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Research Announcement:

Moody's - Lebanon’s credit profile reflects deep economic, social and financial crises; very weak institutions to address them

16 September 2020


New York, September 16, 2020 --

  • Main credit weaknesses include the challenging economic, social and financial environment; currency collapse in the parallel market and surging inflation drive an unstable macroeconomic environment
  • Without steps towards economic and fiscal reform, official external funding support to accompany debt restructuring will not be easily available; bondholder losses are likely to exceed 65%

Lebanon's (C, no outlook) credit profile reflects the impact of the country's economic, financial and social crises, which the country's very weak institutions and governance strength appear unable to address, Moody's Investors Service said in an annual report today.

The currency collapse in the parallel market and subsequent inflation surge fuel a highly unstable environment, where access to external funding support to accompany the government's debt restructuring is conditional on the implementation of specific reform steps.

"Lebanon's C rating is the lowest on our rating scale, reflecting our expectation that losses incurred by bondholders will likely exceed 65%," says Elisa Parisi-Capone, Vice President - Senior Analyst at Moody's Investors Service. "The rating is unlikely to move from its current position before the restructuring, given the extent of the macroeconomic, financial and social challenges and our expectation of very significant losses."

Lebanon's credit profile benefits from the commitment for external funding support both from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the international donor community, conditional on the swift appointment of a new government and specific reform implementation. These reforms will include (1) making public finances and the banking system solvent again via a comprehensive debt restructuring; (2) legislation to formalize capital controls and the elimination of the current multiple exchange rate system; and (3) comprehensive audits of the central bank and state-owned enterprises.

For Lebanon's rating to rise from current levels, the key drivers of the country's debt dynamics, such as economic growth, interest rates, privatization revenue and the ability to generate and sustain large primary surpluses, would need to evolve in a way that ensures future debt sustainability.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS ONLY: For more information, please call one of our global press information hotlines: New York +1-212-553-0376, London +44-20-7772-5456, Tokyo +813-5408-4110, Hong Kong +852-3758-1350, Sydney +61-2-9270-8141, Mexico City 001-888-779-5833, São Paulo 0800-891-2518, or Buenos Aires 0800-666-3506. You can also email us at [email protected] or visit our web site at www.moodys.com.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Elisa Parisi-Capone
VP-Senior Analyst
Sovereign Risk Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
JOURNALISTS : 1 212 553 0376
Client Service : 1 212 553 1653

Marie Diron
MD-Sovereign Risk
Sovereign Risk Group
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
JOURNALISTS : 1 212 553 0376
Client Service : 1 212 553 1653

Releasing Office :
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS : 1 212 553 0376
Client Service : 1 212 553 1653

© 2020 Moody’s Corporation, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Moody’s Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, “MOODY’S”). All rights reserved.

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MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements.

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