SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

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Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

<div><em><strong>Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX</strong>.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.</em></div>
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<h2>Marco Polo Marine Ltd</h2>
<h3>Turned profitable in FY21</h3>
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<ul>
<li>MPM reported a core net profit of S$2.3m in FY21, its first core net profit since FY15.</li>
<li>Refinancing and debt restructuring and S$60m of fresh funding secured in FY17 flipped it to a net cash position in FY18.</li>
<li>MPM expects extension of dry dock 1 will boost ship repair capacity by 20%.</li>
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<h3>Back to profitability in FY21; ship chartering revenue +47% yoy</h3>
<p>MPM reported a core net profit of c.S$2.3m in FY21, its first core net profit since FY15. The swing back to profitability was due to stronger performance from both its shipbuilding and repair and ship chartering segments, according to its FY21 annual report. Ship chartering revenue jumped c.47% yoy to S$20.1m in FY21 due to rising oil prices and increased demand for offshore vessel (OSV) support. These contributed to higher utilisation rate of 61% (vs. 51% in FY20) and average charter rates for its OSVs. In its 1Q22 update on SGX, MPM expects utilisation and charter rates to increase further in 2Q22 as vessels supporting offshore windfarms resume charters post-monsoon in 1Q22.</p>
<h3>Net cash since debt restructuring and equity injection in FY17</h3>
<p>MPM had a net cash position of S$16.1m as at 30 Sep 2021. Amidst a depression in the offshore marine industry which would have resulted in potential cash drain in FY17 (stated in its FY17 annual report), MPM underwent extensive refinancing and debt restructuring that flipped it to a net cash position in FY18. In FY17, an additional S$60m of cash was secured from nine strategic investors to boost its working capital. Currently, only MPM and Mermaid Maritime (MMT SP: Not Rated) have a net cash position (as at 30 Sep 21 and 31 Dec 21 respectively) amongst peers, according to the various companies’ latest financials. MPM trades at 0.86x FY21 P/BV vs. peer average of 0.67x P/BV. It had an ROE of 12.9% in FY21 vs. peer average of -15.4%, based on the various companies’ latest financials.</p>
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Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.






Marco Polo Marine Ltd
Turned profitable in FY21





MPM reported a core net profit of S$2.3m in FY21, its first core net profit since FY15.
Refinancing and debt restructuring and S$60m of fresh funding secured in FY17 flipped it to a net cash position in FY18.
MPM expects extension of dry dock 1 will boost ship repair capacity by 20%.





Back to profitability in FY21; ship chartering revenue +47% yoy
MPM reported a core net profit of c.S$2.3m in FY21, its first core net profit since FY15. The swing back to profitability was due to stronger performance from both its shipbuilding and repair and ship chartering segments, according to its FY21 annual report. Ship chartering revenue jumped c.47% yoy to S$20.1m in FY21 due to rising oil prices and increased demand for offshore vessel (OSV) support. These contributed to higher utilisation rate of 61% (vs. 51% in FY20) and average charter rates for its OSVs. In its 1Q22 update on SGX, MPM expects utilisation and charter rates to increase further in 2Q22 as vessels supporting offshore windfarms resume charters post-monsoon in 1Q22.
Net cash since debt restructuring and equity injection in FY17
MPM had a net cash position of S$16.1m as at 30 Sep 2021. Amidst a depression in the offshore marine industry which would have resulted in potential cash drain in FY17 (stated in its FY17 annual report), MPM underwent extensive refinancing and debt restructuring that flipped it to a net cash position in FY18. In FY17, an additional S$60m of cash was secured from nine strategic investors to boost its working capital. Currently, only MPM and Mermaid Maritime (MMT SP: Not Rated) have a net cash position (as at 30 Sep 21 and 31 Dec 21 respectively) amongst peers, according to the various companies’ latest financials. MPM trades at 0.86x FY21 P/BV vs. peer average of 0.67x P/BV. It had an ROE of 12.9% in FY21 vs. peer average of -15.4%, based on the various companies’ latest financials.














