discoverIE Group — Acquiring German sensor business

discoverIE Group (LSE: DSCV)

Last close As at 16/01/2025

GBP6.61

44.00 (7.13%)

Market capitalisation

GBP610m

More on this equity

Research: TMT

discoverIE Group — Acquiring German sensor business

After a series of smaller acquisitions in CY24, discoverIE has acquired Burster Group, a German-based sensor business, for cash of €30.6m/£25.9m. Generating operating margins above the group target of 15%, Burster will join the Sensing cluster within Sensing & Connectivity. discoverIE estimates the deal will be earnings accretive for FY26; we upgrade our FY26 underlying diluted EPS by 1.3%. Pro forma gearing of 1.6x at the end of FY25 sits at the lower end of the 1.5–2.0x target range, leaving further headroom for future deals.

Katherine Thompson

Written by

Katherine Thompson

Director

Electrical components

Acquisition

17 January 2025

Price 661.00p
Market cap £637m

Net (debt) at end H125

£(98.7)m

Shares in issue

96.4m
Free float 96.0%
Code DSCV
Primary exchange LSE
Secondary exchange N/A
Price Performance
% 1m 3m 12m
Abs (11.9) (0.7) (16.4)
52-week high/low 801.9p 558.0p

Business description

discoverIE is a leading international designer and manufacturer of customised electronics to industry, supplying customer-specific electronic products and solutions to OEMs.

Next events

Q325 trading update

Late January

Analyst

Katherine Thompson
+44 (0)20 3077 5700

discoverIE Group is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Note: PBT and diluted EPS as per discoverIE’s underlying metric (excludes amortisation of acquired intangibles and exceptional items).

Year end Revenue (£m) PBT (£m) EPS (p) DPS (p) P/E (x) Yield (%)
3/23 448.9 46.3 35.18 11.45 18.8 1.7
3/24 437.0 48.2 36.78 12.00 18.0 1.8
3/25e 431.9 49.9 37.33 12.50 17.7 1.9
3/26e 459.7 53.1 39.49 13.00 16.7 2.0

Bolstering Sensing cluster with German acquisition

discoverIE has acquired Burster Group, a German-based designer and manufacturer of specialist sensors for markets closely aligned with discoverIE’s target markets. Founded in 1961, Burster sells into c 60 countries, with c 40% of revenue from outside of Germany. Burster generated revenue of €18m/£15m in CY24, with an underlying operating margin above discoverIE’s 15% medium-term target. The company is paying €30.6m/£25.9m in initial cash on a debt-free, cash-free basis with a €12.4m/£10.5m earn-out dependent on financial performance in CY25. Burster will join the Sensing cluster, within the Sensing & Connectivity division, and its existing ongoing management and brand will be retained.

EPS accretive in FY26

We have revised up our FY26 revenue, operating profit and underlying diluted EPS forecasts by 3.4%, 3.8% and 1.3% respectively. We forecast a small 0.1pp increase in the FY26 underlying operating margin to 14.1%. The company estimates that pro forma gearing at the end of FY25 will increase from 1.25x to 1.6x and we forecast an increase in end-FY26 gearing from 1.0x to 1.3x. Based on our conservative EBIT forecast, discoverIE is paying a forward EBIT multiple of 10.8x (9.2x EBITDA), in line with recent larger deals.

Valuation: Discount has widened

After a bounce post interims, the stock has declined over the last month and now trades at an 18% discount to its broader UK industrial technology peer group on FY25 P/E and at a larger discount to peers with a similar decentralised operating model (such as Halma and Spirax). Considering that the earnings outlook has been maintained and the company continues to make excellent progress towards its margin targets, we believe this discount is overdone. With an active M&A pipeline and post this deal, c £45m of debt headroom, we expect further acquisitions to boost growth and earnings.

Changes to forecasts

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by discoverIE Group and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by discoverIE Group. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £60,000 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright 2025 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or sol icitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

London │ New York │ Frankfurt

20 Red Lion Street

London, WC1R 4PS

United Kingdom

More on discoverIE Group

View All

Latest from the TMT sector

View All TMT content

Research: TMT

Claranova — Unveiling the roadmap for profitable growth

Claranova’s FY24 results confirmed that, despite flat revenue, adjusted EBITDA improved significantly, increasing 41% y-o-y and driving the margin up 2.9pp to 9.3%. The company unveiled the outcome of its recent strategic review, introducing the One Claranova strategy. By bringing the two core businesses more closely together and selling myDevices, Claranova is aiming to drive profitable growth that could expand margins to 13–15% by FY27. Evidence of progress towards these targets and reduced gearing will be the key factors to close the valuation discount.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to Edison

Get access to the very latest content matched to your personal investment style.

Sign up for free