HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

China kicked off its public infrastructure REIT issuance in Jun with an overwhelmingly positive subscription response from the market. For the 9 REITs in the first batch issuance, average placement allocation rate is 14.5% and public allocation rate is just 6.3%. The fund raised only represented a mere 3.3% average discount to the value of the underlying assets, with toll road dominated the overall mix to account for 40% of the overall amount raised.We think that the good demand is positive for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-expressway-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2178:1" rel="noopener">Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK)</a>, which is the only one under our coverage involved in the first batch, paving the way for more future issuance by the company. We continue to see the following names as the major beneficiaries of China's public infrastructure REIT program - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-intl-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Intl (152 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a>.

China kicked off its public infrastructure REIT issuance in Jun with an overwhelmingly positive subscription response from the market. For the 9 REITs in the first batch issuance, average placement allocation rate is 14.5% and public allocation rate is just 6.3%. The fund raised only represented a mere 3.3% average discount to the value of the underlying assets, with toll road dominated the overall mix to account for 40% of the overall amount raised.We think that the good demand is positive for Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK), which is the only one under our coverage involved in the first batch, paving the way for more future issuance by the company. We continue to see the following names as the major beneficiaries of China's public infrastructure REIT program - China Communications Construction (1800 HK), Shenzhen Intl (152 HK), Sinotrans (598 HK) and China Everbright Environment (257 HK). 

China Infrastructure REITs: Excellent First Batch Result - Good for Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK)

Equity Bottom-Up

China Conch Venture Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

We take the FY21 guidances for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-conch-venture-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19943:1" rel="noopener">China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK)</a> positively and believe they are more important than the FY20 result. In fact, despite a slowdown from 40-50% YoY growth in the previous two years, Conch Venture's 24.6% growth in its core environmental business in FY20 is still a very decent show under a COVID-19 impacted situation.Conch Venture is expecting 76% growth in solid waste treatment volume and a 65% growth in municipal waste treated in its waste incineration business in FY21, on the back of capacity completion. We believe such volume growth should easily support over 80% surge in core environment profit in this year. Its solid project pipeline will further ensure growth beyond FY21. Adding low gearing and undemanding valuation multiples, Conch Venture is well placed in China's environment sector.

We take the FY21 guidances for China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK) positively and believe they are more important than the FY20 result. In fact, despite a slowdown from 40-50% YoY growth in the previous two years, Conch Venture's 24.6% growth in its core environmental business in FY20 is still a very decent show under a COVID-19 impacted situation.Conch Venture is expecting 76% growth in solid waste treatment volume and a 65% growth in municipal waste treated in its waste incineration business in FY21, on the back of capacity completion. We believe such volume growth should easily support over 80% surge in core environment profit in this year. Its solid project pipeline will further ensure growth beyond FY21. Adding low gearing and undemanding valuation multiples, Conch Venture is well placed in China's environment sector. 

Conch Venture (586 HK): Still Very Well Placed

Canvest Environmental Protection Group / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a> witnessed a good comeback in 2H20 as its BOT construction segment regained pace after the disruption by the pandemic in 1H20. The company finished the year with an 18.1% YoY growth in profit to a record HK$1.05bn, accelerated from 12.7% in 1H20.Thanks to another 10,090 tonnes/day waste-to-energy capacity which will come on stream in FY21, there will be a 47% increase in operational capacity. Adding to this is better gross margin as new plants achieve higher utilisation levels. Hence, management guides for an encouraging outlook, and we expect healthy double-digit EPS growth over the next two years. Its low valuations of 6.8x PER and 1.1x P/B (ROE of 16.5%) have sufficiently discounted the concerns on high leverage, in our view.

Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK) witnessed a good comeback in 2H20 as its BOT construction segment regained pace after the disruption by the pandemic in 1H20. The company finished the year with an 18.1% YoY growth in profit to a record HK$1.05bn, accelerated from 12.7% in 1H20.Thanks to another 10,090 tonnes/day waste-to-energy capacity which will come on stream in FY21, there will be a 47% increase in operational capacity. Adding to this is better gross margin as new plants achieve higher utilisation levels. Hence, management guides for an encouraging outlook, and we expect healthy double-digit EPS growth over the next two years. Its low valuations of 6.8x PER and 1.1x P/B (ROE of 16.5%) have sufficiently discounted the concerns on high leverage, in our view.  