(Non-SGX Report) Marco Polo Marine Ltd - Turned Profitable in FY21

<p><em><strong>Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX</strong>.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.</em></p>
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<h2>Marco Polo Marine Ltd</h2>
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<h3>Tides turning in favor of Marco Polo</h3>
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<p><strong>Marco Polo Marine Ltd primarily engages in ship chartering and shipyard businesses. </strong>It has a fleet of 37 OSVs, tugboats and barges for charter. The Group does ship repair and shipbuilding works at its 34 ha Batam shipyard. Revenue from Ship chartering/Shipyard segments are split 44%/56% each.</p>
<p><strong>Promising potential in Taiwan windfarm market.</strong> MPM will be increasing the no of vessels chartered to Taiwan from 2 to 4 end 2022 as Taiwan ramps up its offshore wind capacity. Taiwan is aiming for 15GW by 2035. Local content requirements (i.e. Vessels’ age &lt; 12 years old, Ban of China-built vessels) are raising the barriers to entry for competitors. Reflagging exercise will give the Group an edge to securing more contracts as well. Windfarm projects offer 15-20% price premium to O&amp;G projects.</p>
<p><strong>Enjoying higher charter and utilization rate.</strong> Brent crude oil is up 54.8% YTD hovering above US$70/barrel as at 28 Dec. Oil majors (i.e. TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil etc) have preliminary plans to increase CAPEX by 8-25% to capitalize on the current robust price environment. On the other hand, competing interests for OSVs from offshore renewables and decommissioning projects are snapping up available vessels in the market. With ~50% of MPM’s vessels due for charter renewal in 1H22, further upside in charter rates will help with revenue growth and margin expansion.</p>
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Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.




Marco Polo Marine Ltd




Tides turning in favor of Marco Polo




Marco Polo Marine Ltd primarily engages in ship chartering and shipyard businesses. It has a fleet of 37 OSVs, tugboats and barges for charter. The Group does ship repair and shipbuilding works at its 34 ha Batam shipyard. Revenue from Ship chartering/Shipyard segments are split 44%/56% each.
Promising potential in Taiwan windfarm market. MPM will be increasing the no of vessels chartered to Taiwan from 2 to 4 end 2022 as Taiwan ramps up its offshore wind capacity. Taiwan is aiming for 15GW by 2035. Local content requirements (i.e. Vessels’ age &lt; 12 years old, Ban of China-built vessels) are raising the barriers to entry for competitors. Reflagging exercise will give the Group an edge to securing more contracts as well. Windfarm projects offer 15-20% price premium to O&amp;G projects.
Enjoying higher charter and utilization rate. Brent crude oil is up 54.8% YTD hovering above US$70/barrel as at 28 Dec. Oil majors (i.e. TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil etc) have preliminary plans to increase CAPEX by 8-25% to capitalize on the current robust price environment. On the other hand, competing interests for OSVs from offshore renewables and decommissioning projects are snapping up available vessels in the market. With ~50% of MPM’s vessels due for charter renewal in 1H22, further upside in charter rates will help with revenue growth and margin expansion.













(Non-SGX Report) Marco Polo Marine Ltd - Tides Turning in Favor of Marco Polo

<h2>10 Questions for Marco Polo Marine</h2>
<p><strong>Company Overview</strong><br>Established in 1991, Marco Polo Marine is an integrated marine logistics company which principally engages in shipping and shipyard businesses. It has two business segments – 1) Shipping Division relating to chartering of Offshore Supply Vessels (OSV), tugboats and charters, and 2) Shipyard Division relating to ship building and provision of ship maintenance, repair, outfitting and conversion services. <a href="https://www.sgx.com/securities/equities/5LY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to StockFacts company page</a></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Could you elaborate on Marco Polo Marine’s business segments and focus?</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>▪ Marco Polo Marine operates two main business segments:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 25px;">▪ <strong><em>Ship Building &amp; Repair</em></strong> – Provides ship building and repair activities from our shipyard at Batam, Indonesia. Over the years, we have expanded our ship repair services to include merchant vessels such as containerships aside from serving just the Oil &amp; Gas (O&amp;G) sector vessels.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 25px;">▪ <em><strong>Ship Chartering</strong></em> – Involves chartering of vessels to service the O&amp;G and renewables (specifically the offshore windfarm) sectors, and the chartering of Tugs &amp; Barges to service mainly the construction sector in Singapore. We currently own 11 OSVs, 2 Maintenance Work Vessels (MWV) and 24 Tugs &amp; Barges.</p>
<p><strong>2. Describe the Group’s financial performance over the past few years. What were some drivers for the turnaround performance in 1HFY2021?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Following our debt restructuring in FY2017, the Group was given a clean slate, maintaining a strong net cash position and a strong focus on cost and cashflow management which has helped the Group narrow losses and achieved positive operational EBITDA .</li>
<li>In 1HFY2021, the Group reported an 88% y-o-y surge in operational EBITDA to S$4.0 million on the back of higher revenue and margin expansion. Gross profit margin increased to 24% in 1HFY2021 from 18% in 1HFY2020 mainly due to the absence of one-off reactivation costs incurred for our fleet of offshore vessels during the current period.</li>
</ul>

