AI Terminal

MODULE: AI_ANALYST
Interactive Q&A, Risk Assessment, Summarization
MODULE: DATA_EXTRACT
Excel Export, XBRL Parsing, Table Digitization
MODULE: PEER_COMP
Sector Benchmarking, Sentiment Analysis
SYSTEM ACCESS LOCKED
Authenticate / Register Log In

Crescent NV

M&A Activity Apr 27, 2018

3935_rns_2018-04-27_8d675ff1-9b6c-4de0-8540-9becf6916af7.pdf

M&A Activity

Open in Viewer

Opens in native device viewer

OPTION NV FAIRNESS OPINION

ZAVENTEM, MARCH 30, 2018 BDO CORPORATE FINANCE • BRUNO DUBOIS CONFIDENTIAL

To the attention of Mr. Edwin Bex, CFO

Option NV Gaston Geenslaan 14, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Dear Mr. Bex,

Subject: Fairness opinion re equity value of Option NV

We enclose our Fairness Opinion report on the equity value of Option NV as at 31 December 2017 in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter dated 13 October 2017. This memorandum is confidential to the management or shareholders of Option NV. Our field work started on 21 November 2017 and was completed by 30 March 2018 and we have not updated our work since that date.

Yours faithfully,

Bruno Dubois Partner, BDO Corporate Finance

To navigate this memo on-screen

From this Contents page, click on the title of the section.

From any page, click on the BDO logo to return to this Contents page.

Section Sub-section Page(s)
Abbreviations used 4
Mission overview 5-6
Scope of work 7-8
Sources of information 9
Company
overview
10
Financial overview Unaudited consolidated balance sheet 11
Unaudited consolidated income statement 12
Financial
outlook
13
DCF Approach Before any debt restructuring 14
After contemplated debt & capital restructuring 15
WACC Calculation 16-17
Other assumptions 18-19
Multiple approach EV/EBITDA 20
EV/SALES 21
Peer Group multiples 22
Conclusion of value 23

ABBREVIATIONS USED

BDO BDO Corporate Finance (Belgium)
--- ----- ----- ----------------------------- -- --
  • CAPM Capital Asset Pricing Model
  • DCF Discounted Cash-Flow
  • E Earnings
  • EBIT Earnings Before Interest and Taxes
  • EBITDA Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
  • EUR Euro
  • EV Enterprise Value
  • FTE Full Time Equivalent
  • K Thousand (e.g. KEUR: Thousand Euros)
  • M Million (e.g. MEUR: Million Euros)
  • P Price
  • S Sales
  • SFP Small Firm Premium
  • WACC Weighted Average Cost of Capital

MISSION OVERVIEW

  • Mission realized by BDO Corporate Finance Belgium (hereafter « BDO ») for the management of Option NV, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 13 October 2017
  • Valuation of 100% of the equity of Option NV (here after «Option», as at 31 December 2017:
  • Value: estimation of a market price at a particular time based on internal and external business information
  • Price: amount resulting from a negotiation between a buyer and a seller during a business transaction
  • Fairness opinion report prepared for the management of Option NV in the context of a merger with Crescent NV (no other use allowed without the prior consent in writing of BDO). You informed us that the merger is contemplated in the context of a financial rescue operation for Option NV as Option has no viable future on a stand alone basis and that the further support of the major shareholders is made conditional upon the contemplated transaction.
  • « Going concern » value (assuming business continuity and not, for example, a situation of liquidation or takeover) and « stand-alone » assumption (no consideration of potential synergies) but after due consideration that the company will benefit from the listing of the acquirer whereby the usual discount for lack of marketability of no listed shares is n this context neglected.

MISSION OVERVIEW (CONT'D)

  • Principal steps of our valuation work:
  • Discussions with management of Option NV
  • Analysis of various corporate documents, including historical and prospective financial information with respect to the main subsidiaries of Crescent
  • Research and analysis of relevant industry, economic and market data
  • Application of the DCF and multiples methods to develop estimates of fair market value of Option
  • Valuation work carried out in the period from 21 November 2017 to 30 March 2018 (memorandum not updated since that date) based on information and explanations made available to us during this period by the management of Option NV
  • Amounts in EUR unless stated otherwise

