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

<ul>
<li>ICICI reported FY 3Q22 earnings of INR 61.9 bn, increasing INR 6.8 bn (12.4%) linked quarter, driven by net interest and fee improvement and a provision cut;  </li>
<li>Net new NPLs continued to increase 11.4% on an annualized basis at FY 3Q22 versus INR 44.1 bn 43.7% at FY 3Q21; and    </li>
<li>We find that ICICI is short on reserves to the tune of INR 116 bn or just over a half year of ICICI’s core operating result. </li>
</ul>


ICICI reported FY 3Q22 earnings of INR 61.9 bn, increasing INR 6.8 bn (12.4%) linked quarter, driven by net interest and fee improvement and a provision cut;  
Net new NPLs continued to increase 11.4% on an annualized basis at FY 3Q22 versus INR 44.1 bn 43.7% at FY 3Q21; and    
We find that ICICI is short on reserves to the tune of INR 116 bn or just over a half year of ICICI’s core operating result. 


<ul>
<li>
Axis Bank (AXSB.IN) [Axis] has become the frontrunner to purchase Citigroup’s (C.US) India [Citi India] consumer business; </li>
<li>The Citi India transaction would represent a negative adjusted net spread of 41 bp for Axis – intimating a negative return on investment of 1.0%; and </li>
<li>As many customers have hit the exit button, we have already witnessed Citi India's retail loan portfolio decline 6.7% YOY prior to FY 2022 COVID-19 protocols. </li>
</ul>



Axis Bank (AXSB.IN) [Axis] has become the frontrunner to purchase Citigroup’s (C.US) India [Citi India] consumer business; 
The Citi India transaction would represent a negative adjusted net spread of 41 bp for Axis – intimating a negative return on investment of 1.0%; and 
As many customers have hit the exit button, we have already witnessed Citi India's retail loan portfolio decline 6.7% YOY prior to FY 2022 COVID-19 protocols. 


<ul>
<li>
Move Along, No Problems Here: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SG) [DBS] participated in a competitor conference on January 10, 2022, suggesting that not an ounce of risk is on balance sheet; </li>
<li>
Digital Franchise: Management also focused on digital initiatives, including: DBS Digital Exchange; Digital Custody; and the Partior platform; and</li>
<li>
Deal Risk Remains High: There was no discussion by management of its headlong buying spree of some fairly spicy transactions. And they are not done.</li>
</ul>



Move Along, No Problems Here: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SG) [DBS] participated in a competitor conference on January 10, 2022, suggesting that not an ounce of risk is on balance sheet; 

Digital Franchise: Management also focused on digital initiatives, including: DBS Digital Exchange; Digital Custody; and the Partior platform; and

Deal Risk Remains High: There was no discussion by management of its headlong buying spree of some fairly spicy transactions. And they are not done.


Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>India's goods exports grew 41.4% in 2021, outpacing most of the world (including Taiwan, Korea and China). Services exports stayed robust too, and both will boost growth in 2022. </li>
<li>Fixed investment spending was up 11% YoY in Q2-FY2021/22, and will likely strengthen further on the back of accelerating corporate profits (evident in surging corporate tax revenue). </li>
<li>Despite renewed disruptions from India's Third Wave of Covid, we expect real GDP to grow over 10% in FY2021/22 and 8%+ in FY2022/23, boosted by robust exports.  </li>
</ul>


India's goods exports grew 41.4% in 2021, outpacing most of the world (including Taiwan, Korea and China). Services exports stayed robust too, and both will boost growth in 2022. 
Fixed investment spending was up 11% YoY in Q2-FY2021/22, and will likely strengthen further on the back of accelerating corporate profits (evident in surging corporate tax revenue). 
Despite renewed disruptions from India's Third Wave of Covid, we expect real GDP to grow over 10% in FY2021/22 and 8%+ in FY2022/23, boosted by robust exports.  


India's Trade-Led Acceleration in GDP Unlikely to Lose Momentum in 2022

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

*Mixed Bottom-line: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] reported FY 2Q22 results of INR 76.3 bn, improving INR 11.2 bn (17.3%) linked quarter. In fairness, this was a strange quarter, as the provision cut of INR 98.6 bn (98.1%) was unjustified – and not aligned with reality, enabling results to appear far better than they actually were. Effectively cutting loss provisions to zero when NPL coverage is abysmal in order to offset frontloaded pension costs is far from a prudent banking practice; and*Reserve Challenge Should Lead To Capital Raise: Surprisingly, we found that net new NPLs increased just INR 41.7 bn or 10.8% on an annualized basis, which is a far cry from the INR 193.2 bn or 65.9% annualized posted at FY 4Q21. Given the capital and remaining credit challenges, SBI must be better prepared to take additional losses. By our calculation, we find that SBI’s reserves are short INR 841 tn – over two years of pre-tax results or nearly 18% of SBI’s market-cap.

*Mixed Bottom-line: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] reported FY 2Q22 results of INR 76.3 bn, improving INR 11.2 bn (17.3%) linked quarter. In fairness, this was a strange quarter, as the provision cut of INR 98.6 bn (98.1%) was unjustified – and not aligned with reality, enabling results to appear far better than they actually were. Effectively cutting loss provisions to zero when NPL coverage is abysmal in order to offset frontloaded pension costs is far from a prudent banking practice; and*Reserve Challenge Should Lead To Capital Raise: Surprisingly, we found that net new NPLs increased just INR 41.7 bn or 10.8% on an annualized basis, which is a far cry from the INR 193.2 bn or 65.9% annualized posted at FY 4Q21. Given the capital and remaining credit challenges, SBI must be better prepared to take additional losses. By our calculation, we find that SBI’s reserves are short INR 841 tn – over two years of pre-tax results or nearly 18% of SBI’s market-cap.

State Bank of India – Not A Prudent Move

India

iShares MSCI India ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI India Index.

iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA US)

ICICI Bank – Continued Improvement

ICICI BANK: ICICI FY 3Q22 earnings increased 12.4% QOQ driven by net interest income and fee improvement and a provision cut. ICICI is still short...

Thomas J. Monaco

Axis Bank – Lost In The Citi

AXIS: Axis has become the frontrunner to purchase Citi India's consumer business. This deal would result in a negative ROI of 1.0% to Axis.

Thomas J. Monaco

DBS Group Holdings – Lots of Lipstick

DBS: DBS participated in a competitor conference, suggesting not an ounce of risk sits on balance sheet. There was no discussion of its headlong...

Thomas J. Monaco

India's Trade-Led Acceleration in GDP Unlikely to Lose Momentum in 2022

Goods export growth of 41%YoY in 2021 was the fastest in Asia. Robust goods & services exports plus accelerating investment will ensure 10%+ RGDP...

Prasenjit K. Basu

State Bank of India – Not A Prudent Move

SBI: SBI reported a QOQ FY 2Q22 results increase of 17.3%. A provision cut of 98% was unjustified, only serving to offset frontloaded pension...

Thomas J. Monaco