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)

*Inflation Figures Are Wrong: The daily information be reported on inflation is simply wrong. There is actually an awful lot of inflation, and because central banks are controlling the narrative, we find the that the numbers are not being reported correctly. If energy, food, and housing costs are excluded from inflation reports, then inflation measurements are just wrong to begin with. Certainly, as consumers, we’d like to not be responsible for paying for food, energy, and housing; and*Stimulus Keeps Coming: 1Q21 GDP amounted to 6.4%, and 2Q21 GDP will be further boosted by the third round of stimulus checks. 1H21 should be boosted further by an expanded child tax care credit - becoming the fourth stimulus check of USD 110 bn - arguably even more effective if these monthly payments become a permanent source of income under President Biden’s tax plan. Infrastructure plan discussions are ongoing, and our belief is that nearly USD 2 tn in spending will be approved by Congress in late 1H21. The risk of a zero-to-negative GDP quarter for 1Q22 now becomes significant.

*Inflation Figures Are Wrong: The daily information be reported on inflation is simply wrong. There is actually an awful lot of inflation, and because central banks are controlling the narrative, we find the that the numbers are not being reported correctly. If energy, food, and housing costs are excluded from inflation reports, then inflation measurements are just wrong to begin with. Certainly, as consumers, we’d like to not be responsible for paying for food, energy, and housing; and*Stimulus Keeps Coming: 1Q21 GDP amounted to 6.4%, and 2Q21 GDP will be further boosted by the third round of stimulus checks. 1H21 should be boosted further by an expanded child tax care credit - becoming the fourth stimulus check of USD 110 bn - arguably even more effective if these monthly payments become a permanent source of income under President Biden’s tax plan. Infrastructure plan discussions are ongoing, and our belief is that nearly USD 2 tn in spending will be approved by Congress in late 1H21. The risk of a zero-to-negative GDP quarter for 1Q22 now becomes significant.

Equity Bottom-Up

*Desperado: The bulk of the Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] franchise continues to contract: negative rental reversion rates persist in Hong Kong; declining tenant sales; and another round of negative property revaluation due to lower rents and/or higher cap rates. That being said, Link management also appears hellbent on destroying shareholder value with  deals that make little financial sense; and *Throwing Good Money After Bad Again: Link recently announced the acquisition of Happy Valley Shopping Mall in Guangzhou for CNY 3.2 bn. According to management, current annualized NPI yield of 3.3% - barely covering the project’s cost of funding. Management would have investors believe that the opportunity for Link is the shopping mall’s 70% occupancy and that 68% of leases are expiring between now and 2023. In order to improve occupancy, it would appear that Link would likely need to offering significant tenant enticements, and investment massively in asset enhancement.

*Desperado: The bulk of the Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] franchise continues to contract: negative rental reversion rates persist in Hong Kong; declining tenant sales; and another round of negative property revaluation due to lower rents and/or higher cap rates. That being said, Link management also appears hellbent on destroying shareholder value with  deals that make little financial sense; and *Throwing Good Money After Bad Again: Link recently announced the acquisition of Happy Valley Shopping Mall in Guangzhou for CNY 3.2 bn. According to management, current annualized NPI yield of 3.3% - barely covering the project’s cost of funding. Management would have investors believe that the opportunity for Link is the shopping mall’s 70% occupancy and that 68% of leases are expiring between now and 2023. In order to improve occupancy, it would appear that Link would likely need to offering significant tenant enticements, and investment massively in asset enhancement.

National Australia Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

*AML/CTF Violations: National Australia Bank (NAB.AU) [NAB] announced that it was informed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Act 2006, and the AML/CFT Rules 2007; and*Fundamental Challenges Too: AML/CTF is not NAB’s only challenge. NAB's 1H21 NIM declined another 3 bp HOH to 1.74%, and will remain challenged from this low rate environment, competitive pressures, and higher mortgage concentrations well into FY 2022. In addition, NAB’s loans 90+ days past due loans increased over 30% HOH due to challenges from Australian mortgage customers exiting loan deferrals.

