Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>The Kerry Group has been busy of late.</p>
<p>Back in December, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-logistics-network-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:367:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK)</a> IPO'ed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-express-thailand" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29253:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Express Thailand (KEX TB)</a> as discussed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/sumeet-singh" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:4" rel="noopener">Sumeet Singh</a> in <em><a href="https://skr.ma/uGPdd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kerry Express Thailand IPO - Time for Delivery</a></em>.</p>
<p>Last month <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3320:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Properties (683 HK)</a> ("KPL") and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-logistics-network-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:367:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK)</a> ("KLN") <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0210/2021021000043.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a pre-conditional Partial Offer from  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/maanshan-dingtai-rare-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4128:1" rel="noopener">S.F. Holding (002352 CH)</a>.  This is an ongoing transaction - see <em><a href="https://skr.ma/D9RK7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kerry Logistics (636 HK): SF Holdings' Pre-Conditional Partial Offer</a></em>. KLN announced last night the composite document has been <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0308/2021030801425.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delayed</a> potentially up to the 16 August 201. </p>
<div>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shangri-la-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19690:1" rel="noopener">Shangri-La Asia (69 HK)</a>, majority-owned by the Kerry Group, is well up on its March 2020 COVID low, and up 9.5% YTD.  Around half of its hotels are in China, which have witnessed a strong uptick in local leisure and corporate traveling, generating positive EBITDA as early as June last year, the first time since the first outbreak of the pandemic.</div>
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<div>Currently trading at 0.6x P/B against a pre-COVID average multiple of 0.8x., this is worth a second look.</div>
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<div>More below the fold.</div>

The Kerry Group has been busy of late.
Back in December, Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK) IPO'ed Kerry Express Thailand (KEX TB) as discussed by Sumeet Singh in Kerry Express Thailand IPO - Time for Delivery.
Last month Kerry Properties (683 HK) ("KPL") and Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK) ("KLN") announced a pre-conditional Partial Offer from  S.F. Holding (002352 CH).  This is an ongoing transaction - see Kerry Logistics (636 HK): SF Holdings' Pre-Conditional Partial Offer. KLN announced last night the composite document has been delayed potentially up to the 16 August 201. 

Shangri-La Asia (69 HK), majority-owned by the Kerry Group, is well up on its March 2020 COVID low, and up 9.5% YTD.  Around half of its hotels are in China, which have witnessed a strong uptick in local leisure and corporate traveling, generating positive EBITDA as early as June last year, the first time since the first outbreak of the pandemic.

Currently trading at 0.6x P/B against a pre-COVID average multiple of 0.8x., this is worth a second look.

More below the fold.

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/973/original/BANNER-TourDec20.png?1608779882" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179973"></figure></section><p><em>Outbound</em> Chinese tourism activity remained dormant in November. Macau's recovery slowed, and the appearance of a new variant of the Covid19 virus suggests a potential recovery in Chinese outbound travel may be pushed back until at least the middle of 2021, maybe later. </p><p>To our surprise, the recovery in <em>domestic</em> Chinese tourism also appears to have lost steam in November. Passenger counts at the three major national airlines fell YoY, and overall activity was well below that of October. Chinese consumers remain cautious towards discretionary travel. </p><p>We believe Chinese travel demand <em>will</em> recover gradually in 2021, and that the recovery could gain momentum in the second half of the year. Still, the emergence of a new strain of the virus will likely cap outbound travel in the near-term, and it also appears the rebound in domestic demand is moderating. For now, we would avoid pricey travel-related stocks like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a>.</p>

Outbound Chinese tourism activity remained dormant in November. Macau's recovery slowed, and the appearance of a new variant of the Covid19 virus suggests a potential recovery in Chinese outbound travel may be pushed back until at least the middle of 2021, maybe later. To our surprise, the recovery in domestic Chinese tourism also appears to have lost steam in November. Passenger counts at the three major national airlines fell YoY, and overall activity was well below that of October. Chinese consumers remain cautious towards discretionary travel. We believe Chinese travel demand will recover gradually in 2021, and that the recovery could gain momentum in the second half of the year. Still, the emergence of a new strain of the virus will likely cap outbound travel in the near-term, and it also appears the rebound in domestic demand is moderating. For now, we would avoid pricey travel-related stocks like Trip.com (TCOM US).

