Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yes-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:767:1" rel="noopener">YES Bank's (YES IN)</a> US$-bond hit par-value recently. Par is plenty for investors. Having delivered 20 price points in return since our Buy recommendation, pre-rescue in February, Smartkarma readers should be satiated with this above average return. Upside is now much less likely, although temporarily pricing slightly over par could occur during the next few months. As such, we move to Underweight YES Bank’s 3 ¾% coupon Nov. 2023 maturity bond, from Overweight on a relative value basis.We put YES Bank’s recent bond outperformance down to a combination of a broad risk asset rally and positive news flow plus the lack of negative news regarding the recovery of the institution. The Reserve Bank of India’s take-over of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lakshmi-vilas-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17552:1" rel="noopener">Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB IN)</a> has both removed the spotlight from YES Bank and reminded investors that this entity was rescued.Delivery on management’s restructuring goals remains to be seen while headwinds build for India, post-COVID-19. As such, with less than two-years to maturity and spreads at less than one-half their levels of one-year ago, now is not the time to jump in. We believe it is time to lighten allocation to this security and reposition elsewhere.

YES Bank's (YES IN) US$-bond hit par-value recently. Par is plenty for investors. Having delivered 20 price points in return since our Buy recommendation, pre-rescue in February, Smartkarma readers should be satiated with this above average return. Upside is now much less likely, although temporarily pricing slightly over par could occur during the next few months. As such, we move to Underweight YES Bank’s 3 ¾% coupon Nov. 2023 maturity bond, from Overweight on a relative value basis.We put YES Bank’s recent bond outperformance down to a combination of a broad risk asset rally and positive news flow plus the lack of negative news regarding the recovery of the institution. The Reserve Bank of India’s take-over of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB IN) has both removed the spotlight from YES Bank and reminded investors that this entity was rescued.Delivery on management’s restructuring goals remains to be seen while headwinds build for India, post-COVID-19. As such, with less than two-years to maturity and spreads at less than one-half their levels of one-year ago, now is not the time to jump in. We believe it is time to lighten allocation to this security and reposition elsewhere. 

YES Bank: Par Is Plenty- Move to Underweight

The worse the economic news, the greater the expectation of US federal stimulus, the more the market rallies. Investors may be surprised to find that recent federal stimulus discussions are more appearance than substance. The balance of the US Senate is at stake and this posturing plays right into that election.Despite the overall improved risk tone, emerging market capital inflows flattened to remain at their highest levels since mid-February. This is surprising as almost everyone expects a weakening dollar next year. This is not a good sign. So long as yields are rising due to economic growth expectations, all is good; however, if yields are rising due to increasing inflation expectations, then a market correction is inevitable as investors re-assess policymaker’s commitment. Much depends on what and how the Fed communicates. Signs of wavering from overshooting inflation targets could spark a mini-taper tantrum.While global risk sentiment strengthened, Asia’s high yield markets outperformed the US indexes. Asia’s outperformance was likely due to more encouraging news from the region in terms of November’s PMIs which went down well with increased US federal stimulus expectations. Nonetheless, Asia’s HY index still has considerable room to catch-up with the US index. This difference was at its widest level in over 10-years recently and had hit a low of 1.45pp three months ago. This volatility seems overdone. We believe this to be due to US market irrational exuberance although increased concerns on the health of China’s debt issuers also played a part. Rising expectations for the Fed to take bond-supportive policy steps and the potential for another round of fiscal stimulus also play in the market dynamics. However, the Fed may not move before knowing the outcome of the Senate elections and federal stimulus discussions may be a false dawn. As such, we continue to suggest positioning for spread compression between the US and Asia HY indexes via the US Caa-rated index level.Within this environment, Asia’s High Yield bank bonds continued to outperform, although almost all bank bond prices rose on increased risk sentiment. Asia’s lowest rated bank bonds led in terms of spread outperformance. However, a Fed-influenced cap on US longer-term rates may not be bank friendly. We caution bank investors that Fed programs are forever, so be careful what you wish for. Remember when Quantitative Easing ended?Market Outlook: The question now is whether the federal stimulus discussion is about economic or political reality. We hope that our US federal stimulus cynicism is proven incorrect. Assuming we are incorrect, tension between longer-term optimism from vaccine driven economies and the shorter-term reality of increasing Coronavirus lockdowns may then weigh on the market. The recent surge in bullish sentiment raises the question of whether it is sustainable or if a correction may be around the corner, possibly due to the lack of Fed action in its asset purchase program. We are now more deeply set-up for buy-the-rumor, sell-the-fact profit taking.

