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

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

*Loan Defaults and USD Bond Payments Set To Continue:  China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] magically made an 11th hour interest payment of USD 83.5 mn to bondholders on Friday, October 22, 2021 – escaping default by the skin of its teeth, just as its 30-day grace period with bondholders was about to end. While the market is worried about a China Huarong Asset Management (2799.HK) default crippling the country’s USD credit market, they too should understand that any bond default by Evergande likely roils this market as well; and* Worrisome Comments By  PBOC Governor Yi: The mainland Chinese government rarely comments on a single entity, which is why Governor Yi’s thoughts are alarming. “First, we’re going to try to prevent contagion to other real estate companies. Second, we’ll prevent contagion to other parts of the financial sector.” This self-inflicted wound will require a tourniquet to stop the bleeding; expect non-D-SIFI bank and insurer failures in mainland China.

*Loan Defaults and USD Bond Payments Set To Continue:  China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] magically made an 11th hour interest payment of USD 83.5 mn to bondholders on Friday, October 22, 2021 – escaping default by the skin of its teeth, just as its 30-day grace period with bondholders was about to end. While the market is worried about a China Huarong Asset Management (2799.HK) default crippling the country’s USD credit market, they too should understand that any bond default by Evergande likely roils this market as well; and* Worrisome Comments By  PBOC Governor Yi: The mainland Chinese government rarely comments on a single entity, which is why Governor Yi’s thoughts are alarming. “First, we’re going to try to prevent contagion to other real estate companies. Second, we’ll prevent contagion to other parts of the financial sector.” This self-inflicted wound will require a tourniquet to stop the bleeding; expect non-D-SIFI bank and insurer failures in mainland China.

China Evergrande Group – China’s Wrecking Ball

*Quarter Highlighted By Weak Credit: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported 3Q21 results of CNY 11.7 bn – increasing CNY 4.1 bn (55.0%). Don’t shoot off the streamers just yet, credit quality was abysmal and Ping An is seemingly pulling on its bank lever to offset what looks to be another quarter self-inflicted harm  within its investment portfolio;  and *Credit Challenges: 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 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.

*Quarter Highlighted By Weak Credit: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported 3Q21 results of CNY 11.7 bn – increasing CNY 4.1 bn (55.0%). Don’t shoot off the streamers just yet, credit quality was abysmal and Ping An is seemingly pulling on its bank lever to offset what looks to be another quarter self-inflicted harm  within its investment portfolio;  and *Credit Challenges: 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 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.

*Shenjing Fell Apart Before Evergrande Heated Up: Even prior to the China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) debacle, Shenjing Bank was (2066.HK) [Shenjing] struggling: 1) core operating earnings (excluding gains) were a negative CNY 1.1 tn at 1H21, by our calculation; and 2) short-term liquidity deteriorated at an unprecedented pace. With Evergrande’s risk, we calculate Shenjing’s NPLs are now closer to a whopping 24.4% - and solvency is called into question; and  *Evergrande’s Smartest Move Ever: The rest of the financial system figured out that Shenjing was an accident waiting to happen, with the interbank market cutting their risk. Despite this, Shengjing Finance Holdings (SFH) purchased Evergrande’s 19.93% stake – becoming the bank’s largest shareholder. For USD 1.55 bn, SFH has now absolved Evergrande of being a liquidity and capital backstop. Well done!

*Shenjing Fell Apart Before Evergrande Heated Up: Even prior to the China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) debacle, Shenjing Bank was (2066.HK) [Shenjing] struggling: 1) core operating earnings (excluding gains) were a negative CNY 1.1 tn at 1H21, by our calculation; and 2) short-term liquidity deteriorated at an unprecedented pace. With Evergrande’s risk, we calculate Shenjing’s NPLs are now closer to a whopping 24.4% - and solvency is called into question; and  *Evergrande’s Smartest Move Ever: The rest of the financial system figured out that Shenjing was an accident waiting to happen, with the interbank market cutting their risk. Despite this, Shengjing Finance Holdings (SFH) purchased Evergrande’s 19.93% stake – becoming the bank’s largest shareholder. For USD 1.55 bn, SFH has now absolved Evergrande of being a liquidity and capital backstop. Well done! 

China Evergrande Group – Shoes Dropping At Shenjing

*Bank Call Reveals Nothing: A competitor held a conference call with Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB]. According to management, the market has over-reacted to risks associated with China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] and certain other developers. Further, PAB believes that policymakers in Beijing are likely to maintain stable growth within the property sector and coordinate the completion of housing projects – and this “should contain” any spillover effect;  *What Wasn’t Addressed: The Group has real estate-related exposure which represents 24.3% of Ping An Insurance’ (2318.HK) [Ping An] stated equity – more so depending which insurance subsidiary (likely Ping An Life [PAL] given the shortfall in 1H21 earnings) this risk is attributed to. There was no mention of Ping An remaining a source of strength to PAB given the PAL stress, nor if PAB participates in real estate financings led by Ping An - normal practice for conglomerates in mainland China; and  *Negative Credit Delta Could Accelerate Capital Raise: By our analysis, we find that PAB credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs have accelerated 102.2% annualized at 2Q21 - up from 53.6% in 1Q21. Assuming the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at the current level, we find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 16 bn - representing about two quarters of pre-tax earnings.

*Bank Call Reveals Nothing: A competitor held a conference call with Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB]. According to management, the market has over-reacted to risks associated with China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) [Evergrande] and certain other developers. Further, PAB believes that policymakers in Beijing are likely to maintain stable growth within the property sector and coordinate the completion of housing projects – and this “should contain” any spillover effect;  *What Wasn’t Addressed: The Group has real estate-related exposure which represents 24.3% of Ping An Insurance’ (2318.HK) [Ping An] stated equity – more so depending which insurance subsidiary (likely Ping An Life [PAL] given the shortfall in 1H21 earnings) this risk is attributed to. There was no mention of Ping An remaining a source of strength to PAB given the PAL stress, nor if PAB participates in real estate financings led by Ping An - normal practice for conglomerates in mainland China; and  *Negative Credit Delta Could Accelerate Capital Raise: By our analysis, we find that PAB credit remains incredibly challenged as net new NPLs have accelerated 102.2% annualized at 2Q21 - up from 53.6% in 1Q21. Assuming the accelerated credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at the current level, we find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 16 bn - representing about two quarters of pre-tax earnings.   

China

Ping An Bank Co Ltd provides a full range of commercial banking services including RMB and foreign currency deposit, loan, international and domestic settlement, discount, currency trading, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and other related services.

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Ping An Bank Co Ltd A (000001 CH)

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

China Evergrande Group – China’s Wrecking Ball

EVERGRANDE: Evergrande magically made an interest payment to bondholders, escaping default by the skin of its teeth. This self-inflicted wound...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance – Breaking The Bank

PING AN: PAB reported 3Q21 QOQ growth of 55.0%. Credit quality was abysmal and Ping An is pulling on its bank lever to offset another quarter self...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Evergrande Group – Shoes Dropping At Shenjing

EVERGRANDE: Before the Evergrande debacle, Shenjing posted core operating losses and liquidity stress. Despite this, Shengjing Finance absolved...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance – Don’t Bank On It

PING AN: Competitor conference call with PAB reveals nonchalant management. The Group has enormous real estate-related exposure, and questions of...

Thomas J. Monaco

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