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ING gets to make a profit, Buyer Beware?

The Discussion on Citi, BofA results, GS bonuses and JPM’s growth is scheduled on the same Diwali weekend as well..

The ING Sale: Will OCBC grow into a larger Pan Asian role?

ING has sold the Asian private banking business to OCBC, which was having difficulty in growing in Asia but has made rapid strides in expanding in KL and can now focus again on Singapore. The $1.46 billion price ( Sing $ 2 billion) for assets that are not growing is based on the assumed scalability of the asset base of $15-16 billion. The unit was costed for $1 billion for the bank in its balance sheet. The N11 will thus provide a second chance to OCBC to grow.

OCBC has a healthy 60-40 split of interest and non interest income from its current assets ( economic assets or people assets in the case of fee based income) and as expected Q2 income went down with decrease in advisory and other fee based income to S$ 466mn or USD 335 million ( EUR 221 m). Also, interestingly OCBC currently has one of the most healthy cost-income ratios of 34% which can equip it with the necessary depth in absorbing any new costs and continue during the lean times where larger competition from US/Europe/India apart from JPM and GS is unlikely to withstand the current cost of business.

However its Private Banking acquisition may well add to its woes in the region as it has failed to grow beyond Malaysia and Singapore and PB assets may be offshore banking assets domiciled in these other ASEAN countries and even India. OCBC currently earns only 20% of its bank profits or $77 million from Consumer Financial Services where it has been hiding its Private Banking assets presumably. Even in that, as much as $ 10 million is from Islamic Banking in Malaysia (Bank Negara) The transaction adds just about $20 million to OCBC profits and margins may reduce further. However, it looks as if these assets would be lazy and no flight of assets to other competition in the region will ensue whether SocGen or Deutsche Bank

At this stage let me also reiterate that it is important to know that the final price is closer to the author’s estimation for this deal as well as the UBS captive sale, the Satyam sale , the AIG Investments sale, except for the Nan Shan Insurance unit for Life Insurance, Valuation premium is no longer for the selling brand ( Citi BPO assets for over $505 million just a year back) but for real business and real value delivered to the acquirer..The bear phase as always is a euphemism for the opportunity to deliver justice to buyers of economic value over noise)

Fortunately, Julius Baer is happy with its progress in Swiss assets from the acquisition as the Swiss pie is a little more localised and protected by Swiss banking law and does not expose the niche bank to new ( see ING sells Private Banking assets) Julius Baer has paid a half a billion dollars for the Swiss Assets

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Lifestyle Infrastructure

One of our special themes at the Advantages weblogs has been our assertion that US, India, China and most of the rest of the world that is growing

is likely to do so on the basis of a consumption revolution. Below is out insight piece that opened the chapter on India's final coming out that was much awaited but wasn't really happening till 2009..

The Commonwealth Games Infrastructure Train

A few years ago, when the Indian women shot Gold in Commonwealth Hockey and our aim in general started consistently being medal grade, we won the bid for New Delhi to host the games in 2010. This business of infrastructure had been mystifying sportspersons for decades in India; none too easily supported by the overarching smell of rent and inadequate facilities for local sports persons historically.

Even today most sports would bow out in front of Cricket and that is not a full-fledged event at the CWG, though there is still a toss-up for the T20 version to be added. Like most other spheres of life, China has been doing it higher, faster and stronger, having already held the challenging Olympics in 2008 earning over $2b for Beijing, the host city.

The story is quite public and you must have all followed it at least since August 2009 when the first few fistcuffs were exchanged regarding the lack of preparations for the CWG event now just 6-7 months away. The Sports Minister and the Games Organising Committee Chair Suresh Kalmadi has variously ben painted and vilified while we look at the rejuvenated parts of Wembley in London and survive on facepaint and cheering the local IPL franchise in Cricket games. The painting of events apart we just thought it important for Sports and Tourist infrastructure worth $1.5 billion to be included in the India story at about this time.

This preamble would survive your taste buds and your snipping scissors in the mind and we�ll come back right after lunch is over for you..

And the Original piece..follow up article on our Lifestyle Economics stream

If you have been following the India story closely, India�fs new developments are focussed on Infrastructure and Retail along with giant leaps in the Entertainment business. You can look closely at the India stories athttp://advantages.us/inframils to get a flavor of what�fs happening in Indian Infrastructure

On the other hand Retail Lifestyle businesses are increasingly attracting investors�cRural Markets may grow at a faster pace at least on the Drawing board. �c Where is Investor access? Why is it still on the government to make it happen? The FDI limits and the others are fairly rational policies..but where are the investors?..

Nanos will roll into homes by July end and IPL teams are already applying for trademarks as it looks set to become the greatest sporting extravaganza in the world, already ranked at #2 behind the NFL season in the USA. The 3G challenge will tear at Telecom companies�f profits in the coming years�c

10-Year-Old Girl Scores Hole-In-One at US Kids Golf European Championship in Scotland
(The image is of a young indian golfer in Scotland)

BUT, Importantly, India caught on to serious lifestyle investments early in 2005, Today with the debut of Cox and Kings IPO..

Where it is now?

Towns like Jalandhar, Ludhiana in Punjab, Jaipur and Agra on the Golden Triangle and such state capitals, heritage and business towns like Ahmedabad, Surat and Nagpur present a unique opportunity for Indian hospitality business to scale up, esp as Indian railways, india�fs aviation footprint and the road infrastructure will follow in step with the boom. Note: The Indian Maharaja with TC, Maharajas Express with Cox & Kings, and the other two luxury trains have started first season bookings quite well and money is being spendt to add gym and pool to the Palace on wheels as well ( More here ) Golden Palace started from Bangalore is not doing so well apparently. The Maharajas Express for example is 84 persons at an average of $1000 per night for a 7 day- 8 night tour between Mumbai and Delhi

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