Reply — Well positioned for growth

Reply — Well positioned for growth

Reply consists of a network of 145 highly specialised companies, focused on digital transformation, with different areas of expertise. Reply has continued to support its customers in their digital transformation journey during 2020, a year of unprecedented disruption. The company’s impressive track record of revenue growth and double-digit profitability continued into H120, resulting in a strengthened balance sheet. Reply’s network of specialised companies are well-positioned to benefit from the increased speed of digitisation forced on firms by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Reply

Well positioned for growth

Technology

Deutsches Eigenkapitalforum 2020

2 November 2020

Price

€96.25

Market cap

€3.6bn

Share price graph

Share details

Code

REY.MI

Shares in issue

37.41m

Net cash at 30 June 2020

€122.59m

Business description

Reply is a leading IT services group that consists of a network of 145 highly specialised companies. Customers rely on Reply’s digital transformation expertise to optimise and integrate processes, applications and devices using new technologies. Reply is headquartered in Turin, Italy and currently employs over 8,500 staff across 15 countries on four continents. The company was founded in 1996 and listed on Borsa Italiana in 2000.

Bull

Innovative and entrepreneurial business

Track record spanning more than two decades

Industry-beating revenue growth

Bear

COVID-19 impact on customers

Increased competition and pricing pressure

Valuation

Analyst

Brendan D’Souza

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Reply consists of a network of 145 highly specialised companies, focused on digital transformation, with different areas of expertise. Reply has continued to support its customers in their digital transformation journey during 2020, a year of unprecedented disruption. The company’s impressive track record of revenue growth and double-digit profitability continued into H120, resulting in a strengthened balance sheet. Reply’s network of specialised companies are well-positioned to benefit from the increased speed of digitisation forced on firms by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impressive track record

Reply’s unique structure has led the group’s companies to function as innovative and entrepreneurial technology start-ups, which benefit from the processes and stability of a larger parent company. Their focus has been on early adoption of newer technologies, as well as staying away from commoditised products. Additionally, M&A – specifically to gain new technology competencies, as well as international expansion (key focus markets: Germany, the UK, the US and France) – has contributed to Reply’s impressive long-term track record. Group revenues increased at a solid 23% CAGR, from €19m in 1999 to €1,183m in 2019 (13.3% CAGR in the past decade). Reply managed to grow its top line even during the 2008–09 global financial crisis, while also maintaining double-digit EBITDA margins since it was founded in 1996. The company aims to grow revenue by 10% annually and targets an EBITDA margin in the range of 14-to-16%.

Growth has continued into 2020

Reply’s deep expertise in fast-growing technologies such as AI, cloud and the IoT has helped the company grow its revenue and profitability in H120, a period affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns. H120 revenue increased 7.2% y-o-y to €615.2m, on which it earned EBITDA of €90.2m (+5.3% y-o-y), equating to a 14.7% EBITDA margin. Reply ended the period with a 16.8% higher net cash position of €122.6m (vs €105m net cash at the end of 2019).

Valuation premium on above-average growth

Reply’s shares have gained 38% year-to-date and trade at 29.2x 2021e consensus earnings. Although this may look expensive, we note that Reply has: (i) a long-term track record of solid growth, combined with (ii) consensus growth forecasts ahead of the industry average. Consensus forecasts for Reply imply top-line growth of 5.3% in 2020 and 9.9% in 2021, which is robustly ahead of the 5.4% decline forecasted for global IT spending by Gartner in 2020, and 4% growth for 2021.

Consensus estimates

Year
end

Revenue
(€m)

PBT
(€m)

EPS
(c)

DPS
(c)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/18

1,035.8

139.2

2.67

0.45

36.0

0.5

12/19

1,182.5

161.4

3.04

0.52

31.7

0.5

12/20e

1,245.7

152.5

2.90

0.53

33.2

0.6

12/21e

1,369.3

175.3

3.29

0.58

29.2

0.6

Source: Company data and Refinitiv

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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

1185 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

1185 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

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been prepared and issued by Edison as part of a roadshow package for companies attending the Deutsches Eigenkapitalforum. 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 2020 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

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

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

1185 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

1185 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

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Novabase is a leading IT services company and the largest technology company listed on the Lisbon Stock Exchange. The company is currently in the midst of a major transformation, to focus on new fast-growing technologies such as AI, analytics, automation and cloud. Novabase has continued to grow in 2020 and is in a strong position to gain from the increased speed of digitisation COVID-19 has forced on organisations.

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