Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>A record 42% of active Global managers have zero exposure to the Energy sector</li>
<li>It is the largest sector underweight and a minor allocation among active Global managers, held by fewer funds than the fringe Utilities and Real Estate sectors. </li>
<li>Value managers hold the larger allocations, whilst Aggressive Growth managers have all but abandoned the sector.</li>
</ul>


A record 42% of active Global managers have zero exposure to the Energy sector
It is the largest sector underweight and a minor allocation among active Global managers, held by fewer funds than the fringe Utilities and Real Estate sectors. 
Value managers hold the larger allocations, whilst Aggressive Growth managers have all but abandoned the sector.


Global Energy:  Conviction Underweight or Complacency?

Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

<ul>
<li>2021's vintage of my 5 High Convictions Ideas did extremely well</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pc-partner-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8492:1" rel="noopener">PC Partner (1263 HK)</a> was up 543%, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rex-international-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17074:1" rel="noopener">Rex International Holding (REXI SP)</a> was up 80%, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/straits-trading-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15745:1" rel="noopener">Straits Trading (STRTR SP)</a> was up almost 74% and Shougang Fushan just under 40%.</li>
<li>The underperformer award goes to HK restaurant operator <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taste-gourmet-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27339:1" rel="noopener">Taste Gourmet Group Ltd (8371 HK)</a> as it declined 25%. Below the fold we'll give our 5 High Conviction Ideas for 2022.</li>
</ul>


2021's vintage of my 5 High Convictions Ideas did extremely well

PC Partner (1263 HK) was up 543%, Rex International Holding (REXI SP) was up 80%, Straits Trading (STRTR SP) was up almost 74% and Shougang Fushan just under 40%.
The underperformer award goes to HK restaurant operator Taste Gourmet Group Ltd (8371 HK) as it declined 25%. Below the fold we'll give our 5 High Conviction Ideas for 2022.


Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2021... And 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2022

Equity Bottom-Up

Rex International Holding / Equity Bottom-Up

Earlier this week <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rex-international-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17074:1" rel="noopener">Rex International Holding (REXI SP)</a><a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/20210616_RIH_PressRelease_LimeAcquiresProducingBrageField_Final.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=671402" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that its 90% subsidiary Lime Petroleum would be acquiring a minority stake from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/repsol-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21292:1" rel="noopener">Repsol SA (REP SM)</a> in the Norwegian Brage oil field. In contrast to the rest of Rex's Norwegian assets which are mainly exploration targets, the Brage oil field has been producing oil since 1993 and reached its peak production in 1998. Lime paid 42.6 million USD for a 33.84% stake in Brage (please note it has significant amount of deferred tax assets included here). Interestingly, the transaction has been backdated to start 1 January 2021 so accounting wise Rex will book the cash flows associated with Brage in its full year 2021 report. The 1H21 report was already going to show great cash flow production from its Yumna field in Oman. The just announced acquisition in Norway just adds to this for 2H21 once the deal closes in September. Risks to closing of the transaction is the successful placement of a 2.5 year 60M USD bond in Norway (expected interest rate 10%). Norwegian investors are very familiar with oil companies so we expect no issues in placing the debt.
Why was Rex able to buy such an asset from Repsol? The Spanish oil giant is clearly divesting marginal oil investments as earlier this month <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hibiscus-petroleum-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20775:1" rel="noopener">Hibiscus Petroleum (HIBI MK)</a> announced it bought Repsol's Vietnam and Malaysian assets for 212.5 million USD. We see this as a typical board room decision by Repsol to get rid of marginal fields and the price the assets are acquired for is less important.
Oil = The New Tobacco? While oil companies have been put in a bad light (see recent Shell and Exxon Mobil news) the reality is that oil consumption will be with us for decades to come and cuts in capex by the majors are likely to lead to higher oil prices. For non-ESG obsessed investors the oil industry reminds us of the tobacco industry 20 years ago. ESG agnostic investors could potentially make significant returns in the oil &amp; gas sector just like tobacco investors did between 1998 to 2018.
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/213/888/original/image?1624003554" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="213888"></figure>
Rex remains a great risk/reward story as cash flow from Oman ramps up in 1H21 and cash flow from Norway gets added in 2H21. As highlighted in our previous insight we think Rex currently trades anywhere between 1x to 2x pre-tax cash flows (depending on input variables such as oil price, days production, etc). The 1H21 results in mid-August 2021 should be a wake-up call to investors. Given the age of its principle shareholders Rex remains a prime M&amp;A candidate at some point.

