September 23, 2024 09:54 GMT
InterContinental (IHGLN; Baa2/BBB) FV
CONSUMER CYCLICALS
€Bmrk 7Y IPT MS+165/170 vs. FV +128 (-37)
- CoC, 3m par call
- The shorter Accor 31s priced in March at +125 and now +124. We have spread FV relatively flat to it for the 6-month extension and 1-notch higher rating. Sterling Accor's swapped over included (light green).
- No firm view on the hotel managers but please note the decompression potential from current tights (27s were +380 over swaps post-covid and in 2022 widened to +220 over swaps). Both will be happy with running leverage here (BBB/mid-to-high 2x corridor) and instead turn to equity pay-outs. We see move value in high-grade airlines; IAG (Baa3/BBB- Pos) gives 40bp pickup over both around the 4Y.
- IHG 29s +3 in secondary and captured below. Accor unch. Likely refi for the €500m Oct '24.
- Asset light business model like Accor as it franchises out (3/4) or manages itself (1/4) on behalf of owners. Leverage target is net 2.5-3x vs. current 2.4x. Brands across the pricing ladder including Intercontinental (luxury) to Holiday Inn. Rooms; 1/2 Americas, 1/4 EMEAA and 1/5 China - pipeline of rooms is more evenly split across both geographies and franchise vs. managed. FY guidance is for HSD revenue growth, 100-150bps annual improvement in fee margin (EBIT as % of applicable fee collected revenues) and 100% conversion of earnings to adj. FCF.
- For comparison Accor is US lighter (13% of rooms) instead Europe heavy (alongside North Africa makes up 44%). Again cannot avoid Asia (APAC 34%). It is more balanced (50/50) vs. IHG franchising skew which explains the margin difference (Accor high-teens vs. IHG's 50%) - less resources/investments needed in franchise model. Both similar scale (rooms & on EBITDA) and similar levered BS (net; mid 2s).
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