Wasion Holdings Limited (3393.HK) Earnings Call Transcript

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to Wasion Holdings 2025 Interim Results Release Conference. First of all, I'm going to introduce to you the executives present in this meeting today. They are Executive Director and CEO, Mr. Kat Chit; Executive Director and Chairperson of Willfar Information, Ms. Li Hong; Executive Director and Chairman of Wasion International; Mr. Tian Zhongping; Non-Executive Director and Chairperson of Wasion Energy, Ms. Cao Zhao Hui; and CEO of Wasion Group, Mr. [Xihu]; and [CEO] and Company Secretary, Mr. Edward Choi. Now we'll hand over to Mr. Chit to present to you the interim results of the company.

[Interpreted] Good afternoon. Thank you very much for taking your time to attend Wasion Holdings 2025 Interim Results Release Virtual Conference. Today, I'm going to talk to you 5 parts: company overview, financials, business overview and market potential, development strategy, and outlook. Wasion is a China leading energy metering and energy efficiency management expert, product and service, including Power AMI, C&F AMI and ADO, servicing domestic and international, grid customers and non-grid customers with full-scale energy metering and efficiency management for solutions. In the first half of 2025, the 3 major segments of the group have grown a lot. Power AMI has grown year-on-year by 30%, C&F AMI grew year-on-year by 13% and ADO 6%. Reviewing the [indiscernible] period, the share price of the company has achieved a 9-year high. In 2025 today, the growth has already been -- it's 25%, 23% and CITIC, CICC and multiple security firms have taken a by position in us and in outperforming our peers. Next, I'm going to present to you the Wasion Holding's 2025 Key Financials. In the first half of 2025, we have achieved good performance. Our operating income was RMB 4.39 billion, grew by 17% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to parent by 33% to 440 million. Price per share CNY 44.5, 35% year-on-year growth -- 33% year-on-year growth. Net profit attributable to parent was around 10%, 1.2 percentage points higher than last year. Net return on equity further optimized to about 15.9%, 3.1 percentage points over the last year. On gross profit, in the first half of 2025, the group has achieved gross profit of RMB 1.54 billion, year-on-year growth of 16%. Gross profit rate, about 35.1 from the 3 major sectors, Power AMI gross profit rate was 37.8%; C&F AMI, 39.2% at high place; ADO, 26.7%, all pretty much the same as 2024. In the first half of 2025, the parent -- owners of the parent -- profits attributed to owners of the parent significant grew basically due to sales revenue growth and also efficient cost controls. Our sales administration and R&D expenses accounted for less proportion in the total revenue. In this period, by business segments, Power AMI accounted for 43% of the total revenue; C&F and AMI accounted for 30% ADO, 27%. By customer category, domestic grid customer and domestic non-grid customer and overseas customer accounted for CNY 1.8 billion, CNY 1.35 billion and CNY 1.34 billion, growing by 22%, 11% and 19%, respectively, accounting for 41%, 31% and 28% in a total gains. In this period, the group has further expanded our overseas business and income from overseas markets grew by 19% to RMB 1.25 billion. ADO significantly grown by 854% as compared to RMB 6 million last year to h million, accounting for 4.2%. And Power AMI, in the international market grew by 12% or year-on-year around RMB 910 million, accounting for 73% of the overseas market income. In this period, the financials of the group have been steady, the financial position healthy, and gross profit grew by 16% year-on-year; EBITDA by 18% to 707 million; earnings per share grew by 33% to CNY 44.5. Now I'm going to present to you our business overview and market potential. Wasion Power AMI is focused on the R&D, production, sales and solutions of intelligent meters. In this period, Power AMI grew by 30% in operating income to RMB 1.88 billion, gross profit around 710 million, growing by 22% year-on-year, and gross profit dropped by 2.4 percentage points year-on-year to 37.8% due to product structure changes and also the centralized procurement price drop or customer structure, domestic and international customers, each accounted for 52% and 48% in a total AMI revenue. Looking back on the Power AMI. The State Grid only has one batch of centralized tenders [indiscernible] CICC and winning about 1.86 billion, ranking #1. And this is accounting for 14.88 million in the first time of the metering transformer, ranking first one. And also the provincial grid and local power business accounting to contract value of 145 million. In green and renewables, we promoted the photovoltaic new products. In the first half of 2025, we have achieved batch orders, and we anticipated that in subsequent years, we will be producing 100 million batch order supply demand. On R&D, we cover production, [indiscernible], distribution, transmission and usage, providing customers with a full coverage data analytics, processing and metering applications. Our power carbon metering as a new function added to the State Grid new standard, the group has launched the first of its kind power carbon metering, and has been recognized by industry experts through scientific achievement. Our C&F AMI business, which has been the Willfar Information, through split listing in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, it has taken advantage of this leading energy data solution to promote this digital transformation and to build up the new-type power system and smart applications to promote the green energy, low-carbon transformation and the global Internet of Things upgrade. In this period, the C&F AMI earns RMB 1.3 billion, grew by 13% year-on-year; gross profit, 39.2%. Customer structure, domestic