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

Home First Finance / Equity Capital Markets

<div>Home First Finance (HFF) is an affordable housing finance company targeting first time home buyers in low and middle-income groups. The company aims to raise around US$200m in its India IPO. It is backed by True North, GIC and Bessemer and has recently obtained an investment from Warburg Pincus as well.</div><div>HFF has grown rapidly over the past few years, driven by an expansion in its branch network and large number of new customers. Over FY17-19, HFF’s loan grew at CAGR of 70%, while its earnings grew even faster with NII growing at 76.2%, PPoP at 145% and PAT at 160% CAGR.  It still remains largely focussed on housing loans and has pristine asset quality.</div><div>
However, its funding sources lack diversity and its margin is artificially inflated by its high capitalisation. Furthermore, the company talks a lot about tech but a lot of its functions appear to be still very contact heavy and hence, salesforce/customer service dependant.
I have covered various aspects of the deal in, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/home-first-finance-pre-ipo-riding-on-affordable-housing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Home First Finance Pre-IPO - Riding on affordable housing</a>. In this note I’ll talk about the updates from the company’s re-filed DRHP.
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Home First Finance (HFF) is an affordable housing finance company targeting first time home buyers in low and middle-income groups. The company aims to raise around US$200m in its India IPO. It is backed by True North, GIC and Bessemer and has recently obtained an investment from Warburg Pincus as well.HFF has grown rapidly over the past few years, driven by an expansion in its branch network and large number of new customers. Over FY17-19, HFF’s loan grew at CAGR of 70%, while its earnings grew even faster with NII growing at 76.2%, PPoP at 145% and PAT at 160% CAGR.  It still remains largely focussed on housing loans and has pristine asset quality.
However, its funding sources lack diversity and its margin is artificially inflated by its high capitalisation. Furthermore, the company talks a lot about tech but a lot of its functions appear to be still very contact heavy and hence, salesforce/customer service dependant.
I have covered various aspects of the deal in, Home First Finance Pre-IPO - Riding on affordable housing. In this note I’ll talk about the updates from the company’s re-filed DRHP.


Home First Finance Pre-IPO - Earnings Not Showing the COVID Strain but Other Metrics Are

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)

*Adding To The Confusion Again: Just when we thought Indian banking couldn’t get any muddier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Report of the Internal Working Group (IWG) to Review Extant Ownership Guidelines and Corporate Structure for Indian Private Sector Banks which convened on June 12, 2020; and*Proposed Changes: The IWG has proposed: a) a higher promoter stake cap of 26% (from 15% currently); b) harmonization of corporate structures to non-operative financial holding companies (NOFHC); c) large corporates can be given a banking license subject to conditions and checks; and d) large non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) with assets greater than INR 500 bn can be considered for a banking license.

*Adding To The Confusion Again: Just when we thought Indian banking couldn’t get any muddier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Report of the Internal Working Group (IWG) to Review Extant Ownership Guidelines and Corporate Structure for Indian Private Sector Banks which convened on June 12, 2020; and*Proposed Changes: The IWG has proposed: a) a higher promoter stake cap of 26% (from 15% currently); b) harmonization of corporate structures to non-operative financial holding companies (NOFHC); c) large corporates can be given a banking license subject to conditions and checks; and d) large non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) with assets greater than INR 500 bn can be considered for a banking license.

Reserve Bank of India – How Simple Becomes Really Complicated

* RBI Failure To Think Through Moratorium Leads To Continued Uncertainty for India: On September 3, 2020, the Supreme Court of India held a hearing on interest rate waivers for loans under moratorium granted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On September 10th, the Supreme Court clarified: a) the matter under discussion is related to interest on interest payments and not on the interest payments themselves; and b) that banks should not classify loans as NPL for another two month period, if they were not classified NPLs on August 31st.; and   *Dissatisfied Borrowers: The Supreme Court has now disposed of the 'interest on interest waiver' related petitions where borrowers were satisfied with the interest on interest waiver measures implemented by the RBI and the financial sector. However, there remain other borrowers (ie. power companies) who aren’t satisfied and have proposed further modifications to the RBI’s restructuring scheme.

