Our Insights

Is Your Business Game Ready to Get the Best Rate It Deserves?

Feb 13, 2024 11:52:24 AM / by Grant Dermody posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

There’s nothing like a sporting analogy to focus the mind. I’ve enjoyed watching the cricket on free to view and the new commentary team lead by Scotty ‘‘Sumo’ Stevenson.

I’m also looking forward to the Razor Robinson era. I’m not in the Razor fan club, but I must admit I am warming to him and the fresh approach. You don’t get many “full credits” from Razor.

Often players who have been overlooked by the last AB’s coach have a second chance. The most obvious example in New Zealand rugby was the John Hart - Laurie Mains transition. Hart’s AB’s team was full of Aucklanders , whereas Laurie picked a lot of players from regional New Zealand, including Southland’s very own Simon Culhane. I was lucky enough to play alongside Simon, and he typified the Laurie Mains era of a tough, skillful hard worker with no frills.

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9 Things To Get Excited About This Year

Jan 26, 2024 1:30:52 PM / by Andrew Laming posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

Let’s be honest, last year was a bit tough.  

Expectations of dairy payout dropped to very low levels, lamb prices kept going lower than expected and interest rates went higher on the back of inflation that was stickier than ever. On top of that we started the year with a devastating cyclone that ripped the heart out of a major horticulture area, and we had a government that very few farmers thought was in their corner.    

It wasn’t just farming either – homeowners and business owners alike all got a collective feeling of malaise as recession started to spread its tentacles. Confidence surveys in both farming and non-farming sectors alike plumbed new depths.  

But, for this article, it’s a new year and let’s sweep the broom a bit for 2024, because there’s some things that farmers can start feeling more optimistic about as we head into the year.

 

1. Interest rates have leveled off and look likely to fall. 

It’s hard to imagine that a little over 12 months ago (pre-xmas 2022), we were at an OCR of 3.5% which was then lifted to 4.25% in Dec 2022. Very few (read: nil!) commentators were predicting that we would end up as high as 5.5% before the job on squashing inflation appeared done.  

But the story has changed.

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With Bank Profits Falling, Be Very Wary of the 2024 Response.

Dec 8, 2023 8:26:16 AM / by Andrew Laming posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

A few of the main banks have just finished their full year reporting releases and their profits are again hitting high levels on the back of record net interest margins and lowering operating costs.

The New Zealand divisions are all performing handsomely on the back of the ongoing expansionary lending to the home loan sectors in the earlier part of the financial year plus record margins on the back of the open supply of cheaper funds.

However, it’s worth paying particular attention to the near identical messaging coming from the Banks about their first half performances being much better than the second half.

Here’s some statements they’ve made:

ANZ, in its press release noted that “it was a game of two halves. The good performance of the bank in the first half of the 2022/23 final year reflected the tailwinds of the Covid fiscal stimulus in the economy..”   and “but in the second half of the year our performance slowed due to the more difficult environment NZ is entering”.

BNZ’s CEO Dan Huggins, who recorded a record rise in profit, noted that “BNZ's profit fell 12.5% in the second half-year versus the first-half to $704 million reflecting a broader economic slowdown in New Zealand” and “The second-half net interest margin dropped nine basis points to 2.36% from 2.45% in the first-half.

 

Let us interpret this for you.

Home lending growth has stalled, and deposit rates have climbed higher than expected, reducing the record margins banks were otherwise enjoying when there was excess cash floating around New Zealand, a result of the record stimulus provided by the government and RBNZ at the time. The Banks’ increase in profit is a result of extra lending volume multiplied by any additional margin increase between cost of deposits and return on loans.

We noted this starting to appear when we opined that Banks were increasing their business and agri margins at a greater rate than needed due to fixed rate home loans dragging on their returns

 

At this point, it’s worth remembering how Banks think when it comes to setting performance targets for their profits for their upcoming year.

Typically, cyclical considerations (i.e higher profits at times where market conditions allow, lower profits when not) are largely ignored. Instead, a newly minted, higher profit target is sought for the upcoming year, regardless of how good the prior year was.  

Typically, this “ask” will range between 5-10% increase on the prior year. This will need to come from either greater lending, better margins or lower costs. In most cases, all of these categories are targeted.