10 Questions for Marco Polo Marine
Company Overview Established in 1991, Marco Polo Marine is an integrated marine logistics company which principally engages in shipping and shipyard businesses. It has two business segments – 1) Shipping Division relating to chartering of Offshore Supply Vessels (OSV), tugboats and charters, and 2) Shipyard Division relating to ship building and provision of ship maintenance, repair, outfitting and conversion services. Link to StockFacts company page

Could you elaborate on Marco Polo Marine’s business segments and focus?

▪ Marco Polo Marine operates two main business segments:
▪ Ship Building &amp; Repair – Provides ship building and repair activities from our shipyard at Batam, Indonesia. Over the years, we have expanded our ship repair services to include merchant vessels such as containerships aside from serving just the Oil &amp; Gas (O&amp;G) sector vessels.
▪ Ship Chartering – Involves chartering of vessels to service the O&amp;G and renewables (specifically the offshore windfarm) sectors, and the chartering of Tugs &amp; Barges to service mainly the construction sector in Singapore. We currently own 11 OSVs, 2 Maintenance Work Vessels (MWV) and 24 Tugs &amp; Barges.
2. Describe the Group’s financial performance over the past few years. What were some drivers for the turnaround performance in 1HFY2021?

Following our debt restructuring in FY2017, the Group was given a clean slate, maintaining a strong net cash position and a strong focus on cost and cashflow management which has helped the Group narrow losses and achieved positive operational EBITDA .
In 1HFY2021, the Group reported an 88% y-o-y surge in operational EBITDA to S$4.0 million on the back of higher revenue and margin expansion. Gross profit margin increased to 24% in 1HFY2021 from 18% in 1HFY2020 mainly due to the absence of one-off reactivation costs incurred for our fleet of offshore vessels during the current period.


10 in 10 with Marco Polo Marine - Steering Into Renewables

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      <img src='https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2021-03/Capture_6.PNG' alt='MPM-CEO' />
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    <div class='content-caption'>MPM-CEO</div>
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<p>It was during some of the darkest days in his entrepreneurial journey that Sean Lee learnt what it takes to forge ahead, despite overwhelming odds.</p>

<p>The Chief Executive Officer of SGX-listed Marco Polo Marine Ltd struggled for many months to keep his marine logistics company afloat, amidst a protracted downturn in the oil and gas industry that began with plunging crude prices in mid-2015.</p>

<p>“Those days were the toughest I had ever encountered,” Lee recalled. “Everything crumbled when oil prices collapsed. Most of my peers in the industry went belly-up because funding from the banks evaporated. If we had also thrown in the towel, all our stakeholders, employees, and subcontractors would have suffered, so we chose the hardest route, which is to try and save the company instead.”</p>

<p>Lee spent nearly a year looking for investors and liquidity sources to shore up Marco Polo. In November 2017, he found nine new investors who pooled together S$60 million in rescue financing for the Group. Apricot Capital, Yanlord, Penguin International, Soilbuild, Goldbell, and Oxley were some of the companies named in association with the equity injection deal.</p>

<p>“When we were searching for investors, I visited 150 people, and was rejected 141 times. The process of knocking on every single door - one after another - wasn’t an easy one,” he admitted.</p>

<p>At the end of the day, it was all about staying the course. “As cliched as it may sound, I really learnt what perseverance, stamina and commitment means,” he added. “It all boils down to a ‘never say die’ attitude.”</p>

<p>Four years on, following a massive debt restructuring and refinancing exercise, Marco Polo has cleaned up its balance sheet, and swung from a net debt to a net cash position. As at 30 September 2020, net debt to equity was a negative 14%, while cash and cash equivalents stood at S$13.6 million.</p>

<p>“That period was quite a rollercoaster ride, and now, the Group is finally out of the woods,” Lee said.</p>

