Tokyo, January 27, 2017 -- Moody's Japan K.K. has assigned first-time issuer
ratings of A1/P-1 to Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.
(MHSC) and its overseas affiliates: Mizuho International plc and
Mizuho Securities USA Inc. (MSUSA).
At the same time, Moody's affirmed the (P)A1/(P)P-1
ratings for their joint medium-term note programs.
The outlook on the ratings is stable.
A full list of affected ratings is provided at the end of this press release.
The affirmation follows the change in the ownership of MSUSA. This
change does not impact government support or the strategic importance
of the securities subsidiaries to Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.'s
(Mizuho: A1 stable) global operation.
MSUSA became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mizuho Americas LLC (unrated)
in July 2016. The parent is in turn a newly established US bank
holding company owned by Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (Deposits A1 stable
BCA baa1). Prior to the realignment, MSUSA was 70.5%
owned by MHSC and 29.4% by Mizuho Bank.
MHSC remains a 95.8% owned subsidiary of Mizuho, and
Mizuho International plc remains a wholly owned subsidiary of MHSC.
The A1 issuer ratings are aligned with the ratings for Mizuho, Mizuho
Bank, and Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.
(A1 stable baa1).
RATINGS RATIONALE
The aligned ratings of MHSC, Mizuho International plc, and
MSUSA reflect Moody's view that the companies will benefit from the same
level of support from the Government of Japan (A1 stable) as Mizuho and
its major subsidiaries, including Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust &
Banking Co., Ltd..
Mizuho has positioned its banking, trust banking and securities
businesses as strategically important units to grow earnings. Furthermore,
business collaboration between Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking
Co., Ltd., MHSC, Mizuho International
plc and MSUSA has been increasing.
MHSC's standalone credit strength takes into consideration factors such
as its: (1) franchise as one of Japan's major domestic securities
companies; (2) franchise in retail customer assets; and (3)
adequate levels of liquidity and capital.
MHSC's standalone credit assessment also reflects the challenges that
the company faces, such as: (1) its vulnerability to capital
market fluctuations, and the volatile performance evident in its
wholesale businesses; and (2) the relatively weaker franchise of
its equity-related business when compared to its larger domestic
peers.
MHSC's A1 rating also incorporates Moody's view of the very high
probability of parental support in the event of stress, given the
strategic importance of MHSC's wholesale and retail division to Mizuho,
as well as the integration of their businesses.
Separate standalone analysis of Mizuho International plc and MSUSA would
not be meaningful because they are highly integrated into Mizuho group's
overseas operation. Instead, the A1 issuer ratings of the
two firms were aligned with the ratings for MHSC, Mizuho,
Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking to reflect their roles in providing
a full range of services for Mizuho Bank's and MHSC's global value
chain network.
Factors that Could Lead to an Upgrade
An upgrade of the ratings is unlikely over the next 12-18 months,
because MHSC's, Mizuho International plc's, and MSUSA's A1
ratings are at the same level as Japan's sovereign rating.
Factors that Could Lead to a Downgrade
Factors that could result in a downgrade of the ratings include,
but are not limited to the following: (1) a downgrade of the sovereign
rating; or (2) a downgrade of Mizuho's ratings.
The principal methodology used in rating Mizuho Securities Co.,
Ltd. was Global Securities Industry Methodology (Japanese) published
in July 2013. The principal methodology used in rating Mizuho International
plc and Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. was Banks (Japanese)
published in February 2016. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (MHSC), headquartered
in Tokyo, is one of the core entities of Mizuho Financial Group,
Inc., which is in turn one of the largest banking groups
in Japan.
Mizuho International plc — based in London — is a wholly owned
subsidiary of MHSC, and Mizuho Securities USA Inc. —
based in New York — is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mizuho Americas
LLC, which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of Mizuho Bank,
Ltd.
The following ratings/issuers are affected.
Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.
Affirmations:
- Backed senior unsecured rating (foreign currency): A1;
outlook stable
- Backed senior unsecured medium-term note program rating
(foreign currency): (P)A1/(P)P-1
Assignments:
- Long-term issuer rating (domestic/foreign currency):
A1; outlook stable
- Short-term issuer rating (domestic/foreign currency):
P-1
Mizuho International plc
Affirmations:
- Long-term backed senior unsecured debt rating (domestic/foreign
currency): A1; outlook stable
- Backed senior unsecured medium-term note program rating
(foreign currency): (P)A1/(P)P-1
- Short-term backed senior unsecured debt rating (foreign
currency): P-1
Assignments:
- Long-term issuer rating (domestic/foreign currency):
A1; outlook stable
- Short-term issuer rating (domestic/foreign currency):
P-1
Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
Affirmations:
- Backed senior unsecured medium term note program rating (domestic
currency): (P)A1/(P)P-1
- Short-term backed senior unsecured debt rating (domestic
currency): P-1
Assignments:
- Long-term issuer rating (domestic/foreign currency):
A1; outlook stable
- Short-term issuer rating (domestic/foreign currency):
P-1
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
have affected the rating. For further information please see the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this rating action, the
associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Moody's Japan K.K. is a credit rating agency registered
with the Japan Financial Services Agency and its registration number is
FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2. The Financial Services
Agency has not imposed any supervisory measures on Moody's Japan K.K.
in the past year.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Shunsaku Sato
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Japan K.K.
Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl
2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-6220
Japan
JOURNALISTS: 813-5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: 813-5408-4100
Graeme Knowd
MD - Banking
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 813-5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: 813-5408-4100
Releasing Office:
Moody's Japan K.K.
Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl
2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-6220
Japan
JOURNALISTS: 813-5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: 813-5408-4100