Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE:JCI) As mentioned above, we used the market volatility in the quarter to establish a new position in Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) common stock. We are impressed with management and with the opportunities for growth as the company focuses attention on its core businesses in building systems products and services and power solutions. During the quarter, the company continued to make progress with its plans to spin-off its automotive business (seating and interiors) and announced a merger with Tyco, a leader in commercial fire and security solutions, which is complementary to JCI’s operations in HVAC and building automation systems. The building products and services business has tailwinds driven by improvements in non-residential construction as well as opportunities for growth as JCI increases its presence in the residential market. As the global leader in non-residential HVAC and industrial refrigeration, JCI benefits from a 90%+ renewal rate once a relationship with a building has been established. The merger with Tyco will add fire and security solutions to the overall offering. Over the longer-term, demand for signifcant energy savings should drive adoption of “smart buildings” that can automatically adjust and monitor the temperature, security and lighting of a building. JCI also recently established a joint venture with Hitachi, which is one of the largest players in variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology and has a strong presence in Asia, including China. The joint venture also provides JCI additional opportunity to expand its residential exposure in North America. Through its Power Systems segment, JCI is the leader in automotive batteries, largely for the aftermarket. Aftermarket battery sales have attractive recurring revenue characteristics as they are not discretionary items – when your car’s battery dies, unless you want to be stranded, you typically have it replaced as soon as possible! The power systems segment is also benefiting from environmental regulations to reduce CO2 emissions, which is driving adoption of start-stop technology. Start-stop vehicles automatically shut off when the vehicle is idling, then restart when the driver releases the brake pedal. The battery is used to restart the engine after every stopping event. JCI could see other operational improvements as well. Assuming the merger with Tyco is completed as planned, the companies expect around $1 billion of productivty and deal synergies over the next three years. JCI also has potential for further resource conversion as the remaining industrial businesses are separable and saleable. The fundamentals of building systems solutions and batteries are solid and driven by demands for energy efficiency. As the company moves to transform itself into a multi-line industrial company, one result could be a higher market value simply as a result of being reclassified into the multi-line industrial sector. Because of its historical exposure in automotive, JCI is often considered – and valued – as an automotive supplier. Auto suppliers are valued lower than industrials because of their attendant lower margins compared to industrial companies. Having said that, the automotive business, recently renamed Adient, has value. It is the market leading provider of automotive seating in North America, Europe and China, with longstanding relationships with all of the major global Original Equipment Manufacturers. The business also has an equity joint venture with Yanfeng Automotive in China for interior trim systems such as door panels, instrument panels and consoles. Once the automotive seating business is spun off, there is the potential for a beneficial re-rating of JCI to the multi-industrial sector. We have seen companies that undergo a sizeable transformation, whether a spin-off or sale of a substantial part of their business, fall into an investment “purgatory” where they no longer fall into a clear industry and therefore are no longer part of the sector weighting or covered by the same analysts. This is the situation that Visteon, which we discuss in the Small Cap letter, found itself–misunderstood by the market as a statistically expensive auto parts company yet was transforming its business into a standalone automotive electronics company with solid growth prospects and a cash-rich balance sheet. In summary, we find much to like about JCI and look forward to positive results from its addition to the portfolio.
From Third Avenue Management (Trades, Portfolio)'s ThirdAvenueValueFund second quarter commentary.
