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

*Alleging Questionable Lending: On December 14, 2020, Australian news agency International Media Corporation’s Scams Breaking reported that Axis Bank (AXSB.IN) [Axis] etc. has provided loans to the questionable SREI Infrastructure and Finance Limited (SREI.IN) [SREI] to the tune of INR 440.0 bn without any due diligence and verification of end use of the loan amount; and*Axis Position: Axis has stated that “the report is grossly inaccurate and baseless insofar as Axis Bank Limited’s outstanding to SREI entities or underwriting practices and processes are concerned." Provided Axis is correct in its assertion, we’d anticipate the organization taking legal action against International Media Corporation in Australia.

*Alleging Questionable Lending: On December 14, 2020, Australian news agency International Media Corporation’s Scams Breaking reported that Axis Bank (AXSB.IN) [Axis] etc. has provided loans to the questionable SREI Infrastructure and Finance Limited (SREI.IN) [SREI] to the tune of INR 440.0 bn without any due diligence and verification of end use of the loan amount; and*Axis Position: Axis has stated that “the report is grossly inaccurate and baseless insofar as Axis Bank Limited’s outstanding to SREI entities or underwriting practices and processes are concerned." Provided Axis is correct in its assertion, we’d anticipate the organization taking legal action against International Media Corporation in Australia.

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yes-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:767:1" rel="noopener">YES Bank's (YES IN)</a> US$-bond hit par-value recently. Par is plenty for investors. Having delivered 20 price points in return since our Buy recommendation, pre-rescue in February, Smartkarma readers should be satiated with this above average return. Upside is now much less likely, although temporarily pricing slightly over par could occur during the next few months. As such, we move to Underweight YES Bank’s 3 ¾% coupon Nov. 2023 maturity bond, from Overweight on a relative value basis.We put YES Bank’s recent bond outperformance down to a combination of a broad risk asset rally and positive news flow plus the lack of negative news regarding the recovery of the institution. The Reserve Bank of India’s take-over of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lakshmi-vilas-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17552:1" rel="noopener">Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB IN)</a> has both removed the spotlight from YES Bank and reminded investors that this entity was rescued.Delivery on management’s restructuring goals remains to be seen while headwinds build for India, post-COVID-19. As such, with less than two-years to maturity and spreads at less than one-half their levels of one-year ago, now is not the time to jump in. We believe it is time to lighten allocation to this security and reposition elsewhere.

YES Bank's (YES IN) US$-bond hit par-value recently. Par is plenty for investors. Having delivered 20 price points in return since our Buy recommendation, pre-rescue in February, Smartkarma readers should be satiated with this above average return. Upside is now much less likely, although temporarily pricing slightly over par could occur during the next few months. As such, we move to Underweight YES Bank’s 3 ¾% coupon Nov. 2023 maturity bond, from Overweight on a relative value basis.We put YES Bank’s recent bond outperformance down to a combination of a broad risk asset rally and positive news flow plus the lack of negative news regarding the recovery of the institution. The Reserve Bank of India’s take-over of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB IN) has both removed the spotlight from YES Bank and reminded investors that this entity was rescued.Delivery on management’s restructuring goals remains to be seen while headwinds build for India, post-COVID-19. As such, with less than two-years to maturity and spreads at less than one-half their levels of one-year ago, now is not the time to jump in. We believe it is time to lighten allocation to this security and reposition elsewhere. 

YES Bank: Par Is Plenty- Move to Underweight

Risk-on sentiment resulted in more spread tightening than widening in Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) during the month of November. In fact, only 4 securities widened in G-Spread terms out of the 100 bonds that we track in the region. Meanwhile, the largest widening was only 15 basis points (bps) month-on-month.India-headquartered bank bonds led in terms of spread tightening over November and dominate our top 10 list. Amongst the India-headquartered banks, several non-bank finance companies (NBFCs) led advances. Relative to year-end spread levels, there is limited upside remaining amongst the top 10 performers of November.In a positive sign, from a momentum perspective, the positive spread movement amongst India’s NBFCs was continuous throughout November. Coronavirus vaccine news, a Goldilocks US election outcome, and the Janet Yellen effect propelled riskier asset prices higher in most markets and India was no exception.   While the trend is your friend, ordinarily thin trading markets could meet concerns that economic recovery is fully priced, and profit-taking may ensue during December. In addition, there is the risk that the market has gotten ahead of itself as bank management’s loss expectations are yet to be tested. Post-COVID-19, India’s operating environment starts from an already high level of non-performing assets and each bank’s loan loss predictive ability has significant room for improvement. The same could be said for the other outperforming bank bonds in our top 10 list.

