Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Shimachu, Cathay, Nexon/Familymart, KWG Living, Tata Consultancy, Sun Art

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Our research suggests average container rates rose by 6% in September, boosted by improved Transpacific volumes. While inbound to US demand appears strong through October, estimates from the Port of LA suggest early November will see a modest YoY decline in throughput. </p>
<p>Bunker (ship fuel) prices remain below year-ago levels and carrier profitability in Q3 (and early Q4) likely remains high compared to 2019. Germany's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hapag-lloyd-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21649:1" rel="noopener">Hapag-Lloyd AG (HLAG GR)</a> lifted full-year guidance this week, reflecting confidence in near-term market conditions. </p>
<p>After almost tripling earlier in 2020 on a combination of strong demand and limited capacity, it appears air cargo pricing for key Asian carriers has moderated compared versus peak levels in Q2. </p>
<p>While current conditions appear buoyant, we believe the sharpest YoY improvements in profitability for container carriers (and air cargo) are probably already behind us. </p>

Our research suggests average container rates rose by 6% in September, boosted by improved Transpacific volumes. While inbound to US demand appears strong through October, estimates from the Port of LA suggest early November will see a modest YoY decline in throughput. 
Bunker (ship fuel) prices remain below year-ago levels and carrier profitability in Q3 (and early Q4) likely remains high compared to 2019. Germany's Hapag-Lloyd AG (HLAG GR) lifted full-year guidance this week, reflecting confidence in near-term market conditions. 
After almost tripling earlier in 2020 on a combination of strong demand and limited capacity, it appears air cargo pricing for key Asian carriers has moderated compared versus peak levels in Q2. 
While current conditions appear buoyant, we believe the sharpest YoY improvements in profitability for container carriers (and air cargo) are probably already behind us. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: Box Rates Firm | LA Down in Nov? | Air Cargo Pricing Eases

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

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

<div>Adding Indonesia to the current 8 countries that Singapore has a reciprocal Green Lane travel arrangement with, we should expect an increase in mobility in Singapore as Indonesia contributes to the second largest number of tourists in Singapore besides China. There is also a pilot project of the travel bubble with Hong Kong that requires no 14-day quarantine. </div>
<div></div>
<div>The shift WFO from WFH is not losing any momentum but slowly increasing. Majority Singaporeans uses public transport to go to work compared to private vehicles (public transport is the largest revenue contributor to Comfort Delgro). Phase III of COVID-19 reopening creates higher mobility from the higher number of participants allowed in various events including weddings and religious services. </div>
<div></div>
<div>Let's not be fooled by the increase in the company's increase in PER, the increase was caused by the low earnings rather than an increase in share price thus for investors who have not have <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/comfortdelgro-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:497:1" rel="noopener">Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)</a> in the portfolio, they still have a chance to do it. </div>

Adding Indonesia to the current 8 countries that Singapore has a reciprocal Green Lane travel arrangement with, we should expect an increase in mobility in Singapore as Indonesia contributes to the second largest number of tourists in Singapore besides China. There is also a pilot project of the travel bubble with Hong Kong that requires no 14-day quarantine. 

The shift WFO from WFH is not losing any momentum but slowly increasing. Majority Singaporeans uses public transport to go to work compared to private vehicles (public transport is the largest revenue contributor to Comfort Delgro). Phase III of COVID-19 reopening creates higher mobility from the higher number of participants allowed in various events including weddings and religious services. 

Let's not be fooled by the increase in the company's increase in PER, the increase was caused by the low earnings rather than an increase in share price thus for investors who have not have Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP) in the portfolio, they still have a chance to do it. 

ComfortDelgro (CD): Higher Mobility Expected

<p>On the 9 June, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a> disclosed in its massive recapitalisation proposal <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0609/2020060900356.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a>, that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>By the fourth quarter of 2020, Cathay Pacific’s management team will recommend to the Board the optimum size and shape of the Cathay Pacific Group to meet the air travel needs of Hong Kong while keeping Cathay Pacific’s financial status at a healthy level and meeting its responsibilities to Shareholder - <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0609/2020060900356.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page 6</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This morning, Cathay <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1021/2020102100213.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> its board had approved the following restructuring plan:</p>
<ul>
<li>Its wholly-owned Cathay Dragon, will cease its operations with effect from today. It is intended that regulatory approval will be sought for a majority of Cathay Dragon’s routes to be operated by the Company and wholly-owned subsidiary low-cost carrier, Hong Kong Express Airways.</li>
<li>Approximately 8,500 positions across the Cathay Pacific Group (including Cathay Dragon) will be eliminated, accounting for around 24% of the Cathay Pacific Group’s headcount of 35,000.</li>
<li>Hong Kong-based cabin and cockpit crew of Cathay Pacific will be asked to agree to changes in their conditions of service which are designed, inter alia, to match remuneration more closely to productivity and to enhance market competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
<p>This restructuring will cost HK$2.2bn, to be funded internally. </p>
<p>Cathay is still running at a HK$1.5-HK$2bn/monthly loss. This restructuring is expected to save HK$500mn/month once fully implemented in 2021.</p>
<p>Separately <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swire-pacific-ltd-cl-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10433:1" rel="noopener">Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)</a>'s discount to NAV appears to have met support at around the current NAV discount.</p>
<p>As always, more below the fold.</p>