The Bank is a business and businesses increase profit by either selling more at better margins and at lower costs of operation. For Banks, this is largely a function of more lending growth (volume) x better lending margin (the gap between costs of deposits and lending rates) less business operating costs (people, branches and systems).  

Now let’s overlay that with the current speed of the economy. The back half of 2023 has seen a sluggish economy with low lending volumes.

Flowing into at least the first half of 2024, the forecast is for more of the same with persistently higher interest rates continuing to stifle credit growth.

 

With this backdrop in mind, we see the following things becoming evident in the Agri lending market as we go through 2024.

 

1. New transactions or customers that fit neatly* (*see point 4 below) into Banks’ Agri lending appetite, and in particular those from new customers, will remain strong and possibly get stronger.

Despite much lower commodity product prices and much higher interest rates, demand for new Agri transactions will remain strong where they fit into tight banking criteria.

This is the volume part of the increasing profit equation, a simple rationale of needing to continue to grow the balance sheet against a backdrop of lowering demand. The need for volume will be exacerbated by low lending volumes in the housing market.

If the deal fits neatly into Bank criteria, expect to see most main Banks lining up to bank it, with strong appetite and with very strong competition with pricing.

 

2. Conversely, look for Banks to increase margin on existing customers, or be slow to pass on reductions in deposits costs.  

This is where we will really see a two-step market.

The need to deliver profits against a backdrop of low lending volumes means that there will be increased focus on the margin multiplier of the profit equation. This will be in the form of portfolio wide increases in margin for “funding” or “liquidity” premiums and will become more evident when underlying base rates (30-80 day bills and swaps) begin to fall.

Equally, whilst Bank deposit costs have been increasing for the last two years, these are now starting to reach their peak and will eventually start falling. How quickly or slowly this is passed on is a strong profit determinant for the Bank.

You will also see a stringent focus on “pricing to the risk curve” – this means that those customers that have higher credit risk will ultimately be charged more as Banks look closely at each customers’ credit rating and ensure they are getting an “efficient” return on their capital. This will feel particularly difficult for those customers who are already under profit pressure.

 

3. Look out for further Bank “head count” reductions to lower operating costs.

The final lever that Bank’s will be examining is their ability to earn the same, but with less operating costs.

Ultimately this means working their business towards a “lower cost to serve” with more accounts per bank staff member or a greater use of technology to make non-human decisions. Either way means that the average banker will be having to do more, with less.

Having the necessary time to understand your credit proposal will come under pressure, particularly if it’s not presented well or not perfectly “in the box”.

 

4. The “swift and easy” credit approval “box” will continue to get smaller, leading to the need to present transactions even more carefully and consider non-main Bank capital solutions.

This is the double-edged sword from the above point- less time from bankers to consider applications and in general, less desire to consider transactions that don’t meet strict bank underwriting criteria or spend time on transactions that have been prepared to a sub-par level.

More than ever, if a Bank does not show appetite with a transaction, it does not mean that the farmer's strategy is flawed, its just that the Bank’s credit underwriting criteria is getting tighter, or possibly the credit risk is not presented in the right manner. And that’s a very important distinction.  

This will mean farmers will need to think carefully about how they present the transaction, plus consider other, more suitable forms of capital, including equity or non-main bank debt capital to better achieve or execute on their strategy.

 

So, what should you do with all this?

First, none of this is new, but here are some things that will become really important for you in 2024.

1. Ensure that your strategy and credit proposal is well presented.  

The banking process is equal parts objective (financials, balance sheet etc) and equal parts subjective (judgement on quality of decision making, advisors, strategy, rationale for past performance etc).

Knowing how to present your business in line with how a Bank assesses credit risk is vital for a yes or no, plus also for how your credit rating lands. This is doubly important where bankers have less time to understand what you’re trying to achieve/ask for.

 

2. Create a market for your loan.

This doesn’t mean taking your loan to all the Banks and asking for the best rate. This means ensuring that your business is of a sufficient quality that multiple Banks would want to have you as a customer.    In other words, create something that a bank would like to buy.

Don’t let your business get to a place where you are “marooned” with one Bank. But also, don’t worry if you’re in this camp - many farmers will be right now – but careful navigation around the current situation and creating a plan to move into a better level of credit risk over time is important.

 

3. If all of this feels like the Agri Debt market is pulling in different directions, all at once – you’re right.  

The Agri market for banking requires a very specific set of skills to navigate successfully. 2024 may well throw up the most “imperfect market” for Agri loans that we’ve seen yet.   The difference between yes or no, or the vast range in interest rate that the market will deliver will have significant ramifications on your business.