Risk-on sentiment resulted in more spread tightening than widening in Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) during the month of November. In fact, only 4 securities widened in G-Spread terms out of the 100 bonds that we track in the region. Meanwhile, the largest widening was only 15 basis points (bps) month-on-month.India-headquartered bank bonds led in terms of spread tightening over November and dominate our top 10 list. Amongst the India-headquartered banks, several non-bank finance companies (NBFCs) led advances. Relative to year-end spread levels, there is limited upside remaining amongst the top 10 performers of November.In a positive sign, from a momentum perspective, the positive spread movement amongst India’s NBFCs was continuous throughout November. Coronavirus vaccine news, a Goldilocks US election outcome, and the Janet Yellen effect propelled riskier asset prices higher in most markets and India was no exception.   While the trend is your friend, ordinarily thin trading markets could meet concerns that economic recovery is fully priced, and profit-taking may ensue during December. In addition, there is the risk that the market has gotten ahead of itself as bank management’s loss expectations are yet to be tested. Post-COVID-19, India’s operating environment starts from an already high level of non-performing assets and each bank’s loan loss predictive ability has significant room for improvement. The same could be said for the other outperforming bank bonds in our top 10 list.

Bank Credit Compass: Asia’s November Performance and December Expectations

In this, the fourth of several short insights in our Yes Bank Deposit Run Anniversary Series, we adjust Liquidity Coverage Ratios (LCR) for anticipated cash inflows which may not materialize in the current COVID-19 environment. We then append this result to deposits that are not captured in LCR reports derive a COVID-19 adjusted LCR.LCRs are based on a set of assumptions which may not prove to be valid during periods of stress, as recently occurred at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yes-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:767:1" rel="noopener">Yes Bank (YES IN)</a>. One of the many assumptions is that cash inflows from performing loans can offset projected deposit outflows in a stressed situation. However, in an environment of widespread payment moratoriums or interest-only repayments, projected cashflow may be materially overstated. This could result in misleadingly higher LCR ratios. At the same time, some banks report non-lending related cash inflows at higher levels than projected loan-related amounts. This is surprising. As such, we remove all cash inflows to derive a cash inflow adjusted LCR. We also incorporate deposits that are not captured by the LCR report to derive a COVID-19 stressed LCR ratio and assess this ratio to see if this is priced-in from a credit perspective.Approximately one-year ago, India-headquartered Yes Bank began to experience a silent run on its deposits. To mark this inauspicious anniversary, we undertake a series of short insights to determine if the funding and liquidity lessons from Yes Bank are being applied at India-headquartered banks. Spoiler alert: they are not.As we noted in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-bank-deposit-flight-risk-lessons-from-yes-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37617" rel="noopener">Lessons from Yes Bank</a>, India-headquartered bank funding franchises are more sensitive to potential deposit flight than displayed in their quarterly financial presentations. With an undue focus on the levels of current, savings and time deposits, the discussion neglects crucial factors which lead to a stable deposit franchise. At the same, undue reliance on Liquidity Coverage Ratios is not warranted as per recent experience.In our first insight, we derived the amount of stable deposits at each major India-headquartered bank and determined if a stable deposit franchise is priced-in, from a credit perspective. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-headquartered-banks-stable-deposits-and-costs-1-year-after-the-yes-bank-silent-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43981" rel="noopener">Stable Deposits and Costs 1-Year After the Yes Bank Silent Run</a>. In our second, we adjusted deposit flight assumption to the reality of what occurred at Yes Bank. We then determined if this “Yes-stressed” LCR is priced-in. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-headquartered-banks-yes-stressed-deposit-flight-simulation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44213" rel="noopener">Yes-Stressed Deposit Flight Simulation</a>.   In our third insight, we incorporated deposits that are not captured in LCR reports. This is the analysis required to understand what broke Yes Bank. We then determined if the Missing Deposit LCR is priced-in from a credit perspective. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/india-headquartered-banks-missing-deposit-miasma-1-year-after-yes-bank-s-silent-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45438" rel="noopener">Missing Deposit Miasma 1-Year After Yes Bank’s Silent Run</a>.  In follow-up insights we intend to assess extraordinary government actions that recently inflated LCR ratios and then adjust for all of these elements for apocalyptic scenario analysis.

