Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Aadhar Housing Finance / Equity Capital Markets

Aadhar Housing Finance (AHF) was the largest affordable housing finance company (HFC) in India, in terms of AUM as of Mar 2020. It plans to raise around US$1bn via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares in its India IPO. AHF is 98.72% owned by Blackstone.AHF is entirely retail-focussed, serving economically weaker and low-to-middle income customers. The average ticket size of its loans was INR0.85m, with an average loan-to-value of 56.73%, as of Sep 2020. 64.83% of its gross AUM consisted of loans to salaried customers, with the rest coming from self-employed customers, as of Sep 2020. AHF’s customer base has grown at 22.18% CAGR over FY18-20, while AUM grew at a CAGR of 19.79%. Total income growth outpaced AUM growth with a 30.85% CAGR over FY18-20.However, its disbursements have been falling and its AUM growth has slowed down over the past few years. In addition, its disclosures aren’t exactly the best.

Aadhar Housing Finance (AHF) was the largest affordable housing finance company (HFC) in India, in terms of AUM as of Mar 2020. It plans to raise around US$1bn via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares in its India IPO. AHF is 98.72% owned by Blackstone.AHF is entirely retail-focussed, serving economically weaker and low-to-middle income customers. The average ticket size of its loans was INR0.85m, with an average loan-to-value of 56.73%, as of Sep 2020. 64.83% of its gross AUM consisted of loans to salaried customers, with the rest coming from self-employed customers, as of Sep 2020. AHF’s customer base has grown at 22.18% CAGR over FY18-20, while AUM grew at a CAGR of 19.79%. Total income growth outpaced AUM growth with a 30.85% CAGR over FY18-20.However, its disbursements have been falling and its AUM growth has slowed down over the past few years. In addition, its disclosures aren’t exactly the best.

Aadhar Housing Finance Pre-IPO - Decent past Growth but Comes with Weird Disclosures

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

Edelweiss Financial Services / Equity Bottom-Up

*Negative Operating Performance: Edelweiss Financial Services (EDEL.IN) [Edelweiss] reported yet another consolidated loss of INR 630.0 mn (post minority interest) for FY 3Q21 – declining INR 69.0 mn (12.3%) linked quarter. Excluding the gain on sale of securities, Edelweiss’ core operating results were actually frightening at a loss of INR 4.9 bn – down a further INR 106 mn (2.2%) over the same period. Nothing appears to be going right for Edelweiss, with management now beginning to discuss liquidity metrics; and *Wheels Falling Off The Bus: We are significantly troubled by the enormity of the breakdown in credit, as net new NPLs, by our calculation, increased INR 2.7 bn linked quarter for an annualized rate of growth of 106% - far and away the worst showing of any Indian financial under our coverage. Given the net new NPL increase, we find that loss reserves are light to tune of INR 15.7 bn or 2.3x stated equity of INR 6.9 bn at FY 3Q21.  Negative operating losses coupled with potentially challenged liquidity, and the poor credit cushion could invite regulatory intervention.

*Negative Operating Performance: Edelweiss Financial Services (EDEL.IN) [Edelweiss] reported yet another consolidated loss of INR 630.0 mn (post minority interest) for FY 3Q21 – declining INR 69.0 mn (12.3%) linked quarter. Excluding the gain on sale of securities, Edelweiss’ core operating results were actually frightening at a loss of INR 4.9 bn – down a further INR 106 mn (2.2%) over the same period. Nothing appears to be going right for Edelweiss, with management now beginning to discuss liquidity metrics; and *Wheels Falling Off The Bus: We are significantly troubled by the enormity of the breakdown in credit, as net new NPLs, by our calculation, increased INR 2.7 bn linked quarter for an annualized rate of growth of 106% - far and away the worst showing of any Indian financial under our coverage. Given the net new NPL increase, we find that loss reserves are light to tune of INR 15.7 bn or 2.3x stated equity of INR 6.9 bn at FY 3Q21.  Negative operating losses coupled with potentially challenged liquidity, and the poor credit cushion could invite regulatory intervention. 

Edelweiss Financial Services – The Whole Package

*Positive Operating Jaws Return: Muthoot Finance (MUTH.IN) [Muthoot] reported FY 3Q21 bottom-line results of INR 9.8 bn, increasing INR 716 mn (7.8%) linked quarter. Results were even better when we exclude gains on the gold mark-up, as Muthoot’s core operating result improved INR 969 mn or 11.3%. Results were driven by positive operating jaws, despite the INR 478 mn or 469% linked quarter increase loss provisions which tracked the break in credit; and*Gold Pricing Could Impact Credit: While robustness gold prices augur well for Muthoot, we are concerned about a reversal in gold pricing which could hinder loan growth and credit quality. We note that net new NPLs amounted to INR 661mn during the quarter, which intimates that the annualized growth rate for Stage 3 loans remains elevated at 44.7% - in line with most of the Indian financial sector. While we agree that the backing of the gold loans has likely amongst the strongest collateral, losses will mount during this international risk-on period or when gold prices reverse. It is for these reasons that we believe reserve cover has fallen short to the tune of INR 2.8 bn – about 25% of FY 3Q21 PBT which isn’t bad relatively speaking.

*Positive Operating Jaws Return: Muthoot Finance (MUTH.IN) [Muthoot] reported FY 3Q21 bottom-line results of INR 9.8 bn, increasing INR 716 mn (7.8%) linked quarter. Results were even better when we exclude gains on the gold mark-up, as Muthoot’s core operating result improved INR 969 mn or 11.3%. Results were driven by positive operating jaws, despite the INR 478 mn or 469% linked quarter increase loss provisions which tracked the break in credit; and*Gold Pricing Could Impact Credit: While robustness gold prices augur well for Muthoot, we are concerned about a reversal in gold pricing which could hinder loan growth and credit quality. We note that net new NPLs amounted to INR 661mn during the quarter, which intimates that the annualized growth rate for Stage 3 loans remains elevated at 44.7% - in line with most of the Indian financial sector. While we agree that the backing of the gold loans has likely amongst the strongest collateral, losses will mount during this international risk-on period or when gold prices reverse. It is for these reasons that we believe reserve cover has fallen short to the tune of INR 2.8 bn – about 25% of FY 3Q21 PBT which isn’t bad relatively speaking.  