 

And if all of this seems a little too hard, drop NZAB a line.

NZAB was created to bridge the gap between farmers and their Bank.

New Zealand has some of the best farmers in the world. In a highly regulated and complex finance industry that continuously evolves, we ensure our farmers are informed and empowered to ensure they stay at the top of their game.

We’d be happy to show you why we’re the leading provider of Agri Finance advice across New Zealand. We use our scale, influence and experience to get our farmers the most competitive finance solutions they deserve.

 

Go to our website at www.nzab.co.nz for more, fill out this form, or call/email us direct on 0800 692 212 and info@nzab.co.nz

 

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Why Doesn’t Kiwibank Lend to NZ Farmers?

Nov 15, 2023 1:12:25 PM / by Andrew Laming posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

Kiwibank has been nothing short of a success.

It was initially set up in 2002 as a brainchild of the Alliance MP Jim Anderton, who was in a coalition government with Labour at the time, with a purpose of establishing a locally owned bank with profits that stayed in New Zealand, rather than headed overseas.

A quick tour of its history shows that from day dot, it launched over 200 branches nationwide, partnering with (and ultimately owned by) NZ Post. By 2008 it had grown to 600,000 customers, campaigning on “joining the movement” (i.e., away from Australian owned banks) and winning new customers on stronger customer satisfaction.

It continued to grow and in 2016, NZ Post sold 47% of it to NZ Super and ACC.   Fast forward to 2022, and the entire business was purchased from the syndicate by the New Zealand Government for an estimated $2.1bn.

As of June 2023, Kiwibank has total assets (loans) of $29.7bn, giving them a 5.62% share (on a "dollars lent” basis) of all New Zealand main bank lending. It also continues to head in the right direction, up from 4.39% five years ago. That’s impressive growth.    

Profitability is OK, but not as good as the Australian banks. Return on equity of 6-7% lags the main other banks who typically average about 12-15% (Return on equity (ROE) is the ratio of profit after tax to average equity).

Interestingly, their net interest margin is slightly higher than most banks at 2.5%, meaning they’re highly effective at using deposits to earn income (the net interest margin (NIM) is the ratio of net interest income to average interest-bearing assets, where net interest income is income received less income paid).

Why their profitability of their business lags versus others (on a ROE basis) is probably due to the operating expenditure being much higher at 65% of total income, versus their peers at 40-50%.   This may be symptomatic of a growing business and a larger number of smaller accounts.

Home loans are the biggest part of Kiwibank, but Business banking is rocketing up.

 

Below is the makeup of Kiwibank’s assets (loans) – from five years ago until today.

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We Need to Have a Serious Chat About Foreign Direct Investment into New Zealand Agriculture

Nov 3, 2023 8:39:08 AM / by Andrew Laming posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

Foreign direct investment (“FDI”) into New Zealand agriculture has been a political hot potato since it became a significant election issue in 2017, leading to material changes in OIO regulations, materially restricting FDI into New Zealand farmland on the back of it.   The regulations enacted at the time had the effect of restricting any investment into New Zealand land that was >5ha in size, with exceptions carved out for minority stakes in entities that hold land (<25%) and also those that deliver significant economic benefit to New Zealand (something that has been subsequently difficult to obtain as an exception).

However, the majority of economic data suggests that foreign direct investment (FDI) is advantageous to those countries that receive it. FDI promotes efficiency by enabling the allocation of resources to their most valuable purpose and introducing innovative technology and managerial methods that stimulate competition for resources, increase business revenues and enhance productivity growth.

In short, it creates more economic prosperity.

With the imminent change of government, plus the growing need to ensure New Zealand remains a high value economy in the future and funds all its necessary infrastructure upgrades, the discussion on FDI is about to amplify.

Let’s start this discussion with a graph. Below is all foreign direct investment since 1990 into New Zealand as a percentage of GDP compared to our nearest neighbour, Australia.  

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The ‘Gen X’s’ of the Agri Banking Sector Pass Down their Tips

Oct 26, 2023 7:28:30 PM / by Cameron Smith posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

In our article last week on the 'The Agri Banking Sector Through the Eyes of a Young Professional' I mentioned about some of the pearls of wisdom I had gathered from the ‘old Gen X’s’ that have a lot more wisdom than myself!

