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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p><strong><em>*Bracing For Even Tougher Times:</em></strong> According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s financial sector needs to prepare for even more challenging times given the continued risk of credit deterioration, which remains heightened due to this unrelenting pandemic; and</p><p><strong><em>*Open Your Wallets, Indian Financials Need Money: </em></strong>Given the economic uncertainty posed by COVID-19, credit quality in the Indian financial system is likely to present continued economic challenges in 2021. If the RBI is correct, and we believe that it is – although its forecasts appear quite light, FY 2022 will see continued losses and massive levels of capital raised.   </p>

*Bracing For Even Tougher Times: According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s financial sector needs to prepare for even more challenging times given the continued risk of credit deterioration, which remains heightened due to this unrelenting pandemic; and*Open Your Wallets, Indian Financials Need Money: Given the economic uncertainty posed by COVID-19, credit quality in the Indian financial system is likely to present continued economic challenges in 2021. If the RBI is correct, and we believe that it is – although its forecasts appear quite light, FY 2022 will see continued losses and massive levels of capital raised.   

Reserve Bank of India – Continued Bank Waterboarding

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><strong><em>*Stress Continues:</em></strong> A competitor hosted a conference call with the management of Kasikornbank PCL (KBANK-R.TB) [KBANK] which suggests nothing positive is occurring. Credit risk remains elevated, yet half of current and projected loan growth will be used for current customer relief measures; and</p>
<p><strong><em>*Weak Guidance:</em></strong> KBANK also reiterated guidance, although we weren’t left with a high degree of confidence that KBANK wouldn’t fall short in 2021.Coupled with the aforementioned credit challenges, we anticipate the roll forward of lower lending rates to continue to impact NIMs, as will the rising loan default rates. </p>

*Stress Continues: A competitor hosted a conference call with the management of Kasikornbank PCL (KBANK-R.TB) [KBANK] which suggests nothing positive is occurring. Credit risk remains elevated, yet half of current and projected loan growth will be used for current customer relief measures; and
*Weak Guidance: KBANK also reiterated guidance, although we weren’t left with a high degree of confidence that KBANK wouldn’t fall short in 2021.Coupled with the aforementioned credit challenges, we anticipate the roll forward of lower lending rates to continue to impact NIMs, as will the rising loan default rates. 

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<p>Asia’s Subordinated debt, both Additional Tier 1 (AT1) and Tier 2 bonds outperformed higher ranked Senior Unsecured notes over the holiday shortened week. We attribute this to a shift into higher duration exposure as most of the outperformers were 2025 or longer first call bonds.</p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bangkok-bank-public-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:213:1" rel="noopener">Bangkok Bank's (BBLTB)</a> 5% coupon and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-east-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:341:1" rel="noopener">Bank of East Asia's (BNKEA)</a> 5 7/8% coupon AT1 bonds, both with 2025 first call dates, led amongst liquid securities. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/indiabulls-housing-finance-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13086:1" rel="noopener">Indiabulls Housing Finance's (IHFLIN)</a> 6 3/8% coupon 2022 maturity bond led performance amongst less liquid notes by tightening 41bps following last week’s 56bps performance. The bond now trades within 1300bps of its benchmark but remains very illiquid. Otherwise, high grade Senior Unsecured returns were dragged lower by India-based bank issuers. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/icici-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:547:1" rel="noopener">ICICI Bank's (ICICIBC IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canara-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:543:1" rel="noopener">Canara Bank's (CBKIN)</a> debt curve sold off while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/state-bank-of-india" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:160:1" rel="noopener">State Bank of India's (SBIIN)</a> notes saw mixed performance.</p><p>Once again, thin markets were directionless over the last week, so we focus on bond performance in this note. For a deeper assessment of bank credit performance in December and an assessment of potential January outcomes, please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bank-credit-compass-regime-change-may-limit-the-annual-january-bounce" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46712" rel="noopener">Bank Credit Compass: Regime Change May Limit the Annual January Bounce</a><em>. </em></p><p><strong>Market Outlook: </strong>The Goldilocks market may morph into a market wolf if the US Senate changes leadership from the runoff races in Georgia. Higher stimulus could be offset by concerns of higher taxes and regulations. This could negatively impact the annual January market bounce. Concurrently, reduced economic activity over the near term from increased virus-related lockdowns may not be fully reflected in asset prices. Against this background, thin markets may exacerbate price moves over the next week.</p>

