Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-bank-public-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:213:1" rel="noopener">Bangkok Bank's (BBLTB)</a> inaugural Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond offers an attractive higher yielding coupon for the current interest rate environment. Thailand is a long-term Coronavirus vaccine recovery play. We recommend that investors overweight this security.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Bangkok Bank’s 5% callable 2025 US$-AT1 bond was 2x subscribed with over 40% of orders from outside Asia, according to Bloomberg. This should keep some interest in this security over the near term. In addition to this technical, we outline what we like and dislike regarding the issuer and this security, which we elaborate on within.  </p><p style="text-align: justify;">What we like:</p><ul>
<li>The five percent coupon should attract investors searching for higher yielding product.</li>
<li>The relatively high coupon reset level at five-year US Treasuries plus 473 should enable call at first call date, absent considerable credit quality deterioration.</li>
<li>Bangkok Bank is likely the first of many AT1s to be issued by other Thai banks over the next few months. It should capture fund manager allocations in advance of others.</li>
<li>Relative to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tmb-bank-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8090:1" rel="noopener">TMB Bank's (TMBTB)</a> AT1, we believe BBLTB’s AT1 has room to perform.  We see these bonds compressing onto each other on a relative value basis.</li>
</ul><p style="text-align: justify;">What we dislike:</p><ul>
<li>Thai bank AT1 is subject to a tougher AT1 coupon payment requirement than is established in other countries.</li>
<li>Bangkok Bank’s purchase of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-permata-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:728:1" rel="noopener">Bank Permata (BNLI IJ)</a> may have been strategically sound, but in hindsight it was tactically poor given the change in operating conditions.</li>
<li>Disclosure is below that of other AT1 issuers in the region and below best practice internationally. Bangkok Bank does not appear to disclose the level of lending that is subject to debt relief due to Covid-19 measures. As such we assess the level of interest income reduction required to generate pre-provision losses at BBLTB versus TMBTB. The result is surprising.</li>
</ul><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite these misgivings regarding BBLTB, we anticipate that fixed income investors will continue to be pushed to higher yielding instruments including BBLTB’s AT1 bond. As such, a lot of positive developments may already be priced into this bond. For example, Thailand’s higher reliance on tourist generated revenue should benefit from the eventual development of a Coronavirus vaccine. This would prove beneficial for Thai-bank asset quality. At the same time, Bangkok Bank’s AT1 trades wider than TMB Bank’s relative to their Senior Unsecured notes. We expect this discount to evaporate. Taken together, <strong>we recommend that investors overweight BBLTB’s AT1 bond on a relative value basis.</strong>  Issued at T+476 and trading at around T+ 456, we suggest taking profits at T+400 and recommend a stop loss at T+550.</p>

Bangkok Bank's (BBLTB) inaugural Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond offers an attractive higher yielding coupon for the current interest rate environment. Thailand is a long-term Coronavirus vaccine recovery play. We recommend that investors overweight this security.Bangkok Bank’s 5% callable 2025 US$-AT1 bond was 2x subscribed with over 40% of orders from outside Asia, according to Bloomberg. This should keep some interest in this security over the near term. In addition to this technical, we outline what we like and dislike regarding the issuer and this security, which we elaborate on within.  What we like:
The five percent coupon should attract investors searching for higher yielding product.
The relatively high coupon reset level at five-year US Treasuries plus 473 should enable call at first call date, absent considerable credit quality deterioration.
Bangkok Bank is likely the first of many AT1s to be issued by other Thai banks over the next few months. It should capture fund manager allocations in advance of others.
Relative to TMB Bank's (TMBTB) AT1, we believe BBLTB’s AT1 has room to perform.  We see these bonds compressing onto each other on a relative value basis.
What we dislike:
Thai bank AT1 is subject to a tougher AT1 coupon payment requirement than is established in other countries.
Bangkok Bank’s purchase of Bank Permata (BNLI IJ) may have been strategically sound, but in hindsight it was tactically poor given the change in operating conditions.
Disclosure is below that of other AT1 issuers in the region and below best practice internationally. Bangkok Bank does not appear to disclose the level of lending that is subject to debt relief due to Covid-19 measures. As such we assess the level of interest income reduction required to generate pre-provision losses at BBLTB versus TMBTB. The result is surprising.
Despite these misgivings regarding BBLTB, we anticipate that fixed income investors will continue to be pushed to higher yielding instruments including BBLTB’s AT1 bond. As such, a lot of positive developments may already be priced into this bond. For example, Thailand’s higher reliance on tourist generated revenue should benefit from the eventual development of a Coronavirus vaccine. This would prove beneficial for Thai-bank asset quality. At the same time, Bangkok Bank’s AT1 trades wider than TMB Bank’s relative to their Senior Unsecured notes. We expect this discount to evaporate. Taken together, we recommend that investors overweight BBLTB’s AT1 bond on a relative value basis.  Issued at T+476 and trading at around T+ 456, we suggest taking profits at T+400 and recommend a stop loss at T+550.

