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

Yuanta Financial Holding Co / Equity Bottom-Up

*Very Solid 1Q21: Yuanta Financial Holding (2885.TT) [Yuanta] reported 1Q21 results of NTD 9.4 bn, increasing NTD 4.9 bn (107.5%) linked quarter. Much of Yuanta’s linked quarter growth can be attributed to strong net interest income growth from both a margin loan and bank loan balance increases; a significant reduction in loss provisioning; and net fee improvement on the back of an ADTV increase on the TAIEX; and*Hidden Yuanta Earnings At Bank: At 21% of Yuanta’s bottom-line, Yunata Bank posted strong core operating results as well – NTD 2.0 bn, increasing NTD 731 mn or 59.2% linked quarter. Reserve cover of NPLs is extraordinary and the best we’ve seen in Asia thus far at 12.1x. By our calculation, Yuanta Bank has over reserved and can release upward of NTD 10.5 bn – representing over one quarter of Yuanta’s quarterly bottom-line.

*Very Solid 1Q21: Yuanta Financial Holding (2885.TT) [Yuanta] reported 1Q21 results of NTD 9.4 bn, increasing NTD 4.9 bn (107.5%) linked quarter. Much of Yuanta’s linked quarter growth can be attributed to strong net interest income growth from both a margin loan and bank loan balance increases; a significant reduction in loss provisioning; and net fee improvement on the back of an ADTV increase on the TAIEX; and*Hidden Yuanta Earnings At Bank: At 21% of Yuanta’s bottom-line, Yunata Bank posted strong core operating results as well – NTD 2.0 bn, increasing NTD 731 mn or 59.2% linked quarter. Reserve cover of NPLs is extraordinary and the best we’ve seen in Asia thus far at 12.1x. By our calculation, Yuanta Bank has over reserved and can release upward of NTD 10.5 bn – representing over one quarter of Yuanta’s quarterly bottom-line.

Yuanta Financial Holding – Firing On All Cylinders

*Meh 1Q21 Result: Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] reported 1Q21 total revenues of CNY 135.3 bn - increasing 25% YOY, while non-GAAP operating profit aggregated CNY 42.8 bn - increasing 20% YOY; and*Capital Raise Likely Coming: For Tencent, WeChat Pay and the broader lending/deposit taking business are likely to be reined-in. At CNY 38.5 bn for full year 2020, FinTech represents a growing 28.8% of revenue – and is a key and growing component of Tencent’s current and future results. No matter what spin that Tencent wants to place on its other businesses, an FHC represents significant downside risks. Earnings will compress, as capital requirements increase.

*Meh 1Q21 Result: Tencent Holdings (700.HK) [Tencent] reported 1Q21 total revenues of CNY 135.3 bn - increasing 25% YOY, while non-GAAP operating profit aggregated CNY 42.8 bn - increasing 20% YOY; and*Capital Raise Likely Coming: For Tencent, WeChat Pay and the broader lending/deposit taking business are likely to be reined-in. At CNY 38.5 bn for full year 2020, FinTech represents a growing 28.8% of revenue – and is a key and growing component of Tencent’s current and future results. No matter what spin that Tencent wants to place on its other businesses, an FHC represents significant downside risks. Earnings will compress, as capital requirements increase.

Tencent Holdings – Awaiting The Big Hit

*Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] will report 1Q21 operating metrics on May 14, 2021. We anticipate a low base YOY rebound in VONB to USD 950 mn (15%). Mainland China and Malaysia should be this quarter’s standouts, whilst Hong Kong likely exhibits yet another decline in 1Q21 due to the border closure with mainland China;  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 negative tax implications for mainland Chinese subsidiaries versus branches; 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] will report 1Q21 operating metrics on May 14, 2021. We anticipate a low base YOY rebound in VONB to USD 950 mn (15%). Mainland China and Malaysia should be this quarter’s standouts, whilst Hong Kong likely exhibits yet another decline in 1Q21 due to the border closure with mainland China;  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 negative tax implications for mainland Chinese subsidiaries versus branches; 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. 