SCOPE OF WORK

  • Our work in connection with this assignment is of a different nature to that of an audit. Our valuation analysis and recommendations of value are based on historical and prospective information and financial data provided by the management of Option, discussions with the said management and publicly available information. We have not sought to verify the accuracy and completeness of the data or the information and explanations provided by the management o Option. Furthermore, we understand that any prospective information provided is based on expectations of competitive and economic environments as they may impact the future operations, and the management of Option have consistently applied key assumptions during the estimation period and not omitted any factors that may be relevant. In addition, the management understand that any such omissions or misstatements may materially affect our views on valuation.
  • This Report was prepared on the specific instructions of the management of Option NV, solely for the purpose described before, and should not be relied upon for any other purpose. It should not be quoted, referred to or shown to any other parties, without our prior consent in writing. BDO assumes no responsibility whatsoever in respect of or arising out of or in connection with the contents of this Report to parties other than the Management. If others choose to rely in any way on the contents of this Report, they do so entirely at their own risk.
  • Our valuation work was carried out in the period from 21 November 2017 to 30 March 2018 and our Report reflects the information and explanations made available to us during this period by the management of Option. We have not updated our work since that date. In these circumstances, we may not be aware of all facts or information that you may regard as relevant.

SCOPE OF WORK (CONT'D)

• This Report was prepared on the basis of the sources of information listed in the following section. BDO has relied upon written representation provided by the management of Option that the facts stated in this Report, so far as they are aware of, are accurate in all material respects and that they are not aware of any material matters relevant to our terms of reference which have been excluded.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

  • Principal sources of information :
  • Public information available on the company
  • [Unaudited] 'Option Report Full Year 2017 Results'
  • The February 2018version od a 3 years' business plan [OPTION Budget18 V 20181902]
  • Detail of the contemplated capital restructuring (Contribution of Crescent NV shares and debt conversions)
  • Discussions with the management of Option NV
  • Information accepted as proper representations Option' s operations, without investigating the accuracy or completeness of the data provided to us.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

  • Otion NV is a publicly quoted technology company, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. Option originally specializes in the design, development, production and commercialization of broadband wireless technology devices. After years of significant financial difficulties, the company shifted its focus to wireless solutions enabling Machine to Machine (M2M) communication. The company is presently pursuing a drastic restructuring plan with the view of allowing a complete turn-around. Within the framework of this turn-around, a merger with Crescent NV is contemplated along with a further reduction of the company indebtedness through conversions of old bonds and other bridge loans.
  • The contemplated restructuring measures were considered as essential to the survival of the company.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF 31/12/2017

Dec
31,
2017
Dec
31,
2016
Assets
Intangible
assets
86 427
Property,
plant
and
equipment
23 20
Other
financial
assets
1 137
Other
non current
assets
45 9
Total
non-current
assets
155 593
Inventories 432 619
Trade
and
other
receivables
780 1.103
Cash
and
cash
equivalents
480 774
receivable
Income
tax
15 19
Total
current
assets
1.707 2.515
Total
assets
1.862 3.108
Liabilities
and
shareholers'
value
Equity -13.957 -35.098
Financial
debt
7.438 27.076
Provisions 138 -
Total
liabilities
non-current
7.576 27.076
Financial
debt
1.784 1.984
Trade
and
other
payables
5.174 7.481
Provisions 191 422
Taxes
payable
1.094 1.243
Total
liabilities
current
8.243 11.130
Total
liabilities
and
shareholders'
value
1.862
3.108

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

5.246
Revenue
Product
5.246
revenue
Cost
of
products
sold
-2.546
Gross
Margin
2.700
Research
and
development
-1.866
Sales
, marketing
&
reoyalty
-690
expenses
General
and
administrative
-2.079
expenses
4.210
4.210
-2.297
1.913
-2
673
-1.394
-3.435
-7.502
Total
Operating
-4.635
expenses
Profit/
(loss
from
operations)
-1.935
-5.589
Deprexciation,
amortization
and
impairment
losses
499
1.315
EBITDA
-1.436
-4.274
Result
from
operations
-1.935
-5.589
Finance
-298
costs
-3
013
Finance
income
1.274
340
result
Finance
976
net
-2.673
Profit/(loss)
before
income
-959
tax
-8.262
Income
benefits
/
(expenses)
tax
-
1
Net
result
of
the
period
-959
-8.261
Result
of
the
discontinued
operations
-
340
result
of
the
period
attributable
the
owners of
the
-959
Net
to
company
-7.921

