Ellomay Capital’s renewable assets portfolio delivered significant growth at the operating level over the course of 2017, with revenue, EBITDA and EBIT up 17%, 10% and 25% respectively (versus 2016). For 2018, we expect the company to reap the benefits of investments made in 2017, with the recently acquired Israeli solar PV assets and the commissioning of two new Dutch waste-to-energy (WTE) plants driving 91% y-o-y EBITDA growth and a positive net income contribution after two years of losses. Several new projects under development could generate additional medium-term growth, in particular the financial close of Talasol, a large solar PV plant project in Spain (potentially by Q318).
Written by
Ellomay Capital |
Reaping the benefits of 2017 investments |
FY17 results |
Alternative energy |
16 April 2018 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analysts
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ellomay Capital’s renewable assets portfolio delivered significant growth at the operating level over the course of 2017, with revenue, EBITDA and EBIT up 17%, 10% and 25% respectively (versus 2016). For 2018, we expect the company to reap the benefits of investments made in 2017, with the recently acquired Israeli solar PV assets and the commissioning of two new Dutch waste-to-energy (WTE) plants driving 91% y-o-y EBITDA growth and a positive net income contribution after two years of losses. Several new projects under development could generate additional medium-term growth, in particular the financial close of Talasol, a large solar PV plant project in Spain (potentially by Q318).
Year end |
Revenue |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
12/16 |
11.6 |
(0.1) |
(0.02) |
0.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/17 |
13.6 |
(6.3) |
(0.57) |
0.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/18e |
22.4 |
4.5 |
0.32 |
0.11 |
21.3 |
1.6 |
12/19e |
23.3 |
5.4 |
0.39 |
0.13 |
17.5 |
1.9 |
Note: *PBT and diluted EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
Strong growth in operating results in FY17
Ellomay Capital posted +10%/+25% y-o-y EBITDA/EBIT growth, driven by higher power prices and output in Italian and Spanish solar PV activities, an initial contribution of a waste-to-energy project in the Netherlands, and the acquisition of solar PV activities in Israel (Q417). At the bottom line, the net loss of €6.6m (pre-minority) was mainly the result of one-offs (the effect of €/$ movements on derivatives and marketable securities, and expenses resulting from exchange rate differences).
Reaping the benefits of FY17 investments
For FY18, we expect Ellomay Capital to reap the benefits resulting from the 2017 acquisition (Israeli solar PV) and the new projects (Dutch WTE plants). Although FY17 net debt includes the costs of these new projects (net debt more than doubled to €80.4m in the year), the contribution to FY17 results was negligible. We have made limited changes to our forecasts (FY18-FY20e EBITDA is down -3%-4%, net income moved between -5% and +3%) post the FY results and we have recreated our financial model to change the presentation currency to euro (from US dollar), to align with the company’s change.
Valuation: US$11.4/share, stock is currently trading below book value
Our unchanged DCF-based valuation of US$11.4/share implies c 40% potential upside vs the current share price. We note the stock is trading below book value (0.8x FY18e) so appears to be discounting little ability to create value from existing and future development projects. We believe delivery of earnings growth from new projects would provide an opportunity to crystallise the upside potential.
FY17 results show strong revenue and EBIT growth
Ellomay Capital announced that it has changed the presentation currency to euro from US dollar as most of its operations are euro-denominated. Management believes that the change will help to minimise fluctuations in its financials due to movements in the €/$ exchange rate. Key highlights of the 2017 results were:
■
Revenues of €13.6m, +17% y-o-y, driven by higher power prices and output in Italy and Spain solar PV operations (following an abnormally low output year in 2016 due to unfavourable weather conditions), as well as the initial contribution of a waste-to-energy project in the Netherlands (from November 2017). Solar PV assets, which were acquired in Israel, contributed from October 2017.
■
EBITDA of €7.5m, +10% y-o-y and operating profit of €3.0m, +25% y-o-y, both driven by higher revenues, despite an increase in project developments costs.
