Gemfields Investor Update Presentation, September 2019) compared to 171kcts for the same period in 2018, the impact has been more than mitigated by the stronger emerald market, which has allowed Gemfields to sell a slightly higher volume of emeralds at HQ auctions (0.63Mcts for FY19 vs 0.59Mcts in FY18) at a significantly higher price (US$79.20/ct in 2019 vs US$65.77/ct in 2018). This has resulted in total HQ auction revenues for Kagem of US$49.6m in FY19 versus US$38.7m in FY18 and overall Kagem auction revenue (including CQ auctions) of US$79.0m in FY19 versus US$60.4m in 2018. This total was slightly above our previous forecast of US$74.8m for Kagem auction revenue and we have updated our FY19 revenue forecasts accordingly.
New chairman to enhance independence of this role
On 18 November, Gemfields announced that chairman Brian Gilbertson would be stepping down with effect from 25 November 2019, with the chairman role to be assumed by Martin Tolcher, who has served on the board since 25 November 2008. The change is being made to address any governance concerns that may have arisen about the father-son relationship between Brian Gilbertson and CEO Sean Gilbertson. The appointment of an independent chairman should help pave the way for a potential AIM listing.
Sensitivities
The key risks facing Gemfields are country and fiscal in Mozambique and Zambia, market risks relating to the coloured gemstone market and variability in the recovery of premium rubies and emeralds at Montepuez and Kagem respectively.
■
Country and fiscal risk: Gemfields’ key assets are in Mozambique and Zambia and are subject to the political, security and fiscal risks associated with these jurisdictions. Zambia introduced a 15% export tax on emeralds in 2019, which remains subject to discussion between the industry and government (but which remains in force and has been fully taken into account in our forecasts).
■
Coloured gemstone market risk: we forecast 7% CAGR in auction sales to 2028e and, while all signs point to a growing coloured gemstone market able to absorb that supply, this remains a key risk. Market demand is likewise a key risk for Fabergé’s growth.
■
Variability in premium emerald and ruby recoveries: the nature of gemstone mining is that the recovery of high-value ‘premium’ emeralds and rubies can vary significantly within the orebodies. Although unexpected negative and positive variations should broadly balance, in the short term this variability constitutes a key risk.
Financials
We have updated our 2019 forecasts to reflect higher than expected HQ auction revenues for Kagem adding US$4.2m to 2019 revenue and US$3.2m to 2019 EBITDA. Our longer-term forecasts are unchanged (other than the minor impact of closing inventory and other balances).
Exhibit 5: Group 2019 key metrics (previous and new forecasts)
(US$m) |
2019e |
||
Previous |
New |
||
Revenue |
191.1 |
195.3 |
|
EBITDA |
49.9 |
53.1 |
|
PBT* |
22.2 |
25.4 |
|
EPS (c) |
0.4 |
0.5 |
Source: Gemfields, Edison Investment Research analysis. Note: *PBT is normalised, before share-based payments.
We expect Gemfields to end 2019 with net cash of US$47.0m
As at 30 June 2019 Gemfields had net cash of US$35.5m and we expect that to increase to US$47.0m by year end.
