ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

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There have been ongoing signs that the competition within the digital finance space is starting to reach a hiatus as it moves up a gear both for the existing banks, as well as the digital economy players including GoTo, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a>, and Shopee (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>).  
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Competition between digital banks and conventional banks has started to heat up in Indonesia and is only going to accelerate the digitization trend in the industry. In August, some digital banks were offering interest rates of 7% - 8% on current account deposits.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a> recorded a sevenfold annual increase in credit lending in 1H2021 and the bank plans to jack up its lending further through partnerships with peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders and multi-finance companies,
While some of these new digital banks might seem small compared to major established lenders, their ecosystem support and a steady stream of funding from big tech will make them potentially a formidable foe to the conventional banks.
Digitalization in the banking industry is inevitable and it is likely that the use-case for conventional and digital banking are likely to converge in a number of areas as digital banks become the new normal. 
We expect digital banking to be initially focused on consumer banking and SMEs and do not expect any major infringement into corporate banking, which still makes up the majority of the larger bank's business
Another very interesting area currently is the rapid pace of development and movement within the digital payments landscape in Indonesia.
There is little doubt that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> is looking for partners to push out its digital finance aspirations. This may involve taking a stake in a smaller bank potentially with its partner <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elang-mahkota-teknologi-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7752:1" rel="noopener">Emtek (EMTK IJ)</a> to transform it into a digital bank.
We continue to favour <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-negara-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8285:1" rel="noopener">Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ)</a> in the sector. We also take a positive view of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-central-asia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:440:1" rel="noopener">Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ)</a> as a core holding and rank its digital banking services the highest amongst the banks at this time.


There have been ongoing signs that the competition within the digital finance space is starting to reach a hiatus as it moves up a gear both for the existing banks, as well as the digital economy players including GoTo, Grab, and Shopee (Sea Ltd (SE US)).  

Competition between digital banks and conventional banks has started to heat up in Indonesia and is only going to accelerate the digitization trend in the industry. In August, some digital banks were offering interest rates of 7% - 8% on current account deposits.
Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ) recorded a sevenfold annual increase in credit lending in 1H2021 and the bank plans to jack up its lending further through partnerships with peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders and multi-finance companies,
While some of these new digital banks might seem small compared to major established lenders, their ecosystem support and a steady stream of funding from big tech will make them potentially a formidable foe to the conventional banks.
Digitalization in the banking industry is inevitable and it is likely that the use-case for conventional and digital banking are likely to converge in a number of areas as digital banks become the new normal. 
We expect digital banking to be initially focused on consumer banking and SMEs and do not expect any major infringement into corporate banking, which still makes up the majority of the larger bank's business
Another very interesting area currently is the rapid pace of development and movement within the digital payments landscape in Indonesia.
There is little doubt that Grab is looking for partners to push out its digital finance aspirations. This may involve taking a stake in a smaller bank potentially with its partner Emtek (EMTK IJ) to transform it into a digital bank.
We continue to favour Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) and Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ) in the sector. We also take a positive view of Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ) as a core holding and rank its digital banking services the highest amongst the banks at this time.

CrossASEAN Digital Economy - The Gloves Are off in Digital Finance?

Research Analyst

Ilvin Cornelis

I really like these eight banks – <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-mandiri-persero-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:441:1" rel="noopener">Bank Mandiri Persero (BMRI IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-negara-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8285:1" rel="noopener">Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ),</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-tabungan-negara-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:731:1" rel="noopener">Bank Tabungan Negara Persero (BBTN IJ), </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bpd-jawa-barat-dan-banten-tb" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:134:1" rel="noopener">Bank BJB (BJBR IJ)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-tabungan-negara-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:731:1" rel="noopener"> </a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-central-asia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:440:1" rel="noopener">Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ), </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-danamon-indonesia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:135:1" rel="noopener">Bank Danamon Indonesia (BDMN IJ)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-pan-indonesia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:727:1" rel="noopener">Bank Pan Indonesia (PNBN IJ)</a>, mainly due to their reasonable valuations, coupled with their ability to attract more deposits from customers.
Many of these banks are still trading below, or at least in line, with their historical 3-year average PBRs. Given my expectation of profitability improvements over the next 3 years, their current valuations are still reasonably attractive.

