Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

<p>Two days ago the U.K. Financial Reporting Council announced 125 successful signatories (aka "not greenwashers") to the revised U.K. Stewardship Code. Signatories are integrating stewardship and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors into investment decisions, to high standards.</p><p>Whilst this is ostensibly limited to U.K. pension assets, ramifications are more far-reaching than it might at first appear (one indication is the number of North American and Asia Pacific signatories, in addition to the expected European names). More specifically, the broad relevance is because it:</p><ul>
<li>Affects firms doing business with U.K. asset managers/owners not just the managers/owners.</li>
<li>Is a quasi-blueprint for similar anti-greenwashing initiatives taking root in the U.S. and Asia.</li>
<li>Greenwashing is having an increasing impact on stocks prices (e.g., DWS Group last month).</li>
</ul><p>This is one battle in an emerging global war on greenwashing. The U.S. SEC has its own agenda to fight greenwashing and Asia isn't far behind (e.g., regulators in Japan stepping up scrutiny). There is more to come, and a lot to learn from this including who is (and <em>is not</em>) on the signatory list.</p>

Two days ago the U.K. Financial Reporting Council announced 125 successful signatories (aka "not greenwashers") to the revised U.K. Stewardship Code. Signatories are integrating stewardship and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors into investment decisions, to high standards.Whilst this is ostensibly limited to U.K. pension assets, ramifications are more far-reaching than it might at first appear (one indication is the number of North American and Asia Pacific signatories, in addition to the expected European names). More specifically, the broad relevance is because it:
Affects firms doing business with U.K. asset managers/owners not just the managers/owners.
Is a quasi-blueprint for similar anti-greenwashing initiatives taking root in the U.S. and Asia.
Greenwashing is having an increasing impact on stocks prices (e.g., DWS Group last month).
This is one battle in an emerging global war on greenwashing. The U.S. SEC has its own agenda to fight greenwashing and Asia isn't far behind (e.g., regulators in Japan stepping up scrutiny). There is more to come, and a lot to learn from this including who is (and is not) on the signatory list.

The War on Greenwashing: UK Stewardship Code "Successful Signatories" Has Broader Implications

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>On 2 September at 7pm Australia time, the Marvelous Milton Merger Arb ratio was fixed, and just now it was <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20210903/pdf/4504qbggnhgyc0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a>. </p><p>The ratio of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/milton-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29090:1" rel="noopener">Milton Corp Ltd (MLT AU)</a> shares to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/washington-h-soul-pattinson-and-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6054:1" rel="noopener">Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU)</a> shares has been decided at 0.1863. Entitlements will be rounded up or down to the nearest share.</p><p>Those who have been following on my model would have the NAV at A$5.622 on 2 Sep at the close, or A$5.702/share including the A$0.08 of dividend which went ex- on August 31. That delivered me a number of 0.1864 but they started with A$5.70 rather than A$5.702.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/227/647/original/Screenshot+2021-09-03+at+12.18.13+PM.png?1630642709" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="227647"></figure></section><p>As reported in the <a href="https://www.afr.com/street-talk/milton-corp-s-4b-takeover-finds-proxy-firm-support-20210901-p58ntx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AFR</a>, both major proxy services came out in favor of the deal saying advantages outweighed disadvantages, and noting the IE's "fair value" range said pricing was appropriate; in a good quote from the article, "there were no stones thrown", which usually results in an approval at the Scheme Meeting.</p><p>The schedule reported in the filing is unchanged from the schedule in the Scheme Booklet.</p><div>
<p>Today's announcement means the merger trade is "fixed" rather than floating and now the remaining "risks" are...</p>
<ul>
<li>a small and eminently arb-able risk arb spread (which is 3.56% less comms and borrow fees as I type (excluding any franking credit benefit)</li>
<li>the risk of whether this gets voted through at the Scheme Meeting on the 13th, and</li>
<li>the index impacts</li>
</ul>
<p>There is, as always, more below the fold.</p>
</div><hr><div><table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="width: 539pt;"><h2>History of Insights on the Situation</h2></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Date</strong></td>
<td><strong>Title</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22 Jun 21</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/milton-merger-is-a-most-marvelous-arb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milton Merger Is A Most Marvelous Arb</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24 Jun 21</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/milton-whsp-merger-index-implications-and-the-marvelous-arb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milton-WHSP Merger Index Implications and the Marvelous Arb</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21 Jul 21</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/milton-s-marvelous-arm-meanders-along-marvelously" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milton’s Marvelous Arb Meanders Along... Marvelously</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5 Aug 21</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-still-marvelous-milton-arb-confirms-its-schedule-much-marvelousness-to-come" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The STILL MARVELOUS Milton Arb Confirms Its Schedule - Much Marvelousness to Come</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12 Aug 21</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-magnality-of-the-marvelous-milton-merger-makes-a-moribund-march-to-metaphysis-it-s-mirific" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Magnality of the Marvelous Milton Merger Makes a Moribund March To Metaphysis (It’s Mirific!)</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25 Aug 21</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/marvelous-milton-making-its-move-new-30yr-highs-on-both-stocks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:56651" rel="noopener">Marvelous Milton Making Its Move - New 30yr Highs On Both Stocks</a> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div><div><p></p></div>

