HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Conch Venture Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<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> is now at negative stub value, the low-end since 2020. This is despite a 16.4% growth in 1H22 core earnings to Rmb542m.</li>
<li>The company's waste-to-energy (WTE) capacity will increase by 25% in FY23 and its internal target calls for an earnings CAGR of 33% between FY21 and FY25 for WTE segment.</li>
<li>We should not underestimate the potential from new business initiatives including cathode and anode materials and lithium battery recycling. They have good medium-to-long term exposure to China's new energy industry.</li>
</ul>



China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK) is now at negative stub value, the low-end since 2020. This is despite a 16.4% growth in 1H22 core earnings to Rmb542m.
The company's waste-to-energy (WTE) capacity will increase by 25% in FY23 and its internal target calls for an earnings CAGR of 33% between FY21 and FY25 for WTE segment.
We should not underestimate the potential from new business initiatives including cathode and anode materials and lithium battery recycling. They have good medium-to-long term exposure to China's new energy industry.


Conch Venture (586 HK): An Overlooked Value Play

<ul>
<li>Following listing of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-conch-environment-protection-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4827:1" rel="noopener">China Conch Environment (587 HK)</a>, <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 (586 HK)</a> is seeking a spin-off of CV Green Energy in A-share market and we view this move positively.</li>
<li>Limited details are currently available, but we think CV Green Energy, which operates WTE businesses, will trade at significantly higher multiples than its Hong Kong peers. </li>
<li>Assuming CV Green Energy to hold all Conch Venture's WTE businesses, we estimate the IPO will boost the latter's sum-of-the-parts value by 8% or HK$2.14 per share.</li>
</ul>


Following listing of China Conch Environment (587 HK), China Conch Venture (586 HK) is seeking a spin-off of CV Green Energy in A-share market and we view this move positively.
Limited details are currently available, but we think CV Green Energy, which operates WTE businesses, will trade at significantly higher multiples than its Hong Kong peers. 
Assuming CV Green Energy to hold all Conch Venture's WTE businesses, we estimate the IPO will boost the latter's sum-of-the-parts value by 8% or HK$2.14 per share.


Conch Venture (586 HK): Another Spin-Off in the Pipeline

China Everbright Environment / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The FY21 result of <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> (CEE) should look impressive and we see improvement in cash flow to relieve market concerns on leverage and financial position.  </li>
<li>New project addition is solid over the last three months, adding about 5% to operational project portfolio. Strong special purpose bonds issuance in 4Q21 and 2022 will fuel pipeline momentum.</li>
<li>Valuations look undemanding at 4.1x PER and 0.65x P/B for FY22F; and by maintaining payout ratio at c.30%, dividend yields are at attractive 6.4% and 7.4% for next 2 years.</li>
</ul>


The FY21 result of China Everbright Environment (257 HK) (CEE) should look impressive and we see improvement in cash flow to relieve market concerns on leverage and financial position.  
New project addition is solid over the last three months, adding about 5% to operational project portfolio. Strong special purpose bonds issuance in 4Q21 and 2022 will fuel pipeline momentum.
Valuations look undemanding at 4.1x PER and 0.65x P/B for FY22F; and by maintaining payout ratio at c.30%, dividend yields are at attractive 6.4% and 7.4% for next 2 years.


China Everbright Environment (257 HK): Roaring in the Year of Tiger!

We think the secured project pipeline for <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> should drive encouraging double-digit growth in its core environmental business profit in the next three years. It expects a CAGR of 52.8% in completed waste incineration capacity and 30.2% in completed solid waste and hazardous waste capacity, which in our view, should underpin remarkable earnings outlook.The flat 1H21 profit is masked by a 5% drop in contribution from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a>. which, in flat, core earnings have surged 31.4% YoY. It solid new project win is an excellent demonstration of its competitiveness. Even for Anhui Conch, the 2H21 outlook is getting more positive than 1H21. We believe that at just 5.9x PER (ex-Anhui Conch) for FY21, the market has sharply undervalued Conch Venture's environmental operations, especially given its lower-than-peers gearing of 19.4% only.

