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

Quantitative Analysis

EM Energy allocations are at record lows.  A big exodus in the first half of 2020 pushed allocations to their lowest levels since our records start in 2008.   The aggressive scaling back of positioning had a dramatic effect on prices, with the MSCI EM Energy sector suffering one of the worst 12 month periods of underperformance in nearly 2 decades.  But the ownership picture is beginning to stabilize.  On a stock level, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lukoil-pjsc-2bfe0130-461e-4ff3-af12-93bec12e6325" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27148:1" rel="noopener">LUKOIL (LKOH RM)</a> appears to be the GOAT, with its backing of almost half of the funds in our analysis, well spread across the style spectrum in addition to being a net overweight.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/reliance-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:198:1" rel="noopener"> Reliance Industries (RIL IN)</a> is also a high conviction stock, held by fewer funds than Lukoil but in greater size.  It also represents a significant underweight to many EM investors.  The most depressed stock of the larger holdings is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a> , once held by over 60% of the funds in our analysis, now by just 24%.Analysis taken from our EM research, covering the collective allocations of 242 Global Emerging Market active funds, with combined AUM of $460bn

EM Energy allocations are at record lows.  A big exodus in the first half of 2020 pushed allocations to their lowest levels since our records start in 2008.   The aggressive scaling back of positioning had a dramatic effect on prices, with the MSCI EM Energy sector suffering one of the worst 12 month periods of underperformance in nearly 2 decades.  But the ownership picture is beginning to stabilize.  On a stock level, LUKOIL (LKOH RM) appears to be the GOAT, with its backing of almost half of the funds in our analysis, well spread across the style spectrum in addition to being a net overweight.   Reliance Industries (RIL IN) is also a high conviction stock, held by fewer funds than Lukoil but in greater size.  It also represents a significant underweight to many EM investors.  The most depressed stock of the larger holdings is CNOOC Ltd (883 HK) , once held by over 60% of the funds in our analysis, now by just 24%.Analysis taken from our EM research, covering the collective allocations of 242 Global Emerging Market active funds, with combined AUM of $460bn

EM Energy: Big Underperformance - Positioning at Record Lows, but Stabilizing.

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?

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?

<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> finally concluded the sale of its 60% equity interest in Beijing Pipeline and 75% equity interest in Dalian LNG to PipeChina at a very favourable 1.9x P/B multiple. This is significantly better than 1.21x and 1.43x that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/petrochina-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:262:1" rel="noopener">Petrochina Co Ltd H (857 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-petroleum-chemical-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:369:1" rel="noopener">China Petroleum &amp; Chemical (386 HK)</a> got from their deals with PipeChina, respectively.With net cash inflow of Rmb37bn, or HK$4.94/share (ie 77% of current share price), Kunlun intends to pay out 50% of such cash. That said, the overall dividend yield for FY21F will reach 40.5%. After the transaction, based on sum-of-the-parts valuation, we place Kunlun at HK$10.58, meaning that it trades on a steep 39% discount. We believe Kunlun will escalate its expansion into the downstream gas sales business going forward, and this should narrow its valuation discount to gas utilities peers.

Kunlun Energy (135 HK) finally concluded the sale of its 60% equity interest in Beijing Pipeline and 75% equity interest in Dalian LNG to PipeChina at a very favourable 1.9x P/B multiple. This is significantly better than 1.21x and 1.43x that Petrochina Co Ltd H (857 HK) and China Petroleum &amp; Chemical (386 HK) got from their deals with PipeChina, respectively.With net cash inflow of Rmb37bn, or HK$4.94/share (ie 77% of current share price), Kunlun intends to pay out 50% of such cash. That said, the overall dividend yield for FY21F will reach 40.5%. After the transaction, based on sum-of-the-parts valuation, we place Kunlun at HK$10.58, meaning that it trades on a steep 39% discount. We believe Kunlun will escalate its expansion into the downstream gas sales business going forward, and this should narrow its valuation discount to gas utilities peers. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Very Favourable Valuation for Pipeline and Dalian LNG Disposals

We expect <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> to experience a re-rating on the back of its efforts of strengthening its presence in the downstream gas distribution market. Kunlun Gas, its gas sales subsidiary, achieved a 30.6% YoY growth in 3Q20 profit, suggesting a powerful recovery from the negative impact of Covid-19 in 1H20. Gross margin in 3Q20 is also the highest in the last six quarters.The recent acquisition of 10 city gas projects in Xinjiang has added to its portfolio and will boost Kunlun Gas' profit by 4-5%. Kunlun Energy's share price was still down 8.8% YTD, despite a 107% rebound from trough, and the stock now trades on 0.89x P/B (1SD below average), which is undemanding both relative to industry peers and historical range.

We expect Kunlun Energy (135 HK) to experience a re-rating on the back of its efforts of strengthening its presence in the downstream gas distribution market. Kunlun Gas, its gas sales subsidiary, achieved a 30.6% YoY growth in 3Q20 profit, suggesting a powerful recovery from the negative impact of Covid-19 in 1H20. Gross margin in 3Q20 is also the highest in the last six quarters.The recent acquisition of 10 city gas projects in Xinjiang has added to its portfolio and will boost Kunlun Gas' profit by 4-5%. Kunlun Energy's share price was still down 8.8% YTD, despite a 107% rebound from trough, and the stock now trades on 0.89x P/B (1SD below average), which is undemanding both relative to industry peers and historical range. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Kunlun Gas to Lead Re-Rating

Hong Kong

Kunlun Energy Company Ltd, through its subsidiaries, explores and produces crude oil and natural gas in China.

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Kunlun Energy (135 HK)

EM Energy: Big Underperformance - Positioning at Record Lows, but Stabilizing.

EM Energy exodus drives worst performance of EM Energy sector in over 15 years. EM active funds are now at their lowest ever exposure to EM Energy...

Steven Holden

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