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

National Australia Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

*AML/CTF Violations: National Australia Bank (NAB.AU) [NAB] announced that it was informed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Act 2006, and the AML/CFT Rules 2007; and*Fundamental Challenges Too: AML/CTF is not NAB’s only challenge. NAB's 1H21 NIM declined another 3 bp HOH to 1.74%, and will remain challenged from this low rate environment, competitive pressures, and higher mortgage concentrations well into FY 2022. In addition, NAB’s loans 90+ days past due loans increased over 30% HOH due to challenges from Australian mortgage customers exiting loan deferrals.

*AML/CTF Violations: National Australia Bank (NAB.AU) [NAB] announced that it was informed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Act 2006, and the AML/CFT Rules 2007; and*Fundamental Challenges Too: AML/CTF is not NAB’s only challenge. NAB's 1H21 NIM declined another 3 bp HOH to 1.74%, and will remain challenged from this low rate environment, competitive pressures, and higher mortgage concentrations well into FY 2022. In addition, NAB’s loans 90+ days past due loans increased over 30% HOH due to challenges from Australian mortgage customers exiting loan deferrals.

*Expecting Poor 1H21 Operating Result: Sun Hung Kai &amp; Co. (86.HK) [SHK] announced that unaudited results for 4M21 approximated HKD 1.1 bn. Like the 2H20 result, 4M21 numbers appear to be driven by low quality and non-core MTM gains from its investment management business, and lower credit-related loss provisions. No discussion was had on both the type of non-cash gains nor if credit risk/quality has actually improved; and      *FOF Focus Not An Historical Winner: SHK does, however, remain focused on investment management, with its newly established funds management platform, called Sun Hung Kai Capital Partners. According to management, SHK has a strong pipeline of potential partnerships and fund launches planned for 2H21.

*Expecting Poor 1H21 Operating Result: Sun Hung Kai &amp; Co. (86.HK) [SHK] announced that unaudited results for 4M21 approximated HKD 1.1 bn. Like the 2H20 result, 4M21 numbers appear to be driven by low quality and non-core MTM gains from its investment management business, and lower credit-related loss provisions. No discussion was had on both the type of non-cash gains nor if credit risk/quality has actually improved; and      *FOF Focus Not An Historical Winner: SHK does, however, remain focused on investment management, with its newly established funds management platform, called Sun Hung Kai Capital Partners. According to management, SHK has a strong pipeline of potential partnerships and fund launches planned for 2H21.

*No Stranger To Losses: As initially discussed in our “Credit Suisse Group – Hit Parade Continues” note dated March 30, 2021, we expressed our concerns related to various high profile screw-ups at Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.VX) [Credit Suisse]. Credit Suisse’ high profile challenges still include: Archegos Capital Management; Greensill Capital; Wirecard, and Luckin Coffee; and   *Adding Insult To Injury: According to Bloomberg, construction start-up, Katerra, has burned through over USD 2.0 bn and is now being shut down.  Credit Suisse initially indicated losses of between USD 1.0-USD 1.5 bn on its Greensill-related exposures.  Well, this figure appears to increase those losses closer to USD 2.0 bn.

*No Stranger To Losses: As initially discussed in our “Credit Suisse Group – Hit Parade Continues” note dated March 30, 2021, we expressed our concerns related to various high profile screw-ups at Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.VX) [Credit Suisse]. Credit Suisse’ high profile challenges still include: Archegos Capital Management; Greensill Capital; Wirecard, and Luckin Coffee; and   *Adding Insult To Injury: According to Bloomberg, construction start-up, Katerra, has burned through over USD 2.0 bn and is now being shut down.  Credit Suisse initially indicated losses of between USD 1.0-USD 1.5 bn on its Greensill-related exposures.  Well, this figure appears to increase those losses closer to USD 2.0 bn.  

*Reserve Bank of Australia’s No Action On BNPL:The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a Retail Payments Review on May 28, 2021 discussing among other items the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) model. Specifically, the RBA reviewed whether the BNPL model should continue with its ‘no surcharge rules’ whereby merchants are precluded from passing along BNPL fees to its customers. The RBA concluded that it will not require the BNPL sector to change its ‘no surcharge rules’; and  *Tencent’s Midas Touch: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to its superb return on investment over the past nine months since the stake announcement - -even after giving back some of its gains, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology BNPL company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways.

