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

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Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group's (1299.HK) [AIA] limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume; </li>
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Many Deal Distractions:AIA has gone on a deal-making spree in 2021, announcing six separate transactions to date; and  </li>
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Suffocating Hong Kong Business: AIA’s core Hong Kong business has been an unmitigated disaster during COVID-19, struggling with mainland Chinese visitors. Further, there is limited clarity on AIA’s legacy agents. </li>
</ul>



Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group's (1299.HK) [AIA] limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume; 

Many Deal Distractions:AIA has gone on a deal-making spree in 2021, announcing six separate transactions to date; and  

Suffocating Hong Kong Business: AIA’s core Hong Kong business has been an unmitigated disaster during COVID-19, struggling with mainland Chinese visitors. Further, there is limited clarity on AIA’s legacy agents. 


AIA Group – No Word On Massive Deal Risk

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/policybazaar-insurance-web-aggregator" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33470:1" rel="noopener">Policybazaar Insurance Web Aggregator (1569999D IN)</a>/PB Fintech operates the Policybazaar and Paisabazaar platforms in India. Policybazaar is India’s largest digital insurance marketplace with a 93.4% market share based on the number of policies sold in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Paisabazaar is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace with a 53.7% market share, based on disbursals in FY21, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. PB Fintech’s shareholders include SoftBank Vision Fund, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, Tiger Global 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>.   PB Fintech will launch its IPO on 01 November at an indicative price range of Rs940-980. The IPO comprises a primary raise of Rs37,500 million ($502 million) and a secondary raise up to Rs19,600 million ($262 million). The main secondary seller is SoftBank Vision Fund which aims to sell up to Rs18,750 million ($250 million) worth of shares. In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pb-fintech-policybazaar-ipo-initiation-insurance-policy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:55735" rel="noopener">PB Fintech (Policybazaar) IPO Initiation: Insurance Policy</a>, we stated that Policybazaar, which is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace, is a direct play on the rising insurance penetration rates in India. PB Fintech operates an asset-light capital model and does not underwrite any insurance or retain any credit risk on loans. The business is well-positioned to benefit from the post-COVID-19 recovery in insurance policies sales and loan disbursals by its partners. Helped by strong brand recognition and retention rates, the favourable unit economics also suggest that medium-term profitability is within reach. <div class="content-highlight">In this note, we look at the updated prospectus which outlines the 1QFY22 results (for the quarter ending June) and recent developments. Overall, the recent results reinforce our view that PB Fintech has attractive fundamentals. We will discuss valuation in our next note.  </div>

Policybazaar Insurance Web Aggregator (1569999D IN)/PB Fintech operates the Policybazaar and Paisabazaar platforms in India. Policybazaar is India’s largest digital insurance marketplace with a 93.4% market share based on the number of policies sold in FY20, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Paisabazaar is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace with a 53.7% market share, based on disbursals in FY21, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. PB Fintech’s shareholders include SoftBank Vision Fund, Tencent (700 HK), Tiger Global and Info Edge India (INFOE IN).   PB Fintech will launch its IPO on 01 November at an indicative price range of Rs940-980. The IPO comprises a primary raise of Rs37,500 million ($502 million) and a secondary raise up to Rs19,600 million ($262 million). The main secondary seller is SoftBank Vision Fund which aims to sell up to Rs18,750 million ($250 million) worth of shares. In PB Fintech (Policybazaar) IPO Initiation: Insurance Policy, we stated that Policybazaar, which is India’s largest digital consumer credit marketplace, is a direct play on the rising insurance penetration rates in India. PB Fintech operates an asset-light capital model and does not underwrite any insurance or retain any credit risk on loans. The business is well-positioned to benefit from the post-COVID-19 recovery in insurance policies sales and loan disbursals by its partners. Helped by strong brand recognition and retention rates, the favourable unit economics also suggest that medium-term profitability is within reach. In this note, we look at the updated prospectus which outlines the 1QFY22 results (for the quarter ending June) and recent developments. Overall, the recent results reinforce our view that PB Fintech has attractive fundamentals. We will discuss valuation in our next note.  

PB Fintech (Policybazaar) IPO: Signs of Life

*Another Weak Number: Waterdrop, Inc. (WDH.US) [Waterdrop] reported its second set of earnings results since its IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 656 mn  - declining CNY 286 mn or 77.3% linked quarter bringing cumulative losses since the IPO to over CNY 1.0 bn or about 38% of IPO funds raised. Challenges came from overall cost growth of CNY 411 mn (30.6%) due primarily to sales and marketing spend; and    *”Notice” To Online Insurers: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) roll out of the internet insurance revision plan “Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification of Internet Insurance Disorders”, aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms, ordering firms and agencies to end improper marketing and pricing practices, and improve privacy protections. This will be a direct challenge for Waterdrop and other mainland Chinese insurers.

