Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>ROA appears to be understated dramatically, with expansion likely in coming quarters</li>
<li>Credit costs have been rising even in FY21, and this is unusual for most banks</li>
<li>Funding cost improvement can be biggest surprise, as term deposits mature</li>
</ul>


ROA appears to be understated dramatically, with expansion likely in coming quarters
Credit costs have been rising even in FY21, and this is unusual for most banks
Funding cost improvement can be biggest surprise, as term deposits mature


External broker reports(aggregated public sources), Mirae Asset Securities

Mirae Asset Securities

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Another rate cut could come in handy: In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has conducted three central rate cuts totalling more than 150bps for all tenors.

Another rate cut could come in handy: In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has conducted three central rate cuts totalling more than 150bps for all tenors.

Vietnam Banking Industry 2021 Outlook: Challenges Ahead

Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank

There are few banks anywhere reporting strong margins or better net interest income, with Vietnam as the most stand out exception. One bank that is relatively unknown, is seeing some of the best profit expansion, and it does not appear to have run its course.

There are few banks anywhere reporting strong margins or better net interest income, with Vietnam as the most stand out exception. One bank that is relatively unknown, is seeing some of the best profit expansion, and it does not appear to have run its course.

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

In May of this year, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinsei-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16897:1" rel="noopener">Shinsei Bank (8303 JP)</a> made an <a href="https://www.release.tdnet.info/inbs/ek/140120200430403171.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> that veteran Japan value/engagement investor Dalton Investments had proposed a measure for the AGM. Coming nine months after JC Flowers exited his position in a public offering, ably discussed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/mio-kato" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:713" rel="noopener">Mio Kato</a> in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/shinsei-bank-offering-flowers-in-the-wind" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:31638" rel="noopener">Shinsei Bank Offering: Flowers in the Wind</a>, and eleven months after a previous proposal by Dalton which garnered little more than 16% support, this year's proposal was to put Dalton CIO/CEO/head James Rosenwald on the board of Shinsei Bank so as to further his proposal to further align board compensation with shareholder interests, accelerate the exit of unprofitable positions and businesses, and execute a Very Large Buyback of ¥45 billion, so as to accelerate the return of public funds. <section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/654/original/Screenshot%202020-12-21%20at%207.48.00%20PM.png?1608551293" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179654"></figure></section>Management, as it is wont to do, objected. 
The existing board objected suggesting that the board already had sufficient independent director majority (5 of 7 directors), adding the proposed slate had two women, and replacing one with Mr Rosenwald would not further the goal of a more diverse board. It also noted that the Bank had submitted a Revitalisation Plan ("Plan") to the Financial Services Agency ("FSA") pursuant to the Act on Emergency Measures for Early Strengthening of Financial Functions ("Early Strengthening Act") and the plan required seven directors, not eight, so adding Mr. Rosenwald to the existing slate was not appropriate. The board said that the goal of exiting marginally profitable businesses was indeed not a bad goal, but that in the time of covid-19, "we do not think that it is an appropriate company behavior to take such short-term profit enhancing measures for ourselves at least under the current situation."
The agenda item to elect Mr Rosenwald as a director <a href="https://disclosure.edinet-fsa.go.jp/E01EW/download?uji.verb=W0EZA104CXP001003Action&amp;uji.bean=ee.bean.parent.EECommonSearchBean&amp;PID=W1E63011&amp;SESSIONKEY=1608551363459&amp;lgKbn=2&amp;pkbn=0&amp;skbn=1&amp;dskb=&amp;askb=&amp;dflg=0&amp;iflg=&amp;preId=1&amp;mul=8303&amp;oth=on&amp;cal=1&amp;era=R&amp;yer=&amp;mon=&amp;pfs=4&amp;row=100&amp;idx=0&amp;str=&amp;kbn=1&amp;flg=&amp;syoruiKanriNo=&amp;s=S100ITI7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> 161,736 votes FOR and 1,867,839 votes AGAINST for a success rate of 7.968%. That was pretty miserable. 
Nevertheless, Shinsei Bank DID <a href="https://pdf.irpocket.com/C8303/yCGV/B6S9/bQ8o.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announce</a> a Very Large Buyback on the same day that it announced the shareholder proposal, which was the same day as it announced earnings and the AGM agenda. The buyback announced then was to buy back up to 20.5mm shares for up to ¥20.5bn from 14 May to 31 March 2021. That was 8.88% of existing shares ex-Treasury shares. That was pretty big. 
Through end-November, which is 71.4% of the buyback period elapsed, Shinsei had <a href="https://pdf.irpocket.com/C8303/mxGt/rDGI/qr73.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purchased</a> 11.126mm shares (a bit more than half the max), spending ¥14.67bn, which was 71.5% of the funds allocated. They are on track to complete the amount (buying back less than 8.88%) by end-March. 
This suggests ongoing market support for the shares, which is positive, but now we have a reason to think that the board could act differently next year and possibly approve a bigger, better buyback.  </section>Discussion ensues below.