On 2 September at 7pm Australia time, the Marvelous Milton Merger Arb ratio was fixed, and just now it was announced. The ratio of Milton Corp Ltd (MLT AU) shares to Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU) shares has been decided at 0.1863. Entitlements will be rounded up or down to the nearest share.Those who have been following on my model would have the NAV at A$5.622 on 2 Sep at the close, or A$5.702/share including the A$0.08 of dividend which went ex- on August 31. That delivered me a number of 0.1864 but they started with A$5.70 rather than A$5.702.As reported in the AFR, both major proxy services came out in favor of the deal saying advantages outweighed disadvantages, and noting the IE's "fair value" range said pricing was appropriate; in a good quote from the article, "there were no stones thrown", which usually results in an approval at the Scheme Meeting.The schedule reported in the filing is unchanged from the schedule in the Scheme Booklet.
Today's announcement means the merger trade is "fixed" rather than floating and now the remaining "risks" are...

a small and eminently arb-able risk arb spread (which is 3.56% less comms and borrow fees as I type (excluding any franking credit benefit)
the risk of whether this gets voted through at the Scheme Meeting on the 13th, and
the index impacts

There is, as always, more below the fold.






History of Insights on the Situation

Date
Title


22 Jun 21
Milton Merger Is A Most Marvelous Arb


24 Jun 21
Milton-WHSP Merger Index Implications and the Marvelous Arb


21 Jul 21
Milton’s Marvelous Arb Meanders Along... Marvelously


5 Aug 21
The STILL MARVELOUS Milton Arb Confirms Its Schedule - Much Marvelousness to Come


12 Aug 21
The Magnality of the Marvelous Milton Merger Makes a Moribund March To Metaphysis (It’s Mirific!)


25 Aug 21

Marvelous Milton Making Its Move - New 30yr Highs On Both Stocks 




Marvelous Milton Merger Mapping Mabbled: Ratio Done, Now For The Hard Part

David Blennerhassett

Last Week in Event SPACE: SOHO China, Evergrande, Kerry Logistics, Milton, CBA, NTT

