Daily Brief China: CIMC Vehicle Group Co Ltd, Full Truck Alliance , Xinjiang Tianshan Cement A, Lianlian DigiTech, Gold, Bank Of Ningbo Co Ltd A, Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust, Longfor Properties, Hutchmed China Ltd and more

• CIMC Vehicle Group Co Ltd (1839 HK) announced the H Share buyback offer, excluding CIMC’s shares, is at HK$7.50, a 16.5% premium to the undisturbed price. The offer is final.
• The key condition is approval by at least 75% of independent H Shareholders (<10% of all independent H Shareholders rejection) along with a 90% minimum acceptance condition.  
• Excluding the irrevocables, the 90% threshold requires an independent H Shareholder acceptance rate of 77.7%, which could be challenging due to a light offer. Risk/reward unfavourable. 

• Back on the 28 November 2023, SOE-backed CIMC Vehicle Group Co Ltd (1839 HK) announced a conditional H-share buyback at a $7.00/H-share, a paltry 8.6% premium to last close.
• This Scheme-like Offer, with a tendering condition, secured SAFE approval late January. But last month CIMC announced a CBP investigation into the evasion of U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties.
• Now CIMC has announced a firm Offer at HK$7.50/share. Terms are final. The majority of independent H-shareholders are supportive. This looks done. Possible completion late-May, early-June.

• Q423 revenue growth, core margins, and expense control all looked strong
• Evolving revenue mix bodes well for long-term improvement in core margin
• Buyback update & Q124 guidance both +ive; appears cheap at 14x consensus

• CSI 300 represents the 300 largest stocks by market capitalization and liquidity from the entire universe of Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. CSI 500 represents the next largest 500 names.
• In this insight, we take a look at the potential ADDs/DELs for the CSI 300 and CSI 500 rebalance in June 2024.
• There are some changes to the list of expected ADDs/DELs since I published my last insight on this roughly a month ago.

• Lianlian DigiTech (2104619D CH)  is a digital payment solution provider in China has filed for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
• As per news media outlets, the company plans to raise US$500m to help enhance its technological capabilities and expand global operations.
• In this insight, we have discussed the company’s business model, key financials and the outlook on the company.

• China set a growth target of “around 5%” for 2024, according to the “Government Work Report” released Tuesday as part of the opening of the National People’s Congress annual meeting.

• Last year China’s economy grew by 5.2%, matching the official target of around 5%.

• China set a deficit-to-GDP ratio of 3% for the year, down from a rare upward revision to 3.8% late last year from the original 3%.

• Bank of Ningbo saw its margins decline dramatically from 1.79% to 1.55% from 3Q22 to 3Q23. This is of concern for earnings power in coming quarters.
• The bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) is now down to 73% from 78% YoY which tends to act as a dampener on NIM and core income.
• Credit metrics are worsening with NPLs up from RMB7.9bn to RMB9.3bn YoY in 3Q23. This rise is not easily visible in the NPL ratio due to rising total loans.

Yuexiu REIT’s FY 2023 results were acceptable in our view, as earnings from its hotels and retail assets recovered y-o-y on the back of China’s resumption of economic activities following the pandemic. This was partly offset by lower earnings from its office buildings. The overall portfolio occupancy rate improved in H2, but was down marginally amid weakness in the office segment. Net debt decreased in H2, but was largely stable. Positively, the portfolio asset valuation was largely unchanged at CNY 42.6 bn. That said, the financial profile remains moderately weak.

We view refinancing risk as manageable, considering Yuexiu REIT’s healthy access to funding and large proportion of unencumbered assets. It will likely continue refinancing offshore floating-rate debt with onshore fixed-rate borrowings, which could help stem FX losses and lower interest costs.

We revise our fundamental Credit Bias to “Stable” from “Negative”, and move our trade recommendation to “Buy” from “Hold” on the YXREIT 2.65 ’26s. 

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.

• China Jinmao Holdings
• China Vanke
• Pan Brothers

• HUTCHMED’s 2023 results were in line with expectation. It is gradually becoming a self-sufficient innovative drug enterprise with sufficient cashflow due to upfront/milestone payments of Takeda and increasing product revenue.
• 2024 revenue guidance seems very optimistic, which has to rely on fruquintinib’s global sales performance (or Takeda’s contribution), and also on the timing of approval of fruquintinib’s 2L gastric cancer.
• Starting from 2024, HUTCHMED will enter a period of accelerated growth in product revenue based on major catalysts.Market value of US$1,200 – US$1,800 million is a good place to long.