The Growth Of A Dragon
CMP ($0.935), announced a good set of 3Q results underpinned by solid growth at its 51% owned YTW toll road, a supposedly matured road due to increased traffic flow from a new bridge located near it. In addition, the latest acquisition, Jiurui Expressway, contributed its maiden HK$2.8m profits for the first 22 days under CMP ownership due largely to instant refinancing of expensive loans structured under previous ownership.
Given that Jiurui is last year 2013's project, I personally expect CMP to surprise the market with another accretive acquistion soon.
CMP Milestones:
11 Aug 2010 ($0.72) - YTW
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...elease.pdf
19 Aug 2011 ($0.53) - YTW Completion
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.pdf
23 Feb 2012 ($0.68) 2011 Final Results and Dividend Policy of at least 5.5 cents DPS for FY12 and FY13
http://infopub.sgx.com/FileOpen/FY2011-P...leID=75416
The Group has paid no less than 50% of its net profit to shareholders since its
transformation into a leading toll road player in 2004. Instead of targeting a dividend
payout ratio of at least 50% of net profit attributable to shareholders, the Directors now
target for an annual dividend payout of at least 5.5 cents a share over the next two
years in view of the increased gearing and the Group’s future development needs.
6 Aug 2012 ($0.70) - Ningbo Beilun
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.PDF
18 Sept 2012 ($0.715) - Proposed issue of CB due 2017
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.pdf
14 Nov 2012 ($0.725) - Completion of Ningbo Beilun
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.pdf
12 Dec 2012 ($0.71) - First Attempt at Jiurui
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.pdf
15 May 2013 ($0.895) - Non completion of Jiurui
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.pdf
27 Sept 2013 ($0.86) - Disposal of NZ Prop to Sister Co
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...cement.pdf
27 Feb 2014 ($0.905) - FY13 results and surprised increase of final dividends to 4.25cents totalling 7 cents above 5.5 cents guidance
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...elease.pdf
5 Mar 2014 ($0.96) - Extension of long-stop for NZ prop disposal
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...of_LSD.pdf
16 Apr 2014 ($0.955) - Completion of disposal of NZ Prop
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn..._CMPNZ.pdf
21 Jul 2014 ($0.925) - 2nd attempt at Jiurui
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...elease.pdf
9 Sept 2014 ($0.945) - Completion Jiurui
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...essway.pdf
9 Sept 2014 - Conversion of RCCPS by Huajian
http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...ersion.pdf
Well connected For The Future
CMP's immediate parent, CM Huajian Highway Investment Co, is no stranger to China's listed toll road sector. While CM Huajian Highway owns a portfolio of listed toll road in China and HK exchanges, CMP appears to be the preferred vehicle in recent years to spearhead its toll road investments in China.
In a rare interview with The Edge Magazine, CMP stated its intention to expand its toll road portfolio with an aim to eventually dual list on HKSE. However, to achieve that, CMP will need to have a market cap of HK$36bn based on the then quoted figures.
Based on the above milestone, CMP has systematically enlarged its toll road portfolio since the first major acquisition of 51% stake in YTW in 2011. Trading liquidity in CMP shares also started to pick up early 2014 due the commencement of conversion of Convertible Bonds issued in 2012.
Since the declaration of dividend policy that first coincided with the release of 2011 full year results, CMP continued to trade at dividend yields that have been largely uncompressed since then - 8.1% on 23 Feb 2011 vs 7.5% at today's prices.
Given that CMP has been issuing shares in lieu of purchase consideration to the vendors of toll roads, it appears that CMP management is mindful of keeping its new shares attractive to strategic vendors / partners.
As China remains a centrally planned economy, the ownership of important infrastructure like roads are likely to be awarded to well connected individuals / companies. However, based on Jiurui's vendor profile, it is likely that these vendors are also likely to be caught with involvement of property projects that are currently under financial stress due to the decelerating growth of Chinese economy as a result of maturing profile.
As CMP is part of a bigger Chinese SOE conglomerate CM Group, it is likely that CMP has access to evaluate opportunities and cherry pick the ones that suit its toll road portfolio and risk profile. However, given the maturity of toll roads in well developed coastal cities,it is likely that CMP will be focusing on inland roads - Jiurui acquisition is likely to be the beginning of such a trend in my personal opinion.
ATTRACTIVE VALUATIONS with LOW RISKS profile
Despite expanding rapidly since 2010, CMP share price appeared to have under-performed its track record thus far and the prospects going forward. CMP appeared to have been wrongly lump with the heap of rubblish of S Chips that have gone belly up and evaporated.
At 7.5% sustainable dividend yield and good prospects of growing payout due to strong cashflow at its portfolio of toll roads, CMP is a clean company structure that is cleared of financial engineering associated with other listed infrastructure plays primarily those listed in established markets like ASX and SGX.
Buy 7.5% dividend yield with 5% capital growth in hope for 5% dividend yield with 7.5% capital growth.
Vested
Core Position
GG