Asian bank research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Asian bank research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Only about 1/3 of of the recently announced share buy back is done, the remainder will come from now through end of March 2024. </li>
<li>Earnings are far higher than the bank's forecast, and there should be a major revision in coming weeks. </li>
<li>Credit Saison collaboration and exiting BOJ negative rate policy, should provide a multitude of positives, for revenue growth.</li>
</ul>


Only about 1/3 of of the recently announced share buy back is done, the remainder will come from now through end of March 2024. 
Earnings are far higher than the bank's forecast, and there should be a major revision in coming weeks. 
Credit Saison collaboration and exiting BOJ negative rate policy, should provide a multitude of positives, for revenue growth.


Suruga Bank - Only 33% of Buyback Done, Profit Guidance to Rise a Lot, Credit Saison Support Growth

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>10+ Months ago, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/suruga-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6267:1" rel="noopener">Suruga Bank Ltd (8358 JP)</a> announced it would sell a large chunk of its treasury shares to Credit Saison and would then buy back ¥22bn of stock.</li>
<li>I liked the odds in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/suruga-bank-8358-to-sell-then-buy-back-17-of-the-bank-but-how-is-key" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:102676" rel="noopener">Suruga Bank (8358) To Sell, Then Buy Back 17% of the Bank, but HOW Is Key.</a> They spent the ¥22bn. The stock rose a lot.</li>
<li>Today, we get a div hike for H2 (implying a div hike for this year too), another buyback, a huge share cancellation, and new KPIs. As always, details matter.</li>
</ul>


10+ Months ago, Suruga Bank Ltd (8358 JP) announced it would sell a large chunk of its treasury shares to Credit Saison and would then buy back ¥22bn of stock.
I liked the odds in Suruga Bank (8358) To Sell, Then Buy Back 17% of the Bank, but HOW Is Key. They spent the ¥22bn. The stock rose a lot.
Today, we get a div hike for H2 (implying a div hike for this year too), another buyback, a huge share cancellation, and new KPIs. As always, details matter.


Suruga Bank (8358 JP) - New Div, New Buyback, New KPIs, New 6yr High Price

<ul>
<li>The bank is seeing high growth in cash and deposits, with loans in decline, and the composition moving more toward government and corporate loans</li>
<li>ALM does not appear strong, and without any easy way to reduce operating costs, the bank is now seeing cost/income surge to 74%</li>
<li>Credit metrics on surface may appear fine, but the 47% QoQ rise in provision costs, suggests to us provisions were cut too much last year, and now there is normalization</li>
</ul>


The bank is seeing high growth in cash and deposits, with loans in decline, and the composition moving more toward government and corporate loans
ALM does not appear strong, and without any easy way to reduce operating costs, the bank is now seeing cost/income surge to 74%
Credit metrics on surface may appear fine, but the 47% QoQ rise in provision costs, suggests to us provisions were cut too much last year, and now there is normalization


Suruga Bank - Loans Down A Lot, Deposits Up Sharply, Cost/Income Up to 74%, Credit Costs +47% QoQ

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/suruga-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6267:1" rel="noopener">Suruga Bank Ltd (8358 JP)</a> today signed an MOU (with board resolution) to form a business and capital alliance with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credit-saison-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6123:1" rel="noopener">Credit Saison (8253 JP)</a>. </li>
<li>Suruga will sell (post-dilution) 15+% of voting rights to Credit Saison, and buy 4.44% of CreditSaison. Then Suruga will try to buy back the shares it sold to Credit Saison.</li>
<li>A look at the history is instructive, as is a look at the shareholder structure and the change in business model post-2019. Not as easy as it looks. </li>
</ul>



Suruga Bank Ltd (8358 JP) today signed an MOU (with board resolution) to form a business and capital alliance with Credit Saison (8253 JP). 
Suruga will sell (post-dilution) 15+% of voting rights to Credit Saison, and buy 4.44% of CreditSaison. Then Suruga will try to buy back the shares it sold to Credit Saison.
A look at the history is instructive, as is a look at the shareholder structure and the change in business model post-2019. Not as easy as it looks. 


Suruga Bank (8358) To Sell, Then Buy Back 17% of the Bank, but HOW Is Key.

