HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><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> announced good FY20 result with its continuing operations (excluding the disposal of pipeline and Dalian LNG terminal) registered a 47.8% YoY earnings growth. Interestingly, profit for its discontinued operations witnessed a 20.6% YoY decline.</p><p>Two immediate bright spots from the result announcement are: 1.) a special DPS of Rmb2.1366 is declared, in line with its guidance of 50% of the proceeds from disposal. Note that this is still subject to several conditions, meaning that the transaction is not yet completed as of 23 Mar; 2.) better profit at the remaining CORE natural gas business, with pre-tax profit up 28.1%.  For the special dividends, management still expects them to be paid on or before 30 Jul 2021.</p><p>We estimate Kunlun's continuing operations is trading on 11x PER for FY20, much lower than other gas utilities peers. We will provide more update after the analyst presentation. </p>

Kunlun Energy (135 HK) announced good FY20 result with its continuing operations (excluding the disposal of pipeline and Dalian LNG terminal) registered a 47.8% YoY earnings growth. Interestingly, profit for its discontinued operations witnessed a 20.6% YoY decline.Two immediate bright spots from the result announcement are: 1.) a special DPS of Rmb2.1366 is declared, in line with its guidance of 50% of the proceeds from disposal. Note that this is still subject to several conditions, meaning that the transaction is not yet completed as of 23 Mar; 2.) better profit at the remaining CORE natural gas business, with pre-tax profit up 28.1%.  For the special dividends, management still expects them to be paid on or before 30 Jul 2021.We estimate Kunlun's continuing operations is trading on 11x PER for FY20, much lower than other gas utilities peers. We will provide more update after the analyst presentation. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Quick Update on FY20 Result And, More Importantly, Special Dividends

<p><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> showcased an encouraging re-acceleration in 2H20 with a growth of 22.8% in its core earnings, though full-year growth of 18.2% is being dragged by the COVID-19 impaired 1H20. Both retail gas sales and value added services have seen their profit momentum recovered in the second half, and the strength for Integrated Energy (IE) stays on course (gross profit +84% YoY in 2H20).</p><p>Management painted a positive picture for FY21 in the post-result call, as guidance pointed to at least 15% gas volume growth, stable dollar margin, Rmb8-10bn IE revenue (Rmb5bn in FY20) and at least 15% core earnings growth. We think these are all very conservative expectations. 1Q21 gas volume has already grown by over 30% so far, though low base is one of the reasons. We continue to like ENN and maintain that it is the top pick among pure gas utilities companies in China and its premium to sector average is well deserved.</p>

ENN Energy (2688 HK) showcased an encouraging re-acceleration in 2H20 with a growth of 22.8% in its core earnings, though full-year growth of 18.2% is being dragged by the COVID-19 impaired 1H20. Both retail gas sales and value added services have seen their profit momentum recovered in the second half, and the strength for Integrated Energy (IE) stays on course (gross profit +84% YoY in 2H20).Management painted a positive picture for FY21 in the post-result call, as guidance pointed to at least 15% gas volume growth, stable dollar margin, Rmb8-10bn IE revenue (Rmb5bn in FY20) and at least 15% core earnings growth. We think these are all very conservative expectations. 1Q21 gas volume has already grown by over 30% so far, though low base is one of the reasons. We continue to like ENN and maintain that it is the top pick among pure gas utilities companies in China and its premium to sector average is well deserved.

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Well Justifies the Premium; and Management Guides for a Better FY21