customers and overseas customers each accounted for, in terms of C&F AMI, 78% and 22%. In terms of the C&F AMI, the group has been based on the Internet of Things, chips and artificial intelligence and utilize the artificial intelligence deeply integrated with low forecasting, photovoltaic forecasting and also intelligent deployment, we have transformed from a equipment supplier to an energy digital system solution provider particularly in chips and communication modules. The new type of dual module -- dual model communication chips has been recognized by the CSG and Southern Grid, taking a leading share in the market and also realizing a leapfrog growth [indiscernible] in the overseas business. Willfar Information has taken advantage of these advanced energy data and intelligence solutions has achieved breakthroughs in the Belt and Road developing countries. In the first half of the year, our overseas income has been rising significantly, showing a great market prospect. On ADO, the subsidiary of the group, Wasion Energy, is focused on intelligent distribution product and solutions as well as new energy, energy restorage and green and mobility. The furthest business is focused around green energy, clean energy, smart [indiscernible], smart grid and electric transportation and also energy storage. In this period, the ADO operating income grew by 1.21 billion, year-on-year growth of 6%; gross profit, [ 0.6 ] percentage points to 26.7% year-on-year. On customer, and we -- we continued our strong power in the domestic grid market with strong market share during the transformation period. In terms of centralized procurement and also tendering, we perform outstandingly. In the Southern Grid integration products, we had a very high amount of tender winning. In the non-power-grid market, we're focused on data center. We are deeply infused with the East data and West computation projects. We continue to work with GDS. And in the first half of the year, we break through in orders with the internet giant, ByteDance. In communications, we have achieved -- we have won core clients like China Mobile and China Telecom in their 2 headquarters and also China Mobile in the 11 provincial companies with breakthroughs in the market, and we have achieved a lot in the market share in water service, rail transportation and petrochemicals. In the overseas market, we rely on data center solutions to enable global data infrastructure. And WEYOUNG Malaysian factory was put into operation with leading distribution management and heat management, dual chain production, comprehensive service, which is a strong competitive power and relied on the long-term storage direct control technology, silver technology and also microchannel heat dissipation, continue to strengthen our ADO product series, relied on the technology going overseas to work with Siemens and GDS. We integrated global resources to work to provide our business customers with a full stop service from planning to maintenance and operation and strengthen our position in smart distribution technology. During the period, the group has outstanding wonderfully in the overseas business. Overseas business income grew by 1.24 billion, year-on-year growth of 19 percentage points. ADO grew by 854% to RMB 50 million. Power AMI and C&F AMI respectively grew by 12% and 26% to 910 million and 280 million. In the Asian market, our factories in Indonesia and Malaysia were put into operation. The group continued to secure batch orders or deliveries with active efforts to expand market share and promoting regional business development. In Saudi Arabia and UAE, we actively promoted market development and localized deployment, successfully engaging with key clients and partners. In Africa, we successfully signed up with Tanesco in Tanzania for meters, and we also expanded our market around Tanzania. In Americas, the group has performed outstandingly in Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina with great project deliveries and business developments. In the period, our Mexican subsidiary signed a contract with the CFE of Mexico, 2 contracts over RMB 790 million for large-scale meter supply, strengthening our leading brand position in the local market. In Europe, we continue to strengthen our factory in Hungary with a focus on high performance of the current contracts and to strengthen other markets, provide them with support. We have been working hard on the international market, shaping up our international image. We participated in 2025 Africa Power and Energy Expo and 2025 America Power Distribution and Utilities Expo, while enabling the African power transformation, we've been leading China smart manufacturing to shine in North America, showing our resolve and determination in advanced R&D and to expand our overseas market. In this period, Willfar Information is put into operation our Indonesian factory. This is the first overseas factory of Willfar Information, which will continue -- contribute to digital transformation and sustainable development in Indonesia and the broader Asian region. The factory will integrate the smart grid and also smart city with strong R&D and to work with an Indonesian market with tailored ma -- tailored solutions to transfer technology and to train talent and to upgrade the local industry. And our Malaysian subsidiary is also put into operation, showing our strategy for overseas markert, and we have been winning high recognition in terms of products and services in overseas markets. In opening ceremony of the factories, the group and the world-leading data center pioneer, DayOne. We signed a strategic partnership agreement. The parties will work around data center in depth to realize our commitment to building a long-term green data ecosystem in Malaysia. On the 30th of June, our unfinished overseas orders amounted to RMB 3.605 billion with sufficient orders in hand. On development