The worse the economic news, the greater the expectation of US federal stimulus, the more the market rallies. Investors may be surprised to find that recent federal stimulus discussions are more appearance than substance. The balance of the US Senate is at stake and this posturing plays right into that election.Despite the overall improved risk tone, emerging market capital inflows flattened to remain at their highest levels since mid-February. This is surprising as almost everyone expects a weakening dollar next year. This is not a good sign. So long as yields are rising due to economic growth expectations, all is good; however, if yields are rising due to increasing inflation expectations, then a market correction is inevitable as investors re-assess policymaker’s commitment. Much depends on what and how the Fed communicates. Signs of wavering from overshooting inflation targets could spark a mini-taper tantrum.While global risk sentiment strengthened, Asia’s high yield markets outperformed the US indexes. Asia’s outperformance was likely due to more encouraging news from the region in terms of November’s PMIs which went down well with increased US federal stimulus expectations. Nonetheless, Asia’s HY index still has considerable room to catch-up with the US index. This difference was at its widest level in over 10-years recently and had hit a low of 1.45pp three months ago. This volatility seems overdone. We believe this to be due to US market irrational exuberance although increased concerns on the health of China’s debt issuers also played a part. Rising expectations for the Fed to take bond-supportive policy steps and the potential for another round of fiscal stimulus also play in the market dynamics. However, the Fed may not move before knowing the outcome of the Senate elections and federal stimulus discussions may be a false dawn. As such, we continue to suggest positioning for spread compression between the US and Asia HY indexes via the US Caa-rated index level.Within this environment, Asia’s High Yield bank bonds continued to outperform, although almost all bank bond prices rose on increased risk sentiment. Asia’s lowest rated bank bonds led in terms of spread outperformance. However, a Fed-influenced cap on US longer-term rates may not be bank friendly. We caution bank investors that Fed programs are forever, so be careful what you wish for. Remember when Quantitative Easing ended?Market Outlook: The question now is whether the federal stimulus discussion is about economic or political reality. We hope that our US federal stimulus cynicism is proven incorrect. Assuming we are incorrect, tension between longer-term optimism from vaccine driven economies and the shorter-term reality of increasing Coronavirus lockdowns may then weigh on the market. The recent surge in bullish sentiment raises the question of whether it is sustainable or if a correction may be around the corner, possibly due to the lack of Fed action in its asset purchase program. We are now more deeply set-up for buy-the-rumor, sell-the-fact profit taking.

Bank Credit Weekly: New Equation Is Bad News = Buy

Risk-on sentiment resulted in more spread tightening than widening in Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) during the month of November. In fact, only 4 securities widened in G-Spread terms out of the 100 bonds that we track in the region. Meanwhile, the largest widening was only 15 basis points (bps) month-on-month.India-headquartered bank bonds led in terms of spread tightening over November and dominate our top 10 list. Amongst the India-headquartered banks, several non-bank finance companies (NBFCs) led advances. Relative to year-end spread levels, there is limited upside remaining amongst the top 10 performers of November.In a positive sign, from a momentum perspective, the positive spread movement amongst India’s NBFCs was continuous throughout November. Coronavirus vaccine news, a Goldilocks US election outcome, and the Janet Yellen effect propelled riskier asset prices higher in most markets and India was no exception.   While the trend is your friend, ordinarily thin trading markets could meet concerns that economic recovery is fully priced, and profit-taking may ensue during December. In addition, there is the risk that the market has gotten ahead of itself as bank management’s loss expectations are yet to be tested. Post-COVID-19, India’s operating environment starts from an already high level of non-performing assets and each bank’s loan loss predictive ability has significant room for improvement. The same could be said for the other outperforming bank bonds in our top 10 list.

