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

<p><strong><em>*Much Better Than Expected: </em></strong>Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] posted 3Q20 net profit of SGD 1.0 bn, an SGD 298 mn (40.8%) increase on a linked quarter basis – well ahead of consensus. Two factors pushed the outperformance: 1) a somewhat justifiable SGD 400 mn (53.3%) decline in loss provisions (unlike DBS Group Holdings [DBS.SP]), as OCBC witnessed “negative”growth in net new NPLs; and 2) a 290 bp decline in its tax rate to 13.1%, which was additive to the bottom-line by SGD 36 mn or 3.6%;</p><p><strong><em>*Credit Improving In Reality: </em></strong>By our calculation, given the SGD 99 mn in net recoveries, we find that new new NPL growth was actually negative on an annualized basis at 2.3%. While we are ecstatic to see negative growth in net new NPLs on the back of strong net recoveries of previously charged off loans, we continue to believe that credit risk will remain elevated. As such, we find that reserves should be bolstered by SGD 288 mn – 25% of pre-tax results, which is a far cry from where currently DBS is; and</p><p><strong><em>*Insurance Weakness: </em></strong>Great Eastern Holdings (GE.SP) [Great Eastern] reported 3Q20 bottom-line results of SGD 287.9 mn, declining SGD 9.6 mn (3.2%) linked quarter. On an operating basis excluding market-related gains, the decline in profits was even more pronounced at SGD 24.6 mn or 9.4% over the period due to new business strain. New Business Embedded Value (NBEV) margins continued their descent to 37.0%  - down 1.1% linked quarter due a weaker Malaysian component. Management’s confidence is low and it anticipates the weaker economic environment to pose continued headwinds, and will reassess the dividend.</p>

*Much Better Than Expected: Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) [OCBC] posted 3Q20 net profit of SGD 1.0 bn, an SGD 298 mn (40.8%) increase on a linked quarter basis – well ahead of consensus. Two factors pushed the outperformance: 1) a somewhat justifiable SGD 400 mn (53.3%) decline in loss provisions (unlike DBS Group Holdings [DBS.SP]), as OCBC witnessed “negative”growth in net new NPLs; and 2) a 290 bp decline in its tax rate to 13.1%, which was additive to the bottom-line by SGD 36 mn or 3.6%;*Credit Improving In Reality: By our calculation, given the SGD 99 mn in net recoveries, we find that new new NPL growth was actually negative on an annualized basis at 2.3%. While we are ecstatic to see negative growth in net new NPLs on the back of strong net recoveries of previously charged off loans, we continue to believe that credit risk will remain elevated. As such, we find that reserves should be bolstered by SGD 288 mn – 25% of pre-tax results, which is a far cry from where currently DBS is; and*Insurance Weakness: Great Eastern Holdings (GE.SP) [Great Eastern] reported 3Q20 bottom-line results of SGD 287.9 mn, declining SGD 9.6 mn (3.2%) linked quarter. On an operating basis excluding market-related gains, the decline in profits was even more pronounced at SGD 24.6 mn or 9.4% over the period due to new business strain. New Business Embedded Value (NBEV) margins continued their descent to 37.0%  - down 1.1% linked quarter due a weaker Malaysian component. Management’s confidence is low and it anticipates the weaker economic environment to pose continued headwinds, and will reassess the dividend.

<p><strong><em>*Negative Operating Jaws Were A Surprise:</em></strong> DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q20 results of SGD 1.3 bn, increasing SGD 50 mn (4.0%) on a linked quarter basis. Results were solely led on a justified SGD 295 mn (34.7%) reduction in loss provisions, which point to DBS’real challenges with negative operating jaws; and</p><p><strong><em>*Credit Risk Rising: </em></strong>By our calculation, and despite the net recovery of SGD 24 mn, we find that net new NPLs continue to increase – up SGD 272 mn or 18.9% on an annualized basis. Management too was less sanguine about credit quality on a go forward basis, expecting a re-acceleration of NPL formation in 2021 as COVID-19 government programs are set to expire. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.3 bn – amounting to a full quarter of results – and intimating this quarter was more managed than DBS would have the investment community believe.      </p>

*Negative Operating Jaws Were A Surprise: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q20 results of SGD 1.3 bn, increasing SGD 50 mn (4.0%) on a linked quarter basis. Results were solely led on a justified SGD 295 mn (34.7%) reduction in loss provisions, which point to DBS’real challenges with negative operating jaws; and*Credit Risk Rising: By our calculation, and despite the net recovery of SGD 24 mn, we find that net new NPLs continue to increase – up SGD 272 mn or 18.9% on an annualized basis. Management too was less sanguine about credit quality on a go forward basis, expecting a re-acceleration of NPL formation in 2021 as COVID-19 government programs are set to expire. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.3 bn – amounting to a full quarter of results – and intimating this quarter was more managed than DBS would have the investment community believe.      

