Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Ngern Tid Lor (NTL), a financial service provider based in Thailand, aims to raise around US$750m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares in its Thailand IPO. Prior to listing, it was jointly owned by Bank of Ayudhya and CVC Capital Partners. As per Oliver Wyman’s estimates, NTL had a 16% market share in the vehicle lending market in Thailand, as of 2019. NTL provides hire purchase loans for motorcycles and cars, along with new and used trucks. It also provides insurance brokerage services through its branches for non-life and life insurance. It offers motor insurance, compulsory motor insurance, personal accident insurance, cancer insurance, and loan insurance. As of Dec 2020,  it had over 730,000 accounts with total outstanding loans of THB51.3bn. In 2020, it generated non-life insurance premium sales of THB4bn. Over 2016-20, NTL’s gross loans grew at 25.1% CAGR, averaging 25%+ per annum over 2017-19 before slowing down to 7% YoY growth in 2020. Its total income has grown at 22.5% CAGR, while PAT did better with a CAGR of 29.1% over 2016-20.Although, asset quality has taken a hit owing to COVID-19 and Bank of Thailand's induced moratorium.

Ngern Tid Lor (NTL), a financial service provider based in Thailand, aims to raise around US$750m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares in its Thailand IPO. Prior to listing, it was jointly owned by Bank of Ayudhya and CVC Capital Partners. As per Oliver Wyman’s estimates, NTL had a 16% market share in the vehicle lending market in Thailand, as of 2019. NTL provides hire purchase loans for motorcycles and cars, along with new and used trucks. It also provides insurance brokerage services through its branches for non-life and life insurance. It offers motor insurance, compulsory motor insurance, personal accident insurance, cancer insurance, and loan insurance. As of Dec 2020,  it had over 730,000 accounts with total outstanding loans of THB51.3bn. In 2020, it generated non-life insurance premium sales of THB4bn. Over 2016-20, NTL’s gross loans grew at 25.1% CAGR, averaging 25%+ per annum over 2017-19 before slowing down to 7% YoY growth in 2020. Its total income has grown at 22.5% CAGR, while PAT did better with a CAGR of 29.1% over 2016-20.Although, asset quality has taken a hit owing to COVID-19 and Bank of Thailand's induced moratorium.

Ngern Tid Lor Pre-IPO - Pre-COVID Growth Track Record Has Been Very Strong

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Executive Summary:  Rapidly rising interest rates present a challenge for credit to generate positive total returns. Unfortunately, the upward sloping sawtooth pattern of rising US interest rates ended the month on an upswing. Credit spreads needed to compress by as much to generate positive total returns. Only a small handful of Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) managed to generate positive total returns during the month of March. This was concentrated in a select sweet spot.Long duration, low investment grade rated, and high BB rated bonds led tightening over the month. Lower risk tolerance, as evidenced by the rating preferences, combined with duration desires to drive performance in March, as in February. One differentiating factor between March and February is the concentration amongst Thai- and South Korean-headquartered banks during March; however, these institutions are also the largest issuers of longer duration bank paper in Asia. As such, we see this as more of a duration, than a country story.From a pure credit spread perspective, ignoring movements in the risk-free rate, Asia’s bank bonds had an outstanding month with each of the +100 bonds that we track tightening during the month. Global monetary accommodation is in large part responsible for this spread compression. Credit fundamentals have yet to catch-up. Continued tightening, however, cannot be ruled out as credit tourists crowd-in and markets melt-up. Unfortunately for most, the recent tightening did not exceed the speed with which interest rates rose.Q1 2021 was a tough quarter for real money asset managers. We anticipate that US interest rates will continue to climb higher and may even accelerate their upward trajectory. If the trend is your friend and longer duration bonds continue to outperform, the risk is that of buying a bond which either has a higher level of volatility or is fully priced. With South Korean long-dated Senior Unsecured notes trading just north of 100 basis points (bps), it is hard to imagine these notes continuing to compress faster than interest rates. Asset managers may need to consider more subordinated, higher yielding notes to generate positive total returns over the near term. Investors will likely be pushed towards lower rated Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds in April / May to achieve positive total returns. Security selection may become more important.

