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

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

Postal Savings Bank of China C / Equity Bottom-Up

*Blowout 3Q21 Results: Established in 2007, Postal Savings Bank of China (1658.HK) [PSB], mainland China’s youngest large commercial bank, reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 23.5 bn – increasing CNY 3.7 bn (18.6%) linked quarter. Much of the improvement at PSB is due to credit leverage, as loss provisions declined CNY 9.3 bn (54.3%); and*Credit Quality Continues Its Positive Turn, But Reserves More Than Adequate: Net new NPLs did increase CNY 7.8 bn or 61.0% annualized versus CNY 14.9 bn or 116.6% at 2Q21. Despite the increase in net new NPLs, it would appear that PSB’s reserves would remain excessive to the tune of CNY 100 bn or about a year of pre-tax profits – begging the question of why not reverse loss reserves?

*Blowout 3Q21 Results: Established in 2007, Postal Savings Bank of China (1658.HK) [PSB], mainland China’s youngest large commercial bank, reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 23.5 bn – increasing CNY 3.7 bn (18.6%) linked quarter. Much of the improvement at PSB is due to credit leverage, as loss provisions declined CNY 9.3 bn (54.3%); and*Credit Quality Continues Its Positive Turn, But Reserves More Than Adequate: Net new NPLs did increase CNY 7.8 bn or 61.0% annualized versus CNY 14.9 bn or 116.6% at 2Q21. Despite the increase in net new NPLs, it would appear that PSB’s reserves would remain excessive to the tune of CNY 100 bn or about a year of pre-tax profits – begging the question of why not reverse loss reserves?

Postal Savings Bank of China – Reserve Reversals Expected

*Weak Results in Investment and P&amp;C: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] reported 3Q21 results of CNY 23.6 bn, declining CNY 7.1 bn (23.2%) linked quarter.  Much of the struggle this quarter remained Ping An’s investment portfolio – likely a long-term thematic, where the net investment yield plummet 30 bp to 4.4%. Excluding Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB] whose results were completely managed, all other business units disappointed linked quarter; and*Concerns Increase At Bank And With Expansion Plans:  PAB reported 3Q21 results of CNY 11.7 bn. Don’t shoot off the streamers just yet, credit quality was abysmal and Ping An clearly pulled on its bank lever. By our analysis, we find that credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs are now accelerating at Indian bank pace of CNY 12.4 bn or 159.8% annualized.  Assuming that the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at its current level, we find that PAB’s reserves remain CNY 19 bn light.

*Weak Results in Investment and P&amp;C: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] reported 3Q21 results of CNY 23.6 bn, declining CNY 7.1 bn (23.2%) linked quarter.  Much of the struggle this quarter remained Ping An’s investment portfolio – likely a long-term thematic, where the net investment yield plummet 30 bp to 4.4%. Excluding Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB] whose results were completely managed, all other business units disappointed linked quarter; and*Concerns Increase At Bank And With Expansion Plans:  PAB reported 3Q21 results of CNY 11.7 bn. Don’t shoot off the streamers just yet, credit quality was abysmal and Ping An clearly pulled on its bank lever. By our analysis, we find that credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs are now accelerating at Indian bank pace of CNY 12.4 bn or 159.8% annualized.  Assuming that the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at its current level, we find that PAB’s reserves remain CNY 19 bn light.  

Ping An Insurance – Another Abysmal Result

*Strong Revenue, Controlled Costs: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEx] reported a strong set of 3Q21 earnings at HKD 3.3 bn, improving HKD 481 mn (17.4%) linked quarter. Results were highlighted by HKEx’ marginally positive operating jaws, as recurring revenue improved HKD 550 mn (12.1%) while overall operating expenses declined nominally (under 0.1%) to HKD 1.5 mn over the period; and*A50, A New Avenue Of Growth: On October 18, 2021, HKEx successfully launched the MSCI China A50 Connect (HK A50), which is predicated on the new MSCI A50 Index. HKEx has a very broad range of liquid Hong Kong-China linked products, with the new A50 contract being linked to the northbound Stock Connect – on top of a better fee offering.

*Strong Revenue, Controlled Costs: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEx] reported a strong set of 3Q21 earnings at HKD 3.3 bn, improving HKD 481 mn (17.4%) linked quarter. Results were highlighted by HKEx’ marginally positive operating jaws, as recurring revenue improved HKD 550 mn (12.1%) while overall operating expenses declined nominally (under 0.1%) to HKD 1.5 mn over the period; and*A50, A New Avenue Of Growth: On October 18, 2021, HKEx successfully launched the MSCI China A50 Connect (HK A50), which is predicated on the new MSCI A50 Index. HKEx has a very broad range of liquid Hong Kong-China linked products, with the new A50 contract being linked to the northbound Stock Connect – on top of a better fee offering. 

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – Solid Result Even Prior To A50

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

*3Q21 Bottom-Line Is Not What It Appears: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 32.7 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (11.3%) linked quarter. However, when we exclude gains and the unreasonable drop in loss provisions, we find that CMB's adjusted core operating result looks something closer to CNY 12.6 bn - declining CNY 8.8 bn or 41.2% over the same period; and*Credit Has Fallen Off Of A Cliff: Unfortunately for CMB, net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 23.5 bn or 172.3% annualized. Provided that the accelerated net new NPL trajectory remains, we foresee a significant decline in NPL cover into the 150% territory from nearly 450% – which is lower than the average mainland Chinese bank.

*3Q21 Bottom-Line Is Not What It Appears: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] reported 3Q21 bottom-line results of CNY 32.7 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (11.3%) linked quarter. However, when we exclude gains and the unreasonable drop in loss provisions, we find that CMB's adjusted core operating result looks something closer to CNY 12.6 bn - declining CNY 8.8 bn or 41.2% over the same period; and*Credit Has Fallen Off Of A Cliff: Unfortunately for CMB, net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 23.5 bn or 172.3% annualized. Provided that the accelerated net new NPL trajectory remains, we foresee a significant decline in NPL cover into the 150% territory from nearly 450% – which is lower than the average mainland Chinese bank. 

China Merchants Bank – An Optical Illusion

Hong Kong

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF's objective seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the performance of publicly traded securities in the Hong Kong market, as measured by the MSCI Hong Kong Index. The ETF invests in a representative sample of index stocks using a "portfolio sampling" technique.

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (EWH US)

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

DBS: DBS reported flat 3Q21 QOQ results. Accounting for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker,...

Thomas J. Monaco

Postal Savings Bank of China – Reserve Reversals Expected

POSTAL SAVINGS BANK: PSB's QOQ 3Q21 increased 18.6%, due largely to credit leverage and net interest income improvement. PSB’s reserves appear...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance – Another Abysmal Result

PING AN: Ping An reported a QOQ 3Q21 results decline of 23.2%, attributed to its investment portfolio. Excluding PAB, whose results were managed,...

Thomas J. Monaco

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – Solid Result Even Prior To A50

HKEX: HKEx reported a strong QOQ 3Q21 earnings growth of 17.4%, and highlighted by marginally positive operating jaws, as recurring revenue...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Merchants Bank – An Optical Illusion

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK: CMB's QOQ 3Q21 adjusted core operating result declined 41.2%, by our calculation. Net new problem loans continue to...

Thomas J. Monaco