*Another Weak Number: Waterdrop, Inc. (WDH.US) [Waterdrop] reported its second set of earnings results since its IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 656 mn  - declining CNY 286 mn or 77.3% linked quarter bringing cumulative losses since the IPO to over CNY 1.0 bn or about 38% of IPO funds raised. Challenges came from overall cost growth of CNY 411 mn (30.6%) due primarily to sales and marketing spend; and    *”Notice” To Online Insurers: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) roll out of the internet insurance revision plan “Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification of Internet Insurance Disorders”, aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms, ordering firms and agencies to end improper marketing and pricing practices, and improve privacy protections. This will be a direct challenge for Waterdrop and other mainland Chinese insurers. 

*Regulatory Onslaught Continues: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) announced that it is investigating Ping An Insurance’ (2318.HK) [Ping An] property investments. Regulatory scrutiny of Ping An is occurring against the backdrop of the country’s skyrocketing real estate market and excessive leverage to the sector. This is on top of the CBIRC’s roll out of the internet insurance revision plan, which aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms to which Ping An too has exposure; and*Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An’s reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declined CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH related to the above real estate risk. Excluding the real estate write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0% on the back of insurance fundamental improvement nearly across the board.

*Regulatory Onslaught Continues: The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) announced that it is investigating Ping An Insurance’ (2318.HK) [Ping An] property investments. Regulatory scrutiny of Ping An is occurring against the backdrop of the country’s skyrocketing real estate market and excessive leverage to the sector. This is on top of the CBIRC’s roll out of the internet insurance revision plan, which aims to scrutinize mainland China’s insurance technology platforms to which Ping An too has exposure; and*Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An’s reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declined CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH related to the above real estate risk. Excluding the real estate write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0% on the back of insurance fundamental improvement nearly across the board.

*First Half Profits: ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060.HK) [ZhongAn] reported positive 1H21 bottom-line results of CNY 604.1 mn, an increase of CNY 840.2 mn over losses of CNY 236.1 mn in 2H20. Results were primarily driven by P&amp;C, which delivered profits of CNY 1.0 bn - tracking the improvement in underwriting profits (combined ratio of 99.4%) and investment performance (up 43.2% HOH); and *Heavy Handed Government: Increased scrutiny of the online insurance segment by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) intimates the near wipeout of this current generation of online insurers. This regulatory onslaught is stifling innovation and likely will push business returns to well below the cost of equity.

*First Half Profits: ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance (6060.HK) [ZhongAn] reported positive 1H21 bottom-line results of CNY 604.1 mn, an increase of CNY 840.2 mn over losses of CNY 236.1 mn in 2H20. Results were primarily driven by P&amp;C, which delivered profits of CNY 1.0 bn - tracking the improvement in underwriting profits (combined ratio of 99.4%) and investment performance (up 43.2% HOH); and *Heavy Handed Government: Increased scrutiny of the online insurance segment by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s (CBIRC) intimates the near wipeout of this current generation of online insurers. This regulatory onslaught is stifling innovation and likely will push business returns to well below the cost of equity.

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – Loss Ratio Improvement

China

ZhongAn Online is China's first online-only insurance company, providing internet insurance services and insurance information technology services. It offers personalized products across health, digital life, consumer finance, and automotive ecosystems, and also provides IT consulting and digital banking services. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

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ZhongAn Online (6060 HK)

AIA Group – No Word On Massive Deal Risk

AIA: AIA reported a limited set of 3Q21 results, where VONB declined 3.5% on a linked quarter basis due weaker new sales volume. No word on AIA's...

Thomas J. Monaco

PB Fintech (Policybazaar) IPO: Signs of Life

PB Fintech (Policybazaar) will launch its IPO on 01 November to raise up to $764m. The updated prospectus reinforce our view that PB Fintech has...

Arun George

Waterdrop – Someone Plug The Dike

WATERDROP: WDH reported its second set of earnings since the IPO, coming in at a negative CNY 656 mn - declining 77.3% QOQ bringing cumulative...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance - Ugggh

PING AN INSURANCE: The CBIRC is investigating Ping An's property investments against the backdrop of the country’s skyrocketing real estate market...

Thomas J. Monaco

ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – Loss Ratio Improvement

ZHONGAN ONLINE: ZhongAn reported a positive 1H21 bottom-line result, driven by improving P&C underwriting profits and investments. However,...

Thomas J. Monaco

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