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

*Weak Results Mask Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declining CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH.  Much of the struggle this half appears to be centered in Ping An’s investment portfolio which caused its net investment yield to plummet 80 bp to 4.1%. This resulted in substantial HOH net profit declines of CNY 20.4 bn (40.6%) and CNY 3.0 bn (48.4%) at Ping An Life (PAL) and Ping An Technology, respectively.  Excluding both write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0%; and*Concerns Increase At Bank And With Expansion Plans: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB] reported 2Q21 reported results of CNY 7.5 bn – decreasing CNY 2.7 bn (26.4%) linked quarter driven by credit concerns and weaker net interest income. In addition, Ping An is investing between CNY 37-51 bn in order to restructure the messy Founder Group, which will no doubt be a distraction for the Group just as fundamentals have begun to turn.

*Weak Results Mask Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declining CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH.  Much of the struggle this half appears to be centered in Ping An’s investment portfolio which caused its net investment yield to plummet 80 bp to 4.1%. This resulted in substantial HOH net profit declines of CNY 20.4 bn (40.6%) and CNY 3.0 bn (48.4%) at Ping An Life (PAL) and Ping An Technology, respectively.  Excluding both write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0%; and*Concerns Increase At Bank And With Expansion Plans: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB] reported 2Q21 reported results of CNY 7.5 bn – decreasing CNY 2.7 bn (26.4%) linked quarter driven by credit concerns and weaker net interest income. In addition, Ping An is investing between CNY 37-51 bn in order to restructure the messy Founder Group, which will no doubt be a distraction for the Group just as fundamentals have begun to turn.

Ping An Insurance – Looking Beyond The Investment Book

*Results Better Than Expected: Bank of East Asia (23.HK) [BEA] reported 1H21 results of HKD 2.3 bn – improving HKD 579 mn (34.3%) HOH despite a tax rate of 14.9% (negative 6.8% in 2H20). Results were supported by both a reduced loss provision and net interest income improvement; and  *Credit Turn, But Premature Provision Cut:  By our analysis, we find that credit deterioration appears to be decelerating as net new NPLs have increased 29.3% on an annualized basis versus over 60% at 2H20. Assuming that the decelerated breakdown in credit at BEA holds, we find that loss reserves remain wanting by HKD 4.5 bn or nearly one year of bottom-line results.

*Results Better Than Expected: Bank of East Asia (23.HK) [BEA] reported 1H21 results of HKD 2.3 bn – improving HKD 579 mn (34.3%) HOH despite a tax rate of 14.9% (negative 6.8% in 2H20). Results were supported by both a reduced loss provision and net interest income improvement; and  *Credit Turn, But Premature Provision Cut:  By our analysis, we find that credit deterioration appears to be decelerating as net new NPLs have increased 29.3% on an annualized basis versus over 60% at 2H20. Assuming that the decelerated breakdown in credit at BEA holds, we find that loss reserves remain wanting by HKD 4.5 bn or nearly one year of bottom-line results. 

Bank of East Asia – Premature Provision Cut

*Bank Results Decline Linked Quarter: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, continues to feel the challenges of a slowing mainland Chinese economy. For 2Q21, PAB reported results of CNY 7.5 bn – decreasing CNY 2.7 bn (26.4%) linked quarter. From our vantage point, higher loss provisions and weaker net interest income weighed heavily on results; and*Negative Credit Delta Could Accelerate Capital Raise: By our analysis, we find that credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs have accelerated 102.2% annualized - up from 53.6% in 1Q21. Assuming the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at its current level, we find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 16 bn. This shortfall represents about two quarter of pre-tax earnings.

*Bank Results Decline Linked Quarter: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, continues to feel the challenges of a slowing mainland Chinese economy. For 2Q21, PAB reported results of CNY 7.5 bn – decreasing CNY 2.7 bn (26.4%) linked quarter. From our vantage point, higher loss provisions and weaker net interest income weighed heavily on results; and*Negative Credit Delta Could Accelerate Capital Raise: By our analysis, we find that credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs have accelerated 102.2% annualized - up from 53.6% in 1Q21. Assuming the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at its current level, we find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 16 bn. This shortfall represents about two quarter of pre-tax earnings.   

