Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

In 1933, British author James Hilton published a book called Lost Horizon, which was four years later more famously made into a movie of the same name by Frank Capra. The movie depicts a love story in a mythical utopia hidden in the mountains - a paradise removed from the earth, unbothered by the cares of the world, where people live very long lives in harmony with each other and their environment. It is a fabulous movie in terms of scenery and sets, though its treatment of non-western culture is somewhat 1937-ish.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/188/506/original/ronald+colman.jpg?1613231797" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="188506"></figure></section>The name of this temperate paradise on earth "found" by plane crash survivor Robert Conway (the character played by Ronald Colman) is the now-famous Shangri-La and it is at the western end of the Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山). The subject of this insight is Kunlun Energy (昆侖能源有限公司) and as you can see, the characters of the two Kunluns have nothing to do with each other, but it's a nice movie. <h3>The News and The Backdrop</h3>On 22 December last year, HK-listed China energy investment holdco <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> made an announcement regarding the sale of its 60% equity interest in Beijing Pipeline and 75% equity interest in Dalian LNG to an entity called PipeChina, which is 29.9% owned by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/petrochina-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:262:1" rel="noopener">PetroChina (857 HK)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/osbert-tang-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:3879" rel="noopener">Osbert Tang, CFA</a> published a report on 23 December regarding the sale, and subsequently another in the middle of January regarding how Kunlun Energy would look on a pro-forma basis afterwards. I think this deserves a closer look.

In 1933, British author James Hilton published a book called Lost Horizon, which was four years later more famously made into a movie of the same name by Frank Capra. The movie depicts a love story in a mythical utopia hidden in the mountains - a paradise removed from the earth, unbothered by the cares of the world, where people live very long lives in harmony with each other and their environment. It is a fabulous movie in terms of scenery and sets, though its treatment of non-western culture is somewhat 1937-ish.The name of this temperate paradise on earth "found" by plane crash survivor Robert Conway (the character played by Ronald Colman) is the now-famous Shangri-La and it is at the western end of the Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山). The subject of this insight is Kunlun Energy (昆侖能源有限公司) and as you can see, the characters of the two Kunluns have nothing to do with each other, but it's a nice movie. The News and The BackdropOn 22 December last year, HK-listed China energy investment holdco Kunlun Energy (135 HK) made an announcement regarding the sale of its 60% equity interest in Beijing Pipeline and 75% equity interest in Dalian LNG to an entity called PipeChina, which is 29.9% owned by PetroChina (857 HK). Osbert Tang, CFA published a report on 23 December regarding the sale, and subsequently another in the middle of January regarding how Kunlun Energy would look on a pro-forma basis afterwards. I think this deserves a closer look. 

Will Investors Find Shangri-La in Kunlun?

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

On 22 December 2020 post market close, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) released the consultation paper on the "Proposal to enhance the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market". Market participants had until 24 January to submit their views to HSIL.HSIL are scheduled to announce the changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> as a part of the March review on 26 February. There is a high probability that the conclusions of the market consultation will be announced on the same day.Given some large new listings since then and the price movements on the stocks, we refresh our list of potential inclusions and exclusions assuming that HSIL go up to 65 names or 80 names.In both cases, the turnover is very high in percentage terms and in dollar terms. HSIL will need to implement the changes over 1 year.We continue to believe that the market will probably be fine with increasing the number of constituents to 65, but will likely balk at going up to 80 in one shot.Financials would see the largest decrease in weight, offset by gains in Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Properties, Healthcare, Consumer Staples and Utilities.

On 22 December 2020 post market close, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) released the consultation paper on the "Proposal to enhance the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market". Market participants had until 24 January to submit their views to HSIL.HSIL are scheduled to announce the changes to the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) as a part of the March review on 26 February. There is a high probability that the conclusions of the market consultation will be announced on the same day.Given some large new listings since then and the price movements on the stocks, we refresh our list of potential inclusions and exclusions assuming that HSIL go up to 65 names or 80 names.In both cases, the turnover is very high in percentage terms and in dollar terms. HSIL will need to implement the changes over 1 year.We continue to believe that the market will probably be fine with increasing the number of constituents to 65, but will likely balk at going up to 80 in one shot.Financials would see the largest decrease in weight, offset by gains in Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Properties, Healthcare, Consumer Staples and Utilities.

HSI Market Consultation - Name Changes as We Await the Conclusions

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Event-Driven

As we have said many time before, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> 2021 and 2022 dividend futures are a structural sell due to changes to the index composition that will lower the fair value of the futures.There were 18 inclusions and 17 deletions from the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> in 2020 with a shift from higher dividend yield Financials and Energy stocks to lower dividend yield stocks (or zero dividend yield stocks) from the Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology sectors.We see this trend continuing in 2021 with quite a few changes front-loaded that will affect the fair value of the HSCEI 2021 dividend futures. More changes at the back end along with potential changes to the index methodology could lower the fair value of the HSCEI 2022 dividend futures too.In this Insight, we lay out the possible changes to the index constituents and to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> methodology that will impact the dividend futures.

As we have said many time before, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) 2021 and 2022 dividend futures are a structural sell due to changes to the index composition that will lower the fair value of the futures.There were 18 inclusions and 17 deletions from the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) in 2020 with a shift from higher dividend yield Financials and Energy stocks to lower dividend yield stocks (or zero dividend yield stocks) from the Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology sectors.We see this trend continuing in 2021 with quite a few changes front-loaded that will affect the fair value of the HSCEI 2021 dividend futures. More changes at the back end along with potential changes to the index methodology could lower the fair value of the HSCEI 2022 dividend futures too.In this Insight, we lay out the possible changes to the index constituents and to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) methodology that will impact the dividend futures.

