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

*RBI Fines Bajaj: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fined Bajaj Finance (BAF.IN) [Bajaj] INR 25 mn for failing to ensure that its debt recovery agents were following the appropriate guidelines; and*Credit Costs Pressured: While the Bajaj penalty is not material, the more intense level of regulatory scrutiny could negatively impact near-term retail loan collection efficiency and raise concerns over the cost of risk and the revival of loan growth. This recent action on recovery methods on top of already high bounce rates could potentially lead to a slowdown in the collection efficiencies and higher loss provisions.

*RBI Fines Bajaj: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fined Bajaj Finance (BAF.IN) [Bajaj] INR 25 mn for failing to ensure that its debt recovery agents were following the appropriate guidelines; and*Credit Costs Pressured: While the Bajaj penalty is not material, the more intense level of regulatory scrutiny could negatively impact near-term retail loan collection efficiency and raise concerns over the cost of risk and the revival of loan growth. This recent action on recovery methods on top of already high bounce rates could potentially lead to a slowdown in the collection efficiencies and higher loss provisions. 

*Ford Deal Vanishes: Ford Motor Company (F.US) [Ford] and Mahindra &amp; Mahindra (MM.IN) [M&amp;M] entered into a definitive agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) in October 2019 to develop, market, and distribute Ford-branded vehicles in India and other emerging markets. Unfortunately for M&amp;M, Ford has decided to end the relationship on December 31, 2021 - prior to it even getting off the ground; and   *Ssangyong Bankruptcy Likely Cause Of JV Collapse: Purchased by M&amp;M in 2011, the 74.7%-owned SsangYong Motor Company (003620.KS) [Ssangyong] in South Korea filed an application for commencement of the rehabilitation procedure with the Seoul Bankruptcy Court. The agreement between M&amp;M and Ford appears to have legally expired in October yet the actual decision to terminate precariously comes on the heals of the Ssangyong petition where M&amp;M is on the hook with a guarantee which likely will challenge it financially going forward.

*Ford Deal Vanishes: Ford Motor Company (F.US) [Ford] and Mahindra &amp; Mahindra (MM.IN) [M&amp;M] entered into a definitive agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) in October 2019 to develop, market, and distribute Ford-branded vehicles in India and other emerging markets. Unfortunately for M&amp;M, Ford has decided to end the relationship on December 31, 2021 - prior to it even getting off the ground; and   *Ssangyong Bankruptcy Likely Cause Of JV Collapse: Purchased by M&amp;M in 2011, the 74.7%-owned SsangYong Motor Company (003620.KS) [Ssangyong] in South Korea filed an application for commencement of the rehabilitation procedure with the Seoul Bankruptcy Court. The agreement between M&amp;M and Ford appears to have legally expired in October yet the actual decision to terminate precariously comes on the heals of the Ssangyong petition where M&amp;M is on the hook with a guarantee which likely will challenge it financially going forward.

Mahindra & Mahindra – Found On Road Dead

*Ssangyong Declares Bankruptcy: Purchased by Mahindra &amp; Mahindra (MM.IN) [M&amp;M] in 2011, the 74.7%-owned SsangYong Motor Company (003620.KS) [Ssangyong] in South Korea filed an application for commencement of the rehabilitation procedure with the Seoul Bankruptcy Court; and*M&amp;M Guarantee: Unfortunately for M&amp;M, it has provided a corporate guarantee on behalf of Ssangyong on loans up to IN 6.8bn. If no new investor steps in, M&amp;M will be required to pay the guarantee.

*Ssangyong Declares Bankruptcy: Purchased by Mahindra &amp; Mahindra (MM.IN) [M&amp;M] in 2011, the 74.7%-owned SsangYong Motor Company (003620.KS) [Ssangyong] in South Korea filed an application for commencement of the rehabilitation procedure with the Seoul Bankruptcy Court; and*M&amp;M Guarantee: Unfortunately for M&amp;M, it has provided a corporate guarantee on behalf of Ssangyong on loans up to IN 6.8bn. If no new investor steps in, M&amp;M will be required to pay the guarantee.