Bangkok Bank’s New AT1 – Overweight on Relative Value

<p style="text-align: justify;">Weakening oil prices, a flattening US$ yield curve and rising Eurodollar futures together point to a decline in economic demand prospects combined with an increase in lower for longer interest rate expectations. Against this backdrop, Asia’s high yield market underperformed the US although risk sentiment in both markets declined. <strong>The outcome of this week’s FOMC meeting may impact the directionality and strength of risk sentiment over the near term.</strong> The market may be disappointed.  </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In rate markets, reflation trade unwinding remained in vogue as yields on long-dated treasuries continued to decline. This resulted in continued yield curve flattening which has been underway in three of the last four weeks. In some respects, <strong>these moves suggest that the market does not believe that the Fed can achieve its new policy goals in the near term.</strong> At the shorter end of the interest rate curve, Eurodollar futures reverted to lower for even longer rate expectations as weakening oil prices increased supply / demand concerns<strong>. </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In-line with declining credit risk tolerance in Asia, only three bond spreads tightened for every one that widened during the week. The tightening to widening ratio was more than one-half lower than the prior week. Cross-over rated Senior Unsecured bonds underperformed other securities. <strong>Investors rotated into short-call, AT1-securities to gain higher yields </strong>while spreads on AT1 bonds with longer call dates widened by more than others. This suggests that financial system credit concerns remain low over the near term, despite longer-term uncertainty.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In bank debt capital markets, over US$22 billion of securities were issued as banks continued to take advantage of low rates and sustained investor demand. In terms of demand, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-overseas-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:113:1" rel="noopener">United Overseas Bank's (UOB SP)</a> 10.5 non-call 5.5-year Tier II bond came with no new issue concession. At the same time, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/boc-aviation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22689:1" rel="noopener">BOC Aviation (2588 HK)</a> brought its third issue of the year despite the turmoil in the aviation industry. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sumitomo-mitsui-trust-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19450:1" rel="noopener">Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings (8309 JP)</a> also issued Senior Unsecured notes. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s B+ rated 7-year Sukuk priced 2.5x Dubai’s Baa2 rated 10-year Sukuk that was issued last week. In terms of upcoming issuance, <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-bank-public-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:213:1" rel="noopener">Bangkok Bank </a></strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-bank-public-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:213:1" rel="noopener">(BBL TB)</a><strong> is conducting a roadshow and a Basel III compliant AT1 bond may follow</strong>. Overall, August was the busiest ever for US high grade issuance and September has started strong. Meanwhile high yield issuance during August finished as one of the busiest months on record. <strong>This should earn US banks and some foreign investment banks handsome Q3 fees. </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Market Outlook</strong> The current issue is that Fed policy is now more unpredictable, absent greater guidance on how its new longer-run strategy will influence near-term policy decisions. <strong>This week’s FOMC meeting may disappoint market expectations by not adding depth to the monetary policy canvas</strong>.  As such, risks may now be materially higher for EM credit. Until now, perceptions were that lower-for-longer interest rates would cause US$-investors to reach for yield, in turn raising demand for longer maturities and non-US assets. Following Fed Chairman Powell’s speech, if the Fed permits long bond yields to rise, then marginal flows into emerging market credit may slow on increasing dollar strength.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Inside:</strong> In this weekly, we elaborate on these themes as we review global credit index levels, interest rates, Eurodollar futures and fund flows as well as bank bond spread moves and recent debt issuance to identify possible investment opportunities and potential pitfalls in Asia-headquartered bank bonds.</p>