DBS Group Holdings – Not Trending The Right Way Yet

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

Mapletree Logistics Trust / Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mapletree-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16035:1" rel="noopener">Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT SP)</a> plans to raise around US$341m (S$450m) to part fund the acquisition of stakes in 24 logistics properties in Malaysia, Vietnam and China. </p></div><div><p>We have earlier covered four other placements for the REIT since 2017, links below:</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/mapletree-logistics-trust-placement-a-dpu-accretive-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mapletree Logistics Trust Placement: A DPU Accretive Deal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/mlt-placement-little-acretiveness-but-interesting-china-e-commerce-exposure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLT Placement - Little Accretion but Interesting China E-Commerce Exposure</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/mlt-placement-dpu-accretive-stable-property-income-anchored-by-cwt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLT Placement - DPU Accretive &amp; Stable Property Income Anchored by CWT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/mapletree-logistics-placement-little-accretion-but-past-deals-have-done-well" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mapletree Logistics Placement - Little Accretion but past Deals Have Done Well</a></li>
</ul></div><div><p>Most of the past deals have done well. This deal too is expected to be accretive to DPU. However, the share price is near all time-highs.</p></div>

Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT SP) plans to raise around US$341m (S$450m) to part fund the acquisition of stakes in 24 logistics properties in Malaysia, Vietnam and China. We have earlier covered four other placements for the REIT since 2017, links below:
Mapletree Logistics Trust Placement: A DPU Accretive Deal
MLT Placement - Little Accretion but Interesting China E-Commerce Exposure
MLT Placement - DPU Accretive &amp; Stable Property Income Anchored by CWT
Mapletree Logistics Placement - Little Accretion but past Deals Have Done Well
Most of the past deals have done well. This deal too is expected to be accretive to DPU. However, the share price is near all time-highs.

Mapletree Logistics Placement - Big Deal, Little Accretion but past Deals Have Done Well

Lakshmi Iyer, CFA

Credit

<p>We think the recent S$ perpetual bond issue by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ascendas-real-estate-investment-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39:1" rel="noopener">Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (AREIT SP)</a> is attractive. We think it could tighten by around 30 bps from levels at which it was issued. We compare it with spreads on Ascendas' senior debt as well as the recent <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:192:1" rel="noopener">Keppel REIT (KREIT SP)</a> perp and find value on both counts.</p>

We think the recent S$ perpetual bond issue by Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (AREIT SP) is attractive. We think it could tighten by around 30 bps from levels at which it was issued. We compare it with spreads on Ascendas' senior debt as well as the recent Keppel REIT (KREIT SP) perp and find value on both counts.

Acendas SGD 3% Perp - Potential Spread Tightening

Debt Capital Markets

<p>The new <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:192:1" rel="noopener">Keppel REIT (KREIT SP)</a> perpetual is the second S$ perp issue in the post-Covid world. It is interesting because it is being issued to refinance the S$150mn perp that is callable in November (in other words, the bond will be called). This deal again raises the issue of whether outstanding perps should be priced to the call or not. Given the level at which these bonds have been issued, we think the bond with the next call date in the S$ perp market <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ascendas-real-estate-investment-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39:1" rel="noopener">Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (AREIT SP)</a>  4.75% perps) will be called in October.</p><p></p><div class="content-highlight"><p><em>Fundamental credit research focused on Asian high yield, including coverage of areas which are generally overlooked such as Indian finance companies and non-USD denominated credit (SGD).  Sector agnostic. Research process consists of rigorous bottom-up company analysis combined with spotting market dislocations to provide trade ideas.</em></p></div>

The new Keppel REIT (KREIT SP) perpetual is the second S$ perp issue in the post-Covid world. It is interesting because it is being issued to refinance the S$150mn perp that is callable in November (in other words, the bond will be called). This deal again raises the issue of whether outstanding perps should be priced to the call or not. Given the level at which these bonds have been issued, we think the bond with the next call date in the S$ perp market Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (AREIT SP)  4.75% perps) will be called in October.Fundamental credit research focused on Asian high yield, including coverage of areas which are generally overlooked such as Indian finance companies and non-USD denominated credit (SGD).  Sector agnostic. Research process consists of rigorous bottom-up company analysis combined with spotting market dislocations to provide trade ideas.

Keppel REIT New Perp - Implications for Ascendas REIT Bondholders

Singapore

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT is an industrial real estate investment trust. The Trust invests in business and science park properties, integrated development, amenities, and retail (IDAR) properties, high-specifications industrial properties and data centers, light industrial and flatted factories, and logistics and distribution centers.

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CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (CLAR SP)

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Solid

OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING CORP.: Credit Showing Signs Of Recovery With Negative NPL Growth - Offsetting Weakness In NIMs and Insurance.

Thomas J. Monaco

Mapletree Logistics Placement - Big Deal, Little Accretion but past Deals Have Done Well

Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT SP) plans to raise around S$450m to part fund the acquisition of 24 logistics properties.

Sumeet Singh

Acendas SGD 3% Perp - Potential Spread Tightening

We think the recent perp

Lakshmi Iyer, CFA

Keppel REIT New Perp - Implications for Ascendas REIT Bondholders

Keppel Reit priced a new S$150 mn perpetual bond at 3.15%. The final pricing was inside of the initial price talk of 3.5%. The issue was to...

Lakshmi Iyer, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

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Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Solid

OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING CORP.: Credit Showing Signs Of Recovery With Negative NPL Growth - Offsetting Weakness In NIMs and Insurance.

Thomas J. Monaco

DBS Group Holdings – Not Trending The Right Way Yet

DBS GROUP HOLDINGS: Trends Are Poor. Costs Higher, Revenues Lower, and Provision Trend Likely To Be Reversed As We Head Into 2021.

Thomas J. Monaco

Mapletree Logistics Placement - Big Deal, Little Accretion but past Deals Have Done Well

Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT SP) plans to raise around S$450m to part fund the acquisition of 24 logistics properties.

Sumeet Singh

Acendas SGD 3% Perp - Potential Spread Tightening

We think the recent perp

Lakshmi Iyer, CFA

Keppel REIT New Perp - Implications for Ascendas REIT Bondholders

Keppel Reit priced a new S$150 mn perpetual bond at 3.15%. The final pricing was inside of the initial price talk of 3.5%. The issue was to...

Lakshmi Iyer, CFA