Earlier this week Rex International Holding (REXI SP)announced that its 90% subsidiary Lime Petroleum would be acquiring a minority stake from Repsol SA (REP SM) in the Norwegian Brage oil field. In contrast to the rest of Rex's Norwegian assets which are mainly exploration targets, the Brage oil field has been producing oil since 1993 and reached its peak production in 1998. Lime paid 42.6 million USD for a 33.84% stake in Brage (please note it has significant amount of deferred tax assets included here). Interestingly, the transaction has been backdated to start 1 January 2021 so accounting wise Rex will book the cash flows associated with Brage in its full year 2021 report. The 1H21 report was already going to show great cash flow production from its Yumna field in Oman. The just announced acquisition in Norway just adds to this for 2H21 once the deal closes in September. Risks to closing of the transaction is the successful placement of a 2.5 year 60M USD bond in Norway (expected interest rate 10%). Norwegian investors are very familiar with oil companies so we expect no issues in placing the debt.
Why was Rex able to buy such an asset from Repsol? The Spanish oil giant is clearly divesting marginal oil investments as earlier this month Hibiscus Petroleum (HIBI MK) announced it bought Repsol's Vietnam and Malaysian assets for 212.5 million USD. We see this as a typical board room decision by Repsol to get rid of marginal fields and the price the assets are acquired for is less important.
Oil = The New Tobacco? While oil companies have been put in a bad light (see recent Shell and Exxon Mobil news) the reality is that oil consumption will be with us for decades to come and cuts in capex by the majors are likely to lead to higher oil prices. For non-ESG obsessed investors the oil industry reminds us of the tobacco industry 20 years ago. ESG agnostic investors could potentially make significant returns in the oil &amp; gas sector just like tobacco investors did between 1998 to 2018.

Rex remains a great risk/reward story as cash flow from Oman ramps up in 1H21 and cash flow from Norway gets added in 2H21. As highlighted in our previous insight we think Rex currently trades anywhere between 1x to 2x pre-tax cash flows (depending on input variables such as oil price, days production, etc). The 1H21 results in mid-August 2021 should be a wake-up call to investors. Given the age of its principle shareholders Rex remains a prime M&amp;A candidate at some point. 

Rex: Buying More Producing Assets in Norway, 1H21 Cash Flow Report to Be Transformational

Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

Shortly after publishing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/engine-versus-exxon-activist-hedge-fund-s-proxy-fight-win-reverberates-through-big-oil-boardrooms" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52318" rel="noopener">Engine Versus Exxon: Activist Hedge Fund's Proxy Fight Win Reverberates Through "Big Oil" Boardrooms</a>, I decided that a follow-up report (such as this one) would be a good supplement. So, consider this an addendum of sorts to that first Insight.Whereas "Engine Versus Exxon" was a mostly qualitative discussion of recent events for Exxon and six other supermajors, this is a more data-driven look of a much larger universe of oil stocks; 50 in total, representing 24 countries (mainly in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe).Together, they are a good proxy for the broader Energy sector – an aggregate market capitalisation of US$4.6 trillion, and responsible for an astounding 20.5 billion MtCO2e in emissions, about 65% of all energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.This is a relatively focused Insight, covering four related areas:<ol>
<li>
Carbon Footprints: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions for each (ranked and sorted).</li>
<li>
Climate Policies: Where each stands vis-à-vis implementation of climate-related policies.</li>
<li>
Emissions Targets: Which companies are claiming to go net-zero emissions, and by when.</li>
<li>
Capital Investment: How future CapEx is (or is not) aligned with global warming targets.</li>
</ol>

Shortly after publishing Engine Versus Exxon: Activist Hedge Fund's Proxy Fight Win Reverberates Through "Big Oil" Boardrooms, I decided that a follow-up report (such as this one) would be a good supplement. So, consider this an addendum of sorts to that first Insight.Whereas "Engine Versus Exxon" was a mostly qualitative discussion of recent events for Exxon and six other supermajors, this is a more data-driven look of a much larger universe of oil stocks; 50 in total, representing 24 countries (mainly in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe).Together, they are a good proxy for the broader Energy sector – an aggregate market capitalisation of US$4.6 trillion, and responsible for an astounding 20.5 billion MtCO2e in emissions, about 65% of all energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.This is a relatively focused Insight, covering four related areas:

Carbon Footprints: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions for each (ranked and sorted).