In this, the fourth of several short insights in our Yes Bank Deposit Run Anniversary Series, we adjust Liquidity Coverage Ratios (LCR) for anticipated cash inflows which may not materialize in the current COVID-19 environment. We then append this result to deposits that are not captured in LCR reports derive a COVID-19 adjusted LCR.LCRs are based on a set of assumptions which may not prove to be valid during periods of stress, as recently occurred at Yes Bank (YES IN). One of the many assumptions is that cash inflows from performing loans can offset projected deposit outflows in a stressed situation. However, in an environment of widespread payment moratoriums or interest-only repayments, projected cashflow may be materially overstated. This could result in misleadingly higher LCR ratios. At the same time, some banks report non-lending related cash inflows at higher levels than projected loan-related amounts. This is surprising. As such, we remove all cash inflows to derive a cash inflow adjusted LCR. We also incorporate deposits that are not captured by the LCR report to derive a COVID-19 stressed LCR ratio and assess this ratio to see if this is priced-in from a credit perspective.Approximately one-year ago, India-headquartered Yes Bank began to experience a silent run on its deposits. To mark this inauspicious anniversary, we undertake a series of short insights to determine if the funding and liquidity lessons from Yes Bank are being applied at India-headquartered banks. Spoiler alert: they are not.As we noted in Lessons from Yes Bank, India-headquartered bank funding franchises are more sensitive to potential deposit flight than displayed in their quarterly financial presentations. With an undue focus on the levels of current, savings and time deposits, the discussion neglects crucial factors which lead to a stable deposit franchise. At the same, undue reliance on Liquidity Coverage Ratios is not warranted as per recent experience.In our first insight, we derived the amount of stable deposits at each major India-headquartered bank and determined if a stable deposit franchise is priced-in, from a credit perspective. Please see Stable Deposits and Costs 1-Year After the Yes Bank Silent Run. In our second, we adjusted deposit flight assumption to the reality of what occurred at Yes Bank. We then determined if this “Yes-stressed” LCR is priced-in. Please see Yes-Stressed Deposit Flight Simulation.   In our third insight, we incorporated deposits that are not captured in LCR reports. This is the analysis required to understand what broke Yes Bank. We then determined if the Missing Deposit LCR is priced-in from a credit perspective. Please see Missing Deposit Miasma 1-Year After Yes Bank’s Silent Run.  In follow-up insights we intend to assess extraordinary government actions that recently inflated LCR ratios and then adjust for all of these elements for apocalyptic scenario analysis.

India-Headquartered Banks: COVID-19 Adjusted Liquidity Coverage Ratios

*Lakshmi Vilas Bank Problems Appear Bigger Than DBS Expects: By our calculation and based on LVB’s FY 2Q21 results, the company would appear to be insolvent by the amount of INR 39 bn – nearly 56% greater than the DBS Bank India capital infusion; LVB loses money on an operating basis prior to loss provisions, as revenues (no clarity on what is recurring) of INR 15.4 bn are less than operating expenses of INR 16.0 bn – or by 3.7% at FY 2Q21; et al;  and  *Cram-down Highlights That LVB’s Stated Numbers May Be Wrong:  Prior to the amalgamation, INR 318.2 bn (USD 43 mn) LVB Basel III-compliant Tier 2 bonds (Series VIII, Series IX, and Series X) were written down under the direction of the RBI. To the best of our knowledge, this would appear to be the first time that a cram-down procedure was applied in Asia. As a result, no investor should take any investment in a troubled Indian financial institution for granted. Ultimately, this will make the financial sector more efficient – but calls the sanctity of their audited results into questions as well.

*Lakshmi Vilas Bank Problems Appear Bigger Than DBS Expects: By our calculation and based on LVB’s FY 2Q21 results, the company would appear to be insolvent by the amount of INR 39 bn – nearly 56% greater than the DBS Bank India capital infusion; LVB loses money on an operating basis prior to loss provisions, as revenues (no clarity on what is recurring) of INR 15.4 bn are less than operating expenses of INR 16.0 bn – or by 3.7% at FY 2Q21; et al;  and  *Cram-down Highlights That LVB’s Stated Numbers May Be Wrong:  Prior to the amalgamation, INR 318.2 bn (USD 43 mn) LVB Basel III-compliant Tier 2 bonds (Series VIII, Series IX, and Series X) were written down under the direction of the RBI. To the best of our knowledge, this would appear to be the first time that a cram-down procedure was applied in Asia. As a result, no investor should take any investment in a troubled Indian financial institution for granted. Ultimately, this will make the financial sector more efficient – but calls the sanctity of their audited results into questions as well. 

India

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited is a full service commercial bank. The Bank offers a wide range of products and services such as personal, commercial, and corporate banking services, including deposit accounts, loans, and investments. Kotak Mahindra Bank serves customers in India.

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Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB IN)

Axis Bank – Denying Evil

AXIS BANK: Allegations Of Exorbitant Lending To The Questionable SREI Without Verification Lead To Aggressive Denials Of Wrongdoing By Axis.

Thomas J. Monaco

YES Bank: Par Is Plenty- Move to Underweight

Despite incredibly poor asset quality, goals that are years from being realized and liquidity which remains well overstated, YES Bank’s US$-bond...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Bank Credit Compass: Asia’s November Performance and December Expectations

India-headquartered bank bonds led spread tightening over November. Ordinarily thin markets could meet concerns that economic recovery is fully...

Hank Calenti, CFA

India-Headquartered Banks: COVID-19 Adjusted Liquidity Coverage Ratios

COVID-19 adjusted LCRs exhibit an almost perfectly negative correlation with India-headquartered bank bond spreads. This is the 4’th of several...

Hank Calenti, CFA

DBS Group Holdings – The LVB Cram Down

DBS GROUP HOLDINGS: The LVB Cram-down Raises Significant Questions Over Potential Cost For DBS, Raises Significant Concerns Over Audited Financial...

Thomas J. Monaco

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