■
Net loss of €6.6m (vs a loss of €0.6m in FY16), mostly the result of the €3.2m negative effect of the re-evaluation of €/$ forward transactions and marketable securities and a further €3.6m negative impact due to expenses related to exchange rate differences (both one-off components).
■
Net financial debt was €80.4m vs €32.4m one year earlier, driven by the acquisition of the Israel solar PV asset (c €20m) and the consolidation of debt associated with the Dutch WTE plants (c €12m).
For FY18, the company expects €21.9m cash flow from the sale of electricity and gas (broadly in line with guidance announced in November 2017, now translated into euros) and total net cash flow from projects (including an equity-accounted stake in gas plant Dorad) of €11.8m. The latter is more than 10% higher vs previous guidance (issued in November 2017) to reflect the better than expected cash flow contribution from Dorad in 2018.
Recent acquisition and new projects drive FY18 growth
We expect FY18 to be a key year for project delivery and our forecasts point to very strong profit growth (EBITDA company definition, including associates, up 91% y-o-y), mainly driven by new projects and the contribution of a recent acquisition. While FY17 net debt includes the debt associated with the recent acquisition of solar PV plant in Israel and the debt related to the financing of two WTE plants in the Netherlands, the contribution of these assets to FY17 profits was limited. In more detail:
■
We continue to forecast a large pick-up in revenue (+64% y-o-y) entirely driven by the commissioning of two new biogas projects in the Netherlands (the first plant started operations in November 2017, while the second one will be commissioned in Q218 according Ellomay) and full contribution from the recently acquired solar PV assets in Israel (consolidated from October 2017).
Exhibit 1: Updated revenue estimates – we expect a strong pick-up in growth in 2018
€000 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018e |
2019e |
2020e |
Italy |
9,567 |
8,919 |
10,143 |
9,911 |
9,797 |
9,653 |
Spain |
2,879 |
2,713 |
3,007 |
2,790 |
2,790 |
2,790 |
Israel PV |
0 |
0 |
183 |
3,680 |
3,717 |
3,754 |
Dutch WTE |
0 |
0 |
303 |
6,017 |
6,949 |
6,949 |
Total |
12,446 |
11,632 |
13,636 |
22,398 |
23,253 |
23,146 |
% y-o-y change |
-7% |
17% |
64% |
4% |
0% |
Source: Company data, Edison Investment Research
■
We forecast EBITDA to grow 91% y-o-y and EBIT by 179% y-o-y driven by revenue growth and despite an increase in costs associated with new projects.
■
We expect revenue and EBITDA growth to translate into a positive net income from 2018 as we expect the Dutch WTE projects and the recent acquisition in Israel to be accretive at the net income level. We forecast net income of €2.7m, €3.3m and €3.2m in FY18e, FY19e and FY20e respectively vs net losses in FY16-17. The positive net income should allow Ellomay to declare a dividend starting from FY18e (we assume c 33% payout ratio in line with company guidance).
■
Net financial debt decreases to €70.6m in FY18 vs €80.4m in FY17 as a result of cash flow generation and as we assume no further acquisitions. Thanks to strong EBITDA growth, we forecast net debt/EBITDA will reduce to 5.7x/4.7x in FY18/19.
Progress on medium-term project Talasol
Beyond FY18, Ellomay has a pipeline of two large projects, which represent significant profit growth opportunities in the medium term and an upside to our forecasts:
■
Talasol, a 300MW solar PV plant project in Talaván, Spain; and
■
Manara Cliff, a 156MW Israeli pumped-storage plant project.
