7 March 2014
Update | Sector: Metals
Hindalco
BSE Sensex
21,514
S&P CNX
6,401
CMP: INR120
TP: INR143
Buy
Utkal Alumina on track to lowest cost & full ramp-up
Bottom of the cycle valuations; Buy
Stock Info
Bloomberg
Equity Shares (m)
52-Week Range (INR)
1, 6, 12 Rel. Per (%)
M.Cap. (INR b)
M.Cap. (USD b)
HNDL IN
2,064.6
127/83
11/0/07
248.6
4.1
Financial Snapshot (INR Billion)
Y/E March
2014E 2015E 2016E
Net Sales
877.8 991.41,114.6
EBITDA
Adj PAT
EPS (INR)
Gr. (%)
RoE (%)
RoCE (%)
P/E (x)
P/BV (x)
EV/EBITDA (x)
85.3 109.7 127.6
23.1
11.2
-34.1
10.7
4.8
10.8
1.1
8.7
26.2
12.7
13.4
11.1
6.3
9.5
1.0
6.9
29.5
14.3
12.8
8.7
7.2
8.4
0.6
5.7
We have returned from our site visit of Utkal Alumina with renewed
confidence in our positive view on Hindalco (HNDL). We reiterate that
HNDL offers value to long-term investors despite volatility in LME.
The company is exiting its heavy capex cycle, while cash flows are
improving due to commissioning of new low cost upstream facilities in
India and downstream auto segment investments at Novelis. Strong
copper TcRc margins are also helping cash flows.
The stock trades at attractive bottom of the cycle valuations (EV of 6.9x
FY15E EBITDA, 1x FY15E BV, 9.5x FY15E EPS). Maintain Buy.
CSR initiatives, focus on inclusive growth paying off:
We visited HNDL’s Utkal
Alumina Refinery and its Captive Mines over 4-6 March. The 1.5mtpa alumina
refinery and bauxite mines have finally overcome challenges posed by the
remote location, tough hilly terrain, local population due to underdevelopment
of the region and opportunists. HNDL’s focus on CSR and inclusive growth has
helped. The project has already touched 0.5m lives in the region.
Utkal Alumina Refinery to produce 1.55m tons per annum by FY16:
The first
750ktpa train has achieved capacity utilization of ~90% (45% for full 1.5mtpa
capacity). The second train of 750ktpa is expected to be commissioned by the
end of March. With this, alumina production should increase from 300k tons in
FY14 to 1-1.3m tons in FY15, depending on commissioning of the long distance
conveyor (LDC). The 21km LDC is nearly 80% complete and is expected to be
commissioned by the end of October 2014. Production is likely to further
increase to 1.55m tons in FY16.
One of the world’s lowest cost alumina refineries:
The refinery has already
achieved cost of production of ~USD220/ton, which will further reduce to
USD180-190/ton once the LDC is completed, coal linkages are secured and full
capacity utilization is achieved. It will be the lowest cost producer in the world.
Cost of further expansion to 3mtpa to be 30-35% lower:
Since the entire
infrastructure has been set up with 3mtpa capacity in mind, the incremental
capex for doubling capacity should be 30-35% lower. Though HNDL has not
firmed up expansion plans, we believe it will not be able resist investment in
expansion of the world’s lowest cost refinery, once the LDC is commissioned
and balance sheet leverage falls. We are bullish on the pricing outlook for
alumina as highlighted in our Aluminum Sector Update dated 24 September
2013 and subsequent ban on bauxite exports from Indonesia.
Shareholding pattern (%)
Dec-13 Sep-13 Dec-12
Promoter
Dom. Inst
Foreign
Others
37.0
13.3
36.8
12.9
37.0
14.4
34.6
14.0
32.1
14.7
37.8
15.5
Please refer to our Detailed
Report dated 24 September 2013
Sanjay Jain
(SanjayJain@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5412
Investors are advised to refer through disclosures made at the end of the Research Report.