Original-Research: Advanced Blockchain AG (von GBC AG): Buy

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Original-Research: Advanced Blockchain AG - von GBC AG

Einstufung von GBC AG zu Advanced Blockchain AG

Unternehmen: Advanced Blockchain AG
ISIN: DE000A0M93V6

Anlass der Studie: Research report (Anno)
Empfehlung: Buy
Kursziel: 11.00 EUR
Kursziel auf Sicht von: 31.12.2024
Letzte Ratingänderung:
Analyst: Matthias Greiffenberger, Julien Desrosiers

Considerable upside potential to portfolio valuation. Track record of
successful partial divestments and financing rounds.
 
In 2022, Advanced Blockchain AG expanded its portfolio by investing in 12
promising blockchain projects and Web3 infrastructure initiatives. Also
three in-house portfolio companies secured over $53 million in funding from
renowned co-investors and investors, solidifying the reputation and
confidence in Advanced Blockchain's ecosystem.
 
One standout success story is Composable Finance, which raised $32 million
with an implied valuation exceeding $350 million in a Series A financing
round and launched a blockchain cross-liquidity protocol. This achievement
established them as a prominent player in the DeFi ecosystem, attracting a
dedicated community of users and partners. Their focus on interoperability
and innovative financial products positions them for continued growth and
success.
 
peaq, another portfolio company, introduced DePIN technology, addressing
key challenges in decentralized finance and enhancing security,
scalability, and cost efficiency. peaq secured a total funding of $10.5
million, with a round of funding of $6 million, led by Fundamental Labs,
peaq solidified its position in the industry. Their advancements in
technology and investment efforts demonstrate their commitment to
revolutionizing decentralized finance and driving innovation.
 
In 2022, Advanced Blockchain AG faced a challenging year in the crypto
market but demonstrated resilience by maintaining its business operations.
Despite a 17.5% decline in revenues to EUR14.73 million, the company remained
committed to navigating the market and pursuing its strategic objectives.
To mitigate the impact of the challenging conditions, Advanced Blockchain
AG implemented a comprehensive cost reduction strategy to align expenses
with the market situation, improving financial stability.
 
In April 2023 Advanced Blockchain AG announced that Sebastian Markowsky, an
experienced investment banker and skilled dealmaker in the blockchain
industry, has joined as an Advisor and Venture Partner. With a successful
background advising top fintech and software companies on securing global
deals, Markowsky brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His focus is on
digital assets, blockchain, decentralized business models, and cutting-edge
technology. With his experience at notable firms like GP Bullhound,
Blockchain Valley Ventures, and Deutsche Bank, Markowsky has gained a
reputation for his commitment and long-term support.
 
The company experienced a decline in EBITDA to EUR2.77 million (PY: EUR6.65
million), leading to a reduced EBITDA margin of 18.8% (PY: 37.2%). The cost
of materials significantly increased by 210.3% to EUR23.80 million due to
rising development costs. However, Advanced Blockchain AG witnessed a
notable rise in other operating income to EUR15.10 million, attributed to
capitalizing internal work for software development in its subsidiaries.
Despite the obstacles, the company remained profitable, albeit with a
proportional reduction in net result. The net result for the year amounted
to EUR1.76 million (PY: EUR5.32 million), showcasing Advanced Blockchain AG's
ability to navigate challenges and maintain financial stability. With a net
margin of 12.0% (PY: 29.8%), the company displayed effective cost
management and resilience in the face of reduced revenues.
 
In fiscal year 2023, Advanced Blockchain AG focuses on sustainable growth
and cost management. The company plans to expand its team, make new
investments and implement cross-chain initiatives to maintain its leading
position as a blockchain incubator and Web3 investor. Ongoing research and
clear strategies will drive the development and adoption of various
blockchain topics and use cases.
 
The top 10 portfolio holdings (of the more than 30 holdings), including
companies like peaq/EoT Labs GmbH, Mero, and Contango, have a conservative
valuation of EUR39.65 million. However, we estimate that the fair value of
these holdings is considerably higher and to be around EUR45 million. The
total portfolio value, including remaining investments, is estimated at EUR90
million, considering a significant undervaluation in the current market
conditions.
 
Regarding the market, the recent endorsement of Bitcoin (BTC) by BlackRock
CEO Larry Fink has had a profound impact on the growing acceptance of
cryptocurrencies among Wall Street veterans. Fink, who was previously
skeptical about digital currencies, announced that BlackRock aims to
streamline and reduce the costs of trading and investing in Bitcoin. This
acknowledgment of Bitcoin's potential as a revolutionary financial
instrument marks a significant shift in the public stance of asset managers
and senior executives. It highlights BlackRock's responsiveness to client
demands and further validates Bitcoin's emergence as a mainstream asset
within traditional finance.
 
We approximate the net asset value (NAV) to be EUR88 million, with a
per-share value of EUR23.48. However, we applied an additional discount of
around 53% due to the ongoing 'crypto winter' and the decline in crypto
markets, resulting in a fair value of EUR41.74 million or EUR11.00 per share.
Based on the significant upside potential, we assign a Buy rating.

Die vollständige Analyse können Sie hier downloaden:
http://www.more-ir.de/d/27327.pdf

Kontakt für Rückfragen
GBC AG
Halderstraße 27
86150 Augsburg
0821 / 241133 0
research@gbc-ag.de
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Offenlegung möglicher Interessenskonflikte nach § 85 WpHG und Art. 20 MAR Beim oben analysierten Unternehmen ist folgender möglicher Interessenkonflikt gegeben: (5a,11); Einen Katalog möglicher Interessenkonflikte finden Sie unter:
http://www.gbc-ag.de/de/Offenlegung
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Date and time of completion of the study: 11.07.2023 (17:30)
Date and time of the first disclosure of the study: 12.07.2022 (09:30)

-------------------übermittelt durch die EQS Group AG.-------------------

Für den Inhalt der Mitteilung bzw. Research ist alleine der Herausgeber bzw.
Ersteller der Studie verantwortlich. Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung
oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Börsengeschäfte.

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Quelle: dpa-AFX