LNG, Oil & Gas, M&A Market Intelligence Specialist

Massimo Bellino

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>The last three years have been characterized by significant M&amp;A activity in the upstream oil and gas industry. As the oil cycle recovered from the price bottom in January 2016, lower asset prices and corporate valuations created opportunities for the companies with a stronger balance sheet to grow inorganically while their weaker competitors were forced to downsize their portfolios. 2018, in particular, has seen a surge of corporate M&amp;A which has been driving consolidation in the industry. This insight examines the trends that have shaped the M&amp;A markets since 2016 with a closer view of 2018 and the outlook for 2019.</p>
<h2><strong>Exhibit 1: M&amp;A volume compared to the E&amp;P index and the oil price since 2016</strong></h2>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/082/014/original/exhibit1volumemonthly.png?1552548943" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="82014"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">
<em>Source: Energy Market Square, Capital IQ</em><em>. Market value weighted index including independent E&amp;P companies with market value greater than $300m as of 19 April 2018. Data as of 7 March 2019. The M&amp;A volume in September 2018 includes the merger of Wintershall and DEA with an estimated value of $10bn.</em>
</div>

The last three years have been characterized by significant M&amp;A activity in the upstream oil and gas industry. As the oil cycle recovered from the price bottom in January 2016, lower asset prices and corporate valuations created opportunities for the companies with a stronger balance sheet to grow inorganically while their weaker competitors were forced to downsize their portfolios. 2018, in particular, has seen a surge of corporate M&amp;A which has been driving consolidation in the industry. This insight examines the trends that have shaped the M&amp;A markets since 2016 with a closer view of 2018 and the outlook for 2019.
Exhibit 1: M&amp;A volume compared to the E&amp;P index and the oil price since 2016


Source: Energy Market Square, Capital IQ. Market value weighted index including independent E&amp;P companies with market value greater than $300m as of 19 April 2018. Data as of 7 March 2019. The M&amp;A volume in September 2018 includes the merger of Wintershall and DEA with an estimated value of $10bn.


Upstream Oil & Gas M&A Review: Surge of Takeovers and Mergers in 2018 – What to Expect in 2019

Materials Analyst/Strategist, Janus Analysis

Gaius King

Materials Analyst/Strategist

Accelerating Tomorrow’s Independent Research

Boost Research

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<ul>
<li>China implements coal import caps specifically targeting Australian producers</li>
<li>Unclear as to how widespread these restrictions will eventually be</li>
<li>Thermal and metallurgical coal exports affected</li>
<li>Impacting ~A$8.4Bn of metallurgical coal exports; or 4.4% of national income</li>
<li>Thermal coal exports affected worth ~A$3.8Bn; or an additional 2% of national income</li>
<li>Collectively, thermal and metallurgical exports equate to ~0.9% of Australian annual GDP </li>
<li>Actions appear to be a response to blocking Huawei bidding for the 5G network</li>
<li>Recent Chinese cyber-attacks harden Australian Government's resolve</li>
<li>Expect similar Chinese measures (in time) to be applied to other commodities and industries</li>
</ul>


China implements coal import caps specifically targeting Australian producers
Unclear as to how widespread these restrictions will eventually be
Thermal and metallurgical coal exports affected
Impacting ~A$8.4Bn of metallurgical coal exports; or 4.4% of national income
Thermal coal exports affected worth ~A$3.8Bn; or an additional 2% of national income
Collectively, thermal and metallurgical exports equate to ~0.9% of Australian annual GDP 
Actions appear to be a response to blocking Huawei bidding for the 5G network
Recent Chinese cyber-attacks harden Australian Government's resolve
Expect similar Chinese measures (in time) to be applied to other commodities and industries


Confluence of Politics - China Bans Australian Coal Imports (Flash Note)