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: Domestic Recovery Lost Steam in November

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/174/124/original/BANNER-TOURISM.png?1606332998" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="174124"></figure></section><p>Chinese outbound travel activity remained moribund in October, even after another increase in trips to Macau, which eased some travel restrictions in July. Macau's slow recovery suggests it will take many months for outbound activity to normalize once regional restrictions are lifted. </p><p>China's 'Golden Week' holiday period was a day longer this year, but by most measures domestic air activity in October remained weak versus 2019. Sequential improvement in RPKs and passenger counts in October was just +5% MoM, roughly in-line with normal seasonality, and travelers are still opting for shorter trips. We believe the pace of recovery in domestic travel is moderating. </p><p>Can the 2021 Lunar New Year holiday rescue China's travel service providers? Without a relaxation of restrictions in key regional markets, another major holiday travel period could be 'lost', in our opinion. We do not believe improving domestic activity can offset 'lost' outbound travel in Q121.</p><p>We remain negative on Chinese travel demand. We believe the normalization of domestic and especially outbound activitity will take longer than expected -- no 'snap back' scenario, in other words. Furthermore, we believe underlying demand growth was slowing even before Covid19 hit, and it's become clear that domestic travel activity is unlikely to fully offset 'lost' outbound trips. </p>

Chinese outbound travel activity remained moribund in October, even after another increase in trips to Macau, which eased some travel restrictions in July. Macau's slow recovery suggests it will take many months for outbound activity to normalize once regional restrictions are lifted. China's 'Golden Week' holiday period was a day longer this year, but by most measures domestic air activity in October remained weak versus 2019. Sequential improvement in RPKs and passenger counts in October was just +5% MoM, roughly in-line with normal seasonality, and travelers are still opting for shorter trips. We believe the pace of recovery in domestic travel is moderating. Can the 2021 Lunar New Year holiday rescue China's travel service providers? Without a relaxation of restrictions in key regional markets, another major holiday travel period could be 'lost', in our opinion. We do not believe improving domestic activity can offset 'lost' outbound travel in Q121.We remain negative on Chinese travel demand. We believe the normalization of domestic and especially outbound activitity will take longer than expected -- no 'snap back' scenario, in other words. Furthermore, we believe underlying demand growth was slowing even before Covid19 hit, and it's become clear that domestic travel activity is unlikely to fully offset 'lost' outbound trips. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: Macau's Slog | Golden Week Fails to Shine | LNY 2021 At Risk?

<p>Chinese online travel agency (OTA) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-elong-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd (780 HK)</a> released Q3 results on Monday evening in HK. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA were still below year-ago levels, but both metrics were significantly improved from Q2 levels. Notably, purchasing users in Q3 were flat YoY.</p>
<p>Market leading OTA <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> will report its Q3 results on Tuesday, December 1st after the US close. We expect Trip.com to report a sequential improvement, but we believe Q3 results will show its recovery lags Tongcheng-ELong's, mainly due to Trip.com's international exposure.</p>
<p>The expected availability of Covid19 vaccines in 2021 should eventually open up cross-border travel for Chinese tourists next year, but Trip.com and other travel service providers may still be facing a difficult start to 2021, including the long Lunar New Year holiday in February.</p>
<p>As such, we retain a negative view of Chinese tourism demand in the medium-term, anticipating that even a return to the modest demand growth seen pre-Covid19 will require another few quarters, at least. </p>

Chinese online travel agency (OTA) Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd (780 HK) released Q3 results on Monday evening in HK. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA were still below year-ago levels, but both metrics were significantly improved from Q2 levels. Notably, purchasing users in Q3 were flat YoY.
Market leading OTA Trip.com (TCOM US) will report its Q3 results on Tuesday, December 1st after the US close. We expect Trip.com to report a sequential improvement, but we believe Q3 results will show its recovery lags Tongcheng-ELong's, mainly due to Trip.com's international exposure.
The expected availability of Covid19 vaccines in 2021 should eventually open up cross-border travel for Chinese tourists next year, but Trip.com and other travel service providers may still be facing a difficult start to 2021, including the long Lunar New Year holiday in February.
As such, we retain a negative view of Chinese tourism demand in the medium-term, anticipating that even a return to the modest demand growth seen pre-Covid19 will require another few quarters, at least. 

Tough Times (Still) In Chinese Tourism | Trip.com Q3 Preview | TongCheng-ELong Q3 Review

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>Updated with air departure and hotel information on October 30, our Chinese travel tracker dashboard shows a couple of interesting data points this week:</p><ol>
<li>The pace of flight departure growth slowed at the four Mainland Chinese airports we track, while airports <em>outside</em> Mainland China showed solid improvement. This is the opposite of what we've seen in most periods since we launched this product in April 2020.</li>
<li>Average hotel room rates quoted by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> firmed dramatically, but we worry about a single data point that had an outsized impact on weighted average rates. Even putting this odd figure aside, however, hotel rates improved slightly versus a month ago.</li>
</ol>

Updated with air departure and hotel information on October 30, our Chinese travel tracker dashboard shows a couple of interesting data points this week:
The pace of flight departure growth slowed at the four Mainland Chinese airports we track, while airports outside Mainland China showed solid improvement. This is the opposite of what we've seen in most periods since we launched this product in April 2020.
Average hotel room rates quoted by Trip.com (TCOM US) firmed dramatically, but we worry about a single data point that had an outsized impact on weighted average rates. Even putting this odd figure aside, however, hotel rates improved slightly versus a month ago.