I really like these eight banks – Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ), Bank Mandiri Persero (BMRI IJ), Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ),Bank Tabungan Negara Persero (BBTN IJ), Bank BJB (BJBR IJ) , Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ), Bank Danamon Indonesia (BDMN IJ), and Bank Pan Indonesia (PNBN IJ), mainly due to their reasonable valuations, coupled with their ability to attract more deposits from customers.
Many of these banks are still trading below, or at least in line, with their historical 3-year average PBRs. Given my expectation of profitability improvements over the next 3 years, their current valuations are still reasonably attractive.

Indonesia's Banking Sector: The Eight Bank Stocks to Watch For

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Index Rebalance

The LQ45 Index is a market cap weighted index of the 45 most liquid stocks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The LQ45 Index covers at least 70% of the stock market capitalization and transaction values in the Indonesia Stock Market.The IDX has announced the changes to the LQ45 Index as a part of the August review. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/barito-pacific-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8851:1" rel="noopener">Barito Pacific (BRPT IJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/timah-persero-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11174:1" rel="noopener">Timah Persero (TINS IJ)</a> have been added to the index while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-tabungan-pensiunan-nasi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27088:1" rel="noopener">Bank BTPN Syariah (BTPS IJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ciputra-development-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5513:1" rel="noopener">Ciputra Development (CTRA IJ)</a> have been deleted from the index.We expect the impact of passive funds (and active funds) will be quite high on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/barito-pacific-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8851:1" rel="noopener">Barito Pacific (BRPT IJ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bit-digital-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31155:1" rel="noopener">Bit Digital (BTBT US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ciputra-development-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5513:1" rel="noopener">Ciputra Development (CTRA IJ)</a> and significantly lower on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/timah-persero-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11174:1" rel="noopener">Timah Persero (TINS IJ)</a>.The changes are effective after the close of trading on 30 July, so there are only 4 trading days before passive funds have to rebalance their portfolios. Active funds benchmarked to the LQ45 index will also trade over the next few days so as not to deviate too far from their benchmark.

The LQ45 Index is a market cap weighted index of the 45 most liquid stocks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The LQ45 Index covers at least 70% of the stock market capitalization and transaction values in the Indonesia Stock Market.The IDX has announced the changes to the LQ45 Index as a part of the August review. Barito Pacific (BRPT IJ) and Timah Persero (TINS IJ) have been added to the index while Bank BTPN Syariah (BTPS IJ) and Ciputra Development (CTRA IJ) have been deleted from the index.We expect the impact of passive funds (and active funds) will be quite high on Barito Pacific (BRPT IJ), Bit Digital (BTBT US) and Ciputra Development (CTRA IJ) and significantly lower on Timah Persero (TINS IJ).The changes are effective after the close of trading on 30 July, so there are only 4 trading days before passive funds have to rebalance their portfolios. Active funds benchmarked to the LQ45 index will also trade over the next few days so as not to deviate too far from their benchmark.

LQ45 Index Rebalance: BRPT, TINS In; BTPS, CTRA Out

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

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

*Solid Result, But Challenges Ahead: Bank Central Asia (BBCA.IJ) [BCA] reported 2Q21 results of IDR 7.4 tn, improving IDR 376 mn (5.3%) on a linked quarter basis. BCA’s positive operating results were highlighted by non-interest income growth and a decline in operating expenses; and*Credit Challenges Persist, As Credit Break Re-Accelerates: By our calculation, we find that 2Q21 net new NPLs amounted to IDR 2.4 tn for an annualized rate of increase of 92.4%, comparing very unfavorably with 1Q21’s IDR 742 bn and 28.7%, respectively. Despite the recent acceleration in net new NPL formation, we calculate that loss reserves are likely right where they need to be given the uptick in special mention and lack of full clarity with the restructuring portfolio. Although, we worry the softness in current macro conditions.