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Event-Driven

<p style="text-align: left;">In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/aussie-bank-buyback-season-starts-expect-a-12-15bn-and-funky-flows" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:55301" rel="noopener">Aussie Bank Buyback Season Starts - Expect A$12-15bn and Funky Flows</a> 10 days ago I wrote that I expected <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a> to announce an off-market buyback A$5.0-6.0bn when it announced earnings on 11 August.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p><strong>11 Aug 2021: CBA releases earnings</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>In its Q3 update <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20210512/pdf/44wdznw579z8cv.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> on 12 May, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a> announced a CET1 ratio of 12.7%.</li>
<li>In April CBA issued PERL capital notes to the tune of A$1.18bn which raised Tier1 by 26bp, and sold its Comminsure business which will also raise it slightly in CY21H2. It sold its wealth management business earlier. Given earnings are expected to be robust and more writebacks from provisions made last year could be in the offing, what was an excess capital position of A$10-11.5bn at end-March could be on the order of A$12.0-13.5bn at end-June.</li>
<li>Given the change in CBA's profile from multi-strat bank to more of a deposit-taking institution, and the notion it could get the second part (A$500mm) of the $1bn capital penalty APRA applied in 2019 (following a review of its governance, culture and accountability) following remediation, there is likely to be more flexibility to lower the CET1 ratio.</li>
<li>The 12 May statement said <em>"A strong surplus capital position creates flexibility for the board in its consideration of capital management initiatives. The timing and extent of any such initiatives is dependent upon a continued trend of domestic economic improvement, our ongoing assessment of portfolio credit quality, and regulatory guidance."</em>
</li>
<li><strong>CBA should be expected to be able to raise its dividend AND buy back shares. I would expect a buyback of A$5.0-6.0bn or about half the distance between its end-June CET1 and the "Unquestionably Strong" level.</strong></li>
<li><em><strong>Given CBA's franking credit position, and its history of having conducted off-market buybacks in the past, one should expect CBA's buyback to be an off-market buyback. </strong></em></li>
</ul>
</div><h3></h3><h2>Today's News</h2><p>This morning, Commonwealth Bank of Australia released its FY2021 Full Year Earnings (<a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank-assets/investors/docs/results/fy21/cba-fy21-profit-announcement.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank-assets/investors/docs/results/fy21/cba-fy21-results-presentation.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation</a>, <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank-assets/investors/docs/results/fy21/cba-fy21-basel-iii-pillar-3-disclosure.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">capital adequacy</a>, and there is, of course, a <a href="https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/jwtuzfqm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webcast</a>, which goes along with the <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/investors/asx-announcements.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual Report</a>, <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/investors/asx-announcements.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Governance Statement</a>, and an update on the <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/investors/asx-announcements.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prudential Inquiry Remedial Action Plan</a>).  </p><p>As expected, results were good. Statutory NPAT up 19.7%yoy, mostly due to lower loan impairments. Operating profit was up 1.7%. NIM was down slightly to 2.03% due to higher quality assets and CET1 capital came in at 13.1%.</p><p><em><strong>And as expected, the final dividend was hiked - A$2.00/share for Record Date 18 August - and a <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/investors/asx-announcements.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">large off-market buyback was announced</a>. </strong></em></p><h3>A$6.0bn. </h3><p style="text-align: left;">Also with a Record Date of 18 August. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><em>This insight talks about how the flows, and the possibilities. It is a follow-on from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/aussie-bank-buyback-season-starts-expect-a-12-15bn-and-funky-flows" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:55301" rel="noopener">Aussie Bank Buyback Season Starts - Expect A$12-15bn and Funky Flows</a>. One should expect <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westpac-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:444:1" rel="noopener">Westpac Banking (WBC AU)</a> to announce an off-market buyback when it reports on 19 August. There are two bits of more recent news which impact this. I had expected A$3.0bn or more. I might expect A$4.0bn but there is a wee cloud there.</em></p>

In Aussie Bank Buyback Season Starts - Expect A$12-15bn and Funky Flows 10 days ago I wrote that I expected Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU) to announce an off-market buyback A$5.0-6.0bn when it announced earnings on 11 August.
11 Aug 2021: CBA releases earnings

In its Q3 update released on 12 May, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU) announced a CET1 ratio of 12.7%.
In April CBA issued PERL capital notes to the tune of A$1.18bn which raised Tier1 by 26bp, and sold its Comminsure business which will also raise it slightly in CY21H2. It sold its wealth management business earlier. Given earnings are expected to be robust and more writebacks from provisions made last year could be in the offing, what was an excess capital position of A$10-11.5bn at end-March could be on the order of A$12.0-13.5bn at end-June.
Given the change in CBA's profile from multi-strat bank to more of a deposit-taking institution, and the notion it could get the second part (A$500mm) of the $1bn capital penalty APRA applied in 2019 (following a review of its governance, culture and accountability) following remediation, there is likely to be more flexibility to lower the CET1 ratio.
The 12 May statement said "A strong surplus capital position creates flexibility for the board in its consideration of capital management initiatives. The timing and extent of any such initiatives is dependent upon a continued trend of domestic economic improvement, our ongoing assessment of portfolio credit quality, and regulatory guidance."