<p>“Today, while oil and gas remains our bread and butter, we’re actively expanding our business ventures, and focused on transitioning into the renewable energy sector. This is a fledgling industry with huge opportunities, as countries and organisations increasingly turn to green energy sources. This augurs well for our growth prospects.”</p>

<p><strong>Post-Restructuring Pivot</strong></p>

<p>Listed on the then SGX Sesdaq in 2007 and migrated to the Mainboard in 2009, Marco Polo Marine principally engages in shipping and shipyard operations. Its shipping business revolves around the chartering of Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs), which comprise Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels for deployment in regional waters, as well as chartering of tugboats and barges by customers engaged in the mining, commodities, construction, infrastructure and land reclamation industries.</p>

<p>The shipyard operations focus on shipbuilding as well as ship maintenance, repair, outfitting and conversion services, carried out in its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. Occupying a total land area of about 34 hectares with a seafront of approximately 650 meters, the shipyard also houses three dry docks, boosting the Group’s technical capabilities and service offerings to undertake projects involving mid-sized and sophisticated vessels.</p>

<p>Tapping on this core expertise, Marco Polo is pivoting to the renewables sector, providing customised solutions in the chartering, development, fabrication, and construction of bespoke renewable energy assets for its customers.</p>

<p>In particular, the Group is actively pursuing contracts for the construction of offshore wind farm vessels in the region. Although the specifications are different from those used in oil and gas exploration projects, vessels can be deployed to support certain parts of the wind farm installation and construction, without additional capital expenditure.</p>

<p>“Offshore wind farms are low-hanging fruit in the region - there is a lot of potential for the construction and installation of such projects in Taiwan and many opportunities in countries like South Korea, Japan and Vietnam,” Lee said.</p>

<p>Analysts point out that the offshore wind as well as oil and gas industries share technologies and elements of their supply chains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that 40% of the full-lifetime costs of an offshore wind project, including construction, has significant synergies with the offshore oil and gas sector.</p>

<p>“The burgeoning offshore wind energy industry in Asia is in its nascent stage, where structures are still installed in shallow waters with depths of up to 50-60 metres. This presents a tremendous area of opportunity for Marco Polo Marine, whose fleet specialises in those depths,” UOB-Kay Hian said in a company report published in August last year.</p>

<p>“Of particular interest is the Taiwan offshore wind market, one of the fastest growing in the world - the government targets to produce 15.5 gigawatts of electricity through offshore wind by 2035, making it the most sought-after destination for the world’s top offshore wind developers as they seek a foothold in Asia,” it added.</p>

<p><strong>Green Economy Focus</strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Marco Polo continues to grapple with a number of challenges, not the least of which is weaker oil demand due to the global downturn following COVID-19. Oil prices fell dramatically in the early stages of the pandemic, and have only partially recovered to pre-crisis levels.</p>

<p>For its ship chartering business, the Group will step up marketing efforts and explore additional revenue sources by going beyond Southeast Asia, although the success of such efforts ultimately depends on containment of the pandemic. Utilisation of its tugboats and barges is expected to improve as construction activity in Singapore progressively resumes. As for the shipyard division, it will focus on securing ship repair and maintenance orders from regional ship owners.</p>

<p>One saving grace is that the COVID-19 has brought sustainability and clean energy sources into even greater focus, Lee noted.</p>

<p>“Investors have shied away from traditional coal projects and a lot of liquidity has poured into renewables - this has picked up during the pandemic,” he added. “The move towards a sustainable and green economy is developing faster than anticipated, and we want to ensure that we are part of that shift.”</p>

<p>Understandably, there’s much to keep the 44-year-old up late into the night. “I am a worrier, an over-thinker,” Lee admitted with a laugh. “I constantly worry about the ever-changing business environment, and I’m always turning over in mind all the “what ifs”.”</p>

<p>“But I have learnt to take it much easier now. If turning around the company didn’t floor me then, there’s very little that would kill me now. We just have to face each problem, and solve it one step at a time. I always remind myself that no matter how tough the situation may appear to be, with perseverance and hard work, we can still get through it,” he added.</p>

<p>Lee has two daughters and a son, aged six to 20. The values that he wants to impart to his children include honesty and sheer grit.</p>

<p>“Integrity is one of the key reasons our investors were willing to put their money with Marco Polo Marine - when they invested, they invested in me and my team,” Lee said.</p>