Asia’s Subordinated debt, both Additional Tier 1 (AT1) and Tier 2 bonds outperformed higher ranked Senior Unsecured notes over the holiday shortened week. We attribute this to a shift into higher duration exposure as most of the outperformers were 2025 or longer first call bonds.Bangkok Bank's (BBLTB) 5% coupon and Bank of East Asia's (BNKEA) 5 7/8% coupon AT1 bonds, both with 2025 first call dates, led amongst liquid securities. Indiabulls Housing Finance's (IHFLIN) 6 3/8% coupon 2022 maturity bond led performance amongst less liquid notes by tightening 41bps following last week’s 56bps performance. The bond now trades within 1300bps of its benchmark but remains very illiquid. Otherwise, high grade Senior Unsecured returns were dragged lower by India-based bank issuers. ICICI Bank's (ICICIBC IN) and Canara Bank's (CBKIN) debt curve sold off while State Bank of India's (SBIIN) notes saw mixed performance.Once again, thin markets were directionless over the last week, so we focus on bond performance in this note. For a deeper assessment of bank credit performance in December and an assessment of potential January outcomes, please see Bank Credit Compass: Regime Change May Limit the Annual January Bounce. Market Outlook: The Goldilocks market may morph into a market wolf if the US Senate changes leadership from the runoff races in Georgia. Higher stimulus could be offset by concerns of higher taxes and regulations. This could negatively impact the annual January market bounce. Concurrently, reduced economic activity over the near term from increased virus-related lockdowns may not be fully reflected in asset prices. Against this background, thin markets may exacerbate price moves over the next week.

Bank Credit Weekly: Duration Desires Deliver Asia's AT1 & Sub Outperformance

Independent Asian Credit Research, Bondcritic

Warut Promboon

Independent Asian Credit Research

Asian Fixed Income/Frontier Market Research

Bondcritic

Bondcritic, established in 2009, is designed to be an independent credit research voice that helps investors gain insights and unbiased analyses on Asian fixed income market. Our mission is to discover deep-value Asian high-yield and distressed bonds with a bottom-up approach, together with the help of our proprietary ESG (Environmental, Social Development, and Governance) model. At the same time, we focus on bringing investment cases of unrated and unloved issuers to the general public.

<p>This is the first in a series of reports on Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities (IABS) in Asia Pacific. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the IABS asset class, which remains relatively new to Asia. An IABS transaction involves a sponsor and/or manager sourcing project and infrastructure loans from originators (i.e. banks), underwriting them and issuing securitized notes backed by these assets to investors. This helps originators recycle their balance sheets, while offering investors exposure to these projects and infrastructure loans in a credit-enhanced format, enabling them to originate more project and infrastructure loans.  For the Asia Pacific region, IABS can help bridge a funding gap for infrastructure financing, which according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2017, amounts to USD 467bn per annum.</p>
<p>IABS is typically backed by a diversified portfolio of project and infrastructure loans. Long-term investors such as life insurers and pension funds can benefit from matching their long-dated liabilities with longer-dated IABS. An investment-grade credit rating for IABS would also fit into the investment mandates of life insurers, pension funds and asset managers. In addition, investors benefit from instant diversification across projects, sectors and geographies/regions, compared to investing directly in individual loans or projects. Furthermore, the elevated credit profile of a senior tranche minimizes the capital cushion that an institutional investor may need to put up against its investments. Last but not least, IABS offers institutional investors access to an asset class with significant barriers to entry, managed by an experienced collateral manager.</p>
<p>As with any credit product, IABS is not risk-free and, depending on how each IABS is structured, IABS could be exposed to loans without public ratings, concentration risk (in certain sectors, countries, guarantors, offtakers and projects), political risk, operational risk of a collateral manager, counterparty risk from loan participation exposures, and prolonged recovery periods in case of loan defaults. It should be noted that such risks are generally taken into consideration in the ratings process of IABS, either through the credit estimate (i.e. private ratings) assigned to the underlying loans or the stress testing of the loan portfolio and IABS structure.</p>

