Quality-first, Business-perspective, Long-term, Urbem (HK) Limited

Urbem Capital

Quality-first, Business-perspective, Long-term

Equity Bottom-Up

China Maple Leaf Educational Systems / Equity Bottom-Up

China Maple Leaf Educational Systems (1317 HK)

<ul>
<li>The share of Maple Leaf has been sold off following the FY2020 results;</li>
<li>We find little (if any) evidence pointing to the permanent deterioration of business economics, and therefore, would like to maintain our positive long-term stance as described in our previous Insight;</li>
<li>The company has an ambitious medium-term target, which may lead to surprises on the upside over time.</li>
</ul>


The share of Maple Leaf has been sold off following the FY2020 results;
We find little (if any) evidence pointing to the permanent deterioration of business economics, and therefore, would like to maintain our positive long-term stance as described in our previous Insight;
The company has an ambitious medium-term target, which may lead to surprises on the upside over time.


Maple Leaf Educational Systems: Our Takeaways From FY2020 Results

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst, Investics Research

Sameer Taneja

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst

Investics Research

It is important to note that the information provided by Investics Research is based on publicly available data and own knowledge, which has been gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, it is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. All forecasts and estimates are based on information that has been obtained from public sources that are considered to be reliable. The sources include but are not limited to, company announcements, exchange filings, presentations, etc. Investics does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the forecasts, estimates, and/or other information.

Equity Bottom-up Research

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/edvantage-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28114:1" rel="noopener">Edvantage Group (382 HK)</a> is a play on private higher education in China with a presence in the Greater Bay Area. At a market capitalization of roughly 800 mn USD, this company is a good fit for funds that invest in mid-caps. With a recent capacity expansion by 46%, we see a clear roadmap for increasing enrollments by 8-10% over four years. In addition to this, we believe that tuition fees can sustainably increase by 5-7% CAGR  for the next 3-4 years due to reasonable placement rates in their colleges and strengthening brand recognition.
<h3>The investment thesis here is :</h3>
<ul>
<li>
The stock is inexpensive and can re-rate as the execution drives more conviction: We believe the valuation is cheap at 15x FY21/12xFY22  P-E(x) and 23% CAGR revenue growth, predicated on enrolments increasing by 12% CAGR as well as tuition fees increasing by 7-8% CAGR over the next 3-4 years.</li>
<li>
The additional upside from costs declining: Education costs account for 15% of sales. A majority of the cost ~76 mn RMB for FY20 (or 13% of the tuition fee of Huanshang College) is an annual licensing fee paid to Guangdong University of Finance and Economics (GUFE), for co-branding with a renowned public university in the region. However, new MoJ Draft regulations require the university to become independent by 2022.  The Group intends to become independent by 2021. If this happens, the education cost will go down to 0 from 76 mn RMB in a phased manner over 3-4 years. We do not factor this into our future estimates. </li>
<li>
Strong cash position to pursue further growth: The company has a net cash position of 520 mn RMB.  With Capex plans of 800 mn RMB for its new campus, we believe the company can easily expand its balance sheet and internal accruals.</li>
</ul>
We see this stock easily rerate to a 20x multiple based on its ability to execute and trade higher at 9-10 HKD/share, fuelled by these catalysts.
<h3>Risks </h3>
<ul>
<li>
Regulations on Fees:  Tuition fees charged by PRC Operating Schools are generally subject to China's relevant government pricing authorities' approval. However, in recent years, PRC government authorities have gradually loosened controls over tuition fees and boarding fees. </li>
<li>
Disappointing M&amp;A: The company overpaying for assets would be negative for the share price.
</li>
<li>
Execution: Given the company recently IPOed, its track record is short.  How the new campus ramps up will be the key to the thesis.  Any stumbles will be bad for the share price.</li>
</ul>

Edvantage Group (382 HK) is a play on private higher education in China with a presence in the Greater Bay Area. At a market capitalization of roughly 800 mn USD, this company is a good fit for funds that invest in mid-caps. With a recent capacity expansion by 46%, we see a clear roadmap for increasing enrollments by 8-10% over four years. In addition to this, we believe that tuition fees can sustainably increase by 5-7% CAGR  for the next 3-4 years due to reasonable placement rates in their colleges and strengthening brand recognition.
The investment thesis here is :


The stock is inexpensive and can re-rate as the execution drives more conviction: We believe the valuation is cheap at 15x FY21/12xFY22  P-E(x) and 23% CAGR revenue growth, predicated on enrolments increasing by 12% CAGR as well as tuition fees increasing by 7-8% CAGR over the next 3-4 years.

The additional upside from costs declining: Education costs account for 15% of sales. A majority of the cost ~76 mn RMB for FY20 (or 13% of the tuition fee of Huanshang College) is an annual licensing fee paid to Guangdong University of Finance and Economics (GUFE), for co-branding with a renowned public university in the region. However, new MoJ Draft regulations require the university to become independent by 2022.  The Group intends to become independent by 2021. If this happens, the education cost will go down to 0 from 76 mn RMB in a phased manner over 3-4 years. We do not factor this into our future estimates. 

Strong cash position to pursue further growth: The company has a net cash position of 520 mn RMB.  With Capex plans of 800 mn RMB for its new campus, we believe the company can easily expand its balance sheet and internal accruals.