strategies, we continue -- we are committed to research-driven and side tech-driven development to work with Dual Carbon development strategy of the country, in line with the market transformation of the grid to promote new development in smart city and new energy to meet international customer needs and to promote our own technology upgrade. In the first half of 2025, our R&D accounted for 7.2% in operating income. Our outlook on the 3 business segments. In the grid market, the CSG and the Southern Grid in centralized procurement, there, the demand from them is still the main source of income for Power AMI. In the second half, the grid will continue to secure stable streams of orders to secure a stable growth for the whole year's business. We have also participated in power, carbon R&D, looking to secure relevant orders in the grid market. In the non-grid market, we will be focused on infrastructure, new energy and key industries and continue to break through in businesses and our product deployment. We pay efforts in the communications industry to tap deeper into the market and find our customer pain points for business development and new product development. And we also continue to expand our electric appliance transformer market. And while continuing to reinforce our high-end transformer suite, and we continue to expand power plant business to secure the #1 position in the Chinese market. In the C&F AMI, as the positive development of the large models, AI is restructuring the power system. And with one application in the energy sector, the State Grid and the Southern Grid is also -- are also expanding the efforts in digital transformation. In the future, we will be working on the consumption side and supply side of the energy to build up multiple layer, multiple category, energy, IoT so that the ubiquitous sensing, reliable communication and flexible information exchange, smart controls to put into best play and to promote digital transformation and low-carbon operation. And by relying on the power IoT with our extensive experience and technical expertise, we will be responding to the new type power system transformation goals and planning to benefit from this industrial upgrade cycle. With green and no carbon development, the world has growing demand for green energy, new energy, electrical development and global AMI 2.0, development is going strong. We will take advantage of global opportunities to go overseas and to break through in this trend. On ADI, in addressing the domestic grid market, we will focus on the new type power systems to take advantage of the opportunities in the low pressure, low voltage digital group to improve our coverage and market share, to build up a new power systems and to strengthen our branding efforts. In terms of the domestic non-group market, we will continue to enhance our data center's communication sector, water service sector, petrochemical sector and electronic chip sectors to formulate key industry solutions, to strengthen our industrial capability. In electric mobility, we're focused on core services and also on central government-related and control enterprises and SOEs, and to work around our own capabilities to deepen our source openings. In address -- in the overseas market, we will be further expanding Southeast Asia, North America and South America and smart distribution. And also Europe and Africa, with technology transformation, innovation and strategic partnerships, we'll be building data centers, and we aim to become a leader in data center management. Based on what we have achieved in the first half of the year, we will deepen our deployment in Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. We will work with local partners and operations to continue our regional position in the market and actively explore new energy and distribution sectors and to enable our global business and ongoing development. Lastly, let's look forward to the future together for the group. The green and low carbon transformation and digital power group construction remains the important direction of the industry. Year-to-date, China has released quite a few key policies in February, the Energy Bureau of the country released the 2025 Energy Work Guiding Opinions with strong requirements for renewable developments. In the same month, the NDRC and the Energy Bureau released the new energy power grid going into the power market policy. In April, the virtual plan development goals released. Clarifying that in 2027, the adjustable capacity should be higher than 20 million kilowatt. In May, we -- it is clarified that Green Power will be going to the metering requirements for calculation, bringing new opportunities. The group has worked around smart distribution virtual power plants for carbon management and to take advantage of policy opportunities, which enhance our market position. We will take advantage of local power companies growth and to secure our leading position in the grid industry under the Dual Carbon strategy of the country, we will continue to develop the electric metering and micro grid, strengthening our position in the green market. In the future, the group will continue to digitalize our grid and make it intelligent, with efforts to enhance our coverage in energy IoT and also manage infrastructure for smart city to realize digital and low-carbon operation. And through Internet of Things, big data and AI and with virtual reality and augmented reality with smart water service and smart fire fighting, we'll be providing industries with new solutions. At the same time, we will continue to enhance our AI R&D and a scenario application. For example, deepening our collaboration with the China lab and to actively explore generative AI and its application in energy sector. With all these efforts, we aim to become a global leading supplier of energy digital solutions. That concludes my presentation. Thank you.

