New Zealand Professional Investment Services Firm, Forsyth Barr

Forsyth Barr

New Zealand Professional Investment Services Firm

We are proud to be a New Zealand owned firm, with 21 offices throughout the country and over 300 employees. We assist personal, institutional and corporate clients providing a full range of investment services.

Forsyth Barr is a foundation New Zealand Exchange firm (NZX) and accredited market participant. We have been confirmed by the Financial Markets Authority as a Qualifying Financial Entity (QFE).

Research is the cornerstone of our advice. We have one of New Zealand's leading teams of analysts. Our global affiliations ensure comprehensive research coverage of all major investment markets.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div><div><div><div><ul><li>Quarterly reports released in February 2024 from the wind turbine manufacturers suggest prices are starting to ease, which would be welcome news for wind developers.</li><li>1H24 results reported by the big four generator/retailers contained few surprises but did highlight ongoing opex and consenting challenges, with opex generally negatively surprising and delays to several projects.</li><li>Generator/retailer share prices generally remain elevated, in particular Mercury (MCY) which is trading just short of record highs. </li></ul></div></div></div></div>

Quarterly reports released in February 2024 from the wind turbine manufacturers suggest prices are starting to ease, which would be welcome news for wind developers.1H24 results reported by the big four generator/retailers contained few surprises but did highlight ongoing opex and consenting challenges, with opex generally negatively surprising and delays to several projects.Generator/retailer share prices generally remain elevated, in particular Mercury (MCY) which is trading just short of record highs. 

Power Points -  Wind Regaining Its Puff? — March 2024

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genex-power-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29079:1" rel="noopener">Genex Power Ltd (GNX AU)</a> has disclosed a non-binding scheme proposal from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/electric-power-development-c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:292:1" rel="noopener">Electric Power Development C (9513 JP)</a> at A$0.275, a 48.6% premium to the undisturbed price of A$0.185.</li>
<li>If the scheme fails, J-Power will launch an off-market takeover offer with a 50.1% minimum acceptance condition at A$0.270 per share. The dual-track bid is meant to counter Skip's stake.</li>
<li>The Board has granted exclusive due diligence until 31 March. The offer is attractive, but the scheme's completion hinges on Skip Capital’s acceptance.  </li>
</ul>



Genex Power Ltd (GNX AU) has disclosed a non-binding scheme proposal from Electric Power Development C (9513 JP) at A$0.275, a 48.6% premium to the undisturbed price of A$0.185.
If the scheme fails, J-Power will launch an off-market takeover offer with a 50.1% minimum acceptance condition at A$0.270 per share. The dual-track bid is meant to counter Skip's stake.
The Board has granted exclusive due diligence until 31 March. The offer is attractive, but the scheme's completion hinges on Skip Capital’s acceptance.  


Genex Power (GNX AU): J-Power’s Dual-Track Non-Binding Proposal

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Appearances can be deceptive. Mercury (MCY) reported a strong 1H24 EBITDAF result of NZ$434m, albeit at first glance it appears soft vs. 1H23 and our expectations.</li><li>In addition, the FY24 guidance upgrade appears very strong, but rising opex is masked by gains that cannot be banked on to repeat in future years.</li><li>Whilst we lift our FY24 EBITDAF forecast +5.3%, as FY24 is tracking ahead of expectations, we lower our target price -8cps (-1.5%) on higher long-term opex and stay-in-business capex assumptions. </li></ul>

Appearances can be deceptive. Mercury (MCY) reported a strong 1H24 EBITDAF result of NZ$434m, albeit at first glance it appears soft vs. 1H23 and our expectations.In addition, the FY24 guidance upgrade appears very strong, but rising opex is masked by gains that cannot be banked on to repeat in future years.Whilst we lift our FY24 EBITDAF forecast +5.3%, as FY24 is tracking ahead of expectations, we lower our target price -8cps (-1.5%) on higher long-term opex and stay-in-business capex assumptions. 

Mercury - Trading Comes With a Cost — 1H24 Result

<ul><li>For the first time in three years we are moving our WACC assumptions down.</li><li>This is driven by a modestly lower (-25 bps) interpolated 10-year interest rate assumption; our proxy for the risk free rate.</li><li>We also incorporate our C&amp;ESG ratings into our WACC assumptions. We do this on an overall neutral basis, with a scale of -25 bps to +25 bps added to the cost of equity. </li></ul>

For the first time in three years we are moving our WACC assumptions down.This is driven by a modestly lower (-25 bps) interpolated 10-year interest rate assumption; our proxy for the risk free rate.We also incorporate our C&amp;ESG ratings into our WACC assumptions. We do this on an overall neutral basis, with a scale of -25 bps to +25 bps added to the cost of equity. 

Equity Strategy - WACC Review; a Lower Rfr and Adding C&ESG

<ul><li>January 2024 saw a good top-up of hydro lakes, easing near-term hydro generation concerns, strong electricity demand growth and EV sales collapsing to pre-Clean Car Discount levels.</li><li>Share price performance was subdued, with two stocks outperforming and three underperforming.</li><li>We continue to view the sector as expensive with the Electricity Authority’s (EA) generation development survey indicating more solar projects are being built (or are about to be built) than has been publicly announced, suggesting a short-term overbuild risk is real.</li></ul>

January 2024 saw a good top-up of hydro lakes, easing near-term hydro generation concerns, strong electricity demand growth and EV sales collapsing to pre-Clean Car Discount levels.Share price performance was subdued, with two stocks outperforming and three underperforming.We continue to view the sector as expensive with the Electricity Authority’s (EA) generation development survey indicating more solar projects are being built (or are about to be built) than has been publicly announced, suggesting a short-term overbuild risk is real.

Power Points - Clean Car Discount Cuts Sales—February 2024

New Zealand

Mercury NZ Ltd provides utility services. The Company generates and supplies electricity from hydro, geothermal, gas-fired, and wind power stations, as well as owns and manages bio-energy power plants. Mighty River Power serves customers throughout New Zealand.

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Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ)

Power Points - Wind Regaining Its Puff? — March 2024

Quarterly reports released in February 2024 from the wind turbine manufacturers suggest prices are starting to ease, which would be welcome news...

Forsyth Barr

Genex Power (GNX AU): J-Power’s Dual-Track Non-Binding Proposal

The NBIO is attractive, but the scheme's completion hinges on Skip’s acceptance. The off-market takeover is the floor price, as the minimum...

Arun George

Mercury - Trading Comes With a Cost — 1H24 Result

Appearances can be deceptive. Mercury (MCY) reported a strong 1H24 EBITDAF result of NZ$434m, albeit at first glance it appears soft vs. 1H23 and...

Forsyth Barr

Equity Strategy - WACC Review; a Lower Rfr and Adding C&ESG

For the first time in three years we are moving our WACC assumptions down. This is driven by a modestly lower (-25 bps) interpolated 10-year...

Forsyth Barr

Power Points - Clean Car Discount Cuts Sales—February 2024

January 2024 saw a good top-up of hydro lakes, easing near-term hydro generation concerns, strong electricity demand growth and EV sales collapsing...

Forsyth Barr

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