Specialist in Indian Banking and Economic Research

Hemindra Hazari

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

On April 23, 2020, Franklin Templeton India (FTI) took the unprecedented step of winding up its six debt mutual fund schemes. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) then ordered a confidential audit report on this fiasco. Excerpts of the report have now appeared in the media (<a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/supreme-court-hearing-in-franklin-templeton-case-when-is-the-next-court-hearingcourt-case-on-franklin-templeton-ft-case-ft-hearing-franklim-templeton-cade-hearing-6553741.html/amp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and <a href="https://themorningcontext.com/business/franklin-templeton-top-brass-put-self-interest-first" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>). They reveal an abysmally poor standard of corporate governance at FTI, and serious <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/ed-to-investigate-franklin-templeton-senior-officials-for-money-laundering/story/432903.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegations</a> of unlawful gains and money laundering by its senior management.Franklin Templeton (FT) is known as a reputed 74-year-old multinational company which manages US$ 1.4 trillion globally. However, risk management at the Indian arm of this giant was given low priority. Business managers based in India were in a position to influence the director-risk based at FT’s headquarters in San Mateo, California. When critical concerns were raised by the India risk management team, these managers got them removed from a presentation made to the board of directors at FTI. Normally, regulators and the board of directors ensure the separation of risk management from business, so as to maintain the independence of the former; the latter are forbidden to dictate or influence risk reports. Such prudence and separation were disregarded by FTI. The fact that its director-risk in-charge of regional/global risk could be influenced by business managers in India is an indication of the state of FT’s global risk management. This should worry capital market regulators and investors in the geographical jurisdictions where FT operates.A number of top personnel are being investigated for their conduct (exiting schemes of FTI prior to the winding down announcement): Vivek Kudva, president Asia Pacific FT, his wife, Roopa Kudva (managing director, Omidyar Network India, independent director at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nestle-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13101:1" rel="noopener">Nestle India (NEST IN) </a> and regarded as an expert on governance), Sanjay Sapre, president, FTI and Jayaram Iyer, CEO, FTI, Venkataradha Krishnan, director, FTI and Arvind Sonde, trustee, FT Trustee Services. This reveals the standards of ethics and integrity among the senior management of FTI. In the case of Roopa Kudva, it remains to be seen how companies such as Omidyar and Nestle, India respond if it is confirmed that their  director undertook trades based on unpublished market sensitive information.The announcement of the winding down of the debt schemes exposed the incompetence of FTI in corporate debt management. However, the leak of select sections of the forensic audit report has highlighted major fault lines in this multinational company, namely, the disregard of risk management and the lack of integrity and ethical standards among its entire senior management. To restore confidence the regulator should ensure a complete restructuring of the trustees and the board of directors of FTI’s AMC, and bar them from holding any senior posts in companies managing public funds, as they failed in their responsibilities. One only hopes that the rest of the mutual fund industry in India does not share the characteristics of FTI.

On April 23, 2020, Franklin Templeton India (FTI) took the unprecedented step of winding up its six debt mutual fund schemes. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) then ordered a confidential audit report on this fiasco. Excerpts of the report have now appeared in the media (here and here). They reveal an abysmally poor standard of corporate governance at FTI, and serious allegations of unlawful gains and money laundering by its senior management.Franklin Templeton (FT) is known as a reputed 74-year-old multinational company which manages US$ 1.4 trillion globally. However, risk management at the Indian arm of this giant was given low priority. Business managers based in India were in a position to influence the director-risk based at FT’s headquarters in San Mateo, California. When critical concerns were raised by the India risk management team, these managers got them removed from a presentation made to the board of directors at FTI. Normally, regulators and the board of directors ensure the separation of risk management from business, so as to maintain the independence of the former; the latter are forbidden to dictate or influence risk reports. Such prudence and separation were disregarded by FTI. The fact that its director-risk in-charge of regional/global risk could be influenced by business managers in India is an indication of the state of FT’s global risk management. This should worry capital market regulators and investors in the geographical jurisdictions where FT operates.A number of top personnel are being investigated for their conduct (exiting schemes of FTI prior to the winding down announcement): Vivek Kudva, president Asia Pacific FT, his wife, Roopa Kudva (managing director, Omidyar Network India, independent director at Nestle India (NEST IN)  and regarded as an expert on governance), Sanjay Sapre, president, FTI and Jayaram Iyer, CEO, FTI, Venkataradha Krishnan, director, FTI and Arvind Sonde, trustee, FT Trustee Services. This reveals the standards of ethics and integrity among the senior management of FTI. In the case of Roopa Kudva, it remains to be seen how companies such as Omidyar and Nestle, India respond if it is confirmed that their  director undertook trades based on unpublished market sensitive information.The announcement of the winding down of the debt schemes exposed the incompetence of FTI in corporate debt management. However, the leak of select sections of the forensic audit report has highlighted major fault lines in this multinational company, namely, the disregard of risk management and the lack of integrity and ethical standards among its entire senior management. To restore confidence the regulator should ensure a complete restructuring of the trustees and the board of directors of FTI’s AMC, and bar them from holding any senior posts in companies managing public funds, as they failed in their responsibilities. One only hopes that the rest of the mutual fund industry in India does not share the characteristics of FTI.

