Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Trung Nguyen

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

UPL Ltd. manufactures, distributes and exports off-patent agrochemicals. The Company also manufactures phosphorus & phosphorus-based compounds and its products include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, fumigants and rodenticides. United Phosphorus also manufactures industrial chemicals, specialty chemicals and chloralkaline products

UPL Limited's Q4/23-24 results appear to be better than in the past three quarters, with lower declines registered for revenues and EBITDA. That said, we note that this was against a low comparison base, with Q4/22-23 marking the beginning of the downturn. The company has been severely affected by post-patent competition and cheap supply from China, with these not likely to improve much in the near term. The financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, and is now not consistent with the Ba1/BB/BB+ rating. While liquidity appears to be adequate, we expect it to weaken during the year as the company takes on working-capital debt. We highlight that while leverage and the liquidity profile tend to be better at financial year-end, they typically deteriorate significantly during the year. However, the USD 500 mn right issuance should shore up the balance sheet significantly.

  UPL Limited's Q4/23-24 results appear to be better than in the past three quarters, with lower declines registered for revenues and EBITDA. That said, we note that this was against a low comparison base, with Q4/22-23 marking the beginning of the downturn. The company has been severely affected by post-patent competition and cheap supply from China, with these not likely to improve much in the near term. The financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, and is now not consistent with the Ba1/BB/BB+ rating. While liquidity appears to be adequate, we expect it to weaken during the year as the company takes on working-capital debt. We highlight that while leverage and the liquidity profile tend to be better at financial year-end, they typically deteriorate significantly during the year. However, the USD 500 mn right issuance should shore up the balance sheet significantly. 

UPL Limited - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

Tata Motors Limited manufactures cars and commercial automotive vehicles. The Company designs, manufactures, and sells heavy, medium, and small commercial vehicles including trucks, tankers, vans, buses, ambulances and minibuses. Tata also manufactures small cars and sports utility vehicles.

Tata Motors' Q4 and FY 2023-24 results were excellent in our view, with record high revenue and earnings. Net debt plunged by such a large amount that the Indian business has turned net cash, and the group remained on track to be overall net automotive debt free in FY 2024-25.

  Tata Motors' Q4 and FY 2023-24 results were excellent in our view, with record high revenue and earnings. Net debt plunged by such a large amount that the Indian business has turned net cash, and the group remained on track to be overall net automotive debt free in FY 2024-25. 

Tata Motors - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust / Credit

Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust is a real estate investment trust that invests in malls and other retail locations.

Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMRT SP)

Yesterday, Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMIRT) launched an exchange offer for the USD 7.25% 2024 notes maturing on June 19th, with an outstanding amount of USD 138.4 mn. The company has offered to exchange each of the USD 1,000 principal of the notes for USD 432 of USD 7.5% 2026 notes and a USD 600 cash payment. The funding will come from a credit facility of up to IDR 1.5 tn. We recommend that holders of the 2024 notes participate in the offer. Considering that it requires 70% of holders to take part, holding out could cause the transaction to fall through, with LMIRT then defaulting on the notes.

  Yesterday, Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMIRT) launched an exchange offer for the USD 7.25% 2024 notes maturing on June 19th, with an outstanding amount of USD 138.4 mn. The company has offered to exchange each of the USD 1,000 principal of the notes for USD 432 of USD 7.5% 2026 notes and a USD 600 cash payment. The funding will come from a credit facility of up to IDR 1.5 tn.   We recommend that holders of the 2024 notes participate in the offer. Considering that it requires 70% of holders to take part, holding out could cause the transaction to fall through, with LMIRT then defaulting on the notes. 

Lippo Malls Indonesia - Event Flash - Exchange Offer For 2024 Notes; Q1 Results - Lucror Analytics

PT Indika Energy Tbk is an energy company. The Company provides energy services, energy resources and infrastructure, primarily in the areas of coal production, engineering, procurement and construction services and power generation services.