Exhibit 2: Key pipeline projects are a solar PV plant in Spain and a hydro plant in Israel
Location |
Asset |
Expected commissioning |
Expected capex |
Generation |
Expected revenue |
Talaván, Spain |
Talasol: 300MW solar PV in Spain |
2020 |
€200m |
490-565GWh/ year |
€20-25m/year |
Manara Cliff, Israel |
156MW pumped-storage hydro plant |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Source: Company data
Ellomay announced progress on the Talasol project in January 2018. Ellomay signed a binding term sheet for a power financial hedge (PPA) in relation to the sale of electricity by the plant in Spain, which we believe represents significant positive progress ahead of the financial closure, which is expected in Q318. The power produced by the Talasol project will be sold on the open market. The PPA will prevent project revenues to experience excessive fluctuations: if the market price goes below a certain price, the hedging provider will pay Talasol the difference between the market price and the underpinned price, and if the market price is above the price, Talasol will pay the hedging provider the difference between the market price and the underpinned price.
While our forecasts assume neither further acquisitions nor new projects, it is likely that Ellomay is evaluating several assets and projects which could drive the growth in the medium term, compatibly with the company’s current leverage (we forecast FY19e net debt/EBITDA of 4.7x, before any further projects). We note that Standard & Poors Maalot downgraded the rating of the company and its Series A and Series B Nonconvertible Debentures from "ilA-" with a "Negative" outlook to "ilBBB+" (which corresponds to “B” on an S&P global scale), although the outlook is now "Stable". The downgrade was justified on the basis of the level of estimated FFO to adjusted debt ratio (9-12% in the upcoming years). Maalot said Ellomay Capital’s level of liquidity was appropriate.
Moderate changes to forecasts post FY17 results
We have reduced our FY18-FY20 EBITDA forecasts by 3-4% reflecting higher project development costs (still declining vs 2017 but from a higher level). We have made moderate changes to FY18-FY20e net income forecasts (between +3% and -5%) reflecting lower EBITDA, higher D&A and lower financial expenses and minorities.
Exhibit 3: We have made moderate changes to forecasts
€000s |
2017 |
2018e |
2019e |
2020e |
EBITDA |
||||
New |
7,477 |
14,317 |
14,900 |
14,833 |
Old* |
8,830 |
14,739 |
15,507 |
15,507 |
change |
(15%) |
(3%) |
(4%) |
(4%) |
EBIT |
||||
New |
2,959 |
8,259 |
8,634 |
8,566 |
Old* |
4,494 |
8,835 |
9,521 |
9,521 |
change |
(34%) |
(7%) |
(9%) |
(10%) |
Net income (adjusted for minorities) |
||||
New |
(6,115) |
2,724 |
3,281 |
3,198 |
Old* |
(2,902) |
2,871 |
3,193 |
3,255 |
change |
111% |
(5%) |
3% |
(2%) |
Source: Company data, Edison Investment Research. Note: *US$ forecast translated into € at a rate of €/US$1.23.
Key risks are regulatory, operating and currency
We believe the key risks that Ellomay Capital faces are:
■
Regulatory risks: while we do not expect any political intervention, tariffs for Ellomay Capital’s solar PV assets are heavily regulated and, as a result, the company faces the risk of regulatory changes eg Italian and Spanish solar tariffs were cut in 2013/14.
■
Operating risks: weather conditions may drive higher or lower output than expected (eg 2016 was an unfavourable year for solar PV production) and higher/lower power prices in Italy and Spain can drive higher/lower profits for the company.
■
Currency risks: Currency risks are now lower than in the past as the presentation currency (euro) is now aligned with the operating currency of most of Ellomay Capital’s assets. For euro investors however, we estimate that 16% of FY18e revenues are expressed in Israeli shekel, in addition to the entire equity income (we estimate c €2m P&L contribution in FY18e).
The highlight of Probiodrug’s FY17 results presentation was the rather detailed introduction of the Phase IIb development programme for the lead asset PQ912, a small molecule inhibitor of glutaminyl cyclase (QC) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Two Phase IIb trials (in Europe and the US) are designed to gather the amount of data that, if sufficiently positive, could allow for accelerated or conditional regulatory approval. The first Phase IIb study in Europe is expected to start by end 2018 and Probiodrug is exploring all options for funding sources. After several modest changes to our model, our updated valuation is slightly higher at €513m, €62.4/sh.