The €4.9 Bn euros ACS clocked up from the sale of Industrial Services should be used to simplify its structure; starting with a buyout of Australia’s Cimic

acsCM

Intermoney | We confirm our Buy stance on ACS, as well as our Target Price of 40 euros/share, to December 2022e. We believe the Group has the opportunity to reverse the drop in its stock price during 2021 if it simplifies its structure. This could be achieved via a buyout of Cimic. The Australian multi-national contractor is majority owned by ACS’ subsidiary Hochtief. The Spanish firm could also put a market price on its stake in Abertis in the event of a merger between the latter and Atlantia. ACS would hold a 15% stake in the new company. At current prices, the market is not paying anything for the assets which generate over 80% of EBITDA. Operationally, we expect double digit EBITDA growth in 2022e and 2023e.

About the Author

The Corner
The Corner has a team of on-the-ground reporters in capital cities ranging from New York to Beijing. Their stories are edited by the teams at the Spanish magazine Consejeros (for members of companies’ boards of directors) and at the stock market news site Consenso Del Mercado (market consensus). They have worked in economics and communication for over 25 years.