Alpha Bank (ACBr.AT): 2Q20 First Look: NPE securitization to be closed in 4Q20

Alpha Bank (ACBr.AT): 2Q20 First Look: NPE securitization to be closed in 4Q20

12m Price Target: €1.34

  • All in, this was a good set of results, with higher-than-expected PBT (+38% vs Inquiry Financial consensus) and positive capital evolution in the quarter (+c.70bps qoq). Importantly, the bank expects to close its NPE securitization (project Galaxy) in 4Q20. P&L-wise, core revenues were in line with consensus with a slight beat in NII (+1% vs Cons) offsetting a minor miss on fees (-1% vs Cons).

Trading came in significantly above consensus expectations (+17% vs Cons), driving a 3% beat (vs Cons) on revenues. Marginally higher-than-expected costs (+1% vs Cons) translated into a core PPP in line with consensus and a headline PPP +4% vs consensus on the back of higher trading gains.

  • The bank booked €114mn of COVID-related provisions in the quarter, leading impairments to €261mn (-3% vs Cons) corresponding to an annualized cost of risk of 2.6% (1.5% underlying). B/S-wise, negative NPE formation in the quarter (-1% qoq) together with a marginal decrease in gross loans (-1% qoq) led to a flat NPE ratio at 43.5%.

Finally, the bank reported a CET1 B3FL ratio of c.14.7% in 2Q20, +c.70bps qoq, with the positive sequential evolution driven by (1) net profit in the quarter, (2) positive impact of CRR changes and (3) lower RWAs, offsetting (4) other negative impacts.

For us, the five key takeaways from management during the Q&A were as follows:

  1. NPE securitization (+) is expected to be closed in 4Q20 with a GBV of €10.8bn. In particular, the bank has received non-binding offers in early July and expects to receive binding ones in the beginning of 4Q20. The deal will reduce NPL and NPE ratios respectively to 13% and 24% (2Q20 pro-froma). The total capital impact of the transaction is expected between -250bps and -280bps with the positive impact of RWA relief (c.210bps) partially offsetting the loss on the NBV of assets sold and transaction costs (460-490bps). Finally, the P/L impact of the deal is expected at c.€2bn.
  2. CoR (-): Management is expecting an increase in the underlying CoR due to more management actions and higher curings vs 2Q. All in, CoR is expected at c.240bps in 2020 (including COVID-related provisions), while underlying CoR at 180bps for the full year.
  3. NII (=/-) is expected to be up 1% yoy in 2020 owing to several factors including: (1) lower funding costs on the back of TLTRO 3; (2) higher volumes as the bank expects new disbursement at >€5bn for FY20 (€3.5bn already achieved in 1H20); and (3) better spreads as the loan mix shifts towards the SME and corporate segments driven by guaranteed loans. Importantly, management expects a decline in the high-single-digit rate in NII as a result of the NPE securitization, this already including the positive factors mentioned above.
  4. Core PPP (+): Management sees core PPP to increase by 4%/5% yoy in 2020 driven by: (1) resilient NII, (2) fees expected to decline -4%/-5% yoy, improving vs the previous guidance of -5%/-7% yoy and (3) significant cost reduction, expected at 7% yoy (4% excluding the extraordinary costs booked in 2019).
  5. Capital (=): CRR changes had a positive impact of 52bps on CET1 in the quarter and the bank expects further 15bps from the more favourable treatment of software intangibles.

Exhibit 1: Alpha Bank – 2Q20 Earnings snapshot

€ mn, unless otherwise stated

Source: Company data, Inquiry Financial Consensus Data, Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

Valuation and risks

We rate Alpha Bank Buy and our ROTE/COE-based 12-month price target is €1.34. Key downside risks to our investment view, forecasts and price target include: (1) potential sovereign rating downgrades; (2) the materialization of execution risks around the “Hercules” plan (HAPS); (3) negative capital surprises; (4) a downgrade in the country’s macro outlook; and/or (5) further margin compression (vs. expectations).

ACBr.AT

12m Price Target: €1.34

Price: €0.54 Upside: 146.4%
Buy
Market cap: €839.5mn / $992.0mn
3m ADTV: €7.8mn / $8.8mn
Greece
Europe Banks
Tang. equity/tang. assets (%): 11.4
M&A Rank: 3
GS Forecast
12/19 12/20E 12/21E 12/22E
Net inc. (€ mn) 97.0 (126.3) (25.1) 399.7
Tang. BVPS (€) 5.14 4.92 3.61 3.87
EPS (€) 0.06 (0.08) (0.02) 0.26
DPS (€) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
GS ROTE (%) 1.2 (1.6) (0.4) 6.9
P/TBV (X) 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1
P/E (X) 23.9 NM NM 2.1
Dividend yield (%) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
CET1 ratio (%) 14.9 13.6 10.4 11.7
3/20 6/20E 9/20E 12/20E
EPS (€) (0.01) (0.02) (0.02) (0.03)
Source: Company data, Goldman Sachs Research estimates, FactSet. Price as of 26 Aug 2020 close.

Goldman Sachs does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision. For Reg AC certification and other important disclosures, see the Disclosure Appendix, or go to www.gs.com/research/hedge.html. Analysts employed by non-US affiliates are not registered/qualified as research analysts with FINRA in the U.S.