*AML/CTF Violations: National Australia Bank (NAB.AU) [NAB] announced that it was informed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Act 2006, and the AML/CFT Rules 2007; and*Fundamental Challenges Too: AML/CTF is not NAB’s only challenge. NAB's 1H21 NIM declined another 3 bp HOH to 1.74%, and will remain challenged from this low rate environment, competitive pressures, and higher mortgage concentrations well into FY 2022. In addition, NAB’s loans 90+ days past due loans increased over 30% HOH due to challenges from Australian mortgage customers exiting loan deferrals.

*Expecting Poor 1H21 Operating Result: Sun Hung Kai &amp; Co. (86.HK) [SHK] announced that unaudited results for 4M21 approximated HKD 1.1 bn. Like the 2H20 result, 4M21 numbers appear to be driven by low quality and non-core MTM gains from its investment management business, and lower credit-related loss provisions. No discussion was had on both the type of non-cash gains nor if credit risk/quality has actually improved; and      *FOF Focus Not An Historical Winner: SHK does, however, remain focused on investment management, with its newly established funds management platform, called Sun Hung Kai Capital Partners. According to management, SHK has a strong pipeline of potential partnerships and fund launches planned for 2H21.

*Expecting Poor 1H21 Operating Result: Sun Hung Kai &amp; Co. (86.HK) [SHK] announced that unaudited results for 4M21 approximated HKD 1.1 bn. Like the 2H20 result, 4M21 numbers appear to be driven by low quality and non-core MTM gains from its investment management business, and lower credit-related loss provisions. No discussion was had on both the type of non-cash gains nor if credit risk/quality has actually improved; and      *FOF Focus Not An Historical Winner: SHK does, however, remain focused on investment management, with its newly established funds management platform, called Sun Hung Kai Capital Partners. According to management, SHK has a strong pipeline of potential partnerships and fund launches planned for 2H21.

*No Stranger To Losses: As initially discussed in our “Credit Suisse Group – Hit Parade Continues” note dated March 30, 2021, we expressed our concerns related to various high profile screw-ups at Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.VX) [Credit Suisse]. Credit Suisse’ high profile challenges still include: Archegos Capital Management; Greensill Capital; Wirecard, and Luckin Coffee; and   *Adding Insult To Injury: According to Bloomberg, construction start-up, Katerra, has burned through over USD 2.0 bn and is now being shut down.  Credit Suisse initially indicated losses of between USD 1.0-USD 1.5 bn on its Greensill-related exposures.  Well, this figure appears to increase those losses closer to USD 2.0 bn.

*No Stranger To Losses: As initially discussed in our “Credit Suisse Group – Hit Parade Continues” note dated March 30, 2021, we expressed our concerns related to various high profile screw-ups at Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.VX) [Credit Suisse]. Credit Suisse’ high profile challenges still include: Archegos Capital Management; Greensill Capital; Wirecard, and Luckin Coffee; and   *Adding Insult To Injury: According to Bloomberg, construction start-up, Katerra, has burned through over USD 2.0 bn and is now being shut down.  Credit Suisse initially indicated losses of between USD 1.0-USD 1.5 bn on its Greensill-related exposures.  Well, this figure appears to increase those losses closer to USD 2.0 bn.  

Hong Kong

CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in Hong Kong. The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE China A50 Index. The Fund invests most of its total assets in the equities of member companies of the FTSE China A50 Index. This is a RQFII fund.

CSOP FTSE China A50 (HKD) (2822 HK)

The Fix Is In

US ECONOMY: Reported inflation is simply wrong, as central banks control the narrative. In addition, 2H21 should be boosted by an expanded child...

Thomas J. Monaco

Link REIT – Purchase or Perish

LINK REIT: The Link franchise continues to contract, and management appears hellbent on destroying shareholder value by chasing bad deals - the...

Thomas J. Monaco

National Australia Bank - Nabbed

NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK: NAB was informed by AUSTRAC that it had identified “potential serious and on-going non-compliance” with NAB's compliance...

Thomas J. Monaco

Sun Hung Kai & Co. – Blowing Smoke

SUN HUNG KAI & CO: SHK announced unaudited results for 4M21 of HKD 1.1 bn, which appear to be driven by low quality MTM gains from investment...

Thomas J. Monaco

Credit Suisse Group – Here We Go Again

CREDIT SUISSE GROUP: There were already concerns related to various high profile screw-ups. The latest appears to be Greensill-related construction...

Thomas J. Monaco