Exotix Ltd 13/8/2010
ARGENTINE GDP WARRANTS: AFFIRM BUY RECOMMENDATIONS
Executive Summary
In this note we update our analysis of Argentine GDP warrants. In our previous report (Argentine GDP warrants: still an
attractive option, dated 19 March 2010, available on request), we posted our BUY recommendations for all the GDP warrants,
with a preference for those denominated in ARS. Since then, the ARS GDP warrants have rallied 58% (55% in US$), the EUR
are up by 50% (42% in US$) and the US$ by 42%. We would warn investors to expect high volatility. However, we still see
enough reasons to affirm our BUY recommendations for each of the GDP warrants. We have a slight preference for the ARS,
mainly because investors may recover a higher portion of their investment (60% vs 44% in US$ and 46% in EUR) in the first
payment (which we expect in 2011).
We have raised our real GDP growth forecast to 8.9% for 2010 (from 3%) and initiate a forecast for 2011 of 6.3%, in light of
much better-than-expected activity data. We are above the consensus economic forecast.
Introducing our GDP growth forecasts into our GDP warrants valuation model leads to model values of US$22.4, EUR21.4 and
US$5.5 for the ARS (the price for the ARS warrants is shown in US$, according to market convention), that are between 40%
and 50% higher than our previous valuation. Current GDP warrants prices imply discounts to our model value of 55%, 57% and
57%, respectively. We reiterate that we think it is unlikely that the GDP warrants can trade at their theoretical value, but even
applying a 35% discount (arbitrary, but we believe reasonable) we see strong potential upside.
Based on our GDP growth forecasts, we expect payments in 2010 and 2011 to add US$9.9, EUR9.6 and US$3.2 for the ARS.
This means investors would recover their investment almost in full with the US$ GDP warrants (99%), or more in the case of the
EUR (104%) and ARS (135%) in the next two payments. Note that a 1% change in 2010 GDP growth means a US$0.20,
EUR0.20 and US$0.06 (for ARS GDP warrants) change in the 2011 GDP warrants payment.
We also run a stress case in which we assume GDP growth of 5% in 2010 (which would require an abrupt deceleration in the
second half of the year) and 2% in 2011. Our model returns theoretical values that are 25% lower than in our base case
(US$16.8, EUR15.7 and ARS 4.2). Our stress case analysis indicates (after applying the same 35% discount to the model
values) modest upside potential (between 9% and 17%), which would not be enough to recommend opening a position in GDP
warrants.
Abrazo
salva + 2