<p>“Likewise, without determination, we would not be here today. I always tell my kids, never be scared of what is ahead, just do it, and when you need to make a decision, just make it. If it doesn’t work out, keep at it, work at it, until it does - these should be your life’s values.”<br><br><br><strong>Marco Polo Marine Ltd</strong></p>

<p>Listed on SGX Mainboard since 2007, Marco Polo Marine is an integrated marine logistics company, which has expanded to become a reputable player in the region. The Group’s ship chartering business provides Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) as well as tugboats and barges, which are deployed in regional waters for its customers in the offshore oil and gas, mining, commodities, construction and infrastructure sectors. The Group’s shipyard business undertakes shipbuilding and maintenance as well as repair, outfitting and conversion services in Batam, Indonesia.</p>

<p>The company website is: <a href="http://www.marcopolomarine.com.sg"><strong>www.marcopolomarine.com.sg</strong></a><br><br>
Click <a href="https://www.sgx.com/securities/equities/5LY"><strong>here</strong> </a>for the company's StockFacts page.<br><br>
For the year ended 30 September 2020 financial results, click <a href="https://links.sgx.com/1.0.0/corporate-announcements/QQYC4T8CH6OZ2TJB/640673_MPML-%20FY2020%20Results%20Announcement.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br><br>
 </p>

<p><strong>About kopi-C: the Company brew</strong></p>

<p><strong>Text: Jennifer Tan-Stanisic</strong><br><strong>Photo: Company file</strong><br><br><em>kopi-C </em>is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations.<br><br>
For previous editions of <em>kopi-C: the Company brew,</em> please click <a href="https://www.sgx.com/research-education/market-dialogues">here</a>.  <br><br>
For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to <a href="https://www.sgx.com/jennifer.t@sgx.com">jennifer.t@sgx.com</a>.</p>
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    MPM-CEO


It was during some of the darkest days in his entrepreneurial journey that Sean Lee learnt what it takes to forge ahead, despite overwhelming odds.

The Chief Executive Officer of SGX-listed Marco Polo Marine Ltd struggled for many months to keep his marine logistics company afloat, amidst a protracted downturn in the oil and gas industry that began with plunging crude prices in mid-2015.

“Those days were the toughest I had ever encountered,” Lee recalled. “Everything crumbled when oil prices collapsed. Most of my peers in the industry went belly-up because funding from the banks evaporated. If we had also thrown in the towel, all our stakeholders, employees, and subcontractors would have suffered, so we chose the hardest route, which is to try and save the company instead.”

Lee spent nearly a year looking for investors and liquidity sources to shore up Marco Polo. In November 2017, he found nine new investors who pooled together S$60 million in rescue financing for the Group. Apricot Capital, Yanlord, Penguin International, Soilbuild, Goldbell, and Oxley were some of the companies named in association with the equity injection deal.

“When we were searching for investors, I visited 150 people, and was rejected 141 times. The process of knocking on every single door - one after another - wasn’t an easy one,” he admitted.

At the end of the day, it was all about staying the course. “As cliched as it may sound, I really learnt what perseverance, stamina and commitment means,” he added. “It all boils down to a ‘never say die’ attitude.”

Four years on, following a massive debt restructuring and refinancing exercise, Marco Polo has cleaned up its balance sheet, and swung from a net debt to a net cash position. As at 30 September 2020, net debt to equity was a negative 14%, while cash and cash equivalents stood at S$13.6 million.

“That period was quite a rollercoaster ride, and now, the Group is finally out of the woods,” Lee said.

“Today, while oil and gas remains our bread and butter, we’re actively expanding our business ventures, and focused on transitioning into the renewable energy sector. This is a fledgling industry with huge opportunities, as countries and organisations increasingly turn to green energy sources. This augurs well for our growth prospects.”

Post-Restructuring Pivot

Listed on the then SGX Sesdaq in 2007 and migrated to the Mainboard in 2009, Marco Polo Marine principally engages in shipping and shipyard operations. Its shipping business revolves around the chartering of Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs), which comprise Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels for deployment in regional waters, as well as chartering of tugboats and barges by customers engaged in the mining, commodities, construction, infrastructure and land reclamation industries.

The shipyard operations focus on shipbuilding as well as ship maintenance, repair, outfitting and conversion services, carried out in its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. Occupying a total land area of about 34 hectares with a seafront of approximately 650 meters, the shipyard also houses three dry docks, boosting the Group’s technical capabilities and service offerings to undertake projects involving mid-sized and sophisticated vessels.

