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

<ul>
<li>Air New Zealand (AIR) was aiming to raise around US$827m (NZ$1.2bn) via a renounceable rights issue. It has now launched a shortfall of around US$153m, at last close.</li>
<li>We have covered the background of the rights and expected shortfall in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/air-new-zealand-rights-and-possible-shortfall-delayed-boarding-but-its-priced-to-fly" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:67651" rel="noopener">Air New Zealand Rights and Possible Shortfall - Delayed Boarding but Its Priced to Fly</a>.</li>
<li>In this note, we talk about the recent updates and shortfall pricing.</li>
</ul>


Air New Zealand (AIR) was aiming to raise around US$827m (NZ$1.2bn) via a renounceable rights issue. It has now launched a shortfall of around US$153m, at last close.
We have covered the background of the rights and expected shortfall in our earlier note, Air New Zealand Rights and Possible Shortfall - Delayed Boarding but Its Priced to Fly.
In this note, we talk about the recent updates and shortfall pricing.


Air New Zealand Shortfall - Not a Great Take-Up Probably Because of the Large Retail Holding

<ul>
<li>Abacus aims to raise around US$146m (A$200m) via issuing new shares worth 7.1% of issued shares.</li>
<li>The company will use the proceeds from the placement to pay down debt that it has accumulated from earlier acquisition/construction.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the recent developments and run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>


Abacus aims to raise around US$146m (A$200m) via issuing new shares worth 7.1% of issued shares.
The company will use the proceeds from the placement to pay down debt that it has accumulated from earlier acquisition/construction.
In this note, we will talk about the recent developments and run the deal through our ECM framework.


Abacus Property Group Placement - Previous Deal Did Well, This One Won’t Be Accretive

<ul>
<li>ZIP announced that it would acquire Sezzle in an all-stock deal. It also announced its earnings and that it would raise A$149m (A$107m) from a placement.</li>
<li>We have also covered the Oct 2020 placements in our earlier note, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/zip-placement-sorry-it-s-not-you-it-s-me" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44380" rel="noopener">Zip Placement - Sorry, It's Not You. It's Me</a>. </li>
<li>In this note we will talk about the recent developments and run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>


ZIP announced that it would acquire Sezzle in an all-stock deal. It also announced its earnings and that it would raise A$149m (A$107m) from a placement.
We have also covered the Oct 2020 placements in our earlier note, Zip Placement - Sorry, It's Not You. It's Me. 
In this note we will talk about the recent developments and run the deal through our ECM framework.


ZIP Acquisition and Unlinked Placement - Too Many Things at Once

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

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>CBA reported modestly weaker FY 1H22 cash results from continuing operations of AUD 30.5 bn, which attributed primarily to a 77.1% decline in loss provision reversals; </li>
<li>Despite the poor result, CBA has chosen to pull on numerous earnings levers to make even these numbers; and </li>
<li>While credit has improved, reserves will need to be buttressed as we head into a period of higher interest rates.   </li>
</ul>


CBA reported modestly weaker FY 1H22 cash results from continuing operations of AUD 30.5 bn, which attributed primarily to a 77.1% decline in loss provision reversals; 
Despite the poor result, CBA has chosen to pull on numerous earnings levers to make even these numbers; and 
While credit has improved, reserves will need to be buttressed as we head into a period of higher interest rates.   


Commonwealth Bank of Australia – Pulling On All Earnings Levers

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The HFD from ASIC on insolvencies in Australia points to a weak credit metric environment for Australian banks. </li>
<li>Some banks report rising bad loans but relatively stable credit costs, which tends to not last indefinitely. </li>
<li>Far worse insolvencies in many sectors YoY to 30 June should be a window on higher impairment costs for Australian banks.</li>
</ul>


The HFD from ASIC on insolvencies in Australia points to a weak credit metric environment for Australian banks. 
Some banks report rising bad loans but relatively stable credit costs, which tends to not last indefinitely. 
Far worse insolvencies in many sectors YoY to 30 June should be a window on higher impairment costs for Australian banks.


Australia Banks - Insolvencies Data to 30 June 2025 Suggest Weak and Worsening Credit Metrics.

Australia

Westpac Banking Corporation offers general and savings banking services.  The Company provides investment portfolio management and advice, insurance services,  consumer finance, and money market services among other services.  Westpac Banking Corp. serves individuals, businesses, and corporations worldwide.

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Westpac Banking (WBC AU)

Air New Zealand Shortfall - Not a Great Take-Up Probably Because of the Large Retail Holding

Air New Zealand (AIR) was aiming to raise around US$827m (NZ$1.2bn) via a renounceable rights issue. It has now launched a shortfall of around...

Sumeet Singh

Abacus Property Group Placement - Previous Deal Did Well, This One Won’t Be Accretive

Abacus aims to raise around US$146m (A$200m) via issuing new shares worth 7.1% of issued shares. In this note, we will run the deal through our ECM...

Sumeet Singh

ZIP Acquisition and Unlinked Placement - Too Many Things at Once

ZIP announced that it would acquire Sezzle in an all-stock deal. It also announced its earnings and that it would raise A$149m (A$107m) from a...

Sumeet Singh

Commonwealth Bank of Australia – Pulling On All Earnings Levers

CBA: CBA reported modestly weaker FY 1H22 cash result, attributed primarily to a 77.1% decline in provision reversals. Despite the result, CBA did...

Thomas J. Monaco

Australia Banks - Insolvencies Data to 30 June 2025 Suggest Weak and Worsening Credit Metrics.

Australian insolvencies data is fairly real-time and certainly HFD, giving a window on underlying credit metrics. The data is not good, with very...

Daniel Tabbush

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