Canvest Env (1381 HK): Setting a Positive Tone for Further Strength

China Everbright Environment / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a> (CEE) has not disappointed us - its net profit grew 15.6% in FY20, accelerating from a 15.1% growth in 1H20. In fact, this is distorted by impairment at its 69.7%-owned <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-greentech-0377b31c-5401-466f-987e-9a176b05fb52" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24085:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK)</a>. Excluding such impact, earnings would have grown by 24% by our estimate - a truly commendable result in a COVID-19 impacted year.CEE's core environmental energy business stayed as its bread and butter, and will still drive growth in FY21 - its projects under construction reached 60% of its operational capacity at end-2020. CEE is also taking steps in alleviating its stretched leverage level. In our view, its mere 4x PER and 0.6x P/B have well reflected the risks related to high gearing, heavy contract assets and concern on outstanding subsidies.

China Everbright Environment (257 HK) (CEE) has not disappointed us - its net profit grew 15.6% in FY20, accelerating from a 15.1% growth in 1H20. In fact, this is distorted by impairment at its 69.7%-owned China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK). Excluding such impact, earnings would have grown by 24% by our estimate - a truly commendable result in a COVID-19 impacted year.CEE's core environmental energy business stayed as its bread and butter, and will still drive growth in FY21 - its projects under construction reached 60% of its operational capacity at end-2020. CEE is also taking steps in alleviating its stretched leverage level. In our view, its mere 4x PER and 0.6x P/B have well reflected the risks related to high gearing, heavy contract assets and concern on outstanding subsidies.

China Everbright Environment (257 HK): Management Guidance Hinting Sustained Growth into FY21

China Everbright Greentech / Equity Bottom-Up

The weaker-than-expected FY20 result of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-greentech-0377b31c-5401-466f-987e-9a176b05fb52" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24085:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK)</a> is primarily due to a one-time impairment charge on its intangible assets at the biomass segment. Without this factor, its net profit would have increased by 2.7%, and EBITDA margin expanded by 2.3pp YoY.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:167:1" rel="noopener"></a>We see better earnings outlook for FY21, with a projected EPS growth of 15%, driven by increase operational income from new projects recently/to be completed, potentially more national subsidy, improvement in margin and lower finance cost on reduced leverage. The plan to securitise its national subsidy through asset-backed securities (ABN) will be positive to its financial position. We still think CEGT inexpensive, but prefer its parent <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a> due to its more diversified project mix.

The weaker-than-expected FY20 result of China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK) is primarily due to a one-time impairment charge on its intangible assets at the biomass segment. Without this factor, its net profit would have increased by 2.7%, and EBITDA margin expanded by 2.3pp YoY.We see better earnings outlook for FY21, with a projected EPS growth of 15%, driven by increase operational income from new projects recently/to be completed, potentially more national subsidy, improvement in margin and lower finance cost on reduced leverage. The plan to securitise its national subsidy through asset-backed securities (ABN) will be positive to its financial position. We still think CEGT inexpensive, but prefer its parent China Everbright Environment (257 HK) due to its more diversified project mix.

China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK): Key Takeaways from Post-FY20 Result Call

Hong Kong

China Everbright International Limited provides environmental protection project management and consultancy services. The Company's operations are broken up into environmental energy, environmental water, environmental construction and environmental technology.

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China Everbright Environment (257 HK)

China Infrastructure REITs: Excellent First Batch Result - Good for Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK)

Good response to the first batch of China public infrastructure REIT issuance indicates investor demand, and this is positive to Zhejiang Exp,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Conch Venture (586 HK): Still Very Well Placed

Conch Venture's core environmental profit will grow by at least 80% in FY21, based on guidances for solid waste and waste incineration volume. Its...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Canvest Env (1381 HK): Setting a Positive Tone for Further Strength

Canvest posted a record earnings for FY20 despite the challenging environment due to COVID-19. Management suggested a robust picture for FY21,...

Osbert Tang, CFA