If you recall, writing this article started when I was asked to prepare an introductory document for our next Graduate to help bring them up to speed as they themselves enter the sector. Upon putting together the document I went to the people of NZAB and asked for their best ‘tip of the trade’ or ‘key piece of advice’ they wished they had when they first started out, and I received some absolute rippers that were too good not to share.

I believe there will be something that will resonate with every reader no matter the stage in your career. I have put them into sections based on some of the key messages that came through below: 

 

1. Draw on the knowledge of those around you to help assist your growth. 

  •  “Utilise the experience around you – ensure you spend time around those you can learn from, ask to go out on joint visits and the like. See how different people work and process things, and then see what resonates with you and how you can apply that to your own methods and approaches going forward".
  • Don’t think you need too or will learn everything straight away. Ask lots of questions, listen to conversations and try to soak it all in. It will come over time with experience, use the wealth of experience already within your business to help you along the way".
  • “Enjoy the journey. You’ll never get another time in your career to observe and learn from so many different people before having to be accountable for your own clients. Many Grads are tempted to rush to a ‘better job title’ but I often think back fondly on my time as a Grad".
  • “Everyone you work with in your time as a Grad brings their own skills and experiences that others don’t necessarily possess. They’ll also do things in a different way from their peers that will still achieve the outcome they require. Look at all people as a resource to tap into rather than at their job title. You never know when you will need someone’s specialist skills or knowledge at a future time in your career and their preparedness to help you will depend on how you treated them from all the various interactions, they had with you". 

2. Listen and ask lots of questions.

  • “Practice listening and get really good at it".
  • “Never be scared of asking questions if you don’t know the answer, even if it’s multiple questions. Sometimes we’re scared of that, thinking it makes us feel like we don’t know enough and that somehow will make us inferior - but that’s not the case in real life. Asking questions (or simply confirming what you think you’ve heard) shows a curious mind and a focus on getting more accurate information with a better understanding - excellent qualities".
  • You have a free 12 months to ask as many questions as possible about anything and everything. Make sure you use the 12 months wisely and learn as much as you can".
  • “Enjoy. It’s a special time in your career that you will look back on fondly in time to come. Don’t be in a rush. You will get there fast enough and the more you learn now through asking questions, exposure to conversations and meetings where you don’t have to play an active role in will be some of the best learnings you’ll ever get".
  • “Starting off as a Graduate is one of the most privileged positions to be in from the perspective that all you must do is show interest, ask questions, take notes and observe. Other than your colleagues giving you things to do for your development, you are literally there to learn the ropes without external delivery expectations. You have earned the Grad role through your ability to talk (communicate and articulate), your personality and the investment you made into yourself at University. You may have learnt some theory that is relevant to your job, but this next step is about bringing theory and commercial reality together. It’s important to have an opinion, and sometimes demonstrate your understanding of what’s been discussed, but your best position to come from is a place of curiosity rather than knowledge".

3. Always show respect and never be quick to act or judge. 

  • Our business and banking is about people. You can never know what people are juggling or managing that you can’t see. Approach every interaction, whether it’s with clients or the bank with empathy. Always “seek first to understand” before responding".
  • Respect the Customers/Farmers you deal with. We are in a privileged position where these farmers open the door to us and show us their businesses at an operational and financial level. Each and every farmer has earned the right to be where they are today".
  • “I remember getting told when I was first a Relationship Manager to never make assumptions about a deal before you have had the meeting. Super hard to do, but so true".
  • “Never burn bridges - even when dealing with people you don’t see eye to eye with, treat them with respect as you never know who they are either related too or have some level of influence over".
  • “The advisory industry is a lot of fun and a great opportunity to develop lifelong contacts and friendships along the way. We are in a super privileged position to see the good, the bad and the ugly. Remember that we are there to help, not cast judgement. So always be respectful of the fact that despite the challenging situations that some people face, this wasn’t how they saw it panning out and they once warranted all the debt that a bank has provided that now sees them in the position, they are in".

