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

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

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<li>
Competitor Call Reveals Numerous Additional Risks Which Will Weigh On Results. </li>
<li>No Clarity On Go Forward Core Bottom-Line, Especially Gains and Loss Provisions. </li>
<li>Reserve to NPLs Looks Overstated, as WMP and Securities Are Included In Loan Reserves. </li>
</ul>



Competitor Call Reveals Numerous Additional Risks Which Will Weigh On Results. 
No Clarity On Go Forward Core Bottom-Line, Especially Gains and Loss Provisions. 
Reserve to NPLs Looks Overstated, as WMP and Securities Are Included In Loan Reserves. 


China Merchants Bank – Accelerating Risk

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<li>
Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group's (1299.HK) [AIA] limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume; </li>
<li>
Many Deal Distractions:AIA has gone on a deal-making spree in 2021, announcing six separate transactions to date; and  </li>
<li>
Suffocating Hong Kong Business: AIA’s core Hong Kong business has been an unmitigated disaster during COVID-19, struggling with mainland Chinese visitors. Further, there is limited clarity on AIA’s legacy agents. </li>
</ul>



Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group's (1299.HK) [AIA] limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume; 

Many Deal Distractions:AIA has gone on a deal-making spree in 2021, announcing six separate transactions to date; and  

Suffocating Hong Kong Business: AIA’s core Hong Kong business has been an unmitigated disaster during COVID-19, struggling with mainland Chinese visitors. Further, there is limited clarity on AIA’s legacy agents. 


AIA Group – No Word On Massive Deal Risk

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

*Challenging Result: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] reported 3Q21 net profit of SGD 1.2 bn, a SGD 64 mn (5.5%) increase on a linked quarter basis. OCBC’s bottom-line improvement was primarily attributable to a decrease in loss provisions, as credit risk remains elevated; a tax rate decline; and stronger insurer earnings; and*Credit Breaking Down Again: By our calculation, we find that net new NPL growth has increased again to SGD 448 mn or 44.9% on an annualized basis. Given the increase in net new NPLs, reserve would appear to now be wanting by SGD 2.0 bn plus or just under two quarters of bottom-line results.

*Challenging Result: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] reported 3Q21 net profit of SGD 1.2 bn, a SGD 64 mn (5.5%) increase on a linked quarter basis. OCBC’s bottom-line improvement was primarily attributable to a decrease in loss provisions, as credit risk remains elevated; a tax rate decline; and stronger insurer earnings; and*Credit Breaking Down Again: By our calculation, we find that net new NPL growth has increased again to SGD 448 mn or 44.9% on an annualized basis. Given the increase in net new NPLs, reserve would appear to now be wanting by SGD 2.0 bn plus or just under two quarters of bottom-line results.

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp.- Negative Jaws & Weaker Credit

*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

Hong Kong

The Bank of East Asia, Limited and its subsidiaries provide general banking, related financial, business corporate, and investor services.

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Bank of East Asia (23 HK)

China Merchants Bank – Accelerating Risk

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK: A discussion over the use of gains and a drop in loss provisions during 3Q21 would have been a better use of time. CMB’s core...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – No Word On Massive Deal Risk

AIA: AIA reported a limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume. No word on AIA's...

Thomas J. Monaco

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

DBS: DBS reported flat 3Q21 QOQ results. Accounting for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker,...

Thomas J. Monaco

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp.- Negative Jaws & Weaker Credit

OCBC: OCBC reported a QOQ 3Q21 net profit increase of 5.5%, as it pulled on numerous levers. Net new NPL growth increased 44.9% annualized, and...

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

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