Samsung snagging Harman lifts auto-parts stocks such as Visteon

[SOUTHFIELD, Michigan] Samsung Electronics Co's US$8 billion deal to buy Harman International Industries Inc helped breathe some life into a few moribund auto stocks, especially Visteon Corp, as investors speculate that there could be a buying spree of companies that make technology for self-driving cars.

Visteon's shares have surged about 16 per cent this week after falling 39 per cent this year through Nov 11, the last trading day before Samsung announced the Harman deal. Much-larger Delphi Automotive Plc and Mobileye NV, which both make technologies for self-driving cars or driver infotainment, saw their stocks rise more than 2 per cent the day of the deal.

The bet is that with Samsung plowing into auto technology, perhaps smartphone rival Apple or other tech giants could do the same. Even without a fresh round of dealmaking, the 28 per cent premium paid by Samsung could get investors to rethink the depressed values of some auto parts makers, whose shares are collectively down 6 per cent this year.

"We see this transaction as a watershed event with significance across the global sector that could re-rate the group," Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a research report. "From this day forward, we believe investors looking at automotive and automotive supplier stocks will ask 'what's the next Samsung-Harman?' and with good reason."

The question is, which one? Visteon looks the most likely company to be bought for several reasons, said Richard Hilgert, a Morningstar Inc analyst. With a market capitalisation of US$2.7 billion, it would be far easier for a buyer to swallow than Delphi, which is valued at about US$18 billion, and Mobileye with a valuation of more than US$8 billion.

The enthusiasm hasn't just been limited to companies focused on automotive electronics. The Bloomberg Americas Auto Parts & Equipment index has risen 3.6 per cent this week through Thursday, more than triple the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index.

Among more traditional parts-makers that gained this week are American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, up about 14 per cent, and seatmaker Adient Plc, which has gained about 15 per cent.

Mr Hilgert said Visteon is enticing because it's some ways a smaller version of Harman: It makes technology in the dashboard like electronic displays, telematics and infotainment systems, and it it has expertise on interfaces between humans and machines. The company is also developing technology for self-driving cars.

Jim Fisher, a spokesman for Visteon, declined to comment on speculation about whether the company could be sold. Jerusalem-based Mobileye didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Today's Visteon is a long throw from the former Ford parts business that was spun out in 2000 and went bankrupt in 2009. The Van Buren Township, Michigan-based company has slowly winnowed itself down to focus on connected-car technology and electronics, with the final move coming through the 2015 sale of its air conditioning business to to South Korea's Hankook Tire Co.

If Samsung's rivals want to get in the game, Delphi could also be a target, Robert W Baird & Co analyst David Leiker said in a research note after the Harman deal was announced. Delphi has a joint venture with Mobileye to develop a cost-effective self-driving vehicle systems and is a big player in making infotainment systems.

But like a lot of the players in automotive technology, Delphi doesn't make every piece needed for self-driving cars. That's why the company partnered with Mobileye for its autonomous vehicle system, said Jeffrey Owens, Delphi's chief technology officer, in an interview.

"We've got a great portfolio and we've got a great management team that's willing to invest to solve the next cycle of trends," Mr Owens said. "If somebody saw that as an advantage, we'd deal with that at the time it happens."

Delphi's sheer size would still make if difficult to buy, Mr Hilgert said, adding that the company also makes some lower-tech electronics systems that an acquirer might not want.

Mobileye has already attracted interest from carmakers because it makes mapping technology and vision sensors that allows self-driving cars to see the road and know where to go. General Motors Co, BMW AG and Volkswagen AG all work with Mobileye, along with more than 20 others, the company said on a February earnings call.

At a market value of about US$8.5 billion, it would be much easier to acquire than Delphi. The problem, Mr Hilgert said, is that founders Ziv Aviram, who is chief executive officer, and chairman Amnon Shashua own 9 per cent together. They see revenue growing from an estimate of US$350 million this year to US$1.1 billion in 2019 and would be hesitant to sell before they realise the company's growth potential.

Big auto-parts makers such as Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF Freidrichshafen AG and Continental AG could also start looking to build out their technology businesses.

Samsung rivals such as Japan's Panasonic Corp and Korea's LG Electronics Inc could also get interested. The attraction, analyst Mr Jonas said, is that the tech giants may see the world as one where smartphone demand has peaked, while "the vast untapped automotive/mobility markets will continue for some time."

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