* RBI Failure To Think Through Moratorium Leads To Continued Uncertainty for India: On September 3, 2020, the Supreme Court of India held a hearing on interest rate waivers for loans under moratorium granted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On September 10th, the Supreme Court clarified: a) the matter under discussion is related to interest on interest payments and not on the interest payments themselves; and b) that banks should not classify loans as NPL for another two month period, if they were not classified NPLs on August 31st.; and   *Dissatisfied Borrowers: The Supreme Court has now disposed of the 'interest on interest waiver' related petitions where borrowers were satisfied with the interest on interest waiver measures implemented by the RBI and the financial sector. However, there remain other borrowers (ie. power companies) who aren’t satisfied and have proposed further modifications to the RBI’s restructuring scheme. 

Reserve Bank of India – The Fun Never Stops

*HFC Harmonization With NBFCs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had initially published a draft proposal for changes in regulations for Housing Finance Companies (HFC) in June 2020, seeking commentary from stakeholders by July 15, 2020; and*Final Regulatory Changes: After stakeholder review, there is essentially one key change to the draft proposal mandating a higher 60% of total assets be “qualifying housing finance assets” and that a minimum of 50% of total assets be housing loans. The RBI has indicated that other differences between HFC and NBFC regulations will be eliminated over a period of two years.

*HFC Harmonization With NBFCs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had initially published a draft proposal for changes in regulations for Housing Finance Companies (HFC) in June 2020, seeking commentary from stakeholders by July 15, 2020; and*Final Regulatory Changes: After stakeholder review, there is essentially one key change to the draft proposal mandating a higher 60% of total assets be “qualifying housing finance assets” and that a minimum of 50% of total assets be housing loans. The RBI has indicated that other differences between HFC and NBFC regulations will be eliminated over a period of two years.

Reserve Bank of India  - Final HFC Changes

* RBI Failure To Think Through Moratorium Leads To Continued Uncertainty for India: On September 3, 2020, the Supreme Court of India held a hearing on interest rate waivers for loans under moratorium granted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On September 10th, the Supreme Court clarified: a) the matter under discussion is related to interest on interest payments and not on the interest payments themselves; and b) that banks should not classify loans as NPL for another two month period, if they were not classified NPLs on August 31st; and*Further Clarification Expected September 28th.  The Supreme Court, however, stated that it is inclined to waive interest on interest payments for loans under moratorium loans; and that it will need to study the potential relief measures put forth by the RBI and government and take appropriate action. In the meantime, the Supreme Court has each to file all related documents decisions related to interest/moratoriums with the Court over next couple of weeks. We expect further clarity at the next hearing on September 28th.

* RBI Failure To Think Through Moratorium Leads To Continued Uncertainty for India: On September 3, 2020, the Supreme Court of India held a hearing on interest rate waivers for loans under moratorium granted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On September 10th, the Supreme Court clarified: a) the matter under discussion is related to interest on interest payments and not on the interest payments themselves; and b) that banks should not classify loans as NPL for another two month period, if they were not classified NPLs on August 31st; and*Further Clarification Expected September 28th.  The Supreme Court, however, stated that it is inclined to waive interest on interest payments for loans under moratorium loans; and that it will need to study the potential relief measures put forth by the RBI and government and take appropriate action. In the meantime, the Supreme Court has each to file all related documents decisions related to interest/moratoriums with the Court over next couple of weeks. We expect further clarity at the next hearing on September 28th. 

Reserve Bank of India – Toothless Tiger

India

Home First Finance Company India Limited provides housing finance services. The Company offers home loan, mortgage finance, eligibility calculating, and customers support services. Home First Finance Company serves customers in India.

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Home First Finance (HOMEFIRS IN)

Home First Finance Pre-IPO - Earnings Not Showing the COVID Strain but Other Metrics Are

Home First Finance is an affordable housing finance company targeting first time home buyers. It aims to raise US$200m in its India IPO. It is...

Sumeet Singh

Reserve Bank of India – How Simple Becomes Really Complicated

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA: New Just when we thought Indian banking couldn’t get any muddier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Report of the...

Thomas J. Monaco

Reserve Bank of India – The Fun Never Stops

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA: Certain Borrowers Are Dis-Satisfied With "Interest On Interest Waiver" And Proposed Additional Modifications To RBI...

Thomas J. Monaco

Reserve Bank of India - Final HFC Changes

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA - Final Housing Finance and Non-Bank Financial Company Rule Harmonization Regulations Now Set With Stricter Rules.

Thomas J. Monaco

Reserve Bank of India – Toothless Tiger

* RBI Failure To Think Through Moratorium Leads To Continued Uncertainty for India: On September 3, 2020, the Supreme Court of India held a hearing...

Thomas J. Monaco

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