Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Trung Nguyen

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

SoftBank Group Corp. provides telecommunication services. The Company also operates ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and fiber optic high-speed Internet connection, e-Commerce businesses, and Internet based advertising and auction businesses.

Softbank Group (SBG) has launched a four-part benchmark-sized bond offering comprising USD and EUR notes. The proceeds will mainly be used for debt repayment, including the redemption of foreign currency-denominated bonds, as well as for general corporate purposes, including the maintenance of a cash position for the redemption of outstanding notes due over the next two years along with new investments. In particular, SBG will redeem its USD 766.8 mn 4.75% 2024 bonds (due September) early at par.

  Softbank Group (SBG) has launched a four-part benchmark-sized bond offering comprising USD and EUR notes. The proceeds will mainly be used for debt repayment, including the redemption of foreign currency-denominated bonds, as well as for general corporate purposes, including the maintenance of a cash position for the redemption of outstanding notes due over the next two years along with new investments. In particular, SBG will redeem its USD 766.8 mn 4.75% 2024 bonds (due September) early at par. 

Softbank Group - Event Flash - Launches Four-Part USD And EUR Bond Offering - Lucror Analytics

Tata Steel Ltd. is an integrated steel producer which manufactures a variety of steel products. The Company's products include steel ball bearing rings, alloy steel bearing rings, annular forgings, flanges, bearings, welded steel tubes, cold rolled strips and seamless tubes. Tata Steel also manufactures metallurgical machinery.

Tata Steel’s Q4 and FY 2023-24 numbers were weak in our view, with the restructuring of the UK operations weighing on group performance and offsetting the robust Indian business. The financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, due to lower earnings and soft cash flows. Liquidity was inadequate, driven by the poor cash flows and large dividends. We expect the steel industry's operating environment in FY 2024-25 to be constructive and support Tata Steel's earnings. However, the company's solid earnings for the Indian operations should be offset by the restructuring of the UK business, for which another GBP 1.6 bn of additional costs is projected. It is unclear if there is light at the end of the tunnel.

  Tata Steel’s Q4 and FY 2023-24 numbers were weak in our view, with the restructuring of the UK operations weighing on group performance and offsetting the robust Indian business. The financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, due to lower earnings and soft cash flows. Liquidity was inadequate, driven by the poor cash flows and large dividends.   We expect the steel industry's operating environment in FY 2024-25 to be constructive and support Tata Steel's earnings. However, the company's solid earnings for the Indian operations should be offset by the restructuring of the UK business, for which another GBP 1.6 bn of additional costs is projected. It is unclear if there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

Tata Steel - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

JSW Steel Limited is an integrated steel producer with manufacturing facilities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the western state of Maharashtra. The Company produces products including hot rolled coils, cold rolled coils, wire rods, galvanized coils and sheets.

While JSW Steel's Q4/23-24 results were soft in our view, the full-year numbers were decent. Operational stats remained robust. The share of value-added products was high and continued to increase. The financial risk profile was unchanged q-o-q, but improved significantly from FYE 2022-23. However, liquidity deteriorated and was barely adequate. We expect a stronger FY 2024-25 with higher revenue and earnings, as the steel operating environment appears to have bottomed out. Steel prices should remain stable, with possible upside. That said, the higher earnings could be offset by an increase in debt to cover the large and growing capex.

  While JSW Steel's Q4/23-24 results were soft in our view, the full-year numbers were decent. Operational stats remained robust. The share of value-added products was high and continued to increase. The financial risk profile was unchanged q-o-q, but improved significantly from FYE 2022-23. However, liquidity deteriorated and was barely adequate.   We expect a stronger FY 2024-25 with higher revenue and earnings, as the steel operating environment appears to have bottomed out. Steel prices should remain stable, with possible upside. That said, the higher earnings could be offset by an increase in debt to cover the large and growing capex. 

JSW Steel - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

UPL Ltd. manufactures, distributes and exports off-patent agrochemicals. The Company also manufactures phosphorus & phosphorus-based compounds and its products include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, fumigants and rodenticides. United Phosphorus also manufactures industrial chemicals, specialty chemicals and chloralkaline products

UPL Limited's Q4/23-24 results appear to be better than in the past three quarters, with lower declines registered for revenues and EBITDA. That said, we note that this was against a low comparison base, with Q4/22-23 marking the beginning of the downturn. The company has been severely affected by post-patent competition and cheap supply from China, with these not likely to improve much in the near term. The financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, and is now not consistent with the Ba1/BB/BB+ rating. While liquidity appears to be adequate, we expect it to weaken during the year as the company takes on working-capital debt. We highlight that while leverage and the liquidity profile tend to be better at financial year-end, they typically deteriorate significantly during the year. However, the USD 500 mn right issuance should shore up the balance sheet significantly.

  UPL Limited's Q4/23-24 results appear to be better than in the past three quarters, with lower declines registered for revenues and EBITDA. That said, we note that this was against a low comparison base, with Q4/22-23 marking the beginning of the downturn. The company has been severely affected by post-patent competition and cheap supply from China, with these not likely to improve much in the near term. The financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, and is now not consistent with the Ba1/BB/BB+ rating. While liquidity appears to be adequate, we expect it to weaken during the year as the company takes on working-capital debt. We highlight that while leverage and the liquidity profile tend to be better at financial year-end, they typically deteriorate significantly during the year. However, the USD 500 mn right issuance should shore up the balance sheet significantly. 

UPL Limited - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

Tata Motors Limited manufactures cars and commercial automotive vehicles. The Company designs, manufactures, and sells heavy, medium, and small commercial vehicles including trucks, tankers, vans, buses, ambulances and minibuses. Tata also manufactures small cars and sports utility vehicles.

Tata Motors' Q4 and FY 2023-24 results were excellent in our view, with record high revenue and earnings. Net debt plunged by such a large amount that the Indian business has turned net cash, and the group remained on track to be overall net automotive debt free in FY 2024-25.

  Tata Motors' Q4 and FY 2023-24 results were excellent in our view, with record high revenue and earnings. Net debt plunged by such a large amount that the Indian business has turned net cash, and the group remained on track to be overall net automotive debt free in FY 2024-25. 

Tata Motors - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

Trung is responsible for covering high yield companies in the South East Asian region. He joined Lucror in 2013 from ST Asset Management, a credit investment arm of Temasek Holdings, where he spent over six years in investment research and portfolio management with a focus on high yield, structured credit and leveraged finance.

Trung holds a Master in Financial Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Certificate in Computational Finance from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Financial Risk Manager (FRM) charter-holder.