CBA should be expected to be able to raise its dividend AND buy back shares. I would expect a buyback of A$5.0-6.0bn or about half the distance between its end-June CET1 and the "Unquestionably Strong" level.
Given CBA's franking credit position, and its history of having conducted off-market buybacks in the past, one should expect CBA's buyback to be an off-market buyback. 

Today's NewsThis morning, Commonwealth Bank of Australia released its FY2021 Full Year Earnings (statement, presentation, capital adequacy, and there is, of course, a webcast, which goes along with the Annual Report, Corporate Governance Statement, and an update on the Prudential Inquiry Remedial Action Plan).  As expected, results were good. Statutory NPAT up 19.7%yoy, mostly due to lower loan impairments. Operating profit was up 1.7%. NIM was down slightly to 2.03% due to higher quality assets and CET1 capital came in at 13.1%.And as expected, the final dividend was hiked - A$2.00/share for Record Date 18 August - and a large off-market buyback was announced. A$6.0bn. Also with a Record Date of 18 August. This insight talks about how the flows, and the possibilities. It is a follow-on from Aussie Bank Buyback Season Starts - Expect A$12-15bn and Funky Flows. One should expect Westpac Banking (WBC AU) to announce an off-market buyback when it reports on 19 August. There are two bits of more recent news which impact this. I had expected A$3.0bn or more. I might expect A$4.0bn but there is a wee cloud there.

