Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

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Default: Kaisa Group Holdings (1638.HK) [Kaisa] allegedly failed to pay its USD 400 mn bond;</li>
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Obfuscation On F/S: Part of the problem with Kaisa is how the financial statements broken out, which, in our view, obfuscated the true nature of liquidity at Kaisa; and</li>
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Other Creditors: In addition to offshore bondholders, Kaisa’s main banks include: Bank of China (3988.HK); ICBC (1398.HK); Ping An Bank (000001.CH); China Minsheng Bank (1988.HK); and China CITIC Bank (998.HK).</li>
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Default: Kaisa Group Holdings (1638.HK) [Kaisa] allegedly failed to pay its USD 400 mn bond;

Obfuscation On F/S: Part of the problem with Kaisa is how the financial statements broken out, which, in our view, obfuscated the true nature of liquidity at Kaisa; and

Other Creditors: In addition to offshore bondholders, Kaisa’s main banks include: Bank of China (3988.HK); ICBC (1398.HK); Ping An Bank (000001.CH); China Minsheng Bank (1988.HK); and China CITIC Bank (998.HK).


Kaisa Group Holdings – Second Domino Falls

*Kaisa Defaults: On November 4, 2021, Kaisa Group Holdings (1638.HK) [Kaisa], which provided a guarantee on a wealth management product (WMP), disclosed that it had missed a payment - citing that “it is facing unprecedented liquidity pressure due to a challenging property market and rating downgrades”.  While the 25th largest developer by home sales in mainland China may not appear to be significant, Kaisa does have the second largest level of short-term debt due (USD 3.2 bn) after China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] without any meaningful plan for repayment; and*We Await Evergrande’s Next Payments: We await official word on whether Evergrande’s Scenery Journey met its coupon payment of USD 82.5 mn due November 6, 2021, and we look toward the 30-day grace period expiry on a third set of bond interest payments of USD 148 mn due November 10, 2021.

*Kaisa Defaults: On November 4, 2021, Kaisa Group Holdings (1638.HK) [Kaisa], which provided a guarantee on a wealth management product (WMP), disclosed that it had missed a payment - citing that “it is facing unprecedented liquidity pressure due to a challenging property market and rating downgrades”.  While the 25th largest developer by home sales in mainland China may not appear to be significant, Kaisa does have the second largest level of short-term debt due (USD 3.2 bn) after China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] without any meaningful plan for repayment; and*We Await Evergrande’s Next Payments: We await official word on whether Evergrande’s Scenery Journey met its coupon payment of USD 82.5 mn due November 6, 2021, and we look toward the 30-day grace period expiry on a third set of bond interest payments of USD 148 mn due November 10, 2021.   

Postal Savings Bank of China C / Equity Bottom-Up

*Blowout 3Q21 Results: Established in 2007, Postal Savings Bank of China (1658.HK) [PSB], mainland China’s youngest large commercial bank, reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 23.5 bn – increasing CNY 3.7 bn (18.6%) linked quarter. Much of the improvement at PSB is due to credit leverage, as loss provisions declined CNY 9.3 bn (54.3%); and*Credit Quality Continues Its Positive Turn, But Reserves More Than Adequate: Net new NPLs did increase CNY 7.8 bn or 61.0% annualized versus CNY 14.9 bn or 116.6% at 2Q21. Despite the increase in net new NPLs, it would appear that PSB’s reserves would remain excessive to the tune of CNY 100 bn or about a year of pre-tax profits – begging the question of why not reverse loss reserves?

*Blowout 3Q21 Results: Established in 2007, Postal Savings Bank of China (1658.HK) [PSB], mainland China’s youngest large commercial bank, reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 23.5 bn – increasing CNY 3.7 bn (18.6%) linked quarter. Much of the improvement at PSB is due to credit leverage, as loss provisions declined CNY 9.3 bn (54.3%); and*Credit Quality Continues Its Positive Turn, But Reserves More Than Adequate: Net new NPLs did increase CNY 7.8 bn or 61.0% annualized versus CNY 14.9 bn or 116.6% at 2Q21. Despite the increase in net new NPLs, it would appear that PSB’s reserves would remain excessive to the tune of CNY 100 bn or about a year of pre-tax profits – begging the question of why not reverse loss reserves?