Franklin Templeton Revelations: Business Trumps Risk, Private Interests Trump Ethics

Equity Analyst - Asia Consumer Sector, Investory

Devi Subhakesan

Equity Analyst - Asia Consumer Sector

ASIA CONSUMER: INSIGHTS AND INVESTMENT IDEAS

Investory

Investory is a Singapore-based boutique independent equity research firm founded in January 2017 with a primary focus on consumption themes across Asia-Pacific.

We aim to generate investible ideas based on consumption trends and outlook. We screen our ideas on several parameters - product potential, long-term growth and management commitment being the most critical.  We follow a fundamental analysis approach in our stock selection process and are not restricted by market cap.

We aspire to grow into a leading source of unbiased research, free of conflict of interest, for investors yearning for independent and disciplined analysis. 

We also undertake bespoke research mandates to support our Institutional clients’ investment needs.

Our team comprises of professionals with extensive experience in the Asian equity markets, in areas ranging from research, servicing institutional clients and investment management.

Equity Bottom-Up

Tata Consumer Products / Equity Bottom-Up

In this insight, we discuss  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consumer-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:258:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN)</a> 's potential to outperform peers in the India consumer sector in terms of revenue and profit growth over the next few years. Its inclusion in India's Nifty index from March 31st would attract more investor attention and investment to the stock. The predominantly beverages (branded tea, coffee) company that competes with global multinationals is now expanding its foods business to address the highly unorganised but growing domestic packaged kitchen staples and snacks/breakfast segment. From Tata salt to Tata Starbucks, this consumer goods company already have a wide array of brands under its portfolio. Leveraging on the goodwill enjoyed by the Tata brand in India and by expanding its reach and distribution wider, Tata Consumer is fast-tracking growth in the foods segment. The potential is immense, competition (national level) is scant and the young company (in its new avatar, name and structure) can make it big if it successfully adapts few pages from the playbook of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/titan-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12630:1" rel="noopener">Titan Co Ltd (TTAN IN)</a>- another Tata enterprise that leveraged quality and brand to take on large unorganised consumer sectors.

In this insight, we discuss  Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN) 's potential to outperform peers in the India consumer sector in terms of revenue and profit growth over the next few years. Its inclusion in India's Nifty index from March 31st would attract more investor attention and investment to the stock. The predominantly beverages (branded tea, coffee) company that competes with global multinationals is now expanding its foods business to address the highly unorganised but growing domestic packaged kitchen staples and snacks/breakfast segment. From Tata salt to Tata Starbucks, this consumer goods company already have a wide array of brands under its portfolio. Leveraging on the goodwill enjoyed by the Tata brand in India and by expanding its reach and distribution wider, Tata Consumer is fast-tracking growth in the foods segment. The potential is immense, competition (national level) is scant and the young company (in its new avatar, name and structure) can make it big if it successfully adapts few pages from the playbook of Titan Co Ltd (TTAN IN)- another Tata enterprise that leveraged quality and brand to take on large unorganised consumer sectors. 

Tata Consumer (TATACONS IN): Index Inclusion Adds Further Flavour. Tasty Mix.

