Maintain ?buy? on PVR as Cinemax deal to add muscle

We maintain a ?buy? rating on PVR with a target price of R284. At the current market price, the stock is trading at 16.0 times and 13.3 times FY13e and FY14e P/E, respectively. Further, we rate PVR as a ?sector performer? as we like the company’s aggression and ability to tie up funds quickly. The ability to execute the deal without putting a significant strain on the debt level is a positive.

PVR has announced buyout of Cinemax India?s entire promoters stake of 69.27% for R395 crore, valuing the latter at R203.65 per share (~10% premium to Thursday’s closing price).

PVR?s board has also approved purchase of up to 26% stake of Cinemax from minority shareholders pursuant to an open offer. To fund this, the PVR board has approved raising of R260 crore via preferential issue of ~10.6 million shares of PVR at R245 per share. After this deal, PVR will be the largest multiplex operator in India with 351 screens, well ahead of peers. Inox and Fame together have 256 screens, while Big Cinemas has 254. PVR will gain access to eight new markets.

Also Read

Haryana IAS officer, out to check illegal mining, chased by suspected goon; attempt to murder case filed

For Spain, India is top on priority list

World’s fastest bowler: Morne Morkel at a humongous 173.9 kmph at IPL 2013, but Hawk-Eye was not looking

Chef turned woman into ?200-a-night prostitute

In H1FY13, Cinemax posted Ebitda margin of 22.5% vis-a-vis PVR?s 19.6%. As per H1FY13 performance, Cinemax will add 69% and 48% to PVR?s revenue and Ebitda, respectively. Cinemax?s average ticket price (ATP) was R139 vis-a-vis R155 for PVR (FY12 end) and is expected to increase once PVR takes over.

Of the preferential issue, PVR promoters will infuse R25 crore, L Capital R82.3 crore, while Renuka Ramnath?s Multiples PE fund R153 crore. Post the deal, L Capital and Multiples PE will own ~15.8% stake each, while promoters will hold 32% stake in PVR. Currently, PVR?s net debt is ~R150 crore and D/E stands at 0.6x. To fund this deal, it needs to raise ~R135 crore additional debt (D/E is likely to remain at ~0.7x).

Key negative from this deal is a ~36.7% dilution of minority shareholders. Also, we need to monitor how PVR manages the two brands ? PVR and Cinemax ? and possible concentration of screens in some geographies. We will revise our numbers once we have more details, but remain positive as we expect PVR?s bargaining clout to increase and operating synergies to kick in.

Edelweiss