Indika Energy has launched a tender offer for its USD 8.25% 2025 notes, with USD 534 mn outstanding. For each USD 1,000 in principal, the tender consideration is USD 962.5 and early tender consideration is USD 50, leading to a total consideration of USD 1,012.5. Indika is concurrently launching a USD 144A/RegS offering. Holders of the 8.25% '25s may request to receive priority allocation on the new notes. We view initial price talk of 8.875% as attractive, given the company's robust credit profile and improving debt maturity profile.

  Indika Energy has launched a tender offer for its USD 8.25% 2025 notes, with USD 534 mn outstanding. For each USD 1,000 in principal, the tender consideration is USD 962.5 and early tender consideration is USD 50, leading to a total consideration of USD 1,012.5. Indika is concurrently launching a USD 144A/RegS offering. Holders of the 8.25% '25s may request to receive priority allocation on the new notes.   We view initial price talk of 8.875% as attractive, given the company's robust credit profile and improving debt maturity profile. 

Indika Energy - Event Flash - Launches Tender Offer And 5NC2 Notes Offering - Lucror Analytics

Indika Energy’s FY 2023 numbers were soft as projected, owing to lower coal prices and the impact of the new licence for 91%-owned PT Kideco Jaya Agung. While Indika's financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, the credit metrics remained robust within the rating category. Liquidity stayed sound. The company should have a more difficult year in FY 2024, with decreased selling prices, revenue and earnings expected. That said, we still believe Indika can generate positive FCF, given its low-cost position. The company is set to redeem the c. USD 294 mn outstanding USD 5.875% 11/24 notes on May 3rd at par. While the redemption will be leverage neutral, we view the move as credit positive. Indika will only have the USD 2025 bonds remaining after the 2024 notes redemption, and these can be almost fully funded by the holdco's cash position.

  Indika Energy’s FY 2023 numbers were soft as projected, owing to lower coal prices and the impact of the new licence for 91%-owned PT Kideco Jaya Agung. While Indika's financial risk profile deteriorated significantly, the credit metrics remained robust within the rating category. Liquidity stayed sound.   The company should have a more difficult year in FY 2024, with decreased selling prices, revenue and earnings expected. That said, we still believe Indika can generate positive FCF, given its low-cost position.   The company is set to redeem the c. USD 294 mn outstanding USD 5.875% 11/24 notes on May 3rd at par. While the redemption will be leverage neutral, we view the move as credit positive. Indika will only have the USD 2025 bonds remaining after the 2024 notes redemption, and these can be almost fully funded by the holdco's cash position. 

Indika Energy - Earnings Flash - FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Trung is responsible for covering high yield companies in the South East Asian region. He joined Lucror in 2013 from ST Asset Management, a credit investment arm of Temasek Holdings, where he spent over six years in investment research and portfolio management with a focus on high yield, structured credit and leveraged finance.

Trung holds a Master in Financial Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Certificate in Computational Finance from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Financial Risk Manager (FRM) charter-holder.

Trung Nguyen
Senior Credit Analyst
• Lucror Analytics

UPL Limited - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

UPL Limited's Q4/23-24 results appear to be better than in the past three quarters, with lower declines registered for revenues and EBITDA. That...

Lucror Analytics

Tata Motors - Earnings Flash - FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

Tata Motors' Q4 and FY 2023-24 results were excellent in our view, with record high revenue and earnings. Net debt plunged by such a large amount...

Lucror Analytics

Lippo Malls Indonesia - Event Flash - Exchange Offer For 2024 Notes; Q1 Results - Lucror Analytics

Yesterday, Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMIRT) launched an exchange offer for the USD 7.25% 2024 notes maturing on June 19th, with an...

Lucror Analytics

Indika Energy - Event Flash - Launches Tender Offer And 5NC2 Notes Offering - Lucror Analytics

Indika Energy has launched a tender offer for its USD 8.25% 2025 notes, with USD 534 mn outstanding. For each USD 1,000 in principal, the tender...

Lucror Analytics

Indika Energy - Earnings Flash - FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Indika Energy’s FY 2023 numbers were soft as projected, owing to lower coal prices and the impact of the new licence for 91%-owned PT Kideco Jaya...

Lucror Analytics