4. Get involved and just give it a go!

  • “Don’t be afraid of giving things a go, the more exposure you have the quicker the learning curve. We all start at the same place but if you apply yourself and put yourself in situations to learn and grow you will accelerate your development. Try to avoid sitting on the sidelines because you don’t feel qualified".
  • “Turn up to work with a good "can do attitude" and a smile. Login to your emails, keep them open all day, and regularly check them".
  • “Have a crack at working things out yourself (look at old papers that have been completed) but also don't be afraid to ask for help".
  • “Make an effort to introduce yourself to the whole team - in all regions, there's a wealth of experience, and everyone is itching to share their knowledge. Relationships with the team help build confidence to build relationships with clients and other intermediaries".
  • “Attitude and intent are the absolute key. As a Grad, you’re not hired because you are expected to know how to do the job, you are hired for your perceived ability to learn and execute. Say "yes" to everything regardless of who’s job it is (above or below you) and put your shoulder in to every chance you have”.
  • “Try first, ask second’. This is the best way to learn. Have a crack at a model, or a review and then ask questions once you’ve done what you can".
  • "Travel and see the country! The best thing you can do as a Grad is move as far away from home and your comfort zone as possible. You meet a ton of new people, build key relationships that may come in useful later in your career, but most importantly if you mess anything up, it’s not in your hometown!!".
  • “I remember coming into the Bank as a Grad, thinking there was expectation on me to know what I was talking about. I don’t recall ever being given the perspective of the fact that nothing was really expected from you, other than to be grateful for the opportunity, be respectful and be eager to learn".
  • “Don’t sit back and wait. The best people in the business are usually too busy to be totally effective mentors (that’s possibly unfair to some, but generally I have found it to be true) so if you want to learn, you’ve got to force your way in by demonstrating some usefulness or value to those high performers. Look for ways to do this, it might be prepping a meeting, or some extra insights etc".

5. Sometimes the basics can be the most important. 

  • “You can be taught banking and technical skills, but the soft skills are more important. Being able to structure meetings and talk to people is most important".
  • “Admit when you don’t know something. It can be a bit intimidating to tell a farmer that you don’t know the answer to their question, but they respect honesty, and can smell bullshit from miles away. If you don’t know, then say so, but offer up a plan to get back to them".
  • "Remember you are now part of your business’s brand. People will affiliate you with that business at any interaction. We’ve all had slip ups, but make sure you are carrying yourself at a level that you would be proud to be talked about".
  • “Get it right - clients pay us a lot of money to get the job done and to do it professionally. It is always a good idea to get someone else to proof your work before sending out to clients/banks etc".

6. Bonus advice.

  • “No good happens after 11pm. Go home. If you do push the boat out a bit far, always front the next day on time".

On that note I’m going to call it a day. No matter the stage of your career there is always something you can do better.

We are involved in a very exciting industry that is constantly evolving which means there is always something to learn. I hope there was something in this article that helped you do just that today!

Thank you to those who responded following my first article, it was great to hear from you and I enjoyed those who challenged my thinking – again please feel free to drop me a line if you have any follow up comments!

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The Agri Banking Sector Through the Eyes of a Young Professional

Oct 13, 2023 10:24:52 AM / by Cameron Smith posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

I have been involved in the financial sector for 18 months now, joining NZAB as their first graduate fresh out of completing my B.Com Ag at Lincoln University.

With our next graduate imminent, the NZAB team asked me to prepare an introductory document to help bring the new grad up to speed as they themselves enter the sector. As part of writing this, I asked the entire NZAB team for for their pearls of wisdom about starting out in Agri Finance (I’ll send these out in a follow-up article). They then encouraged me to write an article on both – we have many young people in our database so they thought it might be useful for those progressing in the industry.

This is my first time writing an article, so please be gentle with your feedback, but would love to hear from you!

It can be a bit overwhelming when first entering the industry, you feel like you don't know anything and that it will take years to learn it all and this is true! However, no one is expecting you to know everything and almost everyone is very willing to share their knowledge and help you along the way.

Approach is everything and with a can-do attitude and a willingness to learn this will take you a long way towards being successful. After 18 months in the industry, I have started to form some key observations, five of which I have outlined below.

So, here are my five key observations since entering the finance industry:

 

The industry appetite is constantly evolving.

The finance industry is constantly evolving in terms of best practice and appetite. This can be difficult as you must be prepared to make decisions based on the information you currently have on hand but ready for the realisation that everything will have likely changed in 12 months’ time.

