Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>As in Q424, a sharp increase in OpEx led to margin compression at Trip.com in Q125</li>
<li>Trip.com's revenue growth in Q125 slowed vs Q424, but platform probably gained share</li>
<li>Within China's tourism segment, we still think the airlines can outperform Trip.com</li>
</ul>


As in Q424, a sharp increase in OpEx led to margin compression at Trip.com in Q125
Trip.com's revenue growth in Q125 slowed vs Q424, but platform probably gained share
Within China's tourism segment, we still think the airlines can outperform Trip.com


Trip.com Q125 Results | Rising Expenses Led to Margin Compression, Again | Still Prefer Airlines

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Hainan Meilan International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The change in controlling shareholder at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hainan-meilan-international-airport-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12545:1" rel="noopener">Hainan Meilan International Airport (357 HK)</a> will trigger a general offer. At HK$10.62, we do not see the proposed offer price attractive.</li>
<li>The proposed price is only at 10.6% premium to the latest closing price, and equals to 1.15x 12-month forward P/B, way lower than the 5-year peak of 5.1x.</li>
<li>The new parent <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hainan-island-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1233:1" rel="noopener">Hainan Airport Infrastructure (600515 CH)</a> can generate synergy, and the turn of Hainan into a Free Trade Port will attract visitors, boosting the long-term outlook. </li>
</ul>


The change in controlling shareholder at Hainan Meilan International Airport (357 HK) will trigger a general offer. At HK$10.62, we do not see the proposed offer price attractive.
The proposed price is only at 10.6% premium to the latest closing price, and equals to 1.15x 12-month forward P/B, way lower than the 5-year peak of 5.1x.
The new parent Hainan Airport Infrastructure (600515 CH) can generate synergy, and the turn of Hainan into a Free Trade Port will attract visitors, boosting the long-term outlook. 


Hainan Meilan Intl Airport (357 HK): Possible Mandatory General Offer

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

Hainan Meilan International Airport / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Haikou Meilan International Airport Company entered an SPA with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hainan-island-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1233:1" rel="noopener">Hainan Island Construction (600515 CH)</a> to sell its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hainan-meilan-international-airport-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12545:1" rel="noopener">Hainan Meilan International Airport (357 HK)</a> 50.19% stake at RMB9.85 per share (HK$10.62).</li>
<li>The SPA completion requires several regulatory approvals, which are low-risk, particularly as Hainan SASAC is the largest shareholder of the offeror and the seller.</li>
<li>Under Rule 26.1 of the Takeovers Code, upon completion, the offeror will be required to make an unconditional mandatory cash offer at HK$10.62 per share. The MGO price is final.  </li>
</ul>


Haikou Meilan International Airport Company entered an SPA with Hainan Island Construction (600515 CH) to sell its Hainan Meilan International Airport (357 HK) 50.19% stake at RMB9.85 per share (HK$10.62).
The SPA completion requires several regulatory approvals, which are low-risk, particularly as Hainan SASAC is the largest shareholder of the offeror and the seller.
Under Rule 26.1 of the Takeovers Code, upon completion, the offeror will be required to make an unconditional mandatory cash offer at HK$10.62 per share. The MGO price is final.  


Meilan Airport (357 HK): Possible Unconditional MGO at HK$10.62

<ul>
<li>March demand growth improved vs weak February, but Q125 showed clear slowdown vs trend</li>
<li>Relatively strong demand growth for outbound travel is no longer lifting airline load factors</li>
<li>Near-Term, we no longer view Chinese travel as attractive, as stocks appear to lack catalysts</li>
</ul>


March demand growth improved vs weak February, but Q125 showed clear slowdown vs trend
Relatively strong demand growth for outbound travel is no longer lifting airline load factors
Near-Term, we no longer view Chinese travel as attractive, as stocks appear to lack catalysts


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | March and Q125 Demand Growth Weak Vs Trend (April 2025)

<ul>
<li>Net Revenue growth accelerated to +23% Y/Y in Q424, far stronger than in Q224 and Q324</li>
<li>But costs and expenses grew even faster, leading to surprisingly sharp margin contraction</li>
<li>We no longer view Trip.com as an attractive play on Chinese travel; airlines may outperform</li>
</ul>


Net Revenue growth accelerated to +23% Y/Y in Q424, far stronger than in Q224 and Q324
But costs and expenses grew even faster, leading to surprisingly sharp margin contraction
We no longer view Trip.com as an attractive play on Chinese travel; airlines may outperform


Trip.com Q424 Results | Higher Costs Finally Arrive, And With a Vengeance

China

Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited operates both aeronautical and non-aeronautical business in the Beijing airport.  The Company provides aircraft movement and passenger service facilities, safety and security services, fire-fighting services, and ground handling services.  In addition, Beijing Capital operates duty free and other retail shops and leases properties.

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA)

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)

Trip.com Q125 Results | Rising Expenses Led to Margin Compression, Again | Still Prefer Airlines

China's leading travel platform Trip.com reported an unimpressive set of results earlier this week, as a sharp rise in OpEx led to margin compression.

Tracking Traffic

Hainan Meilan Intl Airport (357 HK): Possible Mandatory General Offer

Meilan Airport's change in parent company triggers a general offer, but the proposed price is unattractive at 10.6% premium. Synergy with new...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Meilan Airport (357 HK): Possible Unconditional MGO at HK$10.62

The parent is selling out to Hainan Airport Infrastructure at HK$10.62. Completion will trigger an unconditional MGO. Timing is the key risk.

Arun George

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | March and Q125 Demand Growth Weak Vs Trend (April 2025)

Data from China's leading airlines and some popular regional destinations show a clear slowing of travel demand growth in March and Q125. For now,...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q424 Results | Higher Costs Finally Arrive, And With a Vengeance

Trip.com's Q424 results showed a re-acceleration of top-line growth, but also a surprising surge in Cost of Revenue and Operating Expenses, which...

Tracking Traffic

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Trip.com Q125 Results | Rising Expenses Led to Margin Compression, Again | Still Prefer Airlines

China's leading travel platform Trip.com reported an unimpressive set of results earlier this week, as a sharp rise in OpEx led to margin compression.

Tracking Traffic

Hainan Meilan Intl Airport (357 HK): Possible Mandatory General Offer

Meilan Airport's change ​in parent company triggers a general offer, but the proposed price is unattractive at 10.6% premium. Synergy with new...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Meilan Airport (357 HK): Possible Unconditional MGO at HK$10.62

The parent is selling out to Hainan Airport Infrastructure at HK$10.62. Completion will trigger an unconditional MGO. Timing is the key risk.

Arun George

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | March and Q125 Demand Growth Weak Vs Trend (April 2025)

Data from China's leading airlines and some popular regional destinations show a clear slowing of travel demand growth in March and Q125. For now,...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q424 Results | Higher Costs Finally Arrive, And With a Vengeance

Trip.com's Q424 results showed a re-acceleration of top-line growth, but also a surprising surge in Cost of Revenue and Operating Expenses, which...

Tracking Traffic

Meilan Airport's change in parent company triggers a general offer, but the proposed price is unattractive at 10.6% premium. Synergy with new...