This is the first in a series of reports on Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities (IABS) in Asia Pacific. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the IABS asset class, which remains relatively new to Asia. An IABS transaction involves a sponsor and/or manager sourcing project and infrastructure loans from originators (i.e. banks), underwriting them and issuing securitized notes backed by these assets to investors. This helps originators recycle their balance sheets, while offering investors exposure to these projects and infrastructure loans in a credit-enhanced format, enabling them to originate more project and infrastructure loans.  For the Asia Pacific region, IABS can help bridge a funding gap for infrastructure financing, which according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2017, amounts to USD 467bn per annum.
IABS is typically backed by a diversified portfolio of project and infrastructure loans. Long-term investors such as life insurers and pension funds can benefit from matching their long-dated liabilities with longer-dated IABS. An investment-grade credit rating for IABS would also fit into the investment mandates of life insurers, pension funds and asset managers. In addition, investors benefit from instant diversification across projects, sectors and geographies/regions, compared to investing directly in individual loans or projects. Furthermore, the elevated credit profile of a senior tranche minimizes the capital cushion that an institutional investor may need to put up against its investments. Last but not least, IABS offers institutional investors access to an asset class with significant barriers to entry, managed by an experienced collateral manager.
As with any credit product, IABS is not risk-free and, depending on how each IABS is structured, IABS could be exposed to loans without public ratings, concentration risk (in certain sectors, countries, guarantors, offtakers and projects), political risk, operational risk of a collateral manager, counterparty risk from loan participation exposures, and prolonged recovery periods in case of loan defaults. It should be noted that such risks are generally taken into consideration in the ratings process of IABS, either through the credit estimate (i.e. private ratings) assigned to the underlying loans or the stress testing of the loan portfolio and IABS structure.

Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities: New Asset Class for Asia

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Private Capital Markets

GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk PT / Private Capital Markets

<div>
<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> has bought a further 18% stake in Indonesia's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)</a> bringing its total state to 22.16%. The transaction was executed at 1.14x PBV and a significant discount to the last traded price.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)</a> has a market capitalization of IDR42.3tn (US$2.9bn), which values Gojek's stake in the bank at IDR9.3tn (US$641m).</p>
<p>Gojek's Indonesia users will in the future be able to open a bank account with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)</a> and manage their finances through the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> App. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)</a> deal marks an opportunity for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> to capitalize on its vast user base, especially through GoPay, to offer customers digital banking products and other financial services.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)</a> has already moved its focus to digital banking, targeting SMEs and retail customers. GoPay also recently received investment from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/facebook-inc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:665:1" rel="noopener">Facebook Inc A (FB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paypal-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4747:1" rel="noopener">Paypal Holdings (PYPL US)</a>, which also provides a strong backing and the potential for collaboration from two heavyweight foreign investors</p>
<div>
<div>For <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ</a>, this will help it develop a process through which it can work with other banks, as well as providing customers with an increasing array of digital financial solutions.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The deal also demonstrates that management is focused on building its competitive advantage in Indonesia rather than being sidelined any merger considerations with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP),</a> which seems increasingly unlikely. </div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Gojek is also seen to be on the path to profitability, with all its services generating positive margins on a product basis. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gojek" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25976:1" rel="noopener">Gojek (1379371D IJ)</a> also recently received US$150m in new money from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telekomunikasi-indonesia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1051:1" rel="noopener">Telekomunikasi Indonesia (TLKM IJ),</a> which represented another heavyweight local shareholder on top of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> and Djarum Group. </p>
<p>We look at the background of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago (ARTO IJ)</a> management team below the fold, which seems well-suited to building this future collaboration.</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div id="cx_custom">
<div></div>
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<section id="block-dfp-imu2">
<div id="dfp-ad-imu2-wrapper">
<div id="dfp-ad-imu2" data-google-query-id="CKuTmLTB1-0CFXjicwEdmDMHVQ">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/5908/bt/imu2/garage_0__container__"></div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
</div>
<div>
<section id="block-views-more-block-1"></section>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<h2></h2>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>



