HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>China's construction machinery companies should benefit from the decision of bringing forward infrastructure investments by the Central Economic Work Conference; but the Nov industry figures still showed lacklustre performance.</li>
<li>Excavator sales volume was down 36.6% YoY in the month, with domestic sales even plunged by 51.4%. Wheel loader looks to be better with a lesser YoY decline at 8.5%.</li>
<li>High base and time lag for translating into demand mean unit sales will stay weak over the next few months. We prefer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> as infrastructure play. </li>
</ul>


China's construction machinery companies should benefit from the decision of bringing forward infrastructure investments by the Central Economic Work Conference; but the Nov industry figures still showed lacklustre performance.
Excavator sales volume was down 36.6% YoY in the month, with domestic sales even plunged by 51.4%. Wheel loader looks to be better with a lesser YoY decline at 8.5%.
High base and time lag for translating into demand mean unit sales will stay weak over the next few months. We prefer China Communications Construction (1800 HK) as infrastructure play. 


China Construction Machinery: Not Seeing the End of the Tunnel Yet

While sales for excavators and wheel loaders are still seeing YoY decline of 9.2% and 11.5% for Jul, there is no further significant deterioration when compared with the pace in Jun. We think that part of the reasons for the slowdown in the last few months are high base effect, and the extreme weather situation and outbreak of local COVID-19 cases have both exacerbated the headwinds. Nonetheless, we see outlook for 2H21 to be more promising.Similarly, a high base for 2H21 comparison should be well-anticipated. However, the recent positive tone from the government on infrastructure investment and the potential acceleration in special purpose bond issuance should bode well for the industry and we continue to see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lonking-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3944:1" rel="noopener">Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)</a> as well-placed. The encouraging new contract signed in 1H21 at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> also lent a helping hand to the demand, in our view.

While sales for excavators and wheel loaders are still seeing YoY decline of 9.2% and 11.5% for Jul, there is no further significant deterioration when compared with the pace in Jun. We think that part of the reasons for the slowdown in the last few months are high base effect, and the extreme weather situation and outbreak of local COVID-19 cases have both exacerbated the headwinds. Nonetheless, we see outlook for 2H21 to be more promising.Similarly, a high base for 2H21 comparison should be well-anticipated. However, the recent positive tone from the government on infrastructure investment and the potential acceleration in special purpose bond issuance should bode well for the industry and we continue to see Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) as well-placed. The encouraging new contract signed in 1H21 at China Communications Construction (1800 HK) also lent a helping hand to the demand, in our view.

China Construction Machinery: Better Trajectory for 2H21

China kicked off its public infrastructure REIT issuance in Jun with an overwhelmingly positive subscription response from the market. For the 9 REITs in the first batch issuance, average placement allocation rate is 14.5% and public allocation rate is just 6.3%. The fund raised only represented a mere 3.3% average discount to the value of the underlying assets, with toll road dominated the overall mix to account for 40% of the overall amount raised.We think that the good demand is positive for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-expressway-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2178:1" rel="noopener">Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK)</a>, which is the only one under our coverage involved in the first batch, paving the way for more future issuance by the company. We continue to see the following names as the major beneficiaries of China's public infrastructure REIT program - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-intl-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Intl (152 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a>.

China kicked off its public infrastructure REIT issuance in Jun with an overwhelmingly positive subscription response from the market. For the 9 REITs in the first batch issuance, average placement allocation rate is 14.5% and public allocation rate is just 6.3%. The fund raised only represented a mere 3.3% average discount to the value of the underlying assets, with toll road dominated the overall mix to account for 40% of the overall amount raised.We think that the good demand is positive for Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK), which is the only one under our coverage involved in the first batch, paving the way for more future issuance by the company. We continue to see the following names as the major beneficiaries of China's public infrastructure REIT program - China Communications Construction (1800 HK), Shenzhen Intl (152 HK), Sinotrans (598 HK) and China Everbright Environment (257 HK). 

China Infrastructure REITs: Excellent First Batch Result - Good for Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK)

The appreciation of Rmb against the USD by 6.5% in 2020 has led to many companies recording exchange losses in their FY20 accounts. However, with the Rmb depreciating against USD so far by 0.2% YTD, we believe it is time to look at the victims in last year and see how they will be affected by a weaker Rmb in this year should the trend sustain.Within our coverage, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-intl-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Intl (152 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosco-shipping-energy-tran-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:646:1" rel="noopener">Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. (H) (1138 HK)</a> are the key victims in last year with their exchange losses amounting to 5-11% of FY20 profit. Except <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-intl-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Intl (152 HK)</a>, we believe the remaining three names will be the beneficiaries under a scenario of weaker Rmb/USD exchange rate.

