• Keppel will dispose of its 83.9% effective stake in M1’s consumer business for S$985mn cash to mobile operator Simba Telecom. Keppel will retain M1’s information and communication technology (ICT) business that can support the growth in data centre and subsea operations.
• Keppel will recognise a loss of S$222mn from the disposal. The transaction requires approval from the IMDA, but shareholder approval is not required. Detailed use of the proceeds will be decided at the financial year end.
• We view the transaction positively. Mobile competition has turned extremely competitive, capex heavy and a drag on group earnings. We assume M1's underlying earnings in 1H25 is S$25mn (excluding acquisition interest). Our SOTP-derived TP is raised to S$10.70 (prev. S$10.50) and BUY recommendation maintained. We lowered our valuations for the remaining connectivity assets but included the proceeds from sale. Keppel’s asset light model designed to deliver the entire value chain for data centres from power, connectivity, operations, capital and asset management, is reinforced from this transaction.

• 1H25 revenue and adjusted PATMI were within our expectations at 44%/43% respectively of our FY25e forecast. Adjusted PATMI (excl. non-core / valuation/divestments) grew 9% YoY to S$374mn primarily due to asset management fees contributed by Aermont.
• Keppel has separated a pool of assets worth S$14.4bn in the balance sheet (with S$4.7bn NAV) deemed non-core that will be monetised. Management is reiterating its target of S$10-12bn asset monetisation by end 2026, of which S$7.8bn has been completed. The management has provided greater clarity on the assets that will be monetised and capital returned to shareholders. A S$500mn share buyback programme was announced whilst the interim dividend was maintained at 15 cents.
• We maintain our FY25e adjusted earnings. Our SOTP-derived TP is raised to S$10.50 (prev. S$8.00) and BUY recommendation is maintained. We raised our valuations for infrastructure and asset management, driven by the expected earnings spurt over the next 2-3 years. We also removed the holding co discount due to the virtuous synergies as asset owner and operator across the key divisions of infrastructure, real estate, asset management, and connectivity. FY26e will be a year of growth from Keppel South Central, Keppel Sakra Cogen power plant, and Bifrost cables completions.

• Limited financials were provided except 1Q25 net profit was up 25% YoY. Growth was driven by infrastructure and real estate. Not disclosed was the contribution of valuation gains in net profit.
• Asset management fees grew 9% to S$96mn, supported by S$1.6bn of equity raised. Asset monetised has been S$347mn YTD. No change to the S$10-12bn monetisation target (cumulative: S$7.2bn). Part of the monetisation will include 63.36mn Seatrium shares available for sale from end Mar25.
• We maintain our FY25e forecast. Our SOTP-derived TP of S$8.00 and BUY recommendation is unchanged. There is improved visibility of (operating) earnings growth from 2H25 onwards from several projects namely leasing of Keppel South Central, commissioning of Bifrost cables and Keppel Sakra Cogen Plant.

• FY24 adjusted PATMI was above expectations at 110% of our FY24e forecast. Adjusted PATMI declined 4.9% YoY to S$357mn. Losses in the real estate division stabilised but infrastructure was weaker than expected due to lower contributions from KIT and MET. Management is reiterating their target of S$10-12bn asset monetization by end 2026. Currently, S$7bn has been completed. The pool to monetize is at least S$17.5bn.
• We nudge our FY25e earnings by 2% from higher asset management income. Our SOTP-derived TP is raised to S$8.00 (prev. S$7.60). Our BUY recommendation is maintained.
• We expect lacklustre earnings in FY25e from muted real estate sales, competitive mobile markets, and softer renewable earnings. Vessel sales in assetco can materialise as charter income as cash flow builds up. Operating earnings will be strong in FY26e as the new Keppel Sakra Cogen power plant and Bifrost cables are operational. Keppel pays an attractive yield of 5% as the company transitions into an asset manager leveraged on data centre infrastructure and operations rollout through its fund management, renewable energy, cooling and subsea cable operations.

• Limited financials provided except 9M24 net profit comparable YoY. We believe 3Q24 net profit declined due to lower real estate earnings. Monetisation more than doubled by S$453mn to S$733mn.
• The huge wave in data centre demand has catalysed multiple growth drivers for Keppel: 1) Around S$10bn of funds under management are available for greenfield data centres; 2) Prices for Bifrost transmission cable has more than doubled; 3) Imported green power into Singapore will more than double; 4) Huge demand from commercialisation of two data centres in Genting Lane. There are both divestment gains and long-term recurrent asset management, operations and maintenance fees from these opportunities.
• No change to our FY24e forecast and SOTP-derived TP of S$7.60. Our BUY recommendation is unchanged. Asset monetisation target of S$10-12bn from 2020 to end-2026 has not changed (or another S$4-6bn). Leading the asset sale is Rigco where operation conditions continue to improve. In the medium term, we believe the surge in data centre demand in driving demand for power in Singapore, more funds under management and raised the valuations of its greenfield submarine and data centre assets.