Executive Summary:  Rapidly rising interest rates present a challenge for credit to generate positive total returns. Unfortunately, the upward sloping sawtooth pattern of rising US interest rates ended the month on an upswing. Credit spreads needed to compress by as much to generate positive total returns. Only a small handful of Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) managed to generate positive total returns during the month of March. This was concentrated in a select sweet spot.Long duration, low investment grade rated, and high BB rated bonds led tightening over the month. Lower risk tolerance, as evidenced by the rating preferences, combined with duration desires to drive performance in March, as in February. One differentiating factor between March and February is the concentration amongst Thai- and South Korean-headquartered banks during March; however, these institutions are also the largest issuers of longer duration bank paper in Asia. As such, we see this as more of a duration, than a country story.From a pure credit spread perspective, ignoring movements in the risk-free rate, Asia’s bank bonds had an outstanding month with each of the +100 bonds that we track tightening during the month. Global monetary accommodation is in large part responsible for this spread compression. Credit fundamentals have yet to catch-up. Continued tightening, however, cannot be ruled out as credit tourists crowd-in and markets melt-up. Unfortunately for most, the recent tightening did not exceed the speed with which interest rates rose.Q1 2021 was a tough quarter for real money asset managers. We anticipate that US interest rates will continue to climb higher and may even accelerate their upward trajectory. If the trend is your friend and longer duration bonds continue to outperform, the risk is that of buying a bond which either has a higher level of volatility or is fully priced. With South Korean long-dated Senior Unsecured notes trading just north of 100 basis points (bps), it is hard to imagine these notes continuing to compress faster than interest rates. Asset managers may need to consider more subordinated, higher yielding notes to generate positive total returns over the near term. Investors will likely be pushed towards lower rated Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds in April / May to achieve positive total returns. Security selection may become more important.

Bank Credit Compass: Positive Total Return Sweet Spot

Executive Summary:  We recommend that investors Overweight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/krung-thai-bank-pub-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:298:1" rel="noopener">Krung Thai Bank's (KTBTB)</a> recently issued Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond. Krung Thai’s published credit metrics are on-par with, if not superior to, its Thailand-based peers as well as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered (STAN LN)</a>. Furthermore, after adjusting for Covid-19 relief exposure, KTBTB has a higher capital buffer and a superior pre-provision earnings ability relative to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kasikornbank-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:293:1" rel="noopener">Kasikornbank (KBank)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tmb-bank-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8090:1" rel="noopener">TMB Bank (TMB TB)</a>. As such, we believe that Krung Thai’s recently issued AT1 note should compress to, if not through, KBank’s bond.Thailand-headquartered banks face both a net profit and a capital buffer test towards determining their ability to make optional distributions, such as dividends, bonuses, and Additional Tier 1 coupons. Unfortunately, Thai-bank AT1 spreads bear no relationship relative to their respective capital buffers. This suggests that other concerns may be driving their respective valuations.We note that loans under COVID-19 relief measures remain subject to an IFRS9 staging standstill under Bank of Thailand regulations until the end of 2021, according to Krung Thai Bank. Given the large amount of relief provided by Thai banks over the last year, and more that may develop in the future, current earnings power and capital buffers may overstate each banks’ ability to make optional distribution payments over time.Therefore, a complete analysis on the fair value of a Thai-bank security should incorporate the capital buffer and pre-provision earnings that may be at risk from Covid-19 relief loans that could go sour.  We undertake this analysis within.Taken together, we conclude that after adjusting for Covid-19 relief exposure, KTBTB has a higher capital buffer and a superior pre-provision earnings ability relative to Kasikornbank and TMB Bank. As such, we believe that Krung Thai’s recently issued AT1 note should compress to, if not through, KBank’s, bond. Issued last week at a spread of T+353, and currently trading at T+ 330, we see at least 30bps of upside remaining for investors in KTBTB’s bond. As such, we recommend that investors Overweight Krung Thai Bank’s 4.4% coupon 2026 callable AT1 note.