CBA Announces a BIG Off-Market Buyback - Timing and Past Cases

<h3><strong>The SHORT &amp; SWEET</strong></h3><ul>
<li>Australian banks are seeing or are going to see sharp hikes in H1 dividends this year despite APRA guidance to be prudent with capital decisions. </li>
<li>APRA changed its guidance on 29 July. </li>
<li>ANZ had announced a decent-sized buyback earlier in July and NAB announced one on 30 July. </li>
<li>Others are expected to announce buy-backs in August.</li>
</ul><h3>The Longer Introduction</h3><p>In April 2020 when markets were crashing and there was tremendous uncertainty about what ravages covid might bring to every sector of the economy, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/national-australia-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15:1" rel="noopener">National Australia Bank (NAB AU)</a> slashed its dividend and launched a A$3.5bn capital raise. Other companies did the same, but the other major banks avoided a capital raise in 2020 because they had either raised equity earlier (all four majors raised equity in 2015, but <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westpac-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:444:1" rel="noopener">Westpac Banking (WBC AU)</a> also raised in Nov 2019) or they cut or eliminated an interim dividend (ANZ and CBA cut theirs, and Westpac eliminated their div for H1 2020 entirely).</p><p>For NAB, the capital raise was an institutional share placement of A$3bn and a A$500mm Share Purchase Plan (SPP) targeting individual shareholders. The SPP was well-received, priced at A$14.15/share - the same price as the placement - so when books closed a month later and the market price was 10% higher, demand had been strong enough that the SPP was boosted by A$750mm to A$1.25bn. </p><p>That was probably overly cautious at the time, but it was a huge gift to shareholders. A week after the SPP shares started trading on 2 June, the shares were changing hands above A$20/share. </p><p>Fast forward almost a year later to the 6 May release of H1 earnings and the bank said it had too much capital with its Common Equity Tier 1 ratio at 12.37-12.40%. It noted it intended to take action to lower that but stay above APRA's Unquestionably Strong benchmark of 10.5%. This came despite APRA's <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-issues-guidance-to-authorised-deposit-taking-institutions-and-insurers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guidance</a> in early April of 2021 that it expected deposit-taking institutions it expected they (and other financial institutions) <em>"limit discretionary capital distributions in the months ahead, including deferrals or prudent reductions in dividends." </em>The 7 April <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/Capital%20management.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> (pdf) on Capital Management said,</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/221/292/original/Screenshot+2021-07-31+at+3.03.52+PM.png?1627715057" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="221292"></figure><p></p></section><p>Interestingly, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/australia-and-new-zealand-banking-group-anz" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:443:1" rel="noopener">Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) (ANZ AU)</a> announced a A$1.5bn buyback - ~2% of market cap - on 19 July and the stock bounced $1/share to A$28/share over a few days. This was obviously discussed with APRA but ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott had said on 5 May when reporting a 126% increase in H1 profit helped by writebacks, and a jump in H1 div,  that the Australian economy was booming and said, “Australia is in really good shape in where we sit today," and he quite clearly laid out the case for a buyback then.</p><blockquote>
<p><strong> “We have an embarrassment of riches, if you will, in terms of excess capital.”</strong></p>
<p><strong>“Clearly the only path to get to 10.8, putting aside almost unimaginable growth in our balance sheet, would be some sort of capital management activity,”</strong></p>
<p>ANZ Bank CEO Shayne Elliott (5 May 2021)</p>
</blockquote><p>ANZ was first off the block.</p><p>On 29 July, APRA <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-updates-guidance-on-capital-management-for-banks-and-insurers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated its guidance</a> and the <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-07/Letter%20to%20authorised%20deposit-taking%20institutions%20-%20Capital%20management.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new letter</a> on capital management eliminates the strict requirement but maintains guidance on 50% dividend payout. </p><h3>New NAB News</h3><p>On Friday 30 July 2021, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/national-australia-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15:1" rel="noopener">National Australia Bank (NAB AU)</a> filed an <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20210730/pdf/44yt960pv5csx8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> with the ASX for an on-market buyback for A$2.5bn of its shares, which is about 3% of current market cap, as part of its effort to move its Common Equity Tier 1 ratio to 10.75-11.25%. </p><p>Under Corporations Act 2001, a company has to announce an on-market buyback to ASIC 14 days before starting. The buyback is expected to start in mid-late August and go through a period as long as end July 2022. That ASIC <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20210730/pdf/44ytb9zm9cfdpn.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lodgment</a> was made Friday too. Because it is an on-market buy back under the limits of the 10/12 rule (&gt;10% of shares to be bought back in &lt;12 months), no further details are required to be given out.</p><blockquote>
<p>The timing and actual number of shares purchased under the buy-back will depend on market conditions, the prevailing share price and other considerations....</p>
<p>In addition to the on-market buy-back announced today, NAB intends to purchase shares on-market to satisfy Dividend Reinvestment Plan requirements over the buy-back period...</p>
<p>The exact nature, amount, and timing of any further capital returns beyond the $2.5 billion on-market buy-back announced today, will be dependent on market conditions and capital outlook.</p>
</blockquote><p>Despite the still strict-sounding guidance from APRA, the organisation conducted stress tests and released results last December saying even in "severe downside scenario" where growth dropped 15% and unemployment rose 13% and house prices fell 30%, the major banks would all pass the minimum capital requirement with room to spare.</p><p>The fact that these two banks have announced buybacks indicates APRA is comfortable with where banks stand, suggesting that the even more capitaltastic Westpac and CBA are likely to announce buybacks next month with earnings. </p>