Weakening oil prices, a flattening US$ yield curve and rising Eurodollar futures together point to a decline in economic demand prospects combined with an increase in lower for longer interest rate expectations. Against this backdrop, Asia’s high yield market underperformed the US although risk sentiment in both markets declined. The outcome of this week’s FOMC meeting may impact the directionality and strength of risk sentiment over the near term. The market may be disappointed.  In rate markets, reflation trade unwinding remained in vogue as yields on long-dated treasuries continued to decline. This resulted in continued yield curve flattening which has been underway in three of the last four weeks. In some respects, these moves suggest that the market does not believe that the Fed can achieve its new policy goals in the near term. At the shorter end of the interest rate curve, Eurodollar futures reverted to lower for even longer rate expectations as weakening oil prices increased supply / demand concerns. In-line with declining credit risk tolerance in Asia, only three bond spreads tightened for every one that widened during the week. The tightening to widening ratio was more than one-half lower than the prior week. Cross-over rated Senior Unsecured bonds underperformed other securities. Investors rotated into short-call, AT1-securities to gain higher yields while spreads on AT1 bonds with longer call dates widened by more than others. This suggests that financial system credit concerns remain low over the near term, despite longer-term uncertainty.In bank debt capital markets, over US$22 billion of securities were issued as banks continued to take advantage of low rates and sustained investor demand. In terms of demand, United Overseas Bank's (UOB SP) 10.5 non-call 5.5-year Tier II bond came with no new issue concession. At the same time, BOC Aviation (2588 HK) brought its third issue of the year despite the turmoil in the aviation industry. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings (8309 JP) also issued Senior Unsecured notes. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s B+ rated 7-year Sukuk priced 2.5x Dubai’s Baa2 rated 10-year Sukuk that was issued last week. In terms of upcoming issuance, Bangkok Bank (BBL TB) is conducting a roadshow and a Basel III compliant AT1 bond may follow. Overall, August was the busiest ever for US high grade issuance and September has started strong. Meanwhile high yield issuance during August finished as one of the busiest months on record. This should earn US banks and some foreign investment banks handsome Q3 fees. Market Outlook The current issue is that Fed policy is now more unpredictable, absent greater guidance on how its new longer-run strategy will influence near-term policy decisions. This week’s FOMC meeting may disappoint market expectations by not adding depth to the monetary policy canvas.  As such, risks may now be materially higher for EM credit. Until now, perceptions were that lower-for-longer interest rates would cause US$-investors to reach for yield, in turn raising demand for longer maturities and non-US assets. Following Fed Chairman Powell’s speech, if the Fed permits long bond yields to rise, then marginal flows into emerging market credit may slow on increasing dollar strength.Inside: In this weekly, we elaborate on these themes as we review global credit index levels, interest rates, Eurodollar futures and fund flows as well as bank bond spread moves and recent debt issuance to identify possible investment opportunities and potential pitfalls in Asia-headquartered bank bonds.