Executive Summary:  We recommend that investors Overweight Krung Thai Bank's (KTBTB) recently issued Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond. Krung Thai’s published credit metrics are on-par with, if not superior to, its Thailand-based peers as well as Standard Chartered (STAN LN). Furthermore, after adjusting for Covid-19 relief exposure, KTBTB has a higher capital buffer and a superior pre-provision earnings ability relative to Kasikornbank (KBank) and TMB Bank (TMB TB). As such, we believe that Krung Thai’s recently issued AT1 note should compress to, if not through, KBank’s bond.Thailand-headquartered banks face both a net profit and a capital buffer test towards determining their ability to make optional distributions, such as dividends, bonuses, and Additional Tier 1 coupons. Unfortunately, Thai-bank AT1 spreads bear no relationship relative to their respective capital buffers. This suggests that other concerns may be driving their respective valuations.We note that loans under COVID-19 relief measures remain subject to an IFRS9 staging standstill under Bank of Thailand regulations until the end of 2021, according to Krung Thai Bank. Given the large amount of relief provided by Thai banks over the last year, and more that may develop in the future, current earnings power and capital buffers may overstate each banks’ ability to make optional distribution payments over time.Therefore, a complete analysis on the fair value of a Thai-bank security should incorporate the capital buffer and pre-provision earnings that may be at risk from Covid-19 relief loans that could go sour.  We undertake this analysis within.Taken together, we conclude that after adjusting for Covid-19 relief exposure, KTBTB has a higher capital buffer and a superior pre-provision earnings ability relative to Kasikornbank and TMB Bank. As such, we believe that Krung Thai’s recently issued AT1 note should compress to, if not through, KBank’s, bond. Issued last week at a spread of T+353, and currently trading at T+ 330, we see at least 30bps of upside remaining for investors in KTBTB’s bond. As such, we recommend that investors Overweight Krung Thai Bank’s 4.4% coupon 2026 callable AT1 note.   

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Thai banks are leveraged to re-opening the country to tourism. They are also leveraged to a newly proposed NPL warehouse scheme.  Where re-opening and NPL warehouse move in tandem, Thai banks can be golden.

Thai banks are leveraged to re-opening the country to tourism. They are also leveraged to a newly proposed NPL warehouse scheme.  Where re-opening and NPL warehouse move in tandem, Thai banks can be golden.

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

*KTB Better Results On Improving Credit Deltas: Krung Thai Bank (KTB.TB)[KTB] reported 4Q20 net profit of THB 3.5 bn, increasing THB 396 mn (13.0%) linked quarter. Despite the THB 3.2 bn (25.5%) linked quarter reduction in loss provisions, operating results actually exhibited a decline of THB 262 mn (9.0%); and*Credit Should Continue To Drive Performance: KTB’s hard work controlling credit risk is paying off, as net new NPLs increased just THB 707 mn for an annualized rate of growth of 2.6% - the lowest of the Thai banks under coverage. Provided there are no major “unknown unknowns” in the moratorium portfolio from here, we would envision KTB to at least cutting its loss provision in half from here.

*KTB Better Results On Improving Credit Deltas: Krung Thai Bank (KTB.TB)[KTB] reported 4Q20 net profit of THB 3.5 bn, increasing THB 396 mn (13.0%) linked quarter. Despite the THB 3.2 bn (25.5%) linked quarter reduction in loss provisions, operating results actually exhibited a decline of THB 262 mn (9.0%); and*Credit Should Continue To Drive Performance: KTB’s hard work controlling credit risk is paying off, as net new NPLs increased just THB 707 mn for an annualized rate of growth of 2.6% - the lowest of the Thai banks under coverage. Provided there are no major “unknown unknowns” in the moratorium portfolio from here, we would envision KTB to at least cutting its loss provision in half from here. 

Krung Thai Bank – Lower Credit Tail Risk

Thailand

Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited is a state-owned commercial bank offering various banking and financial services including commercial, consumer, credit card, and mortgage loans, as well as provident fund management, foreign exchange, and international trade financing services.  The Bank is majority owned by the Financial Institutions Development Fund.

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Krung Thai Bank Pub (KTB TB)

Ngern Tid Lor Pre-IPO - Pre-COVID Growth Track Record Has Been Very Strong

Ngern Tid Lor (NTL), a financial service provider based in Thailand, aims to raise around US$750m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares...

Sumeet Singh

Bank Credit Compass: Positive Total Return Sweet Spot

The sweet spot for positive total returns seems to be in long duration, low investment grade, and high BB rated bonds. This was concentrated in...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Krung Thai Bank: Overweight This AT1 Gem

Krung Thai offers superior Covid-19 adjusted metrics. Issued at a discount to fair value, its recently issued AT1 bond is a gem for investors.

Hank Calenti, CFA

Thai Banks – Golden

Thai banks are leveraged to a re-opening of the country to tourism and can benefit at the same time from a newly proposed NPL warehouse scheme.

Daniel Tabbush

Krung Thai Bank – Lower Credit Tail Risk

KRUNG THAI BANK: KTB reported a 4Q20 net profit increase of 13.0% linked quarter. KTB’s hard work controlling credit risk is paying off, as net new...

Thomas J. Monaco

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