[Operator Instructions] Now we have the first ask from [ Tien Phong ]. The first question, please.

[Interpreted] Mr. Chit, can you hear me?

[Interpreted] Yes, we can.

[Interpreted] Congrats on the company and such a great achievement, which is surprising. The first question is in the first half of the year, ADO, maybe there's a big growth in year-on-year growth. So what do you see in the next half of the market? How do you interpret growth and also in different markets and customers? That's question one.

[Interpreted] Okay. Thank you for your question. I will pass on this question to Ms. Cao.

[Interpreted] Okay. Thank you for your attention to ADO. Indeed, our overseas market this year grows a few folds, basically, 2 things here. First, our distribution in overseas, as we understand, in Americas and also our past developed markets, we have secured quite a few orders. And then we have also done a lot in the data centers overseas. So this year, in terms of orders, we've done quite well, over 1 billion orders by their deliveries due in the next half of the year. So in the first half, they are not at a high percentage. So we anticipated that the annualized overseas business growth will be quite significant.

[Interpreted] The second question from me. In metering, in overseas markets, how do you view the demand there? Are you concerned about any fluctuations in overseas demand? Or I mean continuity in overseas market? What's your focus of development? What's the update?

[Interpreted] Are you asking about the overseas meter trend and demand?

[Interpreted] Yes, yes, exactly.

[Interpreted] Okay. I got you. Mr. Tian, please.