Tapping on this core expertise, Marco Polo is pivoting to the renewables sector, providing customised solutions in the chartering, development, fabrication, and construction of bespoke renewable energy assets for its customers.

In particular, the Group is actively pursuing contracts for the construction of offshore wind farm vessels in the region. Although the specifications are different from those used in oil and gas exploration projects, vessels can be deployed to support certain parts of the wind farm installation and construction, without additional capital expenditure.

“Offshore wind farms are low-hanging fruit in the region - there is a lot of potential for the construction and installation of such projects in Taiwan and many opportunities in countries like South Korea, Japan and Vietnam,” Lee said.

Analysts point out that the offshore wind as well as oil and gas industries share technologies and elements of their supply chains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that 40% of the full-lifetime costs of an offshore wind project, including construction, has significant synergies with the offshore oil and gas sector.

“The burgeoning offshore wind energy industry in Asia is in its nascent stage, where structures are still installed in shallow waters with depths of up to 50-60 metres. This presents a tremendous area of opportunity for Marco Polo Marine, whose fleet specialises in those depths,” UOB-Kay Hian said in a company report published in August last year.

“Of particular interest is the Taiwan offshore wind market, one of the fastest growing in the world - the government targets to produce 15.5 gigawatts of electricity through offshore wind by 2035, making it the most sought-after destination for the world’s top offshore wind developers as they seek a foothold in Asia,” it added.

Green Economy Focus

Meanwhile, Marco Polo continues to grapple with a number of challenges, not the least of which is weaker oil demand due to the global downturn following COVID-19. Oil prices fell dramatically in the early stages of the pandemic, and have only partially recovered to pre-crisis levels.

For its ship chartering business, the Group will step up marketing efforts and explore additional revenue sources by going beyond Southeast Asia, although the success of such efforts ultimately depends on containment of the pandemic. Utilisation of its tugboats and barges is expected to improve as construction activity in Singapore progressively resumes. As for the shipyard division, it will focus on securing ship repair and maintenance orders from regional ship owners.

One saving grace is that the COVID-19 has brought sustainability and clean energy sources into even greater focus, Lee noted.

“Investors have shied away from traditional coal projects and a lot of liquidity has poured into renewables - this has picked up during the pandemic,” he added. “The move towards a sustainable and green economy is developing faster than anticipated, and we want to ensure that we are part of that shift.”

Understandably, there’s much to keep the 44-year-old up late into the night. “I am a worrier, an over-thinker,” Lee admitted with a laugh. “I constantly worry about the ever-changing business environment, and I’m always turning over in mind all the “what ifs”.”

“But I have learnt to take it much easier now. If turning around the company didn’t floor me then, there’s very little that would kill me now. We just have to face each problem, and solve it one step at a time. I always remind myself that no matter how tough the situation may appear to be, with perseverance and hard work, we can still get through it,” he added.

Lee has two daughters and a son, aged six to 20. The values that he wants to impart to his children include honesty and sheer grit.

“Integrity is one of the key reasons our investors were willing to put their money with Marco Polo Marine - when they invested, they invested in me and my team,” Lee said.

“Likewise, without determination, we would not be here today. I always tell my kids, never be scared of what is ahead, just do it, and when you need to make a decision, just make it. If it doesn’t work out, keep at it, work at it, until it does - these should be your life’s values.”   Marco Polo Marine Ltd

Listed on SGX Mainboard since 2007, Marco Polo Marine is an integrated marine logistics company, which has expanded to become a reputable player in the region. The Group’s ship chartering business provides Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) as well as tugboats and barges, which are deployed in regional waters for its customers in the offshore oil and gas, mining, commodities, construction and infrastructure sectors. The Group’s shipyard business undertakes shipbuilding and maintenance as well as repair, outfitting and conversion services in Batam, Indonesia.

The company website is: www.marcopolomarine.com.sg  
Click here for the company's StockFacts page.  
For the year ended 30 September 2020 financial results, click here.  
 

