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

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Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP) plans to raise up to US$151m (S$204m) via a mix of a private placement. The company will use the proceeds to fund the recent acquisition of its first China data centre and to pay down debt. 
In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.
We have covered the listing and previous placements for KDC in our earlier notes:
</div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sep 2019 placement for US$273m: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/keppel-dc-reit-placement-just-in-time-for-the-index-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keppel DC REIT Placement - Just in Time for the Index Inclusion</a>
</li>
<li>May 2018 placement for US$228m: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/keppel-dc-reit-placement-accretive-acquisition-and-probably-expected-dilution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keppel DC REIT Placement - Accretive Acquisition and Probably Expected Dilution</a>
</li>
<li>IPO: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/first-of-its-kind-exposure-to-rapidly-growing-data-centers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First of its kind exposure to rapidly growing data centers</a>
</li>
</ul></div>


Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP) plans to raise up to US$151m (S$204m) via a mix of a private placement. The company will use the proceeds to fund the recent acquisition of its first China data centre and to pay down debt. 
In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.
We have covered the listing and previous placements for KDC in our earlier notes:

Sep 2019 placement for US$273m: Keppel DC REIT Placement - Just in Time for the Index Inclusion

May 2018 placement for US$228m: Keppel DC REIT Placement - Accretive Acquisition and Probably Expected Dilution

IPO: First of its kind exposure to rapidly growing data centers



Keppel DC REIT Placement - Most of the past Deals Have Done Well, Though This Won’t Be Accretive

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

*Poor Result: Singapore Exchange (SGX.SP) [SGX] reported a weak FY 2H21 result, declining SGD 35.0 mn (14.6%) on an HOH basis. Higher than expected costs was the primary culprit for the overall disappointing result, increasing SGD 28.7 mn (11.6%) HOH pushing the expense to revenue ratio 410 bp higher to 51.8%. Cost pressures will not end, as SGX gave guidance that costs are due to increase between 9%-11%, as revenue begins to contract; and*Peripatetic: Recently, SGX announced its acquisition of MaxxTrader, its third acquisition after BidFX and Scientific Beta in 2020. Management is also considering getting involved Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs). Significant strategic alternatives are needed at SGX, if it is to avoid being hollowed out by the Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK).

*Poor Result: Singapore Exchange (SGX.SP) [SGX] reported a weak FY 2H21 result, declining SGD 35.0 mn (14.6%) on an HOH basis. Higher than expected costs was the primary culprit for the overall disappointing result, increasing SGD 28.7 mn (11.6%) HOH pushing the expense to revenue ratio 410 bp higher to 51.8%. Cost pressures will not end, as SGX gave guidance that costs are due to increase between 9%-11%, as revenue begins to contract; and*Peripatetic: Recently, SGX announced its acquisition of MaxxTrader, its third acquisition after BidFX and Scientific Beta in 2020. Management is also considering getting involved Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs). Significant strategic alternatives are needed at SGX, if it is to avoid being hollowed out by the Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK).

Singapore Exchange – Completely Distracted

*Poor 2Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 2Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, decreasing SGD 304  mn (15.1%) on a linked quarter basis. The weaker results were driven primarily by an overall revenue decline, a loan provision increase, and a higher tax rate;*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. By our calculation, and given the NCOs of SGD 69 mn, we find that net new NPLs have re-accelerated – up SGD 266 mn or increasing 18.0% annualized versus SGD 85 mn or 5.6% in 1Q21. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 2.5bn – amounting now to about two quarters 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.

*Poor 2Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 2Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, decreasing SGD 304  mn (15.1%) on a linked quarter basis. The weaker results were driven primarily by an overall revenue decline, a loan provision increase, and a higher tax rate;*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. By our calculation, and given the NCOs of SGD 69 mn, we find that net new NPLs have re-accelerated – up SGD 266 mn or increasing 18.0% annualized versus SGD 85 mn or 5.6% in 1Q21. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 2.5bn – amounting now to about two quarters 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.