Bank Credit Weekly: FOMC Meeting May Determine Near-Term Risk Sentiment

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Cross Asset Strategy

<div class="content-highlight">
<p>The week that was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with another eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive and actionable insights from across South East Asia and includes macro, top-down and thematic pieces, as well as actionable equity bottom-up and credit insights over the past week.</p>
<p>Please find a brief summary below, with a fuller write up in the detailed section. We also include in the detailed section the past week's relevant discussions in <a href="mailto:ASEAN@Smartkarma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN@Smartkarma</a></p>
</div><h3>Macro Insights</h3><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/thai-macro-watch-august-the-new-tech-wars-chinese-flood" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42012" rel="noopener">Thai Macro Watch (August): The New Tech Wars, Chinese Flood</a>, our Thai guru <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/athaporn-arayasantiparb-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:766" rel="noopener">Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA</a> five global events and their impact on Thai equities.</p><h3>Equity Bottom-Up Insights</h3><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ace-hardware-indonesia-aces-ij-building-a-road-to-recovery" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42520" rel="noopener">Ace Hardware Indonesia (ACES IJ) - Building A Road to Recovery,</a> CrossASEAN Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/angus-mackintosh" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:937" rel="noopener">Angus Mackintosh</a> revisits one of Indonesia's leading retailers after a call with management.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/akr-corporindo-akra-ij-the-landed-logistics-player" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42569" rel="noopener">AKR Corporindo (AKRA IJ) - The Landed Logistics Player,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/angus-mackintosh" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:937" rel="noopener">Angus Mackintosh</a> revisits this Indonesian chemical and fuel distributor with an increasing contribution coming from its JIIPE industrial estate. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sats-from-serving-22-5m-pax-in-1q20-to-serving-200k-pax-in-1q21-houston-we-have-a-problem" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42488" rel="noopener">SATS: From Serving 22.5M Pax in 1Q20 -&gt; To Serving 200K Pax in 1Q21. Houston We Have a Problem.</a> CrossASEAN Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/nicolas-van-broekhoven-24a66c2d-bca4-4f5b-adda-c4e2bcc509f4" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1208" rel="noopener">Nicolas Van Broekhoven</a> revisits Singapore airport maintenance leader post its recent numbers. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/permata-bank-mandatory-takeover-launched-finally" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42577" rel="noopener">Permata Bank Mandatory Takeover Launched. Finally.</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/travis-lundy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:25" rel="noopener">Travis Lundy</a> revisits the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-permata-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:728:1" rel="noopener">Bank Permata (BNLI IJ)</a> deal as it enters its final stage.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sprime-good-point-of-entry-singha-connection-could-add-further-upside" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42589" rel="noopener">SPRIME: Good Point of Entry, Singha Connection Could Add Further Upside,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/dr-andrew-stotz-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:756" rel="noopener">Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA</a> initiates coverage on SPRIME with a BUY recommendation based on a target price of Bt11.20, implying an upside of 21% from the current share price. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/aimirt-good-growth-outlook-but-already-priced-in" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42639" rel="noopener">AIMIRT: Good Growth Outlook, but Already Priced In</a> initiates coverage on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aim-industrial-growth-freehold-and-leasehold-real-estate-investment-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29180:1" rel="noopener">AIM Industrial Growth Freehold and Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (AIMIRT TB)</a> with a HOLD recommendation based on a target price of Bt14.30, implying an upside of 6% from the current share price. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/teamg-cost-savings-and-government-stimulus-to-drive-profit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42628" rel="noopener">TEAMG: Cost-Savings and Government Stimulus to Drive Profit,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/dr-andrew-stotz-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:756" rel="noopener">Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA</a> revisits <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/team-consulting-engineering-and-management-public-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29175:1" rel="noopener">TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management (TEAMG TB)</a> and maintains a BUY recommendation on the company as he increases the target price to Bt2.81 from Bt2.42, implying an upside of 17% from the current share price. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sisb-good-entry-point-for-investment-in-private-schools" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42632" rel="noopener">SISB: Good Entry Point for Investment in Private Schools,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/dr-andrew-stotz-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:756" rel="noopener">Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA</a> initiates coverage on SPRIME with a BUY recommendation based on a target price of Bt11.20, implying an upside of 21% from the current share price.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/sflex-staying-behind-key-players-in-the-market" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42679" rel="noopener">SFLEX: Staying Behind Key Players in the Market,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/dr-andrew-stotz-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:756" rel="noopener">Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA</a> initiates coverage on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/starflex-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29172:1" rel="noopener">Starflex PCL (SFLEX TB)</a> with a SELL recommendation based on a target price of Bt8.90, implying a downside of 28% from the current price. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/boffice-asset-expansion-motivates-the-upside" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42678" rel="noopener">BOFFICE: Asset Expansion Motivates the Upside,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/dr-andrew-stotz-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:756" rel="noopener">Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA</a> initiates coverage on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhiraj-office-leasehold-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29173:1" rel="noopener">Bhiraj Office Leasehold REIT (BOFFICE TB)</a> with a BUY recommendation based on a target price of Bt14.10, implying an upside of 18% from the current share price. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/all-valuation-remains-undemanding-expect-further-upside" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42635" rel="noopener">ALL: Valuation Remains Undemanding, Expect Further Upside</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/dr-andrew-stotz-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:756" rel="noopener">Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA</a> revisits <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/all-inspire-development-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29177:1" rel="noopener">All Inspire Development PCL (ALL TB),</a> where he has a Buy recommendation based on a target price of Bt4.39, implying an upside of 31% from the current price. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/m-rapid-sssg-recovery-with-potential-growth-from-seafood-restaurant" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42578" rel="noopener">M: Rapid SSSG Recovery with Potential Growth from Seafood Restaurant,</a> our friends at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a> circle back to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mk-restaurants-group-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17689:1" rel="noopener">MK Restaurants Group (M TB)</a> after attending the recent analyst briefing, where they came away more positive with signs of an SSSG recovery post lockdown easing.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/egco-positive-2h20-earnings-outlook-from-better-overseas-performance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42634" rel="noopener">EGCO: Positive 2H20 Earnings Outlook from Better Overseas Performance,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a> revisit <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/electricity-generating-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6149:1" rel="noopener">Electricity Generating (EGCO TB)</a> after the company's positive analyst briefing. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/wice-expect-earnings-to-continue-growing-yoy-in-2h20" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42537" rel="noopener">WICE: Expect Earnings to Continue Growing YoY in 2H20,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a> circle back to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wice-logistics-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26172:1" rel="noopener">Wice Logistics (WICE TB)</a> after going to the company's analyst briefing. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hana-covid-19-impact-has-passed" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42575" rel="noopener">HANA: Covid-19 Impact Has Passed,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a> revisits one of Thailand's leading electronics manufacturing services companies. </p><h3>Sector and Thematic Insights</h3><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/indonesia-banks-most-to-recover" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42493" rel="noopener">Indonesia Banks – Most To Recover?,</a> banking specialist <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/daniel-tabbush" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:12" rel="noopener">Daniel Tabbush</a> zooms in on the potential recovery to come for Indonesian Banks. </p><div><div><div id="ember9100"><div><section><div id="ember9112"><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/asia-banks-oversized-dividends" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42535" rel="noopener">Asia Banks – Oversized Dividends,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/daniel-tabbush" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:12" rel="noopener">Daniel Tabbush</a> zeros in on dividend payments for Asian banks during the pandemic period. </p></div></div></section></div></div></div></div><h3>Credit Insights</h3><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bank-rakyat-indonesia-pondering-pricing-on-a-promised-new-issue" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42524" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia: Pondering Pricing on a Promised New Issue</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/hank-calenti-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:5194" rel="noopener">Hank Calenti, CFA</a> takes a look at the proposed US$1bn bond issue from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> and finds it appealing. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> could price a potential five-year senior unsecured </p>


