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Original-Research: Multitude SE - from NuWays AG

14.10.2024 / 09:00 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The

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Classification of NuWays AG to Multitude SE

Company Name: Multitude SE

ISIN: MT0002810100

Reason for the research: Update

Recommendation: Buy

from: 14.10.2024

Target price: EUR 12.00

Target price on sight of: 12 months

Last rating change:

Analyst: Frederik Jarchow

Sensible strategic acquisition of stake in Lea Bank ASA

Topic: Multitude announced to have acquired a 9.9% stake in Lea Bank ASA

with an option to acquire further 8.7%, once having received the approval

from the regulatory authorities in Norway and Sweden. Here are our key

takeaways:

* Complementary risk profile as good strategic fit. Lea Bank is active in

the consumer lending space with a strong regional footprint across

Nordic countries and Spain. As Lea Bank is offering prime loans to

consumers, the risk profile is significantly lower compared to

MultitudeŽs consumer lending segment "ferratum" and is hence

diversifying the business. Thanks to a business model that is similar

(consumer lending) but different (risk profiles), we see certain synergy

potentials, especially in the field of (1) referrals/product

cooperations, (2) joint development projects and (3) cross-selling.

Still, for now the acquisition is only a financial investment that is

not being consolidated.

* Attractive financial profile. With a loan book of c. EUR 587m (as of H1Ž24

mainly financed with customer deposits at moderate interest rates), Lea

Bank should generate some EUR 48m in net interest income and EUR 55m in

total income in FY24e (assuming similar sequential growth as in H1),

while provision for loan losses should amount to only c. EUR 30m, due to

the relatively low risk profile, with low default rates. The lean cost

structure, should allow Lea Bank to achieve an EBT of EUR 7-8m that could

result in a nice dividend. In light of the profitable, growing business

model with a lower risk profile, the paid valuation of c. 13x PEŽ24e is

appropriate in our view.

Apart from that, Multitude is seen to be fully on track to come close to its

EBIT guidance of EUR 67.5m (vs eNuW: EUR 61.4m), thanks to moderate growth

especially in the SME and Wholesale banking segment, further improved risk

management visible in declining impairments and ongoing tight cost control

resulting in stable OPEX.

As the stock still is undebatable cheap for a growing, highly profitable,

resilient and dividend paying company, trading at only 4x PEŽ25, we

reiterate BUY with an unchanged PT of EUR 12 PT, based on our residual income

model. With that, Multitude remains one of our NuWays Alpha picks.

You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/31041.pdf

For additional information visit our website: www.nuways-ag.com/research

Contact for questions:

NuWays AG - Equity Research

Web: www.nuways-ag.com

Email: research@nuways-ag.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag

Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany

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Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss

bestimmter Börsengeschäfte.

Offenlegung möglicher Interessenskonflikte nach § 85 WpHG beim oben

analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollständigen Analyse.

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2007335 14.10.2024 CET/CEST

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