Implications of Tranche 1 Share Buyback Program by Dangote Cement

0
Dangote
Dangote Cement To Repurchase 170 Million Shares In Second Phase Of Buyback Scheme

Buyback of tranche I – 0.5% (85,202,537) of all outstanding shares – will have a negligible impact on ’20E EPS. However, we estimate an improvement of c.11.1% to our 2021E EPS forecast, assuming management completes the full 10% buyback programme over the next 12 months.

This morning, Dangote Cement announced the resumption of its long-awaited share buyback scheme. According to the firm, the programme will be executed in tranches, with the first tranche commencing on December 30th and closing on the 31st or when the tranche size is complete. 

The market had anticipated an announcement through last week, which resulted in the 14.5% rally w/w. To our mind, it appears that the firm is ‘testing the waters’ and, given the discretionary nature of the exercise, may not eventually purchase shares if prevailing conditions are unsuitable. We note that shares purchased under the buyback programme will be held as treasury shares and may subsequently be cancelled.

According to our estimates, the tranche I buyback programme would have a negligible impact on our ’20E EPS forecast. However, looking further out and assuming that the 10% buyback is successfully completed, we estimate a positive potential improvement of around +11.1% to our ’21E EPS projection to NGN20.46 (see table below). We anticipate a similar impact on Dangote Cement share price under current conditions.

Dangote Cement Share Buyback Programme – 10%

Dangote Cement(N millions)No of shares (millions)Price (N)
    
Dangote Cement current Market cap                  3,569,986                   17,041209.5
    
Dangote Cement Share Buyback                                 –                       1,704 
    
*Dangote Cement Market cap – buyback                  3,212,988                   15,336209.5
    
2021 PAT forecast pre buyback (N’ millions)                     313,714  
    
2021 PAT forecast post buyback (N’ millions)                     313,714  
    
EPS pre-buyback (N)                          18.41  
    
EPS post-buyback (N)                          20.46  
    
Potential EPS impact11.1%  
    
Pre-buyback P/E (x)                            11.4  
    
Post-buyback P/E (x)                            10.2  

*assuming current DangCem share price as at 21/12/2020

On a relative basis, DangCem’s shares are trading on a ’20f EV/EBITDA multiple of 8.4x for 8.6% EPS growth in ’21f. We have a Neutral rating on the stock.