The appreciation of Rmb against the USD by 6.5% in 2020 has led to many companies recording exchange losses in their FY20 accounts. However, with the Rmb depreciating against USD so far by 0.2% YTD, we believe it is time to look at the victims in last year and see how they will be affected by a weaker Rmb in this year should the trend sustain.Within our coverage, Sinotrans (598 HK), China Communications Construction (1800 HK), Shenzhen Intl (152 HK) and Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. (H) (1138 HK) are the key victims in last year with their exchange losses amounting to 5-11% of FY20 profit. Except Shenzhen Intl (152 HK), we believe the remaining three names will be the beneficiaries under a scenario of weaker Rmb/USD exchange rate. 

A Look on Some Victims of Rmb Appreciation in FY20: How Will They Fare in FY21 if Rmb Stays Weak?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

In 1998, before the US and China entered into Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China in 2000, the US Congress enacted a law requiring the Clinton Administration to publish a list of Chinese companies in the US which did business with the People's Liberation Army (Public Law 105-261, Section 1237), and a "Communist Chinese military company" was defined in that law as any company named in to Defense Intelligence Agency documents from 1990 and 1995 and "any other entity owned or controlled by the PLA and engaged in providing commercial services, manufacturing, or exporting."That law basically lay dormant until last year when the Pentagon launched a review of such companies following the Trump White House's labelling of China (and Russia) a "revisionist" power in its first National Security Strategy <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> in 2017. The goal was to investigate and warn about supply-chain vulnerabilities. The Department of Defense published a list in June 2020 of 20 companies which were "Qualified Entities". It updated the list in late August 2020. The former Secretary of Defense was ousted several days ago and the new Secretary of Defense is now responsible for the list. There is, as of last night, an Executive Order by the White House blocking US 'persons' investment in any of the names mentioned - a list now 31 names long.More below on the impact.

In 1998, before the US and China entered into Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China in 2000, the US Congress enacted a law requiring the Clinton Administration to publish a list of Chinese companies in the US which did business with the People's Liberation Army (Public Law 105-261, Section 1237), and a "Communist Chinese military company" was defined in that law as any company named in to Defense Intelligence Agency documents from 1990 and 1995 and "any other entity owned or controlled by the PLA and engaged in providing commercial services, manufacturing, or exporting."That law basically lay dormant until last year when the Pentagon launched a review of such companies following the Trump White House's labelling of China (and Russia) a "revisionist" power in its first National Security Strategy report in 2017. The goal was to investigate and warn about supply-chain vulnerabilities. The Department of Defense published a list in June 2020 of 20 companies which were "Qualified Entities". It updated the list in late August 2020. The former Secretary of Defense was ousted several days ago and the new Secretary of Defense is now responsible for the list. There is, as of last night, an Executive Order by the White House blocking US 'persons' investment in any of the names mentioned - a list now 31 names long.More below on the impact.

Trump's Executive Order on Chinese Military Companies

China

China Communications Construction is a multinational engineering and construction company primarily engaged in the investment, design, construction, and operation of large-scale infrastructure assets, including ports, roads, bridges, railways, and airports. It also provides dredging services and equipment manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Beijing, China, and was established in 2005.

China Communications Construction (1800 HK)

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China Communications Construction (1800 HK)

China Construction Machinery: Not Seeing the End of the Tunnel Yet

While CEWC's decision to accelerate infrastructure investment bodes well for the construction machinery sector, high base and time lag in demand...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Construction Machinery: Better Trajectory for 2H21

We are positive on the 2H21 outlook of construction machinery industry, driven by potential accelaration in China's infrastructure spending and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Infrastructure REITs: Excellent First Batch Result - Good for Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK)

Good response to the first batch of China public infrastructure REIT issuance indicates investor demand, and this is positive to Zhejiang Exp,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

A Look on Some Victims of Rmb Appreciation in FY20: How Will They Fare in FY21 if Rmb Stays Weak?

We expect Sinotrans, CCCC and CSET to be the beneficiaries of weaker Rmb against USD in this year. However, due to its ownership in Shenzhen...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Trump's Executive Order on Chinese Military Companies

The White House announced an Executive Order prohibiting "US persons" from "providing capital" to a list of "China Military Cos" which has been...

Travis Lundy

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