• 1H24 revenue and adjusted PATMI was below expectations at 42%/37% of our FY24e forecast. Adjusted PATMI declined 25% YoY to S$346mn due to losses in the real estate division. Headline earnings was dragged down by legacy assets including fair value losses at Seatrium, Rigco notes receivables and Floatel associate losses.
• Asset management profits more than doubled in 1H24 from S$30mn to S$75mn. All the growth came from an 11-fold jump in fee income from the infrastructure division largely due to Keppel Infrastructure Trust's performance and management fees. 
• We cut our FY24e revenue forecast by 12% and earnings by 20% to account for the weakness in real estate and associate earnings. Our SOTP-derived TP is lowered to S$7.60 (prev. S$7.98) as we raise the RNAV discount on the property division. We upgrade from ACCUMULATE to BUY due to recent share price weakness. Keppel is building an operator-run infrastructure and real estate management global franchise. Funds under management have grown 13% YoY to S$60bn, excluding the additional S$25bn from Aermont. Operationally, we expect earnings to be under pressure from the decline in property development sales. The key share price driver will be the monetisation of Rigco and Floatel.

• Little financial details were revealed in this update. Revenue was S$1.5bn in 1Q24, down from S$1.6bn in 1Q23. Net profit was higher YoY if the impact of the disposed offshore and marine assets were excluded. The real estate segment underperformed.
• The pace of asset monetisation slowed in this quarter. Only S$169.9mn (FY23: S$947.4mn) was achieved, which includes the divestment of the Wuxi landbank for S$161mn.
• Net gearing hovered at 0.9x (Dec 23: 0.9x), suggesting muted operating cash inflow while capex is kept low. With its asset-light strategy, investments are made through funds under management and not through its balance sheet.
• Maintain ACCUMULATE and SOTP-derived TP at S$7.98. A near-term share price catalyst could be a potential redemption of the notes receivables.

Highlights

The Negatives

The pace of asset monetization was slow. S$169.9mn was unlocked (FY23: S$947.4mn), which included the proposed divestment of a residential landbank in Wuxi for S$161.6mn. The total value unlocked from the monetisation programme since 2020 is S$5.5bn. It maintains the monetisation target of 10-12bn by 2026.

- Net gearing hovered at 0.9x at end-Mar 24 (Dec 23: 0.9x), suggesting slow cash inflow. The average cost of debt was 3.81% (FY23: 3.75%). About S$2.4bn (22% of total debt) is due this year and S$400mn 2.9% perpetual securities are due for reset/refinance in Sep 24. Management expects cost of debt to be maintained at 3.81% when these are refinanced.

The Positives

+ It received S$71.3mn from Asset Co, which holds the legacy rig assets. The rigs are fully deployed on bareboat charters, buoyed by stronger offshore and marine activities. We believe these rigs could be monetized in the near term, which could return S$3.1bn cash to Keppel when the notes receivables from Asset Co are redeemed.

+ Fees from asset management grew 52% to S$88mn (FY23: S$283mn). About 90% of this is recurring. About S$436mn in equity was raised YTD (FY23: S$5bn). It has 19 active private funds currently and plans to launch three new funds for data centres, education assets and private credit in 2024.

• FY23 core net profit grew 5.6% YoY, in line with our expectations. Recurring income grew 54% to S$773mn, or 88% of net profit. Infrastructure made up 90% of this.
• Growth was underpinned by a higher margin from energy sales, offset by the doubling of interest expense to S$328mn, and S$111mn loss on distribution of K Reit units to Keppel shareholders.
• Energy earnings are sustainable, with 60% of capacity locked in on long-term contracts for more than 3 years. A lower interest rate environment could rejuvenate M&A and fundraising, lifting funds under management. The sale of the rigs in AssetCo could return S$3.1bn to the group, we estimate.
• Downgrade to ACCUMULATE from BUY on recent share price gains. We raised FY24e net profit projections by 0.4%. Our SOTP-derived TP is revised higher to S$7.98 (prev S$7.52), as recurring income takes a bigger share of net profit.

The Positives

+ Integrated power business doubled operating income and margins, benefitted from  improved energy spark spread and exit from low-margined legacy contracts. 90% of its capacity is contracted for >1 year, providing visible and sustainable earnings. KIT contributed higher fees after a change in fee structure.