On the 9 June, Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) disclosed in its massive recapitalisation proposal announcement, that:

By the fourth quarter of 2020, Cathay Pacific’s management team will recommend to the Board the optimum size and shape of the Cathay Pacific Group to meet the air travel needs of Hong Kong while keeping Cathay Pacific’s financial status at a healthy level and meeting its responsibilities to Shareholder - page 6

This morning, Cathay announced its board had approved the following restructuring plan:

Its wholly-owned Cathay Dragon, will cease its operations with effect from today. It is intended that regulatory approval will be sought for a majority of Cathay Dragon’s routes to be operated by the Company and wholly-owned subsidiary low-cost carrier, Hong Kong Express Airways.
Approximately 8,500 positions across the Cathay Pacific Group (including Cathay Dragon) will be eliminated, accounting for around 24% of the Cathay Pacific Group’s headcount of 35,000.
Hong Kong-based cabin and cockpit crew of Cathay Pacific will be asked to agree to changes in their conditions of service which are designed, inter alia, to match remuneration more closely to productivity and to enhance market competitiveness.

This restructuring will cost HK$2.2bn, to be funded internally. 
Cathay is still running at a HK$1.5-HK$2bn/monthly loss. This restructuring is expected to save HK$500mn/month once fully implemented in 2021.
Separately Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)'s discount to NAV appears to have met support at around the current NAV discount.
As always, more below the fold.

<p>Chinese media reports Chinese tourism activity during the long Golden Week + National Day holiday period <em>declined</em> by about 21% YoY to 637 mn person-visits. Spending on tourism during the period reportedly fell by 28% YoY to 466 bn RMB. </p>
<p>Some observers are suggesting these numbers show a strong continued recovery in tourism demand since activity collapsed in Q1 this year due to the Covid19 pandemic.</p>
<p>But we disagree.</p>
<p>In our view, the headline 2020 Golden Week+ numbers we have seen so far are not as strong as we would have expected, given a number of factors that actually should have flattered this year's overall activity and spending numbers. </p>
<p>A closer analysis of the numbers actually suggests tepid tourism demand, in our opinion, and we do not believe the recovery has gained momentum in October.  </p>

Chinese media reports Chinese tourism activity during the long Golden Week + National Day holiday period declined by about 21% YoY to 637 mn person-visits. Spending on tourism during the period reportedly fell by 28% YoY to 466 bn RMB. 
Some observers are suggesting these numbers show a strong continued recovery in tourism demand since activity collapsed in Q1 this year due to the Covid19 pandemic.
But we disagree.
In our view, the headline 2020 Golden Week+ numbers we have seen so far are not as strong as we would have expected, given a number of factors that actually should have flattered this year's overall activity and spending numbers. 
A closer analysis of the numbers actually suggests tepid tourism demand, in our opinion, and we do not believe the recovery has gained momentum in October.  

China's 'Golden Week': Headline Tourism Numbers Hardly Shine

Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited operates scheduled airline services. The Company also provides related services, including airline catering, aircraft handling, and engineering.

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Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)

Last Week in Event SPACE: Shimachu, Cathay, Nexon/Familymart, KWG Living, Tata Consultancy, Sun Art

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: Box Rates Firm | LA Down in Nov? | Air Cargo Pricing Eases

Container volumes and pricing firmed in September, and fuel prices remain relatively low, but trading conditions are unlikely to improve much from...

Tracking Traffic

ComfortDelgro (CD): Higher Mobility Expected

HK-SG travel bubble, Phase III, higher mobility in workplace are key catalysts to start accumulating ComfortDelgro's shares now.

Henry Soediarko

Cathay Pacific: Exit The Dragon

With passenger travel unlikely to return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024, the inevitable staff cut is announced, together with the cessation of...

David Blennerhassett

China's 'Golden Week': Headline Tourism Numbers Hardly Shine

Contrary to some, we do not believe headline tourism numbers from the recent Golden Week suggest improving conditions in China's domestic travel...

Tracking Traffic

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