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> Energy, Materials & Industrials
ED Linde — Tim Jones, BUY, close €186.1, €227 tgt, 22% upside.
■ Key driver #1: improving gas industry fundamentals from cost
efficiencies, investment discipline, consolidation and end-market
stabilisation. Capex to sales has fallen from c14% in 2012/13 to c12% in
2016, and consolidation should drive price discipline and margin expansion.
■ Key driver #2: macro tailwinds. Improvements in Europe and Asia (c60%
of Linde Gas), and continued strength in the US, should provide support to a
later-cycle business from 2018 onwards. Industry growth should improve
from 2015-16's 2%.
■ Key driver #3: Praxair merger will create a global leader in the gas industry.
Our analysis of the combined firm suggests large synergies ($1.2bn — over
20% of pro-forma EBIT - of which $1bn is cost savings and $200m capex
savings).
- The key logic is diversification (geographical and end-user), given
complementary regional and end-market exposures.
■ Anti-trust risks should be manageable, with divestments of $2.5-3bn.
Demand for these assets is likely high.
■ We forecast E4.3bn net income in 2020. implying a fair value of
€245/share using peer multiples. We discount this back, implying our €227
target.
■ Trades on 21.6x 2018E P/E, in line with peers.
■ Catalysts: greater visibility on merger execution and timing
Related DB Research:
Linde - Gases growth accelerating. Still on track to E245. BUY (Jones)
Pan European Chemicals: 2018 Outlook: A "super" sector Wiriest Deutsche Bank
Linde-Praxair combination a clear market leader
Others
18%
TNS
4%
Air Products
11%
Praxan
13% Air Liquide
30%
Linde
24%
Source: Deutsche Bank estimates. Spirdus Consulting. TNS • Taiyo Nippon Sanyo. Data includes share of sales from associate
pailipipations and JVs. Note: Air Liquide includes Airgas acquisition
Linde-Praxair price target bridge
15 15
35 MIS
180 245 10 20 25
ti 300
Current Cost Berating to Price Mid term Lower Relating to Top line Blue sky
share pnce synergies industry discipline target price taxes industry synergies scenario
average leader
Source: Deutsche Bank. Company Data
Deutsche Bank Research• European Equity Focus —January 2018
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