We think the secured project pipeline for China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK) should drive encouraging double-digit growth in its core environmental business profit in the next three years. It expects a CAGR of 52.8% in completed waste incineration capacity and 30.2% in completed solid waste and hazardous waste capacity, which in our view, should underpin remarkable earnings outlook.The flat 1H21 profit is masked by a 5% drop in contribution from Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK). which, in flat, core earnings have surged 31.4% YoY. It solid new project win is an excellent demonstration of its competitiveness. Even for Anhui Conch, the 2H21 outlook is getting more positive than 1H21. We believe that at just 5.9x PER (ex-Anhui Conch) for FY21, the market has sharply undervalued Conch Venture's environmental operations, especially given its lower-than-peers gearing of 19.4% only.

Conch Venture (586 HK): Better Fortunes Going Forward

We think <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> (CEE) is the best-performing environment company within the China Everbright Group, as evidenced by the 38.8% YoY growth in 1H21 earnings (ex-consolidated subsidiaries <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-water-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31446:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Water (1857 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-greentech-0377b31c-5401-466f-987e-9a176b05fb52" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24085:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK)</a>). Management's indication in the post-1H21 call that operating cash flow rose 77% YoY in the period is also a good sign.Excellent new project momentum and secured project pipeline should drive CEE's earnings in the next two years. The trend of increase in operation service revenue is also positive as this should support the growth in recurrent income and operating cash flow. We continue to see encouraging outlook for its waste-to-energy business, and with 21 projects under construction, this segment will underpin its profit outlook.  In our view, CEE's valuations of 4.1x PER and 0.61x P/B for FY21 are very appealing.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-environment-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2832:1" rel="noopener"></a>

We think China Everbright Environment (257 HK) (CEE) is the best-performing environment company within the China Everbright Group, as evidenced by the 38.8% YoY growth in 1H21 earnings (ex-consolidated subsidiaries China Everbright Water (1857 HK) and China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK)). Management's indication in the post-1H21 call that operating cash flow rose 77% YoY in the period is also a good sign.Excellent new project momentum and secured project pipeline should drive CEE's earnings in the next two years. The trend of increase in operation service revenue is also positive as this should support the growth in recurrent income and operating cash flow. We continue to see encouraging outlook for its waste-to-energy business, and with 21 projects under construction, this segment will underpin its profit outlook.  In our view, CEE's valuations of 4.1x PER and 0.61x P/B for FY21 are very appealing.  

China Everbright Environment (257 HK): The Most Impressive of All

China

Zhejiang Weiming Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. provides solid waste disposal services. The Company provides services in garbage disposal projects' technical development, equipment manufacturing, project investment, project construction, and operation management.

Zhejiang Weiming Environment Protection Co Ltd (603568 CH)

Zhejiang Weiming Environment Protection Co Ltd

Zhejiang Weiming Environment Protection Co Ltd (603568 CH)

Conch Venture (586 HK): An Overlooked Value Play

The market has deeply undervalued Conch Venture's waste-to-energy business as reflected by the negative stub value. New business initiatives and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Conch Venture (586 HK): Another Spin-Off in the Pipeline

The proposed spin-off of CV Green Energy in Shanghai should benefit Conch Venture's valuations given the higher multiples for waste-to-energy...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Everbright Environment (257 HK): Roaring in the Year of Tiger!

CEE's FY21 result should be impressive and will serve as share price catalyst. Solid recent new project pipeline and higher special purpose bond...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Conch Venture (586 HK): Better Fortunes Going Forward

Good secured pipeline of waste incineration and solid and hazardous waste treatment capacity should underpin very solid outlook for the core...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Everbright Environment (257 HK): The Most Impressive of All

CEE recorded impressive 1H21 earnings growth, and with higher tariff, solid new project momentum, continued strong pipeline and improving cash...

Osbert Tang, CFA