Over 25-yrs in Global Materials & Soft Commodities

Charles Spencer

Equity Bottom-Up

Angang Steel Co Ltd (H) / Equity Bottom-Up

<p><strong>INVESTMENT VIEW: </strong> The outlook for Angang’s profitability in 2019 is deteriorating quicker than consensus forecasts, we believe.  Chinese steel demand and pricing are forecast to be weak in 2019, yet raw material costs remain high.  We recommend staying short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/203" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:203:1">Angang Steel Co Ltd (H) (347 HK)</a> shares with a PT of HK$5.</p>

INVESTMENT VIEW:  The outlook for Angang’s profitability in 2019 is deteriorating quicker than consensus forecasts, we believe.  Chinese steel demand and pricing are forecast to be weak in 2019, yet raw material costs remain high.  We recommend staying short Angang Steel Co Ltd (H) (347 HK) shares with a PT of HK$5.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/23731" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23731:1">Vale SA (VALE US)</a> have had two major fatal dam-failures in three years</li>
<li>Possible (probable?) design flaw</li>
<li>Expect all Vale's iron ore operations to be technically audited</li>
<li>Substantial Management &amp; Board changes inevitable</li>
<li>Probability that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a portion of Vale's existing operations will fail engineering inspection.</li>
<li>Forecast resultant capacity constraints</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/13" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a>,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/147" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:147:1">Bhp Billiton (BHP AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/41" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a> to benefit from lost production</li>
</ul>



Vale SA (VALE US) have had two major fatal dam-failures in three years
Possible (probable?) design flaw
Expect all Vale's iron ore operations to be technically audited
Substantial Management &amp; Board changes inevitable
Probability that a portion of Vale's existing operations will fail engineering inspection.
Forecast resultant capacity constraints

Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU),  Bhp Billiton (BHP AU), Fortescue Metals (FMG AU) to benefit from lost production


Vale in Trouble - Expect Rio, BHP, FMG to Benefit (Flash Note)

<p><strong>Investment Conclusion: <br></strong>We recommend closing our long-<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/13" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a>/short-<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/147" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:147:1">Bhp Billiton (BHP AU)</a> following recent trading updates from both companies which helped to narrow the previous valuation gap we identified in our Aug-18 note: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/us-20bn-in-lost-market-cap-looks-hard-to-justify-recommend-long-rio-short-bhp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:23456">US$20bn in Lost Market Cap Looks Hard to Justify: Recommend Long Rio; Short BHP</a></p>

Investment Conclusion:  We recommend closing our long-Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)/short-Bhp Billiton (BHP AU) following recent trading updates from both companies which helped to narrow the previous valuation gap we identified in our Aug-18 note: US$20bn in Lost Market Cap Looks Hard to Justify: Recommend Long Rio; Short BHP

RIO & BHP:  Valuation Gap Gone; Closing Long-Rio/Short-BHP

Australia

BHP Group Limited operates as a mining company.  The Companyengages in the exploration, development, production and processing of iron ore, metallurgical coal, and copper. BHP Group serves customers worldwide.

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BHP Group Ltd (BHP LN)

Upstream Oil & Gas M&A Review: Surge of Takeovers and Mergers in 2018 – What to Expect in 2019

The last three years have been characterized by significant M&A activity in the upstream oil and gas industry. As the oil cycle recovered from...

Massimo Bellino

Confluence of Politics - China Bans Australian Coal Imports (Flash Note)

China implements coal import caps specifically targeting Australian producers Unclear as to how widespread these restrictions will eventually...

Boost Research

Angang Steel: Headwinds Intensify

INVESTMENT VIEW: The outlook for Angang’s profitability in 2019 is deteriorating quicker than consensus forecasts, we believe. Chinese steel...

Charles Spencer

Vale in Trouble - Expect Rio, BHP, FMG to Benefit (Flash Note)

Vale SA (VALE US) have had two major fatal dam-failures in three years Possible (probable?) design flaw Expect all Vale's iron ore operations to...

Boost Research

RIO & BHP: Valuation Gap Gone; Closing Long-Rio/Short-BHP

Investment Conclusion: We recommend closing our long-Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)/short-Bhp Billiton (BHP AU) following recent trading updates from both...

Charles Spencer

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