* It Just Keeps Getting Worse: Punjab National Bank (PNB.IN) [PNB] reported net income of INR 5.1 bn, declining INR 1.1 bn (18.5%) linked quarter. Three factors drove the poor result: a) net interest income declined INR 627 mn (0.8%) despite loan growth of 1.2%, as the NIM declined 9 bp to 2.93%; b) a loss provision increase of INR 5.8 bn (14.0%). Despite the increase, provisioins still fell short given the acerating level of credit risk; and c) a 10.6% linked quarter increase in PNB’s tax rate to 47.2%, which detracted INR 1.0 bn from the bottom-line; and*Credit Risk Leads to Capital Shortfall: Inclusive of the INR 9.6 bn NCO, we find that PNB’s level of net new NPLs actually increased INR 82.6 bn or 33.3% on an annualized basis. While we have very little confidence in PNB’s reporting of problem assets at this stage, we take their word for current NPLs and find that at a minimum loss reserves are light by at least INR 730 mn  - or approximately 100% of stated book value. This is without accounting for the delayed or backlog provisions associated fraud accounts and ageing provisions to be complete in FY 1H21.

* It Just Keeps Getting Worse: Punjab National Bank (PNB.IN) [PNB] reported net income of INR 5.1 bn, declining INR 1.1 bn (18.5%) linked quarter. Three factors drove the poor result: a) net interest income declined INR 627 mn (0.8%) despite loan growth of 1.2%, as the NIM declined 9 bp to 2.93%; b) a loss provision increase of INR 5.8 bn (14.0%). Despite the increase, provisioins still fell short given the acerating level of credit risk; and c) a 10.6% linked quarter increase in PNB’s tax rate to 47.2%, which detracted INR 1.0 bn from the bottom-line; and*Credit Risk Leads to Capital Shortfall: Inclusive of the INR 9.6 bn NCO, we find that PNB’s level of net new NPLs actually increased INR 82.6 bn or 33.3% on an annualized basis. While we have very little confidence in PNB’s reporting of problem assets at this stage, we take their word for current NPLs and find that at a minimum loss reserves are light by at least INR 730 mn  - or approximately 100% of stated book value. This is without accounting for the delayed or backlog provisions associated fraud accounts and ageing provisions to be complete in FY 1H21.  

*Better Bottom-line Doesn’t Tell Entire Story: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] reported FY 3Q21 results of INR 55.8 bn, increasing INR 10.1 bn (22.1%) linked quarter. On top of a significant (albeit completely unwarranted) INR 55.0 bn (58.1%) decline in loss provisions, results were also highlighted by a turnaround in SBI’s operating jaws which are now positive; and*Reserve Challenge Should Lead To Capital Raise: While we note a net recovery of INR 48.4 bn (likely a non-recurring event given the exorbitant credit risk), we still find that net new NPLs increased INR 145.7 bn for an annualized increase of 41.6%.  By our calculation, we find that SBI’s reserves are short INR 1.2 bn - nearly four years of pre-tax results or 61% of market-cap.

*Better Bottom-line Doesn’t Tell Entire Story: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] reported FY 3Q21 results of INR 55.8 bn, increasing INR 10.1 bn (22.1%) linked quarter. On top of a significant (albeit completely unwarranted) INR 55.0 bn (58.1%) decline in loss provisions, results were also highlighted by a turnaround in SBI’s operating jaws which are now positive; and*Reserve Challenge Should Lead To Capital Raise: While we note a net recovery of INR 48.4 bn (likely a non-recurring event given the exorbitant credit risk), we still find that net new NPLs increased INR 145.7 bn for an annualized increase of 41.6%.  By our calculation, we find that SBI’s reserves are short INR 1.2 bn - nearly four years of pre-tax results or 61% of market-cap. 

India

PNB Housing Finance Ltd. (PNBHFL) provides lending services. The Company offers housing loans to individuals and corporate bodies for construction, purchase, repair, and upgradation of houses, as well as loans for commercial space, loan against property, and loan for purchase of residential plots. PNBHFL serves customers in India.

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PNB Housing Finance Ltd (PNBHOUSI IN)

Aadhar Housing Finance Pre-IPO - Decent past Growth but Comes with Weird Disclosures

Aadhar Housing Finance, the largest affordable housing finance company, plans to raise around US$1bn via selling a mix of primary and secondary...

Sumeet Singh

Edelweiss Financial Services – The Whole Package

EDELWEISS FINANCIAL SERVICES: Edelweiss reported another loss. We are troubled by the enormity of the breakdown in credit, light loss reserves at...

Thomas J. Monaco

Muthoot Finance – Relatively Good

MUTHOOT FINANCE: Muthoot reported a FY 3Q21 7.8% linked quarter results increase. Results were driven by positive operating jaws although...

Thomas J. Monaco

Punjab National Bank – Match Is Lit

PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK: PNB reported a net income decline of 18.5% linked quarter. Despite the increase, provisions still fell short to the tune of...

Thomas J. Monaco

State Bank of India – Bad Credit

STATE BANK OF INDIA: SBI reported FY 3Q21 result increase of 22.1%) linked quarter led by a completely unwarranted 58.1% decline in provisions and...

Thomas J. Monaco

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