Australian advertising business oOh!Media Ltd (ASX: OML) today announced the $68.5 million acquisition of Executive Channel International ("ECN") in order to acquire ECN's digital and CBD advertising presence.
Here's what you need to know:
- Acquisition to cost $68.5 million, funded by $60 million capital raising to institutional shareholders, $10 million in debt, and a Share Purchase Plan for ordinary ANZ shareholders
- Trading halt today while the placement is conducted, at $4.75 per share, which is a 2.9% discount to yesterday's close
- Acquisition estimated to add $8 million in Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) contribution, or a +3% increase in Earnings Per Share
- Shareholders on the register at close yesterday will be entitled to participate in a Share Purchase Plan for up to $15,000 of oOh!Media shares, also at $4.75 apiece
- oOh!Media reconfirms previous guidance of EBITDA between $68 million and $72 million for Calendar Year 2016, excluding the impact of this acquisition
So What?
ECN's digital CBD office tower and car park advertising looks to be highly complementary to oOh!Media's existing operations, although the purchase price appears to be pretty hefty. A $68 million price tag works out to be around 8-9 times EBITDA, which isn't too bad, but the expected EBITDA benefit also includes $3.2 million in expected cost savings. Excluding expected synergies, the price tag is more like 14 times EBITDA.
This is starting to get a bit pricey, although it does reflect the attractive nature of the advertising business and indeed, oOh!Media's own valuation. Price aside, it does look to be a highly complementary acquisition and a natural fit for the company. If you like what oOh!Media is doing, this acquisition appears to be more of the same.
Now What?
The big question for retail investors is whether they should participate in the Share Purchase Plan. I wouldn't be in a big rush to do so unless the size of positions in your portfolio is important to you. oOh!Media shares are pretty strongly priced and the discount is no greater than what you could likely achieve with a little patience between now and Christmas. For those finding oOh!Media too richly priced, APN Outdoor Group Ltd (ASX: APO) could be a suitable alternative, after its shares crashed 30% in August.
