Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

West China Cement's (WCC) H1/21 results were acceptable. The company reported robust revenue growth, but margins weakened as a result of higher coal input costs. EBITDA and OCF grew moderately, rising 24% and 13% y-o-y, respectively. That said, FCF was negative, owing to high capex for maintenance and new plant investments. Leverage weakened slightly but remained moderately strong, with Debt/EBITDA of 1.6x (FYE 2020: 1.2x) and Net Debt/EBITDA of 1.0x (FYE 2020: 0.7x). We foresee that leverage could continue to weaken in the near term, as there is a time lag before WCC's new plants generate earnings.

  West China Cement's (WCC) H1/21 results were acceptable. The company reported robust revenue growth, but margins weakened as a result of higher coal input costs. EBITDA and OCF grew moderately, rising 24% and 13% y-o-y, respectively. That said, FCF was negative, owing to high capex for maintenance and new plant investments. Leverage weakened slightly but remained moderately strong, with Debt/EBITDA of 1.6x (FYE 2020: 1.2x) and Net Debt/EBITDA of 1.0x (FYE 2020: 0.7x). We foresee that leverage could continue to weaken in the near term, as there is a time lag before WCC's new plants generate earnings. 

West China Cement - Earnings Flash - H1 FY 2021 Results - Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.<ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-5225'>Country Garden Holdings Co</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-433'>Fosun International</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-15736'>China Datang Corp Renewable Power</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-9423'>West China Cement</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.Country Garden Holdings CoFosun InternationalChina Datang Corp Renewable PowerWest China Cement

Morning Views Asia: Country Garden Holdings Co, Fosun International, China Datang Corp Renewable Power

In this month’s "In-Focus" section, we discuss Chinese developers’ urban redevelopment businesses, including local governments' role in urban renewal projects and the various redevelopment models, as well as the impact of such projects on companies' financials. We also give an overview of recent bond defaults. The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the "In-Focus" section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.

  In this month’s "In-Focus" section, we discuss Chinese developers’ urban redevelopment businesses, including local governments' role in urban renewal projects and the various redevelopment models, as well as the impact of such projects on companies' financials. We also give an overview of recent bond defaults.   The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the "In-Focus" section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market. 

Asia HY Monthly - Chinese Developers’ Urban Redevelopment Businesses - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of July includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index.

  The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of July includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index. 

Asia HY Trade Book - July 2021 - Lucror Analytics

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

China Conch Venture Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-conch-venture-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19943:1" rel="noopener">China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK)</a>'s stub ops are coming into their own.
Those ops accounted for an estimated 10% of earnings in FY18, increasing to ~18% last year. Based on forecast estimates, those operations may contribute over 30% of the bottom-line in FY22E.
A recent acquisition of solid waste treatment business resulting in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/west-china-cement-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9423:1" rel="noopener">West China Cement (2233 HK)</a> becoming a minority shareholder lends a further degree of support for CCV. 
In contrast, 17.8%-held <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd-094855ab-abec-4b71-956b-5bfc85e22fdd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:389:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd A (600585 CH)</a>, China’s second-largest cement producer, is expected to grow the slowest amongst its cement peers over the next couple of years. An expected index deletion and China clamping down on excess debt is not helping.
CCV's discount to NAV is around its narrowest in the last 12-months, yet this looks too early to call a reversal.
More below the fold.

China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK)'s stub ops are coming into their own.
Those ops accounted for an estimated 10% of earnings in FY18, increasing to ~18% last year. Based on forecast estimates, those operations may contribute over 30% of the bottom-line in FY22E.
A recent acquisition of solid waste treatment business resulting in West China Cement (2233 HK) becoming a minority shareholder lends a further degree of support for CCV. 
In contrast, 17.8%-held Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd A (600585 CH), China’s second-largest cement producer, is expected to grow the slowest amongst its cement peers over the next couple of years. An expected index deletion and China clamping down on excess debt is not helping.
CCV's discount to NAV is around its narrowest in the last 12-months, yet this looks too early to call a reversal.
More below the fold.

China Conch Venture (586 HK): Stub Ops Momentum

China

West China Cement Limited produces and distributes cement products.

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West China Cement (2233 HK)

West China Cement - Earnings Flash - H1 FY 2021 Results - Lucror Analytics

West China Cement's (WCC) H1/21 results were acceptable. The company reported robust revenue growth, but margins weakened as a result of higher...

Lucror Analytics

Morning Views Asia: Country Garden Holdings Co, Fosun International, China Datang Corp Renewable Power

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Monthly - Chinese Developers’ Urban Redevelopment Businesses - Lucror Analytics

In this month’s "In-Focus" section, we discuss Chinese developers’ urban redevelopment businesses, including local governments' role in urban...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Trade Book - July 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of July includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also...

Lucror Analytics

China Conch Venture (586 HK): Stub Ops Momentum

If you had set up a long CCV, short Anhui, I'd continue to track that trade. I think it's too early to reverse the stub here, in light of the index...

David Blennerhassett

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