Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

Postal Savings Bank of China C / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>NIM is continuing to decline, from ~2.5% at its recent peak to ~1.8% in the most recent quarter. This may be from higher rescheduled loans. </li>
<li>Loan growth ascent is strangely steady, and not indicative at all, of any business cycle. This alone is a concern, for true visibility of figures. </li>
<li>Impairment costs do not suggest concern on underlying credit metrics, but with far higher loan balances in the past few years, this is an even greater worry.</li>
</ul>


NIM is continuing to decline, from ~2.5% at its recent peak to ~1.8% in the most recent quarter. This may be from higher rescheduled loans. 
Loan growth ascent is strangely steady, and not indicative at all, of any business cycle. This alone is a concern, for true visibility of figures. 
Impairment costs do not suggest concern on underlying credit metrics, but with far higher loan balances in the past few years, this is an even greater worry.


China Postal Savings Bank - Lower NIM, But Steady Lending & Credit Costs Suggests All Is Fine?

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

China A-Shares represent the 6th largest country holding among active EM investors, if taken as a separate allocation from their non A-Share peers.  Average holding weights of 4.74% puts them sandwiched between Russia and Brazil, and inline with the benchmark iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF weight.Industrials and Consumer Discretionary are the most widely held sectors, as well as being the largest allocations and biggest overweights in active EM portfolios.  Financials are the key underweight holding.The most widely held stocks are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kweichow-moutai-co-ltd-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1553:1" rel="noopener">Kweichow Moutai (600519 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/midea-group-co-ltd-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16185:1" rel="noopener">Midea Group Co Ltd A (000333 CH)</a>, both held by 23% of the funds in our analysis.  There is a reasonable gap to the 2nd tier, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gree-electric-appliances-inc-of-zhuhai" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7622:1" rel="noopener">Gree Electric Appliances (000651 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sany-heavy-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20183:1" rel="noopener">Sany Heavy Industry (600031 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-techn-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24404:1" rel="noopener">CATL (A) (300750 CH)</a> held by 14% of funds at much lower average weights.Over the last 6-months, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sungrow-power-supply-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4255:1" rel="noopener">Sungrow Power Supply (300274 CH)</a> saw the largest increase in the percentage of EM Funds invested (+6.3%), followed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-techn-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24404:1" rel="noopener">CATL (A) (300750 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/longi-green-energy-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12703:1" rel="noopener">LONGi Green Energy Technology (601012 CH)</a>.

China A-Shares represent the 6th largest country holding among active EM investors, if taken as a separate allocation from their non A-Share peers.  Average holding weights of 4.74% puts them sandwiched between Russia and Brazil, and inline with the benchmark iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF weight.Industrials and Consumer Discretionary are the most widely held sectors, as well as being the largest allocations and biggest overweights in active EM portfolios.  Financials are the key underweight holding.The most widely held stocks are Kweichow Moutai (600519 CH) and Midea Group Co Ltd A (000333 CH), both held by 23% of the funds in our analysis.  There is a reasonable gap to the 2nd tier, with Gree Electric Appliances (000651 CH), Sany Heavy Industry (600031 CH) and CATL (A) (300750 CH) held by 14% of funds at much lower average weights.Over the last 6-months, Sungrow Power Supply (300274 CH) saw the largest increase in the percentage of EM Funds invested (+6.3%), followed by CATL (A) (300750 CH) and LONGi Green Energy Technology (601012 CH).

Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

AIA <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">(1299 HK)</a> 
AIA's proposed USD1.86bn minority investment in China Post Life marks a notable deviation from its long-held belief in maintaining control over its key operations. The transaction is touted as a barbell strategy that will give AIA's shareholders access to high-net worth clients on the one hand and the mass market on the other. In our view, the economics to China Post Life are clear, but the benefits to AIA may be more subtle (Exhibit 1).
The deal is fairly immaterial to AIA financially. At 1.34x historical P/B, the investment represents less than 0.6% of AIA's assets and 0.3% its IFRS capital. Valuation is in line with New China Life-A's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-china-life-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43:1" rel="noopener">(601336 CH)</a>, but we don't believe AIA is in it to turn a quick profit.
China Post Life stands to benefit almost immediately. The cash injection will boost the insurer's core solvency ratio from 110% to above 200%. But much more important is the promise of product ramp-ups, service upgrades, and sales training. On these fronts, China Post Life will be learning from the best.
The benefits AIA derives from the deal may be somewhat less tangible, but no less significant. The investment places the Hong Kong-based insurer front and center in the country's drive to widen the mass market's financial access. The unique position of the China Postal Group may open other doors down the road.
We are naturally skeptical of all insurance M&amp;As and joint ventures as so few of them have worked globally. That said, financial and executive risks seem to be well contained with the China Post Life transaction. While it may be an overstatement to call this transaction politically motivated, the potential regulatory and policy tailwinds it promises must be the envy of many of AIA's competitors.
<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">Exhibit 1: AIA's China Footprint</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/216/534/original/image_81757729821625228313721.png?1625228314" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="216534"></figure>
Source: China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), National Bureau of Statistics, Company disclosures, Our analysis
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Related Insight
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-financials-silver-linings-playbook" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53013" rel="noopener">China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook</a> </li>
</ul>