Mahindra & Mahindra – Ssanyong Goes Plotz

*Alleging Questionable Lending: On December 14, 2020, Australian news agency International Media Corporation’s Scams Breaking reported that Axis Bank (AXSB.IN) [Axis] etc. has provided loans to the questionable SREI Infrastructure and Finance Limited (SREI.IN) [SREI] to the tune of INR 440.0 bn without any due diligence and verification of end use of the loan amount; and*Axis Position: Axis has stated that “the report is grossly inaccurate and baseless insofar as Axis Bank Limited’s outstanding to SREI entities or underwriting practices and processes are concerned." Provided Axis is correct in its assertion, we’d anticipate the organization taking legal action against International Media Corporation in Australia.

*Alleging Questionable Lending: On December 14, 2020, Australian news agency International Media Corporation’s Scams Breaking reported that Axis Bank (AXSB.IN) [Axis] etc. has provided loans to the questionable SREI Infrastructure and Finance Limited (SREI.IN) [SREI] to the tune of INR 440.0 bn without any due diligence and verification of end use of the loan amount; and*Axis Position: Axis has stated that “the report is grossly inaccurate and baseless insofar as Axis Bank Limited’s outstanding to SREI entities or underwriting practices and processes are concerned." Provided Axis is correct in its assertion, we’d anticipate the organization taking legal action against International Media Corporation in Australia.

SBI (State Bank of India) / Equity Bottom-Up

*Management Call Doesn’t Allay Fears: FY 2Q21 results were significantly driven a loan loss provision decline of INR 18.1 bn (16.0%) despite much weaker credit metrics.  We find that reserves were light in the neighborbood of INR 1.1 tn  - nearly four years of pre-tax results or 61% of market-cap. The recent virtual call held by a competitor unfortunately did not allay our concern; and*Other Items Discussed: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] did reiterate its guidance for problem loan formation (slippages and restructuring) at 2.5% of loans outstanding in FY21. While SBI’s CET 1 ratio stood at 10.5% as of FY 2Q21,our calculated loss reserve shortfall would suggest that SBI has further wood to chop in this area.In addition, SBI is confident that it will be able to enhance its digital platform YONO into a more robust and scalable platform.

*Management Call Doesn’t Allay Fears: FY 2Q21 results were significantly driven a loan loss provision decline of INR 18.1 bn (16.0%) despite much weaker credit metrics.  We find that reserves were light in the neighborbood of INR 1.1 tn  - nearly four years of pre-tax results or 61% of market-cap. The recent virtual call held by a competitor unfortunately did not allay our concern; and*Other Items Discussed: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] did reiterate its guidance for problem loan formation (slippages and restructuring) at 2.5% of loans outstanding in FY21. While SBI’s CET 1 ratio stood at 10.5% as of FY 2Q21,our calculated loss reserve shortfall would suggest that SBI has further wood to chop in this area.In addition, SBI is confident that it will be able to enhance its digital platform YONO into a more robust and scalable platform.

State Bank of India – Reserve Shortfall Needs To Be Addressed

India

iShares MSCI India Index ETF is an exchange-traded fund registered in Singapore. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the MSCI India Index. The Fund invests all or substantially all of its assets in shares comprising the MSCI India Index in substantially the same weightings as constituted in the underlying index.

iShares MSCI India Index ETF (INDIA SP)

Bajaj Finance – Smack

BAJAJ FINANCE: RBI fined Bajaj Finance INR 25 mn for failing to ensure that its debt recovery agents were following the appropriate guidelines....

Thomas J. Monaco

Mahindra & Mahindra – Found On Road Dead

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA: Ford and M&M entered into a JV in 2019. Unfortunately Ford has decided to end the relationship. The Ssangyong bankruptcy and...

Thomas J. Monaco

Mahindra & Mahindra – Ssanyong Goes Plotz

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA: 75% Owned Ssangyong Motors Declares Bankruptcy, and M&M Is Likely On The Hook For The Credit Guarantees.

Thomas J. Monaco

Axis Bank – Denying Evil

AXIS BANK: Allegations Of Exorbitant Lending To The Questionable SREI Without Verification Lead To Aggressive Denials Of Wrongdoing By Axis.

Thomas J. Monaco

State Bank of India – Reserve Shortfall Needs To Be Addressed

STATE BANK OF INDIA: Recent Call Suggests No Real Progress On Significant Reserve Shortfall, And That Another Capital Raise Not Out Of Question

Thomas J. Monaco