• DTL phase 2 to open ahead of schedule
• Positive change to taxi standards
• Venturing into rail business in London?

DTL phase 2 will open in Dec-15

Initially scheduled to open in 1Q16, LTA recently announced that the Downtown Line phase 2 (DTL 2) will open ahead of schedule in Dec-15. DTL 2 comprises one depot and 12 stations, of which four are interchanges linking the DTL to the North-East Line, North-South Line, Circle Line and Bukit Panjang LRT, respectively. According to LTA, construction works for DTL 2’s stations are currently more than 95% complete, while Mechanical & Electrical installation works are in the final stages for all the 12 stations. Testing of train operations are also underway since Apr-15 and will continue into 3Q15. Recall that CDG’s management guided for breakeven on DTL between opening of DTL 2 and DTL phase 3. Hence, in our view, this is certainly a positive development for ComfortDelGro (CDG).

Positive change to method of computing taxi availability

Being the largest taxi operator in Singapore, CDG had been subject to LTA’s Taxi Availability standards (TA) since 2013. The two main criteria of the TA are meeting stipulated percentage of taxis: 1) on the roads during peak periods, and 2) minimum daily mileage of 250km. Previously, the TA were computed based on registered fleet, which does not account for each taxi company’s unhired fleet at any one time for valid reasons such as maintenance purposes.

The new TA computation will thus be based on the company’s hired-out fleet, which more accurately measures the availability. We believe this change will ease pressures on taxi companies’ ability to meet the TA standards. While CDG has been the only one to consistently meet the criteria since the inception of the TA standards, we think this change is still positive as it provides greater flexibility for CDG to manage its fleet of taxis.

Seeking opportunities in London’s rail business

CDG’s recently announced intention to seek opportunities in London’s rail business is encouraging, seeing that management is taking actions in expanding CDG’s overseas businesses. As we think these recent developments are positive but not unexpected, we keep our forecasts unchanged. Maintain HOLD with FV of S$3.07.

Source: OCBC Research - 2 Jul 2015