+ M1 grew revenue by 6%, after the acquisition of a Malaysian ICT in late 2022. Key drivers were higher enterprise customer sales (+27%) and total customers (+2%), and recovery of roaming services to 80% of pre-COVID.

The Negatives

- Real estate division was impacted by higher interest expense, lower fair value gains on investment properties and higher overheads at asset management units. The distribution of K Reit units to Keppel shareholders led to a S$111mn loss as the book value exceeded the market value.

- Recurring fee income from fund management fell 5.5% to S$86mn. About S$5bn new funds was raised in FY23. Investors’ appetite was muted amidst rising interest rates and tighter credit conditions. But the pace could pick up in FY24, as recently-acquired Aermont Capital extends its investor reach, and the interest rate environment turns favourable.  

- Net gearing rose to 0.9x. Management has an internal net gearing threshold of 1x. Free cash flow was negative S$228mn. Net debt as at end Dec was S$9.7bn, at an average interest cost of 3.75%. Interest expense doubled to S$328mn.

• 3Q23 revenue fell 6.0% YoY, dragged lower by weak property sales in China and India, after the rebound in 1H. 3Q23 net profit was higher YoY, but no financial detail was provided.
• The distribution-in-specie of 1 KREIT unit for every 5 Keppel shares has been approved by shareholders. This is equivalent to S$0.18 per Keppel share.
• Upgrade to BUY due to recent price correction. We maintain our earnings projections. After accounting for the KREIT distribution, our TP is revised lower to S$7.52 (prev. S$7.70).

The Positives

+ 3Q23 Infrastructure revenue grew 1.3% YoY, in spite of a volatile gas price and the implementation of temporary price control measures. 100% of its customers for integrated power sales are locked in on fixed rates, or indexed electricity price plans, for next 2 years. This provides stability to 68% of the group’s revenue. The fuel input costs are hedged, and costs are passed through, including the higher carbon taxes in 2024.

+ M1 expanded customer base by 7.2% YoY to 2,548. It grew enterprise revenue by 29.4% YoY, due to the acquisition of a Malaysian ICT in late 2022.

The Negatives

- Real estate 3Q revenue fell 53.9% YoY, as reflected in  the weak property sentiment and rising interest rates. 3Q23 home unit sales fell to 260 units in China (1H23: 1,200 units) and 160 units in India (1H23: 870 units). No sales were recorded in Vietnam for this year.  

- Net gearing rose to 0.89x from 0.86x at Jun 2023, after the distribution of interim dividend.

• 1H23 earnings were in line. Net profit from continuing operations rose marginally by 2.5% YoY, due to strong energy sales and spreads, which offset lower development and fair value gains from real estate, and higher interest expense.
• It booked S$3.1bn exceptional gain from the disposal of Keppel Offshore & Marine (KOM) and 2-month share of KOM’s loss. Distribution-in-specie of SembCorp Marine shares lowered equity by S$3.8bn (S$2.19/share).
• Proposed a distribution-in-specie of 1 Keppel REIT (KREIT) unit for every 5 Keppel Corp shares, equivalent to about S$0.18 per Keppel Corp share. Its stake in KREIT will reduce by 9.4% to 37%.
• Maintain ACCUMULATE and raised our TP to S$7.70, from S$7.01 previously. Keppel has garnered several leading-edge renewable energy projects that position it as a first-mover in the transition to new energy technology.

The Positives

+ Higher net generation and margins from integrated power business. 1H23 revenue and operating profit from sale of gas, utilities and electricity rose 65.7% YoY and 183% YoY, thanks to a surge in wholesale energy prices in 2Q. We estimate energy sale accounted for 60% and 68% of group revenue and net profit, respectively. More than 99% of their contracts are locked on fixed or indexed electricity price plans, hence the profit is sustainable.

+ Distribution-in-specie of KREIT units. Keppel proposed to distribute 1 KREIT unit for every 5 Keppel Corp shares, equivalent to S$0.18 per Keppel share, based on KREIT’s current share price. This will lower its stake in KREIT by 9.4% to 37%.

The Negatives

- Net profit from Real Estate fell 29%, due to lower development profit, and lower fair value gains on investment properties. Sentiment in the Chinese property market headed south in 2Q after a promising 1Q. Management sees an uncertain market ahead.

- Net gearing has risen to 0.86x (Dec 22: 0.78x). It recorded free cash outflow of S$732mn (1H22: outflow S$127mn), of which about S$470m net outflow was due to the divestment of KOM. As a group, interest expense rose 89.3% with average interest cost at 3.53%.