[Interpreted] Thank you, Mr. Chit. Thank you for your question. I'll talk about the overseas AMI and meter development. As you may be aware, we are now developing local plans in overseas. And in the future, a few years from now, you may be working hard on the North America like U.S.A., Canada, Mexico and Europe. We have just launched a new plant. So in this regard, our forecast is still quite promising. Because, for example, in the U.S. market, it's the second round of AMI rotation. So now we are at a good time to enter this market, and we are looking forward to some good development in Mexican as well. And in Mexico, we are planning for a new round of AMI replacement, and we cut into the market at the right time. In Europe, France, the U.K., these -- we'll be launching our businesses in these 2 -- according to the replacement market. And our products and technologies are quite competitive in the local markets -- sorry, we'll be facing new challenges. In the first half of 2025 and in the full year of 2024, we've been doing some preparations. Our forecast for this is promising. Of course, we'll face some challenges like in Southeast Asia and Africa, in South America, we are facing other Chinese companies, a fierce competition from them. And we might be fighting around market prices. This will be a bit challenging. So we need to do more on how to achieve cost control and also how to do better in these markets. This is what we have been working on. So overall, we're positioned at medium to higher-end AMI market. And this remains our forecast, which is still positive. I mean, in the next half of the year, our AMI business will achieve significant growth in the regions that I just mentioned.

[Interpreted] Okay. And then I want to ask in the domestic meter, the tender prices this year has dropped. So how do you view in a few years from now, like GPS meter prices? Do you have any strategies to do it in response to the pricing issue?

[Interpreted] Okay. Mr. [ Xihu ], maybe you will be good to answer this question.

[Interpreted] Okay. Thank you. Thank you for the question. Thank you for your attention to the Wasion's domestic meters business. From the first half of the year, this business in the State Grid procurement has dropped in the process. I mean, a view in the future, the overall meter market in China is a -- will be a fully competitive market. And we have seen a relevant new competitors coming into the market. In this situation, we have promoted very effective cost control strategy so that our gross profit has remained stable. We have taken some effective measures, including further enhancing automation to increase efficiency, and we have been doing a lot on R&D, and we have optimized the supply chain. And by effectively -- by effective strategies, we have maintained stable gross profits. Going forward, we will further optimize our overall product so that we continue to remain strong in the domestic meter market. Okay. That concludes my answer. Thank you.

[Interpreted] By the way, for the Southern Grid, the tender is a bit lighter this year, right, as compared to the -- what [indiscernible] subsequent tenders, any -- okay.

[Interpreted] The Southern Grid, in -- on the 11th of August, has just finished the first batch of centralized procurement tenders from their development [indiscernible] their development, the Southern Grid meter replacement, they were replacing a large number of meters this year. So we anticipate that our business with them will remain stable as last year. And we anticipated the group will achieve well this year.

[Interpreted] Next question comes from CICC, Ms. Liu Qianwen.

[Interpreted] It is on mute, maybe. I can't hear you.

[Interpreted] Can you hear me now?

[Interpreted] Yes.

[Interpreted] I have a few questions, first is about data center. That the market's concern because this year, what about the orders from China and also overseas this year? What's the expectation? And also there is a meeting before, some leaders have been mentioned that we are -- we'll be talking about the cold fluid product development. I would like to know about the progress there and also the future order securing.

[Interpreted] Your voice is a bit blurred. My understanding is you want to ask, in terms of the data center, you want to ask our domestic and international orders and also the cold fluid, right?

[Interpreted] Yes, yes. Water cooling, yes.

[Interpreted] Ms. Cao

[Interpreted] Thank you. Data center business is fast growing. And we internally has treated as a stand-alone business sector for strategic loan development in the first half. It is fair to say that with Mr. Kat's presentation, we have introduced to you a comprehensively our deployment overseas and also in China, we have secured good orders, and we -- in liquid cooling, based on the current orders, we have secured orders for liquid cooling solutions. In CDO, we have started working on key customer demand to provide sample devices, and we have been communicating with core customers and we anticipated in 12 or 18 months from now, we will be recognized by the market.

[Interpreted] So you mean you have secure liquid cooling orders for the data center, right?

[Interpreted] Yes, for systems. Because the CDO for the orders is designated.

[Interpreted] Okay. Another question is in the European meter order securing because last year, it was a new factor being put into place. It has been more than a year and then what -- what's the expectation for its performance this year overall?

[Interpreted] Mr. Tian, please.