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Index Rebalance

Last evening, the Index Maintenance Sub-Committee (IMSC) of NSE Indices announced the results of the March index review for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a>. The rebalance will be effective after the close of trading on 30 March and passive funds will need to trade at the close (VWAP over the last 30 minutes of trading) on the day.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consumer-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:258:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN)</a> has been included in the index and replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gail-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15263:1" rel="noopener">Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN)</a>. This is in line with what we expected and makes <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consumer-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:258:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN)</a> the fifth Tata group company to be included in the index.NSE indices have also announced a number of changes to other indices. There are 7 changes to the NIFTY Next 50 (which together with the NIFTY 50 makes up the NIFTY 100) with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adani-enterprises-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:245:1" rel="noopener">Adani Enterprises (ADE IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apollo-hospitals-enterprise" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:880:1" rel="noopener">Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (APHS IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gail-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15263:1" rel="noopener">Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jubilant-foodworks-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:986:1" rel="noopener">Jubilant Foodworks (JUBI IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mrf-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2930:1" rel="noopener">Mrf Ltd (MRF IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vedanta-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:514:1" rel="noopener">Vedanta Ltd (VEDL IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yes-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:767:1" rel="noopener">Yes Bank (YES IN)</a> replacing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-baroda" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:545:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of Baroda (BOB IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/container-corp-of-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17912:1" rel="noopener">Container Corp of India (CCRI IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/general-ins-corp-of-india" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25944:1" rel="noopener">General Insurance Corp Of India (GICRE IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hindustan-zinc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8688:1" rel="noopener">Hindustan Zinc (HZ IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oracle-financial-services" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7775:1" rel="noopener">Oracle Financial Services (OFSS IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/power-finance-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13579:1" rel="noopener">Power Finance (POWF IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consumer-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:258:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN)</a>.Changes have also been made to the index methodology. The main change from the perspective of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> is that the index reviews will be effective after the close on the second last working day of the review month. The existing methodology specifies that the index review will be effective after the close on the F&amp;O expiry day (last Thursday) of the review month.<div class="content-highlight">This Insight has been marked as Bullish since TATACONS could outperform its peers in the near term.</div>

Last evening, the Index Maintenance Sub-Committee (IMSC) of NSE Indices announced the results of the March index review for the NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX). The rebalance will be effective after the close of trading on 30 March and passive funds will need to trade at the close (VWAP over the last 30 minutes of trading) on the day.Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN) has been included in the index and replaces Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN). This is in line with what we expected and makes Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN) the fifth Tata group company to be included in the index.NSE indices have also announced a number of changes to other indices. There are 7 changes to the NIFTY Next 50 (which together with the NIFTY 50 makes up the NIFTY 100) with Adani Enterprises (ADE IN), Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (APHS IN), Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN), Jubilant Foodworks (JUBI IN), Mrf Ltd (MRF IN), Vedanta Ltd (VEDL IN) and Yes Bank (YES IN) replacing Bank Of Baroda (BOB IN), Container Corp of India (CCRI IN), General Insurance Corp Of India (GICRE IN), Hindustan Zinc (HZ IN), Oracle Financial Services (OFSS IN), Power Finance (POWF IN) and Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN).Changes have also been made to the index methodology. The main change from the perspective of the NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) is that the index reviews will be effective after the close on the second last working day of the review month. The existing methodology specifies that the index review will be effective after the close on the F&amp;O expiry day (last Thursday) of the review month.This Insight has been marked as Bullish since TATACONS could outperform its peers in the near term.

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance: TATACONS In, GAIL Out; Methodology Changes Too

Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

The earnings momentum behind the sector is currently extraordinarily strong, with all four companies reporting an acceleration in revenue growth rates, record operating margins and a continued strong medium-term demand outlook, driven by accelerated cloud adoption and digitalisation, across many verticals and geographies. These companies are also set to record strong y/y growth numbers over the next two quarters given the low base from last year’s pandemic-hit fiscal 4Q20 and 1Q21. However, following phenomenal share price performance from its March-2020 lows, this has been reflected in valuations as these companies now trade at record valuation multiples, on based on significantly upgraded earnings growth expectations. In this insight, after a brief overview of the recent reporting season and the outlook for the industry, I look at what long-term growth expectations are implied by current valuation levels, based on the Justified PE calculation. I also compare this to other high-quality Indian companies.

The earnings momentum behind the sector is currently extraordinarily strong, with all four companies reporting an acceleration in revenue growth rates, record operating margins and a continued strong medium-term demand outlook, driven by accelerated cloud adoption and digitalisation, across many verticals and geographies. These companies are also set to record strong y/y growth numbers over the next two quarters given the low base from last year’s pandemic-hit fiscal 4Q20 and 1Q21. However, following phenomenal share price performance from its March-2020 lows, this has been reflected in valuations as these companies now trade at record valuation multiples, on based on significantly upgraded earnings growth expectations. In this insight, after a brief overview of the recent reporting season and the outlook for the industry, I look at what long-term growth expectations are implied by current valuation levels, based on the Justified PE calculation. I also compare this to other high-quality Indian companies.

