UOB Kay Hian Private Limited
Date of Report: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Marco Polo Marine: Dual Engines Set to Power Exceptional Growth – Price Target Raised 16%
Overview: Marco Polo Marine Positioned for Multi-Year Upside
Marco Polo Marine Ltd (SGX: MPM), an integrated marine logistics group with a stronghold in regional waters, is embarking on a new era of growth. Backed by robust strategic moves and sector tailwinds, the company is leveraging both traditional oil & gas (O&G) and the rapidly expanding renewable energy market. UOB Kay Hian reaffirms its BUY rating, raising the target price by 16% to S\$0.088 per share, reflecting confidence in the company’s dual growth engines and strong financial health.
Company Snapshot
- Share Price: S\$0.067
- Target Price: S\$0.088 (+31.3% upside)
- Market Capitalization: S\$251.6 million (US\$195.5 million)
- GICS Sector: Industrials
- FY25 NAV/Share: S\$0.05
- FY25 Net Cash/Share: S\$0.02
- Major Shareholders: Lee Family (22.6%), Apricot Capital (16.17%), Penguin International (8.09%)
- 52-week High/Low: S\$0.071/S\$0.033
Strategic Developments Accelerate Growth Trajectory
1. Fourth Dry Dock Launch and First Major Contract
- Marco Polo Marine’s new Dry Dock 4 has secured its maiden ship repair contract, valued at approximately S\$5 million. The vessel is set to arrive at the Batam shipyard by end-August 2025, with expected repairs spanning two months.
- This swift post-launch contract underscores robust demand for shipyard repair and maintenance. With global fleet aging and ship recycling subdued, the long-term outlook for ship repair is highly favorable.
- Dry Dock 4 is expected to significantly boost shipyard revenue and cash flows from 4QFY25 onwards.
2. Three-Year Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Cyan Renewables
- MPM’s shipyard subsidiary inked a three-year MSA with Cyan Renewables to provide repair, maintenance, and conversion services for its offshore wind vessel fleet.
- This partnership strengthens MPM’s position in Asia’s renewable energy transition and ensures recurring income, while expanding the shipyard’s technical capabilities.
- The regional Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) market remains stable, with Southeast Asia’s AHTS term charter rates around US\$8,498/day.
3. Unlocking Value via PKRO Taiwan Listing
- MPM’s 49%-owned subsidiary, PKRO, a top offshore wind support operator in Taiwan, plans to pursue a Taiwan stock exchange listing by 3Q26.
- Proceeds will fund fleet expansion, including new Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) to serve booming offshore wind projects in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
- Global offshore wind capacity stands at 83GW, with 48GW under construction and another 100GW expected to come online within two years, driving strong demand for specialized vessels.
- The Singapore Exchange (SGX-ST) has preliminarily concurred that the proposed listing does not constitute a chain listing, subject to regulatory compliance.
Financial Performance and Projections
Metric |
2023 |
2024 |
2025F |
2026F |
2027F |
Net Turnover (S\$m) |
127 |
124 |
124 |
151 |
166 |
EBITDA (S\$m) |
40 |
34 |
38 |
46 |
49 |
Operating Profit (S\$m) |
28 |
21 |
24 |
31 |
35 |
Net Profit (S\$m, reported) |
23 |
22 |
25 |
29 |
33 |
EPS (S\$ cents) |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
PE (x) |
10.0 |
9.6 |
10.0 |
8.6 |
7.6 |
P/B (x) |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
EV/EBITDA (x) |
5.2 |
6.1 |
5.4 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
Dividend Yield (%) |
1.5 |
1.5 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
Net Margin (%) |
17.8 |
17.6 |
20.2 |
19.4 |
20.0 |
Net Debt/(Cash) to Equity (%) |
(35.3) |
(18.5) |
(30.8) |
(44.1) |
(56.5) |
ROE (%) |
14.7 |
12.3 |
12.9 |
13.6 |
13.9 |
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow Highlights
- Strong net cash position, with negative net debt-to-equity projected to reach (56.5)% by FY27.
- Healthy dividend yield, expected to rise to 3.0% from FY25 onwards.
- Capital expenditures are set to moderate after the significant Dry Dock 4 investment, supporting rising free cash flow.
Key Metrics and Profitability Trends
Metric |
2024 |
2025F |
2026F |
2027F |
EBITDA Margin (%) |
27.3 |
30.8 |
30.2 |
29.8 |
Pre-tax Margin (%) |
20.8 |
23.6 |
22.7 |
23.4 |
Net Margin (%) |
17.6 |
20.2 |
19.4 |
20.0 |
ROA (%) |
8.6 |
8.7 |
9.1 |
9.2 |
ROE (%) |
12.3 |
12.9 |
13.6 |
13.9 |
Debt to Equity (%) |
18.9 |
17.0 |
15.3 |
13.8 |
Investment Case: Dual Growth Engines Driving Value
- Recurring Shipyard Revenues: Expansion at Batam is set to deliver consistent cash flows, backed by strong contract wins and growing demand for ship repair from an aging global fleet.
- Renewable Energy Exposure: The Cyan Renewables master agreement and PKRO’s Taiwan strategy position MPM as a key logistics and support provider in Asia’s offshore wind boom.
- Value-Unlocking Catalyst: The upcoming PKRO Taiwan listing provides both capital for expansion and increased strategic visibility in high-growth markets.
- Further Growth Catalysts: The commissioning of the CSOV “MP Wind Archer” and three new crew transfer vessels (CTVs) will ramp up in 4QFY25, with full-year contributions in FY26.
Valuation and Recommendation
- BUY rating maintained with a 16% higher target price of S\$0.088 (previously S\$0.076).
- Valuation now based on 11.3x FY26F PE, or two standard deviations above the historical three-year PE range, reflecting strong sector tailwinds and clear growth catalysts.
- Current NAV stands at S\$210 million (S\$0.056/share), and a robust balance sheet supports further fleet and yard expansion.
Potential Share Price Catalysts
- Upside surprises in ship charter rates and vessel utilization.
- New chartering contract wins for the fleet.
- Higher-value ship repair projects booked during the year.
Conclusion
Marco Polo Marine is docked and loaded for sustained multi-year growth, underpinned by recurring shipyard revenues and strategic expansion into the offshore wind logistics sector. With its Batam yard now boasting four dry docks, lucrative new contracts, a game-changing partnership in renewables, and a value-unlocking Taiwan listing on the horizon, MPM stands out as a compelling BUY for investors seeking both stability and upside in the marine logistics and renewables space.
Broker: UOB Kay Hian Private Limited
Date: 27 August 2025