AIA (1299 HK) 
AIA's proposed USD1.86bn minority investment in China Post Life marks a notable deviation from its long-held belief in maintaining control over its key operations. The transaction is touted as a barbell strategy that will give AIA's shareholders access to high-net worth clients on the one hand and the mass market on the other. In our view, the economics to China Post Life are clear, but the benefits to AIA may be more subtle (Exhibit 1).
The deal is fairly immaterial to AIA financially. At 1.34x historical P/B, the investment represents less than 0.6% of AIA's assets and 0.3% its IFRS capital. Valuation is in line with New China Life-A's (601336 CH), but we don't believe AIA is in it to turn a quick profit.
China Post Life stands to benefit almost immediately. The cash injection will boost the insurer's core solvency ratio from 110% to above 200%. But much more important is the promise of product ramp-ups, service upgrades, and sales training. On these fronts, China Post Life will be learning from the best.
The benefits AIA derives from the deal may be somewhat less tangible, but no less significant. The investment places the Hong Kong-based insurer front and center in the country's drive to widen the mass market's financial access. The unique position of the China Postal Group may open other doors down the road.
We are naturally skeptical of all insurance M&amp;As and joint ventures as so few of them have worked globally. That said, financial and executive risks seem to be well contained with the China Post Life transaction. While it may be an overstatement to call this transaction politically motivated, the potential regulatory and policy tailwinds it promises must be the envy of many of AIA's competitors.



Exhibit 1: AIA's China Footprint




Source: China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), National Bureau of Statistics, Company disclosures, Our analysis




Related Insight


China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook 


AIA / China Post Life Deal: A Worthwhile Excursion

Equity Analyst, Event-driven, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Equity Analyst, Event-driven

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

Huatai Securities Co Ltd (A) / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>SSE 50 and SSE 180, respectively, aim to represent the performance of the 50 and 180 largest and most liquid A-share stocks listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.</li>
<li>The 12-month reference period used for the June 2024 review is now complete. The SSE 180 expected ADDs/DELs list has changed slightly since I published my last insight (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/quiddity-leaderboard-sse50-180-jun-24-past-trades-successful-but-time-to-unwind-some" target="_blank" rel="noopener">link</a>).</li>
<li>In this insight, we take a look at our final expectations for index changes during the June 2024 index rebal event.</li>
</ul>


SSE 50 and SSE 180, respectively, aim to represent the performance of the 50 and 180 largest and most liquid A-share stocks listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The 12-month reference period used for the June 2024 review is now complete. The SSE 180 expected ADDs/DELs list has changed slightly since I published my last insight (link).
In this insight, we take a look at our final expectations for index changes during the June 2024 index rebal event.


Quiddity Leaderboard SSE50/180 Jun 24: US$2bn One-Way; LONGs up +9.8% Vs SHORTs in ~2 Months

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

<ul>
<li>With the review period nearing completion, 6 stocks are in inclusion zone and 9 are in deletion zone. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a review.</li>
<li>We estimate a one-way turnover of 7.1% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 9.9bn (US$1.37bn). Index arb balances should increase the impact on the stocks.</li>
<li>The potential inclusions (of which four are Financials) have continued to outperform the mixed bag of potential deletions. With pretty big impact on the deletes, expect further divergence.</li>
</ul>


With the review period nearing completion, 6 stocks are in inclusion zone and 9 are in deletion zone. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a review.
We estimate a one-way turnover of 7.1% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 9.9bn (US$1.37bn). Index arb balances should increase the impact on the stocks.
The potential inclusions (of which four are Financials) have continued to outperform the mixed bag of potential deletions. With pretty big impact on the deletes, expect further divergence.


SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: Financials Continue to Outperform

China

Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd. provides banking services. The Company offers deposits, loans, fund settlement, and other services. Postal Savings Bank of China provides its services to individuals, enterprises, and other clients.

Postal Savings Bank of China C (601658 CH)

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Postal Savings Bank of China C (601658 CH)

China Postal Savings Bank - Lower NIM, But Steady Lending & Credit Costs Suggests All Is Fine?

China Postal Savings Bank shows far higher loans with almost no increase of impairment costs. NIM reduction is radical, we wonder if this is partly...

Daniel Tabbush

China A-Shares - EM Fund Ownership Guide

China A-Shares represent the 6th largest country holding among active EM investors. In this analysis, we analyse the current set up of A-Shares in...

Steven Holden

AIA / China Post Life Deal: A Worthwhile Excursion

AIA's proposed investment in China Post Life may be immaterial financially, but it may deliver intangible benefits in the way of regulatory and...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Quiddity Leaderboard SSE50/180 Jun 24: US$2bn One-Way; LONGs up +9.8% Vs SHORTs in ~2 Months

I estimate one-way turnover to be roughly US$2bn. Since 12th March 2024, the LONGs have outperformed the SHORTs by 9.77%.

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: Financials Continue to Outperform

There could be 5 changes for the SSE50 in June. Estimated one-way turnover is 7.1% leading to a one-way trade of CNY 9.9bn (US$1.37bn). The...

Brian Freitas

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)