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

*RBA Speech – A Positive For Aussie BNPL: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) indicated that the status-quo for the buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) sector is likely to continue into the foreseeable future – which is a significant positive for Tencent Holding’s (700.HK) [Tencent] Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) [Afterpay]. Specifically, BNPL operators can still prevent merchants from passing on transaction fees;*Strong Momentum As We Head Into Holiday Season: Just as we head into the holiday season, Tencent’s Afterpay provided some strong key metrics in its latest media release as discussed in “Tencent Holdings – Father Christmas” note dated December 3, 2020.  What a magnificent six months this has been for Afterpay, and the next six months look to be even more transformational with operations beginning in the European Union, launches of banking products, and potentially the launch of the business in Asia (likely under the tutelage of Tencent); and*More Magic Fairy Dust: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to a superb return on investment of 400% over the past six months since the stake announcement, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways.

*RBA Speech – A Positive For Aussie BNPL: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) indicated that the status-quo for the buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) sector is likely to continue into the foreseeable future – which is a significant positive for Tencent Holding’s (700.HK) [Tencent] Afterpay Touch (APT.AU) [Afterpay]. Specifically, BNPL operators can still prevent merchants from passing on transaction fees;*Strong Momentum As We Head Into Holiday Season: Just as we head into the holiday season, Tencent’s Afterpay provided some strong key metrics in its latest media release as discussed in “Tencent Holdings – Father Christmas” note dated December 3, 2020.  What a magnificent six months this has been for Afterpay, and the next six months look to be even more transformational with operations beginning in the European Union, launches of banking products, and potentially the launch of the business in Asia (likely under the tutelage of Tencent); and*More Magic Fairy Dust: Tencent continues to hit it out of the park with its Afterpay stake. In addition to a superb return on investment of 400% over the past six months since the stake announcement, this alliance with Australia’s premier financial technology Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) company is paying dividends to Tencent in numerous other ways.

*Decent Operating Results: Lufax Holdings (LU.US) [Lufax] reported 3Q20 results of CNY 2.2 bn, declining CNY 929 mn (30.1%) on a linked quarter basis. However, when we exclude the CNY 1.3 bn restructuring charge and gains of CNY 144 mn, Lufax’ operating results amounted to CNY 3.3 bn – increasing CNY 228 mn (7.3%) over the same period;  and*Regulatory Risk Is Prevalant: An evolution of the regulatory environment remains a significant challenge to Lufax, and more likely than not will require further business adjustments and ad pressure to the bottom-line, including: lower interest rate caps;  higher capital requirements; improved risk-taking controls; along with other consumer protection measures. That being said, much of the regulatory uncertainty is more from policy window guidance rather than from new regulations themselves.

*Decent Operating Results: Lufax Holdings (LU.US) [Lufax] reported 3Q20 results of CNY 2.2 bn, declining CNY 929 mn (30.1%) on a linked quarter basis. However, when we exclude the CNY 1.3 bn restructuring charge and gains of CNY 144 mn, Lufax’ operating results amounted to CNY 3.3 bn – increasing CNY 228 mn (7.3%) over the same period;  and*Regulatory Risk Is Prevalant: An evolution of the regulatory environment remains a significant challenge to Lufax, and more likely than not will require further business adjustments and ad pressure to the bottom-line, including: lower interest rate caps;  higher capital requirements; improved risk-taking controls; along with other consumer protection measures. That being said, much of the regulatory uncertainty is more from policy window guidance rather than from new regulations themselves. 

Lufax Holdings – Good Number Right Out Of The Gate

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on December 3, 2020 released finalized standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that tighter regulations will be announced shortly; and* Aggressive Capital Raises Expected: In our view, the forthcoming regulations are likely to focus on: additional paid-in capital; leverage ratios; risk concentrations; corporate governance; disclosure levels; and mechanism to prevent systemic risk; and internal controls. The idea is to finally strengthen mainland Chinese bank balance sheets and improve their loss absorption capacity. Problem for equity raises is that P/BV must be over 1.0x for the raise and many of the potential D-SIBs are trading below book value.

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on December 3, 2020 released finalized standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that tighter regulations will be announced shortly; and* Aggressive Capital Raises Expected: In our view, the forthcoming regulations are likely to focus on: additional paid-in capital; leverage ratios; risk concentrations; corporate governance; disclosure levels; and mechanism to prevent systemic risk; and internal controls. The idea is to finally strengthen mainland Chinese bank balance sheets and improve their loss absorption capacity. Problem for equity raises is that P/BV must be over 1.0x for the raise and many of the potential D-SIBs are trading below book value. 