*Challenging Result: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] reported 2Q21 net profit of SGD 1.2 bn, a SGD 341 mn (22.7%) decrease on a linked quarter basis. OCBC’s bottom-line weakness was primarily attributable to two factors: 1) SGD 71 mn (44.1%) increase in the loss provision, which is well justified given the re-acceleration in net new NPL growth; and 2) SGD 362 mn (24.6%) decrease in overall fee revenues, driven primarily by weaker attributable Great Eastern (GE.SP) earnings which likely will be here to stay; and  *Credit Breaking Down After Reprieve:  By our calculation, we find that net new NPL growth has re-acclerated to SGD 771 mn or 78.3% on an annualized basis versus a negative SGD 78 mn or 8.0% for 1Q21. Given the increase in net new NPLs, reserve would appear to now be wanting by SGD 3.1 bn or just under three quarters of bottom-line results.

*Challenging Result: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] reported 2Q21 net profit of SGD 1.2 bn, a SGD 341 mn (22.7%) decrease on a linked quarter basis. OCBC’s bottom-line weakness was primarily attributable to two factors: 1) SGD 71 mn (44.1%) increase in the loss provision, which is well justified given the re-acceleration in net new NPL growth; and 2) SGD 362 mn (24.6%) decrease in overall fee revenues, driven primarily by weaker attributable Great Eastern (GE.SP) earnings which likely will be here to stay; and  *Credit Breaking Down After Reprieve:  By our calculation, we find that net new NPL growth has re-acclerated to SGD 771 mn or 78.3% on an annualized basis versus a negative SGD 78 mn or 8.0% for 1Q21. Given the increase in net new NPLs, reserve would appear to now be wanting by SGD 3.1 bn or just under three quarters of bottom-line results.

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Re-Accelerating Credit Risk

*Recovery Continues: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] attended a competitor virtual conference last week, confirming that the positive trends in from 1Q21 are set to continue; and*Credit Improvement Re-Affirmed: We remain optimistic. According to management, credit quality trends remain quite favorable but still expects a gradual deterioration from loans under moratorium. Much of the anticipated deterioration in credit is likely to continue to come from Malaysia and Indonesia. For 1Q21, we calculated that net new NPL growth amounted to a very reasonable SGD 40 mn or 3.6% on an annualized basis for 1Q21 – which remains incredibly low.

*Recovery Continues: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] attended a competitor virtual conference last week, confirming that the positive trends in from 1Q21 are set to continue; and*Credit Improvement Re-Affirmed: We remain optimistic. According to management, credit quality trends remain quite favorable but still expects a gradual deterioration from loans under moratorium. Much of the anticipated deterioration in credit is likely to continue to come from Malaysia and Indonesia. For 1Q21, we calculated that net new NPL growth amounted to a very reasonable SGD 40 mn or 3.6% on an annualized basis for 1Q21 – which remains incredibly low.

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Affirming Positive Trends

Singapore

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT is an industrial real estate investment trust. The Trust invests in business and science park properties, integrated development, amenities, and retail (IDAR) properties, high-specifications industrial properties and data centers, light industrial and flatted factories, and logistics and distribution centers.

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CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (CLAR SP)

Keppel DC REIT Placement - Most of the past Deals Have Done Well, Though This Won’t Be Accretive

Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP) plans to raise up to US$151m (S$204m) via a mix of a private placement. The company will use the proceeds to fund the...

Sumeet Singh

Singapore Exchange – Completely Distracted

SINGAPORE EXCHANGE: SGX FY 2H21 result declined 14.6% HOH due to rising costs. This is a distracted company with three bolt-ons in last year....

Thomas J. Monaco

DBS Group Holdings – Bad Print

DBS: DBS QOQ 2Q21 results declined 15.1% due to poor revenues and higher provisions. We worry that DBS has not caught the LVB risk, net new NPLs re...

Thomas J. Monaco

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Re-Accelerating Credit Risk

OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING: OCBC reported a QOQ 2Q21 net profit decline of 22.7% driven by higher provisions and weaker associate income. Net new NPLs...

Thomas J. Monaco

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Affirming Positive Trends

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp: OCBC confirmed that the positive trends are set to continue, and that credit quality remains favorable but with...

Thomas J. Monaco

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