We see this stock easily rerate to a 20x multiple based on its ability to execute and trade higher at 9-10 HKD/share, fuelled by these catalysts.
Risks 


Regulations on Fees:  Tuition fees charged by PRC Operating Schools are generally subject to China's relevant government pricing authorities' approval. However, in recent years, PRC government authorities have gradually loosened controls over tuition fees and boarding fees. 

Disappointing M&amp;A: The company overpaying for assets would be negative for the share price.


Execution: Given the company recently IPOed, its track record is short.  How the new campus ramps up will be the key to the thesis.  Any stumbles will be bad for the share price.


Edvantage Group: Executing in a Tough Environment

<ul class="">
<li>Maple Leaf Educational Systems caught our attention for its low price multiples and consistently decent returns on capital;</li>
<li>Both the financial track record and the current valuation look favorable, especially compared to peers.</li>
<li>We examine the business fundamentals with our proprietary framework in search of any value trap.</li>
</ul>


Maple Leaf Educational Systems caught our attention for its low price multiples and consistently decent returns on capital;
Both the financial track record and the current valuation look favorable, especially compared to peers.
We examine the business fundamentals with our proprietary framework in search of any value trap.


Maple Leaf Educational Systems: Deep Value or Value Trap?

APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

China Education Group / Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> is looking to raise about US$216m in its top-up placement with an upsize option of 25m shares. In this note, we will look at the use of proceeds, deal dynamics, and run the deal through framework.

China Education Group (839 HK) is looking to raise about US$216m in its top-up placement with an upsize option of 25m shares. In this note, we will look at the use of proceeds, deal dynamics, and run the deal through framework.

China Education Group (中国教育集团) Placement - Likely Expected After Acquisition Announcement

Index Rebal/Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal/Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

China Distance Education Holdings Ltd (ADR) / Event-Driven

China Distance Education Holdings Ltd (ADR) (DL US)

China Distance Education Holdings Ltd (ADR)

On 8th June, the top shareholders of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-distance-education-hldgs-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9679:1" rel="noopener">China Distance Education Hldgs Ltd (Adr) (DL US)</a>, Mr.Zhengdong Zhu and his spouse Ms. Baohong Yin, made a "<a href="http://ir.cdeledu.com/news_en/PressReleases_en/li2006087242.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Preliminary Non-Binding Proposal</a>" to acquire all the outstanding shares of the company. The Offer Price will be US$9.08 in cash per ADS (US$2.27 per ordinary share) and this translates to an implied market cap of US$307mn for the company. The Target board has said it had "just received the Proposal Letter and has not had an opportunity to carefully review and evaluate the proposal or make any decision with respect to the Company’s response to the proposal". At the time of writing, the company's shares are at US$8.21 - approximately 9.6% below the Offer Price (10.6% upside).In this insight, we take a look at the details of the proposal to evaluate the likelihood of this Deal going through.More below the fold.

On 8th June, the top shareholders of China Distance Education Hldgs Ltd (Adr) (DL US), Mr.Zhengdong Zhu and his spouse Ms. Baohong Yin, made a "Preliminary Non-Binding Proposal" to acquire all the outstanding shares of the company. The Offer Price will be US$9.08 in cash per ADS (US$2.27 per ordinary share) and this translates to an implied market cap of US$307mn for the company. The Target board has said it had "just received the Proposal Letter and has not had an opportunity to carefully review and evaluate the proposal or make any decision with respect to the Company’s response to the proposal". At the time of writing, the company's shares are at US$8.21 - approximately 9.6% below the Offer Price (10.6% upside).In this insight, we take a look at the details of the proposal to evaluate the likelihood of this Deal going through.More below the fold. 

China Distance Education (DL US): Takeover Proposal by the Founders

Hong Kong

China Education Group operates private higher and secondary vocational education institutions across Mainland China, Australia, and the UK. The company offers a range of programs including junior college diplomas, bachelor's and master's degrees, continuing education, and vocational training, alongside educational consultancy services. It was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong.

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China Education Group (839 HK)

Maple Leaf Educational Systems: Our Takeaways From FY2020 Results

Seeing little (if any) evidence of permanent deterioration of business economics, we would like to maintain our positive long-term stance as...

Urbem Capital

Edvantage Group: Executing in a Tough Environment

Edvantage Group (382 HK), is a great long-term play on education in the Greater Bay Area. Trading at 15x FY21/12x FY22 with >20% CAGR growth and...

Sameer Taneja

Maple Leaf Educational Systems: Deep Value or Value Trap?

With an all-time-low valuation and decent financial track records, does Maple Leaf Educational Systems offers a long-term alpha opportunity?

Urbem Capital

China Education Group (中国教育集团) Placement - Likely Expected After Acquisition Announcement

China Education Group (839 HK) is looking to raise about US$216m in its top-up placement with an upsize option of 25m shares. In this note, we will...

Zhen Zhou, Toh

China Distance Education (DL US): Takeover Proposal by the Founders

On 8th June, the top shareholders of China Distance Education Hldgs Ltd (Adr) (DL US), Mr.Zhengdong Zhu and his spouse Ms. Baohong Yin, made a...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

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