TRACKING TRAFFIC's Travel Tracker Dashboard (October 30): Air Traffic Ex-Mainland China Firms

Hong Kong

SJM Holdings Limited offers amusement and recreation services.  The Company operates casinos, hotels, and other tourism-related facilities in Macau.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited develops, owns, and operates casinos. The Company offers casino gaming, restaurants, bars, and resorts facilities. Melco Resorts & Entertainment serves customers in Asia.

Wynn Macau, Limited owns and operates Wynn Macau, a destination casino resort currently featuring hotel rooms and suites, a casino, casual and fine dining restaurants, retail space and leisure amenities.

Melco International Development Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates investment banking, financial services, technology, fine-dining, leisure and tourism, property investment, and investment businesses. The Company carries on financial service businesses under the VC CFN and VC CEF brand names.  Melco also customizes and sells trading and back office systems under the iAsia name.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates and manages hotels, food, beverage outlets, and clubs. The Company also invests in properties.

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates tourist attractions, golf clubs, hotels, and other travel related activities.  The Company also provides passenger transportation as well as freight forwarding and cargo services.

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK)

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong

Miramar Hotel and Investment Company Limited, through its subsidiaries, invests in, develops, and sells properties. The Company also owns and manages hotels, operates food and beverage business, and provides travel services.

Cafe De Coral Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates quick service restaurants, fast casual dining, institutional catering and specialty restaurant chains, and food manufacturing business.

Fosun Tourism Group operates as a leisure focused integrated tourism group. The Company provides resorts management, tourism destinations development, and other related services. Fosun Tourism Group offers its services worldwide.

Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited owns and operates hotels.  The Company also manages and invests in real estate properties as well as invests in and trades financial instruments and marketable securities.  In addition, Regal hotel operates brewery, operates restaurants, and provides travel and florist and wedding services.

Skylark Co. Ltd. mainly operates a family restaurant chain across Japan.  The Company offers Japanese-style, Western-style, and Asia-style foods for a wide variety of targeted customer segments.  Skylark also sells food and provides delivery servies.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited is a franchise licence owner of the Domino's Pizza. The Company sits in the quick service restaurant segment within fast food retail and has a license which covers Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and the Principality of Monaco. The Domino's brand is owned by Domino's Pizza, Inc, a listed US company.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation is a worldwide developer, marketer, seller and manager of vacation ownership resorts and vacation club, destination club and exchange programs, principally under the "Marriott" and "Ritz-Carlton" brands and trademarks, which we license from Marriott International and Ritz-Carlton.

Genting Malaysia Berhad operates a tourist resort in Genting Highlands which includes hotels, restaurants, casinos, and recreational and amusement facilities. Through its subsidiaries, the Company also develops and leases property, operates leisure and hospitality services, and provides time share ownership scheme.

NagaCorp Limited is a leisure and tourism company with casino operations in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. The Company also offers hotel accommodation, manages food and beverage outlets, recreational facilities, entertainmentand retail operations.

Mandarin Oriental International Limited is an owner and operator of luxury hotels, resorts, and residences. The Group now operates, or has under development, hotels in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. Mandarin Oriental International also operates, or has under development, residences at Mandarin Oriental.

Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP)

Penn National Gaming, Inc. owns and operates Charles Town Races in West Virginia which features slot machines, casinos in Mississippi, and a riverboat gaming facility in Louisiana.  The Company also owns racetracks and off-track wagering facilities in Pennsylvania, as well as manages a gaming facility in the Province of Ontario, Canada.

EIH Limited owns and operates luxury hotels and resorts in India under the name "Oberoi."  The Company also manages a mid-price hotel chain in India, in addition to hotels in Egypt, Australia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

TORIDOLL Holdings Corporation operates a variety of restaurants such as skewered grill chicken, Japanese noodle, ramen noodle, Japanese-style pancake, and pasta restaurants.  The Company operates its business at food courts in shopping centers, stations, highway rest areas, and suburbs.

Kangwon Land Inc. is a casino and hotel services provider located in the Kangwon province area of South Korea.  The Company develops abandoned mines and builds gaming and entertainment facilities.  Kangwon Land operates a number of game tables and slot machines for domestic and international customers under its gaming licenses.

Shangri-La Asia Limited, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hotels, and provides management and related services.  The Company also leases offices, commercial, residential and exhibition hall space.

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Shangri-La Asia (69 HK)