Gojek (1379371D IJ) has bought a further 18% stake in Indonesia's Bank Jago (ARTO IJ) bringing its total state to 22.16%. The transaction was executed at 1.14x PBV and a significant discount to the last traded price.
Bank Jago (ARTO IJ) has a market capitalization of IDR42.3tn (US$2.9bn), which values Gojek's stake in the bank at IDR9.3tn (US$641m).
Gojek's Indonesia users will in the future be able to open a bank account with Bank Jago (ARTO IJ) and manage their finances through the Gojek (1379371D IJ) App. 
The Bank Jago (ARTO IJ) deal marks an opportunity for Gojek (1379371D IJ) to capitalize on its vast user base, especially through GoPay, to offer customers digital banking products and other financial services.
Bank Jago (ARTO IJ) has already moved its focus to digital banking, targeting SMEs and retail customers. GoPay also recently received investment from Facebook Inc A (FB US) and Paypal Holdings (PYPL US), which also provides a strong backing and the potential for collaboration from two heavyweight foreign investors

For Gojek (1379371D IJ, this will help it develop a process through which it can work with other banks, as well as providing customers with an increasing array of digital financial solutions.

The deal also demonstrates that management is focused on building its competitive advantage in Indonesia rather than being sidelined any merger considerations with Grab (0967655D SP), which seems increasingly unlikely. 



Gojek is also seen to be on the path to profitability, with all its services generating positive margins on a product basis. Gojek (1379371D IJ) also recently received US$150m in new money from Telekomunikasi Indonesia (TLKM IJ), which represented another heavyweight local shareholder on top of Astra International (ASII IJ) and Djarum Group. 
We look at the background of the Bank Jago (ARTO IJ) management team below the fold, which seems well-suited to building this future collaboration.











































Gojek (1379371D IJ) - Upping the Ante on Financial Services

Singapore

DBS Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries provide a variety of financial services.  The Company offers services including mortgage financing, lease and hire purchase financing, nominee and trustee, funds management, corporate advisory and brokerage .  DBS Group also acts as the primary dealer in Singapore government securities.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

DBS (DBS SP)

Reserve Bank of India – Continued Bank Waterboarding

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA: India’s financial sector needs to prepare for even more challenging times. If the RBI is correct, FY 2022 will see continued...

Thomas J. Monaco

Kasikornan – Unconvincing Call

KASIKORNBANK: KBANK 's credit risk remains elevated, yet half of current and projected loan growth will be used for current customer relief loans....

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank Credit Weekly: Duration Desires Deliver Asia's AT1 & Sub Outperformance

Duration desires drove performance over the holiday shortened week. A US Senate leadership change could negatively impact the market as Goldilocks...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities: New Asset Class for Asia

This is our first report on Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities (IABS) in Asia Pacific which provides an overview of the asset class, new to Asia.

Bondcritic

Gojek (1379371D IJ) - Upping the Ante on Financial Services

Gojek's recent move to increase its stake in Bank Jago to 22% signals it intends to move into providing a broader range of financial services.

Angus Mackintosh

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)