This is one of the things I have probably seen as one of the largest challenges as there is a constantly moving ‘target’ that everyone is trying to hit. This changing appetite is usually a direct result of the strength of each industry at the time but overall, it is largely controlled by the bank’s lending appetite at the time which can be based on other factors outside a farmers control.

This changing appetite can become a large challenge for farmers who tend to work around a long-term strategic mindset. Farmers in general enter the industry with a long-term plan set around a 20 plus year strategy, which can be challenging to align with a changing industry appetite.

Bank appetite has a huge effect on a farmer’s availability and cost of funds. This can potentially make it more difficult for a farmer to act on an opportunity or slow down farm development if bank appetite is not aligned at the time these changes are taking place.

However, this evolving appetite within the industry is also what creates so many opportunities. Like any industry there are opportunities at the highs due to good returns and opportunities at the lows due to good deals that might be present. The challenge is to stay informed and to only act when it is smart to do so.

 

Industry contacts are hugely helpful.

One thing I have found out since entering the financial sector is, it is so much bigger than just your everyday bankers, advisors, and accountants.

There are many smaller niche spaces within the sector. There is also the requirement to deal with and have some understanding of many topics that branch outside of the direct financial sector. In an industry like this, having contacts can be extremely helpful and the best way to educate yourself. Being able to refer to these contacts is a great way to ensure you get accurate information, whilst it also provides the possibility of opening up new opportunities.

Start by getting to know and building good relationships within your own firm. These individuals have likely been where you are and have a wealth of experience so are definitely key people you want to have at your aid.

I would then recommend getting out and about attending industry events wherever possible. This will allow you to meet and start building new relationships within the industry to expand your portfolio of contacts. Stay in contact and this will help to increase your knowledge at a much faster rate moving forward.

 

There is never a bad time for a good deal.

During my short time in the industry, I have seen that when a sector is having a tough season that it can automatically be perceived as a bad time for anyone to be undertaking a significant growth project. However, this is so far from the truth. Some of these "bad" seasons present the best opportunities for those that are in the right position to act.

Each expansion or farm purchase should always be analysed on a case-by-case basis in order to understand the full story before making a decision on whether it is a good deal and if it’s the right time to act. There are many different elements to a deal that can affect its strength and whether it should be acted upon. For example, the neighbouring block of land may come up for sale. The farmer may not be in an ideal financial position to make a move, however the chance of that block coming up for sale again and the opportunity factor of missing out comes into play.

Sometimes you need to just slow down and attempt to step back and look at it from a wider perspective. What does the future of the farm look like without having this block involved and look at the long-term effects? It will likely strengthen the farm system through scale, security (winter stock in house) and ease of stock movement being located next door.

Unfortunately, there will very rarely be a time when all the moons align for example a deal that takes place in a market with a strong bank appetite, at the right price and when a farmer is in a position to act. This is why the right steps need to be taken to analyse each deal from all angles. There are always opportunities in the industry and deals to be made, it's just about sorting through them to select those worth acting upon.

 

Barriers to farm ownership are becoming increasingly difficult.

This was often talked about during my time at Lincoln University and I was quietly hoping that I was going to be proven wrong upon entering the financial industry.

However, it has become evident that this statement is very true. While a lot of the bigger players in the industry that have already managed to build a level of scale to their business are in the most part operating very successfully with an opportunity to expand within reach. The path for new players to enter the industry and purchase their first farm is one that is becoming increasingly difficult.

I believe this is a result of multiple factors. Farmers in past generations purchased their first farm and then had the opportunity to buy the neighbouring farm and so on, building scale slowly over time through smaller parcels of land. This has resulted in the size of farms becoming generally larger, but this has also become a requirement for having a profitable business.

Farms have become much more intensive and having scale is almost necessary to allow the business to be viable. Therefore, for new players attempting to enter the industry they are now challenged with purchasing a farm that is larger and more developed than their predecessors.

Chuck in the element of increasing regulations and environmental policies and this first farm now comes with a much larger price tag and can prove to be very difficult to make work.

However, it is not all doom and gloom and at NZAB we help many young farmers into their first farms. I am starting to see many different arrangements for farm purchases filter through the system which I find very exciting as well as necessary for the success of the industry moving forward.

For the industry to carry on, there needs to be younger people coming up through the ranks and having a pathway for this to occur is critical. One of the best methods I have seen is the exiting farm owner leaving equity in the farm with an arrangement for the farm buyer to buy them out over the next 5-10 years. This provides an investment the exiting farmer can get a return on, in an industry they are knowledgeable about and a farm they are familiar with, whilst also providing an achievable pathway for the next generation to come through the ranks.