Exhibit 6: Financial summary
$m |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019e |
2020e |
2021e |
2022e |
2023e |
|
31-December |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
|
INCOME STATEMENT |
|||||||||
Revenue |
|
0.0 |
81.7 |
206.1 |
195.3 |
216.2 |
258.1 |
271.4 |
288.8 |
Cost of Sales |
0.0 |
(44.3) |
(123.5) |
(120.9) |
(132.4) |
(124.9) |
(151.3) |
(147.7) |
|
Gross Profit |
0.0 |
37.3 |
82.5 |
74.4 |
83.8 |
133.2 |
120.1 |
141.0 |
|
EBITDA |
|
(5.9) |
30.5 |
58.9 |
53.1 |
58.8 |
100.9 |
85.2 |
103.9 |
Normalised operating profit |
|
(5.9) |
8.3 |
28.2 |
21.9 |
28.9 |
73.5 |
59.3 |
78.8 |
Fair value gains (losses) |
50.4 |
49.5 |
(41.9) |
7.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Exceptionals |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(22.6) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Share-based payments |
0.0 |
(2.7) |
(4.2) |
(3.0) |
(3.0) |
(3.0) |
(3.0) |
(3.0) |
|
Reported operating profit |
44.5 |
55.1 |
(40.4) |
26.2 |
25.9 |
70.5 |
56.3 |
75.8 |
|
Net Interest |
0.0 |
(2.0) |
(8.8) |
(3.8) |
0.0 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
|
Joint ventures & associates (post tax) |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
44.6 |
55.8 |
(22.5) |
25.4 |
28.9 |
74.0 |
60.7 |
81.4 |
Profit Before Tax (reported) |
|
44.6 |
53.1 |
(53.9) |
22.4 |
25.9 |
71.0 |
57.7 |
78.4 |
Reported tax |
(0.0) |
(7.6) |
(6.5) |
(16.2) |
(21.2) |
(31.0) |
(33.4) |
(38.2) |
|
Profit After Tax (norm) |
44.6 |
48.2 |
(29.0) |
9.2 |
7.8 |
43.0 |
27.3 |
43.2 |
|
Profit After Tax (reported) |
44.6 |
45.5 |
(60.4) |
6.2 |
4.8 |
40.0 |
24.3 |
40.2 |
|
Minority interests |
0.0 |
(7.2) |
(1.8) |
(2.6) |
(4.8) |
(8.8) |
(10.1) |
(12.5) |
|
Discontinued operations |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Net income (normalised) |
44.6 |
41.0 |
(30.8) |
6.6 |
3.0 |
34.2 |
17.2 |
30.7 |
|
Net income (reported) |
44.6 |
38.3 |
(62.2) |
3.6 |
(0.0) |
31.2 |
14.2 |
27.7 |
|
Basic average shares outstanding (m) |
760 |
1,039 |
1,314 |
1,266 |
1,171 |
1,171 |
1,171 |
1,171 |
|
EPS - basic normalised (c) |
|
586.1 |
3.9 |
(2.3) |
0.5 |
0.3 |
2.9 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
EPS - diluted normalised (c) |
|
5.9 |
3.9 |
(2.3) |
0.5 |
0.3 |
2.9 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
EPS - basic reported (c) |
|
5.9 |
3.7 |
(4.7) |
0.3 |
(0.0) |
2.7 |
1.2 |
2.4 |
Dividend (c) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Revenue growth (%) |
N/A |
N/A |
152.4 |
(-5.2) |
10.7 |
19.4 |
5.1 |
6.4 |
|
Gross Margin (%) |
N/A |
45.7 |
40.1 |
38.1 |
38.8 |
51.6 |
44.2 |
48.8 |
|
EBITDA Margin (%) |
N/A |
37.3 |
28.6 |
27.2 |
27.2 |
39.1 |
31.4 |
36.0 |
|
Normalised Operating Margin |
N/A |
10.2 |
13.7 |
11.2 |
13.4 |
28.5 |
21.9 |
27.3 |
|
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
359.7 |
639.6 |
509.7 |
478.6 |
472.4 |
465.2 |
462.2 |
458.1 |
Intangible Assets |
0.0 |
49.3 |
52.3 |
52.3 |
52.3 |
52.3 |
52.3 |
52.3 |
|
Tangible Assets |
0.0 |
378.0 |
365.0 |