AIA Group – 1Q21 Preview; Better But Off Low Base

*Positive Operating Jaws: China Everbright Bank (6818.HK) [CEB] reported 1Q21 results of CNY 11.5 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (40.1%) linked quarter. When we exclude securities gains, results were less robust coming in at CNY 8.5 bn, but still improving CNY 1.8 bn (27.4%). Results were driven by CEB’s positive operating jaws, as revenues improved CNY 2.6 bn (7.7%) while costs declined CNY 660 mn (6.1%); and*Credit Wall Continues To Grow: Net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 11.5 bn or 110.8% on an annualized basis. By our calculation, reserve are short in the neighborhood of CNY 103 mn which represents about three years of 1Q20 core operating results. Provided (and its not a stretch) that the net new NPL ratio trajectory holds, reserve cover of NPLs will drop to 77%.

*Positive Operating Jaws: China Everbright Bank (6818.HK) [CEB] reported 1Q21 results of CNY 11.5 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (40.1%) linked quarter. When we exclude securities gains, results were less robust coming in at CNY 8.5 bn, but still improving CNY 1.8 bn (27.4%). Results were driven by CEB’s positive operating jaws, as revenues improved CNY 2.6 bn (7.7%) while costs declined CNY 660 mn (6.1%); and*Credit Wall Continues To Grow: Net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 11.5 bn or 110.8% on an annualized basis. By our calculation, reserve are short in the neighborhood of CNY 103 mn which represents about three years of 1Q20 core operating results. Provided (and its not a stretch) that the net new NPL ratio trajectory holds, reserve cover of NPLs will drop to 77%. 

China Everbright Bank – Credit Remains Troublesome

*Pointless Shenzhen Deal: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] has announced that it has agreed to invest CNY 37-51 bn in a restructured Founder Group, an unlisted mainland Chinese-controlled conglomerate. Under the proposal, Ping An will have own between 51.1%-70% of a newly formed entity called New Founder Group; and*Enough On Its Plate: In our view, Ping An has far too much on its plate to worry about than purchasing another company’s mess. There are weak fundamentals at Ping An Life, poor profit metrics at Ping An Property &amp; Casualty; and weak fundamentals at Ping An Bank. There are just so many IPOs and secondaries that Ping An can do with its FinTech investments to offset the insurer’s poor performance.

*Pointless Shenzhen Deal: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] has announced that it has agreed to invest CNY 37-51 bn in a restructured Founder Group, an unlisted mainland Chinese-controlled conglomerate. Under the proposal, Ping An will have own between 51.1%-70% of a newly formed entity called New Founder Group; and*Enough On Its Plate: In our view, Ping An has far too much on its plate to worry about than purchasing another company’s mess. There are weak fundamentals at Ping An Life, poor profit metrics at Ping An Property &amp; Casualty; and weak fundamentals at Ping An Bank. There are just so many IPOs and secondaries that Ping An can do with its FinTech investments to offset the insurer’s poor performance.

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)

Yuanta Financial Holding – Firing On All Cylinders

YUANTA FINANCIAL: Yuanta reported a QOQ 1Q21 results increase of 107.5%, attributed to strong net interest income growth and a provision reduction....

Thomas J. Monaco

Tencent Holdings – Awaiting The Big Hit

TENCENT HOLDINGS: Tencent] reported 1Q21 YOY total revenue growth of 25%, while non-GAAP operating profit increased just 20%. An FHC suggests...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – 1Q21 Preview; Better But Off Low Base

AIA GROUP: AIA reports 1Q21 metrics on May 14. We expect a low base YOY rebound in VONB of 15%. With weaker organic growth, AIA went on a deal...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Everbright Bank – Credit Remains Troublesome

CHINA EVERBRIGHT BANK: Operating results grew 27.4% QOQ, driven by positive operating jaws. Credit continues to weaken and the loss reserve...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance - Totally Unnecessary

PING AN INSURANCE: Ping An has announced that it has agreed to invest CNY 37-51 bn in a restructured Founder Group. Ping An will own between 51.1%...

Thomas J. Monaco