The week that was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with another eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive and actionable insights from across South East Asia and includes macro, top-down and thematic pieces, as well as actionable equity bottom-up and credit insights over the past week.
Please find a brief summary below, with a fuller write up in the detailed section. We also include in the detailed section the past week's relevant discussions in ASEAN@Smartkarma
Macro InsightsIn Thai Macro Watch (August): The New Tech Wars, Chinese Flood, our Thai guru Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA five global events and their impact on Thai equities.Equity Bottom-Up InsightsIn Ace Hardware Indonesia (ACES IJ) - Building A Road to Recovery, CrossASEAN Insight Provider Angus Mackintosh revisits one of Indonesia's leading retailers after a call with management.In AKR Corporindo (AKRA IJ) - The Landed Logistics Player,Angus Mackintosh revisits this Indonesian chemical and fuel distributor with an increasing contribution coming from its JIIPE industrial estate. In SATS: From Serving 22.5M Pax in 1Q20 -&gt; To Serving 200K Pax in 1Q21. Houston We Have a Problem. CrossASEAN Insight Provider Nicolas Van Broekhoven revisits Singapore airport maintenance leader post its recent numbers. In Permata Bank Mandatory Takeover Launched. Finally.Travis Lundy revisits the Bank Permata (BNLI IJ) deal as it enters its final stage.In SPRIME: Good Point of Entry, Singha Connection Could Add Further Upside,Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA initiates coverage on SPRIME with a BUY recommendation based on a target price of Bt11.20, implying an upside of 21% from the current share price. In AIMIRT: Good Growth Outlook, but Already Priced In initiates coverage on AIM Industrial Growth Freehold and Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (AIMIRT TB) with a HOLD recommendation based on a target price of Bt14.30, implying an upside of 6% from the current share price. In TEAMG: Cost-Savings and Government Stimulus to Drive Profit,Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA revisits TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management (TEAMG TB) and maintains a BUY recommendation on the company as he increases the target price to Bt2.81 from Bt2.42, implying an upside of 17% from the current share price. In SISB: Good Entry Point for Investment in Private Schools,Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA initiates coverage on SPRIME with a BUY recommendation based on a target price of Bt11.20, implying an upside of 21% from the current share price.In SFLEX: Staying Behind Key Players in the Market,Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA initiates coverage on Starflex PCL (SFLEX TB) with a SELL recommendation based on a target price of Bt8.90, implying a downside of 28% from the current price. In BOFFICE: Asset Expansion Motivates the Upside,Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA initiates coverage on Bhiraj Office Leasehold REIT (BOFFICE TB) with a BUY recommendation based on a target price of Bt14.10, implying an upside of 18% from the current share price. In ALL: Valuation Remains Undemanding, Expect Further Upside, Dr Andrew Stotz, CFA revisits All Inspire Development PCL (ALL TB), where he has a Buy recommendation based on a target price of Bt4.39, implying an upside of 31% from the current price. In M: Rapid SSSG Recovery with Potential Growth from Seafood Restaurant, our friends at Country Group circle back to MK Restaurants Group (M TB) after attending the recent analyst briefing, where they came away more positive with signs of an SSSG recovery post lockdown easing.In EGCO: Positive 2H20 Earnings Outlook from Better Overseas Performance,Country Group revisit Electricity Generating (EGCO TB) after the company's positive analyst briefing. In WICE: Expect Earnings to Continue Growing YoY in 2H20,Country Group circle back to Wice Logistics (WICE TB) after going to the company's analyst briefing. In HANA: Covid-19 Impact Has Passed,Country Group revisits one of Thailand's leading electronics manufacturing services companies. Sector and Thematic InsightsIn Indonesia Banks – Most To Recover?, banking specialist Daniel Tabbush zooms in on the potential recovery to come for Indonesian Banks. In Asia Banks – Oversized Dividends,Daniel Tabbush zeros in on dividend payments for Asian banks during the pandemic period. Credit InsightsIn Bank Rakyat Indonesia: Pondering Pricing on a Promised New IssueHank Calenti, CFA takes a look at the proposed US$1bn bond issue from Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) and finds it appealing. Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) could price a potential five-year senior unsecured 