*Solid Result, But Challenges Ahead: Bank Central Asia (BBCA.IJ) [BCA] reported 2Q21 results of IDR 7.4 tn, improving IDR 376 mn (5.3%) on a linked quarter basis. BCA’s positive operating results were highlighted by non-interest income growth and a decline in operating expenses; and*Credit Challenges Persist, As Credit Break Re-Accelerates: By our calculation, we find that 2Q21 net new NPLs amounted to IDR 2.4 tn for an annualized rate of increase of 92.4%, comparing very unfavorably with 1Q21’s IDR 742 bn and 28.7%, respectively. Despite the recent acceleration in net new NPL formation, we calculate that loss reserves are likely right where they need to be given the uptick in special mention and lack of full clarity with the restructuring portfolio. Although, we worry the softness in current macro conditions.

Bank Central Asia – Good, But New Credit Challenges Ahead

*Improved Operating Result: Bank Central Asia (BBCA.IJ) [BCA] reported 1Q21 results of IDR 7.0 tn do not do BCA justice, as core operating results grew IDR 1.5 tn (40.9%) over the same period. BCA’s positive operating results were highlighted by two factors: a) interest income growth of IDR 385 mn (2.8%) due largely to a bit of leverage in the corporate securities portfolio, and b) a tax rate reduction; and*Credit Challenges Persist, But Credit Break Decelerates: By our calculation, we find that 1Q20 net new NPLs amounted to IDR 742 bn for annualized rate of increase of 28.7% - which is quite favorable compared to 4Q20 results of IDR 1.3 tn and 46.5%. Given the surprise deceleration in net new NPL formation, we calculate that loss reserves are likely right where they need to be given the uptick in special mention and lack of full clarity with the restructuring portfolio.

*Improved Operating Result: Bank Central Asia (BBCA.IJ) [BCA] reported 1Q21 results of IDR 7.0 tn do not do BCA justice, as core operating results grew IDR 1.5 tn (40.9%) over the same period. BCA’s positive operating results were highlighted by two factors: a) interest income growth of IDR 385 mn (2.8%) due largely to a bit of leverage in the corporate securities portfolio, and b) a tax rate reduction; and*Credit Challenges Persist, But Credit Break Decelerates: By our calculation, we find that 1Q20 net new NPLs amounted to IDR 742 bn for annualized rate of increase of 28.7% - which is quite favorable compared to 4Q20 results of IDR 1.3 tn and 46.5%. Given the surprise deceleration in net new NPL formation, we calculate that loss reserves are likely right where they need to be given the uptick in special mention and lack of full clarity with the restructuring portfolio.

Bank Central Asia – Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Indonesia

Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk PT provides general banking services. The Bank's head office is located in Jakarta with branch offices throughout Indonesia.

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Bank Danamon Indonesia (BDMN IJ)

CrossASEAN Digital Economy - The Gloves Are off in Digital Finance?

Competition between digital banks and conventional banks has started to heat up in Indonesia and is only going to accelerate the digitisation trend...

Angus Mackintosh

Indonesia's Banking Sector: The Eight Bank Stocks to Watch For

These eight banks have reasonable valuations and stand ready to benefit from stronger loan demand and rising interest rates, over the medium term.

Ilvin Cornelis

LQ45 Index Rebalance: BRPT, TINS In; BTPS, CTRA Out

The LQ45 rebalance will be implemented at the close on 30 July. BRPT & TINS have been included, replacing BTPS & CTRA. There is a large impact on...

Brian Freitas

Bank Central Asia – Good, But New Credit Challenges Ahead

BANK CENTRAL ASIA: BCA reported a 5.3% QOQ 2Q21 results increase. Despite the 92.4% net new NPLs increase, we calculate that loss reserves are...

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank Central Asia – Light At The End Of The Tunnel

BANK CENTRAL ASIA: BCA's core operating results grew 40.9% QOQ in 1Q21, and were highlighted by interest income growth and lower taxes. Another...

Thomas J. Monaco

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