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<p>The mythical Shangri-la from the book <em>Lost Horizon</em> has never truly been found. Those who have done work on stduying the influences of James' Hilton's book suggest it might be Shambhala from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, written in the Shambhala Sutra by the Sixth Panchen Lama of Tashihunpo Monastery in Tibet. The Shambhala ideal is one of a realm apart from 'the world' -  a place of timelessness and harmony between man and nature. The Sutra describes parts of Shambhala in Ngari, once part of the kingdom of Guge in western Tibet, and part of the Kunlun mountain range is within Ngari. Other suggestions include parts of Yunnan.</p><p>Getting to Shangri-la for Robert Conway, the protagonist in the book and movie, was somewhat unpleasant. I won't give away the whole book (or movie), but he had to crash a plane to be found, so that he could go on to "find" Shangri-la. </p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/301/original/Lost-Horizon-1937-A.png?1615732511" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194301"></figure><p></p></section><p>Eventually, going over the mountains... </p><section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/304/original/losthorizonovermountain.jpeg?1615733006" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194304"></figure></section></section><p>...while wearing cool hats...</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/303/original/losthorizon+funny+hats.jpeg?1615732715" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194303"></figure></section><p>before arriving in Shangri-La.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/305/original/lost-horizon-shangri-la.jpeg?1615733024" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194305"></figure></section><hr><h3>Investors seeking Shangri-la by approaching Kunlun from outside will have an easier approach.</h3><h3>It's a Different Kunlun. </h3><ol>
<li>Start by reading <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/will-investors-find-shangri-la-in-kunlun" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48113" rel="noopener">Will Investors Find Shangri-La in Kunlun?</a> if you haven't already,</li>
<li>Read the rest of this insight below the fold,</li>
<li>Know that Kunlun shareholders overwhelmingly approved the asset disposal Friday.</li>
<li>Know what the future dividend looks like (it should be just under HK$2.50/share).</li>
<li>Know what the future company looks like <em>ex-dividen</em>d.</li>
<li>Calculate what your equity risk is if you buy the stock (right now it is equity + future cash) today. </li>
</ol><p>The rest is below the fold. </p>

The mythical Shangri-la from the book Lost Horizon has never truly been found. Those who have done work on stduying the influences of James' Hilton's book suggest it might be Shambhala from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, written in the Shambhala Sutra by the Sixth Panchen Lama of Tashihunpo Monastery in Tibet. The Shambhala ideal is one of a realm apart from 'the world' -  a place of timelessness and harmony between man and nature. The Sutra describes parts of Shambhala in Ngari, once part of the kingdom of Guge in western Tibet, and part of the Kunlun mountain range is within Ngari. Other suggestions include parts of Yunnan.Getting to Shangri-la for Robert Conway, the protagonist in the book and movie, was somewhat unpleasant. I won't give away the whole book (or movie), but he had to crash a plane to be found, so that he could go on to "find" Shangri-la. Eventually, going over the mountains... ...while wearing cool hats...before arriving in Shangri-La.Investors seeking Shangri-la by approaching Kunlun from outside will have an easier approach.It's a Different Kunlun. 
Start by reading Will Investors Find Shangri-La in Kunlun? if you haven't already,
Read the rest of this insight below the fold,
Know that Kunlun shareholders overwhelmingly approved the asset disposal Friday.
Know what the future dividend looks like (it should be just under HK$2.50/share).
Know what the future company looks like ex-dividend.
Calculate what your equity risk is if you buy the stock (right now it is equity + future cash) today. 
The rest is below the fold. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): It's Different Than You Think

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Quantitative Analysis

<p>EM Energy allocations are at record lows.  A big exodus in the first half of 2020 pushed allocations to their lowest levels since our records start in 2008.   The aggressive scaling back of positioning had a dramatic effect on prices, with the MSCI EM Energy sector suffering one of the worst 12 month periods of underperformance in nearly 2 decades.  But the ownership picture is beginning to stabilize.  </p><p>On a stock level, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lukoil-pjsc-2bfe0130-461e-4ff3-af12-93bec12e6325" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27148:1" rel="noopener">LUKOIL (LKOH RM)</a> appears to be the GOAT, with its backing of almost half of the funds in our analysis, well spread across the style spectrum in addition to being a net overweight.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/reliance-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:198:1" rel="noopener"> Reliance Industries (RIL IN)</a> is also a high conviction stock, held by fewer funds than Lukoil but in greater size.  It also represents a significant underweight to many EM investors.  The most depressed stock of the larger holdings is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a> , once held by over 60% of the funds in our analysis, now by just 24%.</p><p><em>Analysis taken from our EM research, covering the collective allocations of 242 Global Emerging Market active funds, with combined AUM of $460bn</em></p>

