pixel

URGENT ALERT: Please beware of fraudulent WhatsApp groups and other groups across Social Media pretending to be affiliated with Anchor and Anchor staff members. Do not engage with these malicious and fraudulent groups in any way. Please direct all queries to invest@anchorcapital.co.za.

Sasol organisational update: Positive but no specifics on asset disposals

On Thursday (18 June), Sasol released an updated response to the oil price volatility and the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm said that it would start consultation with its workforce on possible retrenchments after deciding on an organisational shake-up that will see two core businesses emerge. Sasol’s share price has been under severe pressure this year and is down 54.1% YTD (to Wednesday’s [17 June] close). However, the share price has made a remarkable recovery since its March lows, when the triple whammy of cost overruns at its Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP) facility in the US, the COVID-19 pandemic and a plummeting oil price, resulted in its share price dropping to R1.34/share. This resulted in severe strain on a Group that had c. R155bn in debt as at the end of December 2019.

Figure 1: Sasol share price, June 2019 to date (ZAc)

Source: IRESS, Anchor. Share price to Wednesday, 17 June 2020

Covenants lifted

For us, probably the biggest piece of news from this update is the lifting of Sasol’s debt covenants. Sasol’s lenders have agreed to waive the June 2020 and December 2020 covenants from 3x net debt/EBITDA to 4x net debt /EBITDA. However, we note that this is subject to certain conditions including no dividend payments or acquisitions while net debt/EBITDA remains below 3 times.

Higher interest costs

Following Sasol’s two-notch credit rating downgrade by Moody’s, its interest costs will rise by c. $40mn p.a. (c. R1/share)

Hedging

An update on the hedging programme was also provided:

Figure 2: Sasol hedging programme update

Source: Sasol, Anchor

Asset disposals

No real update was given around its planned asset disposals beyond Sasol stating that good progress is being made, despite the current difficult macro environment. The strategy outlined by Sasol earlier this year to raise $6bn in capital implies that it is looking to raise anywhere between $0bn-$4bn in asset sales.

Figure 3: Sasol capital raise

Source: Sasol, Anchor

Response to the lower oil prices

Sasol indicated that headcount reductions are likely to happen in response to the lower oil prices. The company has issued a section 189 to its representative trade unions, inviting them to enter into consultations with Sasol.

What does the valuation look like?

The sensitivity table in Figure 4 looks at FY21 earnings under different oil price and rand assumptions.

Figure 4: Sasol sensitivity table

Source: Investec Securities Research

The earnings in Figure 4 above essentially exclude the LCCP’s earnings, given that LCCP earnings will be minimal due to low volumes and muted chemical prices.

Sasol guided to $1bn EBITDA from LCCP in 2022 before COVID-19 hit. For the exercise below, we take a c. 30% haircut to that number and get a R25/share valuation for LCCP.

Figure 5: Sasol LCCP valuation

Source: Sasol, Anchor

We highlight that it is important to note that it is very possible to construct a wide variety of scenarios for LCCP, depending on how global growth and petrochemical prices develop.

Nevertheless, using that R25/share valuation for LCCP and adding it to the value of the existing business gets you to a valuation for the wider Group. Figure 6 and 7 below, show the sensitivity of earnings and the valuation to the oil price assumption you make (note: these tables do not take potential asset sales or a rights issue into account).

Figure 6: Sasol – assuming a $50/bbl oil price, R17/$1 exchange rate

Source: Sasol, Anchor

Figure 7 Sasol – assuming a $40/bbl oil price, R17/$1 exchange rate

Source: Sasol, Anchor

Figure 6 and 7 above do not factor in the company’s previously mentioned plan to raise $6bn of capital. For example, if 50% of LCCP is sold, the LCCP per share value must be reduced accordingly. Or, if parts of the existing business are sold, then the FY21 HEPS estimate and valuation of the existing business must be reduced accordingly.

The big variable or question mark is the asset sales now – how much can Sasol raise in asset sales and can it be done at decent valuations?

With oil recovering back to $40/bbl, the likelihood of value-destructive M&A (selling assets at dramatically punitive valuations) subsides somewhat. Thursday’s update also hints at finding a partner for Sasol’s US Base Chemicals business.

Figure 8: Overview of Sasol’s plan to raise $6 bn

Source: Sasol, Anchor

Between now and the Sasol annual general meeting (when management has said there should be clarity over the capital-raising plan), the Sasol share price is likely to be a levered play on oil prices and risk sentiment.

Capex to decline significantly

The other part of the Sasol thesis has been the decline in capex post-LCCP. Capex will nearly halve in FY21 compared to FY19 because spending on LCCP has now ended.

Figure 9: Sasol capital expenditure, $bn

Source: Sasol, Anchor

This should really help free cash flow. Sasol has been burning cash for the past four fiscal years because of LCCP capex.

Figure 10: Sasol: Free cash flow to the firm, Rbn

Source: Sasol, Anchor

Conclusion

We view this update in a positive light, particularly the lifting of debt covenants for the remainder of the current calendar year. Unfortunately, there were no real specifics given by Sasol on the planned asset disposal programme, which remains key to the company’s plan to raise a total of $6bn. Sasol’s earnings are marginal at current oil and chemical prices (see Figure 6 and 7). The share seems reasonably priced to us given the risks both to the upside and to the downside. The next major catalyst will be when the company provides the market with more clarity around its balance sheet plan (i.e. asset sales and a potential rights issue) later this year.

 

 

OUR LATEST NEWS AND RESEARCH

INVESTING IN YOUR NEEDS

Submit your details and we’ll give you a call back to assist and advise you on your investment.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

Subscribe to our newsletters to receive regular market commentary, research and updates from the Anchor team. Select between our Individual or Financial Advisor newsletters by selecting the relevant tab below.

WEBINAR | The Navigator – Anchor’s Strategy and Asset Allocation, 2Q24

Anchor CEO and Co-CIO Peter Armitage will host the webinar, provide an introduction to current global and local market conditions and give his thoughts on offshore equities. Together with Head of Fixed Income and Co-CIO Nolan Wapenaar, Pete will also discuss Anchor’s strategy and asset allocation for 2Q24, focusing on global equities and bonds. In addition, Fund Manager Liam Hechter will provide insights into local equities, highlighting some investment ideas; Global Equities Analyst James Bennet will discuss Ferrari and give an update on Tesla, and finally, Analyst Thomas Hendricks will participate in a Q&A with Peter, explaining the 10-year US Treasury to attendees.