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

Actual Business
plan
For
the
year ended
31
December
2017 2018 2019 2020
Revenue 5.246 5.862 6.579 7.400
Product
revenue
5.246 5.862 6.579 7.400
Cost
of
products
sold
-2.546 -2.897 -3.338 -3.845
Gross
Margin
2.700 2.965 3.241 3.555
Operating
expenses
-4.635 -3.219 -2.819 -2.822
Profit/
(loss
from
operations)
-1.935 -254 422 733
Depreciation,
amortization
and
impairment
losses
499 91 5 5
EBITDA -1.436 -163 427 738
Result
from
operations
-1.935 -254 422 733
financial
results
Net
976 -68 -77 -46
Non-recurring
expenses
- -218 - -
Profit
before
tax
-959 -540 345 687
Income
tax
- - - -
before
Profit
tax
-959 -540 345 687
Capex - - -
Change
in
working
capital
needs
-295 -143 -164
  • Figures were extracted from business plans prepared by the management of Option
  • No Capex as development costs are not capitalized
  • Perpetuity is based upon 2020 + 2% LTGR and EBITDA of the latest period (rounded).
  • No Income tax as huge tax recoverable losses available (in excess of 130 MEUR)
  • Assumptions for change in working capital were derived from discussions with the management (2 months of sales on average)

DCF Approach – Result –

Before any debt restructuring

WACC
18160 9,0% 10,0% 11,0% 12,0% 13,0% 14,0% 15,0%
3,0% 24.483 22.127 20.277 18.769 17.505 16.422 15.477
2,5% 23.680 21.556 19.856 18.449 17.255 16.223 15.317
growth
Long
term
rate
2,0% 22.992 21.057 19.481 18.160 17.028 16.041 15.169
1,5% 22.396 20.618 19.147 17.900 16.821 15.874 15.032
1,0% 21.875 20.227 18.846 17.663 16.632 15.720 14.906

Enterprise value 18.160

480 Cash
-500 Convertible debt
-678 Other financial debt
-6.260 Bridge loans
-1.784 Current installments LT Debt
-325 RV bridge loans
-138 Provision
-70 Interests payable
-2.433 Arrears
-218 Termination indemnity (March 2018)
6.234 Equity value 31-12-2017

• The contemplated debt restructuring plan is now finalized and will result in the conversion/contribution of most of the financial debts and accrued interest thereon.

DCF Approach – Result –

After contemplated debt & capital restructuring

value
Enterprise
18
160
Commited
conversion
Additional
brigde
committed
for
conversion
18
160
Cash 480 1
683
2
163
Convertible
debt
-500 500 -
Other
financial
debt
-678 678 -
Bridge
loans
-6
260
6
260
-
Current
installments
LT
Debt
-1
784
1
784
-
bridge
loans
RV
-325 325 -
Provision -138 -138
Interests
payable
-70 70 -
Arrears -2
433
-2
433
indemnity
(March
Termination
2018)
-218 -218
value
Equity
31-12-2017
6
234
9
617
1
683
17
534

The additional conversion is due to additional bridge financing during the first quarter 2018. From the total contribution of 11.300 KEUR, 9,617 KEUR (committed conversion) is included in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2017.

DCF Approach – WACC calculation

Tax
rate
30% E/D
ratio
Riskfree
Rate
1
72%
,
Olo
30
years
Market
premium
13%
7
,
DegroofPetercam
12/2017
Beta
unlevered
74
5%
,
Zenitel
regional
unlevered
5
years'
horizon
peers
levered
Beta
83
0%
,
Small
Firm
Premium
6% Ibbotson
approach
lowest
market
=> 6
3%
companies
note:
cap
,
COE 13
6%
,
86%
Gross
of
Debt
cost
9%
4
,
20
B+
rated
Corporate
Bonds
composite
year
european
Net
of
(30%)
tax
3
4%
,
(D/D+E)
Gearing
16% 14%
WACC 12
0%
,
Growth
LT
rate
2%

