SFPI Group

• Revenue increased by 9% on a reported basis and by 3.4% on a lfl basis (vs 2.7% in FY17).
• Gross margin decreased by 190bp from 60.2% in FY17 to 58.3% in FY18.
• Current operating income decreased by 7%.
• Operating income was impacted by some €3.8m of exceptional items (of which €2.7m from the merger).
• Tax rate was 37.2% vs 30.9% in FY17 notably because of the change in tax rate on deferred tax assets.
• Adjusted net income is some 15% below our estimate.
• Dividend proposal €0.05 per share for FY18 vs €0.06 per share in FY17 came as a surprise.

• The organic increase in revenue is robust at 3.4%.
• Despite serious raw material inflation, the company managed to keep a decent current operating income.
• As a percentage of sales, labour costs decreased slightly, showing proper cost control.

• DOM Security: this division registered a 4.9% increase in lfl sales. This confirmed, if needed, that DOM Security is the gem of the company, so that the ridding out of minorities through the 2018 merger was a proper step. The business managed a 6.3% increase in current operating income in spite of higher capex(€10.5m vs usually €5m) /depreciation due to the building of a new plant.
• MAC disappointed with a halving of operating earnings: 1/ it suffered from volume decrease in Q4 due to uncertainties about the French tax credit for energy transition (CITE) and pricing pressure due to starker competition; 2/ raw material prices increased; and 3/ French social unrest had a €1.3m negative impact.
• NEU-JKF: the full consolidation of JKF in FY18 helped drive revenues up 32.9%, or 7% organically. Profits did not match this gain.
• MMD saw revenues up 6% and operating income up 10%.

• In 2018, SFPI Group sought to simplify its structure by submitting a simplified tender offer (OPAS) on 10% of DOM Security (oversubscribed) and then merging with DOM Security through a stock swap. That raises liquidity on SFPI Group stock from 18.9% to 26.2% which cannot hurt. As the two listings were not justified, SFPI saves on headquarter costs as well.
• Only one company was sold, namely Spomasz (MMD division).
• Acquired growth included the purchase of three companies, namely a 70% stake in Eliot ET Cie (DOM Security), a 74% stake in Italian Antipanic (DOM Security) as well as 100% of Cipriani (MMD). Note that SFPI has call options to raise its stake to 100% in the first two companies.

The global purchase price at €16.9m was partly compensated by the €6.6m collected on Spomasz.

The core of the business model is to target niche markets among the rather slow-growing building and industrial sectors. SFPI Group is a discreet leader in several of its fragmented niche markets. Management has considerable experience when identifying target companies, working out potential synergies, assessing restructuring and operational leverage of acquired companies. It has executed more than 80 (bolt-on) acquisitions since setting up the company in 1985. Through acquisitions, the current management’s goal is to diversify outside France.

The business model has been shifting as happened elsewhere to provide more services and more product categories in order to become a solution partner instead of a mere building/ industrial products provider.

• DOM Security’s (which represents c.45% of our NAV) is to designs high security, easy to use and control protection solutions.
• MAC’s has been to grow its distribution network and build up a following of loyal craftsmen. This is a process that takes decades and explains why MAC is rather slow at growing organically outside France.
• The Industrial division is striving to become a one-stop-shop.

Following this earnings release, we expect to cut our FY18 EPS by some 15%, our FY19 EPS by some 10% and our target price by 10%. We remain convinced that SFPI will outperform in the long run. Our Buy recommendation is unchanged.