Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

In mid-late June, the two largest Listed Investment Corporations in Australia - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/milton-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29090:1" rel="noopener">Milton Corp Ltd (MLT AU)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/washington-h-soul-pattinson-and-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6054:1" rel="noopener">Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU)</a> - announced plans to merge, with SOL (a.k.a. "WHSP") becoming the surviving entity. 
This was discussed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/david-blennerhassett" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:840" rel="noopener">David Blennerhassett</a> in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/whsp-s-proposed-merger-with-milton-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53422" rel="noopener">WHSP's Proposed Merger With Milton Corp</a> and by myself in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/milton-merger-is-a-most-marvelous-arb" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53464" rel="noopener">Milton Merger Is A Most Marvelous Arb</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/milton-whsp-merger-index-implications-and-the-marvelous-arb" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53551" rel="noopener">Milton-WHSP Merger Index Implications and the Marvelous Arb</a>. 
It is a complicated deal. 
Milton had been trading at a discount to NAV, where NAV was 97% or so listed stocks. WHSP had been trading at a premium to NAV. WHSP agreed to pay a premium to NAV for MLT shares, but the construct provided for some really interesting other optionality (some positive, a little negative) for MLT shareholders. 
In early July, Milton announced its NAV at A$5.50/share and assuming it is exactly A$5.5000/share, the Quiddity Milton Model was off by 0.16%. When it released its top 20 stock and weights list which showed about A$50-60mm of adjustments to positions since 31 Dec 2020 within the top 20 names, that lowered the NAV miss to about 0.07% and that is probably a matter of timing and stray dividend income or a mark on its private assets.
Interestingly, as WHSP rose 10% then came back a bit, and Milton rose with it, but the Milton NAV did not rise much, the "spread to terms" has stayed reasonably stable except for some near-market-close shenanigans at times. 
But it still feels like people don't get it. 
There's some really interesting convexity here. Still.
And the supply/demand tilt is remarkable.

In mid-late June, the two largest Listed Investment Corporations in Australia - Milton Corp Ltd (MLT AU) and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU) - announced plans to merge, with SOL (a.k.a. "WHSP") becoming the surviving entity. 
This was discussed by David Blennerhassett in WHSP's Proposed Merger With Milton Corp and by myself in Milton Merger Is A Most Marvelous Arb and Milton-WHSP Merger Index Implications and the Marvelous Arb. 
It is a complicated deal. 
Milton had been trading at a discount to NAV, where NAV was 97% or so listed stocks. WHSP had been trading at a premium to NAV. WHSP agreed to pay a premium to NAV for MLT shares, but the construct provided for some really interesting other optionality (some positive, a little negative) for MLT shareholders. 
In early July, Milton announced its NAV at A$5.50/share and assuming it is exactly A$5.5000/share, the Quiddity Milton Model was off by 0.16%. When it released its top 20 stock and weights list which showed about A$50-60mm of adjustments to positions since 31 Dec 2020 within the top 20 names, that lowered the NAV miss to about 0.07% and that is probably a matter of timing and stray dividend income or a mark on its private assets.
Interestingly, as WHSP rose 10% then came back a bit, and Milton rose with it, but the Milton NAV did not rise much, the "spread to terms" has stayed reasonably stable except for some near-market-close shenanigans at times. 
But it still feels like people don't get it. 
There's some really interesting convexity here. Still.
And the supply/demand tilt is remarkable.

Milton's Marvelous Arb Meanders Along... Marvelously

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

National Australia Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

*AML/CTF Violations: National Australia Bank (NAB.AU) [NAB] announced that it was informed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Act 2006, and the AML/CFT Rules 2007; and*Fundamental Challenges Too: AML/CTF is not NAB’s only challenge. NAB's 1H21 NIM declined another 3 bp HOH to 1.74%, and will remain challenged from this low rate environment, competitive pressures, and higher mortgage concentrations well into FY 2022. In addition, NAB’s loans 90+ days past due loans increased over 30% HOH due to challenges from Australian mortgage customers exiting loan deferrals.

*AML/CTF Violations: National Australia Bank (NAB.AU) [NAB] announced that it was informed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Act 2006, and the AML/CFT Rules 2007; and*Fundamental Challenges Too: AML/CTF is not NAB’s only challenge. NAB's 1H21 NIM declined another 3 bp HOH to 1.74%, and will remain challenged from this low rate environment, competitive pressures, and higher mortgage concentrations well into FY 2022. In addition, NAB’s loans 90+ days past due loans increased over 30% HOH due to challenges from Australian mortgage customers exiting loan deferrals.

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.

Of Australia’s largest banks, there are few that reveal improving core net interest income. Macquarie is unique in this respect and further enters the current period of inflation, recovery with far higher assets.

Of Australia’s largest banks, there are few that reveal improving core net interest income. Macquarie is unique in this respect and further enters the current period of inflation, recovery with far higher assets. 

Macquarie – Don’t You Forget About Me

Australia & New Zealand Bankin / Equity Bottom-Up

In a world of low rates, poor margins, and similar dynamics on credit costs, it is with operating costs where differences in banks can be most acute, most valuable. There are few large market cap banks that compare with ANZ, both in terms of cost direction and absolute level.

In a world of low rates, poor margins, and similar dynamics on credit costs, it is with operating costs where differences in banks can be most acute, most valuable. There are few large market cap banks that compare with ANZ, both in terms of cost direction and absolute level.

Equity L/S Analyst | Forensic Accounting | India, Yellowstone Equity

Ankit Agrawal, CFA

Equity L/S Analyst | Forensic Accounting | India

Quantitative Analysis

Subsequent to our earlier update a quarter ago, below we publish updated results from our dividend forecasting models. Our models take into account most recent reported fiscal year-end financials to provide updated results. We also discuss notable changes within our top 10 conviction list.

Subsequent to our earlier update a quarter ago, below we publish updated results from our dividend forecasting models. Our models take into account most recent reported fiscal year-end financials to provide updated results. We also discuss notable changes within our top 10 conviction list.

Asia Dividend Forecasting | Quarterly Update 2.0

Australia

National Australia Bank Limited is an international banking group which operates in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the United States.  The Group offers banking services, credit and access card facilities, leasing, housing and general finance, international and investment banking, wealth and funds management, life insurance and custodian, trustee and nominee services.

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National Australia Bank (NAB AU)

Milton's Marvelous Arb Meanders Along... Marvelously

The Marvelous Milton Merger Arb is still trading slightly wide on a "straight arb" basis. On a "true arb" basis including optionality, it is...

Travis Lundy

National Australia Bank - Nabbed

NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK: NAB was informed by AUSTRAC that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance...

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There are few banks that reveal improving core net interest income. Macquarie is unique in this respect and further enters the current period of...

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ANZ – Cost Containment Differentiates

In a world of low rates and similar dynamics on credit costs, operating costs can better differentiate. ANZ shines in both cost direction and...

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Asia Dividend Forecasting | Quarterly Update 2.0

Subsequent to our Dividend Forecasting Original in Sep 2020, this is our second quarterly update. Our models take into account latest reported...

Ankit Agrawal, CFA

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