Risk-on sentiment resulted in more spread tightening than widening in Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) during the month of November. In fact, only 4 securities widened in G-Spread terms out of the 100 bonds that we track in the region. Meanwhile, the largest widening was only 15 basis points (bps) month-on-month.India-headquartered bank bonds led in terms of spread tightening over November and dominate our top 10 list. Amongst the India-headquartered banks, several non-bank finance companies (NBFCs) led advances. Relative to year-end spread levels, there is limited upside remaining amongst the top 10 performers of November.In a positive sign, from a momentum perspective, the positive spread movement amongst India’s NBFCs was continuous throughout November. Coronavirus vaccine news, a Goldilocks US election outcome, and the Janet Yellen effect propelled riskier asset prices higher in most markets and India was no exception.   While the trend is your friend, ordinarily thin trading markets could meet concerns that economic recovery is fully priced, and profit-taking may ensue during December. In addition, there is the risk that the market has gotten ahead of itself as bank management’s loss expectations are yet to be tested. Post-COVID-19, India’s operating environment starts from an already high level of non-performing assets and each bank’s loan loss predictive ability has significant room for improvement. The same could be said for the other outperforming bank bonds in our top 10 list.

Bank Credit Compass: Asia’s November Performance and December Expectations

In this, the fourth of several short insights in our Yes Bank Deposit Run Anniversary Series, we adjust Liquidity Coverage Ratios (LCR) for anticipated cash inflows which may not materialize in the current COVID-19 environment. We then append this result to deposits that are not captured in LCR reports derive a COVID-19 adjusted LCR.LCRs are based on a set of assumptions which may not prove to be valid during periods of stress, as recently occurred at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yes-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:767:1" rel="noopener">Yes Bank (YES IN)</a>. One of the many assumptions is that cash inflows from performing loans can offset projected deposit outflows in a stressed situation. However, in an environment of widespread payment moratoriums or interest-only repayments, projected cashflow may be materially overstated. This could result in misleadingly higher LCR ratios. At the same time, some banks report non-lending related cash inflows at higher levels than projected loan-related amounts. This is surprising. As such, we remove all cash inflows to derive a cash inflow adjusted LCR. We also incorporate deposits that are not captured by the LCR report to derive a COVID-19 stressed LCR ratio and assess this ratio to see if this is priced-in from a credit perspective.Approximately one-year ago, India-headquartered Yes Bank began to experience a silent run on its deposits. To mark this inauspicious anniversary, we undertake a series of short insights to determine if the funding and liquidity lessons from Yes Bank are being applied at India-headquartered banks. Spoiler alert: they are not.As we noted in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-bank-deposit-flight-risk-lessons-from-yes-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37617" rel="noopener">Lessons from Yes Bank</a>, India-headquartered bank funding franchises are more sensitive to potential deposit flight than displayed in their quarterly financial presentations. With an undue focus on the levels of current, savings and time deposits, the discussion neglects crucial factors which lead to a stable deposit franchise. At the same, undue reliance on Liquidity Coverage Ratios is not warranted as per recent experience.In our first insight, we derived the amount of stable deposits at each major India-headquartered bank and determined if a stable deposit franchise is priced-in, from a credit perspective. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-headquartered-banks-stable-deposits-and-costs-1-year-after-the-yes-bank-silent-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43981" rel="noopener">Stable Deposits and Costs 1-Year After the Yes Bank Silent Run</a>. In our second, we adjusted deposit flight assumption to the reality of what occurred at Yes Bank. We then determined if this “Yes-stressed” LCR is priced-in. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-headquartered-banks-yes-stressed-deposit-flight-simulation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44213" rel="noopener">Yes-Stressed Deposit Flight Simulation</a>.   In our third insight, we incorporated deposits that are not captured in LCR reports. This is the analysis required to understand what broke Yes Bank. We then determined if the Missing Deposit LCR is priced-in from a credit perspective. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-headquartered-banks-missing-deposit-miasma-1-year-after-yes-bank-s-silent-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45438" rel="noopener">Missing Deposit Miasma 1-Year After Yes Bank’s Silent Run</a>.  In follow-up insights we intend to assess extraordinary government actions that recently inflated LCR ratios and then adjust for all of these elements for apocalyptic scenario analysis.

