Brief Growth Ideas: Axis Bank Board’s Motto: Trust Only in Strangers and more

In this briefing:

1. Axis Bank Board’s Motto: Trust Only in Strangers
2. Indonesia Bull Wedge Targets New Highs
3. PLANB: Moving Forward with VGI, the Outdoor Media Tycoon
4. Asian Telecom Tower Trends: A General Improvement with China Tower Leading the Way
5. China Meidong (1268 HK): +59% YTD After Strong FY18 Results and Positive Outlook; Now Fairly Valued

1. Axis Bank Board’s Motto: Trust Only in Strangers

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval of the selection of Amitabh Chaudhry, the then HDFC Standard Life Insurance Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as the Axis Bank CEO on August 8, 2018, and his taking charge on January 1, 2019, were celebrated by the market. Analysts and the media were also favourably inclined towards his lateral new hires in the senior management, all of whom had spent many years in HDFC Bank. Unfortunately, these developments actually revealed a strategic fault line in the organisation. The Axis Bank board in its quarter century of existence has not only failed to groom internal candidates for the top-most job, but also recently has been unable to nurture or to trust internal candidates being appointed as executive directors and other critical posts (exception of Chief Risk Officer) in senior management. Recently, it has announced a voluntary retirement scheme which is virtually devoid of benefits to the retiring personnel; over 50 senior management personnel are being eased out at the end of April 2019 with little more than Mediclaim and unexercised stock options to show for their years of service. Such a step is likely to send demoralising tremors down the entire organisation. When the board of Axis Bank believes that only outsiders can be trusted in critical posts in senior management, and these posts are denied to the in-house cadre, how can the bank achieve the present CEO’s performance objectives of a sustainable ROE of 18% and doubling the market capitalisation?  

2. Indonesia Bull Wedge Targets New Highs

We have held a bullish/long position in Indonesia from 6,080 after the breakout above 6,000 resistance and continue to see the macro cycle in a positive light to challenge and clear the 2018 highs.

Bull energy is brewing once again for a bull breakout of the noted wedge that will open the way for the macro bull cycle to resume. Lower wedge support is our preferred buy zone to add to our long position with clear wedge breakout resistance and bull inflection point.

For those not long this offers an excellent risk to reward entry with a controlled stop.

Buy volumes remain healthy and supportive of the macro bull cycle.

Indonesia is our top pick within SE Asia.

3. PLANB: Moving Forward with VGI, the Outdoor Media Tycoon

We maintain PLANB with a BUY rating with the target price of Bt8.30 derived from 1.5xPEG’2019E of Thai consumer discretionary sector, which implies to 36xPE’19E.

The story:

• Collaboration among the leaders in OOH industry
• Revising down EPS in 2019-21E by 9-11% due to dilution effect

Risks: Obstacles for renewing concession contracts with state-owned enterprises along with falling consumer spending and a share-price dilution effect on the back of then generally mandated raise in capital.

4. Asian Telecom Tower Trends: A General Improvement with China Tower Leading the Way

In our latest Asian Tower Trends report, Chris Hoare looks at the listed telecom tower industry across the region. During 4Q18, we became more optimistic on the Asian tower space. 

• China: Last December, we upgraded what is by far the largest towerco globally, China Tower (788 HK), after it became clear the story was much better than disclosed at the time of the IPO (still a mystery as to why this happened),
• The Indian tower business has been buffeted by rapid industry consolidation but we think it is now near a bottom, and recently raised Bharti Infratel (BHIN IN) to Neutral, and
• Growth is improving in Indonesia with increased investment ex Java from the smaller operators. Protelindo (TOWR IJ) our preferred name, but Tower Bersama (TBIG IJ) has lagged badly recently and may be due some catch up. 

With the 5G investment cycle a key theme for coming years, we are now more constructive on the telecom tower space in general. 

5. China Meidong (1268 HK): +59% YTD After Strong FY18 Results and Positive Outlook; Now Fairly Valued

China Meidong Auto (1268 HK) has been a great success story for its investors in the last two years. I first wrote about the company in May 2017 when shares were trading at 1.53 HKD. This week shares traded over 4.7 HKD. While the share price has gyrated wildly the past 24 months the underlying earnings of the company have been increasing steadily and shareholders have been rewarded with solid dividends.

FY18 results were released last month which showed strong growth in revenues (+44%) and net profits (+31%). With the importance of Lexus and Porsche increasing, FY19 should be another year of growth. The performance of BMW remains a wild card.

With the stock up 59% YTD shares are now fairly valued and trading at a 30% premium to its peers. Meidong remains a long-term favorite but has now exceeded my fair value estimate of 4.4 HKD (10x 2019 EPS). I suggest waiting for a better entry point.