Ping An Insurance – Credit Mixed, But Still Worrisome

*Results Deteriorating As Distractions Mount: Tencent Holdings’ (700.HK) [Tencent] 2Q21 GAAP net income declined CNY 5.2 bn (10.8%) on a linked quarter basis – and were of poor quality. Results were challenged by the following: cost of revenue increase; operating expense increase; losses in associates; higher impairment charges; and weaker online games. Were it not for the artificially lower tax rate, results would have been even more challenged; and     *Elephants In The Room: Mainland China's crackdown on capital markets has rapidly expanded under the broad narrative of "financial stability". We have already witnessed fines at Tencent, new user WeChat suspensions,  and Tencent may have to give up its exclusive music rights and possibly dispose of Kuwo and Kugou. Further, there no doubt that Tencent will also follow Alibaba Group (BABA.US) [Alibaba] in their formation of a financial holding company. Its pretty surprising that Tencent refuses to discuss these matters.

*Results Deteriorating As Distractions Mount: Tencent Holdings’ (700.HK) [Tencent] 2Q21 GAAP net income declined CNY 5.2 bn (10.8%) on a linked quarter basis – and were of poor quality. Results were challenged by the following: cost of revenue increase; operating expense increase; losses in associates; higher impairment charges; and weaker online games. Were it not for the artificially lower tax rate, results would have been even more challenged; and     *Elephants In The Room: Mainland China's crackdown on capital markets has rapidly expanded under the broad narrative of "financial stability". We have already witnessed fines at Tencent, new user WeChat suspensions,  and Tencent may have to give up its exclusive music rights and possibly dispose of Kuwo and Kugou. Further, there no doubt that Tencent will also follow Alibaba Group (BABA.US) [Alibaba] in their formation of a financial holding company. Its pretty surprising that Tencent refuses to discuss these matters.   

*Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] released its 1H21 results. Operating profit amounted to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 5% YOY, while VONB improved 22% YOY to USD 1.8 bn due to a combination of higher new sales volume (ANP up across all markets ex-Hong Kong which declined 11% YOY) and VONB margin expansion from (up 4.6% to 59.0%). Net profit improved to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 47% YOY due to the large negative investment variance in 1H20; and* China And Hong Kong Risks Still Need To Be Addressed: Concerned about weakening organic growth, AIA has gone on a deal-making spree: Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life; an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA; acquisition of Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance’s underwritten closed life insurance; a strategic digital partnership with ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance’ (6060.HK) [ZhongAn]; and received CBIRC approval to restructure its Shanghai-based life insurance branch into a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition to the massive managerial distractions with so many deals at one time, there are challenges of bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; no end in sight with its flailing Hong Kong flagship; and getting the BEA Life team on the same with AIA Hong Kong.

*Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] released its 1H21 results. Operating profit amounted to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 5% YOY, while VONB improved 22% YOY to USD 1.8 bn due to a combination of higher new sales volume (ANP up across all markets ex-Hong Kong which declined 11% YOY) and VONB margin expansion from (up 4.6% to 59.0%). Net profit improved to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 47% YOY due to the large negative investment variance in 1H20; and* China And Hong Kong Risks Still Need To Be Addressed: Concerned about weakening organic growth, AIA has gone on a deal-making spree: Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life; an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA; acquisition of Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance’s underwritten closed life insurance; a strategic digital partnership with ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance’ (6060.HK) [ZhongAn]; and received CBIRC approval to restructure its Shanghai-based life insurance branch into a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition to the massive managerial distractions with so many deals at one time, there are challenges of bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; no end in sight with its flailing Hong Kong flagship; and getting the BEA Life team on the same with AIA Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong

CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in Hong Kong. The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE China A50 Index. The Fund invests most of its total assets in the equities of member companies of the FTSE China A50 Index. This is a RQFII fund.

CSOP FTSE China A50 (HKD) (2822 HK)

Ping An Insurance – Looking Beyond The Investment Book

PING AN INSURANCE: Weak results mask PAI's improving overall fundamentals, as 1H21 HOH declined 22.0% mainly due to investment risk. Excluding the...

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank of East Asia – Premature Provision Cut

BANK OF EAST ASIA: BEA reported 1H21 HOH results improvement of 34.3% supported by both a reduced loss provision and net interest income...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance – Credit Mixed, But Still Worrisome

PING AN INSURANCE: Ping An Bank reported a 26.4% QOQ results decline for 2Q21 reflecting higher provisions. Credit is challenged as net new NPLs...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent Holdings – Pig Piling

TENCENT: Tencent's QOQ 2Q21 income declined 10.8% due to cost of revenue and opex increases; associate losses; higher impairments; and weak online...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – Its Own Worst Enemy

AIA GROUP: AIA's 1H21 operating profit improved 5% YOY off of a low base, while VONB improved 22%. With all of its aggressive moves in mainland...

Thomas J. Monaco