In this, the fourth of several short insights in our Yes Bank Deposit Run Anniversary Series, we adjust Liquidity Coverage Ratios (LCR) for anticipated cash inflows which may not materialize in the current COVID-19 environment. We then append this result to deposits that are not captured in LCR reports derive a COVID-19 adjusted LCR.LCRs are based on a set of assumptions which may not prove to be valid during periods of stress, as recently occurred at Yes Bank (YES IN). One of the many assumptions is that cash inflows from performing loans can offset projected deposit outflows in a stressed situation. However, in an environment of widespread payment moratoriums or interest-only repayments, projected cashflow may be materially overstated. This could result in misleadingly higher LCR ratios. At the same time, some banks report non-lending related cash inflows at higher levels than projected loan-related amounts. This is surprising. As such, we remove all cash inflows to derive a cash inflow adjusted LCR. We also incorporate deposits that are not captured by the LCR report to derive a COVID-19 stressed LCR ratio and assess this ratio to see if this is priced-in from a credit perspective.Approximately one-year ago, India-headquartered Yes Bank began to experience a silent run on its deposits. To mark this inauspicious anniversary, we undertake a series of short insights to determine if the funding and liquidity lessons from Yes Bank are being applied at India-headquartered banks. Spoiler alert: they are not.As we noted in Lessons from Yes Bank, India-headquartered bank funding franchises are more sensitive to potential deposit flight than displayed in their quarterly financial presentations. With an undue focus on the levels of current, savings and time deposits, the discussion neglects crucial factors which lead to a stable deposit franchise. At the same, undue reliance on Liquidity Coverage Ratios is not warranted as per recent experience.In our first insight, we derived the amount of stable deposits at each major India-headquartered bank and determined if a stable deposit franchise is priced-in, from a credit perspective. Please see Stable Deposits and Costs 1-Year After the Yes Bank Silent Run. In our second, we adjusted deposit flight assumption to the reality of what occurred at Yes Bank. We then determined if this “Yes-stressed” LCR is priced-in. Please see Yes-Stressed Deposit Flight Simulation.   In our third insight, we incorporated deposits that are not captured in LCR reports. This is the analysis required to understand what broke Yes Bank. We then determined if the Missing Deposit LCR is priced-in from a credit perspective. Please see Missing Deposit Miasma 1-Year After Yes Bank’s Silent Run.  In follow-up insights we intend to assess extraordinary government actions that recently inflated LCR ratios and then adjust for all of these elements for apocalyptic scenario analysis.

India-Headquartered Banks: COVID-19 Adjusted Liquidity Coverage Ratios

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

*Lakshmi Vilas Bank Problems Appear Bigger Than DBS Expects: By our calculation and based on LVB’s FY 2Q21 results, the company would appear to be insolvent by the amount of INR 39 bn – nearly 56% greater than the DBS Bank India capital infusion; LVB loses money on an operating basis prior to loss provisions, as revenues (no clarity on what is recurring) of INR 15.4 bn are less than operating expenses of INR 16.0 bn – or by 3.7% at FY 2Q21; et al;  and  *Cram-down Highlights That LVB’s Stated Numbers May Be Wrong:  Prior to the amalgamation, INR 318.2 bn (USD 43 mn) LVB Basel III-compliant Tier 2 bonds (Series VIII, Series IX, and Series X) were written down under the direction of the RBI. To the best of our knowledge, this would appear to be the first time that a cram-down procedure was applied in Asia. As a result, no investor should take any investment in a troubled Indian financial institution for granted. Ultimately, this will make the financial sector more efficient – but calls the sanctity of their audited results into questions as well.

*Lakshmi Vilas Bank Problems Appear Bigger Than DBS Expects: By our calculation and based on LVB’s FY 2Q21 results, the company would appear to be insolvent by the amount of INR 39 bn – nearly 56% greater than the DBS Bank India capital infusion; LVB loses money on an operating basis prior to loss provisions, as revenues (no clarity on what is recurring) of INR 15.4 bn are less than operating expenses of INR 16.0 bn – or by 3.7% at FY 2Q21; et al;  and  *Cram-down Highlights That LVB’s Stated Numbers May Be Wrong:  Prior to the amalgamation, INR 318.2 bn (USD 43 mn) LVB Basel III-compliant Tier 2 bonds (Series VIII, Series IX, and Series X) were written down under the direction of the RBI. To the best of our knowledge, this would appear to be the first time that a cram-down procedure was applied in Asia. As a result, no investor should take any investment in a troubled Indian financial institution for granted. Ultimately, this will make the financial sector more efficient – but calls the sanctity of their audited results into questions as well. 