*Virtual Call Does Little To Quell Concerns: Last week a competitor held a virtual conference with AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA]. In typical fashion, the management of AIA only discussed the positives neglecting many of the market realities;   *Mainland China Expansion and ASEAN Margins In Focus: According to management, the mainland Chinese expansion is of course progressing well as it plans three regional hubs - Beijing, Shanghai and recently approved Sichuan branch - to act as business centers. As discussed at the latest 3Q20 earnings release and now re-discussed, VONB margins have been increasing in select ASEAN markets; and*Elephants In The Room: Given both the earnings and balance sheet headwinds, who really cares about how many agents were added in mainland China? What was not discussed: negative tax implications for mainland Chinese subsidiaries versus branches; the bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; the flailing Hong Kong flagship; and its USD-based investment portfolio.

*Virtual Call Does Little To Quell Concerns: Last week a competitor held a virtual conference with AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA]. In typical fashion, the management of AIA only discussed the positives neglecting many of the market realities;   *Mainland China Expansion and ASEAN Margins In Focus: According to management, the mainland Chinese expansion is of course progressing well as it plans three regional hubs - Beijing, Shanghai and recently approved Sichuan branch - to act as business centers. As discussed at the latest 3Q20 earnings release and now re-discussed, VONB margins have been increasing in select ASEAN markets; and*Elephants In The Room: Given both the earnings and balance sheet headwinds, who really cares about how many agents were added in mainland China? What was not discussed: negative tax implications for mainland Chinese subsidiaries versus branches; the bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; the flailing Hong Kong flagship; and its USD-based investment portfolio.  

*Yongcheng Coal Default: According to Shanghai Clearing House, Yongcheng Coal and Electricity (YCE) in Henan Province failed to repay a CNY 1 bn (USD 151 mn) short-term bond despite being given the highest rating by one of mainland China’s awful domestic credit ratings agencies; and*Watch Your Banks: The yield on benchmark five-year “AAA” rated mainland Chinese corporates was 3.99% - up over 100 bp from their April 2020 low. Investor flight is pushing financing costs higher and squeezing local corporate funding in a market which is just barely recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns remain over higher problem loans as debt service risk is heightened over higher rates, unreliable financial statements and ratings agency reports, and now an inability to refinance public debt with a number of bond sales being canceled. Further, the degradation of corporate bond values is limiting their usage as collateral.

*Yongcheng Coal Default: According to Shanghai Clearing House, Yongcheng Coal and Electricity (YCE) in Henan Province failed to repay a CNY 1 bn (USD 151 mn) short-term bond despite being given the highest rating by one of mainland China’s awful domestic credit ratings agencies; and*Watch Your Banks: The yield on benchmark five-year “AAA” rated mainland Chinese corporates was 3.99% - up over 100 bp from their April 2020 low. Investor flight is pushing financing costs higher and squeezing local corporate funding in a market which is just barely recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns remain over higher problem loans as debt service risk is heightened over higher rates, unreliable financial statements and ratings agency reports, and now an inability to refinance public debt with a number of bond sales being canceled. Further, the degradation of corporate bond values is limiting their usage as collateral.

China

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Limited provides products and services through its five ecosystems in financial services, healthcare, auto services, real estate services and Smart City solutions. The Group's insurance business writes property, casualty, and life insurance products.

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Ping An Insurance Group of (PNGAY US)

Tencent Holdings – After The Speech

TENCENT HOLDINGS: Reserve Bank of Australia indicated that the status-quo for BNPL is likely to continue – which is a significant positive for...

Thomas J. Monaco

Lufax Holdings – Good Number Right Out Of The Gate

LUFAX HOLDINGS: Lufax operating results were solid. However, the regulatory environment remains a significant challenge.

Thomas J. Monaco

China Banks – About Time

CHINA BANKS: PBOC and CBIRC Released Finalized D-SIB Standards and Indicated Tighter Regulations. Aggressive Capital Raises Are Expected.

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – Let’s Get Real

AIA GROUP: AIA Must Not Believe Its Investor Base Cares About Anything But China Growth. It Expects Everyone To Ignore Hong Kong, Negative Tax...

Thomas J. Monaco

Another Day, Another Default

MAINLAND CHINA DEFAULT: Yongcheng Coal Defaulted On Its Debt, Leading To Concerns About The Credibility Of AAA Rated Corporates In Mainland China...

Thomas J. Monaco

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