<ul>
<li>Last year, fintech-wannabe <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marui-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13604:1" rel="noopener">Marui Group (8252 JP)</a> announced a large buyback as part of its ¥100bn distribution to shareholders in its MTMP, then increased the size</li>
<li>They repurchased ¥26bn of shares. Today they announced the return of ¥50bn this year including a ¥40bn buyback. And having arrived at their optimal balance sheet structure, a new policy.</li>
<li>That's 10% of market cap and 11.6% of shares. And again a delayed start. And as always, shareholder structure matters. In this case a lot.</li>
</ul>


Last year, fintech-wannabe Marui Group (8252 JP) announced a large buyback as part of its ¥100bn distribution to shareholders in its MTMP, then increased the size
They repurchased ¥26bn of shares. Today they announced the return of ¥50bn this year including a ¥40bn buyback. And having arrived at their optimal balance sheet structure, a new policy.
That's 10% of market cap and 11.6% of shares. And again a delayed start. And as always, shareholder structure matters. In this case a lot.


BIGLY Marui Group (8252 JP) Buyback, Backed by Big Dividend Boost

Japan

Credit Saison Co., Ltd. is a consumer credit company.  The Company provides financial services such as credit cards, consumer installment credits, loan guarantees, loans, consignment operations, and leases.

Credit Saison (8253 JP)

Suruga Bank - Only 33% of Buyback Done, Profit Guidance to Rise a Lot, Credit Saison Support Growth

Suruga Bank has done ~33% of its recent share buyback, the rest will come through March. The bank has earned far above its guidance, expect profit...

Daniel Tabbush

Suruga Bank (8358 JP) - New Div, New Buyback, New KPIs, New 6yr High Price

Suruga Bank sold TSY shares to Credit Saison, saw stock rise after spending ¥22bn buying back stock. Now a new dividend hike, buyback, share...

Travis Lundy

Suruga Bank - Loans Down A Lot, Deposits Up Sharply, Cost/Income Up to 74%, Credit Costs +47% QoQ

Cash is up a lot but loans are down a lot with sharply higher deposits, not the best ALM. Cost/income ratio is now 74%, not easy to cut costs...

Daniel Tabbush

Suruga Bank (8358) To Sell, Then Buy Back 17% of the Bank, but HOW Is Key.

Suruga Bank (8358) today announced a business/capital alliance with Credit Saison, and a big buyback to offset the dilution. No accretion here...

Travis Lundy

BIGLY Marui Group (8252 JP) Buyback, Backed by Big Dividend Boost

Marui is doing another big buyback. This time more bigly than last year's bigly buyback. And the dividend was upped 67%. Lots of shareholder...

Travis Lundy

Suruga Bank - Only 33% of Buyback Done, Profit Guidance to Rise a Lot, Credit Saison Support Growth

Suruga Bank has done ~33% of its recent share buyback, the rest will come through March. The bank has earned far above its guidance, expect profit...

Daniel Tabbush

Suruga Bank (8358 JP) - New Div, New Buyback, New KPIs, New 6yr High Price

​Suruga Bank sold TSY shares to Credit Saison, saw stock rise after spending ¥22bn buying back stock. Now a new dividend hike, buyback, share...

Travis Lundy

Suruga Bank - Loans Down A Lot, Deposits Up Sharply, Cost/Income Up to 74%, Credit Costs +47% QoQ

Cash is up a lot but loans are down a lot with sharply higher deposits, not the best ALM. Cost/income ratio is now 74%, not easy to cut costs...

Daniel Tabbush

Suruga Bank (8358) To Sell, Then Buy Back 17% of the Bank, but HOW Is Key.

Suruga Bank (8358) today announced a business/capital alliance with Credit Saison, and a big buyback to offset the dilution. No accretion here...

Travis Lundy

BIGLY Marui Group (8252 JP) Buyback, Backed by Big Dividend Boost

Marui is doing another big buyback. This time more bigly than last year's bigly buyback. And the dividend was upped 67%. Lots of shareholder...

Travis Lundy

Suruga Bank sold TSY shares to Credit Saison, saw stock rise after spending ¥22bn buying back stock. Now a new dividend hike, buyback, share...