India

Union Bank of India Limited provides a full range of banking services throughout India. The Company's activities include retail banking, commercial and personal banking, investment management, treasury and NRI services, cash management and assorted ATM facilities. Union Bank has an online tele-banking facility for all its core banking customers.

YES BANK Limited provides banking services. The Bank offers deposits, personal loans, e-banking, trade finance, corporate, and business banking services. YES BANK serves the food and agribusiness, life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology, telecommunications, media, information technology, and infrastructure development industries in India.

IndusInd Bank Limited is a Mumbai-based Indian new generation bank established in 1994. The Bank provides a range of banking and financial services including  wholesale banking, credit monitoring, risk management, tele-banking, investment banking and commercial lending. IndusInd Bank operates branches throughout India as well as an office in Dubai and London.

IDBI Bank Limited provides a range of banking and financial services. The Bank's services include fund-based operations, such as venture capital and fee-based activities, which include merchant banking and debenture trusteeship.

Indian Overseas Bank operates some 1,429 banking branches in India, as well as six branches in overseas locations.  The Group's banks provide loan and deposit schemes, Internet banking, and a full range of banking services.

Punjab National Bank provides financial services such as corporate and personal banking, industrial finance, agricultural finance, financing of trade and international banking. The Company provides services to domestic conglomerates, medium and small industrial units, exporters, non-resident Indians and multinational companies.

Bank of Baroda owns and operates commercial banks in India.  The Group's banks provide the traditional forms of banking services, including CD's, Credit Card services and a variety of car loans, in addition to gold banking and a range of insurance services.  The Group also owns IBU International Finance Limited, an international banking company in Hong Kong.

UCO Bank provides a full range of banking services throughout India. UCO Bank operates over 1,700 banking branches in India, as well as four branches in overseas locations.

Indian Bank is a full service bank owned by the Government of India. The Bank offers a wide range of services including a foreign currency banking unit at Colombo and specialized overseas branches at Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai exclusively for handling foreign exchange  transactions arising out of export, import, remittances and non resident Indian business.

Bank of India, through its subsidiaries, provides corporate, commercial, personal banking, retail, rural, and development banking.  The Group specializes its services towards corporate and medium businesses, in addition to upmarket retail customers.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, through its subsidiaries, provides commercial banking services. The Company's products includes ATM, debit card system, credit card, electronic cash card, internet platform and other services.

BDO Unibank Inc provides banking services. The Bank offers saving accounts, investment, loans, credit and debit cards, remittance, insurance, and trade financing services. BDO Unibank serves customers in Philippines.

Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam provides commercial banking services. The Company offers deposits, personal loans, e-banking, guarantees, and trade finance for customers, corporate, and financial institutions. Bank for Investment also offers foreign exchange, money market, derivatives, and debt market services.

Bank of Nanjing Co., Ltd. operates commercial banking businesses. The Company offers deposits, loans, settlement, discounting, financial bond issuance, government bond underwriting, bank guarantee, and other related financial services. Bank of Nanjing provides services for enterprises and individuals.

First Financial Holding Co., Ltd. is a holding company.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company accepts deposits, provides loans and discount, letters of credit, and guarantee services, invests in marketable securities, provides securities brokerage and investment services, as well as provides insurance services.

E.Sun Financial Holding Company Ltd. is a holding company.  Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides banking, brokerage and dealer services.

Shinkin Central Bank is a central bank for shinkin banks nationwide, operating as a cooperative financial institution.  The Bank has developed businesses in a variety of fields that contribute the shinkin banking industry.  The Bank's services include enhancement of the credit standing, efficient use of shikin bank's surplus funds, and settlement of domestic exchange transaction.

Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding, through subsidiaries, offers financial services.  The Company offers commercial banking, asset management, bills finance, and securities brokerage services.

Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company conducts commercial banking, savings, trust, and international banking businesses. In addition, the Group also provides insurance services and acts as a dealer, broker, and underwriter for financial securities.

Hua Nan Financial Holdings Co Ltd. (2880 TT)

PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is a state-owned bank that conducts commercial and consumer banking services.

Canara Bank Ltd. provides a full range of banking services throughout India. The Group's activities include retail banking, commercial and personal banking, investment management, treasury & NRI services, cash management and assorted ATM facilities.

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Canara Bank (CBK IN)

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DBS Group Holdings – The LVB Cram Down

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