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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on April 2, 2021 released finalized new capital standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that the need for banking  crisis liquidation plans; 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 April 2, 2021 released finalized new capital standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that the need for banking  crisis liquidation plans; 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. 

China Banks – Big Capital Raises Coming

Equity Bottom-Up

Industrial Bank Co Ltd A / Equity Bottom-Up

*Weak 4Q20 Numbers: Industrial Bank (601166.CH) [Industrial] reported fairly disappointing 4Q20 earnings result of CNY 14.8 bn – declining CNY 4.5 bn (23.5%) on a linked quarter basis. From an operating perspective, Industrial struggled this quarter with negative operating jaws, as revenues declined CNY 925 mn (1.8%) whilst expenses increased CNY 3.4 bn (27.2%); and*COVID Credit Hangover Persists: In our view, the stated credit figures far from tell the entire story. Net new NPLs amounted to CNY 20.6 bn or increasing an alarming 145.4% on an annualized basis. When one considers the continued high level break-down in credit quality, reserves would appear to be incredibly light by CNY 36 bn, in our view, which amounts to about two quarters of pre-tax results at Industrial.

*Weak 4Q20 Numbers: Industrial Bank (601166.CH) [Industrial] reported fairly disappointing 4Q20 earnings result of CNY 14.8 bn – declining CNY 4.5 bn (23.5%) on a linked quarter basis. From an operating perspective, Industrial struggled this quarter with negative operating jaws, as revenues declined CNY 925 mn (1.8%) whilst expenses increased CNY 3.4 bn (27.2%); and*COVID Credit Hangover Persists: In our view, the stated credit figures far from tell the entire story. Net new NPLs amounted to CNY 20.6 bn or increasing an alarming 145.4% on an annualized basis. When one considers the continued high level break-down in credit quality, reserves would appear to be incredibly light by CNY 36 bn, in our view, which amounts to about two quarters of pre-tax results at Industrial.    

Postal Savings Bank of China C / Equity Bottom-Up

*Excess Provisioning Eats Away At 4Q20 Results: Established in 2007, Postal Savings Bank of China (1658.HK) [PSB] is mainland China’s youngest large commercial bank. PSB reported 4Q20 results of CNY 11.4 bn – decreasing CNY 7.8 bn (40.8%) linked quarter. PSB’s struggles were twofold: loss provisions were too high; and an operating expenses accelerated; and * Credit Quality Risk Peaking: HOH, stated NPLs nominally increased CNY 605 mn or 1.2% to CNY 50.4 bn and amount to 88 bp to total loans – flat linked quarter. The growth in level of net new NPLs was CNY 9.3 bn or decelerating to 18.4% on an annualized basis. PSB’s loss provision increased CNY 2.9 bn (41.1%) linked quarter, almost seeming pointless given the reserve cover of 4.01x (4.03x at 3Q20) and the annualized NCO rate of 61 bp.

*Excess Provisioning Eats Away At 4Q20 Results: Established in 2007, Postal Savings Bank of China (1658.HK) [PSB] is mainland China’s youngest large commercial bank. PSB reported 4Q20 results of CNY 11.4 bn – decreasing CNY 7.8 bn (40.8%) linked quarter. PSB’s struggles were twofold: loss provisions were too high; and an operating expenses accelerated; and * Credit Quality Risk Peaking: HOH, stated NPLs nominally increased CNY 605 mn or 1.2% to CNY 50.4 bn and amount to 88 bp to total loans – flat linked quarter. The growth in level of net new NPLs was CNY 9.3 bn or decelerating to 18.4% on an annualized basis. PSB’s loss provision increased CNY 2.9 bn (41.1%) linked quarter, almost seeming pointless given the reserve cover of 4.01x (4.03x at 3Q20) and the annualized NCO rate of 61 bp.