The SHORT &amp; SWEET
Australian banks are seeing or are going to see sharp hikes in H1 dividends this year despite APRA guidance to be prudent with capital decisions. 
APRA changed its guidance on 29 July. 
ANZ had announced a decent-sized buyback earlier in July and NAB announced one on 30 July. 
Others are expected to announce buy-backs in August.
The Longer IntroductionIn April 2020 when markets were crashing and there was tremendous uncertainty about what ravages covid might bring to every sector of the economy, National Australia Bank (NAB AU) slashed its dividend and launched a A$3.5bn capital raise. Other companies did the same, but the other major banks avoided a capital raise in 2020 because they had either raised equity earlier (all four majors raised equity in 2015, but Westpac Banking (WBC AU) also raised in Nov 2019) or they cut or eliminated an interim dividend (ANZ and CBA cut theirs, and Westpac eliminated their div for H1 2020 entirely).For NAB, the capital raise was an institutional share placement of A$3bn and a A$500mm Share Purchase Plan (SPP) targeting individual shareholders. The SPP was well-received, priced at A$14.15/share - the same price as the placement - so when books closed a month later and the market price was 10% higher, demand had been strong enough that the SPP was boosted by A$750mm to A$1.25bn. That was probably overly cautious at the time, but it was a huge gift to shareholders. A week after the SPP shares started trading on 2 June, the shares were changing hands above A$20/share. Fast forward almost a year later to the 6 May release of H1 earnings and the bank said it had too much capital with its Common Equity Tier 1 ratio at 12.37-12.40%. It noted it intended to take action to lower that but stay above APRA's Unquestionably Strong benchmark of 10.5%. This came despite APRA's guidance in early April of 2021 that it expected deposit-taking institutions it expected they (and other financial institutions) "limit discretionary capital distributions in the months ahead, including deferrals or prudent reductions in dividends." The 7 April letter (pdf) on Capital Management said,Interestingly, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) (ANZ AU) announced a A$1.5bn buyback - ~2% of market cap - on 19 July and the stock bounced $1/share to A$28/share over a few days. This was obviously discussed with APRA but ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott had said on 5 May when reporting a 126% increase in H1 profit helped by writebacks, and a jump in H1 div,  that the Australian economy was booming and said, “Australia is in really good shape in where we sit today," and he quite clearly laid out the case for a buyback then.
 “We have an embarrassment of riches, if you will, in terms of excess capital.”
“Clearly the only path to get to 10.8, putting aside almost unimaginable growth in our balance sheet, would be some sort of capital management activity,”
ANZ Bank CEO Shayne Elliott (5 May 2021)
ANZ was first off the block.On 29 July, APRA updated its guidance and the new letter on capital management eliminates the strict requirement but maintains guidance on 50% dividend payout. New NAB NewsOn Friday 30 July 2021, National Australia Bank (NAB AU) filed an announcement with the ASX for an on-market buyback for A$2.5bn of its shares, which is about 3% of current market cap, as part of its effort to move its Common Equity Tier 1 ratio to 10.75-11.25%. Under Corporations Act 2001, a company has to announce an on-market buyback to ASIC 14 days before starting. The buyback is expected to start in mid-late August and go through a period as long as end July 2022. That ASIC lodgment was made Friday too. Because it is an on-market buy back under the limits of the 10/12 rule (&gt;10% of shares to be bought back in &lt;12 months), no further details are required to be given out.
The timing and actual number of shares purchased under the buy-back will depend on market conditions, the prevailing share price and other considerations....
In addition to the on-market buy-back announced today, NAB intends to purchase shares on-market to satisfy Dividend Reinvestment Plan requirements over the buy-back period...
The exact nature, amount, and timing of any further capital returns beyond the $2.5 billion on-market buy-back announced today, will be dependent on market conditions and capital outlook.
Despite the still strict-sounding guidance from APRA, the organisation conducted stress tests and released results last December saying even in "severe downside scenario" where growth dropped 15% and unemployment rose 13% and house prices fell 30%, the major banks would all pass the minimum capital requirement with room to spare.The fact that these two banks have announced buybacks indicates APRA is comfortable with where banks stand, suggesting that the even more capitaltastic Westpac and CBA are likely to announce buybacks next month with earnings. 

Aussie Bank Buyback Season Starts - Expect A$12-15bn and Funky Flows

Australia

Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides banking, life insurance, and related services for individuals, small businesses and medium sized commercial enterprises. The Bank provides corporate and general banking, international financing, institutional banking and stock broking and funds management such as superannuation product.

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)

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