EM Energy allocations are at record lows.  A big exodus in the first half of 2020 pushed allocations to their lowest levels since our records start in 2008.   The aggressive scaling back of positioning had a dramatic effect on prices, with the MSCI EM Energy sector suffering one of the worst 12 month periods of underperformance in nearly 2 decades.  But the ownership picture is beginning to stabilize.  On a stock level, LUKOIL (LKOH RM) appears to be the GOAT, with its backing of almost half of the funds in our analysis, well spread across the style spectrum in addition to being a net overweight.   Reliance Industries (RIL IN) is also a high conviction stock, held by fewer funds than Lukoil but in greater size.  It also represents a significant underweight to many EM investors.  The most depressed stock of the larger holdings is CNOOC Ltd (883 HK) , once held by over 60% of the funds in our analysis, now by just 24%.Analysis taken from our EM research, covering the collective allocations of 242 Global Emerging Market active funds, with combined AUM of $460bn

EM Energy: Big Underperformance - Positioning at Record Lows, but Stabilizing.

Event-Driven

<p>In 1933, British author James Hilton published a book called <em>Lost Horizon</em>, which was four years later more famously made into a movie of the same name by Frank Capra. The movie depicts a love story in a mythical utopia hidden in the mountains - a paradise removed from the earth, unbothered by the cares of the world, where people live very long lives in harmony with each other and their environment. </p><p>It is a fabulous movie in terms of scenery and sets, though its treatment of non-western culture is somewhat 1937-ish.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/188/506/original/ronald+colman.jpg?1613231797" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="188506"></figure></section><p>The name of this temperate paradise on earth "found" by plane crash survivor Robert Conway (the character played by Ronald Colman) is the now-famous <strong>Shangri-La</strong> and it is at the western end of the <strong>Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山). </strong></p><p>The subject of this insight is Kunlun Energy (昆侖能源有限公司) and as you can see, the characters of the two Kunluns have nothing to do with each other, but it's a nice movie. </p><h3>The News and The Backdrop</h3><p>On 22 December last year, HK-listed China energy investment holdco <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> made an announcement regarding the sale of its 60% equity interest in Beijing Pipeline and 75% equity interest in Dalian LNG to an entity called PipeChina, which is 29.9% owned by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/petrochina-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:262:1" rel="noopener">PetroChina (857 HK)</a>. </p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/osbert-tang-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:3879" rel="noopener">Osbert Tang, CFA</a> published a report on 23 December regarding the sale, and subsequently another in the middle of January regarding how Kunlun Energy would look on a pro-forma basis afterwards. </p><p>I think this deserves a closer look. </p>

In 1933, British author James Hilton published a book called Lost Horizon, which was four years later more famously made into a movie of the same name by Frank Capra. The movie depicts a love story in a mythical utopia hidden in the mountains - a paradise removed from the earth, unbothered by the cares of the world, where people live very long lives in harmony with each other and their environment. It is a fabulous movie in terms of scenery and sets, though its treatment of non-western culture is somewhat 1937-ish.The name of this temperate paradise on earth "found" by plane crash survivor Robert Conway (the character played by Ronald Colman) is the now-famous Shangri-La and it is at the western end of the Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山). The subject of this insight is Kunlun Energy (昆侖能源有限公司) and as you can see, the characters of the two Kunluns have nothing to do with each other, but it's a nice movie. The News and The BackdropOn 22 December last year, HK-listed China energy investment holdco Kunlun Energy (135 HK) made an announcement regarding the sale of its 60% equity interest in Beijing Pipeline and 75% equity interest in Dalian LNG to an entity called PipeChina, which is 29.9% owned by PetroChina (857 HK). Osbert Tang, CFA published a report on 23 December regarding the sale, and subsequently another in the middle of January regarding how Kunlun Energy would look on a pro-forma basis afterwards. I think this deserves a closer look. 

Will Investors Find Shangri-La in Kunlun?

Hong Kong

KunLun Energy is an integrated oil and gas service company engaged in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. It operates natural gas pipelines, processes and stores liquefied natural gas (LNG), and sells LNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across China. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong and was founded in 1994.

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KunLun Energy (135 HK)