We’re facilitating more and more transactions like this, and it is a great way to break down these barriers to enter for younger/newcomers to the industry.

 

Being flexible and bank ready is very powerful.

A business that is flexible and bank ready sits in a very strong place in the market. Business flexibility starts with being active in controlling and monitoring the financials of the business. Farmers who are all over their cashflow are better able to adjust it to suit the current market conditions. This puts them in a flexible position where they can tighten down expenses during tough times. For example cutting back on non core spending and capital expenditure. While also knowing what triggers to pull to boost production/increase returns during periods of good conditions.

For a business, being flexible is a huge strength. When opportunities present themselves this will allow the business to act fast giving it the highest chance of being successful.

Being bank ready refers to a position in which the business has a suitable equity position and a strong cashflow with good business systems and governance. It means the business is in a re-financeable position and would likely be accepted at any bank of its choice.

Having a strong understanding of your business cashflow and financials goes a long way to getting into this position. It has a variety of positive flow on effects. It creates competition in the market to bank the business, which in turn leads to competitive rates and terms offered. It puts the business in a position of power to negotiate terms that suit its needs as well as competitive rates that will decrease the business’s cost of funds. It also puts the business in a position to have a strong availability of funds if it wished to act on an opportunity or carry out some development.

 

Thanks for reading my first article!

Overall, it is a very exciting industry to be a part of. Just get out there, get stuck in and embrace the journey. At the end of the day, we are all out there to achieve the same outcome, and that is to get the best result for our clients and customers!

I’m still very much learning about the sector, and I probably will never stop. In the meantime, I hope one or two points resonate with you – please feel free to drop me a line if you have any follow up comments.

And look out for part II – where I share some of the time-honored wisdom from the “old Gen X's”!

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The NZAB Banking Dashboard: To June 2023

Oct 5, 2023 11:42:07 AM / by Andrew Laming posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

We’ve dived back into the RBNZ data to see all the main bank movements over the last six months - all the changes in lending, who’s winning market share and who’s losing it in both the Agri and Business Lending Sectors.

In this Issue:

  • The big slowdown in credit growth continues with half the lending growth over the last 12 months than we saw in 2021 and 2022.
  • A turnaround for Agri lending with over a $1Bn in new lending to the sector over the last six months on the back of stronger bank appetite, but also the build up of overdrafts with falling payout and increasing costs.
  • ASB and Rabo continue to grow their market share strongly, with ANZ's endless march downwards continues, shedding a whopping 80bps of lost market share over the last 12 months.
  • And on performing loans still quite low, a sign of relatively good credit in the sector. However, we would expect these to grow significantly over the next 12 months. There's now also one bank whose non-performing loans in Agri are actually lower than their total book as a whole, this could be a sign of too weak credit appetite or are they simply are well prepared?

As always, please sing out if you have any questions or would like to use the data in your own presentations or engagement with customers.  

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A Further Look at Agri Interest Rate Margins

Sep 6, 2023 11:56:34 AM / by Andrew Laming posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Information only disclaimer. The information and commentary in this email are provided for general information purposes only. We recommend the recipients seek financial advice about their circumstances from their adviser before making any financial or investment decision or taking any action.

We thought we should follow up on an article we wrote recently about the banks subsidising their shrinking home loan margins by expanding Agri and Business margins to maintain (and even grow) their profit. Indirectly, those actions lead to a profitability drag on the Agri and Business sectors – all to the benefit of ensuring that home loan activity remains more buoyant, which is an easier place for the banks to lend.

The article was featured in The Farmers Weekly with some comments from banks offering divergent views on this.

We were then fascinated to subsequently see two main banks, when reporting their results, talking about the intense competition driving home loan margins in New Zealand to unsustainable levels.  

One direct quote was that ‘pricing conduct in the New Zealand home loan market is “difficult to reconcile” and offers “unsustainable returns’

Also“[the] margin on new home loans is currently less than half of what [the bank] gets in Australia”.

What’s really interesting is now taking those comments in the context of overall bank margins in New Zealand.   See the graph below, which is taken from RBNZ data showing the total “net interest margin” for all banks' loans over the last three years. This is the combined margin for all lending that banks do – Agri, Business and Home Lending.