Postal Savings Bank of China – Reserve Reversals Expected

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

*3Q21 Bottom-Line Is Not What It Appears: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 32.7 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (11.3%) linked quarter. However, when we exclude gains and the unreasonable drop in loss provisions, we find that CMB's adjusted core operating result looks something closer to CNY 12.6 bn - declining CNY 8.8 bn or 41.2% over the same period; and*Credit Has Fallen Off Of A Cliff: Unfortunately for CMB, net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 23.5 bn or 172.3% annualized. Provided that the accelerated net new NPL trajectory remains, we foresee a significant decline in NPL cover into the 150% territory from nearly 450% – which is lower than the average mainland Chinese bank.

*3Q21 Bottom-Line Is Not What It Appears: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 32.7 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (11.3%) linked quarter. However, when we exclude gains and the unreasonable drop in loss provisions, we find that CMB's adjusted core operating result looks something closer to CNY 12.6 bn - declining CNY 8.8 bn or 41.2% over the same period; and*Credit Has Fallen Off Of A Cliff: Unfortunately for CMB, net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 23.5 bn or 172.3% annualized. Provided that the accelerated net new NPL trajectory remains, we foresee a significant decline in NPL cover into the 150% territory from nearly 450% – which is lower than the average mainland Chinese bank. 

China Merchants Bank – An Optical Illusion

*Quarter Highlighted By Weak Credit: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported 3Q21 results of CNY 11.7 bn – increasing CNY 4.1 bn (55.0%). Don’t shoot off the streamers just yet, credit quality was abysmal and Ping An is seemingly pulling on its bank lever to offset what looks to be another quarter self-inflicted harm  within its investment portfolio;  and *Credit Challenges: By our analysis, we find that credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs are now accelerating at Indian bank pace of CNY 12.4 bn or 159.8% annualized.  Assuming the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at its current level, we find that PAB’s reserves remain CNY 19 bn light.

*Quarter Highlighted By Weak Credit: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported 3Q21 results of CNY 11.7 bn – increasing CNY 4.1 bn (55.0%). Don’t shoot off the streamers just yet, credit quality was abysmal and Ping An is seemingly pulling on its bank lever to offset what looks to be another quarter self-inflicted harm  within its investment portfolio;  and *Credit Challenges: By our analysis, we find that credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs are now accelerating at Indian bank pace of CNY 12.4 bn or 159.8% annualized.  Assuming the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at its current level, we find that PAB’s reserves remain CNY 19 bn light.

China

China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited provides banking services. The Company offers deposits, loans, domestic settlement,  currency trading, bank guarantee, and other services. China CITIC Bank provides its services to individuals, enterprises, and other clients.

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China CITIC Bank (601998 CH)

Kaisa Group Holdings – Second Domino Falls

KAISA: Kaisa allegedly failed to pay its USD 400 mn bond. Part of the problem with Kaisa is how the financial statements broken out, which, in our...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Evergrande Group – Kaisa Rolled

EVERGRANDE: Kaisa missed a bond payment, and has the second largest level of short-term debt due. We await official word Evergrande’s Scenery...

Thomas J. Monaco

Postal Savings Bank of China – Reserve Reversals Expected

POSTAL SAVINGS BANK: PSB's QOQ 3Q21 increased 18.6%, due largely to credit leverage and net interest income improvement. PSB’s reserves appear...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Merchants Bank – An Optical Illusion

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK: CMB's QOQ 3Q21 adjusted core operating result declined 41.2%, by our calculation. Net new problem loans continue to...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance – Breaking The Bank

PING AN: PAB reported 3Q21 QOQ growth of 55.0%. Credit quality was abysmal and Ping An is pulling on its bank lever to offset another quarter self...

Thomas J. Monaco

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