The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Ace Hardwear, Thai Macro, and Indonesian Banks

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Leyou, FamilyMart, Softbank, Ootoya, Bank Permata, Naspers, Haw Par/UIC

Independent Asian Credit Research, Bondcritic

Warut Promboon

Independent Asian Credit Research

Asian Fixed Income/Frontier Market Research

Bondcritic

Bondcritic, established in 2009, is designed to be an independent credit research voice that helps investors gain insights and unbiased analyses on Asian fixed income market. Our mission is to discover deep-value Asian high-yield and distressed bonds with a bottom-up approach, together with the help of our proprietary ESG (Environmental, Social Development, and Governance) model. At the same time, we focus on bringing investment cases of unrated and unloved issuers to the general public.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p style="text-align: justify;">In this Smartkarma Original, we seek to study how diversity and incentives influence stock performance and profitability. We tallied diversity and incentive data related to the board of directors, management, and employees across major economies in Asia and picked top 10 companies of each country in terms of market capitalization. We chose to exclude major companies listed in exchanges of other economies such as Tencent and Alibaba to limit our sample size.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Then we devised diversity and incentive scores to assign to those companies and compare those scores against a 5-year trend of their return on shareholders’ equity (ROE) ratios and 1-year stock performance from 1-July-19 to 30-June-20 over its corresponding exchange indices.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The report covers diversity vs. incentives in Asia, diversity score vs. 1-year stock performance and ROE trend, incentives vs. 1-year stock performance and ROE trend, diversity + incentives scores vs. 1-year stock performance and ROE trend, companies with top and bottom diversity + incentive scores, countries with top and bottom average diversity + incentive scores, and incentive score vs. staffing cost trend. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The results show that companies with high diversity scores do perform well. A high diversity score also has a positive impact on the ROE trend, based on our regression analysis at 95% confidence level. We found that employee incentives are not significant as staff diversity but they can still have an influence on company performances at a lower 90% confidence level.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We note that this study is at the preliminary stage and stock performance is a function of many factors, not only the diversity scores that we concluded. Needless to say, our diversity and incentive scores also reflect the level of disclosures by selected companies, not necessarily the actual practice within each company. Our diversity and incentive scores are also not a credit rating or ranking with peers and, hence, do not reflect default probability of selected companies.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We caution that in Asia, many diversity trends in the West may not apply. The fact that many Asian business communities may remain less sensitive to equal opportunities for females, disabled persons, or LGBTQ communities could make returns of Asian companies less correlated to diversity than in the West. Likewise, additional incentives in some countries in Asia may not be necessary as employees’ strong performance (i.e. in Japan) is a norm, according to the prevalent work culture.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Bondcritic is developing a scoring model, which includes environment, social development, and corporate governance; the last of which cover diversity and incentives. This report is the first of the series to uncover shenanigans in the Asian corporate sector.</p>

