EquityResearchDepartment T:+85225333700 E:research@sbichinacapital.com Address:4/F,HenleyBuilding,No.5Queen'sRoadCentral,HongKong EuroEyes(01846.HK) ResilientdemandforlensexchangesurgeriesacrossfourregionsandintensiveM&Astrategyaccelerateexpansion,maintaintheratingof“Buy”andtheTPremainsatHKD6.92/share Ticker(01846.HK) Recommendation Targetprice(HKD)Currentprice(HKD)Last12mthpricerange Marketcap.(HKD,bn) Buy 6.92 5.36 4.15–5.92 1.79 EuroEyes(01846.HK)reachedanall-timehighturnoverofHKD714.3mnin2023,markinganincreaseofabout17.0%YoY.TheGroup’sadjustedgrossprofitclimbed23.2%YoYtoHKD339.4mnin2023,withthegrossprofitmarginincreaseof2.4p.pto47.5%.Theadjustednetprofitofthe ︱ResearchDepartment Source:Bloomberg,SBICHINACAPITAL Performance(01846.HK) 6.00 5.80 5.60 5.40 5.20 5.00 4.80 4.60 4.40 4.20 4.00 1mth3mth12mth Change 16.3%8.3% 2.3% Relativechange 8.9%-6.4% 13.2% Source:Choice,SBICHINACAPITAL Groupascendedsharplyby40.0%YoYtonearlyHKD141.7mnin2023, representingaYoYincrementof3.3p.ptoa19.8%adjustednetprofitmargin. TheoverallperformanceofEuroeyes(01846.HK)in2023slightlyfellshortofourestimations,primarilyattributableto1.)diminishedoperationalcapacityatLondonVisionClinicin1H23duetothenecessityoftrainingnewsurgeons,compoundedbyapost-BrexiteconomicslowdownthatadverselyaffectedthedemandforrefractivelasersurgeriesintheUK,and2.)thepostponedlaunchofnewclinicsinHongKong,andinKielandWiesbaden,Germany,whichdeviatedfromourinitialexpectations.However,itisnoteworthythat,evenamidsttheeconomicstagnationacrossEuropeandpatchyrecoveryinChina,thedemandofpresbyopiacorrectiontreatmentsremainedrobustacrossfourregions,showinganotableinsensitivitytomacroeconomicpressures.Thisstrongdemandpropelledlensexchangesurgeriestoarecordhigh,withitsrevenuesurgingbyapproximately37.1%toHKD371.8mnandboostingtheoverallcapacityutilizationrateby2.9p.pto25.6%in2023. Lensexchangesurgeriesandnewclinicsoperationsdrivesustainedorganicgrowth Weforecasttheagingdemographicshiftwillincreasinglybolsterthedemandfortrifocallensexchangesurgery,reinforcingitsroleasaprimarydriveroftheGroup’sfutureorganicgrowth.TheKnightsbridgeclinic,openedinSep2023andfocusingonlensexchangesurgeries,isexpectedtoshortenitsramp-upperiodtobreakevenwithin6to9months,basedonitsstrongperformancein1Q24.Incontrast,theHongKongflagshipcliniconRussellStreet,aspreviouslyanticipated,faceshigheroperationalcostsandrequiresalongermarketassimilationperiod,withabreakevenprojectedwithin1to2years. TheGroupisalsolaunchingtwoclinicsinKielandWiesbaden,Germany,originallyslatedforlate2023openingsbutnowscheduledtoopenbytheendof1H24.Additionally,inresponsetotheresurgingbusinessmomentuminthePRC,theGroupwillproceedthisyearwiththepreviouslyplannedconstructionofconsultationcentersinBeijingandShanghaitofurtherenhancetheutilizationratesoftheexistingsurgicalcenters. IntensiveM&Aapproachaimstoaccelerateexpansion SincetheacquisitionofFreeVisGmbHandPMKinAugust2023,theGroupispoisedtobroadenitsoperationsinMannheim,Germany,whilesimultaneouslysolidifyingitspositionasamarketleaderwithintheregion.Concurrently,leveragingProf.Knorz’sextensiveindustrynetworkhasbeeninstrumentalinidentifyinglucrativeM&Aopportunities.Seekingtoenlargeitsglobalfootprint,theGroupplanstoallocateapproximatelyHKD500mntowardsanaggressiveM&Astrategy,targetingrenownedophthalmologists’privatepracticesorwell-establishedlocalrefractivebrandsacrossEurope,America,andtheAsiaPacificregion,withtheaimtocompletetheseacquisitionswithinthenext 24months.However,wemaintainacautiousstanceregardingtheGroup’sM&Atimeline,andwillcontinuetoanalyzethefeasibilityofexecutingacquisitionsatreasonableconsiderations. ResilientdemandforlensexchangesurgeriesacrossfourregionsandintensiveM&Astrategyaccelerateexpansion,maintaintheratingof“Buy”andtheTPremainsatHKD6.92/share TheoverallperformanceofEuroeyes(01846.HK)in2023slightlyfellshortofourestimations,primarilyduetotheacquiredLondonVisionnotreachingtheexpectedsalestargetandthepostponedlaunchofnewclinics.However,itisimpressivetoseethat,evenamidsteconomicstagnationacrossEuropeandapatchyrecoveryinChina,thedemandforpresbyopiacorrectiontreatmentsremainedrobustacrossfourregions,demonstratingnotableresiliencetomacroeconomicpressures.Weanticipatethattheshiftingdemographicstowardsanagingpopulationwillconsistentlystrengthenthedemandfortrifocallensexchangesurgery,furthercementingitspositionasakeycontributortotheGroup'sorganicgrowthmovingforward.Moreover,theGroupissettoopennewclinicsinKielandWiesbaden,Germany,withlaunchesmovedfromlate2023totheendof1H24,andisadvancingtheconstructionofconsultationcentersinBeijingandShanghaitoboostutilizationatitsexistingsurgicalcenters,respondingtorevitalizedbusinessmomentuminthePRC.Additionally,seekingtoenlargeitsglobalfootprint,theGroupplanstoallocateHKD500mninanaggressiveM&Astrategy,targetingrenownedprivatepracticesandbrandsinEurope,America,andAsiaPacific.Thisintensiveapproachaimstoaccelerateexpansionandcompletetheseacquisitionswithinthenext24months,althoughwemaintainacautiousstanceonthefeasibilityandtimingofthesea