About kopi-C: the Company brew

Text: Jennifer Tan-Stanisic Photo: Company file  kopi-C is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations.  
For previous editions of kopi-C: the Company brew, please click here.    
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Marco Polo Marine Turns Tide, Steers into New Chapter

<p><strong><em>These equity research reports are not written by the SGX. </em></strong><em>SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached rep</em>ort.</p>
<p>INITIATE COVERAGE</p>
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<h2>Marco Polo Marine (MPM SP)</h2>
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<h3>Second Wind Temporarily Disrupted</h3>
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<p><strong>Close to the completion of its corporate restructuring efforts, a successful transition to new revenue sources would be a key turning point for Marco Polo Marine. We like its lean operations and revitalised debt structure, providing promptness and flexibility to navigate the current tough environment. Initiate coverage with BUY and target price of S$0.020.</strong></p>
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<li>Corporate restructuring almost completed; full focus on operations. Following a S$60m cash injection in Nov 17 and a massive corporate restructuring, Marco Polo Marine (MPM) has proven its resilience and is returning to full-scale operations. Already EBITDA positive, the only drag to the group’s turnaround is its loss-making 34.8%-owned Indonesian ship chartering associate.</li>
<li>Revenue base marked in FY19; further upside dependent on diversification. FY19 marked an improvement in sales quality and appropriately reflects the business environment post the 2014 oil crisis. MPM is striving to diversify from the oil &amp; gas industry into the offshore infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, which include submarine cable installations and services to offshore wind farms in Taiwan. The group has one remaining offshore support vessel under warm lay-up that is immediately available should it clinch a new charter contract.</li>
<li>Charter rates may have signalled a bottom. Since the oil crisis in 2014, Clarksons data suggests that charter rates have rationalised, helped by minimal newbuilds and more vessels on lay ups. Furthermore, rising vessel utilisation from demand in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors in Southeast Asia has benefitted the remaining players in the offshore support sector. The rate stabilisation since mid-17 has helped lift MPM’s EBITDA back into positive territory in FY19.</li>
<li>Initiate coverage with BUY and target price of S$0.020. Having undergone the worst in 2017, we believe share price for MPM has seen its bottom. On the back of a more rational environment in the offshore support sector, we initiate coverage with a BUY and target price of S$0.020, pegged to a 31% discount to a severely-impaired book value of S$0.029/share. Currently trading at 0.56x its NAV/share, MPM could garner renewed interest should the group be able to diversify its revenue sources or navigate back to a positive bottom line.</li>
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These equity research reports are not written by the SGX. SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.
INITIATE COVERAGE

Marco Polo Marine (MPM SP)

Second Wind Temporarily Disrupted


Close to the completion of its corporate restructuring efforts, a successful transition to new revenue sources would be a key turning point for Marco Polo Marine. We like its lean operations and revitalised debt structure, providing promptness and flexibility to navigate the current tough environment. Initiate coverage with BUY and target price of S$0.020.





Corporate restructuring almost completed; full focus on operations. Following a S$60m cash injection in Nov 17 and a massive corporate restructuring, Marco Polo Marine (MPM) has proven its resilience and is returning to full-scale operations. Already EBITDA positive, the only drag to the group’s turnaround is its loss-making 34.8%-owned Indonesian ship chartering associate.
Revenue base marked in FY19; further upside dependent on diversification. FY19 marked an improvement in sales quality and appropriately reflects the business environment post the 2014 oil crisis. MPM is striving to diversify from the oil &amp; gas industry into the offshore infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, which include submarine cable installations and services to offshore wind farms in Taiwan. The group has one remaining offshore support vessel under warm lay-up that is immediately available should it clinch a new charter contract.
Charter rates may have signalled a bottom. Since the oil crisis in 2014, Clarksons data suggests that charter rates have rationalised, helped by minimal newbuilds and more vessels on lay ups. Furthermore, rising vessel utilisation from demand in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors in Southeast Asia has benefitted the remaining players in the offshore support sector. The rate stabilisation since mid-17 has helped lift MPM’s EBITDA back into positive territory in FY19.
Initiate coverage with BUY and target price of S$0.020. Having undergone the worst in 2017, we believe share price for MPM has seen its bottom. On the back of a more rational environment in the offshore support sector, we initiate coverage with a BUY and target price of S$0.020, pegged to a 31% discount to a severely-impaired book value of S$0.029/share. Currently trading at 0.56x its NAV/share, MPM could garner renewed interest should the group be able to diversify its revenue sources or navigate back to a positive bottom line.









Non-SGX Report: Marco Polo Marine: Second Wind Temporarily Disrupted

Singapore

Marco Polo Marine Limited is an integrated shipping company. The Company provides services that include ship chartering, ship building and repair, and brokering services.

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