Tax rate considered is the rate applicable for financial year 2018

DCF Approach – WACC calculation Gearing & Beta benchmark

Created : 04 Dec 2017

Betas for Zenitel NV

Levered Beta Unlevered Beta In local
cur
Company EfCode Country Reference Index 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year Debt Market cap D/(D+E) E/(D+E)
Zenitel NV 30029EB BEL BEL 20 0,18 0,25 0,20 0,28 0,40 0,31 2.395 44.876 5,1% 94,9%
Peer Median 0,61 0,78 0,78 0,62 0,65 0,75
LM Ericsson Telefon AB 01439SS SWE OMXS30 1,88 0,99 1,02 2,01 1,06 1,09 31.043 173.262 15,2% 84,8%
Grupo Ezentis SA 20124EE ESP IBEX 35 1,08 1,29 1,23 0,75 0,89 0,85 118.245 153.174 43,6% 56,4%
Nokia Oyj 90006SF FIN OMXH25 1,67 1,23 1,50 1,97 1,46 1,77 3.845 23.651 14,0% 86,0%
Ascom Holding AG 30008ES CHE SMI 0,60 0,78 0,81 0,62 0,80 0,83 25.100 843.695 2,9% 97,1%
NextGenTel Holding ASA 30301SN NOR OBX 0,09 0,22 0,06 0,15 237.343 444.399 34,8% 65,2%
Telefonica Deutschland Holding 40700ED DEU DAX 30 0,73 0,81 0,71 0,61 0,67 0,59 2.259 11.690 16,2% 83,8%
Millicom International Cellula 30041EB LUX OMXS30 0,61 0,86 0,89 1,96 N/M N/M 35.439 54.989 39,2% 60,8%
Bredband2 i Skandinavien AB 30454SS SWE OMXS30 0,29 0,20 0,15 0,31 0,21 0,16 5.998 713.690 0,8% 99,2%
Option NV 30109EB BEL BEL 20 N/M -0,35 -0,13 -0,22 -0,13 -0,05 8.250 16.981 32,7% 67,3%
RTX A/S 30230SD DNK OMXC20 0,58 0,82 0,72 0,64 0,91 0,80 - 1.359.116 0,0% 100,0%
Doro AB 30234SS SWE OMXS30 0,01 0,71 0,78 0,01 0,63 0,69 - 1.076.113 0,0% 100,0%
Iliad SA 30867EF FRA CAC 40 0,80 0,58 0,48 0,73 0,53 0,44 1.923 11.519 14,3% 85,7%
IndigoVision Group plc 31866EX GBR BATS UK 100 -0,08 0,27 0,20 0,00 0,01 0,01 9 0,0% 100,0%
ADVA AG Optical Networking 30318ED DEU DAX 30 1,85 0,94 0,89 2,06 1,04 0,98 50 293 14,6% 85,4%
Manx Telecom Plc 40287EX GBR BATS UK 100 -0,20 -0,05 -0,17 -0,04 69 222 23,8% 76,2%
Median 14,4% 85,6%

Copyright © 2017 - Infront Analytics - All Rights Reserved Gearing 16,9%

DCF Approach – Other assumptions 1/2

  • EBITDA figures of from the business plans 2018-2020 as prepared by the management
  • We added the following assumptions:
    1. Working capital assumptions: 2 months of sales
    1. Capex: no capex! No R&D capitalized nor any CAPEX in tangible assets

DCF Approach – Other assumptions 2/2

  • Terminal value:
    1. EBITDA for perpetuity purpose based on latest year performance (rounded)
    1. Depreciation equal to the CAPEX : 0
    1. No income tax applied to projected EBIT as extremely high value of tax losses. Well applied for the perpetuity as a deferred tax in include in the residual value
  • Residual tax recoverable losses after explicit period (in excess of 130 MEUR) has been capitalized as deferred tax asset and incorporated in the terminal value. As a matter of precaution, we suggest to consider a deferred tax asset on a maximum of 50% of the tax recoverable losses after explicit period. Considering the probable tax rate (25%) at the 2020 horizon, an amount of 16.3 MEUR is included in the terminal value.

Multiple approach – EV/EBITDA

REBITDA multiples Discount EV 2017 REBITDA not considered as negative or close to nil (no
2016 - 13
08
,
0% precise calculation available at this stage)
2017 - 9
34
,
0% -
2018 655 8
22
,
0% 5
388
Additional
brigde
2019 908 07
7
,
0% 6
417
Commited committed
for
2020 1
255
5
29
,
0% 6
636
conversion conversion
Average
EV
4
610
4
610
Cash 480 683
1
2
163
Convertible debt -500 500 -
Other financial
debt
-678 678 -
Bridge
loans
-6
260
6
260
-
Current
installments
LT
Debt
-1
784
1
784
-
RV bridge
loans
-325 325 -
Provision -138 -138
Interests payable -70 70
Arrears -2
433
-2
433
Termination indemnity (March
2018)
-218 -218
Deferred tax
asset
9
750
9
750
Equity
value
31-12-2017 2
434
9
617
1
683
13
734