HSCEI Dividends - Structural Sell; Bank Dividends the Swing Factor

There are a lot of changes expected to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> over the next 6 months.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> lists on 5 February and we expect the stock to get Fast Entry to the index with the change implemented at the close of trading on 22 February.The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) will announce the results of the March 2021 review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes on 26 February. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 12 March. We expect 1 inclusion and 3 exclusions at the review.At the current time, we expect 3 changes at the June 2021 review. There are a few stocks that are close adds and deletes and the actual number of changes could be higher.There are a few large IPOs that could take place this year that could get those stocks Fast Entry/ regular entry into the index. The main ones are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Chuxing (1284375D CH)</a>, JD Logistics, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bytedance-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27936:1" rel="noopener">ByteDance (1460967D CH)</a>'s Douyin and a possible revival of the shelved <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> IPO.Then there is the possibility of some large 'homecoming' listings getting included in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> over the next few reviews. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a> is rumored to have picked banks and is said to plan a listing in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a> as other names on the list.In this Insight, we lay out the potential roadmap of upcoming changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> along with the impact on the stocks.

There are a lot of changes expected to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) over the next 6 months.Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) lists on 5 February and we expect the stock to get Fast Entry to the index with the change implemented at the close of trading on 22 February.The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) will announce the results of the March 2021 review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes on 26 February. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 12 March. We expect 1 inclusion and 3 exclusions at the review.At the current time, we expect 3 changes at the June 2021 review. There are a few stocks that are close adds and deletes and the actual number of changes could be higher.There are a few large IPOs that could take place this year that could get those stocks Fast Entry/ regular entry into the index. The main ones are DiDi Chuxing (1284375D CH), JD Logistics, ByteDance (1460967D CH)'s Douyin and a possible revival of the shelved Ant Group (6688 HK) IPO.Then there is the possibility of some large 'homecoming' listings getting included in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) over the next few reviews. Baidu (BIDU US) is rumored to have picked banks and is said to plan a listing in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, with Pinduoduo (PDD US) and Bilibili Inc (BILI US) as other names on the list.In this Insight, we lay out the potential roadmap of upcoming changes to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) along with the impact on the stocks.

HSCEI Index Rebalances - The Year of the Ox and of More Change

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

We think <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> will become an attractive gas utilities company after it completed the transaction to dispose of its Beijing Pipeline and Dalian LNG. By then, we see over 70% of its earnings will derive from natural gas sales business, a profile that compares well with its peers in the gas utilities sector.In valuation terms, the new Kunlun will trade on just 10.5x PER for FY22F, well below 14x for its peers. While its ROE is lower than peers, this is due to its huge cash on hand even after the distribution of special dividends. Its FY22F P/B of 0.64x (on ex-special dividend basis) appears undemanding, especially given that, before making any investment in natural gas end-user sales business with the proceeds as planned, net cash (after special dividend) will still amount to 57% of the share price.

We think Kunlun Energy (135 HK) will become an attractive gas utilities company after it completed the transaction to dispose of its Beijing Pipeline and Dalian LNG. By then, we see over 70% of its earnings will derive from natural gas sales business, a profile that compares well with its peers in the gas utilities sector.In valuation terms, the new Kunlun will trade on just 10.5x PER for FY22F, well below 14x for its peers. While its ROE is lower than peers, this is due to its huge cash on hand even after the distribution of special dividends. Its FY22F P/B of 0.64x (on ex-special dividend basis) appears undemanding, especially given that, before making any investment in natural gas end-user sales business with the proceeds as planned, net cash (after special dividend) will still amount to 57% of the share price. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): How Will the New Kunlun Look Like?

Hong Kong

China Resources Gas Group Ltd distributes natural gas and petroleum gas in the cities of Chengdu, Fuyang, Huaibei, Linhai, Suzhou and Wuxi in the PRC. The Company also operates compressed natural gas filling stations in Chengdu, Nanjing and Wuxi. The group also is involved in bottled liquefied petroleum gas distribution in cities of Fuyang, Suzhou and Wuxi.

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CR Gas (1193 HK)

Will Investors Find Shangri-La in Kunlun?

Kunlun Energy is the wrong price. Investors have not yet digested the event. They should take a closer look. There is potentially a LOT of upside...

Travis Lundy

HSI Market Consultation - Name Changes as We Await the Conclusions

The conclusions of the HSI market consultation could be announced on 26 Feb along with the March review. Given recent large listings and price...

Brian Freitas

HSCEI Dividends - Structural Sell; Bank Dividends the Swing Factor

We see downside in the HSCEI 2021 and 2022 div futures due to changes in the index composition and potential changes in the index methodology....

Brian Freitas

HSCEI Index Rebalances - The Year of the Ox and of More Change

There will be a lot of changes to the HSCEI this year that will impact the sectoral composition and open up trading opportunities on the stocks and...

Brian Freitas

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): How Will the New Kunlun Look Like?

Kunlun will become a cheap and quality gas utility after completion of Beijing Pipeline and Dalian LNG disposal. This Insight looks at its FY22...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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