In this Smartkarma Original, we seek to study how diversity and incentives influence stock performance and profitability. We tallied diversity and incentive data related to the board of directors, management, and employees across major economies in Asia and picked top 10 companies of each country in terms of market capitalization. We chose to exclude major companies listed in exchanges of other economies such as Tencent and Alibaba to limit our sample size.
Then we devised diversity and incentive scores to assign to those companies and compare those scores against a 5-year trend of their return on shareholders’ equity (ROE) ratios and 1-year stock performance from 1-July-19 to 30-June-20 over its corresponding exchange indices.
The report covers diversity vs. incentives in Asia, diversity score vs. 1-year stock performance and ROE trend, incentives vs. 1-year stock performance and ROE trend, diversity + incentives scores vs. 1-year stock performance and ROE trend, companies with top and bottom diversity + incentive scores, countries with top and bottom average diversity + incentive scores, and incentive score vs. staffing cost trend. 
The results show that companies with high diversity scores do perform well. A high diversity score also has a positive impact on the ROE trend, based on our regression analysis at 95% confidence level. We found that employee incentives are not significant as staff diversity but they can still have an influence on company performances at a lower 90% confidence level.
We note that this study is at the preliminary stage and stock performance is a function of many factors, not only the diversity scores that we concluded. Needless to say, our diversity and incentive scores also reflect the level of disclosures by selected companies, not necessarily the actual practice within each company. Our diversity and incentive scores are also not a credit rating or ranking with peers and, hence, do not reflect default probability of selected companies.
We caution that in Asia, many diversity trends in the West may not apply. The fact that many Asian business communities may remain less sensitive to equal opportunities for females, disabled persons, or LGBTQ communities could make returns of Asian companies less correlated to diversity than in the West. Likewise, additional incentives in some countries in Asia may not be necessary as employees’ strong performance (i.e. in Japan) is a norm, according to the prevalent work culture.
Bondcritic is developing a scoring model, which includes environment, social development, and corporate governance; the last of which cover diversity and incentives. This report is the first of the series to uncover shenanigans in the Asian corporate sector.

Asian Governance: Diversity & Incentives Through the Cultural Lens

Thailand

Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited provides various banking and financial services including commercial, consumer, credit card, and mortgage lending, international trade financing, investment banking, and securities services.

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Bangkok Bank (BBL/F TB)

Bangkok Bank’s New AT1 – Overweight on Relative Value

Bangkok Bank’s inaugural Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond offers an attractive higher yielding coupon for the current interest rate environment....

Hank Calenti, CFA

Bank Credit Weekly: FOMC Meeting May Determine Near-Term Risk Sentiment

Weakening oil prices, a flattening US$ yield curve and rising Eurodollar futures together point to a decline in economic demand prospects combined...

Hank Calenti, CFA

The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Ace Hardwear, Thai Macro, and Indonesian Banks

This past week's offering of Insights across ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with another eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive and actionable...

Angus Mackintosh

Last Week in Event SPACE: Leyou, FamilyMart, Softbank, Ootoya, Bank Permata, Naspers, Haw Par/UIC

Last Week in Event SPACE ... The offer for Leyou Technologies (1089 HK) from Tencent Holdings (700 HK) is a done deal, but trading wide-ish on...

David Blennerhassett

Asian Governance: Diversity & Incentives Through the Cultural Lens

In this Smartkarma Original, we seek to study how diversity and incentives influence stock performance and profitability. We tallied diversity and...

Bondcritic

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