European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Vivendi executed a landmark three-way spin-off in December 2024, aiming (but not succeeding) to eliminate its conglomerate discount and unlock shareholder value by listing Canal+, Havas, and Louis Hachette separately.</li>
<li>Following Telecom Italia's strategic unwinding, Vivendi incurred over €2 billion in losses but recovered nearly €1 billion in cash through divestments, highlighting its shift toward portfolio streamlining and deleveraging.</li>
<li>Vivendi now operates as a focused investment holding with UMG comprising over 60% of its asset base, but high concentration and equity beta expose the group to significant portfolio risk.</li>
</ul>


Vivendi executed a landmark three-way spin-off in December 2024, aiming (but not succeeding) to eliminate its conglomerate discount and unlock shareholder value by listing Canal+, Havas, and Louis Hachette separately.
Following Telecom Italia's strategic unwinding, Vivendi incurred over €2 billion in losses but recovered nearly €1 billion in cash through divestments, highlighting its shift toward portfolio streamlining and deleveraging.
Vivendi now operates as a focused investment holding with UMG comprising over 60% of its asset base, but high concentration and equity beta expose the group to significant portfolio risk.


Initiating Coverage Of "New" Vivendi, Latest Portfolio Disposals

Podcast by Andrew Walker, a PM at Rangeley Capital, Yet Another Value Podcast

Yet Another Value Podcast

Podcast by Andrew Walker, a PM at Rangeley Capital

Yet Another Value Podcast is a new podcast from Andrew Walker, the founder of yetanothervalueblog.substack.com/. We interview top investors and dive deep into stocks and companies they are currently working on and investing in. While nothing on this channel is investing advice and everyone should do their own diligence, our goal is to frequently feature edgy and actionable value and/or event driven ideas. Please see our legal and disclaimer at: https://yetanothervalueblog.substack.com/p/legal-and-disclaimer

<ul><li>Lagardere has two core businesses: publishing and travel retail.</li><li>Publishing business has long-term cash flow potential and growth opportunities.</li><li>Travel retail has captive audience but faces competition from airports for margins.</li></ul>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Lagardere has two core businesses: publishing and travel retail.Publishing business has long-term cash flow potential and growth opportunities.Travel retail has captive audience but faces competition from airports for margins.This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

First Foundation's Eric Speron on the Lagardere SA situation: spin out, publishing, travel retail

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Tourism Group Duty Free / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Market consensus is unrealistic as it expects <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36229:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free (1880 HK)</a> to record 32.1% YoY and 14.6% HoH earnings growth in 2H24. More downgrade risk ahead.</li>
<li>Average per-customer duty-free sales in Hainan dropped by 19.2% YoY in Jul, indicating the negative wealth effect and deteriorating middle-class spending appetite.</li>
<li>Overseas duty-free sales to Chinese residents surged by almost 50% YoY in Aug, implying a diversion effect which is also detrimental. </li>
</ul>


Market consensus is unrealistic as it expects China Tourism Group Duty Free (1880 HK) to record 32.1% YoY and 14.6% HoH earnings growth in 2H24. More downgrade risk ahead.
Average per-customer duty-free sales in Hainan dropped by 19.2% YoY in Jul, indicating the negative wealth effect and deteriorating middle-class spending appetite.
Overseas duty-free sales to Chinese residents surged by almost 50% YoY in Aug, implying a diversion effect which is also detrimental. 


CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Where Is the End of the Tunnel?

<ul>
<li>In the near-term, China's relaxation of COVID-combating measures will boost consumption and demand for cross-province travel. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36229:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (1880 HK)</a> is a beneficiary.</li>
<li>Hotel bookings in Sanya have surged over the last two days, reflecting positive demand reaction. However, China's full border opening likely in 2023 is a challenge to CDFC.  </li>
<li>Low base in FY22 will drive 45% earnings growth for FY23. However, valuations are not cheap at 33.8x PER for FY23, a significant premium to consumption sector and international peers.</li>
</ul>


In the near-term, China's relaxation of COVID-combating measures will boost consumption and demand for cross-province travel. China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (1880 HK) is a beneficiary.
Hotel bookings in Sanya have surged over the last two days, reflecting positive demand reaction. However, China's full border opening likely in 2023 is a challenge to CDFC.  
Low base in FY22 will drive 45% earnings growth for FY23. However, valuations are not cheap at 33.8x PER for FY23, a significant premium to consumption sector and international peers.


CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Near-Term Positive but It Is Not Cheap at All

<ul>
<li>Our earnings projections for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36229:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (1880 HK)</a> are 14% and 18% below market consensus respectively. We think these are more realistic expectations.</li>
<li>At IPO price of HK$158, CDFC H-share sits on 23.9x FY23F PER. We think it is difficult to trade above 22x - the average for top consumer discretionary names.</li>
<li>Weakened visitor appetite to Sanya, potentially higher discounts, increase in border opening, higher fixed cost and uncertainties for duty free policies beyond 2025 are negative earnings factors.</li>
</ul>


Our earnings projections for China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (1880 HK) are 14% and 18% below market consensus respectively. We think these are more realistic expectations.
At IPO price of HK$158, CDFC H-share sits on 23.9x FY23F PER. We think it is difficult to trade above 22x - the average for top consumer discretionary names.
Weakened visitor appetite to Sanya, potentially higher discounts, increase in border opening, higher fixed cost and uncertainties for duty free policies beyond 2025 are negative earnings factors.


CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Our Earnings Forecasts and Views on H-Share Fair Value

France

Lagardere S.C.A. operates communications and media, and high technology businesses. The Company publishes newspapers, magazines, and books, operates radio broadcasting stations, produces movies and television programming.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Lagardere SCA (MMB FP)

Initiating Coverage Of "New" Vivendi, Latest Portfolio Disposals

Vivendi's three-way spin-off aimed to eliminate conglomerate discount, but incurred losses and shifted focus to portfolio streamlining with UMG as...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

First Foundation's Eric Speron on the Lagardere SA situation: spin out, publishing, travel retail

The podcast discusses Lagardere's unique investment opportunity with two core businesses, publishing and travel retail, and the potential scenarios...

Yet Another Value Podcast

CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Where Is the End of the Tunnel?

CTG Duty Free has a very disappointing 3Q24 bottom line, with its express result announcement indicating a net profit of Rmb637.6m, -34.7% QoQ and ...

Osbert Tang, CFA

CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Near-Term Positive but It Is Not Cheap at All

China's relaxation of COVID control will bring better near-term outlook, as reflected by surge in Sanya's hotel bookings. There are still...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Initiating Coverage Of "New" Vivendi, Latest Portfolio Disposals

​Vivendi's three-way spin-off aimed to eliminate conglomerate discount, but incurred losses and shifted focus to portfolio streamlining with UMG as...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

First Foundation's Eric Speron on the Lagardere SA situation: spin out, publishing, travel retail

The podcast discusses Lagardere's unique investment opportunity with two core businesses, publishing and travel retail, and the potential scenarios...

Yet Another Value Podcast

CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Where Is the End of the Tunnel?

CTG Duty Free has a very disappointing 3Q24 bottom line, with its express result announcement indicating a net profit of Rmb637.6m, -34.7% QoQ and ...

Osbert Tang, CFA

CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Near-Term Positive but It Is Not Cheap at All

China's relaxation of COVID control will bring better near-term outlook, as reflected by surge in Sanya's hotel bookings. There are still...

Osbert Tang, CFA

CTG Duty Free (1880 HK): Our Earnings Forecasts and Views on H-Share Fair Value

CDFC's H-share lPO is priced too high relative to fair value based on our earnings forecasts. There are potentially better entry levels when the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Vivendi's three-way spin-off aimed to eliminate conglomerate discount, but incurred losses and shifted focus to portfolio streamlining with UMG as...