Indian IT Services: What Justified PE Ratios Tell Us About Sustainable Growth Expectations

The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> is the flagship index of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The index has 50 stocks and is a free float weighted market cap index. The next rebalance will be effective after the close of trading on 25 March and the announcement of the changes will be done four weeks prior to the effective date.We are now almost at the end of the review period. There are 3 stocks that meet the criteria for inclusion in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a>: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consumer-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:258:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/icici-lombard-general-insura" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25882:1" rel="noopener">Icici Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICIGI IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/info-edge-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14461:1" rel="noopener">Info Edge India (INFOE IN)</a>. The three lowest ranked stocks in the index are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gail-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15263:1" rel="noopener">Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/indian-oil-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7781:1" rel="noopener">Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/upl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20776:1" rel="noopener">UPL Ltd (UPLL IN)</a>.We see a high probability of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consumer-products" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:258:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN)</a> being included and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gail-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15263:1" rel="noopener">Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN)</a> being excluded, and a lower probability of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/icici-lombard-general-insura" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25882:1" rel="noopener">Icici Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICIGI IN)</a> being included and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/indian-oil-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7781:1" rel="noopener">Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN)</a> being excluded.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/info-edge-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14461:1" rel="noopener">Info Edge India (INFOE IN)</a>'s average free float market cap is less than 1% lower than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/icici-lombard-general-insura" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25882:1" rel="noopener">Icici Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICIGI IN)</a> - can get close going into the tail end of the review period.The index committee has a wide berth when choosing the number of changes to be made and it is highly unlikely that there will be more than 2 changes, especially since a maximum of 5 changes can be made in a year.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dmart" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23656:1" rel="noopener">Avenue Supermarts (DMART IN)</a> has the highest market cap among non index constituents but is not eligible for index inclusion since there are no listed Futures and Options on the stock, a prerequisite for index inclusion.

The NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) is the flagship index of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The index has 50 stocks and is a free float weighted market cap index. The next rebalance will be effective after the close of trading on 25 March and the announcement of the changes will be done four weeks prior to the effective date.We are now almost at the end of the review period. There are 3 stocks that meet the criteria for inclusion in the NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX): Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN), Icici Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICIGI IN) and Info Edge India (INFOE IN). The three lowest ranked stocks in the index are Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN), Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN) and UPL Ltd (UPLL IN).We see a high probability of Tata Consumer Products (TATACONS IN) being included and Gail India Ltd (GAIL IN) being excluded, and a lower probability of Icici Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICIGI IN) being included and Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN) being excluded.Info Edge India (INFOE IN)'s average free float market cap is less than 1% lower than Icici Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICIGI IN) - can get close going into the tail end of the review period.The index committee has a wide berth when choosing the number of changes to be made and it is highly unlikely that there will be more than 2 changes, especially since a maximum of 5 changes can be made in a year.Avenue Supermarts (DMART IN) has the highest market cap among non index constituents but is not eligible for index inclusion since there are no listed Futures and Options on the stock, a prerequisite for index inclusion.

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance Preview - Nearing The End of the Review Period

India

Nestle India Ltd. manufactures brand name milk products and other food products. The Company's products include Everyday dairy whitener, milk powder and ghee, Milkmaid sweetened condensed milk and Cerelac weaning foods. Nestle's beverages include Nescafe and Sunrise coffee and Nesfit enriched glucose powder. Nestle also manufactures Maggi noodles, soups and sauces.

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Nestle India (NEST IN)

Franklin Templeton Revelations: Business Trumps Risk, Private Interests Trump Ethics

The fact that its director-risk in-charge of regional/global risk could be influenced by business managers in India is an indication of the state...

Hemindra Hazari

Tata Consumer (TATACONS IN): Index Inclusion Adds Further Flavour. Tasty Mix.

Tata consumer is fast-tracking growth in the foods business by expanding into the unorganised India kitchen staples segment and expanding its...

Devi Subhakesan

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance: TATACONS In, GAIL Out; Methodology Changes Too

TATACONS has been added to the NIFTY50 replacing GAIL. There are changes to a bunch of other indices too and methodology changes which shift the...

Brian Freitas

Indian IT Services: What Justified PE Ratios Tell Us About Sustainable Growth Expectations

In this insight, I look at the long-term growth expectations implied by current valuation levels, based on a Justified PE calculation. I also...

Wium Malan, CFA

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance Preview - Nearing The End of the Review Period

There is just over a week remaining in the review period. We expect TATACONS to replace GAIL, and see a low probability of ICICIGI replacing IOCL....

Brian Freitas

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