*Reserve Bank of Australia’s No Action On BNPL:The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a Retail Payments Review on May 28, 2021 discussing among other items the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) model. Specifically, the RBA reviewed whether the BNPL model should continue with its ‘no surcharge rules’ whereby merchants are precluded from passing along BNPL fees to its customers. The RBA concluded that it will not require the BNPL sector to change its ‘no surcharge rules’; and  *Tencent’s Midas Touch: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to its superb return on investment over the past nine months since the stake announcement - -even after giving back some of its gains, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology BNPL company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways. 

*Recent USA Branch Disposal: As announced on February 22, 2021, HSBC Holdings plc (5.HK/HSBA.LN) [HSBC]  announced that is set to withdraw from U.S. retail banking, seeking to dispose of a business that has long underperformed. On May 26, 2021 HSBC and Cathay General Bancorp (CATY.US) [Cathay] in Los Angeles announced that Cathay will acquire 10 retail branches in California from HSBC. Cathay also acquired USD 0.8 bn in loans - residential mortgage, retail business banking, and personal loans, along with USD 1.0 bn in deposits;  and*HSBCNA Still A Chronic Headache: HSBCNA is a chronic mess, and there is absolutely no need for HSBC to maintain a full commercial/retail banking presence in the US. HSBCNA’s operating costs exceed recurring revenues. By our calculation, we note that net new problem loan growth is a scary USD 867.9 mn  - for an annualized rate of growth of 155.4% - in line with the Indian state banks. By our calculation, HSBCNA’s reserves are light by USD 3.8 bn or 17.6% of HSBCNA’s stated equity. We would have compared the reserve shortfall to PBT, but HSBCNA simply loses money on an operating basis.

*Recent USA Branch Disposal: As announced on February 22, 2021, HSBC Holdings plc (5.HK/HSBA.LN) [HSBC]  announced that is set to withdraw from U.S. retail banking, seeking to dispose of a business that has long underperformed. On May 26, 2021 HSBC and Cathay General Bancorp (CATY.US) [Cathay] in Los Angeles announced that Cathay will acquire 10 retail branches in California from HSBC. Cathay also acquired USD 0.8 bn in loans - residential mortgage, retail business banking, and personal loans, along with USD 1.0 bn in deposits;  and*HSBCNA Still A Chronic Headache: HSBCNA is a chronic mess, and there is absolutely no need for HSBC to maintain a full commercial/retail banking presence in the US. HSBCNA’s operating costs exceed recurring revenues. By our calculation, we note that net new problem loan growth is a scary USD 867.9 mn  - for an annualized rate of growth of 155.4% - in line with the Indian state banks. By our calculation, HSBCNA’s reserves are light by USD 3.8 bn or 17.6% of HSBCNA’s stated equity. We would have compared the reserve shortfall to PBT, but HSBCNA simply loses money on an operating basis.

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)

National Australia Bank - Nabbed

NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK: NAB was informed by AUSTRAC that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance...

Thomas J. Monaco

Sun Hung Kai & Co. – Blowing Smoke

SUN HUNG KAI & CO: SHK announced unaudited results for 4M21 of HKD 1.1 bn, which appear to be driven by low quality MTM gains from investment...

Thomas J. Monaco

Credit Suisse Group – Here We Go Again

CREDIT SUISSE GROUP: There were already concerns related to various high profile screw-ups. The latest appears to be Greensill-related construction...

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent Holdings – Shot, Score!!

TENCENT HOLDINGS: The RBA released a Retail Payments Review discussing among other items the BNPL model. The RBA concluded that it will not require...

Thomas J. Monaco

HSBC Holdings Plc – And So It Begins

HSBC HOLDINGS: HSBC is withdrawing from U.S. retail banking, and recently announced that it will sell 10 branches to Cathay General Bancorp in Los...

Thomas J. Monaco