HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> disclosed that it has reached agreement to dispose of its 25% stake in the K&amp;K oilfields in Azerbaijan. Although the transaction is relatively small given that it does not pass the 5% threshold of the listing rule, we still think such a small move has big positive meaning. In our view, the disposal marks an important step in its plan to exit the volatile Exploration &amp; Production segment which dragged on its valuation; and the market should welcome this.The current high oil price environment is good for Kunlun from both an operational and a transactional point of view. We estimate that at crude oil price of US$75/bbl, the E&amp;P segment may bring in an addition of at least Rmb300-400m of pre-tax profit in 2H21. Despite the good share price movement YTD (+73% including dividends), it is still trading on just 11x PER for FY21, the cheapest among its key peers. The removal of a volatile E&amp;P segment from its business portfolio should narrow Kunlun's discount, in our view.

Kunlun Energy (135 HK) disclosed that it has reached agreement to dispose of its 25% stake in the K&amp;K oilfields in Azerbaijan. Although the transaction is relatively small given that it does not pass the 5% threshold of the listing rule, we still think such a small move has big positive meaning. In our view, the disposal marks an important step in its plan to exit the volatile Exploration &amp; Production segment which dragged on its valuation; and the market should welcome this.The current high oil price environment is good for Kunlun from both an operational and a transactional point of view. We estimate that at crude oil price of US$75/bbl, the E&amp;P segment may bring in an addition of at least Rmb300-400m of pre-tax profit in 2H21. Despite the good share price movement YTD (+73% including dividends), it is still trading on just 11x PER for FY21, the cheapest among its key peers. The removal of a volatile E&amp;P segment from its business portfolio should narrow Kunlun's discount, in our view. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Small Move, Big Meaning

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>ENN remains conservative about the recovery of industrial gas sales in 2H23 and 2023.</li><li>While its power plant gas sales are unlikely to recover and face customer structure adjustment, there is potential for partial gas sales recovery among other industrial gas users.</li><li>We believe the dollar margin is expected to reach the full-year target.</li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

ENN remains conservative about the recovery of industrial gas sales in 2H23 and 2023.While its power plant gas sales are unlikely to recover and face customer structure adjustment, there is potential for partial gas sales recovery among other industrial gas users.We believe the dollar margin is expected to reach the full-year target.Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

<ul><li>ENN recorded 1H23 core profit of RMB3,914mn, down 5% YoY, lower than our expectation.</li><li>Thanks to the weak economy recovery in 1H23, city gas sales volume declined by 6.9% YoY to 12.2bcm, slower than mgmt. guidance and our estimate, but gas dollar margin experienced slight improvement to RMB0.52/cbm.</li><li>IE segment revenue missed and was up by 30% (vs prev. guidance of +40%YoY). </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

ENN recorded 1H23 core profit of RMB3,914mn, down 5% YoY, lower than our expectation.Thanks to the weak economy recovery in 1H23, city gas sales volume declined by 6.9% YoY to 12.2bcm, slower than mgmt. guidance and our estimate, but gas dollar margin experienced slight improvement to RMB0.52/cbm.IE segment revenue missed and was up by 30% (vs prev. guidance of +40%YoY). Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

ENN Energy (2688 HK) – 1H23 Results Miss

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Surging by 19.4% since the trough on 19-Apr, the HSI is now only 3.2% shy away from the psychological resistance of 20,000. We look at some potential profit-taking names. </li>
<li>Heavy-Weights like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> are among the best-performing ones YTD and since the trough. Hence they are more exposed, particularly for Meituan.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haidilao-international-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27044:1" rel="noopener">Haidilao International Holding (6862 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a> are another two on the list. Their valuations are no longer inexpensive relative to 3-year earnings CAGR.</li>
</ul>


Surging by 19.4% since the trough on 19-Apr, the HSI is now only 3.2% shy away from the psychological resistance of 20,000. We look at some potential profit-taking names. 
Heavy-Weights like Meituan (3690 HK) and Tencent (700 HK) are among the best-performing ones YTD and since the trough. Hence they are more exposed, particularly for Meituan.

Haidilao International Holding (6862 HK) and ENN Energy (2688 HK) are another two on the list. Their valuations are no longer inexpensive relative to 3-year earnings CAGR.


HK Strategy: To Sell or Not to Sell, that Is the Question

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a>'s 2.2% drop in core earnings in FY23 is distorted by the expiry of exploration rights of oilfield projects. All other segments have done well.  </li>
<li>FY24 outlook is positive - reduction in E&amp;P distortion, addition of more city gas projects, higher utilisation of LNG plants and terminals, and optimisation of gas pricing mechanism.</li>
<li>Net cash of Rmb20.4bn equals 29% of market capitalisation, providing room for a higher dividend payout. A re-inclusion into the HSI is not totally out of the cards.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK)'s 2.2% drop in core earnings in FY23 is distorted by the expiry of exploration rights of oilfield projects. All other segments have done well.  
FY24 outlook is positive - reduction in E&amp;P distortion, addition of more city gas projects, higher utilisation of LNG plants and terminals, and optimisation of gas pricing mechanism.
Net cash of Rmb20.4bn equals 29% of market capitalisation, providing room for a higher dividend payout. A re-inclusion into the HSI is not totally out of the cards.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Delivering Resilience

China

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. distributes natural gas in China.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, invests in, operates, and manages gas pipelines, and sells and distributes piped and bottled gas in China.

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ENN Energy (2688 HK)

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Small Move, Big Meaning

The disposal of the Azerbaijan oilfields, though a small transaction, has significant implication. Kunlun will increasingly become a pure gas...

Osbert Tang, CFA