investor day report Investec17 Apr 2015 17:32
Equities: SKGFeedback from Investor Day, flat German prices While there was no big bang at SKG’s investor day, the event clearly illustrated how far SKG has come from the troublesome years of 20092010, how the Group is increasingly driven by a customerled approach and how M&A is once again at the top of SKG’s agenda. Bid spec was dismissed. Separately, pricing data released yesterday suggests there is as yet no momentum behind the planned €40€60/tonne price increase for April. After several years where the focus was on cost cutting and debt paydown SKG's focus is now on investing (capex and acquisitions) and driving top line growth. The Group is looking to take a more proactive customer approach and has launched the "Open the Future" brand initiative which sets out how SKG is different from its competitors by providing tangible evidence based benefits for its customers based on its deep insight and technology. SKG expec ts this initiative to drive additional top line growth (from 2016 onwards) but no specific targets were provided. We believe this strategy should see SKG gain market share in Europe, mainly at the expense of smaller players. In terms of its own M&A strate gy management reiterated its stance that it has a clear desire to carry out deals which will expand its presence in Emerging Markets or reinforce is position in attractive European markets (ruling out France). It would not rule out a large deal if such a d eal was a rational and logical deal to do, while maintaining a credit rating of Ba1/BB+ is key to the company.
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