Multiple approach – EV/SALES

Sales multiples Discount EV
2016 - 0
83
,
0%
2017 246
5
0
80
,
0% 197
4
2018 7
016
0
80
,
0% 5
613
Additional
brigde
2019 7
873
0
81
,
0% 6
377
Commited committed
for
2020 8
855
0
84
,
0% 7
438
conversion conversion
Average
EV
906
5
Cash 480 1
683
Convertible debt -500 500
Other financial
debt
-678 678
Bridge
loans
-6
260
6
260
Current
installments
LT
Debt
-1
784
1
784
RV bridge
loans
-325 325
Provision -138
Interests payable -70 70
Arrears -2
433
Termination indemnity (March
2018)
-218
Deferred tax
asset
9
750
value
Equity
30-9-2017 3
730
9
617
1
683

Market multiple Approach – Assumptions

  • Equity value is calculated considering the committed debt conversion and including 2018 additional bridge financing
  • Residual tax recoverable losses ( +/- 130 MEUR) has been capitalized as deferred tax asset and added to the enterprise value as non operating asset. As a matter of prudence, we considered a deferred tax asset on a maximum of 30% of the tax recoverable losses. Considering the probable tax rate (25%) at the 2020 horizon, the deferred tax asset recognized amounts to 9,8 MEUR.

Multiple approach – Peer Group Multiples

Created : 28 Nov 2017 Forecast Multiples for Option NV

Market
Cap
E.V /
Sales
EV
Net
/
EV
EBITDA
Company EfCode Current (in
millions
EUR)
2017 (e) 2018 (e) 2019 (e) 2020 (e) 2017 (e) 2018 (e) 2019 (e) 2020 (e)
Option
NV
30109EB 1 5 4 4 4,86 3,65 N/A N/A N/M 28,81 N/A N/A
Peer Median 228 245 0,80 0,80 0,81 0,84 9,34 8,22 7,07 5,29
Nokia
Oyj
90006SF 24.052 19.634 0,86 0,89 0,86 0,85 6,55 6,64 5,84 4,54
Doro AB 30234SS 113 131 0,65 0,60 0,57 N/A 7,33 5,16 5,42 N/A
LM Ericsson
Telefon
AB
01439SS 17.921 15.536 0,77 0,80 0,81 0,82 N/M 9,77 7,07 6,03
Ascom Holding
AG
30008ES 677 655 2,45 2,33 2,19 2,01 17,06 14,48 12,32 10,48
Grupo Ezentis
SA
20124EE 149 251 0,62 0,57 0,54 N/A 6,61 5,70 5,21 N/A
RTX A/S 30230SD 199 172 2,95 2,68 2,44 N/A 17,57 15,33 13,48 N/A
Telit
Communications
S.p.A.
32816EX 228 245 0,75 0,66 0,63 0,61 6,63 4,70 4,15 3,57
plc
Spirent
Communications
01562EX 696 605 1,58 1,51 1,41 1,33 9,96 8,77 7,98 7,84
HF Company SA 30567EF 3 0 1 2 0,27 0,25 0,22 0,17 235,73 4,73 3,47 2,00
HMS Networks
AB
30682SS 610 652 5,42 4,78 4,24 N/A 23,37 20,58 17,82 N/A
Parrot SA 40036EF 257 7 0 0,44 0,38 0,33 N/A N/M N/M 7,50 N/A
Technologies
plc
Amino
32544EX 154 146 1,64 1,57 1,40 N/A 8,96 8,44 7,21 N/A
Bredband2
i
Skandinavien
AB
30454SS 7 4 6 7 1,27 1,09 0,95 N/A 10,29 8,00 6,29 N/A
CS Communication
&
Systemes SA
90134EF 109 148 0,80 0,76 0,73 N/A 9,34 9,04 8,79 N/A
ADVA AG Optical
Networking
30318ED 286 260 0,50 0,46 0,44 N/A 5,27 4,24 3,88 N/A

Copyright © 2017 - Infront Analytics - All Rights Reserved Historical fundamental data provided by WVB, Inc Earnings estimates data provided by FactSet

CONCLUSION OF VALUE

• Fair market value for 100% of the equity of Option NV estimated at 16 MEUR as of the Valuation Date after due consideration for the contemplated capital restructuring (debt conversions)

DCF 17
534
50%
EV/EBITDA 13
734
25%
EV/Sales 15
030
25%
Weighted
average
958
15

Talk to a Data Expert

Have a question? We'll get back to you promptly.