359.0 |
352.8 |
345.6 |
342.6 |
338.5 |
|
Investments & other |
359.7 |
212.2 |
92.4 |
67.3 |
67.3 |
67.3 |
67.3 |
67.3 |
|
Current Assets |
|
7.4 |
184.1 |
224.4 |
236.9 |
252.6 |
302.9 |
328.8 |
369.4 |
Stocks |
0.0 |
118.8 |
99.2 |
104.6 |
106.2 |
126.5 |
120.1 |
116.6 |
|
Debtors |
1.2 |
27.5 |
62.1 |
32.1 |
35.5 |
42.4 |
44.6 |
47.5 |
|
Cash & cash equivalents |
1.2 |
37.8 |
63.0 |
100.1 |
110.9 |
134.0 |
164.1 |
205.4 |
|
Other |
5.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Current Liabilities |
|
(0.2) |
(37.0) |
(60.6) |
(57.3) |
(60.6) |
(65.5) |
(66.9) |
(67.8) |
Creditors |
(0.2) |
(21.2) |
(28.2) |
(23.0) |
(25.3) |
(28.2) |
(29.2) |
(29.1) |
|
Tax payable |
0.0 |
(7.0) |
(1.4) |
(3.2) |
(4.2) |
(6.2) |
(6.7) |
(7.6) |
|
Short term borrowings |
0.0 |
(4.2) |
(23.2) |
(23.2) |
(23.2) |
(23.2) |
(23.2) |
(23.2) |
|
Other |
0.0 |
(4.6) |
(7.9) |
(7.9) |
(7.9) |
(7.9) |
(7.9) |
(7.9) |
|
Long Term Liabilities |
|
0.0 |
(169.6) |
(123.4) |
(123.4) |
(123.4) |
(123.4) |
(123.4) |
(123.4) |
Long term borrowings |
0.0 |
(59.3) |
(30.0) |
(30.0) |
(30.0) |
(30.0) |
(30.0) |
(30.0) |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
0.0 |
(110.3) |
(93.4) |
(93.4) |
(93.4) |
(93.4) |
(93.4) |
(93.4) |
|
Net Assets |
|
366.9 |
617.1 |
550.1 |
534.8 |
541.0 |
579.2 |
600.7 |
636.3 |
Minority interests |
0.0 |
(78.4) |
(73.9) |
(74.2) |
(75.2) |
(76.8) |
(78.8) |
(81.5) |
|
Shareholders' equity |
|
366.9 |
538.7 |
476.2 |
460.6 |
465.9 |
502.4 |
521.9 |
554.8 |
CASH FLOW |
|||||||||
Op Cash Flow before WC and tax |
(5.9) |
30.5 |
58.9 |
53.1 |
58.8 |
100.9 |
85.2 |
103.9 |
|
Working capital |
0.5 |
(9.7) |
(29.7) |
21.4 |
(1.8) |
(22.3) |
5.6 |
1.6 |
|
Exceptional & other |
5.0 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
` |
|
Tax |
(0.0) |
(7.6) |
(24.4) |
(16.9) |
(21.2) |
(31.0) |
(33.4) |
(38.2) |
|
Net operating cash flow |
|
(0.4) |
13.6 |
5.1 |
57.7 |
35.9 |
47.6 |
57.4 |
67.3 |
Capex |
0.0 |
(11.0) |
(29.0) |
(25.2) |
(23.7) |
(20.2) |
(22.8) |
(21.0) |
|
Acquisitions/disposals |
0.0 |
(17.9) |
77.4 |
35.5 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
|
Net interest |
0.0 |
(2.3) |
(4.4) |
(3.8) |
0.0 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
|
Equity financing |
0.0 |
(0.7) |
(4.7) |
(14.4) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Dividends |
0.0 |
(5.0) |
(5.9) |
(12.6) |
(3.8) |
(7.1) |
(8.1) |
(9.9) |
|
Other |
0.0 |
(3.4) |
(2.9) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Net Cash Flow |
(0.4) |
(26.6) |
35.7 |
37.2 |
10.7 |
23.1 |
30.1 |
41.3 |
|
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
0.0 |
(1.2) |
25.7 |
(9.8) |
(47.0) |
(57.7) |
(80.8) |
(110.9) |
FX |
0.0 |
(0.3) |
(0.1) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Other non-cash movements |
1.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
(1.2) |
25.7 |
(9.8) |
(47.0) |
(57.7) |
(80.8) |
(110.9) |
(152.2) |
Source: Gemfields, Edison Investment Research forecasts
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