Postal Savings Bank of China – Excess Provisioning

*Don’t Be Misled By Better Numbers: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (1398.HK) [ICBC] reported 4Q20 results of CNY 87.2 bn, increasing CNY 7.3 bn or 9.2% linked quarter. The linked quarter improvement, in our view, can solely be attributed to an unjustified and massive linked quarter reduction in loss provisions of CNY 31.3 bn (57.7%).  In addition, 4Q20 results can be highlighted by ICBC’s negative operating jaws; and *Credit Risk Rising: As ICBC is the benchmark name to which all mainland Chinese banks are measured, an increase of such magnitude is more than alarming – and intimates mainland Chinese bank credit risk is moving in oppositive directions to their counterparts in India. When one considers the current break in credit quality reserves would appear to be incredibly light – in the neighborhood of CNY 410 bn which amounts to over a year of pre-tax results at ICBC.

*Don’t Be Misled By Better Numbers: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (1398.HK) [ICBC] reported 4Q20 results of CNY 87.2 bn, increasing CNY 7.3 bn or 9.2% linked quarter. The linked quarter improvement, in our view, can solely be attributed to an unjustified and massive linked quarter reduction in loss provisions of CNY 31.3 bn (57.7%).  In addition, 4Q20 results can be highlighted by ICBC’s negative operating jaws; and *Credit Risk Rising: As ICBC is the benchmark name to which all mainland Chinese banks are measured, an increase of such magnitude is more than alarming – and intimates mainland Chinese bank credit risk is moving in oppositive directions to their counterparts in India. When one considers the current break in credit quality reserves would appear to be incredibly light – in the neighborhood of CNY 410 bn which amounts to over a year of pre-tax results at ICBC.   

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Troubling Result

*BEA Life Deal: In an effort to reinforce its Greater China franchise, AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] has entered into an agreement to purchase Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life, and entered into an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA for HKD 5.07 bn (USD 653 mn) covering Hong Kong and mainland China; and *Lost Focus: Acquiring a fledgling Hong Kong insurance franchise at a premium when you’re the dominant player and unemployment remains excessive, suggests that AIA is more concerned with growth metrics rather than addressing the risks that AIA is facing in mainland China, Hong Kong, and in its investment portfolio.

*BEA Life Deal: In an effort to reinforce its Greater China franchise, AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] has entered into an agreement to purchase Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life, and entered into an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA for HKD 5.07 bn (USD 653 mn) covering Hong Kong and mainland China; and *Lost Focus: Acquiring a fledgling Hong Kong insurance franchise at a premium when you’re the dominant player and unemployment remains excessive, suggests that AIA is more concerned with growth metrics rather than addressing the risks that AIA is facing in mainland China, Hong Kong, and in its investment portfolio. 

AIA Group – Confirming No Organic Growth On Horizon

Hong Kong

The Bank of East Asia, Limited and its subsidiaries provide general banking, related financial, business corporate, and investor services.

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Bank of East Asia (23 HK)

China Banks – Big Capital Raises Coming

CHINA BANKS: The PBOC and CBIRC released finalized new capital standards for the country’s D-SIBs. Equity raises require P/BV over 1.0x and many of...

Thomas J. Monaco

Industrial Bank – Not Out Of The Woods

INDUSTRIAL BANK: Industrial reported a disappointing QOQ 4Q20 earnings decline of 23.5%. Industrial struggled with negative operating jaws, and...

Thomas J. Monaco

Postal Savings Bank of China – Excess Provisioning

POSTAL SAVINGS BANK: PSB reported a 40.8% decline in QOQ results, as loss provisioning was too high relative to risk is peaking; and an operating...

Thomas J. Monaco

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Troubling Result

ICBC: ICBC reported a 9.2% QOQ increase in 4Q20 results, which is solely attributed to an unjustified and massive linked quarter reduction in loss...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – Confirming No Organic Growth On Horizon

AIA GROUP: AIA entered into an agreement to acquire BEA Life, and entered into a bancassurance relationship with BEA. Acquiring a fledgling Hong...

Thomas J. Monaco

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