HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-east-education-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27843:1" rel="noopener">China East Education (667 HK)</a> is interesting as it is probably the only education company with no debt. Net cash amounted to Rmb2.1bn, or 42% of its market capitalisation. </li>
<li>Earnings have bottomed out and the marginal YoY decline in 1H23 is due to upfront costs for staff recruitment. Its vocational education focus also faces fewer regulatory risks.</li>
<li>We consider it a potential privatisation candidate at 0.8x P/B. Its major shareholders owned 75% of the company, leaving a free float of less than HK$1.4bn.</li>
</ul>



China East Education (667 HK) is interesting as it is probably the only education company with no debt. Net cash amounted to Rmb2.1bn, or 42% of its market capitalisation. 
Earnings have bottomed out and the marginal YoY decline in 1H23 is due to upfront costs for staff recruitment. Its vocational education focus also faces fewer regulatory risks.
We consider it a potential privatisation candidate at 0.8x P/B. Its major shareholders owned 75% of the company, leaving a free float of less than HK$1.4bn.


China East Education (667 HK): Getting More Interesting

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> appears to be facing the headwinds from higher USD interest rate and reduction in capitalised interest. The intangible write-off is another drag on FY23.</li>
<li>Newly registered students increased 17.8% for FY24. With better average fees, this will help the topline. Our concerns are high finance and operating costs will erode revenue growth.</li>
<li>Consensus is overly aggressive and there are risks of downgrade. Earnings may re-accelerate in the future, but weaker 1H FY24F keeps us on the sideline in the short term. </li>
</ul>



China Education Group (839 HK) appears to be facing the headwinds from higher USD interest rate and reduction in capitalised interest. The intangible write-off is another drag on FY23.
Newly registered students increased 17.8% for FY24. With better average fees, this will help the topline. Our concerns are high finance and operating costs will erode revenue growth.
Consensus is overly aggressive and there are risks of downgrade. Earnings may re-accelerate in the future, but weaker 1H FY24F keeps us on the sideline in the short term. 


China Education Group (839 HK): Not so Encouraging in the near Term

<ul>
<li>Adjusted net profit at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> grew 15.1% in 1H23, accelerated from 5% in 2H22. We are delighted to see resumption of interim DPS at Rmb0.164.</li>
<li>FY23 outlook will be underpinned by higher education student enrollment and tuition increase. Strengthened financial position offers opportunities for both organic and M&amp;A growth.</li>
<li>Potential upside will also come from completion of for-profit conversion at Jiangxi University of Technology. We consider its 7.9x PER, 1x P/B, 13.3% ROE and 5.5% yield attractive.</li>
</ul>


Adjusted net profit at China Education Group (839 HK) grew 15.1% in 1H23, accelerated from 5% in 2H22. We are delighted to see resumption of interim DPS at Rmb0.164.
FY23 outlook will be underpinned by higher education student enrollment and tuition increase. Strengthened financial position offers opportunities for both organic and M&amp;A growth.
Potential upside will also come from completion of for-profit conversion at Jiangxi University of Technology. We consider its 7.9x PER, 1x P/B, 13.3% ROE and 5.5% yield attractive.


China Education Group (839 HK): Sustaining the Healthy Track Record

<ul>
<li>Despite the rally in share price after trading resumption and a reasonable FY22 result, there are still several tough issues faced by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-yuhua-education" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23627:1" rel="noopener">China Yuhua Education (6169 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Cash management, especially for offshore; no dividend payout in the near term; availability of CB refinancing and weakened margins are just some of the challenges. </li>
<li>Conversion to profit-basis for its schools and the operating outlook for new schools are also added issues that it needs to address. In our view, risks still outweigh return.</li>
</ul>


Despite the rally in share price after trading resumption and a reasonable FY22 result, there are still several tough issues faced by China Yuhua Education (6169 HK). 
Cash management, especially for offshore; no dividend payout in the near term; availability of CB refinancing and weakened margins are just some of the challenges. 
Conversion to profit-basis for its schools and the operating outlook for new schools are also added issues that it needs to address. In our view, risks still outweigh return.


China Yuhua Education (6169 HK): Issues Are Not over Yet

<ul>
<li>Positive response of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a>'s placement indicated a good return of investor appetite to the sector. Its premium multiples stay well justified even after recent rally. </li>
<li>The HK$1.6bn proceeds will reduce gearing to 29.2% (including contract liabilities) from 41.7% with minimal dilution. Narrowing in valuation gap against asking price of targets means more M&amp;A potential. </li>
<li>More funding for expansion of existing campuses, increase in accommodation and the set up of COVID-19 related curriculum will allow CEG to realise higher revenue per student.</li>
</ul>


Positive response of China Education Group (839 HK)'s placement indicated a good return of investor appetite to the sector. Its premium multiples stay well justified even after recent rally. 
The HK$1.6bn proceeds will reduce gearing to 29.2% (including contract liabilities) from 41.7% with minimal dilution. Narrowing in valuation gap against asking price of targets means more M&amp;A potential. 
More funding for expansion of existing campuses, increase in accommodation and the set up of COVID-19 related curriculum will allow CEG to realise higher revenue per student.


China Education Group (839 HK): Solidifying Investment Thesis After Placement

China

XJ International Holdings Co., Ltd. is an investment holding company primarily engaged in providing higher education and secondary vocational education services. The company offers technician education and training, self-study examination, adult education, and technical management and consultancy services, alongside selling textbooks and dormitory bedding. It operates colleges, universities, junior colleges, and technician colleges across China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hungary. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Chengdu, the People's Republic of China.

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XJ International (1765 HK)

China East Education (667 HK): Getting More Interesting

China East Education is debt-free with strong net cash. Earnings have stabilised, and it faces fewer regulatory risks. It is a potential...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Not so Encouraging in the near Term

CEG is facing challenges from higher USD interest rates, reduced capitalised interest, and write-offs. Despite a 17.8% increase in new students,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Sustaining the Healthy Track Record

Higher education student enrollment and tuition increase will support FY23 growth, while stronger financial position offers opportunities for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Yuhua Education (6169 HK): Issues Are Not over Yet

Despite avoiding default on CBs, Yuhua still faces challenges from cash management, no near-term dividend payout, availability of CB refinancing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Solidifying Investment Thesis After Placement

CEG's placement will reduce gearing to 29.2% (including contract liabilities) from 41.7%. Its M&A progress will also benefit from narrowing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

China East Education (667 HK): Getting More Interesting

​China East Education is debt-free with strong net cash. Earnings have stabilised, and it faces fewer regulatory risks. It is a potential...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Not so Encouraging in the near Term

​CEG is facing challenges from higher USD interest rates, reduced capitalised interest, and write-offs. Despite a 17.8% increase in new students,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Sustaining the Healthy Track Record

Higher education student enrollment and tuition increase will support FY23 growth, while stronger financial position offers opportunities for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Yuhua Education (6169 HK): Issues Are Not over Yet

Despite avoiding default on CBs, Yuhua still faces challenges from cash management, no near-term dividend payout, availability of CB refinancing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Solidifying Investment Thesis After Placement

CEG's placement will reduce gearing to 29.2% (including contract liabilities) from 41.7%. Its M&A progress will also benefit from narrowing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China East Education is debt-free with strong net cash. Earnings have stabilised, and it faces fewer regulatory risks. It is a potential...

CEG is facing challenges from higher USD interest rates, reduced capitalised interest, and write-offs. Despite a 17.8% increase in new students,...