In May of this year, Shinsei Bank (8303 JP) made an announcement that veteran Japan value/engagement investor Dalton Investments had proposed a measure for the AGM. Coming nine months after JC Flowers exited his position in a public offering, ably discussed by Mio Kato in Shinsei Bank Offering: Flowers in the Wind, and eleven months after a previous proposal by Dalton which garnered little more than 16% support, this year's proposal was to put Dalton CIO/CEO/head James Rosenwald on the board of Shinsei Bank so as to further his proposal to further align board compensation with shareholder interests, accelerate the exit of unprofitable positions and businesses, and execute a Very Large Buyback of ¥45 billion, so as to accelerate the return of public funds. Management, as it is wont to do, objected. 
The existing board objected suggesting that the board already had sufficient independent director majority (5 of 7 directors), adding the proposed slate had two women, and replacing one with Mr Rosenwald would not further the goal of a more diverse board. It also noted that the Bank had submitted a Revitalisation Plan ("Plan") to the Financial Services Agency ("FSA") pursuant to the Act on Emergency Measures for Early Strengthening of Financial Functions ("Early Strengthening Act") and the plan required seven directors, not eight, so adding Mr. Rosenwald to the existing slate was not appropriate. The board said that the goal of exiting marginally profitable businesses was indeed not a bad goal, but that in the time of covid-19, "we do not think that it is an appropriate company behavior to take such short-term profit enhancing measures for ourselves at least under the current situation."
The agenda item to elect Mr Rosenwald as a director received 161,736 votes FOR and 1,867,839 votes AGAINST for a success rate of 7.968%. That was pretty miserable. 
Nevertheless, Shinsei Bank DID announce a Very Large Buyback on the same day that it announced the shareholder proposal, which was the same day as it announced earnings and the AGM agenda. The buyback announced then was to buy back up to 20.5mm shares for up to ¥20.5bn from 14 May to 31 March 2021. That was 8.88% of existing shares ex-Treasury shares. That was pretty big. 
Through end-November, which is 71.4% of the buyback period elapsed, Shinsei had purchased 11.126mm shares (a bit more than half the max), spending ¥14.67bn, which was 71.5% of the funds allocated. They are on track to complete the amount (buying back less than 8.88%) by end-March. 
This suggests ongoing market support for the shares, which is positive, but now we have a reason to think that the board could act differently next year and possibly approve a bigger, better buyback.  Discussion ensues below.

Data from our bank analytics vendor shows credit risk down substantially from the peak in April to the last week in June. Credit Analytics shows the probability of default (PD) of 64,000 public companies across the world are down more than 50% in some sectors including airlines and oil and gas sectors. For some of the least troubled sectors, PD rates are also down considerably. The implications are positive for banks' credit costs during 2Q20 and during 2H20. And we note that this is in contrast to what some banks were forecasting some months back, of 'similar' credit costs during 2Q20 as in 1Q20.

Data from our bank analytics vendor shows credit risk down substantially from the peak in April to the last week in June. Credit Analytics shows the probability of default (PD) of 64,000 public companies across the world are down more than 50% in some sectors including airlines and oil and gas sectors. For some of the least troubled sectors, PD rates are also down considerably. The implications are positive for banks' credit costs during 2Q20 and during 2H20. And we note that this is in contrast to what some banks were forecasting some months back, of 'similar' credit costs during 2Q20 as in 1Q20.  

Vietnam

Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank offers commercial banking services.  The Bank provides services in the areas of personal banking, corporate banking, financial banking, and e-banking.  Military Commercial's services include savings accounts, money lending, money transfers, foreign exchange, and money markets.

Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB VN)

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Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB VN)

HDB - ROA Expansion Can Surprise

HDB's ROA can expand dramatically in coming quarters, with lowering credit costs, lowering funding costs from maturing fixed deposits, and with...

Daniel Tabbush

Vietnam Banking Industry 2021 Outlook: Challenges Ahead

Another rate cut could come in handy: In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has conducted three central...

Mirae Asset Securities

Vietnam – Transformational Profit

Ongoing transformation at this bank, away from term deposits, toward consumer loans, with better ALM and improved credit metrics, can see an...

Daniel Tabbush

2021 High Conviction - Shinsei Bank

Shinsei Bank has a particular capital structure different from many other banks. This is due to shareholder register, and capital itself. A new...

Travis Lundy

Banks – Credit Risk, Cratering

Data from our bank analytics vendor shows credit risk down substantially from the peak in April to the last week in June. Credit Analytics shows...

Daniel Tabbush

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