Climate Policies: Where each stands vis-à-vis implementation of climate-related policies.

Emissions Targets: Which companies are claiming to go net-zero emissions, and by when.

Capital Investment: How future CapEx is (or is not) aligned with global warming targets.


Greenhouse Gas Emissions Profiles of 50 of the World's Largest Oil Companies

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

The recent reforms incorporate "loyalty shares" as an option, which in practice come to transform the 'one share one vote' rule that prevailed in listed companies to protect equal voting rights of shareholders. The instrument equates the Spanish rules with those of other European Union countries, such as Germany, Italy, France or the Netherlands, among others, and aims to reward long-term investors, also protecting companies against short-term investors (opportunistic funds).
The Government toughens the takeover law before the arrival of 'loyal investors' on fear that hard core shareholders will take control of Spanish companies with the new double voting system.
According to the change in the regulation, an investor who exceeds 30% of the vote of a company listed due to the double voting rights of the loyalty shares, will have three months to decide whether to launch a takeover bid, reduce participation or waive its new political rights.
The Ministry of Finance discreetly introduces the change in the new Securities Market Law.
In Spain, the companies that establish the double voting system will be less prone to receiving a takeover offer. If it is already difficult to carry out an offer now without the support of the hard core nucleus on shareholders (for instance, MásMóvil has had to agree with those of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/euskaltel-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21263:1" rel="noopener">Euskaltel SA (EKT SM)</a> ), it will be next to impossible under the new framework.

The recent reforms incorporate "loyalty shares" as an option, which in practice come to transform the 'one share one vote' rule that prevailed in listed companies to protect equal voting rights of shareholders. The instrument equates the Spanish rules with those of other European Union countries, such as Germany, Italy, France or the Netherlands, among others, and aims to reward long-term investors, also protecting companies against short-term investors (opportunistic funds).
The Government toughens the takeover law before the arrival of 'loyal investors' on fear that hard core shareholders will take control of Spanish companies with the new double voting system.
According to the change in the regulation, an investor who exceeds 30% of the vote of a company listed due to the double voting rights of the loyalty shares, will have three months to decide whether to launch a takeover bid, reduce participation or waive its new political rights.
The Ministry of Finance discreetly introduces the change in the new Securities Market Law.
In Spain, the companies that establish the double voting system will be less prone to receiving a takeover offer. If it is already difficult to carry out an offer now without the support of the hard core nucleus on shareholders (for instance, MásMóvil has had to agree with those of Euskaltel SA (EKT SM) ), it will be next to impossible under the new framework.

Loyalty Shares in Spain: Double-Voting Rights Could Hinder Takeovers

Spain

Repsol S.A., through subsidiaries, explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas, refines petroleum, and transports petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).  The Company retails gasoline and other products through its chain of gasoline filling stations.  Repsol's petroleum reserves are in Spain, Latin America, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East and United States.

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Repsol SA (REP SM)

Global Energy: Conviction Underweight or Complacency?

Ownership in the Global Energy sectors is at record lows. Despite rising oil prices, it is the largest sector underweight and a minor allocation...

Steven Holden

Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2021... And 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2022

2021's vintage of 5 High Conviction Ideas did extremely well led by star performer Pc Partner. Our new selection for 2022 will hopefully have some...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Rex: Buying More Producing Assets in Norway, 1H21 Cash Flow Report to Be Transformational

Rex acquired Norwegian assets from Spanish oil giant Repsol. This adds to its production profile. The 1H21 results report mid-August should be a...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Profiles of 50 of the World's Largest Oil Companies

A quick overview of the carbon footprints and climate policies of 50 of the world's largest oil stocks (mainly Asia Pacific, Americas, and Europe...

Kyle Rudden

Loyalty Shares in Spain: Double-Voting Rights Could Hinder Takeovers

In Spain, the companies that establish the double voting system will be less prone to takeover, such as Repsol SA (REP SM) and Telefonica SA (TEF...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

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