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Payout Pain: Focusing on what makes a difference!

Aug 22, 2023 1:55:04 PM / by Scott Wishart posted in Debt, Action, Planning, Budget, Banking, Strategy

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Following on from our article last week on being proactive around payout, we have been asked to share some of our observations around what has and hasn’t worked in the past. We’ve been here before after all!

Let me reiterate, a good business going into a tough year is still a good business. It’s not so much about getting through (although that is the first priority!), it’s about positioning your business and your mindset to be able to bounce strongly forward when profits return.

They say never let a downturn go to waste, and these environments are opportunities to showcase to your bank how effective your management and governance really is. The banks do a lot of stress testing of what might happen in certain circumstances, and this year may well be one of those years that looks like the stress test scenario.

What works:

  • Facing into the realities of your situation as early as possible.
  • Being honest with your bank and keeping communication lines wide open
  • Challenge everything. Treat each dollar like a prisoner!
  • There is a big difference between being optimistic, pessimistic and realistic. Being realistic is the key. This is not the year to target levels you haven't yet achieved.
  • Go back to basics. Are you using the physical resources around you to the best of your ability?
  • Get positioned for opportunity. What can you do differently if the payout jumps back up later in the season to capture more profit, but also defend the line if that doesn’t happen?
  • If you don’t have experts around you, seek them out. It can be as simple as tapping into a neighbouring farmer who you think does things well.
  • Selling ‘non-core’ assets can help. These are assets that don’t contribute to profit in any way. But there are often lots of reasons why we have these assets other than profit alone, so be realistic!

What doesn’t work:

  • Blaming the bank. Yes, interest rates are back to some of the highest we have seen in recent times, and if they weren’t then we would be likely still making a profit this year, but that’s not something that’s in your control. Yes, interest rates are negotiable, but from a position of strength not weakness. (ie, if you need a lower rate in order to be viable, the bank isn’t likely to see that as a good risk for them).
  • Putting farms or blocks of land up for sale that you don’t intend to sell. We saw a lot of this in 2016/17. It was a strategy to keep the banks happy, and it probably worked for a few for a while. But then the blocks didn’t sell, and the relationship got tougher. If it’s not a genuine option, don’t go there.
  • Setting tight timeframes on assets you do wish to sell. (And this is aimed at the banks as well!) Clearly, the farm real estate market will be slower this year. If funding approvals are based on requiring a farm property sold within this season, there is a very high chance that strategy will fail, so be realistic!
  • Focusing on production over profit. This may well be the year to produce a lot less milk and reduce the loss rather than maximise the output. But the answer to that lies in a clear understanding of your key drivers of profit and longer term strategy.
  • Relying on Farm Debt Mediation as a way to solve any problems. Mediation is not a place to air grievances or negotiate a strategy, despite what you may think. It is a place where a ‘very final’ plan gets negotiated and agreed. You should never go to mediation without a clear plan that is 90% already agreed with the bank, or you’ll find yourself backed into a corner. And for the banks, don’t use mediation as a tool to force a predetermined outcome!

Putting it all in context is important:

Milk price margins do return to average. 

If you need re-assurance on this, take a look at our analysis of the last 20 years milk price margins. Click here to read our recent article on this We have had some great years, some horrible years, but the average is consistent.  

Costs do retreat too!

We are seeing fertiliser in full flight downwards, as are core feed supplies. Take a look at this article where we looked back at where costs retreated after previously high levels brought about by high payout. Farmers are very responsive to managing costs in the light of falling returns.  

Build a medium term forecast.

With the above in mind, once you have dealt with the short term realities its  time to start making a medium term plan for the business. Lean heavily on your advisors to help with this. How will the business return to more normal profit levels? what funding do you need to get there? What changes could you make to how you operate?

Show your working.

One of the best things you can do to gain confidence from your bank is to show them in detail what changes you have considered, especially the ones you didn't think were worth moving forward with. It demonstrates that you are thinking about all of the possibilities, and you are able to make clear decisions.

We are here to help. NZAB has a team of over 30 banking experts ready to help you work through this next period. If you would like to discuss any of the above, please get in touch.

We’d love to help. We’re all about better banking outcomes, so if you want to review your business to understand where you might sit, drop us a line today on 0800 692 212, email us directly, or fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.

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